Investigation of Yelp Inc.

Yelp Inc. (YELP) Shocks Investors by Slashing Revenue Guidance and EBITDA

Yelp derives substantially all of its revenue from the display of advertising products on its website and mobile app.  In fact, advertising revenue accounted for 91% of the Company’s 2017 revenue. Throughout 2016 and early 2017, Yelp emphasized a “strong, embedded client base” and high retention levels for advertisers. Contrary to these positive statements, Yelp was actually experiencing weak revenue and declining client retention in its local advertising business as a result of its move from a cost-per-impression system to a cost-per-click advertising system in 2015.  Many of the advertisers added during the first quarter of 2016 were experiencing low user engagement under the new cost-per-click advertising system and therefore leaving Yelp’s advertising platform at the conclusion of their 12 month contracts.  To cover up the loss of clients and revenue, in early 2017, certain Yelp officers and directors made a series of misleading statements about the purported success of the Company’s business and advertising model.  However, the truth was revealed when Yelp reported its first quarter 2017 financials on May 9, 2017, slashing its revenue guidance and EBITDA due to the churn of advertisers in the first quarter of 2017.

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