Benefitfocus Announces First Quarter 2021 Financial Results
Exceeds all first quarter guidance metrics
Strengthened board independence, diversity and corporate governance
CHARLESTON, S.C., May 04, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Benefitfocus, Inc. (NASDAQ: BNFT), an industry-leading benefits technology platform that simplifies benefits administration for employers, health plans and brokers, today announces its first quarter 2021 financial results.
First quarter highlights include:
Exceeded all first quarter 2021 guidance metrics including revenue, adjusted EBITDA and non-GAAP EPS
Revenue of $65.1 million vs. $66.2 million in first quarter 2020
Adjusted EBITDA of $14.8 million, up 261% year over year
Adjusted EBITDA margin of 22.7% up from 6.2% in first quarter 2020
GAAP EPS of ($0.11) vs. ($0.34) in first quarter 2020
Non-GAAP EPS of $0.01 vs ($0.21) in first quarter 2020
Strengthened corporate governance and continued to enhance independence and diversity of board through addition of Coretha Rushing
Issued State of Employee Benefits™ 2021 Report leveraging unique data capabilities and highlighting importance of benefits to diverse workforce
Benefitfocus' Health Insights honored for "Best Advance in HR Predictive Analytics Technology" by Brandon Hall
“Our first quarter results demonstrate that successful execution around our core enrollment platform is creating a stronger foundation for our business and is leading to improved results,” said Steve Swad, president and chief executive officer of Benefitfocus. “Commercial traction with our employer customers is pacing well as demonstrated by some key wins in the quarter including a global software company and one of the nation's largest convenience stores. Software revenue retention has also improved as we continue to make delivering excellence for our customers job number one”.
“We are pleased to report results that exceeded all first quarter guidance metrics,” said Alpana Wegner, chief financial officer. “Our focus on operational excellence is resulting in continued free cash flow and margin expansion. Our second quarter selling season is also off to a good start, which is a key driver for our return to growth next year.”
First Quarter 2021 Financial Highlights
Revenue
Total revenue was $65.1 million, down 2% compared to the first quarter of 2020.
Software services was $53.3 million, 3% higher compared to the first quarter of 2020. Software services is comprised of subscription and platform revenue.
Subscription revenue was $45.5 million, a decrease of 1% compared to the first quarter of 2020.
Platform revenue was $7.8 million, an increase of 29% compared to the first quarter of 2020.
Professional services revenue was $11.7 million, down 17% compared to the first quarter of 2020.
Net Loss
GAAP net loss was ($2.1) million, compared to ($11.1) million in the first quarter of 2020. GAAP net loss per share was ($0.11), based on ($3.7) million net loss available to common stockholders and 32.5 million basic and diluted weighted average common shares outstanding, compared to ($0.34) for the first quarter of 2020, based on ($11.1) million net loss available to common stockholders and 32.6 million basic and diluted weighted average common shares outstanding.
Non-GAAP Net Income, Adjusted EBITDA and Free Cash Flow
Non-GAAP net income was $2.0 million compared to ($6.7) million in the first quarter of 2020. Non-GAAP net income per share was $0.01 based on $0.4 million net income available to common stockholders and 34.4 million fully diluted weighted average common shares outstanding, compared to ($0.21) in the first quarter of 2020, based ($6.7) million net loss available to common stockholders and 32.6 million basic and fully diluted weighted average common shares outstanding.
Adjusted EBITDA was $14.8 million, compared to $4.1 million in the first quarter of 2020.
Free cash flow was $8.3 million, compared to ($11.0) million in the first quarter of 2020.
See important disclosures about non-GAAP measures, and a reconciliation of them to GAAP, below.
Balance Sheet
Cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities at March 31, 2021 totaled $188.9 million, compared to $185.8 million at the end of the fourth quarter of 2020.
The full $50.0 million line of credit remains available to the company.
Business Outlook
Based on information available as of May 4, 2021, Benefitfocus is providing guidance for the second quarter as indicated below.
Second Quarter 2021
Total revenue is expected to be in the range of $58 million to $60 million.
Adjusted EBITDA is expected to be in the range of $8 million to $10 million.
Non-GAAP net loss is expected to be between ($3.6) and ($1.6) million, or between ($0.16) and ($0.10) per share based on 33.0 million basic shares outstanding.
Full Year 2021
The company is reiterating guidance previously provided for Full Year 2021 as follows:
Total revenue is expected to be in the range of $254 million to $260 million.
Adjusted EBITDA is expected to be in the range of $44 million to $50 million.
Free cash flow is expected to be in the range of $20 million to $26 million.
Adjusted EBITDA and free cash flow guidance excludes the impact of restructuring and impairment charges.
Management has not reconciled forward-looking non-GAAP net loss, adjusted EBITDA or free cash flow to their most directly comparable GAAP measure of GAAP net loss or GAAP operating cash flows. This is because we cannot predict with reasonable certainty the ultimate outcome of the various necessary GAAP components of such reconciliations, including, for example, those related to compensation, acquisition transactions and integration, or others that may arise during the year, without unreasonable effort. These components and other factors could materially impact the amount of future directly comparable GAAP measures, which may differ significantly from their non-GAAP counterparts. See below for additional important disclosures regarding our non-GAAP financial measures.
Conference Call Details:
In conjunction with this announcement, Benefitfocus will host a conference call to discuss the company’s financial results and business outlook on Tuesday, May 4, 2021, at 5:00 p.m. ET. To access this call, dial (877) 407-9208 (domestic) or (201) 493-6784 (international). A live webcast of the conference call will be available on the Investor Relations page of the company’s website at http://investor.benefitfocus.com/. After the conference call, a replay will be available until May 11, 2021, and can be accessed by dialing (844) 512-2921 (domestic) or (412) 317-6671 (international) with passcode 13718530.
About Benefitfocus
Benefitfocus (NASDAQ: BNFT) unifies the entire benefits industry through innovative technology solutions that bring efficiency, cost savings and simplicity to employee benefits administration. Our powerful cloud-based software, data-driven insights and thoughtfully designed services help employers, insurance brokers, health plans and suppliers address the complexity of benefits enrollment and engagement, while bringing easier access to health, wealth and lifestyle products through a world-class benefits experience. Our mission is simple: to improve lives with benefits.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
The company uses certain non-GAAP financial measures in this release, including non-GAAP gross profit, operating income/loss, net loss/income, net loss/income per common share, adjusted EBITDA and free cash flow. Generally, a non-GAAP financial measure is a numerical measure of a company’s performance or financial position that either excludes or includes amounts that are not normally excluded or included in the most directly comparable measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP.
Non-GAAP gross profit, operating income/loss, net loss/income and net loss/income per common share exclude stock-based compensation expenses, amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets, transaction and acquisition-related costs expensed, restructuring charges, expense related to the impairment of goodwill, intangible assets and long-lived assets, gain or loss on extinguishment of debt, and costs not core to our business. We define adjusted EBITDA as net loss before net interest, taxes, and depreciation and amortization expense, adjusted to eliminate stock-based compensation expense, expense related to the impairment of goodwill, intangible assets and long-lived assets, transaction and acquisition-related costs expensed, restructuring charges, gain or loss on extinguishment of debt, and costs not core to our business. We define free cash flow as cash used in operating activities less capital expenditures, adjusted to eliminate restructuring charges. Please note that other companies might define their non-GAAP financial measures differently than we do.
Management presents these non-GAAP financial measures in this release because it considers them to be important supplemental measures of performance. Management uses these non-GAAP financial measures for planning purposes, including analysis of the company's performance against prior periods, the preparation of operating budgets and to determine appropriate levels of operating and capital investments. Management believes that these non-GAAP financial measures provide additional insight for analysts and investors in evaluating the company's financial and operational performance. Management also intends to provide these non-GAAP financial measures as part of the company’s future earnings discussions and, therefore, their inclusion should provide consistency in the company’s financial reporting.
Non-GAAP financial measures have limitations as an analytical tool. Investors are encouraged to review the reconciliation of the non-GAAP measures to their most directly comparable GAAP measures provided in this release, including in the accompanying tables.
Safe Harbor Statement
Except for historical information, all of the statements, expectations, and assumptions contained in this press release are forward-looking statements. Actual results might differ materially from those explicit or implicit in the forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include: volatility and uncertainty in the global economy and financial markets in light of the evolving COVID-19 pandemic; our continuing losses and need to achieve GAAP profitability; fluctuations in our financial results; our ability to maintain our culture, retain and motivate qualified personnel; the immature and volatile market for our products and services; risks related to changing healthcare and other applicable regulations; risks associated with acquisitions; cyber-security risks; the need to innovate and provide useful products and services; our ability to compete effectively; privacy, security and other risks associated with our business; and the other risk factors set forth from time to time in our SEC filings, copies of which are available free of charge within the Investor Relations section of the Benefitfocus website at http://investor.benefitfocus.com/sec-filings or upon request from our Investor Relations Department. Benefitfocus assumes no obligation and does not intend to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by law.
Source: Benefitfocus, Inc.
Benefitfocus, Inc.
843-981-8898
pr@benefitfocus.com
Investor Relations:
Patti Leahy
843-981-8899
ir@benefitfocus.com
Benefitfocus, Inc. | ||||||||
Three Months Ended | ||||||||
2021 | 2020 | |||||||
Revenue | $ | 65,063 | $ | 66,154 | ||||
Cost of revenue(1)(2)(3) | 28,593 | 33,912 | ||||||
Gross profit | 36,470 | 32,242 | ||||||
Operating expenses:(1)(2)(3) | ||||||||
Sales and marketing | 10,891 | 15,630 | ||||||
Research and development | 10,832 | 11,768 | ||||||
General and administrative | 9,862 | 10,515 | ||||||
Restructuring costs | 1,400 | – | ||||||
Total operating expenses | 32,985 | 37,913 | ||||||
Income (loss) from operations | 3,485 | (5,671 | ) | |||||
Other income (expense): | ||||||||
Interest income | 57 | 426 | ||||||
Interest expense | (5,555 | ) | (5,891 | ) | ||||
Other (expense) income | (42 | ) | 5 | |||||
Total other expense, net | (5,540 | ) | (5,460 | ) | ||||
Loss before income taxes | (2,055 | ) | (11,131 | ) | ||||
Income tax expense | 42 | 5 | ||||||
Net loss | (2,097 | ) | (11,136 | ) | ||||
Preferred dividends | (1,600 | ) | – | |||||
Net loss available to common stockholders | $ | (3,697 | ) | $ | (11,136 | ) | ||
Comprehensive loss | $ | (2,097 | ) | $ | (11,136 | ) | ||
Net loss per common share: | ||||||||
Basic and diluted | $ | (0.11 | ) | $ | (0.34 | ) | ||
Weighted-average common shares outstanding: | ||||||||
Basic and diluted | 32,490,811 | 32,638,805 | ||||||
(1) Stock-based compensation included in above line items: | ||||||||
Cost of revenue | $ | 326 | $ | 667 | ||||
Sales and marketing | 580 | 880 | ||||||
Research and development | 118 | 342 | ||||||
General and administrative | 499 | 1,788 | ||||||
(2) Amortization of acquired intangible assets included in above line items: | ||||||||
Cost of revenue | $ | 337 | $ | 317 | ||||
Sales and marketing | 76 | 91 | ||||||
Research and development | 113 | 109 | ||||||
General and administrative | 42 | 52 | ||||||
(3) Transaction and acquisition-related costs expensed included in above line items: | ||||||||
General and administrative | $ | 154 | $ | 192 | ||||
Benefitfocus, Inc. | ||||||||
As of | As of | |||||||
Assets | ||||||||
Current assets: | ||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 94,046 | $ | 90,706 | ||||
Marketable securities | 94,822 | 95,085 | ||||||
Accounts receivable, net | 24,495 | 22,240 | ||||||
Contract, prepaid and other current assets | 20,784 | 21,354 | ||||||
Total current assets | 234,147 | 229,385 | ||||||
Property and equipment, net | 27,981 | 29,701 | ||||||
Financing lease right-of-use assets | 66,399 | 68,670 | ||||||
Operating lease right-of-use assets | 1,047 | 1,107 | ||||||
Intangible assets, net | 9,825 | 10,393 | ||||||
Goodwill | 12,857 | 12,857 | ||||||
Deferred contract costs and other non-current assets | 9,438 | 10,259 | ||||||
Total assets | $ | 361,694 | $ | 362,372 | ||||
Liabilities and stockholders' deficit | ||||||||
Current liabilities: | ||||||||
Accounts payable | $ | 6,616 | $ | 2,160 | ||||
Accrued expenses | 7,603 | 6,262 | ||||||
Accrued compensation and benefits | 11,921 | 19,129 | ||||||
Deferred revenue, current portion | 28,228 | 27,782 | ||||||
Lease liabilities and financing obligations, current portion | 6,352 | 5,959 | ||||||
Total current liabilities | 60,720 | 61,292 | ||||||
Deferred revenue, net of current portion | 4,402 | 4,422 | ||||||
Convertible senior notes | 187,176 | 184,308 | ||||||
Lease liabilities and financing obligations, net current portion | 78,315 | 79,282 | ||||||
Other non-current liabilities | 2,502 | 2,470 | ||||||
Total liabilities | 333,115 | 331,774 | ||||||
Commitments and contingencies | ||||||||
Redeemable preferred stock: | ||||||||
Series A preferred stock, par value $0.001, 5,000,000 shares | 79,193 | 79,193 | ||||||
Stockholders' deficit: | ||||||||
Common stock, par value $0.001, 50,000,000 shares authorized, | 33 | 32 | ||||||
Additional paid-in capital | 427,508 | 427,431 | ||||||
Accumulated deficit | (478,155 | ) | (476,058 | ) | ||||
Total stockholders' deficit | (50,614 | ) | (48,595 | ) | ||||
Total liabilities, redeemable preferred stock and stockholders' deficit | $ | 361,694 | $ | 362,372 | ||||
Benefitfocus, Inc. | ||||||||
Three Months Ended | ||||||||
2021 | 2020 | |||||||
Cash flows from operating activities | ||||||||
Net loss | $ | (2,097 | ) | $ | (11,136 | ) | ||
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash and cash | ||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | 6,353 | 5,884 | ||||||
Stock-based compensation expense | 1,523 | 3,677 | ||||||
Accretion of interest on convertible senior notes | 2,868 | 2,924 | ||||||
Interest accrual on finance lease liabilities | 1,879 | 23 | ||||||
Rent expense less than payments | (13 | ) | (9 | ) | ||||
Non-cash interest income for short-term investments | 227 | – | ||||||
Loss on disposal or impairment of property and equipment | 45 | – | ||||||
Provision for doubtful accounts | – | 55 | ||||||
Changes in operating assets and liabilities: | ||||||||
Accounts receivable, net | (2,256 | ) | 189 | |||||
Accrued interest on short-term investments | (136 | ) | – | |||||
Contract, prepaid and other current assets | 463 | 252 | ||||||
Deferred costs and other non-current assets | 823 | 557 | ||||||
Accounts payable and accrued expenses | 5,835 | (1,593 | ) | |||||
Accrued compensation and benefits | (7,208 | ) | (4,000 | ) | ||||
Deferred revenue | 426 | (3,969 | ) | |||||
Other non-current liabilities | 32 | (24 | ) | |||||
Net cash and cash equivalents provided by (used in) operating activities | 8,764 | (7,170 | ) | |||||
Cash flows from investing activities | ||||||||
Purchases of short term investments held to maturity | (22,329 | ) | – | |||||
Proceeds from short-term investments held to maturity | 22,500 | – | ||||||
Purchases of property and equipment | (1,893 | ) | (3,821 | ) | ||||
Net cash and cash equivalents used in investing activities | (1,722 | ) | (3,821 | ) | ||||
Cash flows from financing activities | ||||||||
Draws on revolving line of credit | – | 10,000 | ||||||
Payments of debt issuance costs | – | (154 | ) | |||||
Payments of preferred dividends | (1,600 | ) | – | |||||
Repurchase of common stock | – | (9,383 | ) | |||||
Proceeds from exercises of stock options and ESPP | 155 | 73 | ||||||
Payments on financing obligations | (223 | ) | (207 | ) | ||||
Payments of principal on finance lease liabilities | (2,034 | ) | (5,600 | ) | ||||
Net cash and cash equivalents used in financing activities | (3,702 | ) | (5,271 | ) | ||||
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents | 3,340 | (16,262 | ) | |||||
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period | 90,706 | 130,976 | ||||||
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period | $ | 94,046 | $ | 114,714 | ||||
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing and financing activities | ||||||||
Property and equipment purchases in accounts payable and accrued expenses | $ | 88 | $ | 31 | ||||
Benefitfocus, Inc. | ||||||||
Three Months Ended | ||||||||
2021 | 2020 | |||||||
Reconciliation from Gross Profit to Non-GAAP Gross Profit: | ||||||||
Gross profit | $ | 36,470 | $ | 32,242 | ||||
Amortization of acquired intangible assets | 337 | 317 | ||||||
Stock-based compensation expense | 326 | 667 | ||||||
Total net adjustments | 663 | 984 | ||||||
Non-GAAP gross profit | $ | 37,133 | $ | 33,226 | ||||
Reconciliation from Operating Income (Loss) to Non-GAAP Operating Income (Loss): | ||||||||
Operating income (loss) | $ | 3,485 | $ | (5,671 | ) | |||
Amortization of acquired intangible assets | 568 | 569 | ||||||
Stock-based compensation expense | 1,523 | 3,677 | ||||||
Transaction and acquisition-related costs expensed | 154 | 192 | ||||||
Costs not core to our business | 1,881 | — | ||||||
Total net adjustments | 4,126 | 4,438 | ||||||
Non-GAAP operating income (loss) | $ | 7,611 | $ | (1,233 | ) | |||
Reconciliation from Net Loss to Adjusted EBITDA: | ||||||||
Net loss | $ | (2,097 | ) | $ | (11,136 | ) | ||
Depreciation | 3,623 | 3,796 | ||||||
Amortization of software development costs | 2,162 | 1,519 | ||||||
Amortization of acquired intangible assets | 568 | 569 | ||||||
Interest income | (57 | ) | (426 | ) | ||||
Interest expense | 5,555 | 5,891 | ||||||
Income tax expense | 42 | 5 | ||||||
Stock-based compensation expense | 1,523 | 3,677 | ||||||
Transaction and acquisition-related costs expensed | 154 | 192 | ||||||
Restructuring costs | 1,400 | — | ||||||
Costs not core to our business | 1,881 | — | ||||||
Total net adjustments | 16,851 | 15,223 | ||||||
Adjusted EBITDA | $ | 14,754 | $ | 4,087 | ||||
Reconciliation from Net Loss to Non-GAAP Net Income (Loss): | ||||||||
Net loss | $ | (2,097 | ) | $ | (11,136 | ) | ||
Amortization of acquired intangible assets | 568 | 569 | ||||||
Stock-based compensation expense | 1,523 | 3,677 | ||||||
Transaction and acquisition-related costs expensed | 154 | 192 | ||||||
Costs not core to our business | 1,881 | — | ||||||
Total net adjustments | 4,126 | 4,438 | ||||||
Non-GAAP net income (loss) | $ | 2,029 | $ | (6,698 | ) | |||
Calculation of Non-GAAP Earnings Per Share: | ||||||||
Non-GAAP net income (loss) | $ | 2,029 | $ | (6,698 | ) | |||
Preferred dividends | (1,600 | ) | — | |||||
Undistributed earnings allocated to preferred stockholders | (61 | ) | — | |||||
Non-GAAP net income (loss) available to common stockholders | $ | 368 | $ | (6,698 | ) | |||
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic | 32,490,811 | 32,638,805 | ||||||
Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted | 32,490,811 | 32,638,805 | ||||||
Shares used in computing non-GAAP net income (loss) per share - basic | 32,490,811 | 32,638,805 | ||||||
Shares used in computing non-GAAP net income (loss) per share - diluted | 34,352,380 | 32,638,805 | ||||||
Non-GAAP net income (loss) per common share - basic | $ | 0.01 | $ | (0.21 | ) | |||
Non-GAAP net income (loss) per common share - diluted | $ | 0.01 | $ | (0.21 | ) | |||
Reconciliation of Cash Flows from Operations to Free Cash Flow: | ||||||||
Net cash and cash equivalents provided by (used in) operating activities | $ | 8,764 | $ | (7,170 | ) | |||
Purchases of property and equipment | (1,893 | ) | (3,821 | ) | ||||
Cash paid for restructuring costs | 1,379 | — | ||||||
Total net adjustments | (514 | ) | (3,821 | ) | ||||
Free Cash Flow | $ | 8,250 | $ | (10,991 | ) | |||
