Shopify's Q4 and full-year revenue growth was strong, but its performance guidance fell short of expectations

It is learned that on February 15, Shopify announced its quarterly and annual financial results ending December 31, 2022. Data showed that Shopify's Q4 and full-year revenue and GMV grew strongly, but its performance guidance for the first quarter of 2023 fell short of expectations.

Q4 and full year performance data overview

Data shows that Shopify's fourth-quarter revenue grew 26% to $1.7 billion. Full-year revenue grew 21% to $5.6 billion, with subscription solution revenue growing 11% to $1.5 billion. Merchant solution revenue grew 26% to $4.1 billion.

In addition, Shopify's fourth-quarter gross merchandise volume (GMV) increased 13% to $61 billion, up $6.9 billion from the fourth quarter of 2021. Full-year GMV increased 12% to $197.2 billion compared to 2021.

Shopify's gross profit increased 15% to $798.5 million in the fourth quarter, and its full-year gross profit increased 11% to $2.8 billion.

Shopify's operating loss in the fourth quarter was $188.7 million, or 11% of revenue, and its full-year operating loss was $822.3 million, or 15% of revenue. The operating loss in the 2021 quarter and full-year was 1% and 6% of revenue, respectively.

Shopify's Black Friday sales grew 19% year-over-year to a record $7.5 billion.

Shopify's stock price plummeted as its 2023Q1 performance guidance was lower than expected

Despite last year's growth, Shopify's stock fell more than 11% in after-hours trading after the company provided guidance for the first quarter that fell short of analysts' expectations, suggesting that its recovery from last year's plunge has been uneven.

The Ottawa-based company said it expects first-quarter revenue to rise more than 15% from last year, just shy of expectations for 20% growth, according to a Bloomberg survey. Shopify said operating costs should rise in the low single digits compared with the fourth quarter, excluding one-time charges.

CEO Tobias Lütke said Shopify is working to recover from wrong bets made during the pandemic, and despite layoffs and price increases in 2021, Shopify still has a long way to go from a full recovery after losing about three-quarters of its market value last year.

Analysts believe that Shopify's new outlook indicates that transaction volumes are slowing, which may be due to its management's belief that the macro economy will continue to slow in the future.

Editor✎ Ashley/

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