Franklin Covey Reports Strong Start to Fiscal 2022
First Quarter Sales Increase 27% to a Record
All Access Pass Subscription and Subscription Services Sales Grow 27% to
Sum of Billed and Unbilled Deferred Subscription Revenue Increases 24% Over the Prior Fiscal Year to
Operating Income and Adjusted EBITDA Exceed Expectations as First Quarter Operating Income Increases to
Liquidity and Financial Position Remain Strong
Introduction
The Company’s strong first quarter performance was highlighted by the following key metrics:
-
The Company’s consolidated sales for the quarter ended
November 30, 2021 achieved record first-quarter levels. Consolidated sales for the first quarter increased 27% to$61.3 million compared with$48.3 million in fiscal 2021, and$58.6 million in the pre-pandemic first quarter of fiscal 2020. Rolling four quarter sales atNovember 30, 2021 sales increased 26% to$237.1 million . The Company’s sales increased during the first quarter of fiscal 2022 primarily due to strong subscription and subscription services sales, including the following:-
All Access Pass subscription and subscription services sales grew 27% to
$33.1 million in the first quarter compared with the prior year. - Education Division revenues grew 56% on the strength of increased Leader in Me subscription sales compared with fiscal 2021, increased subscription coaching and consulting services, and increased material sales.
-
The sum of billed and unbilled deferred revenue at
November 30, 2021 grew 24% to$121.1 million , compared withNovember 30, 2020 .
-
All Access Pass subscription and subscription services sales grew 27% to
-
On the strength of increased sales and a strong gross margin percentage associated with increased subscription sales and licensee royalty revenues, gross profit for the first quarter of fiscal 2022 increased 31% to
$47.6 million compared with$36.4 million in 2021, and$42.0 million in fiscal 2020. -
Operating income increased
$5.7 million to$5.5 million in the first quarter compared with a loss of$(0.2) million in each of fiscal 2021 and 2020. -
Adjusted EBITDA increased 167% to
$9.9 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2022 compared with$3.7 million in fiscal 2021, and$5.0 million in fiscal 2020. Rolling four-quarter Adjusted EBITDA increased 162% to$34.2 million compared with$13.0 million for the corresponding period in fiscal 2021. -
Cash flows from operating activities for the quarter ended
November 30, 2021 remained strong at$10.2 million .
Walker continued, “The ongoing strength of our subscription business was reflected in every income category, including sales, deferred sales (billed and unbilled), gross profit, Adjusted EBITDA, and net income. At
Financial Overview
The following is a summary of financial results for the first quarter of fiscal 2022:
-
Net Sales : Consolidated sales for the quarter endingNovember 30, 2021 increased 27% to$61.3 million , compared with$48.3 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2021. The Company was pleased with the continued strength of the All Access Pass and Leader in Me subscription-based services and believes its electronic delivery capabilities (including the delivery of subscription services live-online) of these offerings have allowed its business performance to remain strong even during the ongoing pandemic. For the first quarter of fiscal 2021, Enterprise Division sales grew 22%, or$8.8 million , to$48.1 million compared with$39.3 million in the prior year. AAP subscription and subscription services sales increased 27% to$33.1 million , and annual revenue retention remained strong at greater than 90%. Sales increased in each of the Company’s foreign direct offices and improved 27% for the combined offices compared with the first quarter of fiscal 2021. International licensee revenues continue to improve and increased 15% compared with the prior year. Education Division sales grew 56%, or$4.2 million , to$11.7 million compared with$7.5 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2021. Education Division sales grew on the strength of increased Leader in Me subscription revenues and subscription services, including coaching and consulting, together with a related increase in sales of materials used by schools in connection with their membership subscription. As a result of improving conditions, sales increased in each of the Company’s operating segments compared with the first quarter of fiscal 2021. The Company remains optimistic about the future and looks forward to continued recovery from the pandemic in fiscal 2022. -
Deferred Subscription Revenue and Unbilled Deferred Revenue: At
November 30, 2021 , the Company had$121.1 million of billed and unbilled deferred subscription revenue, a 24%, or$23.7 million increase overNovember 30, 2020 . This total includes$67.8 million of deferred subscription revenue which was on its balance sheet, a 19%, or$10.8 million increase compared with deferred subscription revenue atNovember 30, 2020 . AtNovember 30, 2021 , the Company had$53.4 million of unbilled deferred revenue, a 32%, or$12.9 million increase compared with$40.5 million of unbilled deferred revenue atNovember 30, 2020 . Unbilled deferred revenue represents business (typically multi-year contracts) that is contracted but unbilled, and excluded from the Company’s balance sheet. -
Gross profit: Gross profit totaled
$47.6 million in the first quarter compared with$36.4 million in the prior year. The Company’s gross margin for the quarter endedNovember 30, 2021 improved 240 basis points to 77.7 percent of sales compared with 75.3 percent in the prior year, reflecting the continued increase in subscription revenues in the mix of overall sales, increased licensee royalty revenues, and the impact of increased sales on fixed cost of sale elements such as salaried Education Division coaches and capitalized curriculum amortization expense. Gross profit increased due to improved sales as described above. -
Operating Expenses: The Company’s operating expenses for the quarter ended
November 30, 2021 increased$5.5 million compared with the first quarter of fiscal 2021, which was due to a$5.7 million increase in selling, general, and administrative (SG&A) expenses. Despite the increase in SG&A expenses, as a percent of sales SG&A expenses decreased to 64.2 percent in fiscal 2022 compared with 69.7 percent in the prior year. The Company’s SG&A expenses increased primarily due to increased commissions on improved sales, increased associate costs resulting from new sales and sales related headcount, increased stock-based compensation expense, and increased content development expense. Increased SG&A expense in these areas was partially offset by cost savings from the successful implementation of expense reduction initiatives in various areas of the Company’s operations. -
Operating Income: As a result of increased sales and an improved gross margin, the Company’s income from operations for the first quarter improved
$5.7 million to$5.5 million compared with a$(0.2) million loss in the first quarter of fiscal 2021.
-
Income Taxes: The Company’s income tax provision for the quarter was
$1.3 million , for an effective income tax rate of 25.5 percent, compared with an income tax provision of$0.2 million , for an effective expense rate of 25.1 percent, in the prior year. The Company recorded tax expense on a pre-tax loss in fiscal 2021 due to the exaggerated impact of unfavorable permanent items on the small (near breakeven) amount of pre-tax loss recognized during the quarter. -
Net Income: As a result of the factors described above, the Company’s first quarter net income improved
$4.7 million to$3.8 million , or$0.27 per diluted share, compared with a loss of$(0.9) million , or$(0.06) per share, in the prior year. -
Adjusted EBITDA: Adjusted EBITDA for the first quarter of fiscal 2022 improved 167%, or
$6.2 million , to$9.9 million compared with$3.7 million in the first quarter of the prior year, reflecting increased sales and improved margins. -
Cash Flows, Liquidity, and Financial Position Remain Strong: The Company’s balance sheet and liquidity position remained strong with
$51.3 million of cash atNovember 30, 2021 , and no borrowings on its$15.0 million line of credit, compared with$47.4 million of cash with no borrowings on its line of credit atAugust 31, 2021 . Cash flows from operating activities for the first quarter of fiscal 2022 remained strong at$10.2 million , compared with$10.9 million in the prior year.
Fiscal 2022 Outlook
Based on the Company’s strong first quarter performance and momentum generated in late fiscal 2021, the Company expects fiscal 2022 Adjusted EBITDA to total between
Earnings Conference Call
On
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 including those statements related to the Company’s future results and profitability and other goals relating to the growth and operations of the Company. Forward-looking statements are based upon management’s current expectations and are subject to various risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to: general economic conditions; the severity and duration of global business disruptions from the COVID-19 outbreak; the ability of the Company to operate effectively during and in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic; expectations regarding the economic recovery from the pandemic; renewals of subscription contracts; the impact of deferred revenues on future financial results; market acceptance of new products or services, including new AAP portal upgrades; the ability to achieve sustainable growth in future periods; and other factors identified and discussed in the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and other periodic reports filed with the
Non-GAAP Financial Information
This earnings release includes the concept of adjusted earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation, and amortization (Adjusted EBITDA) which is a non-GAAP measure. The Company defines Adjusted EBITDA as net income or loss excluding the impact of interest expense, income taxes, intangible asset amortization, depreciation, stock-based compensation expense, and certain other items such as adjustments to the fair value of expected contingent consideration liabilities arising from business acquisitions. The Company references this non-GAAP financial measure in its decision making because it provides supplemental information that facilitates consistent internal comparisons to the historical operating performance of prior periods and the Company believes it provides investors with greater transparency to evaluate operational activities and financial results. Refer to the attached table for the reconciliation of a non-GAAP financial measure, Adjusted EBITDA, to consolidated net income (loss), a related GAAP financial measure.
The Company is unable to provide a reconciliation of the above forward-looking estimate of non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA to GAAP measures because certain information needed to make a reasonable forward-looking estimate is difficult to obtain and dependent on future events which may be uncertain, or out of the Company’s control, including the amount of AAP contracts invoiced, the number of AAP contracts that are renewed, necessary costs to deliver the Company’s offerings, such as unanticipated curriculum development costs, and other potential variables. Accordingly, a reconciliation is not available without unreasonable effort.
About
| Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations | |||||||
| (in thousands, except per-share amounts, and unaudited) | |||||||
| Quarter Ended | |||||||
|
|
2021 |
|
|
2020 |
|
||
| Net sales |
$ |
61,259 |
|
$ |
48,324 |
|
|
| Cost of sales |
|
13,661 |
|
|
11,938 |
|
|
| Gross profit |
|
47,598 |
|
|
36,386 |
|
|
| Selling, general, and administrative |
|
39,343 |
|
|
33,683 |
|
|
| Depreciation |
|
1,279 |
|
|
1,741 |
|
|
| Amortization |
|
1,431 |
|
|
1,131 |
|
|
| Income (loss) from operations |
|
5,545 |
|
|
(169 |
) |
|
| Interest expense, net |
|
(431 |
) |
|
(544 |
) |
|
| Income (loss) before income taxes |
|
5,114 |
|
|
(713 |
) |
|
| Income tax provision |
|
(1,302 |
) |
|
(179 |
) |
|
| Net income (loss) |
$ |
3,812 |
|
$ |
(892 |
) |
|
| Net income (loss) per common share: | |||||||
| Basic and diluted |
$ |
0.27 |
|
$ |
(0.06 |
) |
|
| Weighted average common shares: | |||||||
| Basic |
|
14,246 |
|
|
13,977 |
|
|
| Diluted |
|
14,312 |
|
|
13,977 |
|
|
| Other data: | |||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA(1) |
$ |
9,932 |
|
$ |
3,716 |
|
|
|
(1) |
Adjusted EBITDA (earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation, amortization, stock-based compensation, and certain other items) is a non-GAAP financial measure that the Company believes is useful to investors in evaluating its results. For a reconciliation of this non-GAAP measure to a comparable GAAP measure, refer to the Reconciliation of Net Income (Loss) to Adjusted EBITDA as shown below. |
| Reconciliation of Net Income (Loss) to Adjusted EBITDA | ||||||||
| (in thousands and unaudited) | ||||||||
| Quarter Ended | ||||||||
|
|
2021 |
|
|
2020 |
|
|||
| Reconciliation of net income (loss) to Adjusted EBITDA: | ||||||||
| Net income (loss) |
$ |
3,812 |
|
$ |
(892 |
) |
||
| Adjustments: | ||||||||
| Interest expense, net |
|
431 |
|
|
544 |
|
||
| Income tax provision |
|
1,302 |
|
|
179 |
|
||
| Amortization |
|
1,431 |
|
|
1,131 |
|
||
| Depreciation |
|
1,279 |
|
|
1,741 |
|
||
| Stock-based compensation |
|
1,649 |
|
|
1,158 |
|
||
| Increase in contingent consideration liabilities |
|
28 |
|
|
62 |
|
||
| Government COVID-19 assistance proceeds |
|
- |
|
|
(207 |
) |
||
| Adjusted EBITDA |
$ |
9,932 |
|
$ |
3,716 |
|
||
| Adjusted EBITDA margin |
|
16.2 |
% |
|
7.7 |
% |
||
| Additional Financial Information | ||||||||
| (in thousands and unaudited) | ||||||||
| Quarter Ended | ||||||||
|
|
2021 |
|
|
2020 |
|
|||
| Sales by Division/Segment: | ||||||||
| Enterprise Division: | ||||||||
| Direct offices |
$ |
45,119 |
|
$ |
36,743 |
|
||
| International licensees |
|
2,997 |
|
|
2,596 |
|
||
|
|
48,116 |
|
|
39,339 |
|
|||
| Education Division |
|
11,697 |
|
|
7,498 |
|
||
| Corporate and other |
|
1,446 |
|
|
1,487 |
|
||
| Consolidated |
$ |
61,259 |
|
$ |
48,324 |
|
||
| Gross Profit by Division/Segment: | ||||||||
| Enterprise Division: | ||||||||
| Direct offices |
$ |
36,202 |
|
$ |
29,439 |
|
||
| International licensees |
|
2,701 |
|
|
2,285 |
|
||
|
|
38,903 |
|
|
31,724 |
|
|||
| Education Division |
|
7,860 |
|
|
3,986 |
|
||
| Corporate and other |
|
835 |
|
|
676 |
|
||
| Consolidated |
$ |
47,598 |
|
$ |
36,386 |
|
||
| Adjusted EBITDA by Division/Segment: | ||||||||
| Enterprise Division: | ||||||||
| Direct offices |
$ |
9,954 |
|
$ |
6,703 |
|
||
| International licensees |
|
1,671 |
|
|
1,284 |
|
||
|
|
11,625 |
|
|
7,987 |
|
|||
| Education Division |
|
235 |
|
|
(2,285 |
) |
||
| Corporate and other |
|
(1,928 |
) |
|
(1,986 |
) |
||
| Consolidated |
$ |
9,932 |
|
$ |
3,716 |
|
||
| Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets | |||||||
| (in thousands and unaudited) | |||||||
|
|
2021 |
|
|
2021 |
|
||
| Assets | |||||||
| Current assets: | |||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents |
$ |
51,250 |
|
$ |
47,417 |
|
|
| Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of |
|
51,692 |
|
|
70,680 |
|
|
| Inventories |
|
2,579 |
|
|
2,496 |
|
|
| Prepaid expenses and other current assets |
|
16,162 |
|
|
16,115 |
|
|
| Total current assets |
|
121,683 |
|
|
136,708 |
|
|
| Property and equipment, net |
|
10,585 |
|
|
11,525 |
|
|
| Intangible assets, net |
|
48,667 |
|
|
50,097 |
|
|
|
|
31,220 |
|
|
31,220 |
|
||
| Deferred income tax assets |
|
4,259 |
|
|
4,951 |
|
|
| Other long-term assets |
|
14,246 |
|
|
15,153 |
|
|
|
$ |
230,660 |
|
$ |
249,654 |
|
||
| Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity | |||||||
| Current liabilities: | |||||||
| Current portion of notes payable |
$ |
5,835 |
|
$ |
5,835 |
|
|
| Current portion of financing obligation |
|
2,963 |
|
|
2,887 |
|
|
| Accounts payable |
|
5,485 |
|
|
6,948 |
|
|
| Deferred subscription revenue |
|
65,812 |
|
|
74,772 |
|
|
| Other deferred revenue |
|
11,958 |
|
|
11,117 |
|
|
| Accrued liabilities |
|
26,107 |
|
|
34,980 |
|
|
| Total current liabilities |
|
118,160 |
|
|
136,539 |
|
|
| Notes payable, less current portion |
|
11,759 |
|
|
12,975 |
|
|
| Financing obligation, less current portion |
|
10,387 |
|
|
11,161 |
|
|
| Other liabilities |
|
7,942 |
|
|
8,741 |
|
|
| Deferred income tax liabilities |
|
375 |
|
|
375 |
|
|
| Total liabilities |
|
148,623 |
|
|
169,791 |
|
|
| Shareholders' equity: | |||||||
| Common stock |
|
1,353 |
|
|
1,353 |
|
|
| Additional paid-in capital |
|
213,504 |
|
|
214,888 |
|
|
| Retained earnings |
|
67,403 |
|
|
63,591 |
|
|
| Accumulated other comprehensive income |
|
565 |
|
|
709 |
|
|
|
|
(200,788 |
) |
|
(200,678 |
) |
||
| Total shareholders' equity |
|
82,037 |
|
|
79,863 |
|
|
|
$ |
230,660 |
|
$ |
249,654 |
|
||
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220106005743/en/
Investor Contact:
801-817-1776
investor.relations@franklincovey.com
Media Contact:
801-817-6440
Debra.Lund@franklincovey.com
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