Coupang, Inc. (CPNG) saw its stock surge 5.38% in pre-market trading on Wednesday, driven by the company's impressive fourth-quarter 2024 earnings results and positive outlook for continued growth in 2025.
The South Korean e-commerce giant reported a 21% year-over-year increase in net revenues to $7.97 billion, slightly below estimates but reflecting strong customer engagement and increased spending across all customer cohorts. Adjusted earnings per share of $0.04 beat analyst expectations of $0.01.
Coupang's gross profit soared 48% year-over-year, fueled by improvements in fulfillment and logistics operations, greater utilization of automation and technology, and the scaling of margin-accretive offerings. The company generated a robust adjusted EBITDA of $1.4 billion for the year, with a margin of 4.5%, and delivered over $1 billion in free cash flow.
Key highlights from the quarter and year included:
- 45% increase in same-day or early morning deliveries ordered by midnight.
- Expansion of next-day installation services for large items like appliances and furniture.
- 30% growth in fresh grocery assortment with free same-day and early morning delivery.
- Strong momentum in international markets like Taiwan, with the launch of the WOW membership program.
- Successful turnaround of the acquired Farfetch luxury fashion business to profitability.
While acknowledging macroeconomic uncertainties, Coupang expects its growth trajectory to continue in 2025, forecasting constant-currency revenue growth of around 20% for the year. The company plans to further enhance customer experience through innovation and operational excellence while expanding margins through increased automation, supply chain optimization, and scaling of higher-margin offerings.