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8-K - 8-K - COMSCORE, INC.a2015q18-k.htm


Exhibit 99.1





comScore, Inc. Reports First Quarter 2015 Results

Strong Revenues and Adjusted EBITDA Performance Continue, Reflecting Positive Momentum Across Core Business and Partnerships
RESTON, VA - May 5, 2015 - comScore, Inc. (NASDAQ: SCOR), a leader in measuring the digital world, today announced financial results for the first quarter 2015.
First Quarter 2015
comScore achieved record first quarter revenue of $87.3 million, an increase of 14% compared to the first quarter of 2014. GAAP loss before income taxes was $9.7 million. GAAP net loss was $7.3 million, or $0.22 per basic and diluted share.
First quarter 2015 results and metrics compared to first quarter 2014 on a proforma basis* were as follows:
Revenue of $87.1 million, up 15% from a year ago.
Adjusted EBITDA of $21.3 million, up 25% from a year ago.
Adjusted EBITDA margin was 24% of revenue, up 200 basis points from a year ago.

“I’m pleased that comScore delivered another quarter of strong revenues and financial performance,” said Serge Matta, Chief Executive Officer of comScore. “Immediately following the end of the first quarter on April 1, we closed the WPP transaction that we announced on our last earnings call. I am also happy to announce that our board of directors recently authorized the increase of our share buy-back program to $150 million, demonstrating our continued commitment to return capital to our investors.”

“As a company, we continue to pursue our mission of making audiences and advertising more valuable, and are doing so during a time of rapid change in the digital media, television and advertising ecosystems,” continued Matta. “Today, one of the toughest challenges for our industry is understanding how, when and where consumers engage with video content across screens. We are solving this challenge. Cross-media is no longer an aspiration at comScore - we are increasingly making it a reality. We will be formally launching our first syndicated Xmedia product later this quarter.”

First Quarter 2015 Supplemental Financial and Business Information
(dollars in millions)
(unaudited)
 
Pro Forma 1Q15*
 
Pro Forma 1Q14*
 
Change
Subscription Revenue
$
79.9

 
$
68.2

 
17.2
 %
Project Revenue
$
7.2

 
$
7.8

 
(7.7
)%
Existing Customer Revenue
$
78.9

 
$
68.9

 
14.5
 %
New Customer Revenue
$
8.2

 
$
7.1

 
15.5
 %
International Revenue
$
23.0

 
$
22.6

 
1.8
 %
Customer Count
2,585

 
2,412

 
7.2
 %
 
 
 
 
 
 
* comScore classified its Mobile Operator Analytics Division as held for sale in the fourth quarter of 2014. All year-to-date 2015 and 2014 pro forma growth rates included in the foregoing reflect adjustments to exclude the company's Mobile Operator Analytics Division for the purposes of consistent presentation and are based on management's estimates of the revenue and results of operations of such products and divisions. See Reconciliation of Revenue and Income before Income Taxes to Non-GAAP Revenue, non-GAAP Income and Adjusted EBITDA set forth in the attachment to this press release.







Financial Outlook
comScore's expectations for the second quarter of 2015 are outlined in the table below. All amounts indicated expressly exclude the anticipated effects of comScore's Mobile Operator Analytics Division.
 
 
 
 
GAAP revenue*
  
$86.8 million to $92.2 million
 
 
GAAP loss before income taxes*
  
($5.6) million to ($2.2) million
 
 
Adjusted EBITDA**
  
$18.5 million to $21.5 million
 
 
 
Estimated fully-diluted shares
 
41.0 million
comScore's expectations for full year 2015 are outlined in the table below. All amounts indicated expressly exclude the anticipated effects of comScore's Mobile Operator Analytics Division.
 
 
 
 
GAAP revenue*
  
$368.0 million to $381.0 million
 
 
GAAP (loss) / income before income taxes*
  
($9.2) million to $5.4 million
 
 
Adjusted EBITDA**
  
$85.5 million to $94.5 million
 
 
 
Estimated fully-diluted shares
 
39.5 million
 
*
Assumes divestiture of Mobile Operator Analytics Division during 2015
**
Reconciliations of GAAP to non-GAAP measures are set forth in the attachment to this press release.
Due to the high variability and difficulty in predicting certain items that affect GAAP net income, such as tax rates and stock price, comScore is unable to provide a complete reconciliation of adjusted EBITDA to net income (loss) on a forward-looking basis without unreasonable efforts. However, a reconciliation of forward-looking adjusted EBITDA to GAAP Income (loss) before income taxes is set forth in the attachment to this press release.
Conference Call Information
Management will provide commentary on the company's results in a conference call on Tuesday, May 5th at 8:30 a.m. ET.
The conference call and replay can be accessed by telephone and webcast as follows:
Call-in Number: 888-713-4209, Pass code 98973040
(International) 617-213-4863, Pass code 98973040
Webcast (live and replay): http://ir.comscore.com/events.cfm
 
About comScore
comScore, Inc. (NASDAQ: SCOR) is a global leader in digital measurement and analytics, delivering insights on web, mobile and TV consumer behavior that enable clients to maximize the value of their digital investments. For more information, please visit www.comscore.com/companyinfo.





Non-GAAP Financial Measures
comScore reports all financial information required in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). comScore believes, however, that evaluating its ongoing operating results will be enhanced if it also discloses certain non-GAAP information because it is useful to understand comScore's performance, as it excludes non-cash and other charges that many investors believe may obscure comScore's on-going operating results.
For example, comScore uses non-GAAP net income, which excludes stock-based compensation, amortization of acquired intangible assets, impairment of intangible assets, impairment of marketable securities, costs from acquisitions, restructurings and other infrequently occurring items, non-cash deferred tax provision and litigation and related settlement costs. comScore reports non-GAAP EPS (diluted), which uses non-GAAP net income in lieu of GAAP net income in calculating earnings per share. Year to date 2015 and 2014 Non-GAAP pro forma revenue excludes the estimated effects of revenue generated from the mobile operator analytics division. Year to date 2015 and 2014 adjusted pro forma EBITDA also excludes the estimated effects of operations related to the mobile operator analytics division products.
The company believes that excluding certain costs from non-GAAP net income, non-GAAP EPS, and adjusted EBITDA provides a meaningful indication to investors of the expected on-going operating performance of the company. Specifically as it relates to acquisitions and restructurings, the exclusion of these costs reflects the expected benefits realized or to be realized upon the integration of acquired entities into comScore, and the realized benefits of the restructurings. In addition, the company believes that adjusting for the pro forma effect of the expected sale of the company's mobile operator analytics division promotes better comparability of the company's financial statements.
Whenever comScore uses such historical non-GAAP financial measures, it provides a reconciliation of historical non-GAAP financial measures to the most closely applicable GAAP financial measure. Investors are encouraged to review the related GAAP financial measures and the reconciliation of these historical non-GAAP financial measures to their most directly comparable GAAP financial measure included in the financial tables accompanying this release. Although the company provides a reconciliation of historical non-GAAP financial measures, due to the high variability and difficulty in predicting certain items that affect net income, such as tax rates and stock price, comScore is unable to provide a complete reconciliation of adjusted EBITDA to net income on a forward-looking basis without unreasonable efforts. However, a reconciliation of forward-looking adjusted EBITDA to GAAP income (loss) before income taxes is set forth in the attachment to this press release.
These non-GAAP financial measures do not reflect a comprehensive system of accounting, differ from GAAP measures with the same captions and may differ from non-GAAP financial measures with the same or similar captions that are used by other companies. The use of certain non-GAAP financial measures requires management to make estimates and assumptions regarding amounts of assets and liabilities and the amounts of revenue and expense during the reporting periods. comScore bases its estimates on historical experience and assumptions that it believes are reasonable. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Cautionary Statement
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, including, without limitation, comScore's expectations as to comScore's strategy, market position, growth in revenue and margin expansion, impact and financial benefits of certain products; expectations as to new product releases; expectations as to comScore's performance with respect to and the benefits of comScore’s partnerships, including those with WPP/Kantar; expectations regarding the strategic and financial benefits of certain strategic transactions with WPP/Kantar; expectations regarding the benefits of comScore's proposed share buy-back program; expectations regarding the disposal or discontinuation of comScore's Mobile Operator operations, including the related financial effects thereof; expectations and forecasts of future financial performance, including related growth rates and components thereof; and assumptions related to growth for the second quarter and full year of 2015 and beyond. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause comScore's actual results to differ materially, including, but not limited to: comScore's ability to generate strong revenue and margin growth in future periods; comScore's ability to sell new or additional products and attract new customers; comScore's ability to develop new products; comScore's ability to sell additional subscription-based products to customers; comScore's ability to sell additional products and services to existing customers; comScore's ability to successfully dispose of its Mobile Operator operations; and the volatility of quarterly results and expectations.
For a detailed discussion of these and other risk factors, please refer to comScore's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014 and other filings comScore makes from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), which are available on the SEC's Web site ( http://www.sec.gov ).





Stockholders of comScore are cautioned not to place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date such statements are made. comScore does not undertake any obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements to reflect events, circumstances or new information after the date of this press release, or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

Contact:
Melvin Wesley, III
Chief Financial Officer
comScore, Inc.
(703) 438-2305
mwesley@comscore.com







comScore, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
(in thousands, except share and per share data)
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2015
 
2014
 
(unaudited)
Revenue
$
87,329

 
$
76,899

Cost of revenue (excludes amortization of intangible assets) (1)
24,892

 
23,441

Selling and marketing (1)
27,331

 
26,066

Research and development (1)
18,006

 
12,477

General and administrative (1)
25,001

 
13,344

Amortization of intangible assets
1,379

 
1,955

Settlement of litigation, net
(90
)
 
(80
)
Total expenses from operations
96,519

 
77,203

Loss from operations
(9,190
)
 
(304
)
Interest and other expense, net
(392
)
 
(203
)
Loss from foreign currency
(72
)
 
(153
)
Loss before income tax provision
(9,654
)
 
(660
)
Income tax benefit (provision)
2,329

 
(122
)
Net loss
$
(7,325
)
 
$
(782
)
Net loss per common share:
 
 
 
Basic
$
(0.22
)
 
$
(0.02
)
Diluted
$
(0.22
)
 
$
(0.02
)
Weighted-average number of shares used in per share calculation - common stock:
 
 
 
Basic
33,793,582

 
33,822,835

Diluted
33,793,582

 
33,822,835

 
 
 
 
(1) Amortization of stock-based compensation is included in the line items above as follows:
 
 
 
Cost of revenue
$
2,209

 
$
725

Selling and marketing
$
3,747

 
$
2,396

Research and development
$
2,183

 
$
725

General and administrative
$
13,616

 
$
3,377








comScore, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(dollars in thousands)
 
March 31, 2015
 
December 31, 2014
 
(Unaudited)
 
*
Assets
 
 
 
Current assets:
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$
40,854

 
$
43,015

Accounts receivable, net of allowances of $2,519 and $2,079, respectively
83,502

 
98,185

Prepaid expenses and other current assets
13,551

 
11,015

Deferred tax assets
19,718

 
20,976

Assets held for sale
5,602

 
5,692

Total current assets
163,227

 
178,883

Property and equipment, net
45,370

 
42,365

Other non-current assets
969

 
1,017

Long-term deferred tax assets
12,683

 
12,369

Intangible assets, net
13,797

 
15,793

Goodwill
101,290

 
103,525

Total assets
$
337,336

 
$
353,952

Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
 
 
 
Current liabilities:
 
 
 
Accounts payable
$
6,232

 
$
3,421

Accrued expenses
26,059

 
37,212

Deferred revenue
90,535

 
92,013

Deferred rent
1,645

 
1,738

Capital lease obligations
14,239

 
13,353

Liabilities held for sale
4,150

 
3,873

Total current liabilities
142,860

 
151,610

Deferred rent, long-term
9,433

 
9,738

Deferred revenue, long-term
1,126

 
2,063

Deferred tax liabilities, long-term
1,058

 
1,182

Capital lease obligations, long-term
13,023

 
13,072

Other long-term liabilities
751

 
1,022

Total liabilities
168,251

 
178,687

Commitments and contingencies
 
 
 
Stockholders’ equity:
 
 
 
Common stock
36

 
36

Additional paid-in capital
333,442

 
324,176

Accumulated other comprehensive loss
(9,956
)
 
(5,591
)
Accumulated deficit
(100,401
)
 
(93,076
)
Treasury stock
(54,036
)
 
(50,280
)
Total stockholders’ equity
169,085

 
175,265

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
$
337,336

 
$
353,952


* Information derived from the audited Consolidated Financial Statements





comScore, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(dollars in thousands)
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2015
 
2014
 
(unaudited)
Operating activities:
 
 
 
Net loss
$
(7,325
)
 
$
(782
)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities:
 
 
 
Depreciation
5,010

 
4,183

Amortization of intangible assets
1,379

 
1,955

Provision for bad debts
985

 
500

Stock-based compensation
21,755

 
7,223

Amortization of deferred rent
(446
)
 
(255
)
Deferred tax (benefit) provision
515

 
(255
)
Gain on asset disposition

 
(20
)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
 
 
 
Accounts receivable
12,116

 
2,107

Prepaid expenses and other current assets
(3,173
)
 
(2,505
)
Accounts payable, accrued expenses, and other liabilities
(4,181
)
 
2,378

Deferred revenue
1,140

 
4,810

Deferred rent
88

 
36

Net cash provided by operating activities
27,863

 
19,375

Investing activities:
 
 
 
Purchase of property and equipment
(1,402
)
 
(1,873
)
Net cash used in investing activities
(1,402
)
 
(1,873
)
Financing activities:
 
 
 
Proceeds from the exercise of common stock options
2,363

 
15

Repurchase of common stock (withholding taxes)
(21,660
)
 
(9,581
)
Repurchase of common stock (treasury shares)
(3,756
)
 
(21,498
)
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation

 
265

Principal payments on capital lease obligations
(3,793
)
 
(2,707
)
Net cash used in financing activities
(26,846
)
 
(33,506
)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash
(1,776
)
 
2

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents
(2,161
)
 
(16,002
)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
43,015

 
67,795

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
$
40,854

 
$
51,793









Reconciliation of Revenue and Income before Income Taxes to Non-GAAP Revenue, Non-GAAP Net Income and Adjusted EBITDA
(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2015
 
2014
 
 (unaudited)
 
 
 
 
Revenue
$
87,329

 
$
76,899

Adjustment to exclude Mobile Operator Analytics products
$
(245
)
 
$
(928
)
Non-GAAP Revenue (1)
$
87,084

 
$
75,971

 
 
 
 
Loss before income taxes
$
(9,654
)
 
$
(660
)
Deferred tax benefit (provision)
(515
)
 
255

Current tax benefit (provision)
2,844

 
(377
)
Net loss
(7,325
)
 
(782
)
Amortization of intangible assets
1,379

 
1,955

Stock-based compensation
21,755

 
7,223

Costs related to acquisitions, restructuring and other infrequently occurring items
1,405

 
2,611

Settlement of litigation, net
(90
)
 
(80
)
Adjustment to exclude Mobile Operator Analytics products
1,098

 
1,595

Deferred tax (benefit) provision
515

 
(255
)
Non-GAAP net income (1)
18,737

 
12,267

Current tax (benefit) provision
(2,844
)
 
377

Depreciation
5,010

 
4,183

Interest and other expense, net
392

 
203

Adjusted EBITDA (1)
$
21,295

 
$
17,030

Adjusted EBITDA margin (%)
24
%
 
22
%
 
 
 
 
GAAP EPS (diluted)
$
(0.22
)
 
$
(0.02
)
Non-GAAP EPS (diluted)
$
0.54

 
$
0.35

 
 
 
 
Weighted - average number of shares used in per share calculation - common stock
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
GAAP EPS (diluted)
33,793,582

 
33,822,835

Non-GAAP EPS (diluted)
34,881,620

 
35,064,385


(1) comScore classified its Mobile Operator Analytics Division as held for sale in the fourth quarter of 2014. All year-to-date 2015 and 2014 amounts include adjustments to exclude the Mobile Operator Analytics Division and are based on management’s estimates of the revenue and results of operations of the aforementioned division.







Reconciliation of GAAP Operating Cash Flow to Free Cash Flow
(dollars in thousands)
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2015
 
2014
 
(unaudited)
 
 
 
 
Net cash provided by operating activities
$
27,863

 
$
19,375

Purchase of property and equipment
(1,402
)
 
(1,873
)
Free cash flow
$
26,461

 
$
17,502




Revenue and Reconciliation of Income (Loss) before Income Taxes to Adjusted EBITDA (Guidance)
(dollars in thousands)
Forecasted amounts for the three and twelve month periods ending June 30, 2015 and December 31, 2015 are based on the mid-points of the range of guidance provided herein (1)

 
Three Months Ended June 30,
 
Full Year December 31,
 
2015 (1)
 
2014 (1)
 
2015 (1)
 
2014 (1)
 
(unaudited)
 
(unaudited)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Revenue
$
89,500

 
$
78,804

 
$
374,500

 
$
325,150

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(Loss) income before income taxes
(3,900
)
 
(1,246
)
 
(1,900
)
 
1,120

Amortization of intangible assets
3,200

 
1,488

 
12,000

 
5,937

Stock-based compensation
10,000

 
8,994

 
49,600

 
41,677

Costs related to acquisitions, restructuring and other infrequently occurring items
6,000

 
825

 
9,000

 
5,584

Settlement of litigation, net
(600
)
 
2,940

 
(800
)
 
2,700

Depreciation
4,800

 
4,282

 
20,500

 
17,599

Interest and other expense, net
500

 
302

 
1,600

 
1,241

Adjusted EBITDA
$
20,000

 
$
17,585

 
$
90,000

 
$
75,858

Adjusted EBITDA margin (%)
22
%
 
22
%
 
24
%
 
23
%

Estimated Q2 2015 and full year 2015 non-GAAP (Diluted) share count is 41.0 million and 39.5 million, respectively.

(1) The three and twelve month periods ending June 30, 2015 and 2014 and December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively, have been adjusted to exclude the results of operations from the Mobile Operator Analytics Division.









GAAP pre-tax Reconciliation of Revenue and Adjusted EBITDA to Pro Forma Revenue and Pro Forma Adjusted EBITDA (Guidance) (1)
(dollars in thousands)
 
Three Months Ended June 30,
 
2015
 
2014
 
(unaudited)
 
Pre-Adjusted
Adjustment to Exclude Mobile Operator Analytics Division (1)
Pro Forma
 
As Reported
Adjustment to Exclude Mobile Operator Analytics Division (1)
Pro Forma
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Revenue
$
89,750

(250
)
$
89,500

 
$
80,013

(1,209
)
$
78,804

Adjusted EBITDA(2)
$
18,900

1,100

$
20,000

 
$
16,709

876

$
17,585

Adjusted EBITDA margin (%)
21
%
(440
)%
22
%
 
21
%
(72
)%
22
%

 
Twelve Months Ended December 31,
 
2015
 
2014
 
(unaudited)
 
Pre-Adjusted
Adjustment to Exclude Mobile Operator Analytics Division (1)
Pro Forma
 
Pre-Adjusted
Adjustment to Exclude Mobile Operator Analytics Division (1)
Pro Forma
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Revenue
$
378,000

(3,500
)
$
374,500

 
$
329,151

(4,001
)
$
325,150

Adjusted EBITDA(2)
$
85,200

4,800

$
90,000

 
$
71,221

4,637

$
75,858

Adjusted EBITDA margin (%)
23
%
(137
)%
24
%
 
22
%
(116
)%
23
%

(1) Pro forma revenue and pro forma Adjusted EBTIDA are adjusted to exclude the company’s Mobile Operator Analytics Division.
(2) See reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA.