Rosetta Stone Inc. Reports Third Quarter 2019 Results

Continued Year over Year Growth in Revenue, reflects Record Q3 Literacy Revenue and Bookings plus Growth in Consumer Revenue


ARLINGTON, Va., Nov. 06, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rosetta Stone Inc. (NYSE:RST), a world leader in technology-based learning solutions, today announced financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2019.

Third Quarter 2019 Highlights

  • Consolidated revenue increased 6% year over year to $45.5 million.
  • Revenue at Lexia Learning ("Lexia"), the Company's Literacy segment, increased 18% year-over-year to a record $15.6 million.
  • Revenue within the Consumer Language segment increased 9% year-over-year to $15.8 million.
  • Revenue within the Enterprise & Education (“E&E”) Language segment decreased 6% year-over-year to $14.1 million.
  • Consolidated third quarter net loss was $2.9 million, an improvement from a net loss of $6.5 million in the same quarter a year ago, driven by higher revenues in our Lexia and Consumer Language segments and lower variable incentive compensation expense, partially offset by increased professional fees and sales and marketing expense.
  • Consolidated bookings were $81.5 million, an increase of 21% versus the third quarter of 2018.
  • Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP financial measure, was $2.5 million in the third quarter 2019, an improvement from negative $0.7 million in the year-ago period.
  • At September 30, 2019 the Company had no debt outstanding and cash and cash equivalents totaled $36.2 million.

“Our third quarter results are largely indicative of the incredible products we offer to our customers to address real societal needs and the continued turnaround of our Language business,” said John Hass, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.  “We generated record revenue within the Literacy segment and meaningful revenue growth in the Consumer Language segment. We were especially pleased that total bookings for the quarter grew 21% year over year.”

Mr. Hass continued, “We move into the fourth quarter of 2019 with momentum and look forward to a strong finish to 2019. We are excited to leverage our expertise in K-12, our portfolio of world class products and our iconic Rosetta Stone brand to offer literacy and language learning to a much wider and diverse addressable market.”

Third Quarter 2019 Review

Revenue: Total revenue in the third quarter of 2019 was $45.5 million, compared to $42.8 million in the third quarter of 2018, primarily due to an increase in Lexia and Consumer Language revenue, partially offset by a slight decline in E&E Language revenue.

Revenue at Lexia increased 18% year-over-year to $15.6 million. The increase in Lexia revenues was a function of continued strong retention and renewal rates.

Consumer Language segment revenue increased $1.3 million, or 9%, year-over-year to $15.8 million, reflecting stable bookings and the benefit of previously deferred subscription revenue. Subscribers grew 21% year-over-year to 539,000 at September 30, 2019. Subscriber growth was largely driven by the inclusion of lower priced, shorter initial duration subscriptions in the Company’s portfolio. Subscriptions with a duration of one year or less totaled 42% of the subscription unit mix at the end of the third quarter 2019, down from 43% at the end of the same quarter last year.  Consumer Language bookings totaled $16.3 million in Q3 2019, up year over year from $16.1 million.

E&E Language segment revenue decreased 6% year-over-year to $14.1 million. E&E language bookings increased $6.7 million, or 38% year-over-year, largely driven by the closing of the large custom content deal that was announced in August.

US$ thousands, except for percentages

  Three months ended September 30,    
  2019  Mix %  2018  Mix %  % change 
Revenue from:                 
Literacy $15,587  34% $13,215  31% 18%
E&E Language  14,074  31%  14,990  35% (6)%
Consumer Language  15,795  35%  14,545  34% 9%
Total Revenue $45,456  100% $42,750  100% 6%
                  

Net Loss:  In the third quarter 2019, the Company reported a net loss of $2.9 million, or $(0.12) per diluted share.  In the comparable period a year ago, the Company reported a net loss of $6.5 million, or $(0.28) per diluted share. The improvement in net loss of $3.6 million was driven by higher gross profit of $2.1 million and $2.0 million in lower variable incentive compensation expense based on reduced funding expectations, partially offset by increased professional fees and sales and marketing expenses during our peak selling season.

Balance Sheet: The Company had cash and cash equivalents of $36.2 million and no debt outstanding at September 30, 2019. Deferred revenue totaled $178.8 million at September 30, 2019, compared to $162.9 million at December 31, 2018. Short-term deferred revenue, which will be recognized as revenue over the next 12 months, totaled $123.1 million, or approximately 69% of the total September 30, 2019 balance.

Free Cash Flow and Adjusted EBITDA: Net cash provided by operating activities was $29.1 million in the third quarter of 2019 compared to $14.5 million in the third quarter last year. Free cash flow, a non-GAAP financial measure, was $25.1 million in the third quarter 2019, compared to $10.9 million in the same period a year ago.

Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP financial measure, was $2.5 million in the third quarter 2019, an improvement, compared to negative $0.7 million in the year-ago period.

2019 Outlook

The Company is providing the following guidance for the full year ending December 31, 2019 (US$ millions):

   Full Year 
  2018 Actual  2019 Guidance 
Revenue from:        
Literacy $52.8  $~62.0 
Combined Language  120.8  ~120.0 
Total Revenue $173.6  $~182.0 
Consolidated Revenue Plus Change in Deferred Revenue  181.0  ~197.0 
GAAP Net Loss  (21.5) ~(15.0) 
Adjusted EBITDA  0.2  ~6.0 
Operating Cash Flow1  10.4  ~18.0 
Capital Expenditures  16.9  ~18.0 
Ending Cash Balance2 $38.1  $~42.0 

1 Includes approximately $4.5 million and $0.5 million of SOURCENEXT cash receipts in 2018 and 2019, respectively.
2 Assumes no debt.


Earnings Conference Call

In conjunction with this announcement, Rosetta Stone will host a conference call today at 5:00 p.m. ET during which time there will be a discussion of the results and the business outlook. Investors may dial into the live conference call using 1-201-689-8470 (toll / international) or 1-877-407-9039 (toll-free). A live webcast will also be available in the investor relations section of the Company’s website at http://investors.rosettastone.com. A replay will be made available soon after the live conference call is completed and will remain available until 11:59 p.m. ET on Wednesday, November 13, 2019. Investors may dial into the replay using 1-412-317-6671 and passcode 13695547.

Caution on Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can be identified by non-historical statements and often include words such as "outlook," "potential," "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "estimates," "intends," "plans," "seeks" or words of similar meaning, or future-looking or conditional verbs, such as "will," "should," "could," "may," "might," "aims," "intends," "projects," or similar words or phrases. These statements may include, but are not limited to, statements relating to: our business strategy; guidance or projections related to revenue, Adjusted EBITDA, sales, and other measures of future economic performance; the contributions and performance of our businesses including acquired businesses and international operations; projections for future capital expenditures; and other guidance, projections, plans, objectives, and related estimates and assumptions. A forward-looking statement is neither a prediction nor a guarantee of future events or circumstances. In addition, forward-looking statements are based on the Company’s current assumptions, expectations and beliefs and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from our present expectations or projections. Some important factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievement to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: the risk that we are unable to execute our business strategy; declining demand for our literacy or language learning solutions; the risk that we are not able to manage and grow our business; the impact of any revisions to our pricing strategy; the risk that we might not succeed in introducing and producing new products and services; the impact of foreign exchange fluctuations; the adequacy of internally generated funds and existing sources of liquidity, such as bank financing, as well as our ability to raise additional funds; the risk that we cannot effectively adapt to and manage complex and numerous technologies; the risk that businesses acquired by us might not perform as expected; and the risk that we are not able to successfully expand internationally. We expressly disclaim any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as required by law. These factors should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with the other cautionary statements, risks and uncertainties that are more fully described in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including those described under the section entitled “Risk Factors” in the Company’s most recent quarterly Form 10-Q filings and Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018, and those updated from time to time in our future reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Non-GAAP Financial and Statistical Measures

To supplement the condensed consolidated financial statements, which are prepared and presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("GAAP"), the Company uses, and this press release contains references to, the non-GAAP financial measures of financial performance listed below.

  • Bookings represents executed contracts received by the Company that are either recorded immediately as revenue or deferred revenue. Therefore, bookings is an operational metric and in any one period is equal to revenue plus the change in deferred revenue.
  • Adjusted EBITDA is GAAP net income/loss plus interest income and expense, other income/expense, income tax benefit/expense, impairment, lease abandonment and termination, depreciation, amortization, stock-based compensation, restructuring, and strategy and cost-reduction related consulting expenses. In addition, Adjusted EBITDA excludes "Other" items related to non-restructuring wind down and severance costs, and transaction and other costs associated with mergers and acquisitions, as well as all adjustments related to recording the non-cash tax valuation allowance for deferred tax assets. Adjusted EBITDA for prior periods has been revised to conform to the current definition.
  • Free cash flow is cash flow from operating activities minus cash used in purchases of property and equipment.
  • Segment contribution is calculated as segment revenue less expenses directly incurred by or allocated to the segment. Direct segment expenses include costs and expenses that are directly incurred by or allocated to the segment and include materials costs, service costs, customer care and coaching costs, sales and marketing expenses, and bad debt expense. In addition to the previously referenced expenses, the Literacy segment includes direct research and development expenses and Combined Language includes shared research and development expenses, cost of revenue, and sales and marketing expenses applicable to the Consumer Language and E&E Language segments. Prior periods have been reclassified to reflect our current segment presentation and definition of segment contribution.

The definitions, GAAP comparisons, and reconciliation of those measures with the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures are available in this press release or in the corresponding earnings presentation, which are posted on our website at www.rosettastone.com.

Management believes that these non-GAAP measures of financial results provide useful information to management and investors regarding certain financial and business trends relating to the Company’s financial condition and results of operations, enabling a better understanding of the long-term performance of the Company’s business. Management uses these non-GAAP measures to compare the Company’s performance to that of prior periods for trend analysis, and for budgeting and planning purposes. Management believes that the use of these non-GAAP financial measures provides an additional tool for investors to use in evaluating ongoing operating results and trends and in comparing the Company’s financial measures with other software and education-technology companies, many of which present similar non-GAAP financial measures to investors.

The presentation of this additional financial information is not intended to be considered in isolation from, as a substitute for, or superior to, the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP. The Company urges investors to review the reconciliation of its non-GAAP financial measures to the comparable GAAP financial measures, which it includes in press releases announcing earnings information, including this press release, or in corresponding earnings presentations, and not to rely on any single financial measure to evaluate the Company’s business. The Company’s non-GAAP measures may not be comparable to those used by other companies, and we encourage you to review and understand all our financial reporting before making any investment decision.

About Rosetta Stone Inc.

Rosetta Stone Inc. (NYSE: RST) is dedicated to changing people's lives through the power of language and literacy education. The company's innovative digital solutions drive positive learning outcomes for the inspired learner at home or in schools and workplaces around the world.

Founded in 1992, Rosetta Stone's language division uses cloud-based solutions to help all types of learners read, write and speak more than 30 languages. Lexia Learning, Rosetta Stone's literacy education division, was founded more than 30 years ago and is a leader in the literacy education space. Today, Lexia helps students build fundamental reading skills through its rigorously researched, independently evaluated, and widely respected instruction and assessment programs.

For more information, visit www.rosettastone.com. "Rosetta Stone" is a registered trademark or trademark of Rosetta Stone Ltd. in the United States and other countries.

Investors:
Lasse Glassen / Jason Terry
Addo Investor Relations
1-310-829-5400
IR@rosettastone.com

Media Contact:
Andrea Riggs
1-917-572-5555
ariggs@rosettastone.com

 

ROSETTA STONE INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
(unaudited)

   As of 
  September 30, 2019  December 31, 2018 
Assets        
Current assets:        
Cash and cash equivalents $36,205  $38,092 
Restricted cash  45   82 
Accounts receivable (net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $508 and $372 at September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively)  33,093   21,950 
Inventory  1,523   933 
Deferred sales commissions  11,872   11,597 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets  4,922   4,041 
Total current assets  87,660   76,695 
Deferred sales commissions  7,788   6,933 
Property and equipment, net  40,206   36,405 
Operating lease right-of-use assets  6,078    
Intangible assets, net  14,699   15,850 
Goodwill  48,678   49,239 
Other assets  1,786   2,136 
Total assets $206,895  $187,258 
Liabilities and stockholders' deficit        
Current liabilities:        
Accounts payable $8,757  $8,938 
Accrued compensation  8,902   9,046 
Income tax payable  192   328 
Operating lease liabilities  1,701    
Other current liabilities  11,436   13,925 
Deferred revenue  123,103   113,378 
Total current liabilities  154,091   145,615 
Deferred revenue  55,729   49,507 
Deferred income taxes  2,331   2,776 
Operating lease liabilities  4,301    
Other long-term liabilities  1,022   1,368 
Total liabilities  217,474   199,266 
Commitments and contingencies        
Stockholders' deficit:        
Preferred stock, $0.001 par value; 10,000 and 10,000 shares authorized, zero and zero shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively)      
Non-designated common stock, $0.00005 par value, 190,000 and 190,000 shares authorized, 25,060 and 24,426 shares issued, and 24,060 and 23,426 shares outstanding, at September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively)  2   2 
Additional paid-in capital  210,475   202,355 
Treasury stock, at cost; 1,000 and 1,000 shares at September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively)  (11,435)  (11,435)
Accumulated loss  (205,860)  (199,592)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss  (3,761)  (3,338)
Total stockholders' deficit  (10,579)  (12,008)
Total liabilities and stockholders' deficit $206,895  $187,258 
         

ROSETTA STONE INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
(unaudited) 

  Three months ended September 30,  Nine months ended September 30, 
  2019  2018  2019  2018 
Revenue $45,456  $42,750  $136,009  $129,060 
Cost of revenue  9,416   8,768   26,703   26,132 
Gross profit  36,040   33,982   109,306   102,928 
Operating expenses                
Sales and marketing  24,700   24,948   73,738   74,013 
Research and development  5,517   6,465   17,031   18,790 
General and administrative  8,687   8,510   25,945   25,366 
Total operating expenses  38,904   39,923   116,714   118,169 
Loss from operations  (2,864)  (5,941)  (7,408)  (15,241)
Other income and (expense):                
Interest income  6   23   48   71 
Interest expense  (119)  (82)  (278)  (246)
Other income and (expense)  (33)  99   1,282   (130)
Total other income and (expense)  (146)  40   1,052   (305)
Loss before income taxes  (3,010)  (5,901)  (6,356)  (15,546)
Income tax (benefit) expense  (93)  588   (88)  1,503 
Net loss $(2,917) $(6,489) $(6,268) $(17,049)
Loss per share:                
Basic $(0.12) $(0.28) $(0.27) $(0.75)
Diluted $(0.12) $(0.28) $(0.27) $(0.75)
Common shares and equivalents outstanding:                
Basic weighted average shares  23,609   22,814   23,369   22,647 
Diluted weighted average shares  23,609   22,814   23,369   22,647 
                 


ROSETTA STONE INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands)
(unaudited) 

   Three months ended September 30,  Nine months ended September 30, 
  2019  2018  2019  2018 
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:                
Net loss $(2,917) $(6,489) $(6,268) $(17,049)
Non-cash adjustments to reconcile net loss to cash provided by (used in) operating activities:                
Stock-based compensation expense  1,412   1,452   3,988   3,388 
Loss (gain) on foreign currency transactions  10   (94)  201   26 
Bad debt expense  165   49   288   110 
Depreciation and amortization  3,938   3,802   10,924   10,891 
Operating lease costs  545      1,604    
Deferred income tax (benefit) expense  (195)  320   (710)  437 
(Gain) loss on disposal or sale of assets  5   29   (1,389)  12 
Amortization of deferred financing costs  18   34   51   102 
Net change in:                
Accounts receivable  (7,726)  (9,445)  (11,552)  (8,314)
Inventory  129   433   (589)  1,856 
Deferred sales commissions  (3,470)  (2,841)  (1,138)  (1,193)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets  (220)  785   (1,039)  875 
Income tax receivable or payable  (90)  (50)  (139)  (397)
Other assets  331   (6)  242   (407)
Accounts payable  304   (1,645)  (162)  (36)
Accrued compensation  1,483   3,609   456   (979)
Other current liabilities  (574)  (421)  (1,898)  (3,969)
Operating lease liabilities  (515)     (1,575)   
Other long-term liabilities        (31)   
Deferred revenue  36,439   24,949   16,394   14,384 
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities  29,072   14,471   7,658   (263)
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:                
Purchases of property and equipment  (4,011)  (3,564)  (13,720)  (11,700)
Proceeds from sale of assets        1,396   17 
Net cash used in investing activities  (4,011)  (3,564)  (12,324)  (11,683)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:                
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options  669   231   3,556   1,547 
Proceeds from borrowings under credit facility        10,500    
Repayments of borrowings under credit facility  (9,900)     (10,500)   
Payment of deferred financing costs     (4)  (47)  (4)
Payments under financing lease liabilities  (109)  (111)  (331)  (336)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities  (9,340)  116   3,178   1,207 
Increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash  15,721   11,023   (1,488)  (10,739)
Effect of exchange rate changes in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash  (277)  (124)  (436)  (400)
Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash  15,444   10,899   (1,924)  (11,139)
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash—beginning of period  20,806   20,998   38,174   43,036 
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash—end of period $36,250  $31,897  $36,250  $31,897 
                 


ROSETTA STONE INC.
RECONCILIATION OF GAAP NET LOSS TO ADJUSTED EBITDA
(in thousands)
(unaudited)

  Three months ended September 30,  Nine months ended September 30, 
  2019  2018  2019  2018 
GAAP net loss $(2,917) $(6,489) $(6,268) $(17,049)
Total other non-operating (income) and expense, net  146   (40)  (1,052)  305 
Income tax (benefit) expense  (93)  588   (88)  1,503 
Depreciation and amortization  3,938   3,802   10,924   10,891 
Stock-based compensation expense  1,412   1,452   3,988   3,388 
Restructuring expense     (8)      
Other EBITDA adjustments  (22)  27   300   429 
Adjusted EBITDA* $2,464  $(668) $7,804  $(533)

* Adjusted EBITDA is GAAP net income/loss plus interest income and expense, other income/expense, income tax benefit/expense, impairment, lease abandonment and termination, depreciation, amortization, stock-based compensation, restructuring, and strategy and cost-reduction related consulting expenses. In addition, Adjusted EBITDA excludes “Other” items related to non-restructuring wind down and severance costs, and transaction and other costs associated with mergers and acquisitions, as well as all adjustments related to recording the non-cash tax valuation allowance for deferred tax assets. Adjusted EBITDA for prior periods has been revised to conform to the current definition.


ROSETTA STONE INC.
RECONCILIATION OF CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) OPERATING ACTIVITIES TO FREE CASH FLOW
(in thousands)
(unaudited)

  Three months ended September 30,  Nine months ended September 30, 
  2019  2018  2019  2018 
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities $29,072  $14,471  $7,658  $(263)
Purchases of property and equipment  (4,011)  (3,564)  (13,720)  (11,700)
Free cash flow * $25,061  $10,907  $(6,062) $(11,963)

* Free cash flow is cash flow from operations minus cash used in purchases of property and equipment.


Rosetta Stone Inc.
Supplemental Information
(unaudited)

  Quarter-Ended  Year Ended  Quarter-Ended 
  Mar 31  Jun 30  Sep 30  Dec 31  Dec 31  Mar 31  Jun 30  Sep 30 
  2018  2018  2018  2018  2018  2019  2019  2019 
Revenue by Segment (in thousands, except percentages)                                
                                 
Literacy  12,384   12,695   13,215   14,472   52,766   14,806   15,101   15,587 
E&E Language  15,436   15,356   14,990   14,594   60,376   14,443   14,502   14,074 
Consumer Language  14,988   15,451   14,545   15,508   60,492   15,362   16,339   15,795 
Total  42,808   43,502   42,750   44,574   173,634   44,611   45,942   45,456 
                                 
YoY Growth (%)                                
Literacy  22%  22%  20%  20%  21%  20%  19%  18%
E&E Language  (6)%  (11)%  (9)%  (3)%  (7)%  (6)%  (6)%  (6)%
Consumer Language  (29)%  (15)%  (22)%  (13)%  (20)%  2%  6%  9%
Total  (10)%  (5)%  (7)%     (6)%  4%  6%  6%
                                 
% of Total Revenue                                
Literacy  29%  29%  31%  32%  30%  33%  33%  34%
E&E Language  36%  35%  35%  33%  35%  32%  32%  31%
Consumer Language  35%  36%  34%  35%  35%  34%  35%  35%
Total  100%  100%  100%  100%  100%  100%  100%  100%
                                 
Revenues by Geography                                
                                 
United States  36,965   37,759   37,747   39,936   152,407   39,830   41,179   40,891 
International  5,843   5,743   5,003   4,638   21,227   4,781   4,763   4,565 
Total  42,808   43,502   42,750   44,574   173,634   44,611   45,942   45,456 
                                 
Revenues by Geography (as a %)                                
United States  86%  87%  88%  90%  88%  89%  90%  90%
International  14%  13%  12%  10%  12%  11%  10%  10%
Total  100%  100%  100%  100%  100%  100%  100%  100%

Prior period data has been modified where applicable to conform to current presentation for comparative purposes. Immaterial rounding differences may be present in this data in order to conform to Financial Statement totals.