Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In Q4 2024, total revenue was $143.5 million, a decrease of 24% year-over-year, with subscription services revenue at $128.5 million, down 23% year-over-year [40][41] - The number of subscribers declined by 21% to 3.6 million during the quarter [40] - Adjusted EBITDA was $37 million, representing a margin of 25% [41] - Free cash flow for Q4 was $4.8 million, despite $25 million in cash outlays related to employee severance and legal settlements [42] - Capital expenditures decreased by 52% year-over-year to $13 million, with content costs down 56% year-over-year [43] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Skills and other revenue was $14.9 million, down 31% year-over-year due to a market shift away from traditional boot camps [41] - The implementation of AI and machine learning has reduced content creation costs by more than 70% while maintaining quality [14] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Non-subscriber traffic plummeted by 49% in January 2025, a significant decline from an 8% decrease reported in Q2 2024 [21] - The enterprise segment saw a revenue increase of 46% in 2024, driven by new enterprise customers [18] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is undertaking a strategic review process to explore alternatives for maximizing shareholder value, including potential acquisition or going private [10] - Chegg is focusing on enhancing its product offerings through AI integration and personalized learning experiences [12][14] - The company aims to stabilize its business in 2025 by building brand awareness, expanding product offerings, and diversifying revenue streams [36] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management highlighted the challenges posed by Google's AI Overviews, which have negatively impacted Chegg's traffic and revenue [10][19] - The company believes that the relevance of comprehensive student success platforms will increase in the coming years [23] - Management expressed optimism about stabilizing business trends despite ongoing industry challenges [46] Other Important Information - Chegg has filed a complaint against Google, alleging unfair competition practices that have harmed its business [19][20] - The company has retained Goldman Sachs as a financial adviser for its strategic review process [11] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you unpack the incremental operating leverage in the business for Q1 2025 guidance? - Management indicated that the model is efficient, with a significant portion of incremental sales translating to adjusted EBITDA [51] Question: Can you elaborate on the shift into new revenue streams and enterprise offerings? - Management noted that the business-to-institution program is gaining interest, focusing on student persistence and graduation rates, with a seat-based pricing model [60] Question: Can you discuss churn trends and the impact on ARPU? - Management acknowledged a temporary dip in retention but noted it has returned to historical levels [66] Question: What is the strategy behind the Solution Scout feature? - The strategy aims to save students time and provide value by comparing Chegg's solutions with those from other LLMs [72] Question: What are the key factors institutions consider when partnering with Chegg? - Institutions are primarily focused on improving student persistence and graduation rates, and they recognize the need for tailored services [78]

Chegg, Inc. (NYSE:CHGG) Q4 2024 Earnings Conference Call February 24, 2025 4:30 PM ET Company Participants Tracey Ford - Investor Relations Nathan Schultz - President and Chief Executive Officer David Longo - Chief Financial Officer Conference Call Participants Eric Sheridan - Goldman Sachs Ryan MacDonald - Needham & Company Bryan Smilek - JPMorgan Josh Baer - Morgan Stanley Jessica Wang - Raymond James Brent Thill - Jefferies Devin Au - KeyBanc Capital Markets Operator Greetings, and welcome to the Chegg, ...

Q4-24 Investor Presentation February 24, 2024 Chegg © 2024 Chegg, Inc. / All Rights Reserved Safe Harbor Statement Forward-Looking Statements This presentation contains forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which include, without limitation, that there continues to be a larqe market of students looking for the high-quality, proven, and differentiated learning expertise and experience that Chegg provides, that we will c ...

Core Insights - Chegg reported revenue of $143.48 million for Q4 2024, a year-over-year decline of 23.7% [1] - The EPS for the same period was $0.17, down from $0.36 a year ago [1] - The revenue exceeded the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $142.03 million by 1.02%, while EPS met the consensus estimate [1] Financial Performance - Chegg Services subscribers totaled 3.6 million, below the average estimate of 3.92 million [4] - Revenue from Skills and Other was $14.94 million, slightly below the estimated $15.08 million, representing a 22% decline year-over-year [4] - Subscription Services revenue was $128.54 million, exceeding the estimated $126.86 million, but still reflecting a 23.7% year-over-year decline [4] Market Performance - Chegg's stock has returned -2.7% over the past month, compared to a -0.5% change in the Zacks S&P 500 composite [3] - The stock currently holds a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold), indicating potential performance in line with the broader market [3]

Core Insights - Chegg reported a challenging Q4 2024 with a revenue decline and subscriber drop, but slightly exceeded expectations due to a focus on AI and technology integration [1][2]. Financial Performance - Q4 2024 diluted Non-GAAP EPS was $0.17, matching analyst forecasts but down 52.8% from $0.36 in Q4 2023 [3]. - Revenue for Q4 2024 was $143.5 million, surpassing the $142 million expectation but representing a 24% decline from $188 million in Q4 2023 [2][3]. - Non-GAAP Gross Margin was 72%, down 6 percentage points from 78% in Q4 2023 [3]. - The subscriber base decreased by 21% year-over-year to 3.6 million [3]. Business Strategy - Chegg aims to enhance personalized learning experiences through AI integration, utilizing technologies like GPT and Anthropic models [4]. - The company launched Solution Scout to validate AI-generated educational content and transitioned its language learning platform, Busuu, to a freemium model to improve user conversion rates [5]. Quarterly Achievements and Challenges - Chegg exceeded revenue expectations, generating Adjusted EBITDA of $36.6 million, above the guidance range of $32 million to $34 million [6]. - Gross Margin reached 68%, at the upper end of the anticipated range [6]. - Despite a 21% decline in subscribers, there were improvements in engagement metrics, including a 15 basis points increase in retention and a 66% rise in user queries [6]. Competitive Landscape - Chegg faced competitive pressures, particularly from Google's AI Overviews affecting web traffic, leading to a legal complaint against Google [7]. - The Busuu freemium model showed encouraging signs of growth despite subscriber losses [7]. Future Outlook - For Q1 2025, Chegg projects revenue between $114 million and $116 million, with subscription services expected to be between $104 million and $106 million [8]. - Expected EBITDA for Q1 is projected to decrease to $13 million to $14 million, reflecting ongoing competitive challenges [8]. - The company remains committed to enhancing AI technology within its educational platforms and restructuring for efficiency gains [9].

Company Performance - Chegg reported quarterly earnings of $0.17 per share, matching the Zacks Consensus Estimate, but down from $0.36 per share a year ago [1] - The company posted revenues of $143.48 million for the quarter ended December 2024, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 1.02%, but down from $187.99 million year-over-year [2] - Chegg has surpassed consensus EPS estimates three times and revenue estimates four times over the last four quarters [1][2] Stock Movement and Outlook - Chegg shares have declined approximately 11.2% since the beginning of the year, while the S&P 500 has gained 2.2% [3] - The future performance of Chegg's stock will largely depend on management's commentary during the earnings call and the company's earnings outlook [3][4] - The current consensus EPS estimate for the upcoming quarter is $0.19 on revenues of $136.4 million, and for the current fiscal year, it is $0.62 on revenues of $504.75 million [7] Industry Context - The Internet - Software industry, to which Chegg belongs, is currently ranked in the top 34% of over 250 Zacks industries, indicating a favorable outlook compared to the bottom 50% [8] - The performance of Chegg's stock may also be influenced by the overall industry outlook and trends in earnings estimate revisions [5][8]

Core Points - Edtech company Chegg has filed a lawsuit against Google, alleging that Google's AI-generated summaries of search results have negatively impacted Chegg's traffic and revenue [1][2] - The lawsuit, submitted to the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, accuses Google of unfair competition, including reciprocal dealing, monopoly maintenance, and unjust enrichment [2] - Chegg claims that Google compels companies to provide their content to be featured in Google Search, thereby abusing its monopoly power to benefit from third-party intellectual property [2] - Chegg is seeking compensatory damages, other forms of relief, and an injunction against Google's alleged unlawful and unfair practices [3] - Chegg's lawsuit is part of a broader trend, as several news outlets have reported similar declines in traffic due to Google's AI summaries, which aggregate information from various sources to respond to user queries [3]

Core Viewpoint - Chegg has filed a lawsuit against Google, claiming that Google's AI summaries of search results have negatively impacted Chegg's traffic and revenue, a situation exacerbated by the rise of AI tools like OpenAI's ChatGPT [1][4]. Financial Performance - Chegg reported a net loss of $6.1 million on revenue of $143.5 million for the fourth quarter, marking a 24% decline year over year. Analysts had expected revenue of $142.1 million [3]. - The company anticipates first-quarter revenue between $114 million and $116 million, significantly lower than analysts' target of $138.1 million [3]. - Chegg's market valuation has dropped to less than $200 million, with stock trading just above $1 per share in after-hours trading [2]. Strategic Moves - Chegg is exploring strategic options, including potential acquisition or going private, as stated by the President and CEO Nathan Schultz during an earnings call [2]. - The company has engaged Goldman Sachs to assist in evaluating these strategic options [2]. Market Dynamics - Chegg claims that Google's monopoly power forces companies to provide proprietary content to be included in search results, allowing Google to benefit financially from Chegg's content without compensation [4][6]. - Chegg's subscription base has decreased to 3.6 million students, reflecting a 21% decline [4]. AI and Competition - Despite the lawsuit, Chegg is pursuing its own AI strategy, utilizing models from Meta, Anthropic, and Mistral, and has partnered with OpenAI, which it also views as a competitor [4]. - Google's AI Overviews are available in over 100 countries and have more than 1 billion users, which may further impact Chegg's business model [5].

Revenue and Financial Performance - Revenue has declined, with global non-subscriber traffic to Chegg decreasing year-over-year by 8% in Q2 2024, 19% in Q3 2024, and 39% in Q4 2024, leading to a 49% year-over-year decline in January 2025[88]. - Net revenues for 2024 decreased to $617.574 million, down 13.8% from $716.295 million in 2023[331]. - Gross profit for 2024 was $436.647 million, a decline of 10.9% compared to $490.354 million in 2023[331]. - The net loss for 2024 was $837.068 million, contrasting with a net income of $18.180 million in 2023[331]. - Basic net loss per share for 2024 was $8.10, compared to earnings of $0.16 per share in 2023[331]. - The company reported a total comprehensive loss of $834.562 million for 2024, compared to a comprehensive income of $40.929 million in 2023[334]. - Cash provided by operating activities decreased to $125,205 in 2024 from $246,198 in 2023, reflecting a decline of approximately 49.1%[340]. - The company experienced a 14% decrease in Subscription Services subscribers and a 14% decrease in Subscription Services revenue year-over-year for the year ended December 31, 2024[114]. - Total operating expenses surged to $1.174 billion in 2024, an increase of 110% from $558.079 million in 2023, primarily due to a significant impairment expense of $677.239 million[331]. - Impairment expense significantly increased to $677,239 in 2024 from $3,600 in 2023, highlighting a substantial rise in asset write-downs[340]. Competition and Market Challenges - Competition is increasing in the education technology sector, particularly with companies developing their own AI products and technologies[91]. - The company faces challenges in retaining existing students and attracting new ones, with the student demographic characterized by rapidly changing preferences and price sensitivity[85]. - The company’s ability to attract and retain students is challenged by rapidly changing technological developments and the competitive landscape, particularly from non-education-focused companies like Google and Microsoft[110]. - The company faces increased competition from generative AI products, which are being adopted by students as alternatives to traditional educational services, negatively impacting overall traffic and subscriber growth[93]. - The business model relies heavily on small transactions from a widely dispersed student population, which has a high turnover rate due to graduation[84]. Strategic Initiatives and Investments - The company has pivoted to AI, partnering with OpenAI to utilize GPT-4, but the updated user experience has not attracted as many new students as anticipated[88]. - The company is investing significantly in AI initiatives, but there is no guarantee that these investments will yield successful products or services[90]. - The company is exploring strategic alternatives, including potential acquisition or going private, but has not set a timetable for completion, which may divert management focus and resources from core operations[96]. - The company has made acquisitions, including Busuu, Mathway, and Thinkful, but faces challenges in integrating these companies and may incur significant integration costs[126]. Legal and Regulatory Risks - The company has filed a federal antitrust complaint against Google on February 24, 2025, due to concerns over the competitive impact of Google's AIO search experience, which may lead to costly litigation and resource diversion[92]. - The company is involved in various legal proceedings, which could expose it to monetary damages and limit operational capabilities[132]. - The company is cooperating with the FTC on an investigation regarding compliance with the consent order, which could negatively impact its business[174]. - The company may face significant costs associated with defending against intellectual property claims, which could harm its financial condition and results of operations[163]. Operational and Financial Risks - The company anticipates fluctuations in operational results due to various external factors, making period-to-period comparisons less reliable[105]. - The company faces risks associated with advertising revenues, particularly if brands do not see the value in advertising on its platform or if access to advertising audiences is limited by changes in browser policies[128]. - The company may require additional financing in the future, which may not be available on favorable terms, potentially leading to substantial dilution for stockholders[130]. - The company has a history of losses and may not achieve or sustain profitability in the future[81]. - The company may face challenges in generating sufficient cash flow from operations to service its debt and make necessary capital expenditures[210]. Data Privacy and Security - The company is subject to stringent data privacy and security laws, including the EU GDPR, which imposes fines of up to 20 million Euros or 4% of annual global revenue for non-compliance[184]. - The company has faced claims regarding misleading statements about its security measures and internal controls[173]. - The company may face challenges in transferring personal data from the EEA and UK to the United States due to strict localization laws[185]. - The use of AI/ML technologies presents privacy and security risks, with potential regulatory fines impacting business operations[190]. - The company is subject to potential liability for user-uploaded content, which could adversely affect its results of operations if claims related to intellectual property rights arise[159]. Financial Position and Capital Structure - As of December 31, 2024, the company had cash and cash equivalents totaling $161.5 million and investments of $366.9 million[304]. - The company issued $1.0 billion in aggregate principal amount of 0% convertible senior notes due in 2026 and $800 million in aggregate principal amount of 0.125% convertible senior notes due in 2025[209]. - As of December 31, 2024, the outstanding principal amount of the 2026 notes was $128 million and the 2025 notes was $359 million[209]. - The company has a securities repurchase program with a remaining authorization of $207.5 million as of December 31, 2024[207]. - Stockholders' equity fell to $192.981 million in 2024, a significant drop from $944.618 million in 2023[329]. Operational Efficiency and Workforce Management - The company announced restructuring plans in November 2024 and June 2024, resulting in a reduction of approximately 760 employees, or about 22% of its workforce, to align its cost structure with industry challenges[117]. - The company has diverted capital and resources to the strategic review process, which could lead to increased expenses and potential loss of key employees[97]. - The company’s technologies may not withstand all third-party claims, and litigation costs could divert resources and negatively impact operations[165]. Seasonal and Market Trends - The company's revenues are seasonal, with the highest revenues typically occurring in the fourth quarter, making results difficult to predict[134]. - Approximately 13% of the company's net revenues were generated from customers outside the United States, indicating a growth strategy focused on global market expansion[148]. - The total undergraduate college enrollment in the U.S. has decreased by approximately 2.8 million since 2010, which could materially negatively impact the company’s revenue derived from U.S. college students[99].

Financial Performance - Total Net Revenues for Q4 2024 were $143.5 million, a decrease of 24% year-over-year, while full-year revenues were $617.6 million, down 14% year-over-year[6]. - Subscription Services Revenues in Q4 2024 were $128.5 million, a decrease of 23% year-over-year, and for the full year, they totaled $549.2 million, also down 14% year-over-year[6]. - The number of Subscription Services subscribers decreased to 3.6 million in Q4 2024, down 21% year-over-year, and 6.6 million for the full year, a decrease of 14% year-over-year[6]. - The company reported a net loss of $6.1 million for Q4 2024 and a net loss of $837.1 million for the full year[6]. - Total revenue for Q4 was $143.5 million, a decrease of 24% year-over-year, with Subscription Services revenue at $128.5 million, down 23% year-over-year[30]. - Net loss for Q4 2024 was $6.1 million, compared to a net income of $9.7 million in Q4 2023, reflecting a significant decline in profitability[64]. - Total net revenues for the year ended December 31, 2024, were $174,350 thousand, a decrease from $187,601 thousand in 2023, reflecting a decline of approximately 7%[75]. - Non-GAAP net income for the year ended December 31, 2024, was $84,956 thousand, down from $141,755 thousand in 2023, representing a decline of approximately 40%[72]. - The gross profit for the year ended December 31, 2024, was $127,853 thousand, a decrease from $138,451 thousand in 2023, reflecting a decline of approximately 8%[75]. - The company reported a loss from operations of $(27,320) thousand for the fourth quarter of 2024, compared to a profit of $13,287 thousand in the same quarter of 2023[75]. Strategic Initiatives - Chegg initiated a strategic review process to explore alternatives, including potential acquisition or going private, and filed a complaint against Google for unfair competition[2][9]. - In 2024, Chegg integrated AI and machine learning into its product stack, reducing content creation costs by over 70% while maintaining quality[12]. - The company launched a new product, Solution Scout, allowing students to compare answers from multiple LLMs alongside Chegg's solutions, aimed at saving time and increasing trust in the platform[28]. - Chegg's enterprise strategy aims to diversify revenue streams, with plans to expand business-to-institution pilot programs to approximately 35 additional institutions by the end of 2025[23]. - Chegg plans to diversify revenue streams with business-to-institution programs and other enterprise offerings to stabilize the business[60]. - The company is exploring strategic alternatives, which may include potential mergers or acquisitions to enhance growth opportunities[60]. - Chegg's future outlook includes a commitment to developing individualized learning solutions and expanding into new media channels to engage students[60]. Financial Guidance and Projections - The company expects Q1 2025 Total Net Revenues to be in the range of $114 million to $116 million, with Subscription Services Revenues between $104 million and $106 million[11]. - Q1 guidance projects total revenue between $114 and $116 million, with Subscription Services revenue between $104 and $106 million[38]. - Gross margin is expected to be in the range of 66 to 67 percent, with adjusted EBITDA between $13 and $14 million for Q1[38]. - The adjusted EBITDA guidance for the three months ending March 31, 2025, is projected to be between $13 million and $14 million, with a midpoint of $13,500 thousand[76]. Cash Flow and Expenses - Free cash flow for Q4 was $4.8 million, despite $25 million in cash outlays related to employee severance from restructurings[32]. - Capital expenditures for Q4 were $13 million, down 52% year-over-year, with content costs decreasing by 56% year-over-year[32]. - The company ended the quarter with cash and investments of $528 million and a net cash balance of $42 million[33]. - Operating cash flows decreased to $125,205 in 2024 from $246,198 in 2023, reflecting a decline of approximately 49.1%[66]. - Total cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at the end of 2024 was $164,359, down from $475,854 in 2022[67]. - The company incurred restructuring charges of $24,603 in 2024, compared to $5,704 in 2023[68]. Asset and Liability Management - Total assets decreased to $868.9 million in 2024 from $1.7 billion in 2023, indicating a substantial reduction in the company's asset base[62]. - Current liabilities increased slightly to $528.3 million in 2024 from $518.5 million in 2023, while total liabilities decreased to $676.0 million from $782.6 million[62]. - The company reported a significant impairment expense of $677.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, compared to $3.6 million in 2023[64]. - The company reported an impairment expense of $677,239 for the year ended December 31, 2024[68]. Research and Development - Research and development expenses for Q4 2024 were $41.0 million, down from $45.7 million in Q4 2023, indicating a focus on cost management[64].