Antoine Maillet-Mezeray
Analyst · RBC Capital Markets
Thank you, Francis, and thank you everyone for joining us today. Let's start with a review of our top-line performance. Fourth quarter revenue was $45.7 million down 23% year-over-year and down 2% on a constant-currency basis for the quarter. The decline in revenue was primarily due to lower corporate sales in Egypt. As a reminder, Jumia experienced strong corporate sales in Egypt starting Q4 2023, driven by high volume purchases from local and regional distributors. This trend reversed in Q4 '24 as corporate buyers scaled back purchases having macroeconomic uncertainties and shifting procurement cycles. For the full year, revenue was $167.5 million, down 10% year-over-year, up 17% on a constant-currency basis for the year. Marketplace revenue for the fourth quarter was $22.8 million, down 31% year-over-year and down 11% on a constant-currency basis. For the full year, marketplace revenue was $89.4 million, down 9% year-over-year and up 21% in constant-currency. Fourth quarter revenue from first party sales was $22.5 million, down 14%, but up 8% on a constant-currency basis. For the full year, revenue from first party sales was $76.5 million, down 11%, but up 14% on a constant-currency basis. Turning now to gross profits. Fourth quarter gross profit was $23.9 million, down 36% year-over-year or 18% on a constant-currency basis. For the full year, gross profit was $99.5 million, reflecting a 7% decline year-over-year, but up 23% on a constant-currency basis. Gross profit margin was impacted by macroeconomic headwinds, including currency devaluation and reduction in corporate sales as discussed earlier. Gross profit margin as a percentage of GMV for the fourth quarter was 12%, compared to 16% in Q4 '23. For the full year, gross profit margin stood at 14% compared to 14% in 2023. Turning to expenses. We are pleased with the progress in reducing costs and remain committed to driving further operational efficiencies in 2025. Fulfillment expense for the quarter was $12.9 million, up 11% year-over-year and up 36% on a constant-currency basis. For the full year, fulfillment expense was $41.9 million, a 4% decrease year-over-year, but a 20% increase on a constant-currency basis, partly driven by external factors such as fuel prices denominated in USD. Fulfillment expense per order excluding JumiaPay app orders decreased to $2.24 down 4% or up 19% year-over-year on a constant-currency basis. Sales and advertising expense was $4.8 million for the quarter, down 24% year-over-year and up 2% in constant-currency, driven by targeted online marketing spend, as we focus on growing orders through supply expansion with minimal incremental marketing spend. For the full year, sales and advertising expense was $17.3 million, down 19%, but up 13% on a constant-currency basis. As a percentage of GMV, sales and advertising expense was 2%, a 36 basis points decrease from Q4 2023. For the full year, sales and advertising expense as a percent of GMV was 2% compared to 3% in 2023. Technology and content expense was $10 million for the fourth quarter, representing an increase of 1% and up 5% in constant currency. For the full year, technology and content expense was $37.5 million, down 10% year-over-year and down 7% year-over-year in constant currency. Fourth quarter G&A expense, excluding share-based payment expense, was $12.9 million, up 5% year-over-year and 9% on a constant-currency basis. It's important to know that Q4 2023 G&A cost included a $9 million of non-recurring tax benefits and for Q4 2024, a 8.2% tax benefit reversal. Staff cost components of G&A expense, excluding share-based compensation expense, increased to $10 million, primarily driven by termination costs associated with our exit from Tunisia and South Africa. For the full year, G&A expense, excluding share-based compensation expense, was $63.4 million, down 8% year-over-year and 5% on a constant-currency basis. Staff cost components of G&A expense, excluding share-based compensation expense, decreased to $34.6 million down 13% year-over-year. Turning to profitability. Adjusted EBITDA declined to a negative $13.7 million or negative $12.2 million on a constant currency basis for the quarter. For the full year, adjusted EBITDA was negative $51.3 million. While we use adjusted EBITDA as a supplemental measure of our operational performance, we would like to reiterate that, loss before income tax from continuing operations captures items that are not included in adjusted EBITDA. One of these items is net finance costs. Net finance costs include effects related to our treasury activities notably the impact of cash repatriation. These effects are not captured in adjusted EBITDA. In Q4 2023, despite adjusted EBITDA being essentially at breakeven level, Jumia's loss for the period was significantly affected by the financial cost incurred from treasury activities repatriating cash to our headquarters. These costs are helpful in understanding the overall financial health of the company. By focusing on loss before income tax from continuing operations, we include these financial expenses, which helps us get a comprehensive picture of Jumia's financial performance. In Q4 '24, the lower corporate sales reduced the need for repatriation, thereby lowering financial costs. Adjusted EBITDA does not fully reflect this change, as it does not account for these financial activities. Therefore, loss before income tax from continuing operations, should be considered in order to gain a fuller view of Jumia's financial state, capturing both operational efficiencies and the impact of the financial results, which we believe are important to understand the company's overall progress towards sustainable profitability. Loss before income tax from continuing operations for the fourth quarter was $17.6 million, a 3% increase year-over-year or 19% decline on a constant-currency basis. The higher loss was primarily driven by a $13.2 million decline in gross profit largely due to reduced corporate sales in Egypt, a $0.3 million decrease in operating expenses, a $12.3 million reduction in net finance costs during the quarter, with both partially offsetting the impact on gross profit compared to Q4 2023. Loss before income tax from continuing operations for the full year was $97.6 million, 1% down year-over-year, an 8% decline on a constant-currency basis. Turning to the balance sheet and cash flow. We ended 2024 with a solid liquidity position of $133.9 million, including $55.4 million in cash and cash equivalents and $78.6 million in term deposits and other financial assets. This compares to term deposits and other financial assets of $85.1 million in Q4 2023 and $78.8 million in Q3 2024. Jumia's liquidity position decreased by $13.6 million in Q4 2024 compared to a decrease of $26.8 million in Q4 2023. In the fourth quarter, net cash flow used in operating activities was $26.5 million, driven by approximately $1.3 million in market exit cost related to South Africa and Tunisia, a working capital impact of $13.5 million, which was driven by prepayments to suppliers and payable cycles aimed at expanding the supplier base and overall product assortment. CapEx in Q4 2024 was $1.8 million, higher than Q4 2023 due to investment to equip the new warehouses where we recently started operations. FX for the full year totaled $3.7 million. We also paid $2.1 million equity transaction costs from the August ATM offering. For the full year, net cash flow used for operating activities was $57.2 million. In conclusion, despite the challenging macroeconomic environment, we delivered strong usage growth underscoring that our strategy is working. We remain focused on optimizing costs, while positioning the business for long-term growth and profitability. Our ongoing efforts to improve operational efficiency will remain a key priority in 2025. I will now turn the call back over to Francis for guidance.