Pluralsight Announces Third Quarter 2018 Results


  • Billings grew 44 percent period over period to $72.2 million in Q3 2018
  • Revenue grew 42 percent period over period to $61.6 million in Q3 2018

SILICON SLOPES, Utah, Oct. 24, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pluralsight (Nasdaq:PS), the enterprise technology learning company, today announced financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2018.

“We achieved our sixth consecutive quarter of greater than 50% growth in B2B billings, while demonstrating the inherent levers to profitability in our model,” said Aaron Skonnard, co-founder and CEO of Pluralsight. “Our platform gives tech leaders unprecedented insights into the skill gaps across their organizations, and we provide the tools to close them, enabling enterprises to accelerate innovation.”

Financial Highlights for the Third Quarter 2018

  • Billings - Q3 2018 billings were $72.2 million, an increase of 44% period over period. Q3 2018 billings from business customers were $61.1 million, an increase of 53% period over period.
  • Revenue - Q3 2018 revenue was $61.6 million, an increase of 42% period over period.
  • Gross margin - Q3 2018 gross margin was 75%, compared to 71% in Q3 2017. Q3 2018 non-GAAP gross margin was 77%, compared to 75% in Q3 2017.
  • Net loss per share - GAAP net loss per share for Q3 2018 was $0.23. Adjusted pro forma net loss per share for Q3 2018 was $0.10, compared to $0.39 in Q3 2017.
  • Cash flows - Cash provided by operations was $1.9 million for Q3 2018, compared to cash used in operations of $6.9 million in Q3 2017. Free cash flow improved by $7.9 million in Q3 2018 compared to Q3 2017.

For information regarding the non-GAAP financial measures discussed in this press release, please see the section titled “Non-GAAP Financial Measures.” Reconciliations between GAAP and non-GAAP financial measures are provided in the tables of this press release.

Financial Outlook

Pluralsight is providing the following financial guidance for the fourth quarter 2018, and the full years 2018 and 2019:

Fourth Quarter 2018 guidance:

  • Revenue is expected to be in the range of $65 million to $66 million.
  • Adjusted pro forma net loss per share is expected to be in the range of $0.10 to $0.09, assuming weighted-average shares outstanding of approximately 133.0 million.

Full Year 2018 guidance:

  • Revenue is expected to be in the range of $230 million to $231 million.
  • Adjusted pro forma net loss per share is expected to be in the range of $0.63 to $0.60, assuming weighted-average shares outstanding of approximately 100.5 million.

Full Year 2019 guidance:

  • Revenue is expected to be in the range of $295 million to $310 million.
  • Adjusted pro forma net loss per share is expected to be in the range of $0.34 to $0.26, assuming weighted-average shares outstanding of approximately 138.5 million.

Guidance for non-GAAP financial measures excludes equity-based compensation, amortization of acquired intangible assets, and loss on debt extinguishment. Pluralsight has not reconciled its expectations as to adjusted pro forma net loss per share to their most directly comparable GAAP measures because certain items cannot be reasonably predicted. Accordingly, a reconciliation for expectations of adjusted pro forma net loss per share is not available without unreasonable effort.

Conference Call Information

Pluralsight will host a conference call for analysts and investors to discuss its third quarter 2018 results and outlook for its fourth quarter 2018, and the full years 2018 and 2019, today at 2:30 p.m., Mountain time (4:30 p.m. Eastern time).

Date:Wednesday, October 24 
Time:2:30 p.m. MT (4:30 p.m. ET) 
Webcast:https://investors.pluralsight.com/ 
Dial-in number:(877) 350-6732 or (629) 228-0693, conference ID: 1166607 

A live audio webcast of the conference call will also be accessible from the Pluralsight website at investors.pluralsight.com. A telephonic replay of the call will be available three hours after the call, will run for seven days, and may be accessed by dialing (855) 859-2056 or (404) 537-3406 and entering the passcode 1166607.

About Pluralsight

Pluralsight is an enterprise technology learning platform that delivers a unified, end-to-end learning experience for businesses across the globe. Through its subscription service, companies are empowered to move at the speed of technology, increasing proficiency, innovation and efficiency. Founded in 2004, brought online in 2011, and trusted by Fortune 500 companies, Pluralsight provides subscribers with on-demand access to a digital ecosystem of learning tools, including adaptive skill tests, directed learning paths, expert-authored courses, interactive labs and live mentoring.

Pluralsight and the Pluralsight logo are trademarks of Pluralsight, LLC in the United States and in jurisdictions throughout the world.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of federal securities laws that involve risks and uncertainties, including statements regarding our future financial and operating performance, including our financial outlook for the fourth quarter 2018, and the full years 2018 and 2019. There are a significant number of factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from statements made in this press release, including: the pace of market adoption of cloud-based learning solutions; our ability to expand our course library and develop new platform features; competition; our ability to attract and retain customers; our ability to increase sales of subscriptions to our platform to customers; our ability to expand our sales and marketing capabilities; and general market, political, economic, and business conditions.

Additional risks and uncertainties that could affect our financial results are included under the captions “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in our final prospectus filed with the SEC on May 17, 2018 (File No. 333-224301), which is available on our website at investors.pluralsight.com and on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Additional information will also be set forth in other filings that we make with the SEC from time to time. All forward-looking statements in this press release are based on information available to us as of the date hereof, and we do not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking statements provided to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date on which they were made, except as required by law.

Key Business Metrics

Billings. Billings represents total revenue plus the change in deferred revenue in the period, as presented in our condensed consolidated statements of cash flows. Billings in any particular period represents amounts invoiced to customers and reflects subscription renewals and upsells to existing customers plus sales to new customers. We use billings to measure our ability to sell subscriptions to our platform to both existing and new customers. We use billings from business customers and our percentage of billings from business customers to measure and monitor our ability to sell subscriptions to our platform to business customers.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Pluralsight has provided in this press release financial information that has not been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (GAAP). Pluralsight uses the non-GAAP financial measures of non-GAAP gross profit, non-GAAP gross margin, non-GAAP operating loss, adjusted pro forma net loss, adjusted pro forma net loss per share and free cash flow in analyzing its financial results and believes that the use of these metrics is useful to investors as an additional tool to evaluate ongoing operating results and trends and in comparing Pluralsight’s financial results with other companies in its industry, many of which present similar non-GAAP financial measures.

The presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures is not meant to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for comparable GAAP financial measures, and should be read only in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP. A reconciliation of our historical non-GAAP financial measures to their most directly comparable GAAP measures have been provided in the financial statement tables included in this press release, and investors are encouraged to review these reconciliations.

Non-GAAP gross profit. We define non-GAAP gross profit as gross profit plus equity-based compensation and amortization related to acquired intangible assets.

Non-GAAP gross margin. We define non-GAAP gross margin as non-GAAP gross profit divided by our revenue.

Non-GAAP operating loss. We define non-GAAP operating loss as loss from operations plus equity-based compensation and amortization of acquired intangible assets.

Adjusted pro forma net loss and adjusted pro forma net loss per share. We define adjusted pro forma net loss as net loss attributable to Pluralsight, Inc. adjusted for the reallocation of loss attributable to non-controlling interests from the assumed exchange of LLC Units of Pluralsight Holdings for newly-issued shares of Class A common stock of Pluralsight, Inc. and further adjusted for equity-based compensation, amortization of acquired intangible assets, and loss on debt extinguishment. We define adjusted pro forma net loss per share as adjusted pro forma net loss divided by the weighted-average shares of Class A common stock outstanding, assuming the full exchange of all outstanding LLC Units of Pluralsight Holdings for newly-issued shares of Class A common stock of Pluralsight, Inc.

Free cash flow. We define free cash flow as cash provided by (used in) operating activities less purchases of property and equipment and purchases of our content library.


PLURALSIGHT, INC.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
(unaudited)

  Three Months Ended
September 30,
 Nine Months Ended
September 30,
  2018 2017 2018 2017
Revenue $61,553  $43,286  $164,769  $119,416 
Cost of revenue(1)(2) 15,331  12,582  46,107  35,678 
Gross profit 46,222  30,704  118,662  83,738 
Operating expenses(1)(2):        
Sales and marketing 41,392  29,410  109,792  70,254 
Technology and content 17,227  12,448  47,045  33,979 
General and administrative 17,398  19,094  48,138  34,773 
Total operating expenses 76,017  60,952  204,975  139,006 
Loss from operations (29,795) (30,248) (86,313) (55,268)
Other (expense) income:        
Interest expense (342) (3,252) (6,476) (8,376)
Loss on debt extinguishment     (4,085) (1,882)
Other income, net 654  55  689  124 
Loss before income taxes (29,483) (33,445) (96,185) (65,402)
Provision for income taxes (254) (90) (506) (216)
Net loss $(29,737) $(33,535) $(96,691) $(65,618)
Less: Net loss attributable to non-controlling interests (15,578)   (28,284)  
Net loss attributable to Pluralsight, Inc. $(14,159) $(33,535) $(68,407) $(65,618)
Less: Accretion of Series A redeemable convertible preferred units   (34,375) (176,275) (57,200)
Net loss attributable to common shares $(14,159) $(67,910) $(244,682) $(122,818)
Net loss per share, basic and diluted(3) $(0.23)   $(0.41)  
Weighted-average common shares used in computing basic and diluted net loss per share(3) 62,472    62,400   

(1) Includes equity-based compensation expense as follows:

  Three Months Ended
September 30,
 Nine Months Ended
September 30,
  2018 2017 2018 2017
Cost of revenue $40  $5  $86  $15 
Sales and marketing 4,372  631  9,343  2,010 
Technology and content 2,790  499  5,839  1,489 
General and administrative 8,842  11,762  21,704  15,474 
Total equity-based compensation $16,044  $12,897  $36,972  $18,988 
 


PLURALSIGHT, INC.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (cont.)
(in thousands)
(unaudited)

(2) Includes amortization of acquired intangible assets as follows:

  Three Months Ended
September 30,
 Nine Months Ended
September 30,
  2018 2017 2018 2017
Cost of revenue $880  $1,642  $6,803  $4,926 
Sales and marketing   161  389  483 
Technology and content 176  176  529  528 
General and administrative   27    81 
Total amortization of acquired intangible assets $1,056  $2,006  $7,721  $6,018 

(3) Represents net loss per share of Class A common stock and weighted-average shares of Class A common stock outstanding for the periods following the reorganization transactions and Pluralsight, Inc.'s initial public offering.


PLURALSIGHT, INC.

Key Business Metrics and Non-GAAP Financial Measures
(dollars in thousands)
(unaudited)

Key Business Metrics

  Three Months Ended
September 30,
 Nine Months Ended
September 30,
  2018 2017 2018 2017
Billings $72,243  $50,005  $192,959  $134,917 
Billings from business customers $61,143  $39,920  $161,018  $105,092 
% of billings from business customers 85% 80% 83% 78%

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

  Three Months Ended
September 30,
 Nine Months Ended
September 30,
  2018 2017 2018 2017
Reconciliation of gross profit to non-GAAP gross profit:        
Gross profit $46,222  $30,704  $118,662  $83,738 
Equity-based compensation 40  5  86  15 
Amortization of acquired intangible assets 880  1,642  6,803  4,926 
Non-GAAP gross profit $47,142  $32,351  $125,551  $88,679 
Gross margin 75% 71% 72% 70%
Non-GAAP gross margin 77% 75% 76% 74%
         
Reconciliation of loss from operations to non-GAAP operating loss:        
Loss from operations $(29,795) $(30,248) $(86,313) $(55,268)
Equity-based compensation 16,044  12,897  36,972  18,988 
Amortization of acquired intangible assets 1,056  2,006  7,721  6,018 
Non-GAAP operating loss $(12,695) $(15,345) $(41,620) $(30,262)
 


PLURALSIGHT, INC.

Key Business Metrics and Non-GAAP Financial Measures
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
(unaudited)

  Three Months Ended
September 30,
 Nine Months Ended
September 30,
  2018 2017 2018 2017
Adjusted pro forma net loss per share        
Numerator:        
GAAP net loss attributable to common shares $(14,159) $(67,910) $(244,682) $(122,818)
Accretion of Series A redeemable convertible preferred units   34,375  176,275  57,200 
Reallocation of net loss attributable to non-controlling interests from the assumed exchange
of LLC Units of Pluralsight Holdings for Class A common stock
 (15,578)   (28,284)  
Equity-based compensation 16,044  12,897  36,972  18,988 
Amortization of acquired intangibles 1,056  2,006  7,721  6,018 
Loss on debt extinguishment     4,085  1,882 
Adjusted pro forma net loss $(12,637) $(18,632) $(47,913) $(38,730)
Denominator:        
Weighted-average shares of Class A common stock outstanding 62,472    31,314   
Weighted-average LLC Units of Pluralsight Holdings that are convertible into Class A common stock 68,734  47,922  58,529  47,831 
Adjusted pro forma weighted-average common shares outstanding, basic and diluted 131,206  47,922  89,843  47,831 
         
Adjusted pro forma net loss per share $(0.10) $(0.39) $(0.53) $(0.81)
                 
Reconciliation of net cash provided by (used in) operating activities to free cash flow:                
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities $1,934  $(6,866) $(14,283) $(10,816)
Less: Purchases of property and equipment  (2,002)  (1,434)  (6,576)  (4,459)
Less: Purchases of content library  (841)  (540)  (2,345)  (1,769)
Free cash flow $(909) $(8,840) $(23,204) $(17,044)
                 


PLURALSIGHT, INC.

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(in thousands)
(unaudited)

  September
30, 2018
 December
31, 2017
Assets    
Current assets:    
Cash and cash equivalents $208,626  $28,267 
Accounts receivable, net 47,801  38,229 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 8,037  5,125 
Total current assets 264,464  71,621 
Property and equipment, net 22,503  22,457 
Content library, net 7,547  13,441 
Intangible assets, net 1,935  2,854 
Goodwill 123,119  123,119 
Other assets 2,080  2,928 
Total assets $421,648  $236,420 
Liabilities, redeemable convertible preferred units, and stockholders' equity/members’ deficit    
Current liabilities:    
Accounts payable $6,834  $6,029 
Accrued expenses 31,415  26,514 
Accrued author fees 9,331  7,879 
Deferred revenue 130,555  103,107 
Total current liabilities 178,135  143,529 
Deferred revenue, net of current portion 8,649  8,194 
Long-term debt   116,037 
Facility financing obligation 7,500  7,513 
Other liabilities 1,090  458 
Total liabilities 195,374  275,731 
Redeemable convertible preferred units   405,766 
Stockholders' equity/members’ deficit:    
Preferred stock    
Class A common stock 6   
Class B common stock 6   
Class C common stock 1   
Additional paid-in capital 443,182   
Members’ capital    
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income (34) 25 
Accumulated deficit (335,863) (445,102)
Total stockholders' equity attributable to Pluralsight, Inc./members' deficit 107,298  (445,077)
Non-controlling interests 118,976   
Total stockholders' equity/members' deficit 226,274  (445,077)
Total liabilities, redeemable convertible preferred units, and stockholders' equity/members’ deficit $421,648  $236,420 
         


PLURALSIGHT, INC.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(in thousands)
(unaudited)

  Three Months Ended
September 30,
 Nine Months Ended
September 30,
  2018 2017 2018 2017
Operating activities        
Net loss $(29,737) $(33,535) $(96,691) $(65,618)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:        
Depreciation of property and equipment 1,973  1,741  6,331  4,367 
Amortization of acquired intangible assets 1,056  2,006  7,721  6,018 
Amortization of course creation costs 507  379  1,437  1,050 
Equity-based compensation 16,044  12,897  36,972  18,988 
Provision for doubtful accounts 135  172  493  360 
Amortization of debt discount and debt issuance costs   768  1,215  1,074 
Debt extinguishment costs 17    4,197  931 
Deferred tax benefit (34)   (98)  
Changes in assets and liabilities:        
Accounts receivable (11,687) (4,553) (10,352) (2,720)
Prepaid expenses and other assets 868  11  (2,990) (3,204)
Accounts payable 1,516  1,060  928  2,388 
Accrued expenses and other liabilities 9,751  5,080  6,912  8,721 
Accrued author fees 835  389  1,452  1,328 
Deferred revenue 10,690  6,719  28,190  15,501 
     Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities 1,934  (6,866) (14,283) (10,816)
Investing activities        
Purchases of property and equipment (2,002) (1,434) (6,576) (4,459)
Purchases of content library (841) (540) (2,345) (1,769)
     Net cash used in investing activities (2,843) (1,974) (8,921) (6,228)
Financing activities        
Proceeds from initial public offering, net of underwriting discounts and commissions     332,080   
Payments of costs related to initial public offering (3,998) (175) (7,083) (175)
Borrowings of long-term debt     20,000  115,000 
Repayments of long-term debt     (137,710) (85,000)
Payments of debt extinguishment costs (17)   (2,179)  
Payments of debt issuance costs   (28) (450) (837)
Payments to settle equity appreciation rights     (325)  
Taxes paid related to net share settlement     (78)  
Proceeds from the issuance of common units   3,114    3,136 
Redemption of incentive units   (2,801)   (2,801)
Payments of facility financing obligation (5) (4) (13) (12)
   Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities (4,020) 106  204,242  29,311 
Effect of exchange rate change on cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash (50) 14  (136) 38 
Net (decrease) increase in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash (4,979) (8,720) 180,902  12,305 
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash, beginning of period 214,358  40,422  28,477  19,397 
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash, end of period $209,379  $31,702  $209,379  $31,702 
         
Reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash:        
Cash and cash equivalents $208,626  $31,492  $208,626  $31,492 
Restricted cash included in other assets 753  210  753  210 
Total cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash $209,379  $31,702  $209,379  $31,702 
                 


Investor Relations Contact:
Mark McReynolds
Investor Relations
Pluralsight
801-784-9007
mark-mcreynolds@pluralsight.com 

Media Contact:
DJ Anderson
Communications/Press
Pluralsight
801-784-9007
dj@pluralsight.com