Press Release
AutoWeb Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2019 Results
Fourth Quarter 2019 Financial Summary
- Total revenues were
$26.7 million compared to$28.6 million in Q3’19 and$32.3 million in Q4’18. - Advertising revenues were
$5.9 million compared to$6.0 million in Q3’19 and$6.5 million in Q4’18. - Gross profit was
$5.5 million compared to$5.9 million in Q3’19 and$5.6 million in Q4’18. - Gross margin was 20.7% compared to 20.7% in Q3’19 and 17.5% in Q4’18.
- Net loss was
$3.2 million or$(0.24) per share, compared to a net loss of$1.7 million or$(0.13) per share in Q3’19 and a net loss of$5.3 million or$(0.41) per share in Q4’18. - Adjusted EBITDA was
$(0.8) million compared to$0.8 million in Q3’19 and$(2.6) million in Q4’18.
Fourth Quarter 2019 Key Operating Metrics1
- Lead traffic was 25.8 million visits compared to 31.7 million in Q3’19 and 32.1 million in Q4’18.2
- Lead volume was 1.7 million compared to 1.8 million in Q3’19 and 2.0 million in Q4’18.3
- Retail dealer count was 2,203 compared to 2,414 in Q3’19 and 2,596 in Q4’18.4
- Retail lead capacity was 129,384 lead targets compared to 142,643 in Q3’19 and 147,145 in Q4’18.5
- Click traffic was 24.1 million visits compared to 25.1 million in Q3’19 and 26.5 million in Q4’18.6
- Click volume was 6.5 million clicks compared to 6.5 million in Q3’19 and 6.6 million in Q4’18.7
- Net revenue per click was
$0.79 compared to$0.76 in Q3’19 and$0.81 in Q4’18.8
Management Commentary
“As highlighted over the past year, a key component of our turnaround has been increasing the efficiency of our resources, and the importance of that could not be greater given the current market environment amid COVID-19,” said
“The near-term impacts to our business and the automotive industry at large are not yet fully understood. The top 150 dealer groups and OEMs have begun pulling back their marketing spend, and in the states that are most impacted by the virus, we have begun to see our retail customers suspend their marketing campaigns with us, which allows us to keep the account and makes it easier to reactivate the client once the market begins to recover. In response to this, we have implemented a hiring freeze to better manage our cash, and we have developed an action plan addressing our operations, business continuity, client communication and technology infrastructure as we adapt to our new work environment. The road ahead will require resilience, but in AutoWeb’s 25-year history, we have been through difficult times before and emerged stronger.
“Over the last several months, we have worked to optimize our product mix of leads and clicks, along with our sales channel mix of OEMs and retail dealers. We have also continued to enhance our traffic acquisition and conversion, and that focus will become even more imperative in the months ahead as we implement marketing expense controls against this new economic backdrop. Further, to improve our flexibility with working capital, earlier this week we signed a new
“Despite what lies ahead, we must maintain and even increase our productivity to better support our dealer and OEM customers that remain in-market. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, we had already taken considerable costs out of the business to establish a lean operation, and regardless of near-term headwinds, we believe we can expand gross margins with a lower revenue base and strict focus on conversion.”
Fourth Quarter 2019 Financial Results
Total revenues in the fourth quarter of 2019 were
Gross profit in the fourth quarter was
Total operating expenses in the fourth quarter decreased to
Net loss in the fourth quarter of 2019 was
Adjusted EBITDA in the fourth quarter of 2019 was
At
At
On
Full Year 2019 Financial Results
Total revenues in 2019 were
Gross profit in 2019 was
Total operating expenses in 2019 were
Net loss in 2019 was
Adjusted EBITDA in 2019 was
Conference Call
Date:
Time:
Toll-free dial-in number: 1-877-852-2929
International dial-in number: 1-404-991-3925
Conference ID: 1649347
Please call the conference telephone number 5-10 minutes prior to the start time, and an operator will register your name and organization. If you have any difficulty connecting with the conference call, please contact Gateway Investor Relations at 1-949-574-3860.
A replay of the conference call will be available after
Toll-free replay number: 1-855-859-2056
International replay number: 1-404-537-3406
Replay ID: 1649347
Tax Benefit Preservation Plan
At
The Plan was adopted by the company’s board of directors to preserve the company’s NOLs and other tax attributes, and thus reduce the risk of a possible change of ownership under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code. Any such change of ownership under Section 382 would limit or eliminate the ability of the company to use its existing NOLs for federal income tax purposes. In general, an ownership change will occur if the company’s 5% shareholders, for purposes of Section 382, collectively increase their ownership in the company by an aggregate of more than 50 percentage points over a rolling three-year period. The Plan is designed to reduce the likelihood that the company experiences such an ownership change by discouraging any person or group from becoming a new 5% shareholder under Section 382. Rights issued under the Plan could be triggered upon the acquisition by any person or group of 4.9% or more of the company’s outstanding common stock and could result in substantial dilution of the acquirer’s percentage ownership in the company. There is no guarantee that the Plan will achieve the objective of preserving the value of the company’s NOLs.
As of
___________________________________
1 Certain website properties have been added and removed from tracking metrics as
2 Lead traffic = total visits to AutoWeb’s owned lead websites.
3 Lead volume = total new and used vehicle leads invoiced to retail and wholesale customers.
4 Retail dealer count = the number of franchised dealers contracted for delivery of retail new vehicle leads plus the number of vehicle dealers (franchised or independent) contracted for delivery of retail used vehicle leads.
5 Retail lead capacity = the number of new and used vehicle leads contracted for by new or used retail vehicle dealers that the dealers wish to receive each month (i.e., “targets”) at the end of the applicable quarter.
6 Click traffic = total visits to AutoWeb’s owned click referral websites.
7 Click volume = the number of times during the applicable quarter that consumers clicked on advertisements on AutoWeb’s owned click referral websites.
8 Net revenue per click = total click revenue divided by click volume for owned & affiliated sites.
About
Investors and other interested parties can receive
Note about Non-GAAP Financial Measures
The company’s management believes that presenting Adjusted EBITDA provides useful information to investors regarding the underlying business trends and performance of the company’s ongoing operations, as well as providing for more consistent period-over-period comparisons. This non-GAAP measure assists management in its operational and financial decision-making and monitoring the company’s performance. In addition, we use Adjusted EBITDA as a measure for determining incentive compensation targets. Adjusted EBITDA is used in addition to and in conjunction with results presented in accordance with GAAP and should not be relied upon to the exclusion of GAAP financial measures. Management strongly encourages investors to review the company’s consolidated financial statements in their entirety and to not rely on any single financial measure.
Forward-Looking Statements Disclaimer
The statements contained in this press release or that may be made during the conference call described above that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements under the federal securities laws. Words such as “anticipates,” “could,” “may,” “estimates,” “expects,” “projects,” “intends,” “pending,” “plans,” “believes,” “will” and words of similar substance, or the negative of those words, used in connection with any discussion of future operations or financial performance identify forward-looking statements. In particular, statements regarding expectations and opportunities, new product expectations and capabilities, projections, statements regarding future events, and our outlook regarding our performance and growth are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements, including, that the company believes it can expand gross margins with a lower revenue base and strict focus on conversion, are not guarantees of future performance and involve assumptions and risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements.
Company Contact
Chief Financial Officer
1-949-437-4651
jp.hannan@autoweb.com
Investor Relations Contact
Gateway Investor Relations
1-949-574-3860
AUTO@gatewayir.com
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS | |||||||||
(Amounts in thousands, except share and per share data) | |||||||||
2019 | 2018 | ||||||||
ASSETS | |||||||||
Current assets: | |||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 892 | $ | 13,600 | |||||
Restricted cash | 5,054 | - | |||||||
Accounts receivable, net of allowances for bad debts and customer credits | |||||||||
of |
24,051 | 26,898 | |||||||
Prepaid expenses and other current assets | 1,265 | 1,245 | |||||||
Total current assets | 31,262 | 41,743 | |||||||
Property and equipment, net | 3,349 | 3,181 | |||||||
Right-of-use assets | 2,528 | - | |||||||
Intangibles assets, net | 7,104 | 11,976 | |||||||
Other assets | 661 | 516 | |||||||
Total assets | $ | 44,904 | $ | 57,416 | |||||
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY | |||||||||
Current liabilities: | |||||||||
Accounts payable | $ | 14,080 | $ | 17,572 | |||||
Accrued employee-related benefits | 1,004 | 3,125 | |||||||
Borrowings under revolving credit facility | 3,745 | - | |||||||
Other accrued expenses and other current liabilities | 2,315 | 2,204 | |||||||
Current portion of lease liabilities | 1,167 | - | |||||||
Current convertible note payable | - | 1,000 | |||||||
Total current liabilities | 22,311 | 23,901 | |||||||
Lease liabilities, net of current portion | 1,497 | - | |||||||
Total liabilities | 23,808 | 23,901 | |||||||
Stockholders' equity | |||||||||
Preferred stock, |
|||||||||
Series A Preferred stock, none issued and outstanding | - | - | |||||||
Common stock, |
|||||||||
13,146,831 and 12,960,450 shares issued and outstanding at |
13 | 13 | |||||||
Additional paid-in capital | 364,028 | 361,218 | |||||||
Accumulated deficit | (342,945 | ) | (327,716 | ) | |||||
Total stockholders' equity | 21,096 | 33,515 | |||||||
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity | $ | 44,904 | $ | 57,416 | |||||
AUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS | ||||||||||||||||||
AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS | ||||||||||||||||||
(Amounts in thousands, except share and per share data) | ||||||||||||||||||
Three Months Ended | Twelve Months Ended | |||||||||||||||||
2019 | 2018 | 2019 | 2018 | |||||||||||||||
Revenues: | ||||||||||||||||||
Lead generation | $ | 20,775 | $ | 25,659 | $ | 90,728 | $ | 96,936 | ||||||||||
Digital advertising | 5,895 | 6,526 | 23,173 | 28,169 | ||||||||||||||
Other | 13 | 68 | 80 | 484 | ||||||||||||||
Total revenues | 26,683 | 32,253 | 113,981 | 125,589 | ||||||||||||||
Cost of revenues | 21,163 | 26,613 | 91,412 | 101,315 | ||||||||||||||
Cost of revenues-impairment | - | - | - | 9,014 | ||||||||||||||
Gross profit | 5,520 | 5,640 | 22,569 | 15,260 | ||||||||||||||
Operating Expenses | ||||||||||||||||||
Sales and marketing | 2,355 | 2,323 | 10,805 | 12,419 | ||||||||||||||
Technology support | 2,052 | 3,185 | 8,849 | 13,838 | ||||||||||||||
General and administrative | 3,453 | 4,097 | 13,882 | 16,077 | ||||||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | 731 | 1,402 | 4,371 | 4,897 | ||||||||||||||
- | - | - | 5,133 | |||||||||||||||
Long-lived asset impairment | - | - | - | 1,968 | ||||||||||||||
Total operating expenses | 8,591 | 11,007 | 37,907 | 54,332 | ||||||||||||||
Operating loss | (3,071 | ) | (5,367 | ) | (15,338 | ) | (39,072 | ) | ||||||||||
Interest and other income (expense), net | (101 | ) | 72 | 119 | 250 | |||||||||||||
Loss before income tax provision | (3,172 | ) | (5,295 | ) | (15,219 | ) | (38,822 | ) | ||||||||||
Income taxes provision | 5 | (10 | ) | 10 | (6 | ) | ||||||||||||
Net loss and comprehensive loss | $ | (3,177 | ) | $ | (5,285 | ) | $ | (15,229 | ) | $ | (38,816 | ) | ||||||
Basic and diluted loss per share: | ||||||||||||||||||
Basic loss per common share | $ | (0.24 | ) | $ | (0.41 | ) | $ | (1.17 | ) | $ | (3.04 | ) | ||||||
Diluted loss per common share | $ | (0.24 | ) | $ | (0.41 | ) | $ | (1.17 | ) | $ | (3.04 | ) | ||||||
Shares used in computing net loss per share: | ||||||||||||||||||
Basic | 13,114 | 12,892 | 13,071 | 12,756 | ||||||||||||||
Diluted | 13,114 | 12,892 | 13,071 | 12,756 | ||||||||||||||
CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS | ||||||||
(amounts in thousands) | ||||||||
Twelve Months Ended |
||||||||
2019 | 2018 | |||||||
Cash flows from operating activities: | ||||||||
Net (loss) income | $ | (15,229 | ) | $ | (38,816 | ) | ||
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash used in operating activities: | ||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | 6,454 | 8,544 | ||||||
- | 5,133 | |||||||
Intangible asset impairment | - | 9,014 | ||||||
Provision for bad debt | 293 | 241 | ||||||
Provision for customer credits | 250 | 217 | ||||||
Share-based compensation | 2,402 | 4,866 | ||||||
Right-of-use assets | 1,697 | - | ||||||
Lease Liabilities | (1,706 | ) | - | |||||
Write down of asset | 59 | - | ||||||
Gain on sale of investment | (250 | ) | (25 | ) | ||||
Long-lived asset impairment | - | 1,968 | ||||||
Change in deferred tax asset | - | 692 | ||||||
Changes in assets and liabilities | ||||||||
Accounts receivable | 2,304 | (1,445 | ) | |||||
Prepaid expenses and other current assets | (20 | ) | 814 | |||||
Other non-current assets | (145 | ) | (278 | ) | ||||
Accounts payable | (3,492 | ) | 4,873 | |||||
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities | (2,034 | ) | 1,282 | |||||
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities | (9,417 | ) | (2,920 | ) | ||||
Cash flows from investing activities: | ||||||||
Purchases of property and equipment | (1,640 | ) | (896 | ) | ||||
Proceeds from sale of investment | 250 | 125 | ||||||
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities | (1,390 | ) | (771 | ) | ||||
Cash flows from financing activities: | ||||||||
Proceeds from issuance of common stock | - | 200 | ||||||
Borrowings under revolving credit facility | 73,968 | - | ||||||
Principal payments under revolving credit facility | (70,223 | ) | (8,000 | ) | ||||
Payments on convertible note | (1,000 | ) | - | |||||
Proceeds from exercise of stock options | 408 | 98 | ||||||
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities | 3,153 | (7,702 | ) | |||||
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash | (7,654 | ) | (11,393 | ) | ||||
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period | 13,600 | 24,993 | ||||||
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period | $ | 5,946 | $ | 13,600 | ||||
RECONCILIATION OF CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AND RESTRICTED CASH | ||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period | $ | 13,600 | $ | 24,993 | ||||
Restricted cash at beginning of period | - | - | ||||||
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period | $ | 13,600 | $ | 24,993 | ||||
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period | $ | 892 | $ | 13,600 | ||||
Restricted cash at end of period | 5,054 | - | ||||||
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period | $ | 5,946 | $ | 13,600 | ||||
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information: | ||||||||
Cash paid for income taxes | 12 | 4 | ||||||
Cash refunds for income taxes | 128 | 223 | ||||||
Cash paid for interest | 176 | 118 | ||||||
RECONCILIATION OF ADJUSTED EBITDA |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(Amounts in thousands, except per-share data) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Three Months Ended | Three Months Ended | Three Months Ended | Three Months Ended | Year Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net loss | $ | (5,360 | ) | $ | (10,279 | ) | $ | (4,953 | ) | $ | (5,217 | ) | $ | (1,739 | ) | $ | (18,036 | ) | $ | (3,177 | ) | $ | (5,283 | ) | $ | (15,229 | ) | $ | (38,815 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | 1,787 | 2,179 | 1,723 | 2,181 | 1,747 | 2,174 | 1,197 | 2,011 | 6,453 | 8,545 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Interest income | (6 | ) | (6 | ) | (20 | ) | (7 | ) | (22 | ) | (7 | ) | (16 | ) | (7 | ) | (64 | ) | (27 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Interest expense | 5 | 88 | 56 | 15 | 231 | 18 | 187 | 15 | 479 | 136 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Federal, state and local taxes | - | 4 | 77 | - | 50 | 65 | 91 | (10 | ) | 218 | 59 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
EBITDA | (3,574 | ) | (8,014 | ) | (3,117 | ) | (3,028 | ) | 267 | (15,786 | ) | (1,718 | ) | (3,274 | ) | (8,143 | ) | (30,102 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Non-cash stock compensation expense | 551 | 1,626 | 560 | 942 | 651 | 1,796 | 640 | 502 | 2,402 | 4,866 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Gain/loss on sale of asset | - | - | - | - | (11 | ) | - | (9 | ) | - | (20 | ) | - | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Gain/loss on investment | - | - | - | (125 | ) | (250 | ) | 100 | - | - | (250 | ) | (25 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Asset Impairment | - | - | - | - | - | 10,983 | - | - | - | 10,983 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
- | 5,133 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 5,133 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Personnel Restructuring | - | 950 | 496 | 15 | 185 | 1,003 | 252 | 172 | 933 | 2,140 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Adjusted EBITDA | $ | (3,023 | ) | $ | (305 | ) | $ | (2,061 | ) | $ | (2,196 | ) | $ | 842 | $ | (1,904 | ) | $ | (835 | ) | $ | (2,600 | ) | $ | (5,078 | ) | $ | (7,005 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Source: AutoWeb, Inc.