HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_014932.jpg
Extracted Text (OCR)
¢ Metrics could remain under pressure: Investors likely will look for stabilization in
key metrics such as app unique devices growth and local ad account growth, but it
could take time for incremental marketing and sales investments to bear fruit.
« Stock comp could create overhang: With Alphabet’s decision to only report GAAP
profits, Yelp’s high stock comp (67% of 2017E EBITDA) could create overhang to
the valuation.
Leading indicator data points:
Salesforce growth decelerating
While it possible that Yelp sees improving productivity per salesperson, and the mix shift
to national and self-serve reduces reliance on direct sales, the deceleration in salesforce
headcount is a negative leading indicator for revenues.
Chart 16: Salesforce growth versus local advertising revenue growth
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
<x
+
oC
1Q15A
1Q16A
2Q16A
3Q16A
4016
1Q17E
2Q17E
3Q17E
2014A
314A
4Q14A
2015A
3015A
4Q15A
= Salesforce y/y % =—= == Salesforce y/y % ( 2-qtr shift) == Local ad rev y/y %
Source: Company, BofA Merrill Lynch Global Research
Accrued sales bonus and commissions tracking lower
We note that 4Q accrued bonuses and commissions are down y/y and reflect only 0.3%
of NTM revenue, which would be the lowest ratio seen in recent years. Even on an
absolute basis, the total accrued bonuses and commissions of $3.1mn is the lowest
since mid-2013. While this is likely due in part to gains in self-serve and perhaps
increased sales focus on National accounts, the change is noteworthy, in our view.
Chart 17: Accrued bonuses and commissions as a % of NTM revenue
1.2%
1.0%
3-year avg: 0.76
0.8%
0.6%
04%
0.2%
0.0%
FP HP FP TM OOOO OST
Ce COO PPS GSO LH LH Oo
Source: Company, BofA Merrill Lynch Global Research
46 Internet/e-Commerce | 06 April 2017 Bankof America <2
Merrill Lynch
HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_014932
Related Documents
Documents connected by shared names, same document type, or nearby in the archive.