Revenue of $72.8 million grows 7% year-over-year
MeridianLink, Inc. (NYSE: MLNK), a leading provider of modern software platforms for financial institutions and consumer reporting agencies, today announced financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2022. Additionally, MeridianLink’s Board of Directors has approved a stock repurchase program with authorization to purchase up to $75 million of common stock.
“We saw a strong start to 2022, once again exceeding guidance in Q1, with GAAP revenue up 7% year-over-year to $72.8 million, lending software solutions revenue up 14% year-over-year to $49.2 million and 47% adjusted EBITDA margins,” said Nicolaas Vlok, chief executive officer of MeridianLink. “We are seeing positive returns on our continued investments in our products and our people. In addition, we are increasing the pace of deployments going live on our platforms, while broadening our capabilities to deliver incremental value to our customers. The ongoing strong performance of our business enables us to continue to invest in value-creating projects, while opportunistically returning cash to stockholders.”
Quarterly Financial Highlights:
- Revenue of $72.8 million, an increase of 7% year-over-year
- Operating income of $14.6 million, or 20% of revenue and Non-GAAP operating profit of $20.8 million, or 29% of revenue
- Adjusted EBITDA of $34.0 million, or 47% of revenue
- Cash flow from operations of $34.9 million, and Free Cash Flow of $32.9 million
Business and Operating Highlights:
- MeridianLink completed the previously announced acquisition of StreetShares® on April 1, 2022, to enhance our ability to provide digital small business lending services to our customers.
- The Company is building a strong sales pipelines for MeridianLink Engage on the basis of triple-digit realized ROI for early adopters.
- MeridianLink released the next phase of its consumer debt optimization functionality, expanding the loan types that can be offered through these unique capabilities.
- The Company welcomed Liz Rieveley to our executive leadership team as MeridianLink’s new Chief People Officer. We expect to see acceleration in a number of people initiatives with the addition of Liz’s energy and proven leadership.
Stock Repurchase Program
Our board of directors has authorized a new stock repurchase program to acquire up to $75 million of the Company’s common stock. The program is effective immediately. Stock repurchases are subject to the Company’s discretion based on various factors, including market conditions.
Business Outlook
Based on information as of today, May 12, 2022, the Company issues second quarter financial guidance and updates full year 2022 financial guidance as follows:
Second Quarter Fiscal 2022:
- Revenue is expected to be in the range of $71.5 million to $73.5 million
- Adjusted EBITDA is expected to be in the range of $25.0 million to $27.0 million
Full Year 2022:
- Revenue is expected to be in the range of $289.0 million to $293.0 million
- Adjusted EBITDA is expected to be in the range of $112.0 million to $116.0 million
Conference Call Information
MeridianLink will hold a conference call to discuss our first quarter results today, May 12, 2022, at 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time (5:00 p.m. Eastern Time). The conference call can be accessed by dialing (877) 284-4396 from the United States and Canada or (873) 415-0298 internationally with conference ID 1295945. A live webcast of the conference call can be accessed from the investor relations page of MeridianLink’s website at ir.meridianlink.com. An archived replay of the webcast will be available at the same website following the conclusion of the call. A telephonic replay will be available until approximately 8:59 p.m. Pacific Time (11:59 p.m. Eastern Time) on Thursday, May 19, 2022, at (800) 585-8367 from the United States and Canada or (416) 621-4642 internationally with conference ID 1295945.
For More Information:
Press Contacts
Becky Frost
(714) 784-5839
becky.frost@meridianlink.com
Investor Relations Contact
Erik Schneider
(714) 332-6357
InvestorRelations@meridianlink.com
About MeridianLink
MeridianLink® (NYSE: MLNK) is a leading provider of cloud-based software solutions for financial institutions, including banks, credit unions, mortgage lenders, specialty lending providers and consumer reporting agencies. Headquartered in Costa Mesa, California, MeridianLink provides services to more than 1,900 customers, including a majority of the financial institutions on Forbes’ 2021 lists of America’s Best Credit Unions and Banks. Further information can be found at www.meridianlink.com.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
To supplement the financial measures presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP, we provide certain non-GAAP financial measures, such as adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA margin; non-GAAP operating income (loss); non-GAAP net income (loss); non-GAAP cost of revenue; non-GAAP sales and marketing expenses; non-GAAP research and development expenses; non-GAAP general and administrative expenses; and free cash flow. The presentation of these financial measures is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for, or superior to, financial information prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP. Rather, we believe that these non-GAAP financial measures, when viewed in addition to and not in lieu of our reported GAAP financial results, provide investors with additional meaningful information to assess our financial performance and trends, enable comparison of financial results between periods, and allow for greater transparency with respect to key metrics utilized internally in analyzing and operating our business. The following definitions are provided:
- Adjusted EBITDA: net income (loss) before interest expense, taxes, depreciation, amortization, share-based compensation expense, employer payroll taxes on employee stock transactions, certain expenses associated with our IPO, sponsor and third-party acquisition related costs, losses resulting from early repayment of debt, lease termination charges, and deferred revenue reductions from purchase accounting
- Non-GAAP operating income: GAAP income (loss) from operations, excluding the impact of share-based compensation, employer payroll taxes on employee stock transactions, and sponsor and third-party acquisition-related costs
- Non-GAAP net income: GAAP net income (loss), excluding the impact of share-based compensation, employer payroll taxes on employee stock transactions, and sponsor and third-party acquisition-related costs
- Non-GAAP cost of revenue: GAAP cost of revenue, excluding the impact of share-based compensation, employer payroll taxes on employee stock transactions, and amortization of developed technology
- Non-GAAP operating expenses: GAAP operating expenses, excluding the impact of share-based compensation and employer payroll taxes on employee stock transactions
- Free cash flow: GAAP cash flow from operating activities plus GAAP purchases of property and equipment (Capital Expenditures) and capitalized costs related to developed technology (Capitalized Software)
Reconciliations to comparable GAAP financial measures are available in the accompanying schedules, which are posted as part of this earnings release on our website. No reconciliation is provided with respect to certain forward-looking non-GAAP financial measures as the GAAP measures are not accessible on a forward-looking basis. We cannot reliably predict all necessary components or their impact to reconcile such financial measures without unreasonable effort. The events necessitating a non-GAAP adjustment are inherently unpredictable and may have a significant impact on our future GAAP financial results.
Forward-Looking Statements
This release contains, and our above-referenced conference call and webcast will contain, statements which are not historical facts and are considered forward-looking within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Generally, these statements can be identified by the use of words such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “may,” “plans,” “projects,” “seeks,” “should,” “will,” and variations of such words or similar expressions, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Further, statements describing our strategy, outlook, guidance, plans, intentions, or goals are also forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements reflect our predictions, expectations, or forecasts, including, but not limited to, statements regarding, and guidance with respect to, our future financial and operational performance, our strategic initiatives, including anticipated benefits and integration of an acquisition, our stock repurchase program, including the execution and amount of repurchases, our development or delivery of new or enhanced solutions, our market size and growth opportunities, and our competitive positioning. Actual results may differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements and will be affected by a variety of risks and factors that are beyond our control including, without limitation, risks related to our business and industry, as well as those set forth in Item 1A. Risk Factors, or elsewhere, in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, and our other SEC filings. Any forward-looking statement contained herein or provided on the related conference call is based on reasonable assumptions as of the date hereof. You should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. We undertake no obligation, other than as required by applicable law, to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.
|
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets |
|||
|
Assets |
March 31, (unaudited) |
|
December 31, |
|
Current assets: |
|||
|
Cash and cash equivalents |
$146,746 |
$113,645 |
|
|
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts |
32,160 |
24,913 |
|
|
Prepaid expenses and other current assets |
10,010 |
9,398 |
|
|
Total current assets |
188,916 |
147,956 |
|
|
Property and equipment, net |
5,613 |
5,989 |
|
|
Right of use assets |
2,311 |
– |
|
|
Intangible assets, net |
287,854 |
298,597 |
|
|
Deferred tax assets, net |
1,608 |
4,286 |
|
|
Goodwill |
564,799 |
564,799 |
|
|
Other assets |
4,089 |
4,266 |
|
|
Total assets |
$1,055,190 |
$1,025,893 |
|
|
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity |
|||
|
Current liabilities: |
|||
|
Accounts payable |
$2,555 |
$2,335 |
|
|
Accrued liabilities |
25,872 |
24,667 |
|
|
Deferred revenue |
29,293 |
14,707 |
|
|
Current portion of long-term debt, net of debt issuance costs |
3,256 |
2,139 |
|
|
Total current liabilities |
60,976 |
43,848 |
|
|
Long-term debt, net of debt issuance costs |
424,712 |
425,371 |
|
|
Deferred rent |
– |
396 |
|
| Other long-term liabilties |
1,647 |
– |
|
|
Total liabilities |
487,335 |
469,615 |
|
|
Commitments and contingencies |
|||
|
Stockholders’ Equity |
|||
| Preferred stock, $0.001 par value; 50,000,000 shares authorized; zero shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021 |
– |
– |
|
|
Common stock, $0.001 par value; 600,000,000 shares authorized, 80,325,231 and 79,734,984 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021 respectively |
120 |
88 |
|
|
Additional paid-in capital |
600,608 |
596,542 |
|
|
Accumulated deficit |
(32,873) |
(40,352) |
|
|
Total stockholders’ equity |
567,855 |
556,278 |
|
|
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity |
$1,055,190 |
$1,025,893 |
|
|
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (unaudited) |
|||||
|
Three months ended March 31, |
|||||
|
2022 |
|
|
2021 |
|
|
|
Revenues, net |
$72,754 |
$67,811 |
|||
|
Cost of revenues: |
|||||
|
Subscription and services |
21,104 |
16,614 |
|||
|
Amortization of developed technology |
3,434 |
2,862 |
|||
|
Total cost of revenues |
24,538 |
19,476 |
|||
|
Gross profit |
48,216 |
48,335 |
|||
|
Operating expenses: |
|||||
|
General and administrative |
18,187 |
17,595 |
|||
|
Research and development |
8,409 |
6,986 |
|||
|
Sales and marketing |
4,743 |
3,599 |
|||
|
Acquisition related costs |
2,283 |
750 |
|||
|
Total operating expenses |
33,622 |
28,930 |
|||
|
Operating income |
14,594 |
19,405 |
|||
|
Other (income) expense, net: |
|||||
|
Other income |
(163) |
(20) |
|||
|
Interest expense, net |
4,358 |
10,062 |
|||
|
Total other expense, net |
4,195 |
10,042 |
|||
|
Income before provision for income taxes |
10,399 |
9,363 |
|||
|
Provision for income taxes |
2,920 |
2,132 |
|||
|
Net income (loss) |
7,479 |
7,231 |
|||
|
Class A preferred return |
– |
(8,932) |
|||
|
Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders |
(7,479) |
(1,701) |
|||
| New income (loss) per share: | |||||
|
Basic |
$0.09 |
(0.03) |
|||
|
Diluted |
0.09 |
(0.03) |
|||
|
Weighted average common stock outstanding |
|
|
|||
|
Basic |
79,974,071 |
51,551,231 |
|||
|
Diluted |
82,228,936 |
51,551,231 |
|||
|
Net Revenues by Major Source |
|||
|
Three Months ended March 31, |
|||
|
2022 |
|
2021 |
|
|
Subscription fees |
$63,469 |
|
$60,316 |
|
Professional services |
7,112 |
|
5,491 |
|
Other |
2,173 |
|
2,004 |
|
Total |
72,754 |
|
67,811 |
|
Net Revenues by Solution Type |
|||
|
Three months ended March 31, |
|||
|
2022 |
|
2021 |
|
|
Lending Software Solutions |
$49,167 |
|
$43,134 |
|
Data Verification Software Solutions |
23,587 |
|
24,677 |
|
Total(1) |
$72,754 |
|
$67,811 |
|
% Growth attributable to: |
|||
|
Lending software solutions |
9% |
|
|
|
Data Verification Software Contribution |
(2)% |
|
|
|
Total % Growth |
7% |
|
|
|
(1)% Revenue related to mortgage loan market: |
|||
|
Lending software solutions |
7% |
|
9% |
|
Data verification software |
70% |
|
70% |
|
Total % revenue related to mortgage loan market |
28% |
|
30% |
|
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (unaudited) |
|||
|
Three Months Ended March 31, |
|||
|
2022 |
|
2021 |
|
|
Cash flows from operating activities: |
|||
|
Net income |
$7,479 |
$7,231 |
|
|
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: |
|||
|
Depreciation and amortization |
12,905 |
12,351 |
|
|
Amortization of debt issuance costs |
484 |
1,072 |
|
|
Share-based compensation expense |
3,808 |
643 |
|
|
Loss on disposal of fixed assets |
135 |
76 |
|
|
Loss on sublease liability |
- |
384 |
|
|
Deferred income taxes |
2,679 |
2,064 |
|
|
Changes in operating assets and liabilities: |
|
|
|
|
Accounts receivable |
(7,248) |
(8,958) |
|
|
Prepaid expenses and other assets |
(460) |
(1,637) |
|
|
Accounts payable |
301 |
195 |
|
|
Accrued liabilities |
194 |
107 |
|
|
Deferred revenue |
14,586 |
15,195 |
|
|
Deferred rent |
- |
(26) |
|
|
Net cash provided by operating activities |
$34,863 |
$28,697 |
|
|
Cash flows from investing activities: |
|||
|
Acquisition, net of cash acquired – TazWorks, LLC |
- |
(85,646) |
|
|
Capitalized software additions |
(1,522) |
(804) |
|
|
Purchases of property and equipment |
(419) |
(245) |
|
|
Net cash used in investing activities |
1,941 |
86,695 |
|
|
Cash flows from financing activities: |
|
|
|
|
Repurchases of Class A Units |
- |
(54) |
|
|
Repurchases of Class B Units |
- |
(1,887) |
|
|
Proceeds from exercise of stock options |
179 |
- |
|
|
Proceeds from long-term debt |
- |
100,000 |
|
|
Principal payments of long-term debt |
- |
(1,295) |
|
|
Payments of debt issuance costs |
- |
(1,970) |
|
|
Payments of Class A cumulative preferred return |
- |
(12) |
|
|
Payments of deferred offering costs |
- |
(1,013) |
|
|
Net cash provided by financing activities |
179 |
93,769 |
|
|
Net increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash |
33,101 |
35,771 |
|
|
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period |
113,645 |
39,881 |
|
|
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period |
$146,746 |
$75,652 |
|
|
Reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash |
|||
|
Cash and cash equivalents |
$146,746 |
$73,510 |
|
|
Restricted cash |
- |
$2,142 |
|
|
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash |
$146,746 |
$75,652 |
|
|
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information: |
|||
|
Cash paid for interest |
$ 3,869 |
8,973 |
|
|
Cash paid for income taxes |
44 |
11 |
|
|
Non-cash investing and financing activities: |
|||
|
Initial recognition of operating lease liability |
$ 3,372 |
- |
|
|
Initial recognition of operating lease right-of-use asset |
2,627 |
- |
|
|
Share-based compensation expense capitalized to software additions |
79 |
- |
|
|
Vesting of restricted stock awards and RSUs |
32 |
- |
|
|
Purchases of property and equipment included in accounts payable and accrued expenses |
- |
13 |
|
|
Deferred offering costs included in accounts payable and accrued expenses |
- |
222 |
|
|
Vesting of Class B Units |
- |
38 |
|
|
Reconciliation from GAAP to Non-GAAP Results |
||||
|
|
||||
|
Three months ended March 31, |
||||
|
2022 |
|
2021 |
|
|
|
Operating Income |
$14,594 |
$19,405 |
||
|
Add: Share-based compensation expense |
3,808 |
643 |
||
|
Add: Employer payroll taxes on employee stock transactions |
145 |
– |
||
|
Add: sponsor and third-party acquisition related costs |
2,288 |
1,373 |
||
|
Non-GAAP operating income |
$ 20,835 |
21,421 |
||
|
Non-GAAP operating margin |
29% |
32% |
||
|
|
||||
|
Three months ended March 31, |
||||
|
2022 |
|
2021 |
|
|
|
Net income |
$ 7,479 |
$ 7,231 |
||
|
Add: Share-based compensation expense |
3,808 |
643 |
||
|
Add: Employer payroll taxes on employee stock transactions |
145 |
– |
||
|
Add: Sponsor and third-party acquisition related costs |
2,288 |
1,373 |
||
|
Non-GAAP net income |
$ 13,720 |
$ 9,247 |
||
|
Non-GAAP basic net income per share |
0.17 |
0.18 | ||
|
Non-GAAP diluted net income per share |
0.17 |
|
0.17 | |
|
Weighted average shares used to compute Non-GAAP basic net income per share |
79,974,071 |
51,551,231 |
||
|
Weighted average shares used to compute Non-GAAP diluted net income per share |
82,228,936 |
|
54,238,306 |
|
|
Non-GAAP net income margin |
19% |
14% |
||
|
|
||||
|
Three months ended March 31, |
||||
|
2022 |
|
2021 |
|
|
|
Net income |
$7,479 |
$7,231 |
||
|
Interest expense |
4,358 |
10,062 |
||
|
Taxes |
2,920 |
2,132 | ||
|
Depreciation and amortization |
12,905 |
12,351 |
||
|
Share-based compensation expense |
3,808 |
643 |
||
|
Employer payroll taxes on employee stock transactions |
145 |
– |
||
|
Expenses associated with IPO |
– |
194 |
||
|
Sponsor and third-party acquisition related costs |
2,288 |
1,373 |
||
|
Deferred revenue reduction from purchase accounting |
62 |
324 |
||
|
Adjusted EBITDA |
$33,965 |
$34,310 |
||
|
Adjusted EBITDA Margin |
47% |
51% |
||
|
|
||||
|
Three months ended March 31, |
||||
|
2022 |
|
2021 |
|
|
|
Cost of revenue |
$24,538 |
$19,476 |
||
|
Less: Share-based compensation expense |
965 |
72 |
||
|
Less: Employer payroll taxes on employee stock transactions |
54 |
– |
||
|
Less: Amortization of developed technology |
3,434 |
2,862 |
||
|
Non-GAAP cost of revenue |
20,085 |
16,542 |
||
|
As a % of revenue |
28% |
24% |
||
|
|
||||
|
Three months ended March 31, |
||||
|
2022 |
|
2021 |
|
|
|
General & administrative |
$ 18,187 |
$ 17,595 |
||
|
Less: Share-based compensation expense |
1,381 |
353 |
||
|
Less: Employer payroll taxes on employee stock transactions |
32 |
– |
||
|
Less: depreciation expense |
561 |
583 |
||
|
Less: amortization of intangibles |
8,910 |
8,906 |
||
|
Non-GAAP general & administrative |
7,303 |
7,753 | ||
|
As a % of revenue |
10% |
11% |
||
|
|
||||
|
Three months ended March 31, |
||||
|
2022 |
|
2021 |
|
|
|
Research and development |
$8,409 |
$6,986 |
||
|
Less: share-based compensation expense |
1,077 |
82 |
||
|
Less: Employer payroll taxes on employee stock transactions |
40 |
– |
||
|
Non-GAAP research and development |
7,292 |
6,904 |
||
|
As a % of revenue |
10% |
10% |
||
|
Three months ended March 31, |
||||
|
2022 |
|
2021 |
|
|
|
Sales and marketing |
$4,743 |
3,599 | ||
|
Less: share-based compensation expense |
385 |
136 |
||
|
Less: Employer payroll taxes on employee stock transactions |
19 |
– |
||
|
Non-GAAP sales and marketing |
4,339 |
3,463 |
||
|
As a % of revenue |
6% |
5% |
||
|
Three months ended March 31, |
||||
|
2022 |
|
2021 |
|
|
|
Net cash provided by operating activities |
$34,863 |
$28,697 |
||
|
Less: Capital expenditures |
419 |
245 |
||
|
Less: Capitalized software |
1,522 |
804 |
||
|
Free cash flow |
$32,922 |
$27,648 |
||
