2U Reports Results for First Quarter 2024
LANHAM, Md., May 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- 2U, Inc. (Nasdaq: TWOU), a leading online education platform company, today reported financial and operating results for the quarter ended March 31, 2024.
"With our leading position in the education industry, 2U has a significant opportunity to respond to and support the current technology moment, where advances in generative AI are driving strong demand for workforce development," said Paul Lalljie, Chief Executive Officer of 2U. "In order to make the most of this opportunity, we are focused on ensuring that we have the right operating model, an effective and efficient organization and cost structure, the right products, and a balance sheet that provides a sound financial foundation for the future. We continued to make progress on all of these fronts in the quarter while launching 42 new degree programs and building on our momentum in executive education."
"While we are pleased that first quarter results were better than our expectations, significant work remains to execute our turnaround," added Matthew Norden, Chief Financial Officer of 2U. "We continue to deliver strong growth in our executive education offerings and are pursuing additional operating efficiencies across the business by reducing personnel expense, rationalizing our real estate footprint and lowering delivery costs. We believe our increased cash position of $137 million, together with the kick-off of our performance improvement initiatives, put us in a strong position to fix our balance sheet."
Results for First Quarter 2024 compared to First Quarter 2023
-- Revenue decreased 17% to $198.4 million
-- Degree Program Segment revenue decreased 21% to $111.5 million
-- Alternative Credential Segment revenue decreased 11% to $86.8 million
-- Net loss was $54.6 million, or $0.65 per share
Non-GAAP Results for First Quarter 2024 compared to First Quarter 2023
-- Adjusted EBITDA decreased 43% to $17.3 million; a margin of 9%
-- Adjusted net loss was $18.1 million, or $0.22 per share
Discussion of 2024 Results
Revenue for the quarter totaled $198.4 million, a 17% decrease from $238.5 million in the first quarter of 2023. Revenue from the Degree Program Segment decreased $28.9 million, or 21%. This decrease was primarily due to certain programs operating in 2023 that are no longer operating in 2024 due to portfolio management activities. Revenue from the Alternative Credential Segment decreased $11.2 million, or 11%. This decrease was primarily due to a $21.9 million decrease in revenue from the company's boot camp offerings driven by a 30% decrease in FCE enrollments, particularly in coding boot camps. This decrease was partially offset by an $11.0 million increase in revenue from the company's executive education offerings driven by a 32% increase in FCE enrollments.
Costs and expenses for the quarter totaled $225.7 million, a 13% decrease from $258.7 million in the first quarter of 2023. This decrease was primarily driven by a $29.5 million decrease in personnel and personnel-related expense, a $5.6 million decrease in paid marketing costs, and a $5.3 million decrease in depreciation and amortization expense. These decreases were partially offset by a $7.0 million increase in costs to implement the company's comprehensive performance improvement initiative.
As of March 31, 2024, the company's cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash totaled $137.4 million, an increase of $64.0 million from $73.4 million as of December 31, 2023. This increase includes net proceeds of $74.0 million from the previously announced receivables transaction. As of March 31, 2024, the company's total debt was $906.4 million, including borrowings of $40.0 million under the company's revolving credit facility.
Forward-Looking Guidance
The company reaffirmed its full-year 2024 revenue and adjusted EBITDA guidance provided on February 12, 2024 and updated its guidance for net loss as follows:
Full-year 2024
-- Revenue to range from $805 million to $815 million
-- Net loss to range from $103 million to $98 million
-- Adjusted EBITDA to range from $120 million to $125 millionThe company is
providing its second quarter guidance as follows:
Second quarter 2024
-- Revenue to range from $191 million to $194 million
-- Net loss to range from $37.5 million to $32.5 million
-- Adjusted EBITDA to range from $16 million to $18 million
The company is implementing and continuing to refine its comprehensive performance improvement initiative, the potential results of which are not fully reflected in the guidance above. In addition, guidance assumes the following: (i) no new portfolio management activities in 2024 and (ii) revenue from 2023 portfolio management activities of $15 million in full-year 2024.
For full-year 2024, we anticipate approximately $45 million in capital expenditures and weighted average shares outstanding of 85 million.
Non-GAAP Measures
To provide investors and others with additional information regarding 2U's results, the company has disclosed the following non-GAAP financial measures: adjusted EBITDA (loss), adjusted EBITDA margin, adjusted free cash flow, adjusted unlevered free cash flow, adjusted net income (loss), and adjusted net income (loss) per share. The company has provided a reconciliation of each non-GAAP financial measure used in this earnings release to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure. The company defines adjusted EBITDA (loss) as net income or net loss, as applicable, before net interest income (expense), other income (expense), net, taxes, depreciation and amortization expense, transaction costs, integration costs, performance improvement initiative implementation expense, restructuring-related costs, stockholder activism costs, certain litigation-related costs, consisting of fees for certain non-ordinary course litigation and other proceedings, impairment charges, debt modification expense and loss on debt extinguishment, and stock-based compensation expense. The company defines adjusted EBITDA margin as adjusted EBITDA divided by revenue. The company defines adjusted free cash flow as net cash provided by (used in) operating activities, less capital expenditures, payments to university clients, and certain non-ordinary cash payments. The company defines adjusted unlevered free cash flow as adjusted free cash flow less cash interest payments on debt. The company defines adjusted net income (loss) as net income or net loss, as applicable, before other income (expense), net, acquisition-related gains or losses, deferred revenue fair value adjustments, transaction costs, integration costs, restructuring-related costs, stockholder activism costs, certain litigation-related costs, consisting of fees for certain non-ordinary course litigation and other proceedings, impairment charges, debt modification expense and loss on debt extinguishment, and stock-based compensation expense. Adjusted net income (loss) per share is calculated as adjusted net income (loss) divided by diluted weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding for periods that result in adjusted net income and basic weighted-average shares outstanding for periods that result in an adjusted net loss. Some of the adjustments described above may not be applicable in any given reporting period and may vary from period to period.
The company's management uses these non-GAAP financial measures to understand and compare operating results across accounting periods, to understand cash that is generated by or available for operational expenses and investment in the business after capital expenditures, for internal budgeting and forecasting purposes, for short- and long-term operating plans, and to evaluate the company's financial performance. Management believes these non-GAAP financial measures reflect the company's ongoing business in a manner that allows for meaningful period-to-period comparisons and analysis of trends in the company's business as they exclude expenses that are not reflective of ongoing operating results. Management also believes that these non-GAAP financial measures provide useful information to investors and others in understanding and evaluating the company's operating results and prospects in the same manner as management and in comparing financial results across accounting periods and to those of peer companies.
The use of adjusted EBITDA (loss), adjusted free cash flow, adjusted unlevered free cash flow, adjusted net income (loss), and adjusted net income (loss) per share measures has certain limitations, as they do not reflect all items of income and expense that affect the company's operations. The company compensates for these limitations by reconciling the non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures. These non-GAAP financial measures should be considered in addition to, not as a substitute for or in isolation from, measures prepared in accordance with GAAP. Further, these non-GAAP measures may differ from the non-GAAP information used by other companies, including peer companies, and therefore comparability may be limited. Management encourages investors and others to review the company's financial information in its entirety and not rely on a single financial measure.
Conference Call Information
What: 2U's first quarter 2024 financial results
conference call
When:
Thursday, May 2, 2024
Time:
4:30 p.m. ET
Live Call:
(888) 330-2446
Conference ID #: 1153388
Webcast:
investor.2U.com
About 2U, Inc. (Nasdaq: TWOU)
2U is a global leader in online education. Guided by its founding mission to eliminate the back row in higher education, 2U has spent 15 years advancing the technology and innovation to deliver world-class learning outcomes at scale. Through its global online learning platform edX, 2U connects more than 86 million people with thousands of affordable, career-relevant learning opportunities in partnership with 260 of the world's leading universities, institutions, and industry experts. From free courses to full degrees, 2U is creating a better future for all through the power of high-quality online education. Learn more at 2U.com.
Cautionary Language Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements regarding 2U, Inc.'s future business expectations, which are subject to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this press release, including statements regarding future results of operations and financial position of 2U, including financial targets, business strategy, and plans and objectives for future operations, are forward-looking statements. 2U has based these forward-looking statements largely on its estimates of its financial results and its current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that it believes may affect its financial condition, results of operations, business strategy, short-term and long-term business operations and objectives, and financial needs as of the date of this press release. The company undertakes no obligation to update these statements as a result of new information or future events. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results predicted, including, but not limited to:
-- trends in the higher education market and the market for online
education, and expectations for growth in those markets;
-- the company's ability to maintain minimum recurring revenues or other
financial ratios during required periods through the maturity date of
its amended term loan facilities;
-- the acceptance, adoption and growth of online learning by colleges and
universities, faculty, students, employers, accreditors and state and
federal licensing bodies;
-- the impact of competition on the company's industry and innovations by
competitors;
-- the company's ability to comply with evolving regulations and legal
obligations related to data privacy, data protection, artificial
intelligence and information security;
-- the company's expectations about the potential benefits of its
cloud-based software-as-a-service technology and technology-enabled
services to university clients and students;
-- the company's dependence on third parties to provide certain
technological services or components used in its platform;
-- the company's expectations about the predictability, visibility and
recurring nature of its business model;
-- the company's ability to meet the anticipated launch dates of its
offerings;
-- the company's ability to acquire new clients and expand its offerings
with existing university clients;
-- the company's ability to successfully integrate the operations of its
acquisitions, including the edX acquisition, to achieve the expected
benefits of its acquisitions and manage, expand and grow the combined
company;
-- the company's ability to refinance its indebtedness on attractive terms,
if at all, to better align with its focus on profitability and address
impending maturities and the impact any refinancing may have on the
price of the company's common stock;
-- the company's ability to regain compliance with the continued listing
standards for listing of our common stock on the Nasdaq Global Select
Market;
-- the company's ability to service its substantial indebtedness and comply
with the covenants and conversion obligations contained in the
indentures governing its 2.25% convertible senior notes due 2025 and
4.50% convertible senior notes due 2030 and the credit agreement
governing its revolving credit facility;
-- the company's ability to implement its platform strategy and achieve the
expected benefits;
-- the company's ability to generate sufficient future operating cash flows
from recent acquisitions to ensure related goodwill is not impaired;
-- the company's ability to execute its growth strategy, including
expansion internationally and growing its enterprise business;
-- the company's ability to continue to recruit prospective students for
its offerings;
-- the company's ability to maintain or increase student retention rates in
its degree programs;
-- the company's ability to attract, hire and retain senior management and
other key personnel;
-- the company's expectations about the scalability of its cloud-based
platform;
-- potential changes in laws, regulations or guidance applicable to the
company or its university clients;
-- the company's expectations regarding the amount of time its cash
balances and other available financial resources will be sufficient to
fund its operations;
-- the impact and cost of stockholder activism;
-- the potential negative impact of the significant decline in the market
price of the company's common stock, including the impairment of
goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets;
-- the expected impact of our 2022 Strategic Realignment Plan, or similar
performance improvement initiatives, and the estimated savings and
amounts expected to be incurred in connection therewith;
-- the impact of any natural disasters or public health emergencies, such
as the COVID-19 pandemic;
-- the company's expectations regarding the effect of the capped call
transactions and actions of the option counterparties and/or their
respective affiliates; and
-- other factors beyond the company's control.
These and other potential risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from the results predicted are more fully detailed under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2024, and other SEC filings. Moreover, 2U operates in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment. New risks emerge from time to time. It is not possible for 2U management to predict all risks, nor can 2U assess the impact of all factors on its business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements 2U may make. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking events and circumstances discussed in this press release may not occur and actual results could differ materially and adversely from those anticipated.
Investor Relations Contact: investorinfo@2U.com
Media Contact: media@2U.com
2U, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
March 31, December 31,
2024 2023
(unaudited)
Assets
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents $124,728 $60,689
Restricted cash 12,710 12,710
Accounts receivable, net 67,235 115,944
Other receivables, net 24,196 28,293
Prepaid expenses and other assets 30,521 33,828
Total current assets 259,390 251,464
Other receivables, net, non-current 14,955 12,507
Property and equipment, net 37,978 40,233
Right-of-use assets 61,813 63,986
Goodwill 650,008 651,498
Intangible assets, net 357,078 371,198
Other assets, non-current 51,715 68,797
Total assets $1,432,937 $1,459,683
Liabilities and stockholders' equity
Current liabilities
Accounts payable and accrued expenses $114,000 $103,378
Deferred revenue 102,286 81,949
Lease liability 14,472 15,158
Accrued restructuring liability 7,409 14,506
Other current liabilities 46,598 44,348
Total current liabilities 284,765 259,339
Long-term debt 898,416 896,514
Deferred tax liabilities, net 317 323
Lease liability, non-current 79,724 83,297
Other liabilities, non-current 1,137 1,165
Total liabilities 1,264,359 1,240,638
Stockholders' equity
Preferred stock, $0.001 par value, 5,000,000 shares authorized, none issued -
Common stock, $0.001 par value, 200,000,000 shares authorized, 83,644,026 shares issued 84 83
and outstanding as of March 31, 2024; 82,260,619 shares issued and outstanding as of
December 31, 2023
Additional paid-in capital 1,747,529 1,741,657
Accumulated deficit (1,552,228) (1,497,579)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss (26,807) (25,116)
Total stockholders' equity 168,578 219,045
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $1,432,937 $1,459,683
2U, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss
(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
Three Months Ended
March 31,
2024 2023
(unaudited)
Revenue $198,377 $238,504
Costs and expenses
Curriculum and teaching 31,052 32,840
Servicing and support 25,511 36,109
Technology and content development 34,995 45,484
Marketing and sales 89,712 100,175
General and administrative 39,702 39,250
Restructuring charges 4,727 4,875
Total costs and expenses 225,699 258,733
Loss from operations (27,322) (20,229)
Interest income 577 365
Interest expense (19,267) (17,957)
Debt modification expense and loss on debt extinguishment - (16,735)
Other (expense) income, net (8,404) 607
Loss before income taxes (54,416) (53,949)
Income tax expense (233) (113)
Net loss $(54,649) $(54,062)
Net loss per share, basic and diluted $(0.65) $(0.68)
Weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding, basic and diluted 83,448,101 79,310,434
Other comprehensive income (loss)
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax of $0 for all periods presented (1,691) (3,303)
Comprehensive loss $(56,340) $(57,365)
2U, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(in thousands)
Three Months Ended
March 31,
2024 2023
(unaudited)
Cash flows from operating activities
Net loss $(54,649) $(54,062)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities:
Non-cash interest expense 3,283 3,532
Depreciation and amortization expense 24,686 30,020
Stock-based compensation expense 5,324 14,563
Non-cash lease expense 4,162 4,457
Provision for credit losses 2,873 2,497
Loss on debt extinguishment - 12,123
Loss on sale of receivables 8,120
Other 284 (598)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable, net 39,186 (11,455)
Other receivables, net (310) 947
Prepaid expenses and other assets 20,025 (1,213)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses 2,395 11,158
Deferred revenue 20,583 24,674
Other liabilities, net (3,713) (9,165)
Net cash provided by operating activities 72,249 27,478
Cash flows from investing activities
Additions of amortizable intangible assets (7,134) (10,586)
Purchases of property and equipment (176) (1,222)
Net cash used in investing activities (7,310) (11,808)
Cash flows from financing activities
Proceeds from debt - 239,223
Payments on debt (1,376) (321,078)
Prepayment premium on extinguishment of senior secured term loan facility - (5,666)
Payment of debt issuance costs - (2,867)
Tax withholding payments associated with settlement of restricted stock units (112) (361)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options - 110
Proceeds from employee stock purchase plan share purchases 661 1,176
Net cash used in financing activities (827) (89,463)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash (73) 501
Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash 64,039 (73,292)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period 73,399 182,578
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period $137,438 $109,286
2U, Inc.
Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures - Adjusted EBITDA
(unaudited)
The following table presents a reconciliation of adjusted EBITDA to net loss for each of the periods indicated.
Three Months Ended
March 31,
2024 2023
(in thousands, except share and
per
share amounts)
Revenue $198,377 $238,504
Net loss $(54,649) $(54,062)
Stock-based compensation expense 5,324 14,563
Other expense (income), net 8,404 (607)
Amortization of acquired intangible assets 8,242 9,936
Income tax benefit on amortization of acquired intangible assets (19) (19)
Debt modification expense and loss on debt extinguishment - 16,735
Restructuring charges 4,727 4,875
Other* 9,880 962
Adjusted net loss (18,091) (7,617)
Net interest expense 18,690 17,592
Income tax expense 252 132
Depreciation and amortization expense 16,444 20,084
Adjusted EBITDA $17,295 $30,191
Adjusted EBITDA margin 9 % 13 %
Net loss per share, basic and diluted $(0.65) $(0.68)
Adjusted net loss per share, basic and diluted $(0.22) $(0.10)
Weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding, basic and diluted 83,448,101 79,310,434
* Includes (i) transaction and integration expense of $0.3 million and $0.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, (ii) litigation-related expense of $2.6 million and $0.8
million for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively and (iii) performance improvement initiative implementation expense of $7.0 million and $0 for the three months ended March 31,
2024 and 2023, respectively.
2U, Inc.
Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures - Adjusted EBITDA by Segment
(unaudited)
The following table presents a reconciliation of adjusted EBITDA (loss) to net loss by segment for each of the periods indicated.
Degree Program Segment Alternative Credential
Segment Consolidated
Three Months Ended Three Months Ended Three Months Ended
March 31, March 31, March 31,
2024 2023 2024 2023 2024 2023
(in thousands)
Revenue $111,546 $140,480 $86,831 $98,024 $198,377 $238,504
Net loss $(22,455) $(13,077) $(32,194) $(40,985) $(54,649) $(54,062)
Adjustments:
Stock-based compensation expense 3,365 8,135 1,959 6,428 5,324 14,563
Other expense (income), net 7,626 (1,203) 778 596 8,404 (607)
Net interest expense (income) 18,742 17,649 (52) (57) 18,690 17,592
Income tax expense 151 96 82 17 233 113
Depreciation and amortization expense 11,118 13,818 13,568 16,202 24,686 30,020
Debt modification expense and loss on debt extinguishment - 16,735 16,735
Restructuring charges 3,558 4,107 1,169 768 4,727 4,875
Other 9,880 944 18 9,880 962
Total adjustments 54,440 60,281 17,504 23,972 71,944 84,253
Total adjusted EBITDA (loss) $31,985 $47,204 $(14,690) $(17,013) $17,295 $30,191
Adjusted EBITDA margin 29 % 34 % (17) % (17) % 9 % 13 %
2U, Inc.
Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures - Adjusted Free Cash Flow and Adjusted Unlevered Free Cash Flow
(unaudited)
The following table presents a reconciliation of adjusted unlevered free cash flow to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities for each of the twelve-month periods indicated.
Trailing Twelve Months Ended
March 31, December 31, September 30, June 30,
2024 2023 2023 2023
(in thousands)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities $41,340 $(3,431) $(5,149) $(16,536)
Additions of amortizable intangible assets (40,559) (44,010) (44,733) (50,619)
Purchases of property and equipment (4,975) (6,021) (7,313) (8,640)
Payments to university clients 300 1,050 1,050 3,550
Non-ordinary cash payments* 43,345 36,653 34,618 36,101
Adjusted free cash flow 39,451 (15,759) (21,527) (36,144)
Cash interest payments on debt 63,268 61,194 53,473 47,802
Adjusted unlevered free cash flow $102,719 $45,435 $31,946 $11,658
* Includes transaction, integration, restructuring-related, stockholder activism, and
litigation-related expense.
2U, Inc.
Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures
(unaudited)
The following table presents a reconciliation of adjusted EBITDA guidance to net loss guidance, at the midpoint of the ranges provided by the company, for the periods indicated.
Three Months Ending Year Ending
June 30, 2024 December 31, 2024
(in millions)
Net loss $(35.0) $(100.5)
Stock-based compensation expense 5.0 20.0
Amortization of acquired intangible assets 8.0 32.5
Restructuring charges 3.0 15.0
Other 4.0 27.5
Adjusted net loss (15.0) (5.5)
Net interest expense 16.0 70.0
Depreciation and amortization expense 16.0 58.0
Adjusted EBITDA $17.0 $122.5
2U, Inc.
Key Financial Performance Metrics
(unaudited)
Full Course Equivalent Enrollments
Degree Program Segment
The following table presents FCE enrollments and average revenue per FCE enrollment in the company's Degree Program Segment for the last eight quarters.
Q1 '24 Q4 '23 Q3 '23 Q2 '23 Q1 '23 Q4 '22 Q3 '22 Q2 '22
Degree Program Segment FCE enrollments 44,693 43,309 45,284 50,490 55,491 53,631 57,092 60,303
Degree Program Segment average revenue per FCE enrollment* $2,496 $3,774 $3,039 $2,367 $2,532 $2,557 $2,404 $2,373
* Average revenue per FCE enrollment includes revenue from portfolio
management activities.
Alternative Credential Segment*
The following table presents FCE enrollments and average revenue per FCE enrollment in the company's Alternative Credential Segment for the last eight quarters.
Q1 '24 Q4 '23 Q3 '23 Q2 '23 Q1 '23 Q4 '22 Q3 '22 Q2 '22
Alternative Credential Segment FCE enrollments 24,955 24,499 25,318 25,840 21,990 24,236 23,128 23,443
Alternative Credential Segment average revenue per FCE enrollment $3,260 $3,500 $3,428 $3,591 $4,193 $3,840 $3,850 $3,891
* FCE enrollments and average revenue per FCE enrollment exclude the impact of enrollments in edX offerings and the related revenue of $5.5 million and $5.8 million for the three months
ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
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SOURCE 2U, Inc.
