LivePerson Announces Third Quarter 2024 Financial Results
-- Total Revenue of $74.2M, above the high-end of our guidance range --
-- Adjusted EBITDA above the high-end of our guidance range --
NEW YORK, Nov. 7, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- LivePerson, Inc. (NASDAQ:LPSN) ("LivePerson", the "Company", "we" or "us"), the enterprise leader in digital customer conversations, today announced financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2024.
Third Quarter Highlights
Total revenue was $74.2 million for the third quarter of 2024, a decrease of 26.7% as compared to the same period last year driven by customer cancellations and downsells.
LivePerson signed 44 deals in total for the third quarter, consisting of 35 existing and 9 new customers, including 2 seven-figure deals. Trailing-twelve-months average revenue per enterprise and mid-market customer (ARPC) increased 5.9% for the third quarter to $630,000, up from approximately $595,000 for the comparable prior-year period. ARPC is calculated using only B2B Core recurring revenue, which is consistent with the revenue base for calculating Net Revenue Retention.
"Today's results highlight our third consecutive quarter of strong execution against our guidance, our second consecutive quarter of sequential improvement in bookings, and continued progress across all areas of our business. In the third quarter, we launched our unified omnichannel solution that has already translated into bookings within our Avaya partnership and generated a strong pipeline with Fortune 500 companies. We are also seeing meaningful returns from Generative AI adoption and solid momentum in our new pricing and packaging model with larger deals and shorter sales cycles," said CEO John Sabino. "The strategic changes we have made to better serve customers combined with our enhanced product capabilities have elevated LivePerson from a trusted digital partner to a strategic partner across all channels. We are still in the early stages of our turnaround, but I am confident that our customer-centric approach and ongoing commitment to innovation uniquely position LivePerson to be the preferred partner for enterprise digital transformation."
"We have restructured our business to focus on its core product and customers, and we continue to rationalize costs to generate positive free cash flow, despite expected near-term revenue decline," said CFO and COO John Collins. "At the same time, sequential growth in bookings each quarter this year, including tracking to double-digits this quarter and next, implies both continued demand for our product and that we now have a sales motion to consistently address that demand."
Customer Expansion
During the third quarter, the Company signed 44 total deals for the quarter, including 2 seven-figure deals, 35 expansion & renewals and 9 new logo deals. Expansions & renewals included:
Two of the largest health insurance providers in the world; and
A large Australian financial services company.
New logos included:
A leading fast casual restaurant company; and
A large U.S.-based insurance company.
Net Loss and Adjusted Operating Income (Loss)
Net loss for the third quarter of 2024 was $28.3 million or $0.32 per share, as compared to a net loss of $53.3 million or $0.68 per share for the third quarter of 2023. Adjusted operating income (loss), a non-GAAP financial measure, for the third quarter of 2024 was income of less than $0.1 million, as compared to income of $2.8 million for the third quarter of 2023. Adjusted operating income (loss) excludes other litigation, consulting and other employee costs, amortization of purchased intangibles and finance leases, restructuring costs, impairment of goodwill, impairment of intangibles and other assets, change in fair value of warrants, leadership transition costs, working capital adjustment related to the Kasamba divestiture, contingent earn-out adjustments, acquisition and divestiture costs, stock-based compensation expense, IT transformation costs, interest expense (income), net, loss (gain) on divestiture, gain on debt extinguishment, and other (income) expense, net.
A reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures to GAAP measures has been provided in the financial tables included in this press release. An explanation of the non-GAAP financial measures and how they are calculated is included below under the heading "Non-GAAP Financial Measures."
Adjusted EBITDA
Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP financial measure, for the third quarter of 2024 was $7.3 million as compared to adjusted EBITDA of $10.6 million for the third quarter of 2023. Adjusted EBITDA excludes other litigation, consulting and other employee costs, depreciation, amortization of purchased intangibles and finance leases, restructuring costs, impairment of goodwill, impairment of intangibles and other assets, change in fair value of warrants, leadership transition costs, working capital adjustment related to the Kasamba divestiture, contingent earn-out adjustments, acquisition and divestiture costs, stock-based compensation expense, provision for income taxes, IT transformation costs, interest expense (income), net, loss (gain) on divestiture, gain on debt extinguishment, and other (income) expense, net.
A reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures to GAAP measures has been provided in the financial tables included in this press release. An explanation of the non-GAAP financial measures and how they are calculated is included below under the heading "Non-GAAP Financial Measures."
Cash and Cash Equivalents
The Company's cash balance was $142.1 million at September 30, 2024, as compared to $210.8 million as of December 31, 2023.
Financial Expectations
The following forward-looking measures and the underlying assumptions involve significant known and unknown risks and uncertainties, and actual results may vary materially from these forward-looking measures. The Company does not present a quantitative reconciliation of the forward-looking non-GAAP financial measures, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA margin to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures (or otherwise present such forward-looking GAAP measures) because it is impractical to forecast certain items without unreasonable efforts due to the uncertainty and inherent difficulty of predicting, within a reasonable range, the occurrence and financial impact of and the periods in which such items may be recognized. In particular, these non-GAAP financial measures exclude certain items, including other litigation, consulting and other employee costs, depreciation, amortization of purchased intangibles and finance leases, restructuring costs, impairment of goodwill, impairment of intangibles and other assets, change in fair value of warrants, leadership transition costs, working capital adjustment related to the Kasamba divestiture, contingent earn-out adjustments, acquisition and divestiture costs, stock-based compensation expense, provision for income taxes, IT transformation costs, interest expense (income), net, loss (gain) on divestiture, gain on debt extinguishment, and other (income) expense, net, which depend on future events that the Company is unable to predict. Depending on the size of these items, they could have a significant impact on the Company's GAAP financial results.
For the fourth quarter of 2024, we expect total revenue to range from $65.7M - $70.7M or (31)% to (26)% year over year. We expect B2B Core recurring revenue to represent 93% of total revenue. For the fourth quarter of 2024, we expect adjusted EBITDA to range from $2.1M to $7.1M, or a margin of 3.2% to 10.0%.
For the full year 2024, we now expect total revenue to range from $305M - $310M or (23)% to (21)% year over year (excluding $7.2M of Kasamba revenue generated in Q1 2023). In addition, we expect B2B Core recurring revenue to represent 92% of total revenue. For the full year 2024, we expect adjusted EBITDA to range from $18M to $23M, or a margin of 5.9% to 7.4%.
For the tables below, year-over-year growth rates are on a like-for-like basis (excluding Kasamba contribution from 2023).
Fourth Quarter 2024
Guidance
Revenue (in millions)
$65.7 - $70.7
Revenue growth (year-over-year)
(31)% - (26)%
Adjusted EBITDA (in millions)
$2.1 - $7.1
Adjusted EBITDA margin (%)
3.2% - 10.0%
Full Year 2024
Guidance
Revenue (in millions)
$305 - $310
Revenue growth (year-over-year)
(23)% - (21)%
Adjusted EBITDA (in millions)
$18 - $23
Adjusted EBITDA margin (%)
5.9% - 7.4%
Disaggregated Revenue
Included in the accompanying financial results are revenues disaggregated by revenue source, as follows:
Three Months Ended September 30,
Nine Months Ended September 30,
2024
2023
2024
2023
(In thousands)
Revenue:
Hosted services (1)
$ 62,655
$ 85,747
$ 201,466
$ 254,371
Professional services
11,589
15,585
37,802
52,144
Total revenue
$ 74,244
$ 101,332
$ 239,268
$ 306,515
(1)
On March 20, 2023, the Company completed the sale of Kasamba and therefore ceased recognizing revenue related to Kasamba effective on the transaction close date. Further, this sale eliminated the entire Consumer segment, as a result of which revenue is presented within a single consolidated segment. Hosted services includes $7.2 million of revenue related to Kasamba for the nine months ended September 30, 2023.
Stock-Based Compensation
Included in the accompanying financial results are expenses related to stock-based compensation, as follows:
Three Months Ended September 30,
Nine Months Ended September 30,
2024
2023
2024
2023
(In thousands)
Cost of revenue
$ 251
$ 76
$ 882
$ 879
Sales and marketing
2,182
2,726
6,491
7,429
General and administrative
1,725
5,180
5,841
(6,070)
Product development
1,217
3,314
5,619
2,242
Total
$ 5,375
$ 11,296
$ 18,833
$ 4,480
Amortization of Purchased Intangibles and Finance Leases
Included in the accompanying financial results are expenses related to the amortization of purchased intangibles and finance leases, as follows:
Three Months Ended September 30,
Nine Months Ended September 30,
2024
2023
2024
2023
(In thousands)
Cost of revenue
$ 2,863
$ 4,586
$ 9,197
$ 13,725
Amortization of purchased intangibles
823
894
2,388
2,644
Total
$ 3,686
$ 5,480
$ 11,585
$ 16,369
Supplemental Third Quarter 2024 Presentation
LivePerson will post a presentation providing supplemental information for the third quarter 2024 on the investor relations section of the Company's web site at www.ir.liveperson.com.
Earnings Teleconference Information
The Company will discuss its third quarter of 2024 financial results during a teleconference today, November 7, 2024, at 5:00 PM ET. To participate via telephone, callers should dial in five to ten minutes prior to the 5:00 p.m. Eastern start time; domestic callers (U.S. and Canada) should dial 1-877-407-0784, while international callers should dial 1-201-689-8560, and both should reference the conference ID "13748564."
The conference call will also be simulcast live on the Internet and can be accessed by logging onto the investor relations section of the Company's web site at www.ir.liveperson.com.
If you are unable to participate in the live call, the teleconference will be available for replay approximately two hours after the call until November 21, 2024. To access the replay, please call 1-844-512-2921 (U.S. and Canada) or 1-412-317-6671 (international). Please reference the conference ID "13748564." A replay will also be available on the investor relations section of the Company's web site at www.ir.liveperson.com.
About LivePerson, Inc.
LivePerson (NASDAQ:LPSN) is the enterprise leader in digital-first customer conversations. The world's leading brands, including HSBC, Chipotle, and Virgin Media, use our award-winning Conversational Cloud platform to connect with millions of consumers. We power nearly a billion conversational interactions every month, providing a uniquely rich data set and AI-powered solutions to accelerate contact center transformation, supercharge agent productivity, and deliver more personalized customer experiences. Fast Company named us the #1 Most Innovative AI Company in the world. To talk with us or our AI, please visit liveperson.com.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Investors are cautioned that the following financial measures used in this press release and on our earnings call are "non-GAAP financial measures": (i) adjusted EBITDA, or net loss before other litigation, consulting and other employee costs, depreciation, amortization of purchased intangibles and finance leases, restructuring costs, impairment of goodwill, impairment of intangibles and other assets, change in fair value of warrants, leadership transition costs, working capital adjustment related to the Kasamba divestiture, contingent earn-out adjustments, acquisition and divestiture costs, stock-based compensation expense, provision for income taxes, IT transformation costs, interest expense (income), net, loss (gain) on divestiture, gain on debt extinguishment, and other (income) expense, net; (ii) adjusted EBITDA margin, or net loss before other litigation, consulting and other employee costs, depreciation, amortization of purchased intangibles and finance leases, restructuring costs, impairment of goodwill, impairment of intangibles and other assets, change in fair value of warrants, leadership transition costs, working capital adjustment related to the Kasamba divestiture, contingent earn-out adjustments, acquisition and divestiture costs, stock-based compensation expense, provision for income taxes, IT transformation costs, interest expense (income), net, loss (gain) on divestiture, gain on debt extinguishment, and other (income) expense, net, divided by revenue; (iii) adjusted operating income (loss), or net loss before other litigation, consulting and other employee costs, amortization of purchased intangibles and finance leases, restructuring costs, impairment of goodwill, impairment of intangibles and other assets, change in fair value of warrants, leadership transition costs, working capital adjustment related to the Kasamba divestiture, contingent earn-out adjustments, acquisition and divestiture costs, stock-based compensation expense, IT transformation costs, interest expense (income), net, loss (gain) on divestiture, gain on debt extinguishment, and other (income) expense, net, and (iv) free cash flow, or net cash used in operating activities less purchases of property and equipment, including capitalized software.
Non-GAAP financial information should not be construed as an alternative to any other measures of performance determined in accordance with GAAP, or as an indicator of our operating performance, liquidity or cash flows generated by operating, investing and financing activities as there may be significant factors or trends that it fails to address. We present non-GAAP financial information because we believe that it is helpful to some investors as one measure of our operations.
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements in this press release and on our earnings call regarding LivePerson that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual future events or results to differ materially from such statements. Any such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to financial guidance, changes to our capital structure, our ability to execute on our transformation strategy, the effects of our cost-reduction efforts and the impact of our new hires, are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. With respect to our financial guidance, we note that it is routine for our internal projections and expectations to change as the quarter and year progress, and therefore it should be clearly understood that the internal projections and beliefs upon which we base our expectations may change. Although these expectations may change, we are under no obligation to inform you if they do. Some of the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained herein include, without limitation: strain on our personnel resources and infrastructure from supporting our customer base; our ability to retain existing customers and cause them to purchase additional services and to attract new customers; our ability to retain key personnel, attract new personnel and to manage staff attrition; our ability to successfully integrate acquisitions; our ability to refinance our substantial indebtedness before it becomes due or to secure necessary additional financing on commercially reasonable terms, or at all; lengthy sales cycles; delays in our implementation cycles; payment-related risks; potential fluctuations in our quarterly revenue and operating results; limitations on the effectiveness of our controls; non-payment or late payment of amounts due to us from a significant number of customers; volatility in the capital markets; recognition of revenue from subscriptions; customer retention and engagement; our ability to develop and maintain successful relationships with partners, service partners, social media and other third-party consumer messaging platforms and endpoints; our ability to effectively operate on mobile devices; the highly competitive markets in which we operate; general economic conditions; failures or security breaches in our services, those of our third party service providers, or in the websites of our customers; regulation or possible misappropriation of personal information ...
