Dropbox Announces Fiscal 2024 Third Quarter Results

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dropbox, Inc. (NASDAQ: DBX), today announced financial results for its third quarter ended September 30, 2024.

"As we've shared over the last year, we're in a transitional period as a company and we continue to face a challenging environment in 2024. We recently announced a reduction in our workforce to both increase efficiency in and strengthen our core business, and accelerate growth in our new bets, like Dropbox Dash," said Dropbox Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer Drew Houston. "As the market opportunity heats up, we can leverage our large installed base, trusted brand, and scaled infrastructure to deliver on our next phase of growth. I'm excited about the opportunity to reimagine how we solve our customers' biggest problems for the cloud-native, AI-powered world."

Third Quarter Fiscal 2024 Results

• Total revenue was $638.8 million, an increase of 0.9% from the same period last year on an as reported and constant currency basis.⁽¹⁾
• Total ARR was $2.579 billion, an increase of 2.1% from the same period last year. On a constant currency basis, year-over-year growth would have been 1.4%.⁽²⁾ Total ARR increased $5.8 million quarter-over-quarter.
• Paying users was 18.24 million, as compared to 18.17 million for the same period last year. Average revenue per paying user was $139.05, as compared to $138.71 for the same period last year. Paying users increased 19,000 quarter-over-quarter.
• GAAP gross margin was 82.5%, as compared to 81.1% for the same period last year. Non-GAAP gross margin was 84.0%, as compared to 82.6% for the same period last year. Effective January 1, 2024, the Company changed the estimate of the useful lives of certain infrastructure server and component assets, which are included in property and equipment, net and are depreciated through cost of revenue, from four to five years. The effect of this change in estimate during the three months ended September 30, 2024 was a reduction in depreciation expense of $6.9 million.⁽⁴⁾
• GAAP operating margin was 20.0%, as compared to 20.6% for the same period last year. Non-GAAP operating margin was 36.2%, as compared to 36.0% for the same period last year.
• GAAP net income was $106.7 million, as compared to $114.1 million for the same period last year. Non-GAAP net income was $190.4 million, as compared to $194.1 million for the same period last year.
• Net cash provided by operating activities was $274.2 million, as compared to $255.9 million for the same period last year. Free cash flow was $270.1 million, as compared to $246.5 million for the same period last year.
• GAAP diluted net income per share attributable to common stockholders was $0.34, as compared to $0.33 in the same period last year. Non-GAAP diluted net income per share attributable to common stockholders was $0.60, as compared to $0.56 in the same period last year.⁽³⁾
• Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments ended at $890.8 million.

⁽¹⁾ We calculate constant currency revenue growth rates by applying the prior period weighted average exchange rates to current period results.

⁽²⁾ We calculate total annual recurring revenue ("Total ARR") as the number of users who have active paid licenses for access to our platform as of the end of the period, multiplied by their annualized subscription price to our platform. We adjust our exchange rates used to calculate Total ARR on an annual basis, at the beginning of each fiscal year. We calculate constant currency Total ARR growth rates by applying the current period exchange rate to prior period results.

⁽³⁾ GAAP and Non-GAAP diluted net income per share attributable to common stockholders is calculated based upon 316.4 million and 346.0 million diluted weighted-average shares of common stock for the three months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively.

⁽⁴⁾ The impact from the change in our estimate was calculated based on assets that existed as of the effective date of the change and applying the revised estimated useful lives prospectively.

Financial Outlook

Dropbox will provide forward-looking guidance in connection with this quarterly earnings announcement on its conference call, webcast, and on its investor relations website at http://investors.dropbox.com.

Conference Call Information

Dropbox plans to host a conference call today to review its third quarter financial results and to discuss its financial outlook. This call is scheduled to begin at 2:00 p.m. PT / 5:00 p.m. ET and can be accessed by using the web link at http://investors.dropbox.com.

Other Upcoming Events

• Tim Regan, Chief Financial Officer, will be attending the UBS Global Technology Conference on Tuesday, December 3rd, 2024.

About Dropbox

Dropbox is the one place to keep life organized and keep work moving. With more than 700 million registered users across approximately 180 countries, we're on a mission to design a more enlightened way of working. Dropbox is headquartered in San Francisco, CA, and has employees around the world. For more information on our mission and products, visit http://dropbox.com.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Reconciliations of non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable financial results as determined in accordance with GAAP are included at the end of this press release following the accompanying financial data. For a description of these non-GAAP financial measures, including the reasons management uses each measure, please see the section of the tables titled "About Non-GAAP Financial Measures."

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 including, among other things, our expectations regarding distributed work and artificial intelligence and machine learning trends, related market opportunities and our ability to capitalize on those opportunities, as well as our ability to improve shareholder returns. Words such as "believe," "may," "will," "estimate," "continue," "anticipate," "intend," "expect," "plans," and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. We have based these forward-looking statements largely on our current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that we believe may affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release and are subject to risks, uncertainties, and assumptions including, but not limited to: (i) our ability to retain and upgrade paying users, and increase our recurring revenue; (ii) our ability to attract new users or convert registered users to paying users; (iii) our expectations regarding general economic, political, and market trends and their respective impacts on our business; (iv) impacts to our financial results and business operations as a result of pricing and packaging changes to our subscription plans; (v) our future financial performance, including trends in revenue, costs of revenue, gross profit or gross margin, operating expenses, paying users, and free cash flow; (vi) our ability to achieve or maintain profitability; (vii) our liability or other potential legal, regulatory, or reputational consequences of any unauthorized access to our data or our users' content, including through privacy and data security breaches; (viii) significant disruption of service on our platform or loss of content; (ix) any decline in demand for our platform or for content collaboration solutions in general; (x) changes in the interoperability of our platform across devices, operating systems, and third-party applications that we do not control; (xi) competition in our markets; (xii) our ability to respond to rapid technological changes, extend our platform, develop new features or products, or gain market acceptance for such new features or products; (xiii) our ability to improve quality and ease of adoption of our new and enhanced product experiences, features, and capabilities; (xiv) our ability to manage our growth or plan for future growth; (xv) our various acquisitions of businesses and the potential of such acquisitions to require significant management attention, disrupt our business, or dilute stockholder value; (xvi) our ability to attract, retain, integrate, and manage key and other highly qualified personnel, including as a result of our reduction in workforce announced in October 2024 or our Virtual First model with an increasingly distributed workforce; (xvii) our ability to realize the intended benefits of our workforce reduction announced in October 2024, (xviii) our capital allocation plans with respect to our stock repurchase program and other investments; and (xix) the dual class structure of our common stock and its effect of concentrating voting control with certain stockholders who held our capital stock prior to the completion of our initial public offering. Further information on risks that could affect Dropbox's results is included in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), including our Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2024. Additional information will be made available in our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2024 and other reports that we may file with the SEC from time to time, which could cause actual results to vary from expectations. If the risks materialize or assumptions prove incorrect, actual results could differ materially from the results implied by these forward-looking statements. Dropbox assumes no obligation to, and does not currently intend to, update any such forward-looking statements after the date of this release, except as required by applicable law.

Dropbox, Inc. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (In millions, except per share data) (Unaudited)
	Three Months Ended September 30,								Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2024				2023				2024				2023
Revenue	$	638.8			$	633.0			$	1,904.6			$	1,866.6
Cost of revenue(1)(2)		111.5				119.6				324.3				356.5
Gross profit		527.3				513.4				1,580.3				1,510.1
Operating expenses:
Research and development(1)(2)		225.7				216.4				671.9				714.4
Sales and marketing(1)(2)		110.5				106.3				331.8				346.4
General and administrative(1)(2)		63.3				60.0				178.3				175.8
Net loss on real estate assets(3)		-				-				-				2.2
Total operating expenses		399.5				382.7				1,182.0				1,238.8
Income from operations		127.8				130.7				398.3				271.3
Interest income, net		3.8				5.0				15.8				12.6
Other income (expense), net		1.1				(0.2	)			3.3				(1.8	)
Income before income taxes		132.7				135.5				417.4				282.1
Provision for income taxes		(26.0	)			(21.4	)			(67.9	)			(55.8	)
Net income	$	106.7			$	114.1			$	349.5			$	226.3
Basic net income per share	$	0.34			$	0.34			$	1.08			$	0.66
Diluted net income per share	$	0.34			$	0.33			$	1.07			$	0.65
Weighted-average shares used in computing net income per share attributable to common stockholders, basic		314.5				339.2				323.9				342.5
Weighted-average shares used in computing net income per share attributable to common stockholders, diluted		316.4				346.0				327.1				345.9

(1) Includes stock-based compensation expense as follows (in millions):
	Three Months Ended September 30,								Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2024				2023				2024				2023
Cost of revenue	$	5.8			$	5.8			$	17.0			$	17.6
Research and development(4)		66.7				58.6				186.3				178.9
Sales and marketing		6.1				5.2				17.4				17.0
General and administrative		13.7				14.2				40.1				41.6
Total stock-based compensation	$	92.3			$	83.8			$	260.8			$	255.1

⁽²⁾ Includes expenses related to our 2023 reduction in workforce such as severance, benefits and other related items during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023.

⁽³⁾ Includes impairment charges related to real estate assets as a result of our Virtual First work model.

⁽⁴⁾ On March 15, 2023, the former President resigned, resulting in the reversal of $6.7 million in stock-based compensation expense. Of the total amount reversed, $4.4 million related to expense recognized prior to January 1, 2023.

Dropbox, Inc. Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (In millions) (Unaudited)
	As of
	September 30, 2024				December 31, 2023
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	517.6			$	614.9
Short-term investments		373.2				741.1
Trade and other receivables, net		69.5				68.7
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		85.2				91.9
Total current assets		1,045.5				1,516.6
Property and equipment, net		346.3				309.2
Operating lease right-of-use asset		167.9				183.8
Intangible assets, net		62.2				58.1
Goodwill		442.7				402.2
Deferred tax assets		458.1				460.4
Other assets		54.0				53.2
Total assets	$	2,576.7			$	2,983.5
Liabilities and stockholders' deficit
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	$	35.5			$	38.5
Accrued and other current liabilities		147.1				155.2
Accrued compensation and benefits		90.7				109.2
Operating lease liability		68.8				57.4
Finance lease obligation		120.2				116.2
Deferred revenue		739.8				725.0
Total current liabilities		1,202.1				1,201.5
Operating lease liability, non-current		264.9				310.7
Finance lease obligation, non-current		188.6				168.5
Convertible senior notes, net, non-current		1,380.6				1,377.8
Other non-current liabilities		86.6				90.8
Total liabilities		3,122.8				3,149.3
Stockholders' deficit:
Additional paid-in-capital		2,454.5				2,598.0
Accumulated deficit		(2,993.0	)			(2,742.3	)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(7.6	)			(21.5	)
Total stockholders' deficit		(546.1	)			(165.8	)
Total liabilities and stockholders' deficit	$	2,576.7			$	2,983.5

Dropbox, Inc. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (In millions) (Unaudited)
	Three Months Ended September 30,								Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2024				2023				2024				2023
Cash flows from operating activities
Net income	$	106.7			$	114.1			$	349.5			$	226.3
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		35.3				41.8				99.1				127.0
Stock-based compensation		92.3				83.8				260.8				255.1
Net loss on real estate assets		-				-				-				2.2
Amortization of debt issuance costs		1.1				1.1				3.2				3.2
Amortization of deferred commissions		7.7				9.4				22.6				30.2
Non-cash operating lease expense		9.0				10.5				27.1				34.0
Deferred taxes		2.7				4.2				3.2				11.7
Other		(5.3	)			1.8				(5.2	)			2.3
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Trade and other receivables, net		(1.5	)			(4.1	)			(0.4	)			(10.6	)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		10.5				(6.4	)			(11.2	)			(24.0	)
Other assets		1.3				2.8				3.3				6.5
Accounts payable		(2.0	)			0.5				(3.8	)			7.4
Accrued and other current liabilities		5.7				(1.7	)			(12.3	)			(9.3	)
Accrued compensation and benefits		22.8				19.9				(19.2	)			(45.2	)
Deferred revenue		(2.8	)			0.2				13.8				31.5
Other non-current liabilities		1.1				(3.0	)			3.5				(10.6	)
Operating lease liabilities		(10.4	)			(19.1	)			(38.8	)			(54.4	)
Tenant improvement allowance reimbursement		-				0.1				-				0.1
Cash paid for lease termination		-				-				(14.9	)			-
Net cash provided by operating activities		274.2				255.9				680.3				583.4
Cash flows from investing activities
Capital expenditures		(4.1	)			(9.4	)			(19.2	)			(14.3	)
Business combinations, net of cash acquired		(36.7	)			-				(57.8	)			-
Purchases of short-term investments		-				(64.7	)			(62.3	)			(112.6	)
Proceeds from sales of short-term investments		105.7				4.2				164.3				335.8
Proceeds from maturities of short-term investments		76.7				77.7				283.2				197.1
Other		11.5				2.5				21.8				11.2
Net cash provided by investing activities		153.1				10.3				330.0				417.2
Cash flows from financing activities
Payments of debt issuance costs		-				-				-				(0.1	)
Payments for taxes related to net share settlement of restricted stock units and awards		(33.2	)			(34.4	)			(109.2	)			(100.6	)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net of taxes withheld		0.2				1.2				0.3				2.4
Principal payments on finance lease obligations		(32.3	)			(31.3	)			(96.2	)			(95.2	)
Common stock repurchases		(348.7	)			(104.1	)			(888.3	)			(433.7	)
Payment of acquisition-related holdback		(17.1	)			-				(17.1	)			-
Net cash used in financing activities		(431.1	)			(168.6	)			(1,110.5	)			(627.2	)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents		6.3				(3.6	)			2.9				(1.9	)
Change in cash and cash equivalents		2.5				94.0				(97.3	)			371.5
Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of period		515.1				510.3				614.9				232.8
Cash and cash equivalents - end of period	$	517.6			$	604.3			$	517.6			$	604.3
Supplemental cash flow data:
Property and equipment acquired under finance leases	$	58.5			$	26.2			$	120.4			$	94.1

Dropbox, Inc. Three Months Ended September 30, 2024 Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP results (In millions, except for percentages, which may not foot due to rounding) (Unaudited)
	GAAP				Stock-based compensation				Acquisition-related and other expenses				Intangibles amortization				Non-GAAP
Cost of revenue	$	111.5			$	(5.8	)		$	-			$	(3.6	)		$	102.1
Cost of revenue margin		17.5	%			(0.9	%)			-	%			(0.6	%)			16.0	%
Gross profit		527.3				5.8				-				3.6				536.7
Gross margin		82.5	%			0.9	%			-	%			0.6	%			84.0	%
Research and development		225.7				(66.7	)			(3.6	)			-				155.4
Research and development margin		35.3	%			(10.4	%)			(0.6	%)			-	%			24.3	%
Sales and marketing		110.5				(6.1	)			-				(3.4	)			101.0
Sales and marketing margin		17.3	%			(1.0	%)			-	%			(0.5	%)			15.8	%
General and administrative		63.3				(13.7	)			(0.8	)			-				48.8
General and administrative margin		9.9	%			(2.1	%)			(0.1	%)			-	%			7.6	%
Income from operations	$	127.8			$	92.3			$	4.4			$	7.0			$	231.5
Operating margin		20.0	%			14.4	%			0.7	%			1.1	%			36.2	%

Dropbox, Inc. Three Months Ended September 30, 2023 Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP results (In millions, except for percentages, which may not foot due to rounding) (Unaudited)
	GAAP				Stock-based compensation				Acquisition- related and other expenses				Intangibles amortization				Workforce reduction expense(1)				Non-GAAP
Cost of revenue	$	119.6			$	(5.8	)		$	-			$	(3.7	)		$	(0.2	)		$	109.9
Cost of revenue margin		18.9	%			(0.9	%)			-	%			(0.6	%)			-	%			17.4	%
Gross profit		513.4				5.8				-				3.7				0.2				523.1
Gross margin		81.1	%			0.9	%			-	%			0.6	%			-	%			82.6	%
Research and development		216.4				(58.6	)			(4.6	)			-				(0.6	)			152.6
Research and development margin		34.2	%			(9.3	%)			(0.7	%)			-	%			(0.1	%)			24.1	%
Sales and marketing		106.3				(5.2	)			-				(3.4	)			(0.3	)			97.4
Sales and marketing margin		16.8	%			(0.8	%)			-	%			(0.5	%)			-	%			15.4	%
General and administrative		60.0				(14.2	)			-				-				(0.3	)			45.5
General and administrative margin		9.5	%			(2.2	%)			-	%			-	%			-	%			7.2	%
Income from operations	$	130.7			$	83.8			$	4.6			$	7.1			$	1.4			$	227.6
Operating margin		20.6	%			13.2	%			0.7	%			1.1	%			0.2	%			36.0	%

⁽¹⁾ Includes expenses related to our 2023 reduction in workforce such as severance, benefits and other related items.

Dropbox, Inc. Nine Months Ended September 30, 2024 Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP results (In millions, except for percentages, which may not foot due to rounding) (Unaudited)
	GAAP				Stock-based compensation				Acquisition-related and other expenses				Intangibles amortization				Non-GAAP
Cost of revenue	$	324.3			$	(17.0	)		$	-			$	(9.5	)		$	297.8
Cost of revenue margin		17.0	%			(0.9	%)			-	%			(0.5	%)			15.6	%
Gross profit		1,580.3				17.0				-				9.5				1,606.8
Gross margin		83.0	%			0.9	%			-	%			0.5	%			84.4	%
Research and development		671.9				(186.3	)			(9.9	)			-				475.7
Research and development margin		35.3	%			(9.8	%)			(0.5	%)			-	%			25.0	%
Sales and marketing		331.8				(17.4	)			-				(9.5	)			304.9
Sales and marketing margin		17.4	%			(0.9	%)			-	%			(0.5	%)			16.0	%
General and administrative		178.3				(40.1	)			(2.1	)			-				136.1
General and administrative margin		9.4	%			(2.1	%)			(0.1	%)			-	%			7.1	%
Income from operations	$	398.3			$	260.8			$	12.0			$	19.0			$	690.1
Operating margin		20.9	%			13.7	%			0.6	%			1.0	%			36.2	%

Dropbox, Inc. Nine Months Ended September 30, 2023 Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP results (In millions, except for percentages, which may not foot due to rounding) (Unaudited)
	GAAP				Stock-based compensation				Acquisition- related and other expenses				Intangibles amortization				Net loss on real estate assets(1)				Workforce reduction expense(2)				Non-GAAP
Cost of revenue	$	356.5			$	(17.6	)		$	-			$	(10.9	)		$	-			$	(2.9	)		$	325.1
Cost of revenue margin		19.1	%			(0.9	%)			-	%			(0.6	%)			-	%			(0.2	%)			17.4	%
Gross profit		1,510.1				17.6				-				10.9				-				2.9				1,541.5
Gross margin		80.9	%			0.9	%			-	%			0.6	%			-	%			0.2	%			82.6	%
Research and development		714.4				(178.9	)			(17.9	)			-				-				(27.6	)			490.0
Research and development margin		38.3	%			(9.6	%)			(1.0	%)			-	%			-	%			(1.5	%)			26.3	%
Sales and marketing		346.4				(17.0	)			(8.3	)			(10.2	)			-				(6.6	)			304.3
Sales and marketing margin		18.6	%			(0.9	%)			(0.4	%)			(0.5	%)			-	%			(0.4	%)			16.3	%
General and administrative		175.8				(41.6	)			(0.4	)			-				-				(1.8	)			132.0
General and administrative margin		9.4	%			(2.2	%)			-	%			-	%			-	%			(0.1	%)			7.1	%
Net loss on real estate assets		2.2				-				-				-				(2.2	)			-				-
Net loss on real estate assets margin		0.1	%			-	%			-	%			-	%			(0.1	%)			-	%			-	%
Income from operations	$	271.3			$	255.1			$	26.6			$	21.1			$	2.2			$	38.9			$	615.2
Operating margin		14.5	%			13.7	%			1.4	%			1.1	%			0.1	%			2.1	%			33.0	%

⁽¹⁾ Includes impairment charges related to real estate assets as a result of changes in the corporate real estate market which has impacted our subleasing strategy in conjunction with the Company's Virtual First model.

⁽²⁾ Includes expenses related to our 2023 reduction in workforce such as severance, benefits and other related items.

Dropbox, Inc. Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2024 and 2023 Reconciliation of GAAP net income to Non-GAAP net income and Non-GAAP diluted net income per share (In millions, except per share data) (Unaudited)
	Three Months Ended September 30,								Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2024				2023				2024				2023
GAAP net income	$	106.7			$	114.1			$	349.5			$	226.3
Stock-based compensation		92.3				83.8				260.8				255.1
Acquisition-related and other expenses		4.4				4.6				12.0				26.6
Amortization of acquired intangible assets		7.0				7.1				19.0				21.1
Net loss on real estate assets		-				-				-				2.2
Workforce reduction expense		-				1.4				-				38.9
Income tax effects of non-GAAP adjustments		(20.0	)			(16.9	)			(60.1	)			(56.0	)
Non-GAAP net income	$	190.4			$	194.1			$	581.2			$	514.2
Non-GAAP diluted net income per share	$	0.60			$	0.56			$	1.78			$	1.49
Weighted-average shares used to compute Non-GAAP diluted net income per share		316.4				346.0				327.1				345.9

Dropbox, Inc. Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2024 and 2023 Reconciliation of free cash flow and supplemental cash flow disclosure (In millions, except for percentages) (Unaudited)
	Three Months Ended September 30,								Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2024				2023				2024				2023
Free cash flow reconciliation:
Net cash provided by operating activities	$	274.2			$	255.9			$	680.3			$	583.4
Less:
Capital expenditures		(4.1	)			(9.4	)			(19.2	)			(14.3	)
Free cash flow	$	270.1			$	246.5			$	661.1			$	569.1
Free cash flow margin		42.3	%			38.9	%			34.7	%			30.5	%
Supplemental disclosures:
Key employee holdback payments related to acquisitions(1)	$	0.8			$	0.5			$	1.8			$	21.9
Payments related to workforce reduction(2)	$	-			$	4.9			$	-			$	38.9
Cash paid for lease termination(3)	$	-			$	-			$	14.9			$	-

⁽¹⁾ Includes payments related to employee holdbacks pertaining to our acquisitions. The related expenses are recognized within research and development expenses over the required service period during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024.

⁽²⁾ Includes payments made related to our 2023 reduction in workforce such as severance, benefits, and other related items.

⁽³⁾ Includes the second tranche payment made for the partial termination of our lease for our San Francisco, California corporate headquarters.

About Non-GAAP Financial Measures

To provide investors and others with additional information regarding Dropbox's results, we have disclosed the following non-GAAP financial measures: revenue growth and Total ARR growth excluding foreign exchange effect, which we refer to as on a constant currency basis, non-GAAP cost of revenue, non-GAAP gross profit, non-GAAP operating expenses (including research and development, sales and marketing and general and administrative), non-GAAP income from operations, non-GAAP net income, free cash flow ("FCF") and non-GAAP diluted net income per share. Dropbox has provided a reconciliation of each non-GAAP financial measure used in this earnings release to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure. Non-GAAP cost of revenue, gross profit, operating expenses, income from operations, and net income differ from GAAP in that they exclude stock-based compensation expense, amortization of acquired intangible assets, other acquisition-related expenses, which include third-party diligence costs and expenses related to key employee holdback agreements, net loss on real estate assets, expenses related to our reduction in workforce and the income tax effect of the aforementioned adjustments. FCF differs from GAAP net cash provided by operating activities in that it treats capital expenditures as a reduction to net cash provided by operating activities. Free cash flow margin is calculated as FCF divided by revenue. In order to present revenue on a constant currency basis for the quarter ended September 30, 2024, Dropbox calculates constant currency revenue growth rates by applying the prior period weighted average exchange rates to current period results. Dropbox calculates constant currency Total ARR growth rates by applying the current period rate to prior period results. Dropbox presents constant currency information to provide a framework for assessing how our underlying business performed excluding the effect of foreign currency rate fluctuations.

Dropbox's management uses these non-GAAP financial measures to understand and compare operating results across accounting periods, for internal budgeting and forecasting purposes, for short and long-term operating plans, and to evaluate Dropbox's financial performance and the ability to generate cash from operations. Management believes these non-GAAP financial measures reflect Dropbox's ongoing business in a manner that allows for meaningful period-to-period comparisons and analysis of trends in Dropbox's business, as they exclude expenses that are not reflective of ongoing operating results. Management also believes that these non-GAAP financial measures provide useful supplemental information to investors and others in understanding and evaluating Dropbox's operating results and future prospects in the same manner as management and in comparing financial results across accounting periods and to those of peer companies.

We believe that the non-GAAP financial measures, non-GAAP cost of revenue, gross profit, operating expenses, income from operations, net income, and diluted net income per share are meaningful to investors because they help identify underlying trends in our business that could otherwise be masked by the effect of the expenses that we exclude.

We believe that FCF is an indicator of our liquidity over the long term and provides useful information regarding cash provided by operating activities and cash used for investments in property and equipment required to maintain and grow our business. FCF is presented for supplemental informational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for financial information presented in accordance with GAAP. FCF has limitations as an analytical tool, and it should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of other GAAP financial measures, such as net cash provided by operating activities. Some of the limitations of FCF are that FCF does not reflect our future contractual commitments, excludes investments made to acquire assets under finance leases, includes capital expenditures, and may be calculated differently by other companies in our industry, limiting its usefulness as a comparative measure.

The use of non-GAAP cost of revenue, gross profit, operating expenses, income from operations, net income, free cash flow, and diluted net income per share measures has certain limitations as they do not reflect all items of income, expense, and cash expenditures, as applicable, that affect Dropbox's operations. Dropbox mitigates these limitations by reconciling the non-GAAP financial measures to the most comparable GAAP financial measures. Additionally, we have provided supplemental disclosures in our reconciliation of net cash provided by operating activities to free cash flow to include expenses related to key employee holdback payments related to our various acquisitions, payments related to workforce reduction and cash paid for lease termination. These non-GAAP financial measures should be considered in addition to, not as a substitute for or in isolation from, measures prepared in accordance with GAAP. Further, these non-GAAP measures may differ from the non-GAAP information used by other companies, including peer companies, and therefore comparability may be limited. Management encourages investors and others to review Dropbox's financial information in its entirety and not rely on a single financial measure.

Contacts

Investors:
Peter Stabler
[e-mail]
or
Media:
Maddy Pelton
[e-mail]