Groupon’s Worst-Ever Decline Drives It to Record Low Amid Revamp
Groupon Plunges After Missing Estimates, Announcing Overhaul
(Bloomberg) -- Groupon Inc. plummeted a record 38% to an all-time low after delivering worse-than-expected results and announcing plans to stop selling goods -- a retreat for a company that once aspired to be a major shopping service.
Earnings declined to 7 cents a share last quarter, excluding some items, Groupon said on Tuesday. That missed even the most pessimistic Wall Street estimate. Sales also fell dramatically short of projections.
The stock tumbled as low as $1.90 in New York trading Wednesday. The shares had been up 28% this year through Tuesday’s close, with investors betting that Groupon could mount a comeback.
Groupon Goods, an e-commerce site for products like phone chargers and coats, was an attempt to attract new customers and decrease the company’s reliance on its core business -- selling daily deals and other discounts. But the business’s contribution to profit has been declining for four quarters, and consumers have lost interest, Groupon said. That’s why it plans to phase out the program this year.
“Goods has outlived its role as a business driver and has become a significant drag on our business,” Chief Executive Officer Rich Williams said in a letter to shareholders.
Groupon’s turnaround plan now hinges on relaunching the brand and kicking off a new marketing strategy, Williams said. The hope is to shift away from offering deals and be known as a marketplace where consumers can find local experiences.
The goal is “being top of mind when our customers are looking for the best things to do around them, when they need something to do with their kids on the weekend or for when they’re planning date night,” he said.
Groupon also named two new board members: Valerie Mosley, CEO of Valmo Ventures, and Helen Vaid, Pizza Hut’s chief customer officer. And it appointed interim Chief Financial Officer Melissa Thomas to the job permanently.
And the board is proposing a reverse stock split at a ratio of between 1-for-10 and 1-for-12.
To contact the reporter on this story: Nick Turner in Los Angeles at nturner7@bloomberg.net
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Nick Turner at nturner7@bloomberg.net
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