Twitter earned considerably much less within the fourth quarter than it did a yr in the past, the results of a surge in bills. That actuality didn’t a lot dampen buyers’ temper on Thursday as they despatched the shares up 7% in pre-market buying and selling. (By comparability, the Nasdaq is about flat.)
The corporate had $182 million in fourth-quarter web revenue, down from $222 million. It didn’t provide any specifics about what led to the surge in prices: Bills topped $1.4 billion, a 35% enhance. Wall Road had figured Twitter’s revenue would truly enhance—to $290 million.
Gross sales, although, matched Wall Road expectations: $1.7 billion, which can doubtless additional ease considerations that adjustments to Apple’s iOS software program will harm Twitter’s digital advertisements enterprise, nonetheless its core enterprise.
For the yr, Twitter stayed within the pink, dropping $220 million—down over $1 billion final yr—whereas bringing in $5.1 billion in gross sales.
Twitter is an organization in transition. In November, founder Jack Dorsey departed the CEO function, turning over the job to Parag Agrawal, the chief know-how officer. Agrawal faces the responsbility of observe by on Dorsey’s bid to tremendously enhance Twitter’s income and each day customers, rising the latter to over 300 million by the top of subsequent yr. To perform each, Twitter is experimenting with a number of new subscription-based providers, together with options like Areas (audio chat) and Tremendous Follows (a subscription paywall round content material).
“Our sturdy 2021 efficiency positions us to enhance execution and ship on our 2023 objectives,” Agrawal mentioned in an announcement in regards to the quarterly financials. “We’re extra centered and higher organized to ship improved personalization and choice for our viewers, companions, and advertisers.”
Twitter is making some progress. Within the fourth quarter, Twitter’s customers grew 13% to 217 million.