RALEIGH, N.C., Feb. 21, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Bandwidth Inc. (NASDAQ: BAND), a software company focused on communications for the enterprise, today announced financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2017.

"We were very pleased with our fourth quarter results, which capped off a strong finish to the year," stated David Morken, chief executive officer of Bandwidth.  "During the quarter, the better-than-expected results were driven by ongoing enterprise demand to embed voice, messaging and 911 into software applications.   We remain well positioned to capitalize on the growing market opportunity during 2018 and beyond given our unique combination of our API platform and owned nationwide IP voice network, as well as our significantly strengthened balance sheet to execute our growth strategy."

Fourth Quarter 2017 Financial Highlights

• Revenue: Total revenue for the fourth quarter of 2017 was $42.5 million, compared to $38.8 million for the fourth quarter of 2016. Within total revenue, CPaaS revenue was $35.0 million, up 16% compared to $30.2 million for the fourth quarter of 2016. Other revenue contributed the remaining $7.5 million for the fourth quarter of 2017, compared to $8.6 million for the fourth quarter of 2016.
  
  
• Gross Profit: Gross profit for the fourth quarter of 2017 was $19.6 million, compared to $17.7 million for the fourth quarter of 2016. Non-GAAP gross profit for the fourth quarter of 2017 was $20.7 million, compared to $18.8 million for the fourth quarter of 2016. Gross margin for the fourth quarter of 2017 was 46%, compared to 46% for the fourth quarter of 2016. Non-GAAP gross margin was 49% for the fourth quarter of 2017, compared to 48% for the fourth quarter of 2016.
  
  
• Net Income (Loss): Net loss from continuing operations attributable to common stockholders for the fourth quarter of 2017 was $(0.6) million, or $(0.04) per share, based on 14.9 million weighted average basic shares outstanding. This includes a charge of $2.1 million or $0.14 per share related to the enactment of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act in December 2017 due to the remeasurement of our deferred tax assets at the lower corporate tax rate. During the fourth quarter of 2016, net income from continuing operations attributable to common stockholders was $12.0 million, or $0.92 per share, based on 13.0 million weighted average diluted shares outstanding for the fourth quarter of 2016. This includes a $14.1 million or $1.08 per share benefit due to the release of the deferred tax asset valuation allowance subsequent to the spin-off of Republic Wireless.
   
  Non-GAAP net income for the fourth quarter of 2017 was $1.6 million, or $0.09 per share, based on 18.1 million weighted average diluted shares outstanding.  This compares to a non-GAAP net income of $0.5 million, or $0.03 per share, based on 14.8 million weighted average diluted shares outstanding for the fourth quarter of 2016.
  
  
• Adjusted EBITDA: Adjusted EBITDA was $4.4 million for the fourth quarter of 2017, compared to $5.0 million for the fourth quarter of 2016.
  
  
• Cash and Cash Flow: As of December 31, 2017, Bandwidth had cash and cash equivalents of $37.6 million and no debt.
  
  The Company generated $4.8 million in net cash provided by operating activities from continuing operations for the fourth quarter of 2017, compared to $4.2 million during the fourth quarter of 2016.  The Company generated $1.7 million in free cash flow for the quarter, compared to $2.4 million for the fourth quarter of 2016. 

Full Year 2017 Financial Highlights

• Revenue: Total revenue for the full year of 2017 was $163.0 million, compared to $152.1 million in 2016. Within total revenue, CPaaS revenue was $131.6 million, up 12% compared to $117.1 million in 2016. Other revenue contributed the remaining $31.4 million for the full year of 2017, compared to $35.1 million for the full year of 2016.
  
  
• Gross Profit: Gross profit for the full year of 2017 was $73.7 million, compared to $66.9 million in 2016. Non-GAAP gross profit for the full year of 2017 was $78.1 million, compared to $71.6 million in 2016. Gross margin for the full year of 2017 was 45%, compared to 44% in 2016. Non-GAAP gross margin was 48% for the full year of 2017, compared to 47% in 2016.
  
  
• Net Income: Net income from continuing operations attributable to common stockholders for the full year of 2017 was $5.3 million, or $0.37 per share, based on 14.5 million weighted average diluted shares outstanding. This includes the aforementioned charge of $2.1 million or $0.14 per share related to the enactment of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act in December 2017. This compares to net income from continuing operations attributable to common stockholders of $22.1 million, or $1.72 per share, based on 12.9 million weighted average diluted shares outstanding in 2016. This includes a $14.1 million or $1.10 per share benefit due to the release of the deferred tax asset valuation allowance subsequent to the spin-off of Republic Wireless.
  
  Non-GAAP net income for the full year of 2017 was $9.5 million, or $0.59 per share, based on 16.1 million weighted average diluted shares outstanding.  This compares to a non-GAAP net income of $9.8 million, or $0.67 per share, based on 14.6 million weighted average diluted shares outstanding in 2016.
  

• Adjusted EBITDA: Adjusted EBITDA was $22.2 million for the full year of 2017, compared to $23.5 million in 2016.
  
  
• Cash Flow: The Company generated $14.6 million in net cash provided by operating activities from continuing operations for the full year of 2017, compared to $16.9 million during 2016. The Company generated $6.7 million in free cash flow for the year, compared to $10.9 million in 2016.

Additional information regarding the non-GAAP financial measures discussed in this release, including an explanation of these measures and how they are calculated are included below under the heading "Non-GAAP Financial Measures." A reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP financial measures has also been provided in the financial tables included below.

Fourth Quarter 2017 Key Metrics

• The number of active CPaaS customers was 965 as of December 31, 2017, an increase of 21% from 798 as of December 31, 2016.
  
  
• The dollar-based net retention rate was 111% during the fourth quarter of 2017, compared to 108% during the fourth quarter of 2016.

Financial Outlook

As of February 21, 2018, Bandwidth is providing guidance for its first quarter and full year 2018 as follows:

• First Quarter 2018 Guidance: CPaaS revenue is expected to be in the range of $36.0 million to $36.5 million. Total revenue is expected to be in the range of $47.0 million to $47.5 million. Non-GAAP EPS is expected to be in the range of $0.07 to $0.10 per share, using 20.3 million weighted average diluted shares outstanding.
  
  
• Full Year 2018 Guidance: CPaaS revenue is expected to be in the range of $156.0 million to $158.0 million. Total revenue is expected to be in the range of $188.0 million to $190.0 million. Non-GAAP EPS is expected to be in the range of approximately breakeven to a loss of ($0.11) per share, using 17.8 million weighted average shares outstanding.

Bandwidth has not reconciled its first quarter and full-year guidance related to non-GAAP net income to GAAP net income and non-GAAP EPS to GAAP EPS, because stock-based compensation cannot be reasonably calculated or predicted at this time. Accordingly, a reconciliation is not available without unreasonable effort.

Quarterly Conference Call

Bandwidth will host a conference call today at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time to review the Company's financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2017.  To access this call, dial (877) 407-0792 for the U.S. or Canada, or (201) 689-8263 for international callers.  A live webcast of the conference call will be accessible from the Investors section of Bandwidth's website at https://investors.bandwidth.com, and a recording will be archived and accessible at https://investors.bandwidth.com.  An audio replay of this conference call will also be available through March 7, 2018, by dialing (844) 512-2921 for the U.S. or Canada, or (412) 317-6671 for international callers, and entering passcode 13675784.

About Bandwidth, Inc.

Bandwidth (NASDAQ: BAND) is a software company focused on communications for the enterprise. Companies like Google, Microsoft, and Ring Central use Bandwidth's APIs to easily embed voice, messaging and 9-1-1 access into software and applications. Bandwidth is the first and only CPaaS provider offering a robust selection of communications APIs built around their own nationwide IP voice network- one of the largest in the nation.  More information available at www.bandwidth.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes forward-looking statements. All statements contained in this press release other than statements of historical facts, including, without limitation, statements regarding our future financial and business performance for the first quarter 2018 and full-year 2018, attractiveness of our product offerings and platform and the value proposition of our products, are forward-looking statements. The words "anticipate," "believe," "continue," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "guide," "may," "will" and similar expressions and their negatives are intended to identify forward-looking statements. We have based these forward-looking statements largely on our current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that we believe may affect our financial condition, results of operations, business strategy, short-term and long-term business operations and objectives and financial needs. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, risks related to our rapid growth and ability to sustain our revenue growth rate, competition in the markets in which we operate, market growth, our ability to innovate and manage our growth, our ability to expand effectively into new markets, our ability to operate in compliance with applicable laws as well as other risks and uncertainties set forth in the "Risk Factors" section of our prospectus related to the initial public offering (IPO), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b)(4) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, on November 13, 2017 and subsequent reports that we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  Moreover, we operate in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment. New risks emerge from time to time. It is not possible for our management to predict all risks, nor can we assess the impact of all factors on our 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 we may make. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, we cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance, achievements or events and circumstances reflected in the forward-looking statements will occur. We are under no obligation to update any of these forward-looking statements after the date of this press release to conform these statements to actual results or revised expectations, except as required by law. You should, therefore, not rely on these forward-looking statements as representing our views as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

To supplement our consolidated financial statements, which are prepared and presented in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles in the United States, or GAAP, we provide investors with certain non-GAAP financial measures and other business metrics, which we believe are helpful to our investors. We use these non-GAAP financial measures and other business metrics for financial and operational decision-making purposes and as a means to evaluate period-to-period comparisons. We believe that these non-GAAP financial measures and other business metrics provide useful information about our operating results, enhance the overall understanding of past financial performance and future prospects and allow for greater transparency with respect to metrics used by our management in its financial and operational decision-making.

The presentation of non-GAAP financial information and other business metrics is not meant to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the directly comparable financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP.  While our non-GAAP financial measures and other business metrics are an important tool for financial and operational decision-making and for evaluating our own operating results over different periods of time, we urge investors to review the reconciliation of these financial measures to the comparable GAAP financial measures included above, and not to rely on any single financial measure to evaluate our business.

We define non-GAAP gross profit as gross profit after adding back depreciation and amortization and stock-based compensation.  We add back depreciation and amortization and stock-based compensation because they are non-cash items. We eliminate the impact of these non-cash items because we do not consider them indicative of our core operating performance. Their exclusion facilitates comparisons of our operating performance on a period-to- period basis. Therefore, we believe that showing gross margin, as adjusted to remove the impact of these non- cash expenses, such as depreciation, amortization and stock-based compensation, is helpful to investors in assessing our gross profit and gross margin performance in a way that is similar to how management assesses our performance. We calculate non-GAAP gross margin by dividing adjusted gross profit by revenue, expressed as a percentage of revenue.

We define non-GAAP net income as net income or losses adjusted for certain items affecting period to period comparability. Non-GAAP net (loss) income excludes stock-based compensation, change in fair value of stockholders' antidilutive arrangement, amortization of acquired intangible assets related to the Dash acquisition, impairment charges of intangibles assets, loss (gain) on disposal of property and equipment, estimated tax impact of above adjustments, impact from the release of the valuation allowance on our deferred tax assets (DTA)during 2016, and impact of re-measurement of our DTA as a result of the 2017 tax reform act.

We define adjusted EBITDA as net income or losses from continuing operations, adjusted to reflect the addition or elimination of certain income statement items including, but not limited to: income tax expense (benefit), interest expense, net, depreciation and amortization expense, stock-based compensation expense, impairment of intangible assets, loss (gain) from disposal of property and equipment, and change in fair value of financial instruments, including any change in shareholders' anti-dilutive arrangements. We have presented Adjusted EBITDA because it is a key measure used by our management and board of directors to understand and evaluate our operating performance, generate future operating plans, and make strategic decisions regarding the allocation of capital. In particular, we believe that the exclusion of certain items in calculating Adjusted EBITDA can produce a useful measure for period-to-period comparisons of our business.

We define Free Cash Flow as cash flow provided by or used in operating activities from continuing operations, adjusted to include the acquisition of property, equipment and capitalized development costs for software for internal use. We have presented Free Cash Flow because it is a measure of the Company's financial performance that represents the cash that the Company is able to generate after expenditures required to maintain or expand our asset base.

We believe that these non-GAAP financial measures provide useful information about our operating results, enhance the overall understanding of past financial performance and future prospects and allow for greater transparency with respect to metrics used by our management in its financial and operational decision-making.

While a reconciliation of non-GAAP guidance measures to corresponding GAAP measures is not available on a forward-looking basis as a result of the uncertainty regarding, and the potential variability of, many of these costs and expenses that we may incur in the future, we have provided a reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures and other business metrics to the nearest comparable GAAP measures in the accompanying financial statement tables included in this press release.

We define an active CPaaS customer account at the end of any period as an individual account, as identified by a unique account identifier, for which we have recognized at least $100 of revenue in the last month of the period. We believe that the use of our platform by active CPaaS customer accounts at or above the $100 per month threshold is a stronger indicator of potential future engagement than trial usage of our platform at levels below $100 per month. A single organization may constitute multiple unique active CPaaS customer accounts if it has multiple unique account identifiers, each of which is treated as a separate active CPaaS customer account.

Our dollar-based net retention rate compares the CPaaS revenue from customers in a quarter to the same quarter in the prior year. To calculate the dollar-based net retention rate, we first identify the cohort of customers that generate CPaaS revenue and that were customers in the same quarter of the prior year. The dollar-based net retention rate is obtained by dividing the CPaaS revenue generated from that cohort in a quarter, by the CPaaS revenue generated from that same cohort in the corresponding quarter in the prior year. When we calculate dollar-based net retention rate for periods longer than one quarter, we use the average of the quarterly dollar-based net retention rates for the quarters in such period.

The Company recognized total stock-based compensation expense in continuing operations as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

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SOURCE Bandwidth Inc.

Seth Potter, ICR, Inc., for Bandwidth, 919-283-5993, ir@bandwidth.com