MicroStrategy Inc. finds itself at a pivotal juncture, largely due to Michael Saylor’s bold move almost four years ago to anchor the enterprise-software company’s fate to Bitcoin.
The introduction of a recently approved accounting rule change is poised to inject more volatility into the company’s quarterly results. This change mandates valuing the digital asset at market prices. Previously, MicroStrategy faced impairment charges to adjust the value of its Bitcoin holdings downward when prices fell, but couldn’t recognize any increases. The company has until 2025 to implement this change.
If MicroStrategy, headquartered in Tysons Corner, Virginia, opts to adopt the revision for the fourth quarter, the value of Bitcoin on its balance sheet will skyrocket by billions of dollars, propelled by recent acquisitions and Bitcoin’s nearly 60% surge during the period. However, analysts surveyed by Bloomberg anticipate investors will likely witness a loss of approximately $5.8 million when the results are disclosed later on Tuesday.
In 2020, MicroStrategy made headlines by becoming the first public company to adopt Bitcoin as a capital allocation strategy. Co-founder and chairman Saylor firmly defended this decision, asserting it was crucial for the company’s survival. While Saylor has garnered praise from proponents of digital assets, few other US public companies, apart from Tesla Inc. and a handful of crypto-related firms, have followed suit in holding the volatile cryptocurrency on their balance sheets. As of December, MicroStrategy possessed 189,150 Bitcoin.
Lance Vitanza, an analyst at Cowen, noted, “His steadfast stance on Bitcoin hasn’t exactly endeared him to the institutional investment community, at least not thus far. But this might change.”
Despite the rollercoaster ride caused by Bitcoin’s fluctuating price, those who maintained faith in Saylor have largely reaped rewards. Since July 2020, MicroStrategy shares have surged by over 300%, eclipsing the gains of the benchmark S&P 500 and the tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 during the same period.
The company’s Bitcoin holdings, valued at $1.8 billion at the beginning of the year, are expected to soar to approximately $8 billion, aligning more closely with the company’s current market capitalization. This accounting adjustment, if adopted, forms just one part of the narrative, as the firm added 30,905 Bitcoin during the quarter, valued at over $1 billion by December 31.
Looking ahead, analysts anticipate MicroStrategy to report revenue of around $133 million, a figure largely unchanged from the year-ago quarter. However, with revenue growth plateauing, the company’s bottom line is likely to become increasingly susceptible to Bitcoin’s price fluctuations.
“Every quarter, it’s going to be a toss-up,” remarked Vitanza.
This heightened volatility risk coincides with MicroStrategy, often considered a Bitcoin proxy, facing renewed competition for investors. The debut of around a dozen spot Bitcoin ETFs in January has narrowed MicroStrategy stock’s premium relative to Bitcoin. This is because investors who were previously hesitant to directly invest in the cryptocurrency can now gain exposure through these exchange-traded funds, many of which initially do not impose fees.
MicroStrategy declined to comment on the timing of the implementation of the new accounting rules.
“I believe it would be in the company’s best interest. They should adopt it right away,” suggested Vitanza. “They fought for this, so why not take advantage of it?”
