Key Points
- Marketplace GOV for Q2 2024 exceeded management's guidance, hitting $19.7 billion.
- Revenue increased 23% year-over-year, totaling $2.6 billion.
- Adjusted EBITDA surpassed the upper end of guidance, reaching a record $430 million.
DoorDash (DASH -0.72%), the food delivery service giant, recently released its Q2 2024 earnings on 2024-08-01, showcasing a mix of record highs and ongoing challenges. The company reported Marketplace Gross Order Value (GOV) of $19.7 billion, exceeding management’s guidance range of $19.0 billion to $19.4 billion. Revenue for the quarter reached $2.6 billion, up 23% from the same period last year. Additionally, Adjusted EBITDA hit an all-time high of $430 million, beating the upper end of the management's expectations of $325 million to $425 million. Despite these positive metrics, DoorDash continues to face hurdles, particularly around net losses and regulatory issues.
| Metric | Current Period (Q2 2024) | Management's Guidance | Prior Year (Q2 2023) | Y/Y Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marketplace GOV | $19.7 billion | $19.0 billion - $19.4 billion | $16.468 billion | 19.6% |
| Revenue | $2.6 billion | N/A | $2.133 billion | 23.0% |
| Adjusted EBITDA | $430 million | $325 million - $425 million | $279 million | 54.1% |
| Net Loss | $158 million | N/A | $172 million | -8.1% |
| Source: Expectations based on management's guidance, as provided in 2024-05-01 earnings report. |
About DoorDash
DoorDash operates as a technology company that connects consumers with their favorite local and national businesses through an online marketplace. The platform mainly facilitates food delivery, but it has also expanded into other verticals, such as grocery, convenience, and retail. The company's growth focuses include increasing the number of merchants and consumers on its platform, enhancing membership programs like DashPass, and ensuring the platform remains attractive for Dashers (delivery personnel).
DoorDash continues to improve its platform efficiency and user experience to drive consumer and merchant growth. Key factors driving its success include the quantity and variety of participating merchants, competitive membership programs, and the scale of Dasher engagement. The company's strategic initiatives pivot around its network effects, which make the platform increasingly valuable as more users and merchants join.
Notable Achievements in Q2 2024
Total orders during Q2 2024 grew to 635 million, a 19% increase compared to 532 million in Q2 2023. The Marketplace GOV reached $19.7 billion, up 19.6% year-over-year from $16.468 billion. This growth was driven by increased transaction volumes and higher market penetration.
Revenue for Q2 2024 rose by 23% year-over-year, reaching $2.6 billion, compared to $2.133 billion in Q2 2023. The company's Net Revenue Margin also rose slightly to 13.3% from 13.0% in the same period last year, driven mainly by higher advertising contributions.
DoorDash achieved a record Adjusted EBITDA of $430 million, surpassing the high end of management's guidance range of $325 million to $425 million. This indicates stronger operational efficiency and improved margin structures. Gross profit was reported at $1.195 billion, with a gross margin of 45.4%, up from 44.6% in the prior year.
However, the company also faced significant expenses. Sales and marketing costs were $509 million, representing an 8% increase year-over-year. R&D expenses increased by 13% to $303 million, and general and administrative expenses rose 45% to $494 million, mainly due to office lease impairments and litigation reserves.
Free cash flow improved to $451 million, compared to $311 million in Q2 2023. The company's liquidity also strengthened, with cash and cash equivalents increasing from $2.656 billion at the end of December 2023 to $3.430 billion by June 30, 2024.
DoorDash continued its international expansion, entering four new countries and over 500 new cities with the help of its partner, Wolt.
Despite these positive developments, DoorDash still reported a net loss of $158 million for Q2 2024, though this was an improvement from the $172 million loss in Q2 2023. The company is also dealing with higher legal and regulatory expenses, including a significant $83 million for office lease impairments and $44 million in additional legal costs.
Looking Ahead
For Q3 2024, DoorDash expects Marketplace GOV to range between $19.4 billion and $19.8 billion and Adjusted EBITDA to be between $470 million and $540 million. Management also projects stock-based compensation for the full year to be between $1.1 billion and $1.2 billion, with depreciation and amortization expenses expected to be between $560 million and $590 million.
Investors should focus on DoorDash's ability to manage its regulatory challenges and competitive pressures while continuing to drive growth in its key verticals. The company's focus on innovation and expansion, particularly in its DashPass and new market segments, will be critical areas to watch in the coming quarters. DoorDash expects a decline in legal expenses in Q3 2024, which could positively impact its future financial performance.
