Wayfair posts narrower-than-expected Q4 loss

Wayfair Inc. (NYSE: W) reported a wider loss in the fourth quarter due to higher costs and expenses as well as income tax provision. The bottom line was narrower than analysts’ expectations while the top line exceeded consensus estimates. Following this, the stock inched up over 8% in the premarket session.

Net loss was $143.8 million or $1.59 per share, wider than the previous year’s loss of $72.8 million or $0.83 per share. Adjusted loss per share widened to $1.12 from $0.58 in the year-ago quarter.

Direct Retail net revenue, consisting of sales generated primarily through Wayfair’s sites, grew by 40.6% to $2 billion. The number of active customers in Direct Retail business reached 15.2 million as of December 31, 2018, an increase of 37.9% year-over-year.

LTM net revenue per active customer rose by 5% to $443 as of December 31, 2018. Orders per customer, measured as LTM orders divided by active customers, was 1.85 for the fourth quarter of 2018, compared to 1.77 for the fourth quarter of 2017.

Repeat customers placed 66.4% of total orders in the fourth quarter of 2018, compared to 62.4% in the fourth quarter of 2017. Repeat customers placed 5.8 million orders in the fourth quarter of 2018, up 51.1% from last year. Orders delivered in the fourth quarter of 2018 climbed by 42% to 8.8 million. Average order value was $227, compared to $229 for the fourth quarter of 2017.

In the fourth quarter of 2018, 51.8% of total orders delivered for the company’s Direct Retail business were placed via a mobile device, compared to 47.3% in the fourth quarter of 2017.

Shares of Wayfair ended Thursday’s regular session down 0.60% at $117.28 on the NYSE. The stock has risen over 22% in the past year and over 33% in the past three months.

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