Image Source: Zillow.
Zillow makes money in a number of ways, but no source is more important than the subscriptions it sells to its Premier Agents. A recent move to connect Chinese buyers with these agents should help Zillow continue to grow this recurring revenue stream.
Zillow's most important revenue stream
Zillow's revenue is broken down into two broad categories -- Marketplace and Display. Marketplace consists primarily of subscriptions sold to real estate agents in the company's Premier Agent program. Over the past five years, Marketplace revenue has grown to dwarf Display revenue, largely on the back of a substantial increase in Premier Agents.
In Q1 2011, Marketplace revenue was 57% higher. By Q1 2014, that number jumped to 329%. In the most recent quarter, Q3 2015, the Marketplace segment contributed 551% more revenue. The growth in Display revenue has been impressive -- 226% from Q3 2011 to Q3 2015 -- which highlights just how important Premier Agents are for Zillow.
In Q3 2015 there were 96,965 Premier Agents, which is up 59% year over year and up from 14,876 in Q3 2011. The average revenue per agent has skyrocketed as well, from an average of $242 a month in Q3 2011 to $402 four years later. Explosive growth in both the number of customers and the average amount that they pay each month is a recipe for business success.
Agents want good leads
Agents are happy to pay a monthly fee if it makes economic sense to do so. Having Zillow collect $402 a month isn't a lot if it brings in solid leads that contribute to even one sale. Even a 3% commission on a $200,000 home is $12,000, or about 30 months of fees paid to Zillow. Getting access to motivated Chinese buyers is a big deal for U.S. agents, and Zillow is using its technology and scale to deliver.
Additionally, Zillow is able to use its scale to commit resources in ways that smaller operations can't. The formation of a special customer-service team is one such benefit of having so many Premier Agents. As a recent Zillow press release notes:
Premier Agents can piggyback off Zillow's efforts to gain access to Chinese buyers as well as the company's ability to offer a level of specialized customer service that would otherwise be out of reach.
Serve the agent, serve the investor
There's an old saying: "Take care of the pennies, and the pounds will take care of themselves." With Zillow it's more like "Take care of the agents and the share price will take care of itself."
Moves like the WeChat and NetEase partnerships make it easier for agents to do their jobs and generate commissions. A happy agent is likely to remain a loyal, paying customer and be amenable to price increases to remain a Premier Agent. In the short run, the stock price will do whatever it wants, but in the long run it will track earnings. If Zillow continues to grow its Premier Agent business the way it has, I see a very bright future for the company and its shareholders.
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The article Zillow Group, Inc. Expands Its Buyer Network originally appeared on Fool.com.
James Sullivan owns shares of Zillow Group (C shares). The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Zillow Group (A shares) and Zillow Group (C shares). The Motley Fool recommends NetEase.com. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days . We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy .
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.
