Peloton misses EPS estimates, sees a 'step back' from profitability
20:15, 26 August 2021
Peloton Interactive, Inc. (Nasdaq: PTON) reported a $1.05 per-share loss on $936.9m in revenue, the company announced Thursday. Analysts had expected a $0.32 per share loss on $928.5m in revenue.
Subscribers grew 114% year-over-year, however, with 2.33m total Connected Fitness platform subscribers to end the company’s fiscal fourth quarter, versus expectations of 2.28m total subscribers. Connected Fitness subscribers accounted for $655.3m of revenue, or 70% of the total, up 35% year-over-year.
CEO John Foley announced during the company’s post-earnings release investor conference call new initiatives to continue revenue growth, including a price reduction of its original stationary bike product, as well as extended financing terms, aimed at lowering the monthly payments for consumers.
“With the lower cost of Bike and extended financing, a two-person household with a full Connected Fitness subscription should average $20 per month per person,” Foley said.
The price for Peloton’s flagship Bike+ product will be reduced to $1,495 from $1,895, or roughly 20%. Foley added Peleton has increased investments to improve the company’s supply chain.
A drain on the 4Q 2021 earnings was the recall earlier this year of its Tread treadmill product line, which had a negative impact on Peloton’s inventory and warehousing operations, as returns of the product were greater than anticipated and costs spilled into the fourth quarter 2021.
“Now that the recall is behind us, we expect a return to normal operations,” noted Peloton CFO Jill Woodworth.
Peloton announced Tuesday the relaunch of its Peloton Tread treadmill product rollout, replacing the Tread product recalled in March, following the death of one child and “a small handful of incidents,” Peloton said at the time. Peleton boasts its new Tread line of treadmills that includes additional safety features. The new Tread will be available in the US, Canada and the UK on 30 Aug.
Looking ahead, the company released revenue guidance of $800m for the upcoming 1Q 2022 and $5.4bn for the entire 2022 fiscal year. Peloton expects to end its 2022 fiscal year with 3.63m total Connected Fitness platform subscribers.
Woodworth added that 1Q 2022, traditionally the company’s worst-performing quarter, is expected to feel the negative impact of fixed-cost absorption related to the aforementioned sales incentives. “We expect our profitability to take a step back in fiscal year 2022,” Woodworth added, noting the positive impact the Covid-19 pandemic had on Peloton’s bottom line throughout the past year.
“Sixty per cent of our total revenue is expected in Q2 and Q3 [of fiscal year 2022],” Woodworth said.
Peleton shares traded lower Thursday, closing at $114.12, down from opening $116.50 share price.