How Zynga Is Spending Its Cash

With Zynga (ZNGA) hitting profitability milestones in its recent quarters, its cash holdings have grown.

Neha Gupta - Author
By

Nov. 20 2020, Updated 4:28 p.m. ET

uploads///

Cost of revenue accounted for 32% of expenditures

With Zynga (ZNGA) hitting profitability milestones in its recent quarters, its cash holdings have grown. With its upcoming 4Q17 results, it becomes important to find out how the company is spending its cash and what might come out of that spending.

Zynga’s cash holdings increased $51.8 million between 1Q17 and 3Q17. That’s significant since it reported losses in three of the last five quarters.

In 3Q17, running Zynga cost $204.6 million. The company’s largest expenditure in the quarter was the cost of revenue, which was $65.9 million, representing 32.2% of its total costs and expenses. Cost of revenue represented 27.4% of total expenses in 3Q16.

Article continues below advertisement
Article continues below advertisement

Marketing spending rising as R&D spending moderates

A look at Zynga’s marketing and R&D (research and development) cost trends reveals a much more interesting story. Over the last five quarters, Zynga seems to have moderated its R&D spending while slightly ratcheting up its marketing spending.

Zynga’s marketing budget expanded to $53.9 million in 3Q17, from $51.2 million in the prior quarter and $49.8 million in the year-ago quarter.

In contrast, its R&D budget was $61 million compared to $64.6 million in the prior quarter and $73.9 million in the year-ago quarter.

Zynga rivals boosted R&D spending

At Take-Two Interactive (TTWO), Activision Blizzard (ATVI), Glu Mobile (GLUU), and Electronic Arts (EA), R&D spending increased year-over-year in their quarters that corresponded to Zynga’s 3Q17.

Advertisement

Latest Glu Mobile Inc News and Updates

    Opt-out of personalized ads

    © Copyright 2024 Market Realist. Market Realist is a registered trademark. All Rights Reserved. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.