Stamps.com Announces Fourth Quarter Non-GAAP Earnings per Share of $0.47

Non-GAAP Operating Income up 42%; Non-GAAP Net Income up 33%


EL SEGUNDO, CA--(Marketwire - Feb 13, 2013) - Stamps.com® (NASDAQ: STMP), the leading provider of postage online and shipping software solutions, today announced results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended December 31, 2012.

Highlights for the fourth quarter:

  • Core PC Postage revenue was $27.4 million, up 12% from the fourth quarter of 2011. 

  • Total revenue was $30.1 million, up 10% compared to the fourth quarter of 2011.

  • Non-GAAP operating margin was 25.4% compared to 19.8% in the fourth quarter of 2011.

  • GAAP net income was $9.3 million or $0.58 per fully diluted share, including $0.8 million in stock-based compensation expense and a non-cash income tax benefit of $2.5 million.

  • On a non-GAAP basis, excluding the stock-based compensation expense and non-cash income tax benefit, income from operations was $7.6 million, net income was $7.6 million and net income per fully diluted share was $0.47, up 42%, 33% and 36%, respectively, versus the fourth quarter of 2011.

  • During the fourth quarter of 2012, the Company repurchased a total of 499 thousand shares at a total cost of $11.9 million.

"We are pleased with our strong earnings this quarter," said Ken McBride, Stamps.com Chairman and CEO. "Despite a tough economic environment, we continue to see strength across our business lines. In addition, during the fourth quarter we hit our highest level ever for total paid customers, we saw our largest number of new customers acquired, and we set a new record for total postage printed. As we enter 2013, we feel that we are well positioned in each of our core business lines."

Fourth Quarter 2012 Detailed Results

Core PC Postage revenue -- including our small business, enterprise and high volume shipping customer segments, and excluding enhanced promotion and PhotoStamps revenue -- was $27.4 million, up 12% versus the fourth quarter of 2011. Non-core PC Postage revenue from the enhanced promotion channel which includes online programs where additional promotions are provided directly by marketing partners, was $0.8 million and PhotoStamps revenue was $1.9 million, both down 1% versus the fourth quarter of 2011 as the Company continues to minimize its investment in both areas. PC Postage gross margin was 78.6%, PhotoStamps gross margin was 28.7% and total gross margin was 75.5%.

Fourth quarter GAAP net income was $9.3 million. On a per share basis, total fourth quarter 2012 GAAP net income was $0.58 based on 16.1 million fully diluted shares outstanding. Fourth quarter 2012 GAAP net income was reduced by $0.8 million of stock-based compensation expense and increased by a non-cash income tax benefit of $2.5 million resulting from the reversal of a portion of the Company's net deferred tax asset valuation allowance. Non-GAAP and GAAP amounts are reconciled in the following table:

                       
Fourth Quarter Fiscal 2012                      
All amounts in millions except   Non-GAAP     Stock-Based     Income Tax   GAAP  
per share or margin data:   Amounts     Comp. Exp.     Benefit   Amounts  
                               
Cost of Sales   $ 7.30     $ 0.06     $ -   $ 7.36  
Research & Development     2.24       0.17       -     2.41  
Sales & Marketing     9.78       0.18       -     9.96  
General & Administrative     3.11       0.41       -     3.52  
                               
Total Expenses     22.43       0.82             23.24  
                               
Gross Margin     75.7 %     (0.2 %)     -     75.5 %
                               
Income (Loss) from Operations     7.64       (0.82 )     -     6.83  
                               
Operating Margin     25.4 %     (2.7 %)     -     22.7 %
                               
Interest and Other Income     0.13       -       -     0.13  
                               
Pre-Tax Income (Loss)     7.77       (0.82 )     -     6.96  
                               
Provision for Income Taxes     (0.17 )     -       2.51     2.34  
                               
Net Income     7.60       (0.82 )     2.51     9.30  
                               
On a diluted per share basis   $ 0.47     $ (0.05 )   $ 0.16   $ 0.58  
                               
Shares used in per share calculation     16.13       16.13       16.13     16.13  
                               

Excluding the stock-based compensation expense and income tax benefit, fourth quarter 2012 non-GAAP operating income was $7.6 million and non-GAAP net income was $7.6 million or $0.47 per share based on 16.1 million fully diluted shares outstanding. This compares to fourth quarter 2011 non-GAAP operating income of $5.4 million and non-GAAP net income of $5.7 million or $0.35 per share based on fully diluted shares outstanding of 16.6 million. Thus, fourth quarter non-GAAP operating income, non-GAAP net income and non-GAAP fully diluted earnings per share increased by 42%, 33% and 36% year-over-year, respectively. 

Stamps.com has approximately $210 million in Federal NOLs and $100 million in State NOLs. The Company estimates its ownership shift was approximately 22% as of December 31, 2012, which is below the 50% level that could trigger impairment of its NOL asset under Internal Revenue Code Section 382 rules. As part of its ongoing program to preserve future use of its NOL asset, the Company requests that any shareholder contemplating becoming a 5% shareholder contact the Company before doing so.

2012 Detailed Results

Total 2012 revenue was $115.7 million, an increase of 14% versus revenue of $101.6 million in 2011. Total 2012 PC Postage revenue, including service revenue, store revenue and insurance revenue, was $110.0 million, up 18% versus PC Postage revenue of $93.3 million in 2011. Excluding the enhanced promotion channel, core PC Postage revenue in 2012 was $107.0 million, up 19% versus $90.2 million in 2011. Total 2012 PhotoStamps revenue was $5.7 million, down 32% versus PhotoStamps revenue of $8.3 million in 2011. 

Total 2012 GAAP net income was $38.6 million, including approximately $4.0 million of stock-based compensation expense, $0.4 million for a one-time corporate headquarters relocation expense, and $14.4 million in non-cash tax benefit resulting from a reversal of a portion of the Company's net deferred tax asset valuation allowance. On a per share basis, total 2012 GAAP net income was $2.30 based on fully diluted shares outstanding for the year of 16.8 million. Non-GAAP and GAAP amounts are reconciled in the following table:

                             
Fiscal Year 2012 All amounts in millions except per share or margin data:   Non-GAAP
Amounts
    Stock-Based
Comp. Exp.
    Relocation
Expense
    Income Tax
Benefit
  GAAP
Amounts
 
                                       
Cost of Sales   $ 27.43     $ 0.33     $ -     $ -   $ 27.76  
Research & Development     9.35       0.89       -       -     10.24  
Sales & Marketing     37.88       0.87       -       -     38.75  
General & Administrative     12.44       1.90       0.41       -     14.75  
                                       
Total Expenses     87.11       3.99       0.41       -     91.50  
                                       
Gross Margin     76.3 %     (0.3 %)     -       -     76.0 %
                                       
Income (Loss) from Operations     28.56       (3.99 )     (0.41 )     -     24.16  
                                       
Operating Margin     24.7 %     (3.5 %)     (0.4 %)     -     20.9 %
                                       
Interest and Other Income     0.54       -       -       -     0.54  
                                       
Pre-Tax Income (Loss)     29.10       (3.99 )     (0.41 )     -     24.70  
                                       
Provision for Income Taxes     (0.57 )     -       -       14.42     13.86  
                                       
Net Income     28.53       (3.99 )     (0.41 )     14.42     38.56  
                                       
On a diluted per share basis   $ 1.70     $ (0.24 )   $ (0.02 )   $ 0.86   $ 2.30  
                                       
Shares used in per share calculation     16.79       16.79       16.79       16.79     16.79  
                                       

Excluding the stock-based compensation expense, relocation expense, and non-cash income tax benefit, 2012 non-GAAP operating income was $28.6 million and non-GAAP net income was $28.5 million or $1.70 per share based on fully diluted shares outstanding of 16.8 million. This compares to 2011 non-GAAP operating income of $20.6 million, non-GAAP net income of $21.2 million and non-GAAP net income per fully diluted share of $1.40. Thus, 2012 non-GAAP operating income, non-GAAP net income and non-GAAP fully diluted earnings per share increased by 38%, 35% and 22% year-over-year, respectively. 

Share Repurchase

During the fourth quarter of 2012, the Company repurchased a total of 499 thousand shares at a total cost of $11.9 million. On February 7, 2013, the Board of Directors approved a new share repurchase plan that replaces all prior repurchase plans and authorizes the Company to repurchase up to 1.0 million shares of Stamps.com stock during the next six months. 

Business Outlook

Stamps.com currently expects 2013 revenue to be in a range of $120 to $130 million and 2013 GAAP net income per share to be in a range of $1.48 to $1.68, including approximately $4.5 million of stock-based compensation expense. Excluding the stock-based compensation expense, non-GAAP 2013 net income per fully diluted share is expected to be in a range of $1.75 to $1.95.

Company Customer Metrics

A complete set of the quarterly customer metrics for the past seven fiscal years is available at http://investor.stamps.com (under a tab on the left side called Company Information, Metrics). 

Quarterly Conference Call

The Stamps.com financial results conference call will be web cast today at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time and may be accessed at http://investor.stamps.com. The Company plans to discuss its business outlook during the conference call. Following the conclusion of the web cast, a replay of the call will be available at the same website.

About Stamps.com and PhotoStamps

Stamps.com (NASDAQ: STMP) is a leading provider of Internet-based postage services. Stamps.com's service enables small businesses, enterprises, advanced shippers, and consumers to print U.S. Postal Service-approved postage with just a PC, printer and Internet connection, right from their home or office. The Company currently has PC Postage partnerships with Avery Dennison, Microsoft, HP, the U.S. Postal Service and others.

PhotoStamps is a patented Stamps.com product that couples the technology of PC Postage with the simplicity of a web-based image upload and order process. Customers may create full custom PhotoStamps with their own digital photograph, or they may choose a licensed image from one of many PhotoStamps collections such as the collegiate collection. Stamps.com currently has PhotoStamps partnerships with HP/Snapfish and others.

About Non-GAAP Measures and Share Repurchase Timing

To supplement the Company's condensed financial statements presented in accordance with GAAP, Stamps.com uses non-GAAP measures of certain components of financial performance. These non-GAAP measures include non-GAAP income from operations, non-GAAP pre-tax income, non-GAAP net income, non-GAAP earnings per diluted share, and non-GAAP gross margin and non-GAAP operating margin. Reconciliation to the nearest GAAP measures of all non-GAAP measures included in this press release can be found in the financial tables of this earnings release.

Non-GAAP measures are provided to enhance investors' overall understanding of the Company's current financial performance, prospects for the future and as a means to evaluate period-to-period comparisons. The Company believes that these non-GAAP measures provide meaningful supplemental information regarding financial performance by excluding certain expenses and benefits that may not be indicative of recurring core business operating results. The Company believes the non-GAAP measures that exclude items such as stock-based compensation, asset write-offs, dividend-related compensation expense, legal settlements and reserves, one-time expenses such as those associated with the relocation of our corporate headquarters and income tax adjustments, when viewed with GAAP results and the accompanying reconciliation, enhance the comparability of results against prior periods and allow for greater transparency of financial results. The Company believes non-GAAP measures facilitate management's internal comparison of the Company's financial performance to that of prior periods as well as trend analysis for budgeting and planning purposes. The presentation of non-GAAP measures are not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for, or superior to, the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP.

The timing of share repurchases, if any, and the number of shares to be bought at any one time will depend on market conditions and the Company's assessment of the risk that its net operating loss asset could be impaired if such repurchases were undertaken. Share repurchases may be made from time-to-time on the open market or in negotiated transactions at the Company's discretion in compliance with Rule 10b-18 of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company's purchase of any of its shares may be subject to limitations imposed on such purchases by applicable securities laws and regulations and the rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market.

"Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: This release includes forward-looking statements about our anticipated results that involve risks and uncertainties. Important factors, including the Company's ability to complete and ship its products, maintain desirable economics for its products and obtain or maintain regulatory approval, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements, are detailed in filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission made from time to time by STAMPS.COM, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and Current Reports on Form 8-K. STAMPS.COM undertakes no obligation to release publicly any revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

Stamps.com, the Stamps.com logo and PhotoStamps are trademarks or registered trademarks of Stamps.com Inc. All other brands and names are property of their respective owners.

   
   
STAMPS.COM INC. AND SUBSIDIARY  
                         
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME  
(in thousands, except per share data)  
                         
    Three Months ended
December 31,
    Twelve Months ended
December 31,
 
    2012     2011     2012     2011  
Revenues:                                
  Service   $ 22,374     $ 20,153     $ 88,173     $ 75,535  
  Product     3,834       3,697       14,710       13,465  
  Insurance     1,982       1,462       7,120       4,321  
  PhotoStamps     1,880       1,907       5,651       8,258  
  Other     -       1       7       6  
    Total revenues     30,070       27,220       115,661       101,585  
Cost of revenues:                                
  Service     3,932       3,819       15,720       14,720  
  Product     1,426       1,324       5,435       4,910  
  Insurance     664       508       2,334       1,506  
  PhotoStamps     1,340       1,330       4,267       5,076  
    Total cost of revenues     7,362       6,981       27,756       26,212  
    Gross profit     22,708       20,239       87,905       75,373  
Operating expenses:                                
  Sales and marketing     9,958       9,490       38,755       34,569  
  Research and development     2,406       2,379       10,243       9,395  
  General and administrative     3,517       3,787       14,750       14,181  
    Total operating expenses     15,881       15,656       63,748       58,145  
    Income from operations     6,827       4,583       24,157       17,228  
Interest and other income, net     132       128       541       562  
Income before taxes     6,959       4,711       24,698       17,790  
Income tax benefit     (2,338 )     (8,674 )     (13,859 )     (8,475 )
Net income   $ 9,297     $ 13,385     $ 38,557     $ 26,265  
Net income per share:                                
  Basic   $ 0.60     $ 0.85     $ 2.40     $ 1.78  
  Diluted   $ 0.58     $ 0.81     $ 2.30     $ 1.73  
Weighted average shares outstanding:                                
  Basic     15,502       15,694       16,079       14,767  
  Diluted     16,129       16,551       16,793       15,168  
                                 
             
             
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS  
(in thousands)  
             
    December 31,     December 31,  
    2012     2011  
                 
ASSETS                
Cash and investments   $ 46,619     $ 69,363  
Accounts receivable     14,432       10,466  
Other current assets     5,602       5,476  
Property and equipment, net     28,631       2,165  
Intangible assets, net     1,262       837  
Deferred tax assets     30,549       16,125  
Other assets     3,757       3,548  
    Total assets   $ 130,852     $ 107,980  
                 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY          
                 
Liabilities                
  Accounts payable and accrued expenses   $ 16,366     $ 12,075  
  Deferred revenue     1,532       1,898  
    Total liabilities     17,898       13,973  
                 
Stockholders' equity:                
  Common stock     50       49  
  Additional paid-in capital     649,694       637,483  
  Treasury Stock     (155,260 )     (123,472 )
  Accumulated deficit     (381,781 )     (420,338 )
  Unrealized gain on investments     251       285  
    Total stockholders' equity     112,954       94,007  
    Total liabilities and stockholders' equity   $ 130,852     $ 107,980