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23andMe Holding Co. (ME)·Q4 2024 Earnings Summary
Executive Summary
- Q4 FY2024 revenue was $64.0M, down 31% YoY, with sequential improvement vs Q3; adjusted EBITDA loss improved to $33.2M from $38.7M in Q3 as cost controls took hold .
- A $152.9M non-cash goodwill impairment drove a net loss of $208.8M; full-year non-cash impairment totaled $351.7M across Q3–Q4 .
- The Board formed a Special Committee to review strategic alternatives, and the Company disclosed the CEO is considering acquiring all outstanding shares; the Company withdrew guidance given the review, a key near-term stock catalyst alongside upcoming ASCO data from 23ME-00610 (June 1 and 3) .
- Membership revenue grew 41% YoY to $20M and retention improved in Q4; management emphasized profitable growth in membership, telehealth, and AI-driven research monetization into FY2025 .
What Went Well and What Went Wrong
What Went Well
- Membership momentum: “retention rates in Q4 improved from the previous 3 quarters, while membership revenue grew by 41% year-over-year to $20 million” .
- Telehealth unit economics improving: telehealth generated positive gross margins while advertising spend decreased, improving bottom-line trajectory .
- GSK relationship extended: 1-year non-exclusive data license with $20M upfront highlights the value of the database and diversifies research revenue opportunities .
What Went Wrong
- Revenue contraction: Q4 revenue down ~31% YoY as GSK exclusivity ended in July 2023 and lower kit volumes/telehealth orders weighed on consumer services .
- Large non-cash impairments: $153M in Q4 goodwill impairment (Lemonaid-related) and $199M in Q3 drove elevated net losses; adjusted EBITDA loss widened FY24 vs FY23 .
- Listing pressure: Company received an additional 180 days to regain NASDAQ minimum bid compliance, highlighting capital markets constraints (considering reverse split under certain circumstances) .
Financial Results
Quarterly P&L Snapshot
Notes:
- Q4 sequential improvements in revenue and adjusted EBITDA reflect higher ASPs, subscription growth, and telehealth margin gains despite research revenue headwinds .
Revenue Mix (% of Total)
Segment Adjusted EBITDA
KPIs and Balance Sheet
Discrepancy note: On the Q4 call, management stated “we ended the year with $26 million in cash and cash equivalents,” whereas the 8-K and balance sheet show $216.5M at March 31, 2024; we anchor to the filed figures and flag the transcript inconsistency .
Guidance Changes
Context: Withdrawal tied to strategic alternatives review by Special Committee and CEO’s potential take-private proposal .
Earnings Call Themes & Trends
Management Commentary
- “We are focusing on driving profitable growth in high-return uses of cash…prioritizing memberships…driving growth in telehealth and leveraging our data assets…” .
- “Retention rates in Q4 improved…membership revenue grew by 41% year-over-year to $20 million…telehealth business has generated positive gross margins while decreasing advertising spend” .
- “We are excited by recent advances in deep learning…train DNA language models…predict disease and provide compelling personalized health recommendations” .
- “We will be presenting safety, efficacy and biomarker data…at ASCO…we’ve moved our second immuno-oncology asset, 23ME-01473 into the clinic” .
- Financial discipline: “total adjusted EBITDA deficit for the fourth quarter was $33 million…we continue to be judicious with our cash usage” .
Q&A Highlights
- Pricing and retention: Renewals post price increases expected from May onward; retention to be monitored in subsequent quarters .
- Total Health rollout: Engineering-led upgrade path; broader launch to existing customers targeted for calendar Q3 .
- Cash burn: Commitment to fund 00610 Phase IIa and 01473 Phase I while maintaining cost discipline and extending runway .
- NASDAQ compliance: Focus on organic execution; reverse split contemplated under right conditions with approvals .
- Partnerships/AI: Actively pursuing pharma collaborations leveraging the database; AI models aimed at better risk prediction and target discovery .
Estimates Context
- S&P Global consensus estimates for Q4 FY2024 (Revenue, Primary EPS) were unavailable via our data connection for ME at the time of analysis; as a result, we cannot quantify beats/misses vs Wall Street (SPGI) for this quarter. If/when available, we will anchor comparisons on S&P Global consensus and update accordingly.
- Given the absence of consensus, directional commentary centers on YoY declines (post-GSK exclusivity) and sequential improvements in adjusted EBITDA attributable to cost actions and unit economics .
Key Takeaways for Investors
- Sequential improvement in adjusted EBITDA and gross profit with tight cost controls; watch for continued subscription-led mix shift and telehealth margin gains in FY2025 .
- Strategic alternatives review and CEO’s potential take-private proposal are material stock catalysts; guidance withdrawn pending review .
- Near-term clinical catalysts: ASCO data for 23ME-00610 (June 1 & 3) and ongoing 23ME-01473 Phase I enrollment; any supportive signals can reset therapeutics sentiment .
- Research monetization: GSK non-exclusive data license validates database value; revenue recognition largely FY2025—track additional partners to diversify research services income .
- Consumer pricing strategy: Higher ASPs and reduced ads lift margins but can pressure volumes; retention trends and membership ARPU will be key to sustainable growth .
- Listing overhang persists with NASDAQ minimum bid extension; corporate actions (e.g., reverse split) possible later this year if conditions permit .
- Data privacy/security management is ongoing with 2FA and costs partly insured; continued transparency mitigates customer trust risk .