CI
Creatd, Inc. (VOCL)·Q1 2022 Earnings Summary
Executive Summary
- Q1 2022 GAAP revenue grew 81% YoY to $1.35M, with management also citing $2.5M non-GAAP revenue; operating expenses fell a record 45% QoQ as the company prioritized cost discipline and reduced Vocal marketing spend .
- Despite negative gross profit in Q1 ($(0.22)M), management guided mid-Q2 that Q2 net revenue was already tracking above Q1 and maintained Q2 2022 guidance of $1.55–$1.75M; the company also ended Q1 with no long‑term debt .
- FY22 revenue outlook was reset from $10–$15M (initiated Nov-2021) to $8–$10M (Apr-2022), implying a more measured growth trajectory vs prior plans; management targets cash flow breakeven through reduced marketing intensity and higher subscription “stickiness” .
- No Q1 2022 earnings call transcript was located in the document set; consensus estimates from S&P Global were unavailable for VOCL/CRTD mapping at this time, so beat/miss vs Street cannot be assessed. S&P Global consensus unavailable.
What Went Well and What Went Wrong
What Went Well
- Aggressive cost control: total operating expenses reduced by a record 45% QoQ, driven by lower Vocal marketing costs and broader expense discipline .
- Revenue resilience with platform momentum: Q1 GAAP revenue rose 81% YoY to $1.35M; management also highlighted $2.5M non-GAAP revenue reflecting broader bookings/activity across segments .
- Balance sheet cleaner: management stated the company had no long‑term debt at Q1 end, increasing flexibility ahead of product launches (e.g., Vocal mobile app) .
Management quote: “Over the last quarter, our Company has been able to operate efficiently and effectively … we are still on schedule to deliver our first ever Vocal mobile app,” — CEO Laurie Weisberg .
What Went Wrong
- Negative gross profit continued: Q1 gross profit was $(0.22)M on $1.35M revenue, indicating cost of revenue pressure and limited operating leverage at current scale .
- Persistent losses: Q1 loss from operations was $(6.79)M with net loss $(6.88)M, underscoring ongoing cash burn despite lower opex .
- Guidance reset: FY22 revenue expectation cut from $10–$15M (Nov-2021) to $8–$10M (Apr-2022), citing slower-than-expected ramp and pandemic‑related delays in Partners/Ventures revenue materialization .
Financial Results
P&L Snapshot vs Prior Periods and YoY
Note: Periods are GAAP unless noted.
Footnote: Q4 2021 revenue derived from audited FY 2021 and 9M 2021 disclosures; FY 2021 PR text states “over $1.5M” in Q4, which may reflect non‑GAAP or gross revenue; the audited roll‑forward implies ~$1.37M GAAP Q4 revenue .
KPIs and Balance Sheet Highlights
Segment Breakdown
- FY 2021 segment revenue: Creatd Partners $2.3M; Creatd Labs $1.9M; Creatd Ventures $90k .
- Q1 2022 segment revenue breakdown was not disclosed in the press release/8‑K exhibit .
Guidance Changes
Earnings Call Themes & Trends
No Q1 2022 earnings call transcript was located in the document set; themes below reflect management commentary from press releases/8‑K exhibits.
Management Commentary
- Strategic focus: “Commitment to creators and our technology platform, Vocal … deliver our first ever Vocal mobile app,” highlighting product roadmap as a key milestone .
- Operating discipline: Management emphasized the “scalability of Creatd’s multiple subscription-based revenue models” as rationale for cutting marketing while maintaining revenues QoQ .
- Business development: Dune placement in Erewhon and sell‑through at Urban Outfitters signal early DTC traction and retailer interest .
Selected quotes:
- “Creatd’s Q1 2022 GAAP revenue grew 81% YoY to nearly $1.4 million, with $2.5 million in non-GAAP revenue… [and] reducing operating expenses by a record 45%.”
- “At the conclusion of Q1 2022, Creatd’s balance sheet has no long-term debt.”
- “We are still on schedule to deliver our first ever Vocal mobile app … the most momentous event for the technology since the platform’s inception.”
- “We expect Q1 2022 revenues to track similarly to those of Q4 2021 … anticipate that 2022 revenues will increase by 2x year-over-year” (Apr-2022 PR; note FY guide reset to $8–$10M) .
Q&A Highlights
- No Q1 2022 earnings call transcript was available in the document set; therefore, no Q&A themes or clarifications can be extracted for this period. (Sourcing attempt returned no VOCL/CRTD transcript for the window) [Search: none found in 2022-03–2022-06 window for VOCL].
Estimates Context
- S&P Global consensus estimates for Q1 2022 revenue and EPS were unavailable for VOCL/CRTD mapping at this time, so beat/miss vs Street cannot be determined. S&P Global consensus unavailable.
- Given the absence of Street coverage data, near-term investor expectations are best anchored to company guidance and sequential trends: Q1 revenue $1.35M and Q2 guide $1.55–$1.75M .
Key Takeaways for Investors
- Execution pivot toward efficiency is clear: a record 45% QoQ opex reduction while maintaining revenue QoQ suggests subscription “stickiness” and improving unit economics on lower paid acquisition .
- Growth guide right‑sized: FY22 outlook reduced to $8–$10M from $10–$15M; monitor cadence against Q2 guide of $1.55–$1.75M to gauge whether the reset is conservative or further recalibration is needed .
- Profitability path still challenged: negative gross profit and sizable operating losses persisted in Q1; breakeven requires both revenue scale-up and further COGS/opex leverage .
- Product catalyst: first‑ever Vocal mobile app “on schedule”; successful launch could accelerate creator engagement/retention and reduce CAC dependence—a potential stock narrative driver .
- DTC proof points: Dune’s Erewhon launch and prior Urban Outfitters sell‑through indicate early retail traction; expansion could diversify revenue mix beyond subscriptions/agency .
- Balance sheet cleaner: absence of long‑term debt post‑Q1 provides options to pursue selective growth initiatives without onerous leverage .
- Data gaps: Lack of available Street estimates and no Q1 call transcript limit external validation of outlook; trading likely to key off intra‑quarter updates and delivery vs Q2 revenue guidance. S&P Global consensus unavailable.
Appendix: Additional Context
- FY 2021 audited results show $4.30M GAAP revenue; 9M 2021 revenue was $2.93M, implying ~$1.37M GAAP revenue in Q4 2021. The FY press release text references “over $1.5M” in Q4, likely reflecting non‑GAAP or gross measures; investors should note the distinction .
- Segment context (FY 2021): Partners $2.3M, Labs $1.9M, Ventures $90k, illustrating the relative importance of agency and platform subscription revenue entering 2022 .