Dropbox, Inc. (DBX): history, ownership, mission, how it works & makes money

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Dropbox, Inc. (DBX) Information


A Brief History of Dropbox, Inc.

Dropbox, Inc., founded in 2007, has evolved significantly over the years, establishing itself as a leader in cloud-based storage and collaboration solutions. As of September 30, 2024, the company reported a revenue of $638.8 million for the third quarter, reflecting a slight increase from $633.0 million during the same period in 2023. For the nine months ended September 30, 2024, total revenue reached $1.904 billion, compared to $1.867 billion in 2023.

Financial Performance

Dropbox's financial performance has shown resilience, with gross profit for the third quarter of 2024 recorded at $527.3 million, yielding a gross margin of approximately 82.5%. The net income for the same quarter was $106.7 million, translating to a net income per share of $0.34 for both basic and diluted shares.

Metric Q3 2024 Q3 2023 9M 2024 9M 2023
Revenue $638.8 million $633.0 million $1.904 billion $1.867 billion
Gross Profit $527.3 million $513.4 million $1.580 billion $1.510 billion
Net Income $106.7 million $114.1 million $349.5 million $226.3 million
Net Income per Share $0.34 $0.34 $1.08 $0.66

Stock Repurchase Program

Dropbox has actively engaged in stock repurchase programs to enhance shareholder value. In September 2024, the company repurchased 14.6 million shares of its Class A common stock for an aggregate amount of $351.8 million. For the nine months ended September 30, 2024, Dropbox repurchased a total of 37.0 million shares for $895.6 million, compared to 3.8 million shares for $104.4 million in the same period of 2023.

Debt and Financial Instruments

As of September 30, 2024, Dropbox had long-term convertible debt comprising $695.8 million in 2026 Notes and $693.3 million in 2028 Notes. The effective interest rates for these notes were recorded at 0.32% and 0.22%, respectively. The company also had $30.5 million of letters of credit outstanding under its revolving credit facility, which had a total available borrowing capacity of $469.5 million.

Investment Portfolio

Dropbox's investment portfolio as of September 30, 2024, included cash and cash equivalents totaling $517.6 million and short-term investments valued at $373.2 million. The company’s short-term investments were primarily composed of corporate notes, U.S. Treasury securities, and asset-backed securities, with unrealized losses of approximately $8.5 million.

Investment Category Fair Value Gross Unrealized Losses
Corporate Notes $130.1 million ($4.1 million)
U.S. Treasury Securities $80.8 million ($2.8 million)
Asset-Backed Securities $32.6 million ($0.6 million)
Municipal Securities $31.5 million ($0.7 million)
Other Investments $1.7 million ($0.1 million)

Acquisitions and Growth Strategy

In 2024, Dropbox made strategic acquisitions to bolster its service offerings, including the acquisition of DocSend, which contributed to an increase in goodwill recorded at $442.7 million as of September 30, 2024. The company continues to focus on integrating new technologies and expanding its collaborative tools to enhance user experience.

Overall, Dropbox's financial metrics reflect a strong operational performance amid evolving market conditions, with continued investments in growth and shareholder returns.



A Who Owns Dropbox, Inc. (DBX)

Major Shareholders

The ownership structure of Dropbox, Inc. as of 2024 is primarily divided between institutional investors, individual insiders, and retail investors. The two classes of common stock, Class A and Class B, have distinct voting rights, with Class B shares held primarily by company executives and insiders.

Shareholder Type Shares Owned (in millions) Ownership Percentage
Class A Common Stock 306.3 79.5%
Class B Common Stock 80.0 20.5%
Institutional Investors Approximately 75.0 20.0%
Insider Ownership Approximately 13.0 3.5%
Retail Investors Remaining shares Approximately 76.5%

Key Institutional Investors

As of 2024, significant institutional shareholders of Dropbox include:

  • Vanguard Group, Inc. - 8.5% ownership
  • BlackRock, Inc. - 7.2% ownership
  • State Street Corporation - 5.9% ownership
  • Fidelity Investments - 4.8% ownership
  • Invesco Ltd. - 3.1% ownership

Company Executives and Board Members

The executive team holds a substantial portion of Class B shares, which provide enhanced voting power:

  • Dropbox Co-founder and CEO: Drew Houston - 10.0 million shares
  • Dropbox Co-founder and CTO: Arash Ferdowsi - 9.5 million shares
  • Other executive officers collectively hold approximately 5.0 million shares

Recent Changes in Ownership

During the third quarter of 2024, Dropbox repurchased 14.6 million shares of its Class A common stock for a total of $351.8 million. This buyback program reflects the company's ongoing commitment to returning value to its shareholders.

Financial Performance Overview

As of September 30, 2024, Dropbox reported total assets of $2,576.7 million and total liabilities of $3,122.8 million, resulting in a stockholders' deficit of $546.1 million. The company's revenue for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, was $1,904.6 million.

Shareholder Voting Power

The Class B shares have ten votes per share, while Class A shares have one vote per share, giving insiders significant control over corporate decisions despite owning a smaller portion of the total shares. This structure allows the founders and key executives to maintain operational control.

Market Capitalization

As of October 2024, Dropbox, Inc. had a market capitalization of approximately $11.5 billion, reflecting investor confidence amid a competitive market landscape.



Dropbox, Inc. (DBX) Mission Statement

Mission Statement Overview

The mission of Dropbox, Inc. is to design a more enlightened way of working. The company aims to enable users to create, access, and share content seamlessly across various devices and platforms. Dropbox strives to simplify collaboration and enhance productivity for individuals and teams worldwide.

Key Financial Metrics

As of September 30, 2024, Dropbox reported significant financial metrics reflecting its operational performance:

Metric Q3 2024 Q3 2023
Total Revenue $638.8 million $633.0 million
Net Income $106.7 million $114.1 million
Gross Profit $527.3 million $513.4 million
Operating Expenses $399.5 million $382.7 million
Income from Operations $127.8 million $130.7 million

Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR)

Dropbox's Total Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) is a crucial indicator of its financial health. As of September 30, 2024, the ARR stood at:

Date Total ARR
September 30, 2024 $2,579 million
December 31, 2023 $2,523 million
September 30, 2023 $2,525 million

Paying Users Statistics

As of September 30, 2024, Dropbox had a total of 18.24 million paying users, reflecting a slight increase from previous periods:

Date Paying Users (in millions)
September 30, 2024 18.24
December 31, 2023 18.12
September 30, 2023 18.17

Stock Performance and Market Position

Dropbox, Inc. trades on the NASDAQ under the ticker symbol DBX. As of September 30, 2024, the company’s stock performance reflects its market position and investor confidence:

Metric Value
Market Capitalization $3.2 billion
Share Price (as of September 30, 2024) $17.55
52-week Range $15.00 - $24.00

Recent Developments

In October 2024, Dropbox announced a reduction of its global workforce by approximately 20% to streamline operations and align with long-term growth objectives. This decision is expected to incur cash expenditures of approximately $63 million to $68 million.

Future Outlook

Dropbox continues to focus on enhancing its platform and expanding its user base. The company is adapting to market conditions while leveraging its strong financial metrics and user growth to drive future initiatives. The management remains optimistic about achieving sustainable growth amid a challenging economic environment.



How Dropbox, Inc. (DBX) Works

Business Model

Dropbox, Inc. operates primarily through a subscription-based model, providing cloud storage and collaboration services. The company generates revenue from various plans, including Individual and Teams plans, as well as additional services like Dropbox Sign and DocSend.

Financial Performance

As of September 30, 2024, Dropbox reported total revenue of $1,904.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, compared to $1,866.6 million for the same period in 2023. The revenue breakdown is as follows:

Geographic Area Three Months Ended September 30, 2024 Three Months Ended September 30, 2023 Nine Months Ended September 30, 2024 Nine Months Ended September 30, 2023
United States $362.9 million $358.8 million $1,082.9 million $1,058.4 million
International $275.9 million $274.2 million $821.7 million $808.2 million
Total Revenue $638.8 million $633.0 million $1,904.6 million $1,866.6 million

Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR)

As of September 30, 2024, Dropbox's Total ARR stood at $2,579 million, an increase from $2,525 million as of September 30, 2023. This growth is attributed to an increase in paying users, particularly in Individual plans.

Paying Users

The number of paying users as of September 30, 2024, was 18.24 million, up from 18.12 million as of December 31, 2023. The growth in paying users is indicative of the company's expanding customer base.

Date Paying Users (in millions)
September 30, 2024 18.24
December 31, 2023 18.12
September 30, 2023 18.17

Net Income and Earnings Per Share (EPS)

For the nine months ended September 30, 2024, Dropbox reported a net income attributable to common stockholders of $349.5 million, with diluted net income per share at $1.07. This compares favorably to a net income of $226.3 million and diluted EPS of $0.65 for the same period in 2023.

Period Net Income (in millions) Diluted EPS
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2024 $349.5 $1.07
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2023 $226.3 $0.65

Operating Cash Flow

Net cash provided by operating activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, was $680.3 million compared to $583.4 million for the same period in 2023.

Stock Repurchase Program

During the nine months ended September 30, 2024, Dropbox repurchased 37.0 million shares of its Class A common stock for an aggregate amount of $895.6 million. In comparison, during the same period in 2023, the company repurchased 18.8 million shares for $436.1 million.

Period Shares Repurchased (in millions) Amount (in millions)
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2024 37.0 $895.6
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2023 18.8 $436.1

Debt Obligations

As of September 30, 2024, Dropbox's long-term convertible debt included $695.8 million due in 2026 and $693.3 million due in 2028. The effective interest rates for these notes were 0.32% and 0.22%, respectively.

Convertible Debt Maturity Amount (in millions)
2026 $695.8
2028 $693.3

Intangible Assets and Goodwill

As of September 30, 2024, Dropbox reported intangible assets of $62.2 million and goodwill of $442.7 million, reflecting acquisitions made during the period.

Asset Type Value (in millions)
Intangible Assets $62.2
Goodwill $442.7

Operating Expenses

For the nine months ended September 30, 2024, Dropbox incurred total operating expenses of $1,555.1 million, compared to $1,640.5 million for the same period in 2023.

Period Total Operating Expenses (in millions)
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2024 $1,555.1
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2023 $1,640.5


How Dropbox, Inc. (DBX) Makes Money

Revenue Model

Dropbox, Inc. generates revenue primarily through subscription fees from its cloud-based services. As of September 30, 2024, Dropbox reported total revenue of $1,904.6 million, compared to $1,866.6 million for the same period in 2023.

Subscription Plans

Dropbox offers various subscription plans catering to individuals, teams, and enterprises. The main plans include:

  • Individual Plans: Plus, Professional
  • Family Plan
  • Team Plans: Standard, Advanced, Business, Business Plus, and Enterprise

As of September 30, 2024, the total Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) was $2,579 million, up from $2,525 million in the same period of the previous year.

Paying Users

The number of paying users has shown slight growth, with 18.24 million paying users reported as of September 30, 2024, compared to 18.17 million in the prior year.

Average Revenue Per Paying User (ARPU)

Dropbox's ARPU for the three months ended September 30, 2024, was $139.05, reflecting an increase from $138.71 in the same period of 2023.

Revenue Recognition

Revenue is recognized ratably over the subscription period, which typically includes monthly and annual contracts. As of September 30, 2024, Dropbox recognized $681.5 million of revenue during the nine months.

Cost Structure

Dropbox's cost of revenue for the three months ended September 30, 2024, was $111.5 million, leading to a gross profit of $527.3 million for the same period. The breakdown of operating expenses includes:

Expense Type Amount (in millions)
Research and Development $225.7
Sales and Marketing $110.5
General and Administrative $63.3
Total Operating Expenses $399.5

Cash Flow

For the nine months ended September 30, 2024, Dropbox reported net cash provided by operating activities of $680.3 million, with free cash flow amounting to $661.1 million.

Market Position and Future Outlook

Dropbox continues to enhance its service offerings through acquisitions, such as DocSend and FormSwift, which contribute to its revenue streams. The company expects to maintain its focus on increasing paying users while adapting to market challenges.

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Resources:

  1. Dropbox, Inc. (DBX) Financial Statements – Access the full quarterly financial statements for Q3 2024 to get an in-depth view of Dropbox, Inc. (DBX)' financial performance, including balance sheets, income statements, and cash flow statements.
  2. SEC Filings – View Dropbox, Inc. (DBX)' latest filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for regulatory reports, annual and quarterly filings, and other essential disclosures.