AppFolio, Inc. Announces Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2024 Financial Results

SANTA BARBARA, Calif., Jan. 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AppFolio, Inc. (NASDAQ:APPF) ("AppFolio" or the "Company"), a technology leader powering the future of the real estate industry, today announced its financial results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended December 31, 2024.

"I am proud of our strong performance in 2024 as we continue to deliver value to our customers through differentiated industry-leading innovation," said Shane Trigg, President and CEO, AppFolio. "Our investments in AI and the resident experience are translating into meaningful outcomes for our customers and fueling our mission to build the platform where the real estate industry comes to do business. We are acquiring, growing, and retaining customers while delivering exceptional service."

Financial Highlights for Fourth Quarter of 2024

• Revenue grew 19% year-over-year to $204 million.
• Total units under management grew 6% year-over-year to 8.7 million.
• GAAP operating income was $23 million, or 11.3% of revenue, compared to operating income of $28 million, or 16.4% of revenue in Q4 2023.
• Non-GAAP operating income was $41 million, or 20.2% of revenue, compared to an operating income of $42 million, or 24.3% of revenue, in Q4 2023.
• Net cash provided by operating activities was $37 million, or 18.0% of revenue, compared to $31 million, or 18.1% of revenue, in Q4 2023.
• Non-GAAP free cash flow was $35 million, or 17.3% of revenue, compared to $34 million, or 19.9% of revenue, in Q4 2023.

Financial Highlights for Fiscal Year 2024

• Revenue grew 28% year-over-year to $794 million.
• GAAP operating income was $136 million, or 17.1% of revenue, compared to operating income of $1 million, or 0.2% of revenue, in fiscal year 2023.
• Non-GAAP operating income was $200 million, or 25.2% of revenue, compared to operating income of $76 million, or 12.2% of revenue, in fiscal year 2023.
• Net cash provided by operating activities was $188 million, or 23.7% of revenue, compared to $60 million, or 9.7% of revenue, in fiscal year 2023.
• Non-GAAP free cash flow was $182 million, or 22.9% of revenue, compared to $74 million, or 11.9% of revenue, in fiscal year 2023.

Financial Outlook

Based on information available as of January 30, 2025, AppFolio's outlook for fiscal year 2025 follows:

• Full year revenue is expected to be in the range of $920 million to $940 million.
• Full year non-GAAP operating margin as a percentage of revenue is expected to be in the range of 24.5% to 26.5%.
• Diluted weighted average shares outstanding are expected to be approximately 37 million for the full year.

Conference Call Information

As previously announced, the Company will host a conference call today, January 30, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time (PT), 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET), to discuss the Company's fourth quarter and fiscal year 2024 financial results. A live webcast of the call will be available at: https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/ed7u6ptp/. To access the call by phone, please go to the following link: https://register.vevent.com/register/BIdc9c20754ec649859552be5efc7cfa83, and you will be provided with dial in details. A replay of the webcast will also be available for a limited time on AppFolio's Investor Relations website at https://ir.appfolioinc.com/news-events/events.

The Company also provides announcements regarding its financial results and other matters, including SEC filings, investor events, and press releases, on its Investor Relations website at https://ir.appfolioinc.com/, as a means of disclosing material nonpublic information and for complying with AppFolio's disclosure obligations under Regulation FD.

About AppFolio

AppFolio is a technology leader powering the future of the real estate industry. Our innovative platform and trusted partnership enable our customers to connect communities, increase operational efficiency, and grow their business. For more information about AppFolio, visit ir.appfolioinc.com.

Investor Relations Contact:

Lori Barker

[email protected]

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Reconciliations of current and historical non-GAAP financial measures to AppFolio's financial results as determined in accordance with GAAP are included at the end of this press release following the accompanying financial data. For a description of these non-GAAP financial measures, including the reasons management uses each measure, please see the section of the tables entitled "Statement Regarding the Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures."

AppFolio is unable, at this time, to provide GAAP equivalent guidance measures on a forward-looking basis for non-GAAP operating margin because certain items that impact this measure are uncertain, out of our control, or cannot be reasonably predicted, such as charges related to stock-based compensation expense. The effect of these excluded items may be significant.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which statements are subject to considerable risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements include all statements that are not statements of historical fact contained in this press release, and can be identified by words such as "anticipates," "believes," "could," "estimates," "expects," "intends," "may," "plans," "potential," "future'" "predicts, "projects," "target," "seeks," "contemplates," "should," "will," "would" or similar expressions and the negatives of those expressions. In particular, forward-looking statements contained in this press release relate to future operating results and financial position, including the Company's fiscal year 2025 financial outlook, anticipated future expenses and investments, the Company's business opportunities, the impact of the Company's strategic actions and initiatives, the potential benefits and effect of the Company's AI and resident experience related services and their impact on the Company's plans, objectives, expectations and capabilities.

Forward-looking statements represent AppFolio's current beliefs and expectations based on information currently available and speak only as of the date the statement is made. Forward-looking statements are subject to numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. The risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements to materially differ from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements include those risks, uncertainties and other factors described in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, which was filed with the SEC on February 1, 2024, and the section entitled "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in the Company's most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K or Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, as well as in the Company's other filings with the SEC. You should read this press release with the understanding that the Company's actual future results may be materially different from the results expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements.

The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements made in this press release to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release or to reflect new information or the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by law.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (UNAUDITED) (in thousands)
		December 31, 2024			December 31, 2023
Assets
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents		$	42,504		$	49,509
Investment securities—current			235,745			162,196
Accounts receivable, net			24,346			20,709
Prepaid expenses and other current assets			32,807			39,943
Total current assets			335,402			272,357
Property and equipment, net			24,483			28,362
Operating lease right-of-use assets			17,472			19,285
Capitalized software development costs, net			15,429			21,562
Goodwill			96,410			56,060
Intangible assets, net			49,057			2,357
Deferred income taxes			76,910			—
Other long-term assets			11,515			8,906
Total assets		$	626,678		$	408,889
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
Current liabilities
Accounts payable		$	2,378		$	1,141
Accrued employee expenses			30,157			35,567
Accrued expenses			14,658			21,723
Other current liabilities			16,087			11,335
Total current liabilities			63,280			69,766
Operating lease liabilities			37,476			41,114
Deferred tax liabilities			—			697
Other liabilities			6,632			—
Total liabilities			107,388			111,577
Stockholders' equity			519,290			297,312
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity		$	626,678		$	408,889

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED) (in thousands, except per share amounts)
	Three Months Ended December 31,							Twelve Months Ended December 31,
		2024				2023			2024				2023
Revenue(1)	$	203,664			$	171,830		$	794,202			$	620,445
Costs and operating expenses:
Cost of revenue (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)(2)		76,189				61,275			282,067				238,076
Sales and marketing(2)		33,436				21,501			110,597				107,602
Research and product development(2)		42,296				34,847			160,375				151,364
General and administrative(2)		23,449				19,035			85,974				93,452
Depreciation and amortization		5,336				6,933			19,545				28,988
Total costs and operating expenses		180,706				143,591			658,558				619,482
Income from operations		22,958				28,239			135,644				963
Other income, net		697				286			697				3
Interest income, net		3,499				2,404			13,981				7,031
Income before provision for income taxes		27,154				30,929			150,322				7,997
(Benefit from) provision for income taxes		(75,580	)			661			(53,746	)			5,295
Net income	$	102,734			$	30,268		$	204,068			$	2,702
Net income per common share:
Basic	$	2.82			$	0.85		$	5.63			$	0.08
Diluted	$	2.79			$	0.83		$	5.55			$	0.07
Weighted average common shares outstanding
Basic		36,374				35,812			36,252				35,629
Diluted		36,783				36,596			36,782				36,417

⁽¹⁾ The following table presents our revenue categories:

	Three Months Ended December 31,							Twelve Months Ended December 31,
		2024				2023			2024				2023
Core solutions	$	47,631			$	41,252		$	180,605			$	156,692
Value Added Services		153,334				127,990			605,011				454,098
Other		2,699				2,588			8,586				9,655
Total revenue	$	203,664			$	171,830		$	794,202			$	620,445

⁽²⁾ Includes stock-based compensation expense as follows:

	Three Months Ended December 31,							Twelve Months Ended December 31,
		2024				2023			2024				2023
Costs and operating expenses:
Cost of revenue (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)	$	1,261			$	798		$	4,522			$	3,703
Sales and marketing		2,746				1,081			8,030				5,983
Research and product development		5,789				5,123			25,414				20,974
General and administrative		6,228				5,430			22,361				21,704
Total stock-based compensation expense	$	16,024			$	12,432		$	60,327			$	52,364

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED) (in thousands)
	Three Months Ended December 31,								Twelve Months Ended December 31,
		2024				2023				2024				2023
Cash from operating activities
Net income (loss)	$	102,734			$	30,268			$	204,068			$	2,702
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		4,986				6,385				17,790				26,500
Amortization of operating lease right-of-use assets		489				514				2,030				2,132
Gain on lease modification		—				—				—				(4,281	)
Deferred income taxes		(76,937	)			(494	)			(76,937	)			(490	)
Stock-based compensation, including as amortized		16,374				12,980				62,081				54,852
Other		(2,074	)			(1,590	)			(8,220	)			(3,108	)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable		1,489				(349	)			(3,383	)			(4,206	)
Prepaid expenses and other assets		3,015				(12,781	)			4,126				(13,493	)
Accounts payable		1,850				(80	)			1,559				(1,565	)
Operating lease liabilities		53				576				(3,143	)			(2,504	)
Accrued expenses and other liabilities		(15,413	)			(4,246	)			(11,812	)			3,744
Net cash provided by operating activities		36,566				31,183				188,159				60,283
Cash from investing activities
Purchases of available-for-sale investments		(51,854	)			(86,821	)			(317,173	)			(195,740	)
Proceeds from sales of available-for-sale investments		9,984				—				9,984				1,013
Proceeds from maturities of available-for-sale investments		76,280				58,130				240,035				152,382
Purchases of property and equipment		(195	)			(3,109	)			(2,016	)			(9,041	)
Capitalization of software development costs		(1,058	)			(1,431	)			(5,170	)			(4,825	)
Proceeds from equity-method investment		—				—				—				629
Cash paid in business acquisition, net of cash acquired		(77,421	)			—				(77,421	)			—
Net cash used in investing activities		(44,264	)			(33,231	)			(151,761	)			(55,582	)
Cash from financing activities
Proceeds from stock option exercises		11				410				3,924				2,595
Tax withholding for net share settlement		(12,226	)			(8,790	)			(47,327	)			(28,556	)
Net cash used in financing activities		(12,215	)			(8,380	)			(43,403	)			(25,961	)
Net decrease in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash		(19,913	)			(10,428	)			(7,005	)			(21,260	)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash
Beginning of period		62,667				60,187				49,759				71,019
End of period	$	42,754			$	49,759			$	42,754			$	49,759

RECONCILIATION FROM GAAP TO NON-GAAP RESULTS (UNAUDITED) (in thousands, except per share data)
			Three Months Ended December 31,								Twelve Months Ended December 31,
				2024				2023				2024				2023
Costs and operating expenses:
	GAAP cost of revenue (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)		$	76,189			$	61,275			$	282,067			$	238,076
		Stock-based compensation expense		(1,261	)			(798	)			(4,522	)			(3,703	)
		Workforce reduction costs		—				—				—				(2,135	)
	Non-GAAP cost of revenue (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)		$	74,928			$	60,477			$	277,545			$	232,238
	GAAP cost of revenue (exclusive of depreciation and amortization) as a percentage of revenue			37	%			36	%			36	%			38	%
	Non-GAAP cost of revenue (exclusive of depreciation and amortization) as a percentage of revenue			37	%			35	%			35	%			37	%
	GAAP sales and marketing		$	33,436			$	21,501			$	110,597			$	107,602
		Stock-based compensation expense		(2,746	)			(1,081	)			(8,030	)			(5,983	)
		Workforce reduction costs		—				—				—				(3,401	)
	Non-GAAP sales and marketing		$	30,690			$	20,420			$	102,567			$	98,218
	GAAP sales and marketing as a percentage of revenue			16	%			13	%			14	%			17	%
	Non-GAAP sales and marketing as a percentage of revenue			15	%			12	%			13	%			16	%
	GAAP research and product development		$	42,296			$	34,847			$	160,375			$	151,364
		Stock-based compensation expense		(5,789	)			(5,123	)			(25,414	)			(20,974	)
		Workforce reduction costs		—				—				—				(2,635	)
	Non-GAAP research and product development		$	36,507			$	29,724			$	134,961			$	127,755
	GAAP research and product development as a percentage of revenue			21	%			20	%			20	%			24	%
	Non-GAAP research and product development as a percentage of revenue			18	%			17	%			17	%			21	%
	GAAP general and administrative		$	23,449			$	19,035			$	85,974			$	93,452
		Stock-based compensation expense		(6,228	)			(5,430	)			(22,361	)			(21,704	)
		Gain on lease modification		—				—				—				4,281
		CEO separation costs, net		—				—				—				(11,520	)
		Workforce reduction costs		—				—				—				(2,106	)
	Non-GAAP general and administrative		$	17,221			$	13,605			$	63,613			$	62,403
	GAAP general and administrative as a percentage of revenue			12	%			11	%			11	%			15	%
	Non-GAAP general and administrative as a percentage of revenue			8	%			8	%			8	%			10	%
	GAAP depreciation and amortization		$	5,336			$	6,933			$	19,545			$	28,988
		Amortization of stock-based compensation capitalized in software development costs		(350	)			(548	)			(1,754	)			(2,489	)
		Amortization of purchased intangibles		(1,744	)			(619	)			(2,100	)			(2,476	)
	Non-GAAP depreciation and amortization		$	3,242			$	5,766			$	15,691			$	24,023
	GAAP depreciation and amortization as a percentage of revenue			3	%			4	%			2	%			5	%
	Non-GAAP depreciation and amortization as a percentage of revenue			2	%			3	%			2	%			4	%

			Three Months Ended December 31,								Twelve Months Ended December 31,
				2024				2023				2024				2023
Income from operations:
	GAAP income from operations		$	22,958			$	28,239			$	135,644			$	963
		Stock-based compensation expense		16,024				12,432				60,327				52,364
		Amortization of stock-based compensation capitalized in software development costs		350				548				1,754				2,489
		Amortization of purchased intangibles		1,744				619				2,100				2,476
		Gain on lease modification		—				—				—				(4,281	)
		CEO separation costs, net		—				—				—				11,520
		Workforce reduction costs		—				—				—				10,278
	Non-GAAP income from operations		$	41,076			$	41,838			$	199,825			$	75,809
Operating margin:
	GAAP operating margin			11.3	%			16.4	%			17.1	%			0.2	%
		Stock-based compensation expense as a percentage of revenue		7.8				7.2				7.6				8.4
		Amortization of stock-based compensation capitalized in software development costs as a percentage of revenue		0.2				0.3				0.2				0.4
		Amortization of purchased intangibles as a percentage of revenue		0.9				0.4				0.3				0.4
		Gain on lease modification as a percentage of revenue		—				—				—				(0.7	)
		CEO separation costs, net as a percentage of revenue		—				—				—				1.9
		Workforce reduction costs as a percentage of revenue		—				—				—				1.8
	Non-GAAP operating margin			20.2	%			24.3	%			25.2	%			12.2	%
Net income (loss):
	GAAP net income		$	102,734			$	30,268			$	204,068			$	2,702
		Stock-based compensation expense		16,024				12,432				60,327				52,364
		Amortization of stock-based compensation capitalized in software development costs		350				548				1,754				2,489
		Amortization of purchased intangibles		1,744				619				2,100				2,476
		Gain on lease modification		—				—				—				(4,281	)
		CEO separation costs, net		—				—				—				11,520
		Workforce reduction costs		—				—				—				10,278
		Income tax effect of adjustments		(86,898	)			(11,556	)			(107,372	)			(15,415	)
	Non-GAAP net income		$	33,954			$	32,311			$	160,877			$	62,133
Net income per share, basic:
	GAAP net income per share, basic		$	2.82			$	0.85			$	5.63			$	0.08
		Non-GAAP adjustments to net income		(1.89	)			0.05				(1.19	)			1.66
	Non-GAAP net income per share, basic		$	0.93			$	0.90			$	4.44			$	1.74
Net income per share, diluted:
	GAAP net income per share, diluted		$	2.79			$	0.83			$	5.55			$	0.07
		Non-GAAP adjustments to net income		(1.87	)			0.05				(1.18	)			1.64
	Non-GAAP net income per share, diluted		$	0.92			$	0.88			$	4.37			$	1.71
	Weighted-average shares used in GAAP per share calculation
		Basic		36,374				35,812				36,252				35,629
		Diluted		36,783				36,596				36,782				36,417
	Weighted-average shares used in non-GAAP per share calculation
		Basic		36,374				35,812				36,252				35,629
		Diluted		36,783				36,596				36,782				36,417

			Three Months Ended December 31,								Twelve Months Ended December 31,
				2024				2023				2024				2023
Free cash flow:
	GAAP net cash provided by operating activities		$	36,566			$	31,183			$	188,159			$	60,283
		Purchases of property and equipment		(195	)			(3,109	)			(2,016	)			(9,041	)
		Capitalized software development costs		(1,058	)			(1,431	)			(5,170	)			(4,825	)
		CEO separation costs payment		—				—				—				14,926
		Partial lease termination payment		—				—				—				2,851
		Severance payments for workforce reduction		—				7,624				566				9,425
	Non-GAAP free cash flow		$	35,313			$	34,267			$	181,539			$	73,619
Free cash flow margin:
	GAAP net cash provided by operating activities as a percentage of revenue			18.0	%			18.1	%			23.7	%			9.7	%
		Purchases of property and equipment as a percentage of revenue		(0.1	)			(1.8	)			(0.3	)			(1.4	)
		Capitalized software development costs as a percentage of revenue		(0.6	)			(0.8	)			(0.6	)			(0.8	)
		CEO separation costs payment as a percentage of revenue		—				—				—				2.4
		Partial lease termination payment as a percentage of revenue		—				—				—				0.5
		Severance payments for workforce reduction as a percentage of revenue		—				4.4				0.1				1.5
	Non-GAAP free cash flow margin			17.3	%			19.9	%			22.9	%			11.9	%

Statement Regarding the Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

We use the following non-GAAP financial measures in addition to, and not as a substitute for, or superior to, financial measures calculated in accordance with GAAP.

• Non-GAAP presentation of income (loss) from operations, costs and operating expenses, operating margin, net income (loss), and net income (loss) per share. These measures exclude certain non-cash or non-recurring items, including stock-based compensation expense, amortization of stock-based compensation capitalized in software development costs, amortization of purchased intangibles, CEO separation costs, net, gain on lease modification, workforce reduction costs, and the related income tax effect of these adjustments, as applicable and described below. Non-GAAP operating margin is calculated as non-GAAP operating income (loss) from operations as a percentage of revenue.

• Non-GAAP free cash flow. Non-GAAP free cash flow is defined as net cash from operating activities, less purchases of property and equipment, capitalization of software development costs, payments for separation costs and lease termination payments and severance payments for workforce reduction. We use free cash flow to evaluate our generation of cash from operations that is available for purposes other than capital expenditures and capitalized software development costs. Additionally, we believe that information regarding free cash flow provides investors with a perspective on the cash available to fund ongoing operations. We review cash flows generated from operations after taking into consideration capital expenditures and the capitalization of software development costs due to the fact that these expenditures are considered to be a necessary component of ongoing operations. Free cash flow margin is calculated as free cash flow as a percentage of revenue.

We use each of these non-GAAP financial measures internally to assess and compare operating results across reporting periods, for internal budgeting and forecasting purposes, and to evaluate our financial performance. We believe these adjustments also provide useful supplemental information to investors and facilitate the analysis of our operating results and comparison of operating results across reporting periods.

In particular, we believe these non-GAAP financial measures are useful to investors and others in assessing our operating performance due to the following factors:

• Stock-based compensation expense and amortization of stock-based compensation capitalized in software development costs. We utilize stock-based compensation to attract and retain employees. It is principally aimed at aligning their interests with those of our stockholders while ensuring long-term retention, rather than to address operational performance for any particular period. As a result, stock-based compensation expenses, which include costs related to our workforce reduction, vary for reasons that are generally unrelated to financial and operational performance in any particular period.

• Amortization of purchased intangibles. We view amortization of purchased intangible assets as items arising from pre-acquisition activities determined at the time of an acquisition. While these intangible assets are evaluated for impairment regularly, amortization of the cost of purchased intangibles is an expense that is not typically affected by operations during any particular period.

• CEO separation costs, net. We incurred one-time separation costs associated with our former Chief Executive Officer's Transition and Separation Agreement, dated March 1, 2023. We have excluded these costs, as we do not consider such amounts to be part of the ongoing operation of our business.

• Gain on lease modification. In January 2023 and June 2023, we amended our San Diego lease. We have excluded any gain related to the remeasurement of the lease liability, as we do not consider such amounts to be part of the ongoing operation of our business.

• Workforce reduction costs. We incurred one-time severance and related personnel costs associated with our workforce reduction in the third quarter of 2023. We have excluded these costs, along with the subsequent cash payments, as we do not consider such amounts to be part of the ongoing operation of our business.

• Income tax effects of adjustments. We utilize a fixed long-term projected tax rate in our computation of non-GAAP income tax effects to provide better consistency across interim reporting periods. In projecting this long-term non-GAAP tax rate, we utilize a financial projection that excludes the direct impact of other non-GAAP adjustments. The projected rate, which we have determined to be 25%, considers other factors such as our current operating structure, existing tax positions in various jurisdictions, and key legislation in major jurisdictions where we operate. We periodically re-evaluate this tax rate, as necessary, for significant events, based on relevant tax law changes, and material changes in the forecasted geographic earnings mix.

Our non-GAAP financial measures may not provide information that is directly comparable to that provided by other companies in our industry, as other companies may calculate non-GAAP financial results differently. In addition, there are limitations in using non-GAAP financial measures because non-GAAP financial measures are not prepared in accordance with GAAP and can exclude expenses that may have a material impact on our reported financial results. As such, non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered in isolation from, or as a substitute for, financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP. A reconciliation of the historical non-GAAP financial measures to their most directly comparable GAAP measures has been provided in the tables above. We encourage investors to review the reconciliation of these historical non-GAAP financial measures to their most directly comparable GAAP financial measures.