SPOKANE, Wash., Oct. 21, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ambassadors Group, Inc. (Nasdaq:EPAX), a leading provider of educational travel experiences and online education research materials, announced $1.37 fully diluted per share earnings for the nine months ended September 30, 2009, an 8 percent improvement over $1.27 fully diluted per share earnings for the same period one year ago. Despite travelling 17 percent fewer delegates, operating income for the first nine months of the year increased 14 percent as the Company actively managed its program price and travel cost structures. Net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 was $26.4 million, compared to $25.0 million for the same period in 2008.
Comparing the third quarters ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, fully diluted per share earnings decreased 6 percent to $0.64 in 2009 from $0.68 in 2008, and net income decreased 6 percent to $12.5 million in 2009 from $13.3 million in 2008. The third quarter 2009 results are down due to traveling 27 percent fewer delegates in the quarter.
The Company's continued profitability and cash management led to a $17.8 million or 47 percent increase in deployable cash from a year ago. Free cash flow per share for the first nine months of the year increased 91 percent or $0.21 per share to $0.44 per share.
Outlook
The Company also announced that as of October 19, 2009, enrolled revenue for 2009 travel programs in comparison to the same date one year ago decreased 12 percent. Enrolled revenue was $199.9 million, driven by the 34,263 net enrolled participants, including those that have already traveled, for 2009 compared to $227.9 million in enrolled revenue due to 41,928 net enrolled participants, including those that already traveled, for 2008 on this same day one year ago. The decrease in enrolled revenue year over year is primarily due to the 18 percent decrease of net enrolled participants.
In addition, as of October 19, 2009, the Company announced that enrolled revenue for 2010 travel programs in comparison to the same date one year ago decreased 24 percent. Enrolled revenue was $117.7 million, driven by the 19,919 net enrolled participants for 2010 travel programs compared to $154.8 million in enrolled revenue on this same day one year ago due to the 26,925 net enrolled participants for 2009 travel programs. The decrease in enrolled revenue year over year is primarily due to the 26 percent decrease of net enrolled participants.
Enrolled revenue consists of estimated gross receipts to be recognized, in the future, upon travel of an enrolled participant. Net enrollments consist of all participants who have enrolled in the Company's programs less those that have already withdrawn. Enrolled revenue may not result in actual gross receipts eventually recognized by the Company due to both withdrawals from the Company's programs and expected future enrollments.
"We are pleased to report our third quarter 2009 financial results," stated Jeff Thomas, president and chief executive officer of Ambassadors Group, Inc. "For the first nine months of the year, our operating income is up 14 percent, from $34.7 million to $39.4 million, which reflects three positive efforts: delegate retention, aggressive management of our cost of sales, and tight operating expense management. Unfortunately, the market for international student travel is being negatively impacted, which resulted in fewer traveled delegates this year. Our operating expenses have increased slightly, due in large part to legal expenses associated with litigation, upon which it is our policy not to comment.
"There are other financial highlights that merit further attention. In the first nine months of 2009, we generated $8.6 million in free cash flow, an increase of $4.1 million over 2008. Our balance sheet continues to remain pristine -- debt free. Our deployable cash has also increased. We continue to pay a dividend.
"On the other hand, looking ahead, the market for international student travel continues to experience negative growth. Forward bookings are down for us as well as other international student travel operators. Our own marketing and sales efforts have led us to conclude that there remains a very high level of interest in our programs but many families are not comfortable making the commitment and spending the money this year. We have taken a number of actions and conducted a number of tests to counter the negative impact of high unemployment, stagnating compensation and lower net worth. One example of our efforts is what we call "Peace of Mind" -- which enables families to enroll and cancel without penalty if they experience job loss between now and travel time.
"As a result, we will continue to manage expenses very tightly, as well as to look for ways to illustrate to potential travelers and their families that traveling internationally now is more important than ever, especially for the up-and-coming generation of Americans who will live in a more integrated and connected global society.
"We appreciate your continued support and are eager to see our core markets turn around as the economic recovery continues."
Nine months ended September 30, 2009
During the nine months ended September 30, 2009, we traveled 32,454 delegates, a 17 percent decrease from 38,926 delegates traveled during the same period one year ago. Comparing the nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, gross receipts decreased 10 percent to $192.5 million from $214.1 million, however, gross margin increased 8 percent to $78.8 million from $73.2 million, respectively. Gross margin as a percent of gross receipts was 41 percent and 34 percent for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively. The decrease in gross receipts is primarily due to traveling fewer delegates. The increase in gross margin was due to higher program prices and lower travel cost components. The higher program prices were driven by higher prices in the travel industry in 2008, the result of high fuel prices and constrained capacity. In 2009, the global economic slowdown has reduced travel demand and supplier prices, which enabled us to purchase our travel components at better than expected rates. In addition, BookRags' year-over-year growth in gross receipts as well as including their results for the full nine months of 2009, led to gross receipts and gross margin of $2.3 million and $2.1 million, respectively. For the comparable period in 2008, BookRags reported $0.9 million and $0.8 million in gross receipts and gross margin, respectively.
Operating expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008 were $39.3 million and $38.5 million, respectively. The $0.8 million increase is primarily due to increased legal and professional costs. Operating income was $39.4 million and $34.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively.
Other income was $0.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2009, compared to $2.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2008. The decrease in other income is due to $1.0 million foreign currency loss recorded early in the year on over-hedged foreign currency contracts for 2009 coupled with $0.9 million less in interest income that was caused by lower prevailing interest rates.
Quarter Ended September 30, 2009
During the third quarter of 2009, we traveled 12,967 delegates, a 27 percent decrease from 17,676 delegates traveled during the same quarter one year ago. Gross receipts were $82.8 million in the third quarter of 2009 compared to $101.2 million in the third quarter of 2008. Gross margin increased 1 percent, to $33.2 million in the third quarter of 2009 from $33.0 million in the same period of 2008. Gross margin as a percentage of gross receipts was 40 percent and 33 percent for the quarters ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively. The decrease in gross receipts is due to traveling fewer delegates partially offset by increased program prices. The increase in gross margin is a combined result of higher program prices and lower travel cost components despite traveling fewer delegates. In addition, BookRags' year-over-year growth in the third quarter of 2009 resulted in gross receipts and gross margin of $0.7 million and $0.6 million, respectively. BookRags gross receipts and gross margin in the third quarter of 2008 were $0.6 million and $0.5 million, respectively.
Operating expenses were $14.5 million in the third quarter of 2009 compared to $14.1 million in the third quarter of 2008, an increase of 3 percent. The $0.4 million increase is primarily due to increased legal and professional costs. Operating income was $18.7 million for the third quarter of 2009, compared to $18.9 million for the third quarter of 2008, a 1 percent decline.
Other income for the third quarter of 2009 was $0.5 million in comparison to $0.7 million in the third quarter of 2008. The $0.2 million decrease is due to lower prevailing interest rates.
Balance Sheet and Cash Flow
Total assets at September 30, 2009 were $127.8 million, of which 63 percent, or $80.3 million, were cash and short-term investments. Our deployable cash increased $17.8 million or 47 percent to $55.5 million at the end of the third quarter of 2009. Participant deposits were $16.5 million at the end of the third quarter of 2009, a 25 percent decrease from one year ago.
Cash provided by operations was $12.7 million and $8.6 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively. The increase in 2009 resulted primarily from a decline in prepaid program expenses driven by decreased travel costs. Cash used in investing activities was $13.0 million and $1.7 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively. The fluctuation is due to an increase in cash used to purchase available-for-sale securities offset by a decline in cash paid for BookRags in 2008. Our free cash flow per share for the first nine months of 2009 increased 91 percent to $0.44 per share from $0.23 per share in the nine months ended September 30, 2008, primarily due to a decline in prepaid program expenses in 2009. See definition of deployable cash and free cash flow following the cash flow statement.
Cash used in financing activities was $3.5 million and $16.1 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively. Financing activities during the first nine months of 2009 consisted primarily of $3.4 million of cash dividends distributed to our shareholders and $0.4 million of common stock repurchases, compared to $6.6 million and $9.9 million, respectively, during the first nine months of 2008.
The following summarizes our unaudited statements of operations for the quarters and nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008 (in thousands, except per share amounts).
Nine months ended Quarter ended
September 30, September 30,
--------------------- ---------------------
2009 2008 2009 2008
--------- --------- --------- ---------
Gross receipts $ 192,461 $ 214,100 $ 82,770 $ 101,183
Gross margin $ 78,774 $ 73,205 $ 33,201 $ 33,018
Operating expenses:
Selling and marketing 29,411 29,606 11,281 11,272
General and
administration 9,924 8,913 3,252 2,822
--------- --------- --------- ---------
Total operating
expenses 39,335 38,519 14,533 14,094
Operating income 39,439 34,686 18,668 18,924
Other income (expense)
Interest and dividend
income 1,589 2,475 501 667
Foreign currency and
other expense (961) -- -- --
--------- --------- --------- ---------
Total other income 628 2,475 501 667
--------- --------- --------- ---------
Income before income
tax 40,067 37,161 19,169 19,591
Income tax provision 13,637 12,153 6,664 6,293
--------- --------- --------- ---------
Net income $ 26,430 $ 25,008 $ 12,505 $ 13,298
========= ========= ========= =========
Net income per share --
basic (1) $ 1.39 $ 1.30 $ 0.66 $ 0.70
Weighted average shares
outstanding - basic 19,048 19,259 19,051 19,040
Net income per share --
diluted (1) $ 1.37 $ 1.27 $ 0.64 $ 0.68
Weighted average shares
outstanding - diluted 19,356 19,678 19,451 19,434
Gross receipts reflect total payments received by us for directly delivered and non-directly delivered programs, internet content sales, and advertising revenues. Gross receipts, less program pass-through expenses for non-directly delivered programs, cost of sales for directly delivered programs, and content constitute our gross margins. For non-directly delivered programs, we do not actively deliver the operations of each program. For directly delivered programs however, we organize and operate all activities, including speakers, facilitators, events, accommodations and transportation.
(1) The Company adopted FSP EITF 03-6-1, as codified in
FASB ASC 260-10, on January 1, 2009 and has adjusted earnings
per share ("EPS") accordingly. ASC 260-10 clarifies that
unvested share-based payment awards that contain nonforfeitable
rights to receive dividends or divided equivalents (whether paid
or unpaid) are participating securities, and thus, should be
included in the two-class method of computing EPS. Previously
reported EPS has also been adjusted retrospectively.
The following summarizes our unaudited balance sheets as of September 30, 2009, September 30, 2008, and December 31, 2008 (in thousands):
UNAUDITED
---------------------------------
September 30, December 31,
------------------- ------------
2009 2008 2008
--------- --------- ------------
Assets
------
Cash and cash equivalents $ 3,207 $ 8,088 $ 6,989
Available-for-sale securities 77,094 53,750 67,436
Foreign currency exchange contracts 1,255 -- --
Prepaid program cost and expenses 5,326 8,638 4,160
Accounts receivable 1,022 1,598 1,966
Deferred tax asset -- 1,288 2,780
--------- --------- ------------
Total current assets 87,904 73,362 83,331
Property and equipment, net 28,578 28,353 29,148
Available-for-sale securities 1,403 2,100 2,100
Deferred tax asset 157 1,559 241
Intangibles 2,698 2,362 2,404
Goodwill and other long-term assets 7,029 6,967 7,053
--------- --------- ------------
Total assets $ 127,769 $ 114,703 $ 124,277
========= ========= ============
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
------------------------------------
Accounts payable and accrued
expenses $ 13,499 $ 10,828 $ 4,342
Foreign currency exchange contracts -- 3,533 6,641
Participants' deposits 16,539 21,976 44,166
Deferred tax liability 258 -- --
Other liabilities 107 22 131
--------- --------- ------------
Total current liabilities 30,403 36,359 55,280
Foreign currency exchange contracts -- -- 1,764
Total liabilities 30,403 36,359 57,044
Stockholders' equity 97,366 78,344 67,233
--------- --------- ------------
Total liabilities and
stockholders' equity $ 127,769 $ 114,703 $ 124,277
========= ========= ============
The following summarizes our unaudited statements of cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008 (in thousands):
UNAUDITED
-------------------------
Nine months ended
September 30,
-------------------------
2009 2008
---------- ----------
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income $ 26,430 $ 25,008
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net
cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization 3,250 2,480
Deferred income tax benefit (24) (126)
Stock-based compensation 1,344 1,574
Excess tax benefit from stock-based
compensation (25) (116)
Gain on sale of assets -- (25)
Write-down of property and equipment 436 --
Loss on foreign currency contracts 962 --
Change in assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable and other current
assets 944 (653)
Prepaid program costs and expenses (1,166) (5,011)
Accounts payable, accrued expenses, and
other current liabilities 8,184 6,253
Participants' deposits (27,627) (20,747)
---------- ----------
Net cash provided by operating activities 12,708 8,637
---------- ----------
Cash flows from investing activities:
Net change in available-for-sale
securities (8,878) 11,665
Net purchase of property and equipment
and other (3,591) (4,018)
Net purchase of intangibles (519) (95)
Net additions to goodwill (13) --
Net cash paid for acquisition -- (9,280)
---------- ----------
Net cash used in investing activities (13,001) (1,728)
---------- ----------
Cash flows from financing activities:
Dividend payment to shareholders (3,431) (6,609)
Repurchase of common stock (409) (9,865)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options 337 395
Excess tax benefit from stock-based
compensation 25 116
Capital lease payments and other (11) (139)
---------- ----------
Net cash used in financing activities (3,489) (16,102)
---------- ----------
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents (3,782) (9,193)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of
period 6,989 17,281
---------- ----------
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period
$ 3,207 $ 8,088
========== ==========
Our operations are organized into two reporting segments, (1) Travel Programs and Other, which provides educational travel services to students, professionals and athletes through multiple itineraries within five travel program types and (2) BookRags, which provides online research capabilities through book summaries, critical essays, online study guides, biographies, and references to encyclopedia articles.
The following presents the segment operating performance during the quarters and nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, incorporating BookRags, Inc. into the consolidated financial statements effective May 15, 2008 (in thousands):
Nine months ended Quarter ended
September 30, September 30,
-------------------- --------------------
2009 2008 2009 2008
--------- --------- --------- ---------
Gross margin:
Travel programs and other $ 76,715 $ 72,382 $ 32,641 $ 32,478
BookRags (1) 2,059 823 560 540
--------- --------- --------- ---------
Total consolidated gross
margin $ 78,774 $ 73,205 $ 33,201 $ 33,018
========= ========= ========= =========
Operating income:
Travel programs and other $ 38,106 $ 34,140 $ 18,331 $ 18,572
BookRags (1) 1,333 546 337 352
--------- --------- --------- ---------
Total operating income $ 39,439 $ 34,686 $ 18,668 $ 18,924
========= ========= ========= =========
Assets
Travel programs and other $ 116,474 $ 104,877
BookRags (1) 11,295 9,826
--------- ---------
Total assets $ 127,769 $ 114,703
========= =========
(1) BookRags, Inc. was acquired on May 15, 2008, therefore the nine
months ended September 30, 2008 does not represent a full
period as it does in 2009.
Deployable cash is a non-GAAP liquidity measure. Deployable cash is calculated as the sum of cash and cash equivalents, current available-for-sale securities, and prepaid program costs and expenses, less the sum of accounts payable, accrued expenses and other short-term liabilities (excluding deferred taxes), and participant deposits. Free cash flow per share is calculated as net cash provided by operating activities less purchases of property, equipment, and intangibles divided by weighted average diluted shares outstanding. We believe these non-GAAP measures are useful to investors in understanding the cash available to deploy for future business opportunities.
The following summarizes our unaudited deployable cash as of September 30, 2009, September 30, 2008, and December 31, 2008 (in thousands):
UNAUDITED
---------------------------------------
September 30, December 31,
------------------------- ------------
2009 2008 2008
------------ ------------ ------------
Cash, cash equivalents and
short-term available-for-
sale securities $ 80,301 $ 61,838 $ 74,425
Prepaid program cost and
expenses 5,326 8,638 4,160
Less: Participants' deposits (16,539) (21,976) (44,166)
Less: Accounts payable /
accruals / other liabilities (13,606) (10,850) (4,473)
------------ ------------ ------------
Deployable cash $ 55,482 $ 37,650 $ 29,946
============ ============ ============
The following summarizes our unaudited free cash flow as of September 30, 2009 and 2008 (in thousands):
UNAUDITED
-------------------------
September 30,
-------------------------
2009 2008
---------- ----------
Cash flow from operations as reported $ 12,708 $ 8,637
Purchase of property, equipment and
intangibles (4,129) (4,164)
---------- ----------
Free cash flow $ 8,579 $ 4,473
========== ==========
Weighted average shares outstanding 19,356 19,678
========== ==========
Free cash flow per share $ 0.44 $ 0.23
========== ==========
Quarterly conference call and webcast
We will host a conference call to discuss third quarter 2009 results of operations on Thursday, October 22, 2009 at 8:30 A.M. Pacific Time. You may join the call by dialing 866.783.2140 then using the pass code: Ambassadors Group. Or, you may also join the call via the Internet at www.ambassadorsgroup.com/EPAX. For post-view access, you may dial 888.286.8010 with the pass code 75543967 and follow the prompts, or visit www.ambassadorsgroup.com/EPAX. Post-view dial-in access and post-view Webcast access will be available beginning October 22, 2009 at 11:30 a.m. until December 22, 2009.
Business overview
Ambassadors Group, Inc. (Nasdaq:EPAX) is a socially conscious, education company located in Spokane, Washington. Ambassadors Group, Inc. is the parent company of Ambassador Programs, Inc., World Adventures Unlimited, Inc. and BookRags, Inc., an educational research website. The company also oversees the Washington School of World Studies, an accredited travel study and distance learning school. Additional information about Ambassadors Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries is available at http://www.ambassadorsgroup.com. In this press release, "Company", "we", "us", and "our" refer to Ambassadors Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries.
The Ambassadors Group, Inc. logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=3541
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements regarding our actual and expected financial performance and the reasons for variances between period-to-period results. Forward-looking statements, which are included per the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, may involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results and performance in future periods to be materially different from any future results or performance suggested by the forward-looking statements in this release. Such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this release and may not reflect risks related to international unrest, outbreak of disease, conditions in the travel industry, direct marketing environment, changes in economic conditions and changes in the competitive environment. We expressly disclaim any obligation to provide public updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements found herein to reflect any changes in our expectations or any change in events. Although we believe the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, we can give no assurance that our expectations will be met. For a more complete discussion of these and other factors, please refer to the Ambassadors Group, Inc. 10-K filed March 12, 2009 and proxy statement filed April 6, 2009.