Full Press Release Details
Natera Reports Third Quarter 2023
AUSTIN, Texas, November 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Natera, Inc.
(NASDAQ: NTRA), a global leader in cell-free DNA testing, today reported financial
results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2023.
Recent Strategic and Financial Highlights
"We delivered robust volume and revenue growth in the third quarter,
while demonstrating operational discipline with a significant reduction in cash burn," said Steve Chapman, chief executive officer
of Natera. "We continued to deliver on our strategic clinical roadmap with the publication of the landmark RenaCARE study in chronic
kidney disease and key Signatera evidence across multiple cancer indications. As reflected in our revised guidance for the remainder of
the year, we've increased our revenue target while reducing our cash burn goal, so we are well-positioned to help more patients
Third Quarter Ended September 30, 2023 Financial Results
Total revenues were $268.3 million in the third quarter of 2023, compared
to $210.6 million for the third quarter of 2022, an increase of 27.4%. Product revenues were $265.2 million in the third quarter of 2023,
compared to $199.8 million in the third quarter of 2022, an increase of 32.7%. Growth in product revenues was mainly driven by an increase
in test volumes as well as average selling price improvements.
Natera processed approximately 626,000 tests
in the third quarter of 2023, including approximately 609,800 tests accessioned in its laboratory. This compares to approximately 517,500
tests processed in the third quarter of 2022, including approximately 502,900 tests accessioned in its laboratory, an increase of 21.0%.
In the three months ended September 30,
2023, Natera recognized revenue on approximately 590,000 tests for which results were reported to customers in the period (tests reported),
including approximately 575,000 tests reported from its laboratory, compared to approximately 482,900 tests reported, including approximately
469,200 tests reported from its laboratory, in the third quarter of 2022, an increase of 22.2% for the quarter.
Gross profit* for the three months ended September 30,
2023 and September 30, 2022 was $121.0 million and $94.1 million, respectively, representing a gross margin of 45.1% and
44.7%. Natera had higher gross margin in the third quarter of 2023 compared to the third quarter of 2022 primarily as a result of increased
revenues and continuous reductions in cost of goods sold associated with tests processed.
Total operating expenses, representing research
and development expenses and selling, general and administrative expenses, were $232.0 million for the third quarter of 2023, compared
to $213.2 million in the same period of the prior year, an increase of 8.8%. The increase was primarily driven by an increase
in payroll and payroll-related expenses as well as a one-time benefit for a research and development expense related to earnout
milestone payments in the third quarter of 2022. Loss from operations for the third quarter of 2023 was $111.0 million, compared
to $119.1 million for the same period of the prior year.
The Company reported a net loss of $109.0 million,
or ($0.95) per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2023, compared to a net loss of $121.5 million, or ($1.25) per diluted share,
for the same period in 2022. Weighted average shares outstanding were approximately 115.2 million in the third quarter of 2023, compared
to 97.1 million in the third quarter of the prior year.
As of September 30, 2023, Natera held approximately
$936.6 million in cash, cash equivalents, short-term investments and restricted cash, compared to $898.4 million as of December 31,
2022. As of September 30, 2023, Natera had a total outstanding debt balance of $363.0 million, comprised of $80.4 million including
accrued interest under its line of credit with UBS at a variable interest rate of 30-day SOFR plus 121 basis points and a net carrying
amount of $282.6 million under its seven-year convertible senior notes issued in April 2020. The gross principal balance outstanding
for the convertible senior notes was $287.5 million as of September 30, 2023. In October 2023, the interest rate for the Credit
Line was subsequently changed to the 30-day SOFR average, plus 50 basis points.
Natera is revising its 2023 annual guidance.
The Company now expects annual revenue to be in a range of $1.035 billion to $1.05 billion, up from its previous range of $1.015
billion to $1.035 billion; and gross margin to be in a range of approximately 43% to 44% of revenues, revised from its previous
range of 41% to 44%. The Company continues to expect selling, general and administrative costs to be approximately $540 million to
$580 million, and research and development costs to be approximately $325 million to $345 million. In addition, net cash consumption
is now expected to be approximately $260 million to $280 million, down from its previous range of $300 million to $325
* Gross profit is calculated as GAAP total revenues
less GAAP cost of revenues. Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by GAAP total revenues.
** Cash consumption is calculated as the sum
of GAAP net cash used by operating activities (estimated for 2023 to be approximately $210 million to $230 million) and GAAP net purchases
of property and equipment (estimated for 2023 to be approximately $50 million).
| Unit | Q3 2023 | Q3 2022 | Definition | |||||||
| Tests processed | 626,000 | 517,500 | Tests accessioned in our laboratory plus units processed outside of our laboratory | |||||||
| Tests accessioned | 609,800 | 502,900 | Test accessioned in our laboratory | |||||||
| Tests reported in our laboratory | 575,000 | 469,200 | Total tests reported in our laboratory less units reported outside of our laboratory | |||||||
| Tests reported | 590,000 | 482,900 | Total tests reported |
is a global leader in cell-free DNA testing, dedicated to oncology, women's health, and organ health. We aim to make personalized
genetic testing and diagnostics part of the standard of care to protect health and enable earlier, more targeted interventions that help
lead to longer, healthier lives. Natera's tests are validated by more than 150 peer-reviewed publications that demonstrate high
accuracy. Natera operates ISO 13485-certified and CAP-accredited laboratories certified under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments
(CLIA) in Austin, Texas and San Carlos, California. For more information, visit www.natera.com.
Conference Call Information
| Event: | Natera's Third Quarter 2023 Financial Results Conference Call |
| Date: | Wednesday, November 8, 2023 |
| Time: | 1:30 p.m. PT (4:30 p.m. ET) |
| Live Dial-In: | (888) 770-7321, Domestic |
| (929) 201-7107, International | |
| Conference ID: | 7684785 |
| Webcast Link: | https://events.q4inc.com/attendee/156437855 |
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements
under the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements other than statements of historical facts,
including the company's financial guidance for fiscal 2022, its ability to continue to increase its revenues, its product development
plans and its ability to maintain and grow its business operations in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, are forward-looking statements.
Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based upon Natera's current plans, estimates, and expectations,
as of the date of this release, and are not a representation that such plans, estimates, or expectations will be achieved.
These forward-looking statements are subject
to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially, including: we face numerous uncertainties
and challenges in achieving our financial projections and goals; we may be unable to further increase the use and adoption of our products
through our direct sales efforts or through our laboratory partners; we have incurred losses since our inception and we anticipate that
we will continue to incur losses for the foreseeable future; our quarterly results may fluctuate from period to period; our estimates
of market opportunity and forecasts of market growth may prove to be inaccurate; we may be unable to compete successfully with existing
or future products or services offered by our competitors; we may engage in acquisitions, dispositions or other strategic transactions
that may not achieve our anticipated benefits and could otherwise disrupt our business, cause dilution to our stockholders or reduce
our financial resources; we may need to raise additional capital to support our business plans, which may not be available when necessary
or on favorable terms; we may not be successful in commercializing our cloud-based distribution model; our products may not perform as
expected; the results of our clinical studies, including our SNP-based Microdeletion and Aneuploidy RegisTry, or SMART, Study, may not
be compelling to professional societies or payors as supporting the use of our tests, particularly for microdeletions screening, or may
not be able to be replicated in later studies required for regulatory approvals or clearances; if either of our primary CLIA-certified
laboratories becomes inoperable, we will be unable to perform our tests and our business will be harmed; we rely on a limited number
of suppliers or, in some cases, single suppliers, for some of our laboratory instruments and materials and may not be able to find replacements
or immediately transition to alternative suppliers; if we are unable to successfully scale our operations, our business could suffer;
the marketing, sale, and use of Panorama and our other products could result in substantial damages arising from product liability or
professional liability claims that exceed our resources; we may be unable to expand, obtain or maintain third-party payer coverage and
reimbursement for Panorama, Horizon and our other tests, and we may be required to refund reimbursements already received; third-party
payers may withdraw coverage or provide lower levels of reimbursement due to changing policies, billing complexities or other factors;
if the FDA were to begin actively regulating our tests, we could incur substantial costs and delays associated with trying to obtain
premarket clearance or approval and incur costs associated with complying with post-market controls; litigation or other proceedings,
including investigations, subpoenas, demands, disputes, litigation, requests for information and other regulatory or administrative actions
or proceedings, or resulting from either third party claims of intellectual property infringement or asserting infringement by third
parties of our technology, is costly, may result in substantial business and financial penalties, may be time-consuming and could limit
our ability to commercialize our products or services; any inability to effectively protect our proprietary technology could harm our
competitive position or our brand; and we cannot guarantee that we will be able to service and comply with our outstanding debt obligations
or achieve our expectations regarding the conversion of our outstanding convertible notes.
Additional risks and uncertainties that could
affect our financial results are included under the captions, "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis
of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in our most recent filings on Forms 10-K and 10-Q and in other filings that we