GoPro reported revenues fell 54.1 percent in the third quarter but came in ahead of expectations.

Sales reached $131.2 million, down from $295.9 million.  Wall Street’s consensus estimate was $126 million.

The loss on a non-GAAP basis grew to $61.3 million, or 42 cents a share, against a loss of $6.06 million, or 4 cents, a year ago. The loss was likewise less than Wall Street’s consensus estimate calling for a loss of 48 cents.,

“Third quarter results are above the guidance provided on October 2nd. We are reiterating our annual revenue outlook of six-to-nine percent growth, and increasing our profitability outlook for the fourth quarter and 2019,” said GoPro founder and CEO Nicholas Woodman. “HERO8 Black and MAX are generating the highest positive social sentiment metrics of any new GoPro and are setting record unit sales for new cameras at GoPro.com. Both products appear to be unquestionable hits with consumers and we’re optimistic about their impact on our business going forward.”

GoPro Q3 2019 Financial Results

  • Revenue for Q3 2019 was $131 million. GAAP gross margin for Q3 2019 was 22 percent. Non-GAAP gross margin for Q3 2019 was 23 percent. As discussed on October 2, 2019, GoPro expected Q3 revenue and gross margin would be negatively impacted by a late-stage production delay that shifted sales of HERO8 Black from Q3 to Q4 of 2019.
  • GoPro Q3 2019 GAAP and non-GAAP operating expenses of $99.6 million and $90.3 million represent year-over-year reductions of 11 percent and 8 percent, respectively. GAAP and non-GAAP operating expenses were at their lowest levels since 2014.
  • Q3 2019 GAAP net loss was $75 million, or a $0.51 loss per share. Non-GAAP net loss was $61 million, or a $0.42 loss per share.
  • Cash and investments totaled $79 million at the end of Q3 2019.

Recent GoPro Highlights

  • In October, GoPro launched HERO8 Black, MAX and new GoPro app features, achieving record positive social sentiment.
  • The first month of unit sales of HERO8 Black at GoPro.com eclipsed every previous new GoPro, including 2018’s HERO7 Black by 40 percent.
  • The first month of unit sales of MAX at GoPro.com outpaced its predecessor, Fusion’s first month in 2017 by a factor of four.
  • Aggregated camera unit sales on GoPro.com in the month of October were up 50 percent year-over-year.
  • In the first month, viewership of HERO8 Black and MAX launch-related marketing assets was 42 percent higher than the HERO7 Black assets during the same period a year ago.
  • The HERO8 Black launch video has become the most viral launch video in GoPro history.
  • GoPro’s Plus subscription service surpassed 305,000 active paying subscribers as of November 4, 2019, up 21 percent since our Q2 2019 Earnings Release dated August 1, 2019, and up 66 percent year-over-year.
  • In the US, GoPro captured 93 percent dollar share of the action camera category in Q3 2019, according to the NPD Group. HERO7 Black was the No. 1 selling camera in all of digital imaging by unit volume, and GoPro’s HERO7 line plus Fusion were the top-four selling cameras in our category according to the NPD Group.
  • In the US, for the $300 and above price band, GoPro sell-through units increased by 38 percent in Q3 2019, year-over-year, according to NPD Group.
  • In Europe, during Q3 2019, GoPro had three of the top five cameras in our category, and in the $200 and above price band of the action camera category, GoPro held 80 percent market share in dollars, according to GfK.
  • In Japan, GoPro market share of the action camera category in units increased from 58 percent to 60 percent in Q3 2019, year-over-year, according to GfK.
  • Organic viewership of GoPro content across all channels achieved an all-time high in Q3 2019 with 234 million organic, non-paid views, a 35 percent increase over our previous record set in Q1 of 2019.
  • GoPro’s YouTube channel alone registered a record 178 million organic views in Q3 2019, an increase of 83 percent year-over-year.
  • Social followers across all channels increased by 1.2 million in Q3 2019 to more than 42 million.
    On July 31, 2019, GoPro merged the GoPro and Quik Apps, enabling new features for photo and video editing.
  • Usage of the GoPro App’s automated editing tools increased 73 percent and total edit sessions jumped 131 percent in the first month after launching the revamped app.