"Curiosity delivered excellent results in Q3, our eighth consecutive quarter of increased adjusted free cash flow and our third consecutive positive quarter. We entered into new and additional U.S. and international distribution relationships with Amazon, Samsung, Vizio, Vodafone and several others," said Clint Stinchcomb, President & CEO of CuriosityStream. "Continuing our commitment to return capital to shareholders, we repurchased 173 thousand shares as part of the share repurchase program we announced in Q2, and we issued a dividend of $0.025 per share. We continue to improve our operating efficiencies, as reflected in our expanded gross and adjusted EBITDA margins during the quarter. Looking forward, we anticipate continued sequential growth in overall top-line revenue driven by subscriptions, licensing and advertising with free cash flow consistent with our most recent quarters."
Financial Outlook
CuriosityStream expects the following for the fourth quarter of 2024:
1 See Non-GAAP Financial Measures below.
Conference Call Information
CuriosityStream will host a Q&A conference call today to discuss the Company’s third quarter 2024 results at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time (2:00 p.m. Pacific Time). A live audio webcast of the call will be available on the CuriosityStream Investor Relations website at https://investors.curiositystream.com. Participants may also dial-in toll free at (888) 510-2008 or International at (646) 960-0306 and reference conference ID# 3957505. An audio replay of the conference call will be available for two weeks following the call on the CuriosityStream Investor Relations website at https://investors.curiositystream.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in this press release may be considered "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 including, but not limited to, CuriosityStream’s expectations or predictions of future financial or business performance or conditions, consumers’ valuation of factual content, and the Company’s continued success. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Generally, statements that are not historical facts, including statements concerning possible or assumed future actions, business strategies, events or results of operations, are forward-looking statements. These statements may be preceded by, followed by or include the words "believes," "estimates," "expects," "projects," "forecasts," "may," "will," "should," "seeks," "plans," "scheduled," "anticipates," "predicts" or "intends" or similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual events, results or performance to differ materially from those indicated by such statements. Certain of these risks are identified and discussed under "Risk Factors" in CuriosityStream’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, that CuriosityStream filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on March 25, 2024, and in CuriosityStream’s other SEC filings. These risk factors are important to consider in determining future results and should be reviewed in their entirety.
Forward-looking statements are based on the current belief of the management of CuriosityStream, based on currently available information, as to the outcome and timing of future events, and involve factors, risks, and uncertainties that may cause actual results in future periods to differ materially from such statements. However, there can be no assurance that the events, results or trends identified in these forward-looking statements will occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and CuriosityStream is not under any obligation, and expressly disclaims any obligation to update, alter or otherwise revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. Readers should carefully review the statements set forth in the reports that CuriosityStream has filed or will file from time to time with the SEC.
In addition to factors previously disclosed in CuriosityStream’s reports filed with the SEC and those identified elsewhere in this communication, the following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from forward-looking statements or historical performance: (i) risks related to CuriosityStream’s ability to maintain and develop new and existing revenue-generating relationships and partnerships or to significantly increase CuriosityStream's subscriber base and retain customers; (ii) the effects of pending and future legislation; (iii) risks of the internet, online commerce and media industry; (iv) the highly competitive nature of the internet, online commerce and media industry and CuriosityStream’s ability to compete therein; (v) litigation, complaints, and/or adverse publicity; and (vi) privacy and data protection laws, privacy or data breaches, or the loss of data.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
To supplement our unaudited consolidated statement of operations, which is prepared in accordance with GAAP, we present Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Free Cash Flow in this press release. Our use of non-GAAP financial measures, such as Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Free Cash Flow, has limitations as an analytical tool, and these measures should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of financial results as reported under GAAP.
The Company is not able to provide expectations of net cash generated from operating activities, the closest comparable GAAP measure to Adjusted Free Cash Flow (a non-GAAP measure), on a forward-looking basis. The Company is unable to predict without unreasonable costs and efforts the ultimate amounts of certain cash receipts and outlays because, in part, such items may have not yet occurred, are out of the Company’s control and/or cannot be reasonably predicted. These items are further described in the reconciliation tables and related descriptions below. Further, these items are uncertain, depend on various factors and could be material to the Company’s results computed in accordance with U.S. GAAP.
We use these non-GAAP financial measures in conjunction with financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP for planning purposes, including in the preparation of our annual operating budget, as a measure of our core operating results and the effectiveness of our business strategy, and in evaluating our financial performance. These measures provide consistency and comparability with past financial performance, facilitate period-to-period comparisons of core operating results, and also facilitate comparisons with other peer companies, many of which use similar non-GAAP financial measures to supplement their GAAP results. In addition, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Free Cash Flow are widely used by investors and securities analysts to measure a company’s operating performance. We exclude the following items from net income to calculate Adjusted EBITDA: interest and other income (expense), provision for income taxes, depreciation and non-content amortization, loss/(gain) on the change in fair value of our warrants, equity interests loss (gain), impairment of goodwill, intangible assets and content assets, restructuring charges and stock-based compensation. Adjusted Free Cash Flow is calculated as net cash flow used in operating activities less purchases of property and equipment, restructuring charges and nonrecurring license fees.
Investors are cautioned that there are material limitations associated with the use of non-GAAP financial measures as an analytical tool. In particular, (1) although depreciation and amortization expense are non-cash charges, the assets subject to depreciation and amortization may have to be replaced in the future, and Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect cash capital expenditure requirements for such replacements or for new capital expenditure requirements; (2) Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect: (a) changes in, or cash requirements for, our working capital needs; or (b) tax payments that may represent a reduction in cash available to us; and (3) Adjusted Free Cash Flow does not reflect: (a) our cash flow available for discretionary payments; (b) our future contractual commitments (such as any debt service requirements or dividend payments); (c) funds available for investment or other discretionary uses; (d) certain capital expenditure requirements; or (e) the total increase or decrease in our cash balances for the stated period. The non-GAAP financial measures we use may be different from non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies, limiting their usefulness for comparison purposes. We compensate for these limitations by providing specific information regarding the GAAP items excluded from these non-GAAP financial measures. A reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures has been provided in the financial statements tables included in this press release and investors are encouraged to review the reconciliation.
About Curiosity Inc.
Curiosity Inc. is the entertainment brand for people who want to know more. The global media company is home to award-winning original and curated factual films, shows, and series covering science, nature, history, technology, society, and lifestyle. With millions of subscribers worldwide and thousands of titles, the company operates the flagship Curiosity Stream SVOD service, available in more than 175 countries worldwide; Curiosity Channel, the linear television channel available via global distribution partners; Curiosity University, featuring talks from the best professors at the world's most renowned universities as well as courses, short and long-form videos, and podcasts; Curiosity Now, Curiosity Español, and other free, ad-supported channels; Curiosity Audio Network, with original content and podcasts; and Curiosity Studios, which oversees original programming. Curiosity Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of CuriosityStream Inc. (Nasdaq: CURI). For more information, visit CuriosityStream.com.
| CuriosityStream Inc. |
| Consolidated Balance Sheets |
| | | | |
| (in thousands, except par value) | September 30,
2024 | | December 31,
2023 |
| (Unaudited) | | |
| | | | |
| Assets | | | |
| Current assets | | | |
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 9,588 | | | $ | 37,715 | |
| Restricted cash | | 125 | | | | 500 | |
| Short-term investments in debt securities | | 23,621 | | | | — | |
| Accounts receivable | | 4,500 | | | | 4,760 | |
| Other current assets | | 1,260 | | | | 2,315 | |
| Total current assets | | 39,094 | | | | 45,290 | |
| Investments in debt securities | | 6,513 | | | | — | |
| Investments in equity method investees | | 4,179 | | | | 6,354 | |
| Property and equipment, net | | 492 | | | | 727 | |
| Content assets, net | | 33,885 | | | | 44,943 | |
| Operating lease right-of-use assets | | 3,137 | | | | 3,350 | |
| Other assets | | 267 | | | | 358 | |
| Total assets | $ | 87,567 | | | $ | 101,022 | |
| | | | |
| Liabilities and stockholders’ equity | | | |
| Current liabilities | | | |
| Content liabilities | $ | 499 | | | $ | 407 | |
| Accounts payable | | 3,842 | | | | 4,765 | |
| Accrued expenses and other liabilities | | 4,873 | | | | 3,705 | |
| Deferred revenue | | 11,347 | | | | 14,521 | |
| Total current liabilities | | 20,561 | | | | 23,398 | |
| Warrant liability | | 110 | | | | 44 | |
| Non-current operating lease liabilities | | 3,990 | | | | 4,283 | |
| Other liabilities | | 691 | | | | 651 | |
| Total liabilities | | 25,352 | | | | 28,376 | |
| Stockholders’ equity | | | |
| Common stock, $0.0001 par value – 125,000 shares authorized as of September 30, 2024, and December 31, 2023; 55,670 shares issued as of September 30, 2024, including 195 treasury shares; 53,287 issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2023; 55,475 shares outstanding as of September 30, 2024. | | 5 | | | | 5 | |
| Treasury stock | | (218 | ) | | | — | |
| Additional paid-in capital | | 366,614 | | | | 362,636 | |
| Accumulated deficit | | (304,186 | ) | | | (289,995 | ) |
| Total stockholders’ equity | | 62,215 | | | | 72,646 | |
| Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity | $ | 87,567 | | | $ | 101,022 | |
| CuriosityStream Inc. |
| Consolidated Statements of Operations |
| | | | |
| | Three Months Ended
September 30, 2024 | | Nine Months Ended
September 30, |
| (unaudited and in thousands except per share amounts) | 2024 | | 2023 | | 2023 | | 2022 |
| | | | | | | | |
| Revenues | $ | 12,604 | | | $ | 15,630 | | | $ | 37,000 | | | $ | 42,114 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| Operating expenses | | | | | | | |
| Cost of revenues | | 5,840 | | | | 8,494 | | | | 18,592 | | | | 27,428 | |
| Advertising and marketing | | 3,590 | | | | 5,106 | | | | 9,676 | | | | 12,424 | |
| General and administrative | | 6,426 | | | | 6,959 | | | | 18,187 | | | | 22,998 | |
| Impairment of content assets | | — | | | | 18,970 | | | | — | | | | 18,970 | |
| | | 15,856 | | | | 39,529 | | | | 46,455 | | | | 81,820 | |
| Operating loss | | (3,252 | ) | | | (23,899 | ) | | | (9,455 | ) | | | (39,706 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
| Change in fair value of warrant liability | | (36 | ) | | | 74 | | | | (66 | ) | | | 184 | |
| Interest and other income | | 538 | | | | 31 | | | | 1,702 | | | | 856 | |
| Equity method investment loss | | (267 | ) | | | (2,638 | ) | | | (2,175 | ) | | | (5,092 | ) |
| Loss before income taxes | | (3,017 | ) | | | (26,432 | ) | | | (9,994 | ) | | | (43,758 | ) |
| Provision for income taxes | | 45 | | | | 133 | | | | 134 | | | | 479 | |
| Net loss | $ | (3,062 | ) | | $ | (26,565 | ) | | $ | (10,128 | ) | | $ | (44,237 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
| Net loss per share | | | | | | | |
| Basic | $ | (0.06 | ) | | $ | (0.50 | ) | | $ | (0.19 | ) | | $ | (0.83 | ) |
| Diluted | $ | (0.06 | ) | | $ | (0.50 | ) | | $ | (0.19 | ) | | $ | (0.83 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
| Weighted average number of common shares outstanding | | | | | | | |
| Basic | | 54,850 | | | | 53,040 | | | | 53,920 | | | | 52,999 | |
| Diluted | | 54,850 | | | | 53,040 | | | | 53,920 | | | | 52,999 | |
| CuriosityStream Inc. |
| Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows |
| | |
| | Nine Months Ended September 30, |
| (unaudited and in thousands) | 2024 | | 2023 |
| | | | |
| Cash flows from operating activities | | | |
| Net loss | $ | (10,128 | ) | | $ | (44,237 | ) |
| Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities | | | |
| Change in fair value of warrant liability | | 66 | | | | (183 | ) |
| Additions to content assets | | (3,412 | ) | | | (14,074 | ) |
| Change in content liabilities | | 92 | | | | (2,734 | ) |
| Amortization of content assets | | 14,470 | | | | 17,707 | |
| Depreciation and amortization expenses | | 285 | | | | 370 | |
| Impairment of content assets | | — | | | | 18,970 | |
| Amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts associated with investments in debt securities, net | | (166 | ) | | | 26 | |
| Stock-based compensation | | 4,734 | | | | 3,586 | |
| Equity method investment loss | | 2,175 | | | | 5,092 | |
| Other non-cash items | | 359 | | | | 362 | |
| Changes in operating assets and liabilities | | | |
| Accounts receivable | | 260 | | | | 4,022 | |
| Other assets | | 1,096 | | | | 1,737 | |
| Accounts payable | | (728 | ) | | | 903 | |
| Accrued expenses and other liabilities | | (658 | ) | | | (3,947 | ) |
| Deferred revenue | | (3,329 | ) | | | (1,230 | ) |
| Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities | | 5,116 | | | | (13,630 | ) |
| Cash flows from investing activities | | | |
| Purchases of property and equipment | | — | | | | (5 | ) |
| Investment in equity method investees | | — | | | | (992 | ) |
| Maturities of investments in debt securities | | — | | | | 15,000 | |
| Purchases of investments in debt securities | | (29,968 | ) | | | — | |
| Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities | | (29,968 | ) | | | 14,003 | |
| Cash flows from financing activities | | | |
| Repurchases of common stock | | (218 | ) | | | — | |
| Dividends paid | | (2,676 | ) | | | — | |
| Payments related to tax withholding | | (756 | ) | | | (76 | ) |
| Net cash used in financing activities | | (3,650 | ) | | | (76 | ) |
| Net increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash | | (28,502 | ) | | | 297 | |
| Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period | | 38,215 | | | | 40,507 | |
| Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period | $ | 9,713 | | | $ | 40,804 | |
| Supplemental disclosure: | | | |
| Cash paid for taxes | $ | 71 | | | $ | 144 | |
| Cash paid for operating leases | $ | 416 | | | $ | 360 | |
| CuriosityStream Inc. |
| Reconciliation from Net Loss to Adjusted EBITDA |
| | | | |
| | Three Months Ended
September 30, | | Nine Months Ended
September 30, |
| (unaudited and in thousands) | 2024 | | 2023 | | 2024 | | 2023 |
| | | | | | | | |
| Net loss | $ | (3,062 | ) | | $ | (26,565 | ) | | $ | (10,128 | ) | | $ | (44,237 | ) |
| Change in fair value of warrant liability | | 36 | | | | (74 | ) | | | 66 | | | | (184 | ) |
| Interest and other (income) expense | | (538 | ) | | | (31 | ) | | | (1,702 | ) | | | (856 | ) |
| Provision for Income taxes | | 45 | | | | 133 | | | | 134 | | | | 479 | |
| Equity method investment loss | | 267 | | | | 2,638 | | | | 2,175 | | | | 5,092 | |
| Depreciation and amortization1 | | 75 | | | | 121 | | | | 285 | | | | 370 | |
| Restructuring2 | | 3 | | | | — | | | | 218 | | | | — | |
| Impairment of content assets | | — | | | | 18,970 | | | | — | | | | 18,970 | |
| Other nonrecurring | | 47 | | | | — | | | | 113 | | | | — | |
| Stock-based compensation | | 2,720 | | | | 897 | | | | 4,734 | | | | 3,586 | |
| Adjusted EBITDA | $ | (407 | ) | | $ | (3,911 | ) | | $ | (4,105 | ) | | $ | (16,780 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
| 1 These amounts do not include amortization of content assets. |
| 2 Consists primarily of severance and workforce optimization expenses resulting from a 2024 reduction in force. |
| CuriosityStream Inc. |
| Reconciliation from Net Cash Flow used in Operating Activities to Adjusted Free Cash Flow |
| | | | |
| | Three Months Ended
September 30, | | Nine Months Ended
September 30, |
| (unaudited and in thousands) | 2024 | | 2023 | | 2024 | | 2023 |
| | | | | | | | |
| Net cash flow provided by (used in) operating activities | $ | 2,260 | | $ | (3,022 | ) | | $ | 5,116 | | $ | (13,630 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
| Purchases of property and equipment | | — | | | — | | | | — | | | (5 | ) |
| Restructuring payments1 | | 142 | | | — | | | | 823 | | | — | |
| Other nonrecurring payments2 | | 171 | | | — | | | | 281 | | | — | |
| Adjusted Free Cash Flow | $ | 2,573 | | $ | (3,022 | ) | | $ | 6,220 | | $ | (13,635 | ) |
| |
| 1 Consists primarily of severance and workforce optimization payments resulting from 2023 and 2024 reductions in force. |
| 2 Consists primarily of payments related to license fees and risk mitigation efforts. |
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Contacts
CuriosityStream Investor Relations
Vanessa Gillon
IR@CuriosityStream.com
