Trupanion Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2017 Results


SEATTLE, Feb. 13, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Trupanion, Inc. (Nasdaq:TRUP), a leading provider of medical insurance for cats and dogs, today announced financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2017.

“We are pleased with our fourth quarter results, which capped off a solid year both operationally and financially.  Revenue grew within our 20 – 30% target range and we meaningfully increased the funds available to us to invest in pet acquisition,” said Darryl Rawlings, CEO of Trupanion. “We plan to allocate additional funds to our test spend in 2018, with the goal of better understanding the levers that can drive enrolled pet growth while also meeting our internal rate of return targets over time.”  

Fourth Quarter 2017 Financial and Business Highlights

  • Total revenue was $66.5 million, an increase of 30% compared to the fourth quarter of 2016 (28% on a constant currency basis).
  • Total enrolled pets (including pets from our other business segment) was 423,194 at December 31, 2017, an increase of 23% over December 31, 2016.
  • Subscription business revenue was $59.0 million, an increase of 24% compared to the fourth quarter of 2016.
  • Subscription enrolled pets was 371,683 at December 31, 2017, an increase of 15% over December 31, 2016.
  • Net loss was $(0.8) million, or $(0.03) per basic and diluted share, compared to a net loss of $(1.7) million, or $(0.06) per basic and diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2016. Our Q4 2017 net loss includes a one-time tax benefit of $0.6 million, or $0.02 per share, related to the revaluation of our deferred tax liabilities as a result of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.
  • Adjusted EBITDA was $0.7 million, compared to adjusted EBITDA of $0.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2016.
  • Operating cash flow was $3.0 million and free cash flow was $2.1 million, compared to operating cash flow of $3.4 million and free cash flow of $3.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2016.

 Full Year 2017 Financial and Business Highlights

  • Total revenue was $242.7 million, an increase of 29% compared to 2016.
  • Subscription business revenue was $218.4 million, an increase of 26% compared to 2016.
  • Net loss was $(1.5) million, or $(0.05) per basic and diluted share, compared to a net loss of $(6.9) million or $(0.24) per basic and diluted share, in 2016. Our 2017 net loss includes a one-time tax benefit of $0.6 million, or $0.02 per share, related to the revaluation of our deferred tax liabilities as a result of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.
  • Adjusted EBITDA was $5.0 million, compared to adjusted EBITDA of $0.1 million in 2016.
  • Operating cash flow was $9.7 million and free cash flow was $6.5 million, compared to operating cash flow of $5.0 million and free cash flow of $3.1 million in 2016.

Revenue by Quarter

A chart accompanying this announcement is available at 
http://resource.globenewswire.com/Resource/Download/b9a28676-d652-4fb7-8016-7f204c3de98a

Conference Call
Trupanion’s management will host a conference call today to review its fourth quarter and full year 2017 results. The call is scheduled to begin shortly after 1:30 p.m. PT/ 4:30 p.m. ET. A live webcast will be accessible through the Investor Relations section of Trupanion’s website at http://investors.trupanion.com and will be archived online for 3 months upon completion of the conference call. Participants can access the conference call by dialing 1-877-407-0784 (United States) or 1-201-689-8560 (International). A telephonic replay of the call will also be available, one hour after the completion of the call, by dialing 1-844-512-2921 (United States) or 1-412-317-6671 (International) and entering the replay pin number: 13675441.

About Trupanion
Trupanion is a leader in medical insurance for cats and dogs throughout the United States and Canada. For almost two decades, Trupanion has helped provide peace of mind to pet owners so they can focus on their pet's recovery, not financial stress. Trupanion is committed to providing pet owners with the highest value in pet medical insurance. Trupanion is listed on NASDAQ under the symbol "TRUP". The company was founded in 2000 and is headquartered in Seattle, WA. Trupanion policies are issued, in the United States, by its wholly-owned insurance entity American Pet Insurance Company and, in Canada, by Omega General Insurance Company. For more information please visit Trupanion.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 relating to, among other things, expectations, plans, prospects and financial results for Trupanion, including, but not limited to, its expectations regarding its ability to execute its business plans. These forward-looking statements are based upon the current expectations and beliefs of Trupanion’s management as of the date of this press release, and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements made in this press release are based on information available to Trupanion as of the date hereof, and Trupanion has no obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

In particular, the following factors, among others, could cause results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements: the ability to achieve or maintain profitability and/or appropriate levels of cash flow in future periods; the ability to keep growing our membership base and revenue; the accuracy of assumptions used in determining appropriate member acquisition expenditures; the severity and frequency of claims; the ability to maintain high retention rates; the accuracy of assumptions used in pricing medical plan subscriptions and the ability to accurately estimate the impact of new products or offerings on claims frequency; actual claims expense exceeding estimates; regulatory and other constraints on the ability to institute, or the decision to otherwise delay, pricing modifications in response to changes in actual or estimated claims expense; the effectiveness and statutory or regulatory compliance of our Territory Partner model and of our Territory Partners, veterinarians and other third parties in recommending medical plan subscriptions to potential members; the ability to retain existing Territory Partners and increase the number of Territory Partners and active hospitals; compliance by us and those referring us members with laws and regulations that apply to our business, including the sale of a pet medical plan; the ability to maintain the security of our data; fluctuations in the Canadian currency exchange rate; the ability to protect our proprietary and member information; the ability to maintain our culture and team; the ability to maintain the requisite amount of risk-based capital; our ability to implement and maintain effective controls, including over financial reporting; the ability to protect and enforce Trupanion’s intellectual property rights; the ability to continue key contractual relationships with third parties; third-party claims including litigation and regulatory actions; the ability to recognize benefits from investments in new solutions and enhancements to Trupanion’s technology platform and website; and our ability to retain key personnel.

For a detailed discussion of these and other cautionary statements, please refer to the risk factors discussed in filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including but not limited to, Trupanion’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 and any subsequently filed reports on Forms 10-Q and 8-K. All documents are available through the SEC’s Electronic Data Gathering Analysis and Retrieval system at www.sec.gov or the Investor Relations section of Trupanion’s website at http://investors.trupanion.com.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Trupanion’s stated results may include certain non-GAAP financial measures. These non-GAAP financial measures may not provide information that is directly comparable to that provided by other companies in its industry as other companies in its industry may calculate or use non-GAAP financial measures differently. In addition, there are limitations in using non-GAAP financial measures because the non-GAAP financial measures are not prepared in accordance with GAAP, may be different from non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies and exclude expenses that may have a material impact on Trupanion’s reported financial results. The presentation and utilization of non-GAAP financial measures is not meant to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the directly comparable financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP. Trupanion urges its investors to review the reconciliation of its non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures in its consolidated financial statements, and not to rely on any single financial or operating measure to evaluate its business. These reconciliations are included below and on Trupanion’s Investor Relations website.

Because of varying available valuation methodologies, subjective assumptions and the variety of equity instruments that can impact a company’s non-cash expenses, Trupanion believes that providing various non-GAAP financial measures that exclude stock-based compensation expense and depreciation and amortization expense allows for more meaningful comparisons between its operating results from period to period. Trupanion offsets sales and marketing expense with sign-up fee revenue in the calculation of net acquisition cost because it collects sign-up fee revenue from new members at the time of enrollment and considers it to be an offset to a portion of Trupanion’s sales and marketing expenses. Trupanion believes this allows it to calculate and present financial measures in a consistent manner across periods. Trupanion’s management believes that the non-GAAP financial measures and the related financial measures derived from them are important tools for financial and operational decision-making and for evaluating operating results over different periods of time.

 

  
Trupanion, Inc. 
Consolidated Statements of Operations 
(in thousands, except per share data) 
             
 Three Months Ended Years Ended 
 December 31, December 31, 
 2017  2016  2017  2016  
 (unaudited)       
Revenue:            
Subscription business$  58,991  $  47,422  $  218,354  $  173,356  
Other business   7,554     3,918     24,313     14,874  
Total revenue   66,545     51,340     242,667     188,230  
Cost of revenue:            
Subscription business (1)   47,831     38,528     176,883     141,321  
Other business   6,977     3,594     22,734     13,621  
  Total cost of revenue (2)   54,808     42,122     199,617     154,942  
Gross profit:            
Subscription business   11,160     8,894     41,471     32,035  
Other business   577     324     1,579     1,253  
Total gross profit   11,737     9,218     43,050     33,288  
Operating expenses:            
Technology and development (1)   2,572     2,744     9,768     9,534  
General and administrative (1)   4,546     4,177     16,820     15,205  
Sales and marketing (1)   5,781     3,951     19,104     15,247  
Total operating expenses   12,899     10,872     45,692     39,986  
Operating loss   (1,162)    (1,654)    (2,642)    (6,698) 
Interest expense   163     81     533     218  
Other (income) expense, net   (5)    (19)    (1,244)    (58) 
Loss before income taxes   (1,320)    (1,716)    (1,931)    (6,858) 
Income tax (benefit) expense   (482)    7     (428)    38  
Net loss$  (838) $  (1,723) $  (1,503) $  (6,896) 
             
             
Net loss per share:            
  Basic and diluted$  (0.03) $  (0.06) $  (0.05) $  (0.24) 
Weighted-average common shares outstanding:            
  Basic and diluted   29,847,574     29,020,559     29,588,324     28,527,602  
             
(1) Includes stock-based compensation expense as follows:            
 Three Months Ended Years Ended 
 December 31, December 31, 
 2017  2016  2017  2016  
Cost of revenue$  162  $  60  $  594  $  275  
Technology and development   50     88     216     246  
General and administrative   471     470     1,887     1,893  
Sales and marketing    172     113     722     532  
Total stock-based compensation expense$  855  $  731  $  3,419  $  2,946  
             
(2)The breakout of cost of revenue between veterinary invoice expense and other cost of revenue is as follows:            
             
 Three Months Ended Years Ended 
 December 31, December 31, 
 2017  2016  2017  2016  
Veterinary invoice expense $   46,473   $   36,211   $   170,122   $   133,534  
Other cost of revenue   8,335     5,911     29,495     21,408  
  Total cost of revenue $   54,808   $   42,122   $   199,617   $   154,942  
             

 

  
Trupanion, Inc. 
Consolidated Balance Sheets 
(in thousands, except per share data) 
     
     
     
 December 31, 2017 December 31, 2016 
         
Assets    
Current assets:    
Cash and cash equivalents$  25,706  $  23,637  
Short-term investments   37,590     29,570  
Accounts and other receivables   20,367     10,118  
Prepaid expenses and other assets   2,895     2,062  
Total current assets   86,558     65,387  
Restricted cash   600     600  
Long-term investments, at fair value   3,237     2,579  
Equity method investment   -      271  
Property and equipment, net   7,868     8,464  
Intangible assets, net   4,972     4,910  
Other long-term assets   2,624     134  
Total assets$  105,859  $  82,345  
Liabilities and stockholders’ equity    
Current liabilities:    
Accounts payable$  2,716  $  2,006  
Accrued liabilities and other current liabilities   7,660     5,416  
Reserve for veterinary invoices   12,756     9,521  
Deferred revenue   22,734     13,463  
Total current liabilities   45,866     30,406  
Long-term debt   9,324     4,767  
Deferred tax liabilities   1,002     1,623  
Other liabilities   1,233     834  
Total liabilities   57,425     37,630  
Stockholders’ equity:    
Common stock, $0.00001 par value per share, 100,000,000 shares authorized at December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, 30,778,796 and 30,121,496 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2017; 30,156,247 and 29,498,947 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2016.   -      -   
Preferred stock: $0.00001 par value per share, 10,000,000 shares authorized at December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, and 0 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016.   -      -   
Additional paid-in capital   134,511     129,574  
Accumulated other comprehensive loss   (92)    (377) 
Accumulated deficit   (82,784)    (81,281) 
Treasury stock, at cost: 657,300 shares at December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016.   (3,201)    (3,201) 
Total stockholders’ equity   48,434     44,715  
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity$  105,859  $  82,345  
     

 

    
Trupanion, Inc.   
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows   
(in thousands)   
 Three Months Ended Years Ended   
 December 31, December 31,   
  2017   2016   2017   2016    
               
 (unaudited)       
Operating activities          
Net loss$  (838) $  (1,723) $  (1,503) $  (6,896)   
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to cash provided by operating activites:          
Depreciation and amortization   1,024     1,229     4,232     3,846    
Stock-based compensation expense   855     731     3,419     2,946    
Gain on sale of equity method investment   -      -      (1,036)    -     
Other, net   (626)    (114)    (383)    104    
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:          
Accounts and other receivables   (55)    193     (10,219)    (1,830)   
Prepaid expenses and other assets   118     (169)    (179)    48    
Accounts payable, accrued liabilities, and other liabilities   897     1,789     3,019     1,164    
Reserve for veterinary invoices   1,510     1,183     3,149     3,226    
Deferred revenue   92     319     9,167     2,398    
Net cash provided by operating activities   2,977     3,438     9,666     5,006    
Investing activities          
Purchases of investment securities   (11,216)    (15,624)    (31,920)    (31,616)   
Maturities of investment securities   7,494     14,670     23,372     27,247    
Proceeds from sale of equity method investment   -      -      1,402     -     
Purchases of property and equipment   (884)    (395)    (3,131)    (1,941)   
Other investments   (17)    (68)    (2,779)    (198)   
Net cash used in investing activities   (4,623)    (1,417)    (13,056)    (6,508)   
Financing activities          
Proceeds from exercise of stock options   463     1,009     2,545     3,745    
Taxes paid related to net share settlement of equity awards   -      -      (1,170)    (662)   
Proceeds from debt financing, net financing fees   1,980     1,000     4,400     4,988    
Other financing   (282)    (289)    (694)    (399)   
Net cash provided by financing activities   2,161     1,720     5,081     7,672    
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash, net   (58)    (130)    378     111    
Net increase in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash   457     3,611     2,069     6,281    
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at beginning of period   25,849     20,626     24,237     17,956    
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at end of period$  26,306  $  24,237  $  26,306  $  24,237    
           

 

The following tables set forth our key operating metrics:               
                 
 Years Ended             
 December 31,             
  2017   2016              
Total subscription pets enrolled (at period end)   371,683     323,233              
Total pets enrolled (at period end)   423,194     343,649              
Monthly average revenue per pet$  52.07  $  47.82              
Lifetime value of a pet (LVP)$  727  $  631              
Average pet acquisition cost (PAC)$  152  $  123              
Average monthly retention 98.63%  98.60%             
                 
 Three Months Ended 
 Dec. 31,
2017
 Sep. 30,
2017
 Jun. 30,
2017
 Mar. 31,
2017
 Dec. 31,
2016
 Sep. 30,
2016
 Jun. 30,
2016
 Mar. 31,
2016
 
Total subscription pets enrolled (at period end)   371,683     359,102     346,409     334,909     323,233     312,282     299,856     287,123  
Total pets enrolled (at period end)   423,194     404,069     383,293     364,259     343,649     334,070     320,896     307,298  
Monthly average revenue per pet$  53.17  $  52.95  $  51.47  $  50.50  $  49.17  $  48.37  $  47.39  $  46.12  
Lifetime value of a pet (LVP)$  727  $  701  $  654  $  637  $  631  $  624  $  622  $  603  
Average pet acquisition cost (PAC)$  184  $  151  $  143  $  128  $  133  $  120  $  118  $  123  
Average monthly retention 98.63%  98.61%  98.57%  98.58%  98.60%  98.61%  98.64%  98.65% 
                 

 

       
The following table reflects the reconciliation of cash provided by operating activities to free cash flow (in thousands): 
          
  Three Months Ended Years Ended 
  December 31, December 31, 
   2017   2016   2017   2016  
Net cash provided by operating activities $2,977  $  3,438  $  9,666  $  5,006  
Purchases of property and equipment  (884)    (395)    (3,131)    (1,941) 
Free cash flow $2,093  $  3,043  $  6,535  $  3,065  
          

 

  
The following table reflects the reconciliation of GAAP measures to non-GAAP measures (in thousands, except percentages): 
               
  Three Months Ended
December 31,
 Years Ended
December 31,
  
  2017  2016  2017  2016   
Veterinary invoice expense $  46,473  $  36,211  $  170,122  $  133,534   
Stock-based compensation expense    (95)    (45)    (355)    (234)  
Cost of goods $  46,378  $  36,166  $  169,767  $  133,300   
% of revenue  69.7%  70.4%  70.0%  70.8%  
               
Other cost of revenue $  8,335  $  5,911  $  29,495  $  21,408   
Stock-based compensation expense    (67)    (15)    (239)    (41)  
Variable expenses $  8,268  $  5,896  $  29,256  $  21,367   
% of revenue  12.4%  11.5%  12.1%  11.4%  
               
Subscription gross profit $  11,160  $  8,894  $  41,471  $  32,035   
Stock-based compensation expense    162     60     594     275   
Non-GAAP subscription gross profit $  11,322  $  8,954  $  42,065  $  32,310   
% of subscription revenue  19.2%  18.9%  19.3%  18.6%  
               
Gross profit $  11,737  $  9,218  $  43,050  $  33,288   
Stock-based compensation expense    162     60     594     275   
Non-GAAP gross profit $  11,899  $  9,278  $  43,644  $  33,563   
% of revenue  17.9%  18.1%  18.0%  17.8%  
               
Technology and development expense $  2,572  $  2,744  $  9,768  $  9,534   
General and administrative expense    4,546     4,177     16,820     15,205   
Depreciation and amortization expense    (1,024)    (1,229)    (4,232)    (3,846)  
Stock-based compensation expense    (521)    (558)    (2,103)    (2,139)  
Fixed expenses $  5,573  $  5,134  $  20,253  $  18,754   
% of revenue  8.4%  10.0%  8.3%  10.0%  
               
Sales and marketing expense $  5,781  $  3,951  $  19,104  $  15,247   
Stock-based compensation expense    (172)    (113)    (722)    (532)  
Acquisition cost $  5,609  $  3,838  $  18,382  $  14,715   
% of revenue  8.4%  7.5%  7.6%  7.8%  
               

 

      
The following tables reflect the reconciliation of acquisition cost and net acquisition cost to sales and marketing expense (in thousands):     
                  
  Years Ended             
  December 31,             
   2017   2016              
Sales and marketing expenses $  19,104  $  15,247              
Excluding:                 
Stock-based compensation expense    (722)    (532)             
Acquisition cost    18,382     14,715              
Net of:                 
Sign-up fee revenue    (2,169)    (2,073)             
Other business segment sales and marketing expense    (218)    (218)             
Net acquisition cost $  15,995  $  12,424              
                  
  Three Months Ended 
  Dec. 31,
2017
 Sep. 30,
2017
 Jun. 30,
2017
 Mar. 31,
2017
 Dec. 31,
2016
 Sep. 30,
2016
 Jun. 30,
2016
 Mar. 31,
2016
 
Sales and marketing expenses $  5,781  $  4,862  $  4,372  $  4,089  $  3,951  $  3,892  $  3,564  $  3,840  
Excluding:                 
Stock-based compensation expense    (172)    (165)    (198)    (187)    (113)    (172)    (165)    (82) 
Acquisition cost    5,609     4,697     4,174     3,902     3,838     3,720     3,399     3,758  
Net of:                 
Sign-up fee revenue    (550)    (558)    (517)    (544)    (526)    (525)    (495)    (527) 
Other business segment sales and marketing expense    (56)    (51)    (63)    (48)    (62)    (63)    (55)    (38) 
Net acquisition cost $  5,003  $  4,088  $  3,594  $  3,310  $  3,250  $  3,132  $  2,849  $  3,193  
                  

 

          
The following tables reflect the reconciliation of adjusted EBITDA to net (loss) income (in thousands):         
                  
  Years Ended             
  December 31,             
   2017   2016              
Net loss $  (1,503) $  (6,896)             
Excluding:                 
Stock-based compensation expense    3,419     2,946              
Depreciation and amortization expense    4,232     3,846              
Interest income    (227)    (119)             
Interest expense    533     218              
Income tax (benefit) expense    (428)    38              
(Gain) loss from equity method investment    (1,029)    29              
Adjusted EBITDA $  4,997  $  62              
                  
  Three Months Ended 
  Dec. 31,
2017
 Sep. 30,
2017
 Jun. 30,
2017
 Mar. 31,
2017
 Dec. 31,
2016
 Sep. 30,
2016
 Jun. 30,
2016
 Mar. 31,
2016
 
Net (loss) income $  (838) $  406  $  411  $  (1,482) $  (1,723) $  (1,637) $  (964) $  (2,572) 
Excluding:                 
Stock-based compensation expense    855     895     888     781   731     776     743     696  
Depreciation and amortization expense    1,024     1,095     1,077     1,036   1229     1,093     739     785  
Interest income    (3)    (97)    (76)    (51)    (41)    (29)    (26)    (23) 
Interest expense    163     124     109     137     81     66     41     30  
Income tax (benefit) expense    (482)    26     4     24     7     13     4     14  
(Gain) loss from equity method investment    -      -      (1,036)    7     18     22     (15)    4  
Adjusted EBITDA $  719  $  2,449  $  1,377  $  452  $  302  $  304  $  522  $  (1,066) 
                  

 

Contacts

Investors:
Laura Bainbridge, Addo Investor Relations
310.829.5400
InvestorRelations@trupanion.com

Media:
Scott Janzen, Trupanion Director of Communications
888.612.1138 ext 3450
scott.janzen@trupanion.com


Attachments

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