It’s been quite a day for Twitter and the West Coast is barely past breakfast.
Besides a surprise earnings beat and the decision to ban Russian media firms RT and Sputnik from its advertising platform, the day is also notable for Twitter’s share price jumping 15 percent in early trading on news it could be profitable before the end of this year.
Twitter managed to slim its quarterly losses to just $21 million in Q3 2017 despite a shrink in revenue, and its predictions for the final quarter of the year are even more optimistic.
From its letter to shareholders [PDF]:
For Q4, we expect:
• Adjusted EBITDA to be between $220 million and $240 million
• Adjusted EBITDA margin to be between 35% and 36%
• Capital expenditures to be no more than $110 million
• Stock-based compensation expense to be in the range of $90 million to $100 millionWe also expect that at the high end of our adjusted EBITDA range, we will likely be GAAP profitable
Combined with the Q3 results, this disclosure went down well with investors who have become accustomed to minimal user growth and continual losses.
Disrupt 2026: The tech ecosystem, all in one room
Your next round. Your next hire. Your next breakout opportunity. Find it at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026, where 10,000+ founders, investors, and tech leaders gather for three days of 250+ tactical sessions, powerful introductions, and market-defining innovation. Register now to save up to $400.
Save up to $300 or 30% to TechCrunch Founder Summit
1,000+ founders and investors come together at TechCrunch Founder Summit 2026 for a full day focused on growth, execution, and real-world scaling. Learn from founders and investors who have shaped the industry. Connect with peers navigating similar growth stages. Walk away with tactics you can apply immediately
Offer ends March 13.
A major factor for Twitter’s potential profitability is that it is handing out less share-based compensation for employees, but there are other bright spots right now for Twitter. Total monthly users are growing (up four percent) and, while U.S. revenue dipped slightly in the last quarter, income from overseas grew by six percent.
Plenty of work still to do, but adding a profitable quarter to the mix would be another positive move forward.
