10-QPeriod: Q1 FY2010

Booking Holdings Inc. Quarterly Report for Q1 Ended Mar 31, 2010

Filed May 10, 2010For Securities:BKNG

Summary

Booking Holdings Inc. (formerly priceline.com Incorporated) reported strong financial performance for the first quarter of 2010, with total revenues increasing by 26.5% year-over-year to $584.4 million. This growth was primarily driven by a significant 77.4% surge in agency revenues, largely attributed to its expanding international operations, particularly Booking.com and Agoda. Gross profit also saw a substantial increase of 53.2%, leading to a gross margin improvement to 54.6% from 45.1% in the prior year period. The company highlighted robust growth in hotel room night reservations and international gross bookings, indicating successful market penetration and increasing demand in global markets. Financially, the company strengthened its balance sheet by issuing $575 million in convertible senior notes and repurchasing $100 million of its common stock. Operating cash flow remained strong at $104.7 million. While facing some headwinds such as increased online advertising costs and ongoing legal proceedings related to hotel occupancy taxes, the overall financial health and growth trajectory presented a positive outlook for investors, underscoring the company's strategic focus on international expansion and operational efficiency.

Financial Highlights

31 data points
Beta

Revenue

$584.39M

54.6% Gross Margin

Net Income

$53.88M

9.2% Net Margin

EPS (Diluted)

$0.04

Cash & Equivalents

$348.77M

Free Cash Flow

$99.87M

Financial Statements
Beta
Revenue$584.39M
Cost of Revenue$265.28M
Gross Profit$319.12M
Operating Expenses$231.21M
Operating Income$87.91M
Interest Expense$4.81M
Net Income$53.88M
EPS (Basic)$0.05
EPS (Diluted)$0.04
Shares Outstanding (Basic)1.16B
Shares Outstanding (Diluted)1.27B

Key Highlights

  • 1Total revenues grew 26.5% year-over-year to $584.4 million, driven by a 77.4% increase in agency revenues, largely from international operations.
  • 2Gross profit surged 53.2% to $319.1 million, with gross margin improving to 54.6% from 45.1% in Q1 2009.
  • 3Hotel room night reservations increased significantly by 56.8% year-over-year, indicating strong demand in the core hotel booking segment.
  • 4International gross bookings experienced substantial growth of 80.8%, highlighting the success of global expansion strategies.
  • 5The company issued $575 million in convertible senior notes and reported positive operating cash flow of $104.7 million.
  • 6Despite increased online advertising spend, operating expenses as a percentage of gross profit generally decreased, indicating improved efficiency.
  • 7The company is actively managing foreign currency exposure and has implemented hedging strategies.

Frequently Asked Questions

Revenue growth was primarily driven by a significant increase in agency revenues, up 77.4%, largely attributable to the company's expanding international operations, particularly Booking.com and Agoda. Merchant revenues also saw a modest increase of 9.3%.

The company issued $575 million in convertible senior notes in March 2010. It also repurchased $100 million of its common stock and maintained strong operating cash flow of $104.7 million, indicating a healthy liquidity position. The company believes its existing cash balances and liquid resources are sufficient for at least the next twelve months.

The company faces risks including intense competition, potential adverse impacts from changes in search engine algorithms, exposure to currency fluctuations, dependence on key suppliers, and ongoing legal proceedings, particularly related to hotel occupancy and other taxes. Recent events like the Icelandic volcano eruption are also noted as having a near-term financial impact.

The company sees substantial growth opportunities in international markets, which are outperforming domestic markets in terms of growth rates. International operations are a significant contributor to revenue and operating income, and the company plans to continue investing in and expanding its global presence, particularly with the Booking.com and Agoda brands.