Duolingo, Inc. (DUOL): history, ownership, mission, how it works & makes money

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Duolingo, Inc. (DUOL) Information


A Brief History of Duolingo

Duolingo, Inc. has experienced significant growth and development since its inception in 2011, focusing on making language learning accessible and engaging through its innovative platform. As of 2024, Duolingo continues to expand its market presence and enhance its offerings.

Financial Performance Overview

For the nine months ended September 30, 2024, Duolingo reported total revenues of $538.5 million, a 42% increase compared to $380.1 million for the same period in 2023. Subscription revenues grew by 51%, reaching $433.2 million, up from $287.2 million in the prior year.

Metric 2024 (Nine Months) 2023 (Nine Months) Change (%)
Total Revenues $538.5 million $380.1 million 42%
Subscription Revenues $433.2 million $287.2 million 51%

User Growth Metrics

Duolingo's user engagement has also seen remarkable growth. As of September 30, 2024, the platform boasted approximately 113.1 million monthly active users (MAUs), up from 83.1 million in 2023, representing a 36% increase. Daily active users (DAUs) rose to 37.2 million from 24.2 million, marking a 54% increase.

Metric 2024 (Q3) 2023 (Q3) Change (%)
Monthly Active Users (MAUs) 113.1 million 83.1 million 36%
Daily Active Users (DAUs) 37.2 million 24.2 million 54%

Net Income and Cash Flow

Duolingo recorded a net income of $74.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, compared to $4.0 million for the same period in 2023. The free cash flow for the same period was $187.2 million, up from $96.6 million in 2023.

Metric 2024 (Nine Months) 2023 (Nine Months)
Net Income $74.7 million $4.0 million
Free Cash Flow $187.2 million $96.6 million

Operating Expenses

Operating expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, totaled $346.5 million, showing a decrease as a percentage of revenue compared to the previous year. Research and development expenses increased to $168.9 million, primarily driven by personnel costs and technology investments.

Expense Category 2024 (Nine Months) 2023 (Nine Months)
Operating Expenses $346.5 million $296.5 million
Research and Development $168.9 million $144.1 million

Market Position and Future Outlook

Duolingo remains a leader in the language learning market, leveraging technology and user engagement strategies to drive growth. The company continues to innovate and expand its service offerings, positioning itself for sustained success in the competitive edtech landscape.



A Who Owns Duolingo, Inc. (DUOL)

Ownership Structure

As of 2024, Duolingo, Inc. has a dual-class share structure comprising Class A and Class B common stocks. The Class A shares have one vote per share, while Class B shares have ten votes per share. This structure allows the founders and executives to maintain control over corporate decisions.

Major Shareholders

The largest shareholders of Duolingo include:

  • Luis von Ahn: Co-founder and CEO, holds a significant percentage of Class B shares.
  • Severin Hacker: Co-founder and CTO, also has a substantial amount of Class B shares.
  • Institutional Investors: Several large investment firms and mutual funds hold Class A shares, contributing to the public ownership of the company.

Shareholder Composition Table

Shareholder Type Ownership Percentage Share Class
Founders (Luis von Ahn, Severin Hacker) ~60% Class B
Institutional Investors ~30% Class A
Retail Investors ~10% Class A

Stock Performance

As of September 30, 2024, Duolingo's stock (DUOL) has shown significant growth. Key financial metrics include:

  • Market Capitalization: Approximately $4 billion.
  • Stock Price: $115 per share.
  • 52-week Range: $90 - $145.

Recent Financial Performance

Duolingo's financial performance for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, includes:

  • Total Revenues: $538.5 million, an increase of 42% from the previous year.
  • Subscription Revenues: $433.2 million, a 51% increase year-over-year.
  • Net Income: $74.7 million, compared to $3.9 million in the same period last year.

Key Financial Metrics Table

Metric 2024 (9 Months) 2023 (9 Months)
Total Revenues $538.5 million $380.1 million
Subscription Revenues $433.2 million $287.2 million
Net Income $74.7 million $3.9 million
Free Cash Flow $187.2 million $96.6 million

Future Considerations

Duolingo continues to focus on expanding its user base and enhancing its product offerings. The company has reported approximately 113.1 million Monthly Active Users (MAUs) as of September 30, 2024, up from 83.1 million in the previous year, signifying robust growth in its user engagement metrics.



Duolingo, Inc. (DUOL) Mission Statement

Mission Statement Overview

Duolingo's mission statement as of 2024 emphasizes its commitment to making education accessible and engaging for everyone. The company aims to provide free language education through its innovative platform, allowing users to learn at their own pace and convenience.

Latest Financial Performance

Duolingo has shown significant growth in its financial metrics for the year 2024. Below is a summary of key financial data:

Metric Q3 2024 Q3 2023 Change (%)
Total Revenues $192.6 million $137.6 million 40%
Subscription Revenues $157.6 million $105.9 million 49%
Net Income $23.4 million $2.8 million 736%
Adjusted EBITDA $47.5 million $22.5 million 111%

User Engagement Metrics

Duolingo's user engagement has also increased markedly, reflecting its effectiveness in attracting and retaining users:

Metric Q3 2024 Q3 2023 Change (%)
Monthly Active Users (MAUs) 113.1 million 83.1 million 36%
Daily Active Users (DAUs) 37.2 million 24.2 million 54%
Paid Subscribers 8.6 million 5.8 million 47%

Revenue Streams and Disaggregation

Duolingo generates revenue primarily through subscriptions and advertising. The following table illustrates the revenue breakdown for the third quarter of 2024:

Revenue Source Q3 2024 Q3 2023 Change (%)
Subscription Revenue $157.6 million $105.9 million 49%
Advertising Revenue $14.4 million $11.7 million 23%
Duolingo English Test $10.8 million $10.6 million 2%
In-App Purchases $9.4 million $9.2 million 2%

Cost Structure and Profitability

Duolingo's cost structure reflects its growth investments and operational efficiencies:

Cost Type Q3 2024 Q3 2023 Change (%)
Cost of Revenues $52.2 million $36.3 million 44%
Research and Development $62.9 million $50.3 million 25%
Sales and Marketing $25.6 million $22.3 million 10%
General and Administrative $38.4 million $33.4 million 15%

Market Position and Future Outlook

Duolingo continues to solidify its position as a leader in the language learning sector, driven by its innovative technology and user-centric approach. The company is well-positioned for future growth with a strong emphasis on expanding its user base and enhancing product offerings.



How Duolingo, Inc. (DUOL) Works

Business Model

Duolingo, Inc. primarily generates revenue through subscriptions, which include monthly and annual plans. The family plan is available as an annual subscription. Additional revenue streams include advertising, in-app purchases, and the Duolingo English Test.

Financial Performance

For the three months ended September 30, 2024, Duolingo reported total revenues of $192.6 million, a 40% increase from $137.6 million in the same period in 2023. Subscription revenues during this period were $157.6 million, marking a 49% increase from $105.9 million in 2023.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2024, total revenues reached $538.5 million, up 42% from $380.1 million in 2023, with subscription revenues totaling $433.2 million, a 51% increase from $287.2 million in 2023.

Period Total Revenue ($ million) Subscription Revenue ($ million) % Change Total Revenue % Change Subscription Revenue
Q3 2024 192.6 157.6 40% 49%
Q3 2023 137.6 105.9
9M 2024 538.5 433.2 42% 51%
9M 2023 380.1 287.2

Operating Metrics

As of September 30, 2024, Duolingo had approximately 113.1 million monthly active users (MAUs), an increase of 36% from 83.1 million in 2023. Daily active users (DAUs) reached 37.2 million, a 54% increase from 24.2 million in 2023. The number of paid subscribers grew to 8.6 million, up 47% from 5.8 million in the prior year.

Metric Q3 2024 Q3 2023
Monthly Active Users (MAUs) 113.1 million 83.1 million
Daily Active Users (DAUs) 37.2 million 24.2 million
Paid Subscribers 8.6 million 5.8 million

Revenue Composition

Revenue from subscriptions accounted for a significant portion of total revenues. For Q3 2024, subscription revenue was $157.6 million, while other revenue sources, including advertising and in-app purchases, contributed $34.977 million.

Revenue Source Q3 2024 ($ million) Q3 2023 ($ million)
Subscription Revenue 157.6 105.9
Advertising Revenue 14.4 11.7
Duolingo English Test Revenue 10.8 10.6
In-App Purchases 9.4 9.2
Other Revenue 0.4 0.2

Cost and Profitability

The cost of revenues for Q3 2024 was $52.2 million, resulting in a gross profit of $140.4 million and a gross margin of 72.9%. In comparison, the cost of revenues for Q3 2023 was $36.3 million, with a gross profit of $101.4 million and a gross margin of 73.7%.

Period Cost of Revenues ($ million) Gross Profit ($ million) Gross Margin (%)
Q3 2024 52.2 140.4 72.9%
Q3 2023 36.3 101.4 73.7%

Net Income

Duolingo’s net income for Q3 2024 was reported at $23.4 million, compared to $2.8 million for Q3 2023. The net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, was $74.7 million, a significant increase from $4.0 million in the same period of 2023.

Period Net Income ($ million)
Q3 2024 23.4
Q3 2023 2.8
9M 2024 74.7
9M 2023 4.0

Cash Flow

Net cash provided by operating activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, was $202.2 million, compared to $104.4 million for the same period in 2023. Free cash flow for the same period was $187.2 million, up from $96.6 million in 2023.

Period Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities ($ million) Free Cash Flow ($ million)
9M 2024 202.2 187.2
9M 2023 104.4 96.6


How Duolingo, Inc. (DUOL) Makes Money

Revenue Streams

Duolingo generates revenue primarily from three main streams:

  • Subscription Revenues
  • Advertising Revenues
  • Duolingo English Test and In-App Purchases

Subscription Revenues

Subscription revenue is the largest component of Duolingo's income. For the three months ended September 30, 2024, Duolingo reported:

Metric Q3 2024 Q3 2023 Change % Change
Subscription Revenue (in thousands) $157,617 $105,887 $51,730 49%
Paid Subscribers (millions) 8.6 5.8 2.8 48%

For the nine months ended September 30, 2024, subscription revenue totaled $433,214, representing a 51% increase from $287,230 in 2023.

Advertising Revenues

Advertising revenue is another significant source of income. For the three months ended September 30, 2024:

Metric Q3 2024 Q3 2023 Change % Change
Advertising Revenue (in thousands) $14,405 $11,678 $2,727 23.3%

For the nine months ended September 30, 2024, advertising revenue was $40,615, an increase from $36,374 in the previous year.

Duolingo English Test and In-App Purchases

This category contributed significantly to other revenues. For the three months ended September 30, 2024:

Metric Q3 2024 Q3 2023 Change % Change
Duolingo English Test Revenue (in thousands) $10,772 $10,612 $160 1.5%
In-App Purchases Revenue (in thousands) $9,411 $9,233 $178 1.9%

For the nine months ended September 30, 2024, Duolingo English Test revenue reached $34,225, compared to $30,393 in the previous year.

Key Financial Metrics

Duolingo's overall financial performance has shown strong growth. The following metrics summarize the company's key financials for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024:

Metric Q3 2024 Q3 2023 9M 2024 9M 2023
Total Revenue (in thousands) $192,594 $137,624 $538,474 $380,124
Net Income (in thousands) $23,360 $2,807 $74,667 $3,950
Gross Margin (%) 72.9% 73.7% 73.1% 73.3%

Duolingo's total revenue increased by 40% year-over-year for Q3 2024 and 42% for the nine-month period.

Cost Structure

Duolingo's cost of revenues primarily includes third-party payment processing fees and hosting fees. For the three months ended September 30, 2024:

Cost Type Q3 2024 (in thousands) Q3 2023 (in thousands) Change (in thousands)
Total Cost of Revenues $52,180 $36,254 $15,926

The gross margin for this period was reported at 72.9%, slightly down from 73.7% in Q3 2023.

Cash Flow and Bookings

For the three months ended September 30, 2024, Duolingo generated:

Metric Q3 2024 Q3 2023
Subscription Bookings (in thousands) $176,309 $121,342
Total Bookings (in thousands) $211,456 $153,556

This reflects a year-over-year increase of 45% for subscription bookings and 38% for total bookings.

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Resources:

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