MercadoLibre, Inc. Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2014 Financial Results
*Fourth Quarter Sold Items of 29.0 million, 101.3 million for Full Year
* Fourth Quarter Net Revenues of
*Fourth Quarter Net Income of
Full Year 2014 Business Highlights
-
101.3 million Items Sold through
MercadoLibre , a growth of 22.0% year-over-year, resulting in a Gross Merchandise Volume of$7.1 billion . -
46.3 million Total Payment Transactions, accelerating to 46.7% compared with a year ago, leading to a full-year Total Payment Volume of
$3.5 billion . -
Consolidated Net Revenues for the full year were
$556.5 million , an increase of 17.8% year-over-year. -
Full-year net income was
$72.7 million , or$1.63 per share. Excluding effects of Venezuelan devaluation during 2014, net income for the full year would have been$127.4 million , an increase of 8.4% year-over-year, or$2.89 per share.
Fourth Quarter 2014 Operational Highlights
-
Items sold in the fourth quarter of 2014 increased 27.2% to 29.0 million. As in previous quarters, this increase was primarily driven by
Brazil's operation, which posted strong growth of 32.6% year over year. Gross Merchandise Volume was$1,797.3 million , a 16.0% decrease in USD, mainly attributable to foreign exchange headwinds. In local currencies, Gross Merchandise Volume grew 85.0% and 27.8% excludingVenezuela . -
Total payment transactions through MercadoPago accelerating, for the fifth consecutive quarter, 58.2% to 14.2 million. Total payment volume was
$1,098.6 million in the last quarter of 2014, a year-over-year growth of 107.3% in local currencies and 47.3% in USD.
Strong results across the business fueled by the execution of strategic initiatives:
Brazil leading the way towards an enhanced marketplace, with on-platform payments penetration increasing by 30 percentage points of gross merchandise volume year-over-year and 7 quarter-on-quarter.-
Financing revenues accelerating in local currencies above 90% year-over-year in the three-month period, primarily driven by the positive response to interest-free listing type in
Brazil . This initiative was launched inMexico during the fourth quarter. -
MercadoEnvios, successfully launched in
Mexico during the quarter, shipped 35% ofBrazil's sold items on the platform and 14% inArgentina . -
Mobile continued to increase penetration of Gross Merchandise Volume and drive user registration. In mobile payments, introduced MercadoPago's digital wallet mobile app, the Software Development Kit to enable integration of MercadoPago in third party apps and launched a pilot of the mobile POS solution in
Brazil . - Reached 545 Official Stores for large brands across 7 countries by the end of the quarter.
- Investments and efforts in Customer Experience continued to translate into record gains in Net Promoter Score and decreases in contact rates to customer service during the quarter.
Fourth Quarter 2014 Financial Highlights
-
Net revenues for the fourth quarter were
$161.4 million , a year-over-year growth of 19.9%. ExcludingVenezuela , Net revenues grew 40.4% in USD and 69.6% in local currencies.Brazil , our biggest market, grew revenues by 61.1% in local currencies. -
Gross profit for the fourth quarter of 2014 was
$113.7 million . Gross profit margin was 70.5%, down from 73.1% in the fourth quarter of 2013. Margins were impacted primarily by a tough comparison in sales tax as well as higher processing fees related to increased volumes transacted through MercadoPago. -
Total operating expenses were
$68.5 million , 42.4% of net revenues, up from 34.4% in last year's fourth quarter. An increase in marketing expenses aimed at customer acquisition and retention, larger Long Term Retention Plan accrual and the devaluation inVenezuela drive this contraction year over year. -
Income from operations was, as a result,
$45.2 million ; a year-over-year decrease of 13.2% in USD. ExcludingVenezuela , Income from Operations grew by 10.6% in USD and 3.6% in local currencies. Operating income margin was 28.0%, decreasing from 38.7% in the year ago period. -
Interest income grew 90.2% year-over-year to
$4.4 million , due to higher interest rates on larger amounts invested, including the proceeds from the Convertible Bond issued in the second quarter of 2014 and stored balance from MercadoPago. Our forex line saw a$5.2 million gain due to the appreciation of USD balances held by our subsidiaries. These gains were partly offset by$4.9 million of financial expenses related predominantly to the above-mentioned Convertible Bond. -
Net income before taxes was
$50.0 million , a 10.5% year-over-year decrease in USD. ExcludingVenezuela , Net Income before taxes grew 10.8% in USD and 8.1% in local currencies. -
Blended tax rate for the three months period was 31.6%, compared to 26.8% in the last year's same period. The expiration of the Software Development Law in
Argentina , an increase in the tax rate ofVenezuela and the financial expenses of the Convertible Bond, which are only deductible in the U.S., account for most of the increase. -
Net income was
$34.2 million , a year-over-year decrease of 16.3% in USD, a 5.2% increase in USD (excludingVenezuela ) and negative 7.2% in local currencies (excludingVenezuela ). Earnings per share for the fourth quarter were$0.76 . -
Free cash flow, defined as cash from operating activities less payment for the acquisition of property, equipment, intangible assets and payment for acquired businesses net of cash acquired, was
$39.4 million .*
(*) See note on "Non-GAAP Financial Measures"
Fourth Quarter 2014 Corporate Highlights
-
On
December 15, 2014 ,MercadoLibre acquired 100% of equity interest ofBusiness Vision S.A. , a software development company located and organized under the laws of theBuenos Aires City ,Argentina . The objective of the acquisition was to enhance the capabilities of the Company in terms of software development. -
We declared a quarterly dividend of
$0.103 per share, payable onApril 15, 2015 to shareholders of record as of the close of business onMarch 31, 2015 .
The following table summarizes certain key performance metrics for the three months ended
| Three months ended |
2014 | 2013 | %YoY | %YoY Constant USD |
| Total confirmed registered users at the end of period | 120.9 | 99.5 | 21.6% | -- |
| New confirmed registered users during the period | 5.7 | 4.5 | 28.1% | -- |
| Gross merchandise volume | -16.0% | 85.0% | ||
| Items sold | 29.0 | 22.8 | 27.2% | -- |
| Total payments volume | 47.3% | 107.3% | ||
| Total payments transactions | 14.2 | 9.0 | 58.2% | -- |
| The table above may not total due to rounding. |
Table of Year-on-Year Local Currency Revenue Growth Rates by Quarter
| YoY Growth rates at previous years exchange rates | |||||
| Consolidated Net Revenues | |||||
| Q4'13 | Q1'14 | Q2'14 | Q3'14 | Q4'14 | |
| Brazil | 29% | 30% | 34% | 49% | 61% |
| Argentina | 69% | 65% | 76% | 84% | 98% |
| Mexico | 20% | 9% | 25% | 23% | 21% |
| Venezuela | 104% | 116% | 167% | 220% | 253% |
| Others | 15% | 32% | 53% | 59% | 61% |
| Total | 50% | 50% | 66% | 89% | 109% |
Conference Call and Webcast
The Company will host a conference call and audio webcast on
Definition of Selected Operational Metrics
Total confirmed registered users – Measure of the cumulative number of users who have registered on the
New confirmed registered users – Measure of the number of new users who have registered on the
Gross merchandise volume – Measure of the total U.S. dollar sum of all transactions completed through the
Items sold – Measure of the number of items sold/purchased through the
Total payment volume – Measure of total U.S. dollar sum of all transactions paid for using MercadoPago.
Total payment transactions – Measure of the number of all transactions completed using MercadoPago.
Operating margin – Defined as income from operations as a percentage of net revenues.
Blended tax rate – Defined as income and asset tax expense as a percentage of income before income and assets tax.
Net income margin – Defined as net income as a percentage of net revenues.
Free Cash Flow – Defined as cash flows from operating activities less property, equipment, intangible assets and payment for acquired business net of cash acquired.
Local Currency Growth Rates – Calculated by using the average monthly exchange rate for each month during the previous year and applying it to the corresponding month in the current year, so as to calculate what the growth would have been had exchange rates been the same throughout both periods.
Excluding
About
Founded in 1999,
MercadoLibre.com serves millions of users and creates a market for a wide variety of goods and services in an easy, safe and efficient way. The site is among the top 50 in the world in terms of page views and is the leading retail platform in unique visitors in the major countries in which it operates according to metrics provided by
For more information about the Company visit: http://investor.mercadolibre.com.
The
| Consolidated balance sheets | ||
| 2014 | 2013 | |
| Assets | ||
| Current assets: | ||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ 223,144,226 | $ 140,285,104 |
| Short-term investments | 148,809,539 | 76,593,214 |
| Accounts receivable, net | 46,672,495 | 25,884,260 |
| Credit cards receivables, net | 85,162,276 | 52,045,851 |
| Prepaid expenses | 3,457,693 | 3,836,081 |
| Deferred tax assets | 11,519,522 | 16,030,880 |
| Other assets | 13,984,467 | 11,488,845 |
| Total current assets | 532,750,218 | 326,164,235 |
| Non-current assets: | ||
| Long-term investments | 205,265,042 | 45,719,737 |
| Property and equipment, net | 91,544,836 | 131,371,909 |
| Goodwill | 68,828,504 | 55,101,218 |
| Intangible assets, net | 23,171,349 | 6,591,585 |
| Deferred tax assets | 21,553,696 | 3,014,905 |
| Other assets | 23,734,090 | 24,399,184 |
| Total non-current assets | 434,097,517 | 266,198,538 |
| Total assets | $ 966,847,735 | $ 592,362,773 |
| Liabilities and Equity | ||
| Current liabilities: | ||
| Accounts payable and accrued expenses | $ 58,005,734 | $ 34,405,333 |
| Funds payable to customers | 165,033,797 | 129,038,663 |
| Salaries and social security payable | 28,777,045 | 23,182,811 |
| Taxes payable | 26,012,849 | 17,854,110 |
| Loans payable and other financial liabilities | 1,641,646 | 13,370,823 |
| Deferred tax liabilities | 1,644,706 | -- |
| Other liabilities | 4,176,830 | -- |
| Dividends payable | 7,329,546 | 6,313,869 |
| Total current liabilities | 292,622,153 | 224,165,609 |
| Non-current liabilities: | ||
| Salaries and social security payable | 11,326,318 | 9,185,269 |
| Loans payable and other financial liabilities | 282,184,331 | 2,489,819 |
| Deferred tax liabilities | 18,745,855 | 5,339,359 |
| Other liabilities | 6,180,668 | 3,699,109 |
| Total non-current liabilities | 318,437,172 | 20,713,556 |
| Total liabilities | $ 611,059,325 | $ 244,879,165 |
| Commitments and contingencies | ||
| Redeemable noncontrolling interest | $ -- | $ 4,000,000 |
| Equity: | ||
|
Common stock, |
$ 44,154 | $ 44,153 |
| Additional paid-in capital | 137,644,989 | 121,562,193 |
| Treasury stock | -- | (1,012,216) |
| Retained earnings | 353,173,098 | 310,345,448 |
| Accumulated other comprehensive loss | (135,073,831) | (87,455,970) |
| Total Equity | 355,788,410 | 343,483,608 |
| Total Liabilities, Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest and Equity | $ 966,847,735 | $ 592,362,773 |
| Consolidated statements of income | |||||
| Year Ended |
Three Months Ended |
||||
| 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2014 | 2013 | |
| (Unaudited) | |||||
| Net revenues | $ 556,536,002 | $ 472,594,709 | $ 373,601,494 | $ 161,369,648 | $ 134,630,171 |
| Cost of net revenues | (158,978,001) | (130,076,879) | (98,085,644) | (47,665,120) | (36,205,508) |
| Gross profit | 397,558,001 | 342,517,830 | 275,515,850 | 113,704,528 | 98,424,663 |
| Operating expenses: | |||||
| Product and technology development | (53,599,639) | (40,888,139) | (28,626,880) | (16,027,166) | (9,670,938) |
| Sales and marketing | (111,627,304) | (90,484,296) | (72,002,954) | (33,400,004) | (23,147,365) |
| General and administrative | (62,364,509) | (57,606,340) | (45,228,145) | (19,040,984) | (13,487,284) |
| Impairment of Long-Lived Assets | (49,495,686) | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Total operating expenses | (277,087,138) | (188,978,775) | (145,857,979) | (68,468,154) | (46,305,587) |
| Income from operations | 120,470,863 | 153,539,055 | 129,657,871 | 45,236,374 | 52,119,076 |
| Other income (expenses): | |||||
| Interest income and other financial gains | 15,335,853 | 10,668,593 | 11,877,375 | 4,366,406 | 2,295,481 |
| Interest expense and other financial losses | (11,659,356) | (2,355,929) | (1,138,379) | (4,940,897) | (976,413) |
| Foreign currency (loss) / gain | (2,351,539) | 1,258,476 | 11,597 | 5,299,482 | 2,331,729 |
| Other losses net | -- | (751) | (190,938) | -- | 43,806 |
| Net income before income / asset tax expense | 121,795,821 | 163,109,444 | 140,217,526 | 49,961,365 | 55,813,679 |
| Income / asset tax expense | (49,143,050) | (45,583,181) | (38,871,379) | (15,800,037) | (14,977,714) |
| Net income | $ 72,652,771 | $ 117,526,263 | $ 101,346,147 | $ 34,161,328 | $ 40,835,965 |
| Less: Net Income attributable to Redeemable | |||||
| Noncontrolling Interest | 72,220 | 18,825 | 98,849 | 16,212 | 72,037 |
|
Net income attributable to |
$ 72,580,551 | $ 117,507,438 | $ 101,247,298 | $ 34,145,116 | $ 40,763,928 |
| Year Ended |
Three Months Ended |
||||
| 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2014 | 2013 | |
| (Unaudited) | |||||
| Basic EPS | |||||
|
Basic net income attributable to |
|||||
| Shareholders per common share | $ 1.63 | $ 2.66 | $ 2.30 | $ 0.76 | $ 0.66 |
| Weighted average of outstanding common shares | 44,153,884 | 44,152,600 | 44,147,861 | 44,154,412 | 44,152,933 |
| Diluted EPS | |||||
|
Diluted net income attributable to |
|||||
| Shareholders per common share | $ 1.63 | $ 2.66 | $ 2.30 | $ 0.76 | $ 0.66 |
| Weighted average of outstanding common shares | 44,153,884 | 44,152,600 | 44,149,838 | 44,154,412 | 44,152,933 |
| Cash Dividends declared | 0.664 | 0.572 | 0.436 | 0.166 | 0.143 |
| Consolidated statements of cash flows | |||
| Year Ended |
|||
| 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | |
| Cash flows from operations: | |||
|
Net income attributable to |
$ 72,580,551 | $ 117,507,438 | $ 101,247,298 |
| Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: | |||
| Net income attributable to Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest | 72,220 | 18,825 | 98,849 |
|
Net Devaluation Loss in |
13,808,146 | 6,420,929 | -- |
| Impairment of Long-Lived Assets | 49,495,686 | -- | -- |
| Depreciation and amortization | 16,946,897 | 11,878,565 | 8,959,293 |
| Accrued interest | (9,028,868) | (9,882,991) | (7,630,203) |
| Convertible bonds accrued interest and amortization of debt discount | 7,874,295 | -- | -- |
| LTRP accrued compensation | 11,851,615 | 11,645,077 | 4,442,822 |
| Deferred income taxes | (20,236,973) | (7,847,513) | (492,362) |
| Changes in assets and liabilities: | |||
| Accounts receivable | (36,119,868) | (22,764,177) | (8,651,951) |
| Credit Card Receivables | (45,520,887) | (27,315,403) | (15,570,142) |
| Prepaid expenses | (157,324) | (2,074,543) | (898,959) |
| Other assets | (5,981,661) | (23,127,493) | (5,809,218) |
| Accounts payable and accrued expenses | 68,780,586 | 26,037,488 | 18,061,683 |
| Funds payable to customers | 61,072,045 | 47,557,504 | 39,889,201 |
| Other liabilities | 1,675,258 | 2,986,452 | 1,153,610 |
| Interest received from investments | 9,681,566 | 11,473,203 | 5,091,468 |
| Net cash provided by operating activities | 196,793,284 | 142,513,361 | 139,891,389 |
| Cash flows from investing activities: | |||
| Purchase of investments | (2,577,130,038) | (1,135,940,553) | (539,355,434) |
| Proceeds from sale and maturity of investments | 2,330,835,825 | 1,174,789,615 | 472,871,652 |
| Payment for acquired businesses, net of cash acquired | (36,814,136) | (3,423,439) | -- |
| Payment of remaining amount from business acquisition | (4,000,000) | -- | -- |
| Purchases of intangible assets | (856,948) | (458,804) | (1,390,654) |
| Purchases of property and equipment | (34,425,957) | (113,755,566) | (16,747,746) |
| Net cash used in investing activities | (322,391,254) | (78,788,747) | (84,622,182) |
| Cash flows from financing activities: | |||
| Funds received from the issuance of convertible notes | 330,000,000 | -- | -- |
| Transaction costs from the issuance of convertible notes | (8,083,625) | -- | -- |
| Purchase of convertible note capped call | (19,668,000) | -- | -- |
| Loans payable and other financial liabilities | -- | 31,453,613 | -- |
| Payments on loans payable and other financial liabilities | (7,704,636) | (15,936,551) | -- |
| Dividends paid | (28,302,507) | (23,754,005) | (17,968,004) |
| Repurchase of Common Stock | (1,944,307) | (1,012,225) | -- |
| Stock options exercised | -- | 3,020 | 5,700 |
| Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities | 264,296,925 | (9,246,148) | (17,962,304) |
| Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents | (55,839,833) | (15,682,364) | (3,199,578) |
| Net increase in cash and cash equivalents | 82,859,122 | 38,796,102 | 34,107,325 |
| Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of the year | 140,285,104 | 101,489,002 | 67,381,677 |
| Cash and cash equivalents, end of the year | $ 223,144,226 | $ 140,285,104 | $ 101,489,002 |
| Financial results of reporting segments | ||||||
| Year Ended |
||||||
| Other Countries | Total | |||||
| Net revenues | $ 36,535,576 | $ 556,536,002 | ||||
| Direct costs | (158,412,078) | (81,273,193) | (24,067,532) | (16,584,667) | (20,163,263) | (300,500,733) |
| Impairment of Long-lived Assets | -- | -- | -- | (49,495,686) | -- | (49,495,686) |
| Direct contribution | 115,226,119 | 69,394,348 | 13,601,270 | (8,054,467) | 16,372,313 | 206,539,583 |
| Operating expenses and indirect costs of net revenues | (86,068,720) | |||||
| Income from operations | 120,470,863 | |||||
| Other income (expenses): | ||||||
| Interest income and other financial gains | 15,335,853 | |||||
| Interest expense and other financial losses | (11,659,356) | |||||
| Foreign currency loss | (2,351,539) | |||||
| Other gains, net | -- | |||||
| Net income before income / asset tax expense | $ 121,795,821 | |||||
| Year Ended |
||||||
| Other Countries | Total | |||||
| Net revenues | $ 26,660,915 | $ 472,594,709 | ||||
| Direct costs | (119,422,924) | (66,492,770) | (18,558,010) | (29,578,762) | (12,339,112) | (246,391,578) |
| Direct contribution | 86,971,556 | 55,630,577 | 14,285,472 | 54,993,723 | 14,321,803 | 226,203,131 |
| Operating expenses and indirect costs of net revenues | (72,664,076) | |||||
| Income from operations | 153,539,055 | |||||
| Other income (expenses): | ||||||
| Interest income and other financial gains | 10,668,593 | |||||
| Interest expense and other financial losses | (2,355,929) | |||||
| Foreign currency gains | 1,258,476 | |||||
| Other losses, net | (751) | |||||
| Net income before income / asset tax expense | 163,109,444 | |||||
| Year Ended |
||||||
| Other Countries | Total | |||||
| Net revenues | $ 88,513,640 | $ 23,784,962 | $ 373,601,494 | |||
| Direct costs | (104,501,652) | (41,841,587) | (14,912,375) | (17,768,989) | (11,458,627) | (190,483,230) |
| Direct contribution | 75,137,940 | 46,672,053 | 12,074,755 | 36,907,181 | 12,326,335 | 183,118,264 |
| Operating expenses and indirect costs of net revenues | (53,460,393) | |||||
| Income from operations | 129,657,871 | |||||
| Other income (expenses): | ||||||
| Interest income and other financial gains | 11,877,375 | |||||
| Interest expense and other financial losses | (1,138,379) | |||||
| Foreign currency gain | 11,597 | |||||
| Other losses, net | (190,938) | |||||
| Net income before income / asset tax expense | $ 140,217,526 | |||||
| Three Months Ended |
||||||
| Other Countries | Total | |||||
| Net revenues | $ 79,628,413 | $ 10,048,734 | ||||
| Direct costs | (46,883,787) | (26,358,985) | (7,102,151) | (3,462,985) | (5,636,156) | (89,444,064) |
| Direct contribution | 32,744,626 | 22,126,992 | 3,262,765 | 9,378,623 | 4,412,578 | 71,925,584 |
| Operating expenses and indirect costs of net revenues | (26,689,210) | |||||
| Income from operations | 45,236,374 | |||||
| Other income (expenses): | ||||||
| Interest income and other financial gains | 4,366,406 | |||||
| Interest expense and other financial losses | (4,940,897) | |||||
| Foreign currency gains | 5,299,482 | |||||
| Other gains, net | -- | |||||
| Net income before income / asset tax expense | $ 49,961,365 | |||||
| Three Months Ended |
||||||
| Other Countries | Total | |||||
| Net revenues | $ 55,249,748 | $ 9,086,505 | $ 7,054,374 | |||
| Direct costs | (30,193,588) | (18,427,699) | (4,207,763) | (9,169,908) | (3,391,509) | (65,390,467) |
| Direct contribution | 25,056,160 | 15,934,744 | 4,878,743 | 19,707,192 | 3,662,865 | 69,239,704 |
| Operating expenses and indirect costs of net revenues | (17,120,628) | |||||
| Income from operations | 52,119,076 | |||||
| Other income (expenses): | ||||||
| Interest income and other financial gains | 2,295,481 | |||||
| Interest expense and other financial losses | (976,413) | |||||
| Foreign currency gains | 2,331,729 | |||||
| Other gains, net | 43,806 | |||||
| Net income before income / asset tax expense | $ 55,813,679 | |||||
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
To supplement our interim condensed consolidated financial statements presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in
These non-GAAP measures should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with GAAP and may be different from non-GAAP measures used by other companies. In addition, these non-GAAP measures are not based on any comprehensive set of accounting rules or principles. Non-GAAP measures have limitations in that they do not reflect all of the amounts associated with our results of operations as determined in accordance with GAAP. These non-GAAP financial measures should only be used to evaluate our results of operations in conjunction with the most comparable GAAP financial measures.
Reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures to the most comparable GAAP financial measures can be found in the tables included in this press release.
Non-GAAP financial measures are provided to enhance investors' overall understanding of our current financial performance. Specifically, we believe that free cash flow provides useful information to both management and investors by excluding payments for the acquisition of property, equipment, of intangible assets and of acquired businesses net of cash acquired, that may not be indicative of our core operating results. In addition, we report free cash flows to investors because we believe that the inclusion of this measure provides consistency in our financial reporting.
Free cash flow represents cash from operating activities less payment for the acquisition of property, equipment and intangible assets and acquired businesses net of cash acquired. We consider free cash flow to be a liquidity measure that provides useful information to management and investors about the amount of cash generated by our operations after the purchase of property, equipment, of intangible assets and of acquired businesses net of cash acquired. A limitation of the utility of free cash flow as a measure of financial performance is that it does not represent the total increase or decrease in our cash balance for the period.
Reconciliation of Operating Cash Flows to Free Cash Flows:
| Three Months Ended |
||
| 2014 | 2013 | |
| Net Cash provided by Operating Activities | $ 58.4 | $ 19.7 |
| Payment for acquired businesses, net of cash acquired | (8.7) | -- |
| Purchase of intangible assets | (0.3) | (0.5) |
| Purchases of property and equipment | (10.0) | (37.9) |
| Free cash flows | $ 39.4 | $ (18.7) |
| The table above may not total due to rounding. | ||
Venezuelan segment – Recent developments
In
CONTACT:MercadoLibre, Inc. Investor Relations [email protected]http://investor.mercadolibre.com
Source:
