Coupang Inc
For the period ended Dec 31, 2024. Filed Feb 25, 2025.
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FY2024 · Filed Feb 25, 2025
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Item 7. Results of Operations
| % Change | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (in millions) | 2024(1) | 2023 | 2022 | 2024 vs 2023 | 2023 vs 2022 | ||||
| Net retail sales | $23,866 | $21,223 | $18,338 | 12% | 16% | ||||
| Net other revenue | 6,402 | 3,160 | 2,245 | 103% | 41% | ||||
| Total net revenues | 30,268 | 24,383 | 20,583 | 24% | 18% | ||||
| Cost of sales | 21,437 | 18,193 | 15,873 | 18% | 15% | ||||
| Operating, general and administrative | 8,395 | 5,717 | 4,822 | 47% | 19% | ||||
| Total operating cost and expenses | 29,832 | 23,910 | 20,695 | 25% | 16% | ||||
| Operating income (loss) | 436 | 473 | (112) | (8)% | NM(2) | ||||
| Interest income | 216 | 178 | 53 | 21% | NM(2) | ||||
| Interest expense | (140) | (48) | (27) | 192% | 78% | ||||
| Other expense, net | (39) | (19) | (7) | 105% | 171% | ||||
| Income (loss) before income taxes | 473 | 584 | (93) | (19)% | NM(2) | ||||
| Income tax expense (benefit) | 407 | (776) | (1) | (152)% | NM(2) | ||||
| Net income (loss) | $66 | $1,360 | $(92) | (95)% | NM(2) | ||||
(1)Includes results of operations of Farfetch from acquisition date, January 30, 2024.
(2)Non-meaningful.
A discussion regarding our financial condition and results of operations for 2023 compared to 2022 can be found under Part II, Item 7 — “Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for 2023.
Total Net Revenues
We categorize our total net revenues as (1) net retail sales and (2) net other revenue. Total net revenues incorporate reductions for estimated returns, promotional discounts, and earned loyalty rewards and exclude amounts collected on behalf of third parties, such as value added taxes. We periodically provide customers with promotional discounts to retail prices, such as percentage discounts and other similar offers, to incentivize increased customer spending and loyalty. These promotional discounts are discretionary and are reflected as reductions to the selling price and revenue recognized on each corresponding transaction. Loyalty rewards are offered as part of revenue transactions to all retail customers, whereby rewards are earned as a percentage of each purchase, for the customer to apply towards the purchase price of a future transaction. We defer a portion of revenue from each originating transaction, based on the estimated standalone selling price of the loyalty reward earned, and then recognize the revenue as the loyalty reward is redeemed in a future transaction, or when they expire. The amount of the deferred revenue related to these loyalty rewards is not material.
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| % Change | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (in millions) | 2024 | 2023 | As Reported | Constant Currency |
| Net retail sales | $23,866 | $21,223 | 12% | 17% |
| Net other revenue | 6,402 | 3,160 | 103% | 110% |
| Total net revenues | $30,268 | $24,383 | 24% | 29% |
Net retail sales represent the majority of our total net revenues which we earn from online product sales of our owned inventory to customers. Net other revenue includes revenue from commissions earned from merchants that sell their products through our apps or websites. We are not the merchant of record in these transactions, nor do we take possession of the related inventory. Net other revenue also includes consideration from online restaurant ordering and delivery services performed by us, as well as advertising services provided on our apps or websites. We also earn subscription revenue from memberships to our Rocket WOW membership program, which is also included in net other revenue.
Fulfillment and Logistics by Coupang (“FLC”) is a Product Commerce offering that enables participating merchants to leverage our end-to-end integrated logistics and fulfillment network. The previous contract terms with FLC merchants resulted in the transfer of control of the merchants’ products to us and Coupang is the seller of record in these transactions, whereby revenue is recorded on a gross basis (principal). Beginning in the second quarter of 2023, we changed the FLC program and related contracts with merchants, streamlining the overall process for merchants and us. As a result of these changes, control of these products is no longer transferred to the Company prior to sales. The change impacted how we recognize a portion of our revenue, from a gross basis (principal) to a net basis (agent). As of the end of the second quarter of 2023, the previous contract terms had expired, after which commissions and logistics and fulfillment fees earned from FLC merchants under the new contracts are recorded in net other revenue.
The following table presents our total net revenues by segment.
| % Change | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (in millions) | 2024 | 2023 | As Reported | Constant Currency |
| Product Commerce | $26,699 | $23,594 | 13% | 18% |
| Developing Offerings | 3,569 | 789 | 352% | 363% |
| Total net revenues | $30,268 | $24,383 | 24% | 29% |
The increase in Product Commerce net revenues is primarily due to higher net revenues per Product Commerce Active Customer in the second and third quarters of 2024, combined with continued growth in Product Commerce Active Customers, increasing 10% year-over-year. Growth in total net revenues per Product Commerce Active Customers was driven by increased customer engagement within and across more product categories. This was partially offset by a 4% net revenue decline from our transition of FLC merchants to new contracts now recognized on a net basis and a 5% negative impact from foreign exchange.
The increase in Developing Offerings net revenues is primarily due to incremental revenues from our acquisition of Farfetch in the first quarter of 2024 of $1.7 billion. The remaining increase is primarily due to our growth initiatives in Eats and Taiwan.
Cost of Sales
Cost of sales primarily consists of the purchase price of products sold directly to customers where we record revenue gross, and includes logistics costs. Inbound shipping and handling costs to receive products from suppliers are included in inventory and recognized in cost of sales as products are sold. Additionally, cost of sales includes outbound shipping and logistics related expenses, delivery costs from our restaurant delivery business, and depreciation and amortization expense.
The increase in cost of sales primarily reflects higher volume from increased sales and customer demand. Additionally, the acquisition of Farfetch increased cost of sales by $945 million. Partially offsetting these increases was a $116 million insurance gain related to an inventory loss from the FC Fire. Cost of sales as a percentage of revenue decreased from 74.6% for 2023 to 70.8% for 2024 primarily due to an increased percentage of revenues earned from higher margin revenue categories and offerings, further operational efficiencies, and continued supply chain optimization. Cost of sales as a percentage of revenue also benefited from the inclusion of Farfetch, which operates with a higher gross profit margin, and a reduction in expenses from the insurance gain, resulting in a 0.8% and 0.4% reduction of cost of sales as a percentage of revenue, respectively. These benefits were partially offset by a (0.7)% impact from our growth initiatives in developing offerings.
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Operating, General and Administrative Expenses
Operating, general and administrative expenses include all our operating costs excluding cost of sales, as described above. More specifically, these expenses include costs incurred in operating and staffing our fulfillment centers (including costs attributed to receiving, inspecting, picking, packaging, and preparing customer orders), customer service-related costs, payment processing fees, costs related to the design, execution, and maintenance of our technology infrastructure and online offerings, advertising costs, general corporate function costs, and depreciation and amortization expense.
The increase in operating, general and administrative expenses primarily reflects increases in technology and infrastructure costs to support our continued growth. Additionally, the acquisition of Farfetch increased operating costs by $941 million. The increase also includes the impact of the KFTC administrative fine of $121 million. Partially offsetting these charges was a $59 million insurance gain related to property and equipment losses from the FC Fire. These expenses as a percentage of revenue increased from 23.4% for 2023 to 27.7% for 2024 primarily consisting of 1.7% due to the inclusion of Farfetch, which operates at a higher expense margin. There is also a 0.4% impact due to the administrative fine. The remainder of the increase is due primarily to increased technology and infrastructure costs.
Interest Expense
Interest expense primarily consists of interest on our short-term borrowings and long-term debt.
Interest expense increased $92 million compared to the prior year, due to the incremental interest expense of $96 million associated with the Farfetch Term Loans that we assumed as part of the Farfetch Acquisition.
Interest Income
Interest income primarily consists of interest earned on our deposits held with financial institutions.
Interest income increased $38 million compared to the prior year. The increase in interest income was primarily due to higher interest rates in 2024 combined with our higher average cash and cash equivalent balances.
We are subject to income taxes predominantly in Korea, as well as in the United States and other foreign jurisdictions in which we do business. Foreign jurisdictions have different statutory tax rates than those in the United States. Additionally, certain of our foreign earnings may also be taxable in the United States. Accordingly, our effective tax rate is subject to significant variation and can vary based on the amount of pre-tax income or loss, the relative proportion of foreign to domestic income, use of tax credits and changes in the valuation of our deferred tax assets and liabilities. Beginning in 2022, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, as currently enacted, requires taxpayers to capitalize research and development expenses with amortization periods over five and fifteen years, which has and is expected to continue to increase the amount of our GILTI inclusion.
Our effective income tax rate changed from a benefit of (133.1)% in 2023 to an expense of 86.0% in 2024 primarily due to the release of the valuation allowance for our Korean deferred tax assets in 2023. Our effective tax rate differs from the federal statutory rate due to valuation allowances, net operating losses and tax credits used for the periods, partially offset by the mix of our income (loss) before income taxes generated across the various jurisdictions in which we operate, including the impact of international provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and permanent differences from non-deductible expenses. Pre-tax losses from Farfetch, for which we recognized no income tax benefit due to the related valuation allowances, increased the effective income tax rate by 36.9%. We expect that our effective tax rate in future periods will continue to differ significantly from the applicable statutory rate.
Cash paid for income taxes, net of refunds was $138 million and $110 million for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
In addition to the United States tax law changes, our global operations make the tax rate sensitive to significant foreign tax law changes. A number of countries have begun to enact legislation to implement the OECD’s international tax framework, including Pillar Two global minimum tax regime. South Korea has enacted legislation to implement OECD framework including the Under-taxed Profit Rules (the “UTPR”) which may impose additional reporting and compliance obligations to our group effective from January 1, 2025. This minimum tax will be treated as a period cost in future years and did not impact operating results for 2024. We are continuing to monitor legislative developments and are in the process of evaluating the potential impact of Korean and other legislation on our results of future operations.
Segment Adjusted EBITDA
Segment adjusted EBITDA is defined as income (loss) before income taxes for a period before depreciation and amortization, interest expense, interest income, income tax expense (benefit), other income (expense), net, equity-based compensation, impairments, and other items that we do not believe are reflective of our ongoing operations associated with our segments.
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| (in millions) | 2024 | 2023 | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Product Commerce | $2,006 | $1,540 | 30% |
| Developing Offerings | (631) | (466) | 35% |
| Adjusted EBITDA(1) | $1,375 | $1,074 | 28% |
(1)See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below for the reconciliation of the Non-GAAP measures with their comparable amounts prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP.
Product Commerce
The increase in Product Commerce segment adjusted EBITDA was primarily due to the increase in net revenues, improved operating efficiencies and an increased percentage of revenues earned from higher margin revenue offerings.
Developing Offerings
The increased loss for the year ended December 31, 2024 in Developing Offerings adjusted EBITDA was the result of increased investments in Taiwan offerings, higher content costs for our Coupang Play offering, and the $34 million of adjusted EBITDA loss from Farfetch which was acquired in January 2024. These losses were partially offset by improved profitability in our Coupang Eats offering.
The text of this filing, as the company filed it with the SEC, without its images or exhibits. This is not investment advice.