Descartes Announces Fiscal 2024 Fourth Quarter and Annual Financial Results

Record Revenues and Income from Operations

WATERLOO, Ontario and ATLANTA, March 06, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Descartes Systems Group Inc. (TSX:DSG) (Nasdaq:DSGX) announced its financial results for its fiscal 2024 fourth quarter (Q4FY24) and year (FY24) ended January 31, 2024. All financial results referenced are in United States (US) currency and, unless otherwise indicated, are determined in accordance with US Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).

“Global trade continues to be impacted by military conflicts, disruptions to major shipping routes and a growing list of sanctions from various governments around the world,” said Edward J. Ryan, Descartes’ CEO. “Our Global Logistics Network is designed to help shippers, carriers and logistics services providers adapt their supply chains to efficiently manage the lifecycle of shipments in this increasingly dynamic landscape. As a result, our customers are trusting us with more of their business which puts us in a strong financial position to continue to invest in our business.”

FY24 Financial Results
As described in more detail below, key financial highlights for Descartes’ FY24 included:

• Revenues of $572.9 million, up 18% from $486.0 million in the same period a year ago (FY23);
• Revenues were comprised of services revenues of $520.9 million (91% of total revenues), professional services and other revenues of $46.7 million (8% of total revenues) and license revenues of $5.3 million (1% of total revenues). Services revenues were up 20% from $435.7 million in FY23;
• Cash provided by operating activities of $207.7 million, up 8% from $192.4 million in FY23. Cash provided by operating activities was negatively impacted by $12.6 million in FY24 and $5.6 million FY23 related to contingent consideration payments due to better-than-expected performance from recent acquisitions;
• Income from operations of $142.8 million, up 10% from $130.4 million in FY23;
• Net income of $115.9 million, up 13% from $102.2 million in FY23. Net income as a percentage of revenues was 20%, compared to 21% in FY23;
• Earnings per share on a diluted basis of $1.34, up 14% from $1.18 in FY23; and
• Adjusted EBITDA of $247.5 million, up 15% from $215.2 million in FY23. Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of revenues was 43%, compared to 44% in FY23.
  

Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of revenues are non-GAAP financial measures provided as a complement to financial results presented in accordance with GAAP. We define Adjusted EBITDA as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, stock-based compensation (for which we include related fees and taxes) and other charges (for which we include restructuring charges, acquisition-related expenses, and contingent consideration incurred due to better-than-expected performance from acquisitions). These items are considered by management to be outside Descartes' ongoing operational results. We define Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of revenues as the quotient, expressed as a percentage, from dividing Adjusted EBITDA for a period by revenues for the corresponding period. A reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of revenues to net income determined in accordance with GAAP is provided later in this release.

The following table summarizes Descartes’ results in the categories specified below over FY24 and FY23 (dollar amounts in millions):

Q4FY24 Financial Results
As described in more detail below, key financial highlights for Q4FY24 included:

• Revenues of $148.2 million, up 18% from $125.1 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023 (Q4FY23) and up 2% from $144.7 million in the previous quarter (Q3FY24);
• Revenues were comprised of services revenues of $135.7 million (92% of total revenues), professional services and other revenues of $11.1 million (7% of total revenues) and license revenues of $1.4 million (1% of total revenues). Services revenues were up 20% from $113.4 million in Q4FY23 and up 4% from $130.4 million in Q3FY24;
• Cash provided by operating activities of $50.8 million, consistent with $50.6 million in Q4FY23 and down from $56.1 million in Q3FY24. Cash provided by operating activities was negatively impacted by $12.6 million in Q4FY24 related to contingent consideration payments due to better-than-expected performance from recent acquisitions;
• Income from operations of $37.0 million, up 10% from $33.6 million in Q4FY23 and up 14% from $32.4 million in Q3FY24;
• Net income of $31.8 million, up 7% from $29.8 million in Q4FY23 and up 20% from $26.6 million in Q3FY24. Net income as a percentage of revenues was 21%, compared to 24% in Q4FY23 and 18% in Q3FY24;
• Earnings per share on a diluted basis of $0.37, up 9% from $0.34 in Q4FY24 and up 19% from $0.31 in Q3FY24; and
• Adjusted EBITDA of $65.7 million, up 19% from $55.4 million in Q4FY23 and up 3% from $63.5 million in Q3FY24. Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of revenues was 44%, consistent with Q4FY23 and Q3FY24.
  

The following table summarizes Descartes' results in the categories specified below over the past 5 fiscal quarters (unaudited; dollar amounts, other than per share amounts, in millions):

Cash Position
At January 31, 2024, Descartes had $321.0 million in cash. Cash increased by $41.4 million in Q4FY24 and $44.6 million in FY24. The table set forth below provides a summary of cash flows for Q4FY24 and FY24 in millions of dollars:

Conference Call
Descartes' executive management team will hold a conference call to discuss the company's financial results at 5:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday, March 6. Designated numbers are +1 416 764 8658 or +1 888 886 7786 for North America Toll-Free, using Passcode 26517286#.

The company will simultaneously conduct an audio webcast on the Descartes website at www.descartes.com/descartes/investor-relations. Phone conference dial-in or webcast login is required approximately 10 minutes beforehand.

Replays of the conference call will be available until March 13, 2024, by dialling +1 416 764 8692 or Toll-Free for North America using +1 877 674 7070 with Playback Passcode: 517286#. An archived replay of the webcast will be available at www.descartes.com/descartes/investor-relations.

About Descartes

Descartes (Nasdaq:DSGX) (TSX:DSG) is the global leader in providing on-demand, software-as-a-service solutions focused on improving the productivity, security and sustainability of logistics-intensive businesses. Customers use our modular, software-as-a-service solutions to route, track and help improve the safety, performance and compliance of delivery resources; plan, allocate and execute shipments; rate, audit and pay transportation invoices; access global trade data; file customs and security documents for imports and exports; and complete numerous other logistics processes by participating in the world’s largest, collaborative multimodal logistics community. Our headquarters are in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada and we have offices and partners around the world. Learn more at www.descartes.com, and connect with us on LinkedIn and X (Twitter).

Descartes Investor Contact
Laurie McCauley                                                                     
(519) 746-2969
investor@descartes.com

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This release may contain forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws ("forward-looking statements") that relates to Descartes' expectations concerning future revenues and earnings, and our projections for any future reductions in expenses or growth in margins and generation of cash; our assessment of the potential impact of geopolitical events, such as the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine (the “Russia-Ukraine Conflict”), and between Israel and Hamas (“Israel-Hamas Conflict”), or other potentially catastrophic events, such as the COVID-19 virus (the "Pandemic") on our business, results of operations and financial condition; continued growth and acquisitions including our assessment of any increased opportunity for our products and services as a result of trends in the logistics and supply chain industries; rate of profitable growth and Adjusted EBITDA margin operating range; demand for Descartes' solutions; growth of Descartes' Global Logistics Network (“GLN”); customer buying patterns; customer expectations of Descartes; development of the GLN and the benefits thereof to customers; and other matters. These forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions including the following: global shipment volumes continuing at levels generally consistent with those experienced historically; the Russia-Ukraine Conflict, Israel-Hamas Conflict and the Pandemic not having a material negative impact on shipment volumes or on the demand for the products and services of Descartes by its customers and the ability of those customers to continue to pay for those products and services; countries continuing to implement and enforce existing and additional customs and security regulations relating to the provision of electronic information for imports and exports; countries continuing to implement and enforce existing and additional trade restrictions and sanctioned party lists with respect to doing business with certain countries, organizations, entities and individuals; Descartes' continued operation of a secure and reliable business network; the stability of general economic and market conditions, currency exchange rates, and interest rates; equity and debt markets continuing to provide Descartes with access to capital; Descartes' continued ability to identify and source attractive and executable business combination opportunities; Descartes' ability to develop solutions that keep pace with the continuing changes in technology, and our continued compliance with third party intellectual property rights. These assumptions may prove to be inaccurate. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Descartes, or developments in Descartes' business or industry, to differ materially from the anticipated results, performance or achievements or developments expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to, Descartes' ability to successfully identify and execute on acquisitions and to integrate acquired businesses and assets, and to predict expenses associated with and revenues from acquisitions; the impact of network failures, information security breaches or other cyber-security threats; disruptions in the movement of freight and a decline in shipment volumes including as a result of contagious illness outbreaks; a deterioration of general economic conditions or instability in the financial markets accompanied by a decrease in spending by our customers; the ability to attract and retain key personnel and the ability to manage the departure of key personnel and the transition of our executive management team; changes in trade or transportation regulations that currently require customers to use services such as those offered by Descartes; changes in customer behaviour and expectations; Descartes’ ability to successfully design and develop enhancements to our products and solutions; departures of key customers; the impact of foreign currency exchange rates; Descartes' ability to retain or obtain sufficient capital in addition to its debt facility to execute on its business strategy, including its acquisition strategy; disruptions in the movement of freight; the potential for future goodwill or intangible asset impairment as a result of other-than-temporary decreases in Descartes' market capitalization; and other factors and assumptions discussed in the section entitled, "Certain Factors That May Affect Future Results" in documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Ontario Securities Commission and other securities commissions across Canada, including Descartes' most recently filed Management's Discussion and Analysis. If any such risks actually occur, they could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations. In that case, the trading price of our common shares could decline, perhaps materially. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. Forward-looking statements are provided for the purpose of providing information about management's current expectations and plans relating to the future. Readers are cautioned that such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. We do not undertake or accept any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect any change in our expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based, except as required by law.

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures - Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of revenues

We prepare and release quarterly unaudited and annual audited financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP. We also disclose and discuss certain non-GAAP financial information, used to evaluate our performance, in this and other earnings releases and investor conference calls as a complement to results provided in accordance with GAAP. We believe that current shareholders and potential investors in our company use non-GAAP financial measures, such as Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of revenues, in making investment decisions about our company and measuring our operational results.

The term “Adjusted EBITDA” refers to a financial measure that we define as earnings before certain charges that management considers to be non-operating expenses and which consist of interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, stock-based compensation (for which we include related fees and taxes) and other charges (for which we include restructuring charges, acquisition-related expenses, and contingent consideration incurred due to better-than-expected performance from acquisitions). Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of revenues divides Adjusted EBITDA for a period by the revenues for the corresponding period and expresses the quotient as a percentage.

Management considers these non-operating expenses to be outside the scope of Descartes’ ongoing operations and the related expenses are not used by management to measure operations. Accordingly, these expenses are excluded from Adjusted EBITDA, which we reference to both measure our operations and as a basis of comparison of our operations from period-to-period. Management believes that investors and financial analysts measure our business on the same basis, and we are providing the Adjusted EBITDA financial metric to assist in this evaluation and to provide a higher level of transparency into how we measure our own business. However, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of revenues are non-GAAP financial measures and may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies. Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of revenues should not be construed as a substitute for net income determined in accordance with GAAP or other non-GAAP measures that may be used by other companies, such as EBITDA. The use of Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of revenues does have limitations. In particular, we have completed six acquisitions since the beginning of fiscal 2023 and may complete additional acquisitions in the future that will result in acquisition-related expenses and restructuring charges. As these acquisition-related expenses and restructuring charges may continue as we pursue our consolidation strategy, some investors may consider these charges and expenses as a recurring part of operations rather than expenses that are not part of operations.

The table below reconciles Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of revenues to net income reported in our audited Consolidated Statements of Operations for FY24 and FY23, which we believe is the most directly comparable GAAP measure.

The table below reconciles Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of revenues to net income reported in our unaudited Consolidated Statements of Operations for Q4FY24, Q3FY24, Q2FY24, Q1FY24, and Q4FY23, which we believe is the most directly comparable GAAP measure.