WW International, Inc. Announces Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2024 Results

Globe Newswire 27-Feb-2025 4:01 PM

Fourth Quarter 2024 Financial Highlights

• Total End of Period Subscribers of 3.3 million, including 92 thousand End of Period Clinical Subscribers
• Revenues of $184.4 million; Subscription Revenues down 7.3% vs. prior year period, including Clinical Subscription Revenues of $20.5 million, up 57.9% vs. prior year period
• Gross Margin of 69.7%, up 906 basis points vs. prior year period; Adjusted Gross Margin of 69.1%, up 771 basis points vs. prior year period
• Operating Income of $36.2 million; Operating Income Margin of 19.6%, up 2,256 basis points vs. prior year period; Adjusted Operating Income of $36.9 million; Adjusted Operating Income Margin of 20.0%, up 967 basis points vs. prior year period
• Net Income of $25.1 million; Net Income Margin of 13.6%, up 5,642 basis points vs. prior year period; Adjusted EBITDAS of $50.4 million; Adjusted EBITDAS Margin of 27.4%, up 1,109 basis points vs. prior year period

Full Year Fiscal 2024 Financial Highlights

• Revenues of $785.9 million; Subscription Revenues down 5.6% vs. prior year, including Clinical Subscription Revenues of $78.0 million
• Gross Margin of 67.8%, up 833 basis points vs. prior year; Adjusted Gross Margin of 68.5%, up 659 basis points vs. prior year
• Operating Loss of $236.2 million, including $315.0 million of non-cash impairment charges; Operating Loss Margin of 30.1%; Adjusted Operating Income of $104.8 million; Adjusted Operating Income Margin of 13.3%, up 328 basis points vs. prior year
• Net Loss of $345.7 million, including $293.2 million of non-cash impairment charges; Adjusted EBITDAS of $149.3 million; Adjusted EBITDAS margin of 19.0%, up 254 basis points vs. prior year

NEW YORK, Feb. 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WW International, Inc. (NASDAQ:WW) ("WeightWatchers," "WW," or the "Company") today announced its results for the fourth quarter and full year fiscal 2024 ended December 28, 2024, and announced that the Company's Board of Directors named Interim President and Chief Executive Officer, Tara Comonte, to a permanent role as President and Chief Executive Officer, effective February 26, 2025.

"We are pleased with the momentum in our Clinical business in the Fourth Quarter, reflecting the increasing demand for comprehensive weight management solutions. As more people seek sustainable approaches—including those using or transitioning off medication—our unique combination of science-backed behavioral support, clinical care, and engaged global community allows us to deliver the right solutions at the right time. I am grateful for the Board's trust in me to lead WeightWatchers through this next phase, and I look forward to building on our progress, working alongside our incredible team, and driving meaningful impact for our members," said Tara Comonte, President and CEO.

"At the same time, WeightWatchers is in a period of significant transition as we navigate industry shifts and reposition our business for long-term growth. For more than six decades, we have led innovation in weight management, continuously evolving to meet the changing needs of our members. While we see clear opportunities ahead, executing on them will require careful prioritization as we balance investment in growth with the realities of our capital structure."

"I'm excited to join WeightWatchers at this pivotal time," said Felicia DellaFortuna, CFO. "In Q4, we continued to demonstrate disciplined and strategic cost management, which not only drove our year-over-year improvement in Q4'24 Adjusted EBITDAS, but also keeps us on track to achieve our $100 million run-rate cost savings target by the end of 2025. As we look ahead, our focus remains on strengthening our financial foundation to position WeightWatchers for sustained, long-term success."

Fourth Quarter 2024 Consolidated Results

Q4 2024 Financial Highlights

• End of Period Subscribers in Q4 2024 were 3.3 million, down 12.2% versus the prior year period, driven by declines in the Digital and Workshops + Digital businesses. End of Period Clinical Subscribers of 92 thousand increased 37.8% versus the prior year period.
   
• Total Paid Weeks in Q4 2024 were down 9.9% versus the prior year period, driven by declines in the Digital and Workshops + Digital businesses. The decline in Total Paid Weeks was partially offset by growth in Clinical Paid Weeks, which increased 53.3%.
   
• Revenues in Q4 2024 were $184.4 million. On a constant currency basis, Q4 2024 revenues decreased 10.4% versus the prior year period.
   
  • Subscription Revenues in Q4 2024 were $181.7 million. On a constant currency basis, these revenues decreased 7.2% versus the prior year period primarily driven by lower recruitments and incoming subscribers in the Company's non-Clinical businesses. Subscription Revenues benefited from $20.5 million of Clinical Subscription Revenues, which increased 57.9% versus the prior year period. Additionally, Subscription Revenues were negatively impacted by the continued mix shift from the Workshops + Digital business to the Digital business and a higher mix of non-Clinical Subscribers within their initial, lower-priced commitment periods.
     
  • Other Revenues in Q4 2024 were $2.7 million. On a constant currency basis, these revenues decreased 72.8% versus the prior year period driven by the closure of the consumer products business at the end of fiscal 2023.
     
• Gross Profit in Q4 2024 was $128.5 million, compared to $124.9 million in the prior year period. Adjusted Gross Profit, which excluded the net reversal of $1.1 million of restructuring charges related to prior years, was $127.4 million. Adjusted Gross Profit in Q4 2023, which excluded the net impact of $1.5 million of restructuring charges, was $126.4 million.
   
  • Gross Margin in Q4 2024 was 69.7%, compared to 60.6% in the prior year period. Adjusted Gross Margin in Q4 2024 was 69.1%, up from 61.4% in the prior year period, driven primarily by actions to reduce the fixed cost base within the Workshops + Digital business and the closure of the lower margin consumer products business at the end of fiscal 2023.
     
• Operating Income in Q4 2024 was $36.2 million, compared to an Operating Loss of $6.0 million in the prior year period. Adjusted Operating Income, which excluded the net impact of $0.7 million of restructuring charges, was $36.9 million and benefited from the Company's previously announced cost savings initiatives. Adjusted Operating Income in Q4 2023, which excluded the net impact of $23.6 million of restructuring charges and non-cash intangible impairment charges of $3.6 million, was $21.3 million.
   
• Income Tax Benefit in Q4 2024 was $11.7 million, which reflected the impact of a valuation allowance on the Company's full year fiscal 2024 financials. In the prior year period, income tax expense was $57.6 million.
   
• Net Income in Q4 2024 was $25.1 million compared to a Net Loss of $88.1 million in the prior year period. Adjusted EBITDAS in Q4 2024 was $50.4 million compared to $33.5 million in the prior year period as a result of previously announced cost savings initiatives. Q4 2024 Adjusted EBITDAS margin was 27.4% compared to 16.3% in the prior year period and the highest since the third quarter of 2022.
   
• Diluted Earnings Per Share in Q4 2024 was $0.31 compared to Diluted Net Loss Per Share of $1.11 in the prior year period. Q4 2024 Adjusted Earnings Per Share, which excluded $0.01 net impact of restructuring charges, was $0.32. In the prior year period, Adjusted Net Loss Per Share, which excluded $0.22 of net impact of restructuring charges and $0.05 of non-cash intangible impairment charges, was $0.84.
  • Additionally, certain other items affected year-over-year comparability:
    • In Q4 2024, $0.28 per diluted share positive tax impact arising from the impact of a valuation allowance on the Company's full year fiscal 2024 financials.
    • In Q4 2023, $0.78 per diluted share negative tax impact due to an increase in the valuation allowance to offset all U.S. deferred tax assets due to the uncertainty of realizing future tax benefits of the assets.

Full Year Fiscal 2024 Consolidated Results

Full Year Fiscal 2024 Financial Highlights

• Total Paid Weeks in fiscal 2024 were down 5.1% versus the prior year driven by declines in the Digital and Workshops + Digital businesses. The decline in Total Paid Weeks was partially offset by growth in Clinical Paid Weeks, which increased 164.1%.
   
• Revenues in fiscal 2024 were $785.9 million. On a constant currency basis, fiscal 2024 revenues decreased 11.7% versus the prior year. The decline in Revenues was primarily driven by recruitment challenges in the Digital and Workshops + Digital businesses as well as the decline in Other Revenues from the closure of the consumer products business in fiscal 2023. These declines were partially offset by growth in the Clinical business.
   
• Gross Profit in fiscal 2024 was $533.1 million, compared to $529.3 million in the prior year. Adjusted Gross Profit, which excluded the net impact of $5.0 million of restructuring charges, was $538.1 million. Adjusted Gross Profit in fiscal 2023, which excluded the net impact of $21.2 million of restructuring charges, was $550.5 million.
   
  • Gross Margin in fiscal 2024 was 67.8%,compared to 59.5% in the prior year. Adjusted Gross Margin in fiscal 2024 was 68.5%, up from 61.9% in the prior year. Adjusted Gross Margin benefited from the cost actions taken to reduce the fixed cost base within the Workshops + Digital business as well as the closure of the lower margin consumer products business at the end of fiscal 2023.
     
• Operating Loss in fiscal 2024 was $236.2 million, compared to Operating Income of $22.3 million in the prior year. Adjusted Operating Income, which excluded $315.0 million of non-cash intangible impairment charges, the net impact of $22.2 million of restructuring charges, and $3.9 million of former CEO separation expenses, was $104.8 million. Adjusted Operating Income in fiscal 2023, which excluded the net impact of $54.9 million of restructuring charges, $8.6 million of acquisition transaction costs, and $3.6 million of non-cash intangible impairment charges, was $89.5 million.
   
• Income Tax Expense in fiscal 2024 was $0.5 million, which reflected the impact of a valuation allowance on the Company's full year fiscal 2024 financials. In the prior year, income tax expense was $38.6 million.
   
• Net Loss in fiscal 2024 was $345.7 million compared to Net Loss of $112.3 million in the prior year. Adjusted EBITDAS in fiscal 2024 was $149.3 million compared to Adjusted EBITDAS of $146.4 million in the prior year.
   
• Diluted Net Loss Per Share in fiscal 2024 was $4.34 compared to Diluted Net Loss Per Share of $1.46 in the prior year. Fiscal 2024 Adjusted Net Loss Per Share, which excluded $3.69 of non-cash intangible impairment charges, $0.21 of net impact of restructuring charges, and $0.04 of former CEO separation expenses, was $0.41. In the prior year, Adjusted Net Loss Per Share, which excluded $0.54 of net impact of restructuring charges, $0.10 of acquisition transaction costs, and $0.05 of non-cash intangible impairment charges, was $0.78.
  • Additionally, certain other items affected year-over-year comparability:
    • In fiscal 2024, $0.12 per diluted share negative tax impact arising from the impact of a valuation allowance on the Company's full year fiscal 2024 financials.
    • In fiscal 2023, $0.66 per diluted share negative tax impact due to an increase in the valuation allowance to offset all U.S. deferred tax assets due to the uncertainty of realizing future tax benefits of the assets.

Other Items

• Cash and cash equivalents balance as of December 28, 2024 was $53.0 million.

Full Year Fiscal 2025 Guidance

• The Company is not providing full year fiscal 2025 guidance at this time.

Fourth Quarter and Full Year Conference Call and Webcast
The Company has scheduled a conference call today at 5:00 p.m. ET.  During the conference call, Company management will discuss the fourth quarter and full year fiscal 2024 results and answer questions from the investment community.

The live webcast of the conference call will be available on the Company's corporate website, corporate.ww.com, under Events and Presentations. Supplemental investor materials will also be available in the same location prior to the start of the webcast. A replay of the webcast will be available on this site for approximately 90 days.

Statement regarding Non-GAAP Financial Measures
The following provides information regarding non-GAAP financial measures used in this earnings release and today's scheduled conference call:

To supplement the Company's consolidated results presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("GAAP"), the Company has disclosed non-GAAP financial measures of operating results that exclude or adjust certain items. Gross profit, gross margin, operating (loss) income, operating (loss) income margin, net income (loss), net income (loss) margin, diluted (net loss) earnings per share, and selling, general and administrative expenses are discussed both as reported (on a GAAP basis) and as adjusted (on a non-GAAP basis) to exclude, as applicable in a given period: (a) the net impact of the Company's previously disclosed restructuring plans; (b) the impact of impairment charges for the Company's franchise rights acquired and goodwill; and (c) certain non-recurring costs and adjustments that management believes should be excluded as these do not relate to a recurring part of the core business operations, including acquisition transaction costs and former CEO separation expenses. The Company also presents in the attachments to this release the non-GAAP financial measures: earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization and stock-based compensation ("EBITDAS") and EBITDAS margin; EBITDAS as further adjusted for the items described above ("Adjusted EBITDAS") and Adjusted EBITDAS margin; total debt less unamortized deferred financing costs, unamortized debt discount and cash on hand (i.e., net debt); and a net debt/Adjusted EBITDAS ratio. In addition, the Company presents certain of its financial results on a constant currency basis in addition to GAAP results. Constant currency information compares results between periods as if exchange rates had remained constant period-over-period. The Company calculates constant currency by calculating current-year results using prior-year foreign currency exchange rates. Management believes these non-GAAP financial measures provide useful supplemental information for its and investors' evaluation of the Company's business performance and are useful for period-over-period comparisons of the performance of the Company's business. While management believes that these non-GAAP financial measures are useful in evaluating the Company's business, this information should be considered as supplemental in nature and is not meant to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the related financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP. In addition, these non-GAAP financial measures may not be the same as similarly titled measures reported by other companies. See "Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures" attached to this release and reconciliations, if any, included elsewhere in this release for a reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP measures.

About WW International, Inc.
WeightWatchers is a global leader in science-backed weight management, providing an accessible, holistic model of care through our #1 doctor-recommended Points® Program, clinical interventions including weight-loss medications, and community support. Since 1963, we have empowered our millions of members to build healthy habits to live longer lives. Our innovative, trusted spectrum of solutions provides members with the tools and resources they need to reach and sustain their goals wherever they are on their journey. To learn more visit weightwatchers.com or corporate.ww.com.

This news release and any attachments include "forward-looking statements," within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including, in particular, any statements about the Company's plans, strategies, objectives, initiatives, and prospects. The Company generally uses the words "may," "will," "could," "expect," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "plan," "intend," "aim" and similar expressions in this news release and any attachments to identify forward-looking statements. The Company bases these forward-looking statements on its current views with respect to future events and financial performance. Actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including, among other things: competition from other weight management and health and wellness industry participants or the development of more effective or more favorably perceived weight management methods; the Company's failure to continue to retain and grow its subscriber base; the Company's ability to be a leader in the rapidly evolving and increasingly competitive clinical weight management and weight loss market; the Company's ability to continue to develop new, innovative services and products and enhance its existing services and products or the failure of its services, products or brands to continue to appeal to the market, or its ability to successfully expand into new channels of distribution or respond to consumer trends or sentiment; regulatory, reputational and other risks associated with the Company's new compounded GLP-1 offering; the ability to successfully implement strategic initiatives; the Company's ability to evolve its community offerings to meet the evolving tastes and preferences of its members; the effectiveness and efficiency of the Company's advertising and marketing programs, including the strength of the Company's social media presence; the impact on the Company's reputation of actions taken by its franchisees, licensees, suppliers, affiliated provider entities, PCs' healthcare professionals, and other partners, including as a result of its acquisition of Weekend Health, Inc., doing business as Sequence ("Sequence") (the "Acquisition"); the recognition of asset impairment charges; the loss of key personnel, strategic partners or consultants or failure to effectively manage and motivate the Company's workforce; the Company's chief executive officer transition; the Company's ability to successfully make acquisitions or enter into collaborations or joint ventures, including its ability to successfully integrate, operate or realize the anticipated benefits of such businesses, including with respect to Sequence; uncertainties related to a downturn in general economic conditions or consumer confidence, including as a result of the existing inflationary environment, rising interest rates, the potential impact of political and social unrest and increased volatility in the credit and capital markets; the seasonal nature of the Company's business; the Company's failure to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting; the impact of events that impede accessing resources or discourage or impede people from gathering with others; the early termination by the Company of leases; the inability to renew certain of the Company's licenses, or the inability to do so on terms that are favorable to the Company; the impact of the Company's substantial amount of debt, debt service obligations and debt covenants, and its exposure to variable rate indebtedness; the ability to generate sufficient cash to service the Company's debt and satisfy its other liquidity requirements; uncertainties regarding the satisfactory operation of the Company's technology or systems; the impact of data security breaches and other malicious acts or privacy concerns, including the costs of compliance with evolving privacy laws and regulations; the Company's ability to successfully integrate and use artificial intelligence in its business; the Company's ability to enforce its intellectual property rights both domestically and internationally, as well as the impact of its involvement in any claims related to intellectual property rights; the impact of existing and future laws and regulations, including federal and state regulations relating to compounded medications; risks related to the Company's exposure to extensive and complex healthcare laws and regulations as a result of the Acquisition; the outcomes of litigation or regulatory actions; risks and uncertainties associated with the Company's international operations, including regulatory, economic, political, social, intellectual property, and foreign currency risks, which risks may be exacerbated as a result of war and terrorism; risks related to the Acquisition, including risks that the Acquisition may not achieve its intended results; the possibility that the Company could fail to maintain the listing of its common stock on Nasdaq; risks related to the actions of activist shareholders; and other risks and uncertainties, including those detailed from time to time in the Company's periodic reports filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") (which are available on the SEC's EDGAR database at www.sec.gov and via the Company's website at corporate.ww.com). You should not put undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. You should understand that many important factors, including those discussed herein, could cause the Company's results to differ materially from those expressed or suggested in any forward-looking statement. Except as required by law, the Company does not undertake any obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements to reflect new information or events or circumstances that occur after the date of this news release or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events or otherwise. Readers are advised to review the Company's filings with the SEC (which are available on the SEC's EDGAR database at www.sec.gov and via the Company's website at corporate.ww.com).

For more information, contact:
Investors:
John Mills or Anna Kate Heller
WeightWatchers@icrinc.com

Media:
Mari Santana
Communications@ww.com