2U Reports Results for Second Quarter 2023

LANHAM, Md., Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- 2U, Inc. (NASDAQ:TWOU), the company behind global online learning platform edX, today reported financial and operating results for the quarter ended June 30, 2023.

Results for Second Quarter 2023 compared to Second Quarter 2022

• Revenue decreased 8% to $222.1 million
• Degree Program Segment revenue decreased 16% to $119.5 million
• Alternative Credential Segment revenue increased 4% to $102.6 million
• Net loss was $173.7 million, or $2.16 per share, and includes non-cash impairment charges of $134.1 million

Non-GAAP Results for Second Quarter 2023 compared to Second Quarter 2022

• Adjusted EBITDA was flat at $21.8 million; a margin of 10%
• Adjusted net loss increased 91% to $14.4 million, or $0.18 per share

"2U's platform strategy is thriving and delivering sustainable double-digit margins driven by content velocity, product innovation, marketing effectiveness and operational efficiency," said Christopher "Chip" Paucek, Co-Founder and CEO of 2U. "In the second quarter, edX generated 44% of our organic leads and, since implementing our new marketing framework, marketing and sales expense as a percent of revenue has dropped nine percentage points. Notably, in 2024 we plan to nearly triple our new degree launches compared to our highest launch year with at least 50 new, capital-efficient programs. We expect this momentum to continue in future years given the strength of our pipeline, popularity of our flex degree model, and promise of our flat fee model."

"We are seeing tangible benefits from our platform strategy and refreshed marketing framework which we implemented a year ago," added Paul Lalljie, 2U's Chief Financial Officer. "Our results for the second quarter reflect a shift in timing of planned second quarter revenue to later in the year. Based on the strength of our platform strategy and robust pipeline, we are affirming our revenue guidance while increasing our adjusted EBITDA outlook."

Discussion of Second Quarter 2023 Results

Revenue for the quarter totaled $222.1 million, an 8% decrease from $241.5 million in the second quarter of 2022. Revenue from the Degree Program Segment decreased $23.6 million, or 16%, due to a decrease in full course equivalent (FCE) enrollments, primarily reflecting our transition to a new marketing framework in mid-2022 as part of our platform strategy. Revenue from the Alternative Credential Segment increased $4.2 million, or 4%, primarily due to a 10% increase in FCE enrollments, partially offset by an 8% decrease in average revenue per FCE enrollment.

Costs and expenses for the quarter totaled $378.2 million, a 31% increase from $289.4 million in the second quarter of 2022. This increase included $134.1 million of non-cash impairment charges in our Alternative Credential Segment. During the second quarter, the company determined that the decline in its market capitalization triggered an interim impairment review which led to a non-cash write down of certain goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets. This increase was partially offset by a $13.9 million decrease in paid marketing costs in connection with the platform strategy, a $13.1 million decrease in restructuring charges, an $11.1 million decrease in personnel and personnel-related expense, and a $4.0 million decrease in depreciation and amortization expense.

As of June 30, 2023, the company's cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash totaled $66.7 million, a decrease of $115.9 million from $182.6 million as of December 31, 2022, driven by the $187.0 million debt pay down and the January 2023 refinancing. Cash provided by operations was $1.2 million, cash used in investing activities was $25.0 million and cash used in financing activities was $91.9 million. Adjusted unlevered free cash flow was $11.7 million for the twelve months ended June 30, 2023 and compares with adjusted unlevered free cash flow of $58.5 million for the twelve months ended March 31, 2023.

Business Outlook for Fiscal Year 2023

The company reaffirmed its revenue guidance provided on February 2, 2023 and updated its guidance for net loss and adjusted EBITDA provided on April 26, 2023 as follows: 

• Revenue to range from $985 million to $995 million, representing growth of 3% at the midpoint
• Net loss to range from $225 million to $220 million
• Adjusted EBITDA to range from $160 million to $165 million, representing growth of 30% at the midpoint

New Offerings, Partnerships and Highlights

• Announced new platform innovations, including:
• edX Xpert, a generative AI-powered learning assistant
• The edX Career Resource Center, an online hub designed to help registered edX learners navigate the rapidly changing employment landscape
• A new subscription-based service for professional certificates
• Debuted the edX ChatGPT plugin which enables ChatGPT Plus users to seamlessly discover higher education programs across edX's library of courses
• Announced a new Artificial Intelligence Boot Camp and a Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence MicroBootCamp™ program in partnership with leading universities
• Added new professional certificate programs, including:
• Data Skills for Artificial Intelligence from Delft University of Technology
• Math for Machine Learning from the University of California, Davis
• Welcomed Aaron McCullough in the newly-created role of Chief Product Officer
• Published our 2022 Transparency and Outcomes Report, an annual summary of the positive impact 2U is making on learners, universities, companies and institutions around the world
• Entered into new agreements to drive enterprise growth, including:
• A digital apprenticeship initiative in the UK with EdAid and Northwest Education and Training LTD
• A collaboration with Shorelight to connect millions of edX learners in India with over 3,000 in-person graduate and undergraduate programs at top U.S. institutions
• Launched 165 new edX courses from 50 unique institutions
• Welcomed new edX members, including Fortinet, EIT Food, IE University, MGH Institute of Health Professions, MindEdge, Osmosis from Elsevier, Project University, Prof Jim, and the University of Denver

Non-GAAP Measures

To provide investors and others with additional information regarding 2U's results, the company has disclosed the following non-GAAP financial measures: adjusted EBITDA (loss), adjusted EBITDA margin, adjusted free cash flow, adjusted unlevered free cash flow, adjusted net income (loss), and adjusted net income (loss) per share. The company has provided a reconciliation of each non-GAAP financial measure used in this earnings release to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure. The company defines adjusted EBITDA (loss) as net income or net loss, as applicable, before net interest income (expense), other income (expense), net, taxes, depreciation and amortization expense, transaction costs, integration costs, restructuring-related costs, stockholder activism costs, certain litigation-related costs, consisting of fees for certain non-ordinary course litigation and other proceedings, impairment charges, debt modification expense and loss on debt extinguishment, and stock-based compensation expense. The company defines adjusted EBITDA margin as adjusted EBITDA divided by revenue. The company defines adjusted free cash flow as net cash provided by (used in) operating activities, less capital expenditures, payments to university clients, and certain non-ordinary cash payments. The company defines adjusted unlevered free cash flow as adjusted free cash flow less cash interest payments on debt. The company defines adjusted net income (loss) as net income or net loss, as applicable, before other income (expense), net, acquisition-related gains or losses, deferred revenue fair value adjustments, transaction costs, integration costs, restructuring-related costs, stockholder activism costs, certain litigation-related costs, consisting of fees for certain non-ordinary course litigation and other proceedings, impairment charges, debt modification expense and loss on debt extinguishment, and stock-based compensation expense. Adjusted net income (loss) per share is calculated as adjusted net income (loss) divided by diluted weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding for periods that result in adjusted net income, and basic weighted-average shares outstanding for periods that result in an adjusted net loss. Some of the adjustments described above may not be applicable in any given reporting period and may vary from period to period.

The company's management uses these non-GAAP financial measures to understand and compare operating results across accounting periods, to understand cash that is generated by or available for operational expenses and investment in the business after capital expenditures, for internal budgeting and forecasting purposes, for short- and long-term operating plans, and to evaluate the company's financial performance. Management believes these non-GAAP financial measures reflect the company's ongoing business in a manner that allows for meaningful period-to-period comparisons and analysis of trends in the company's business as they exclude expenses that are not reflective of ongoing operating results. Management also believes that these non-GAAP financial measures provide useful information to investors and others in understanding and evaluating the company's operating results and prospects in the same manner as management and in comparing financial results across accounting periods and to those of peer companies.

The use of adjusted EBITDA (loss), adjusted free cash flow, adjusted unlevered free cash flow, adjusted net income (loss), and adjusted net income (loss) per share measures has certain limitations, as they do not reflect all items of income and expense that affect the company's operations. The company compensates for these limitations by reconciling the non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures. These non-GAAP financial measures should be considered in addition to, not as a substitute for or in isolation from, measures prepared in accordance with GAAP. Further, these non-GAAP measures may differ from the non-GAAP information used by other companies, including peer companies, and therefore comparability may be limited. Management encourages investors and others to review the company's financial information in its entirety and not rely on a single financial measure.

Conference Call Information

About 2U, Inc. (NASDAQ:TWOU)

2U is a global leader in online education. Guided by its founding mission to eliminate the back row in higher education, 2U has spent 15 years advancing the technology and innovation to deliver world-class learning outcomes at scale. Through its global online learning platform edX, 2U connects more than 78 million people with thousands of affordable, career-relevant learning opportunities in partnership with 250 of the world's leading universities, institutions, and industry experts. From free courses to full degrees, 2U is creating a better future for all through the power of high-quality online education. Learn more at 2U.com.

Cautionary Language Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements regarding 2U, Inc.'s future business expectations, which are subject to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this press release, including statements regarding future results of operations and financial position of 2U, including financial targets, business strategy, and plans and objectives for future operations, are forward-looking statements. 2U has based these forward-looking statements largely on its estimates of its financial results and its current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that it believes may affect its financial condition, results of operations, business strategy, short-term and long-term business operations and objectives, and financial needs as of the date of this press release. The company undertakes no obligation to update these statements as a result of new information or future events. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results predicted, including, but not limited to:

• trends in the higher education market and the market for online education, and expectations for growth in those markets;
• the company's ability to maintain minimum recurring revenues or other financial ratios through the maturity date of our amended term loan facilities;
• the acceptance, adoption and growth of online learning by colleges and universities, faculty, students, employers, accreditors and state and federal licensing bodies;
• the impact of competition on the company's industry and innovations by competitors;
• the company's ability to comply with evolving regulations and legal obligations related to data privacy, data protection and information security;
• the company's expectations about the potential benefits of its cloud-based software-as-a-service technology and technology-enabled services to university clients and students;
• the company's dependence on third parties to provide certain technological services or components used in its platform;
• the company's expectations about the predictability, visibility and recurring nature of its business model;
• the company's ability to meet the anticipated launch dates of its offerings;
• the company's ability to acquire new clients and expand its offerings with existing university clients;
• the company's ability to successfully integrate the operations of its acquisitions, including the edX acquisition, to achieve the expected benefits of its acquisitions and manage, expand and grow the combined company;
• the company's ability to refinance its indebtedness on attractive terms, if at all, to better align with its focus on profitability;
• the company's ability to service its substantial indebtedness and comply with the covenants and conversion obligations contained in the indentures governing its 2.25% convertible senior notes due 2025 and 4.50% convertible senior notes due 2030 and the credit agreement governing its revolving credit facility;
• the company's ability to generate sufficient future operating cash flows from recent acquisitions to ensure related goodwill is not impaired;
• the company's ability to execute its growth strategy, including internationally and grow its enterprise business;
• the company's ability to continue to recruit prospective students for its offerings;
• the company's ability to maintain or increase student retention rates in its degree programs;
• the company's ability to attract, hire and retain qualified employees;
• the company's expectations about the scalability of its cloud-based platform;
• potential changes in laws, regulations or guidance applicable to the company or its university clients;
• the company's expectations regarding the amount of time its cash balances and other available financial resources will be sufficient to fund its operations;
• the impact and cost of stockholder activism;
• the potential negative impact of the significant decline in the market price of the company's common stock, including the impairment of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets;
• the impact of any natural disasters or public health emergencies, such as the COVID-19 pandemic;
• the company's expectations regarding the effect of the capped call transactions and regarding actions of the option counterparties and/or their respective affiliates; and
• other factors beyond the company's control.

These and other potential risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from the results predicted are more fully detailed under the heading "Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, and other SEC filings. Moreover, 2U operates in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment. New risks emerge from time to time. It is not possible for 2U management to predict all risks, nor can 2U assess the impact of all factors on its business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements 2U may make. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking events and circumstances discussed in this press release may not occur and actual results could differ materially and adversely from those anticipated.

Investor Relations Contact: [email protected]

Media Contact: media@2U.com

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SOURCE 2U, Inc.