On Thursday, BofA Securities adjusted its outlook on Roblox Corp. (NYSE: RBLX), increasing the price target to $70 from the previous $60, while maintaining a Buy rating on the stock. The revision follows Roblox's reported third-quarter bookings, which grew by 34% year-over-year, surpassing expectations set by both the Street and BofA, as well as the company's own guidance.
The analyst noted that the robust performance was partially attributed to the availability of PlayStation 5 compared to the third quarter of 2023, which significantly contributed to the surge. Console bookings now represent 8% of total bookings, aiding in monetization growth in the U.S., Canada, and Europe. Additionally, the implementation of new Search & Discovery (NASDAQ:WBD) algorithms was highlighted as a key factor in the quarter's success.
Roblox's incremental EBITDA margin reached 63%, with a 20% EBITDA margin that was 500 basis points above expectations. The company has achieved a 700 basis point margin expansion year-to-date, which notably exceeds the 100-300 basis points annual goal shared with investors a year prior.
Furthermore, the company managed to keep certain Information Technology & Services costs stable quarter-over-quarter, leading to an 11% decrease in cost per hour and marking a record low. The number of daily active users (DAUs) in the U.S. and Canada also saw a significant increase, accelerating to 25% year-over-year growth, the highest since 2021.
In other recent news, Roblox Corporation has showcased impressive financial growth in the third quarter of 2024. The company's revenue rose by 29% to reach $919 million, while bookings increased by 34% to $1.129 billion. The daily active users also saw a 27% growth, reaching 88.9 million, with notable expansion in Japan and India.
These developments come after the company's strategic initiatives, such as the enhancement of search and discovery features, new monetization tools for creators, and the introduction of more platform-wide events. Canaccord Genuity has responded by raising its price target on Roblox shares to $60, maintaining a Buy rating on the stock.
Roblox's fourth-quarter bookings and EBITDA guidance have also exceeded expectations, indicating continued operational momentum. Moody's (NYSE:MCO) has upgraded Roblox's senior notes to BA1, reflecting a positive outlook on the company.
The company is optimistic about sustaining over 20% growth into 2025, focusing on core gaming business expansion. These are among the recent developments for Roblox as it continues to eye global market expansion.
InvestingPro Insights
Roblox's strong performance, as highlighted in the article, is further supported by recent InvestingPro data. The company's revenue growth remains robust, with a 29.81% increase over the last twelve months as of Q2 2024, and an even stronger 31.26% growth in the most recent quarter. This aligns with the article's mention of surpassing bookings expectations.
InvestingPro Tips reveal that analysts anticipate continued sales growth for Roblox in the current year, which is consistent with the positive outlook presented in the article. Additionally, three analysts have revised their earnings upwards for the upcoming period, suggesting growing confidence in the company's financial performance.
However, it's worth noting that Roblox still faces challenges. The company is not profitable over the last twelve months, with a negative operating income margin of -37.63%. This underscores the importance of the margin expansion and cost control measures mentioned in the article.
For investors seeking a more comprehensive analysis, InvestingPro offers 7 additional tips for Roblox, providing a deeper understanding of the company's financial position and market performance.
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