FitBit Files For IPO, Plans To Raise $100M
Wearable activity tracking company FitBit Inc announced plans to file for a $100 million IPO earlier this week. The impressive figure is bound to fluctuate, however, as the company markets itself to investors.
FitBit was launched in 2007 by James Pary and Eric Freidman, and is headquartered in San Francisco, California. They also have a second office in Boston, Massachusetts. FitBit has a total of 579 employees. Its products are currently sold in 45,000 retail stores in more than 50 countries.
FitBit plans to trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “FIT.” Underwriters for the upcoming IPO include Morgan Stanley (MS), Bank of America Merrill Lynch (BAC), and Deutsche Bank (DB).
In their Securities and Exchange Commission filing report, FitBit reported notable numbers:
- The total revenue for 2014 was $745.4 million.
- The first quarter of 2015, FitBit earned $336.8 million.
- In the same term, the company has a net income of $48 million.
- The number of units sold grew from 1.3 million in 2012 to 10.9 million in 2014, a significant jump over a short couple of years.
- The number of “paid active users” is experiencing strong growth, increasing from 600,000 in 2012 to 9.5 million in the first quarter of 2015.
Prices for the activity tracker range between $59-$250. The types of activities that can be tracked on the device seem endless: steps taken, calories burned, active minutes, sleep tracking, floors climbed, and everything in between. The most expensive option, the FitBit Surge, is similar to Apple’s (AAPL - Analyst Report) buzzed about Apple Watch, with text notifications, music control, and caller ID capabilities.
But is it just a fad?
Yes, NBA star Shaquille O’Neal and actors Joel McHale and Ryan Reynolds are big fans. Sure, even President Barack Obama sports the Surge model. Celebrity endorsements, however, do not prove a good investment.
In addition, there are still major questions over whether wearable activity trackers can lead to sustainable health increases, and more importantly, if users can stick with the tech device after the first few months. With FitBit appearing similar to a bracelet, it’s not surprising if users forget to put it back on after removing it.
But the company is rapidly growing. FitBit is constantly gaining users and buzz, and the numbers mentioned above show likely high increases in revenue and user growth over the next few years. Competitors have appeared left and right, showing the popularity of health and fitness technology: in addition to Apple, Microsoft Corp (MSFT - Analyst Report) and Samsung Electronics Ltd (SSNLF- Snapshot Report) have produced smart watches with health tracking capabilities; retailers Nike Inc (NKE - Analyst Report) and Under Armour Inc (UA -Analyst Report) sell fitness bands; and smaller companies like Jawbone and Misfit produce activity trackers in the same vein as FitBit.
Despite questions and worries about long-term staying power, FitBit has smartly captured the modern health craze, merging it with technology and making it easy for users to track their daily fitness activities. With numbers in all areas poised to soar, FitBit is a company that should be taken seriously. Or, at least taken seriously when you remember to put it on your wrist.
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Interesting take, but I suspect the reason they are going for an IPO is because they are in need of cash. In other words, they aren't profitable.