• DLH Reports Fiscal 2024 First Quarter Results

    Source: Nasdaq GlobeNewswire / 31 Jan 2024 16:15:00   America/New_York

    ATLANTA, Jan. 31, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- DLH Holdings Corp. (NASDAQ: DLHC) (“DLH” or the “Company”), a leading provider of science research and development, systems engineering and integration, and digital transformation and cyber security solutions to federal agencies, today announced financial results for its fiscal first quarter ended December 31, 2023.

    First Quarter Highlights

    • First quarter revenue was $97.9 million in fiscal 2024 versus $72.7 million in fiscal 2023, reflecting the impact from the Company's December 2022 acquisition.
    • Earnings were $2.2 million, or $0.15 per diluted share, for the fiscal 2024 first quarter versus $1.5 million, or $0.11 per diluted share, for the first quarter of fiscal 2023, reflecting higher income from operations offset by increased interest expense
    • Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization ("EBITDA") were $11.1 million for the fiscal 2024 first quarter as compared to $6.3 million in the fiscal 2023 first quarter.
    • Total debt at the end of the first quarter was $174.4 million compared to $179.4 million at the end of the fiscal 2023 fourth quarter, reflecting $5 million of voluntary prepayments during the quarter.
    • Contract backlog was $653.5 million as of December 31, 2023, versus $704.8 million at the end of the fiscal 2023 fourth quarter.

    Management Discussion

    "Even with the government operating under a Continuing Resolution for a prolonged period of time, DLH has successfully navigated this period of uncertainty with a high degree of customer satisfaction and solid underlying results," said Zach Parker, DLH President and Chief Executive Officer. "Revenue rose year-over-year, reflecting our strategic acquisition, while we bid on numerous new opportunities enabled by our robust technology platform. Slower-than-expected release of bidding opportunities and decisions on contract awards across multiple fronts is clearly a challenge, but we remain focused on targeting as many avenues for growth acceleration as possible within our target markets. We believe award momentum should build throughout this fiscal year, and our innovative solutions and services are expected to benefit from wide bipartisan support. In the meantime, we continue to pay down our outstanding debt using our strong cash generation. As we face some headwinds in the award environment, we are resolute in our efforts to capitalize on the exceptional performance of our employees, our technology-enabled platforms, and our robust capabilities to expand and grow our contract portfolio."

    Results for the Three Months Ended December 31, 2023

    Revenue for the first quarter of fiscal 2024 was $97.9 million versus $72.7 million in fiscal 2023, with the year-over-year increase largely from the December 2022 acquisition. The decrease in revenue from the fiscal 2023 fourth quarter is primarily due to the seasonal decrease in billable hours as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2023.

    Income from operations was $6.8 million versus $3.9 million in the fiscal 2023 first quarter and, as a percentage of revenue, the Company reported operating margin of 7.0% in fiscal 2024 first quarter versus 5.4% in the prior-year period.

    Interest expense was $4.7 million in the fiscal first quarter of 2024 versus $1.8 million in the prior-year period, reflecting higher debt outstanding due to acquisition activity and increased market interest rates. Income before income taxes was $2.2 million for the first quarter this year versus $2.1 million in fiscal 2023, representing 2.2% and 2.9% of revenue, respectively, for each period.

    For the three months ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, DLH recorded a $0.01 million and $0.5 million provision for income tax expense, respectively. The Company reported net income of approximately $2.2 million, or $0.15 per diluted share, for the first quarter of fiscal 2024 versus $1.5 million, or $0.11 per diluted share, for the first quarter of fiscal 2023. As a percentage of revenue for the first quarter of fiscal 2024 and 2023, net income was 2.2% and 2.1%, respectively, reflecting higher income from operations, offset by increased interest expense.

    On a non-GAAP basis, EBITDA for the three months ended December 31, 2023, was approximately $11.1 million versus $6.3 million in the prior-year period, or 11.3% and 8.7% of revenue, respectively, reflecting principally the impact of the December 2022 acquisition and the increased operating leverage on general and administrative expenses.

    Key Financial Indicators

    During the first quarter of fiscal 2024, DLH generated $5.1 million in operating cash. As of December 31, 2023, the Company had cash of $0.1 million and debt outstanding under its credit facilities of $174.4 million versus cash of $0.2 million and debt outstanding of $179.4 million as of September 30, 2023. The Company expects to reduce its total debt balance to between $157.0 million and $153.0 million by the end of fiscal 2024.

    As of December 31, 2023, total backlog was approximately $653.5 million, including funded backlog of approximately $132.3 million and unfunded backlog of $521.2 million.

    Conference Call and Webcast Details

    DLH management will discuss first quarter results and provide a general business update, including current competitive conditions and strategies, during a conference call beginning at 10:00 AM Eastern Time tomorrow, February 1, 2024. Interested parties may listen to the conference call by dialing 888-347-5290 or 412-317-5256.   Presentation materials will also be posted on the Investor Relations section of the DLH website prior to the commencement of the conference call.     

    A digital recording of the conference call will be available for replay two hours after the completion of the call and can be accessed on the DLH Investor Relations website or by dialing 877-344-7529 and entering the conference ID 1843140.

    About DLH

    DLH (NASDAQ: DLHC) enhances technology, public health, and cyber security readiness missions through science, technology, cyber, and engineering solutions and services. Our experts solve some of the most complex and critical missions faced by federal customers, leveraging digital transformation, artificial intelligence, advanced analytics, cloud-based applications, telehealth systems, and more. With over 3,200 employees dedicated to the idea that “Your Mission is Our Passion,” DLH brings a unique combination of government sector experience, proven methodology, and unwavering commitment to innovative solutions to improve the lives of millions. For more information, visit www.DLHcorp.com

    Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995:

    This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements relate to future events or DLH`s future financial performance. Any statements that refer to expectations, projections or other characterizations of future events or circumstances or that are not statements of historical fact (including without limitation statements to the effect that the Company or its management “believes”, “expects”, “anticipates”, “plans”, “intends” and similar expressions) should be considered forward looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or DLH’s actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this release include, among others, statements regarding estimates of future revenues, operating income, earnings and cash flow. These statements reflect our belief and assumptions as to future events that may not prove to be accurate. Our actual results may differ materially from such forward-looking statements made in this release due to a variety of factors, including: the risk that we will not realize the anticipated benefits of acquisitions (including anticipated future financial performance and results); the diversion of management’s attention from normal daily operations of the business and the challenges of managing larger and more widespread operations; the inability to retain employees and customers; contract awards in connection with re-competes for present business and/or competition for new business; our ability to manage our debt obligations; compliance with bank financial and other covenants; changes in client budgetary priorities; government contract procurement (such as bid and award protests, small business set asides, loss of work due to organizational conflicts of interest, etc.) and termination risks; the impact of inflation and higher interest rates; and other risks described in our SEC filings. For a discussion of such risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see “Risk Factors” in the Company’s periodic reports filed with the SEC, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2023, as well as subsequent reports filed thereafter. The forward-looking statements contained herein are not historical facts, but rather are based on current expectations, estimates, assumptions and projections about our industry and business.

    Such forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and may become outdated over time. The Company does not assume any responsibility for updating forward-looking statements, except as may be required by law.

    CONTACTS:

    INVESTOR RELATIONS
    Contact: Chris Witty
    Phone: 646-438-9385
    Email: cwitty@darrowir.com

    TABLES TO FOLLOW
    DLH HOLDINGS CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
    CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
    (Amounts in thousands except per share amounts)

         
      Three Months Ended
      December 31,
      2023 2022
    Revenue $97,850 $72,738
    Cost of operations:    
    Contract costs  79,081  57,256
    General and administrative costs  7,697  7,424
    Corporate development costs    1,735
    Depreciation and amortization  4,253  2,402
    Total operating costs  91,031  68,817
    Income from operations  6,819  3,921
    Interest expense  4,658  1,830
    Income before provision for income taxes  2,161  2,091
    Provision for income tax expense  10  544
    Net income $2,151 $1,547
         
    Net income per share - basic $0.15 $0.12
    Net income per share - diluted $0.15 $0.11
         
    Weighted average common stock outstanding    
    Basic  14,032  13,306
    Diluted  14,796  14,276
           

    DLH HOLDINGS CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
    CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
    (Amounts in thousands except par value of shares)

         
      December 31, 2023 September 30, 2023
    ASSETS    
    Current assets:    
    Cash $131 $215
    Accounts receivable  55,577  59,119
    Other current assets  2,916  3,067
    Total current assets  58,624  62,401
    Goodwill  138,161  138,161
    Intangible assets, net  120,663  124,777
    Operating lease right-of-use assets  8,996  9,656
    Deferred taxes, net  3,076  3,070
    Equipment and improvements, net  1,625  1,590
    Other long-term assets  185  186
    Total assets $331,330 $339,841
    LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY    
    Current liabilities:    
    Accounts payable and accrued liabilities $22,307 $29,704
    Debt obligations - current, net of deferred financing costs  16,130  17,188
    Accrued payroll  15,703  13,794
    Operating lease liabilities - current  3,353  3,463
    Other current liabilities  564  638
    Total current liabilities  58,057  64,787
    Long-term liabilities:    
    Debt obligations - long-term, net of deferred financing costs  151,870  155,147
    Operating lease liabilities - long-term  15,042  15,908
    Other long-term liabilities  1,559  1,560
    Total long-term liabilities  168,471  172,615
    Total liabilities  226,528  237,402
    Shareholders' equity:    
    Common stock, $0.001 par value; 40,000 shares authorized; 14,105 and 13,950 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2023 and September 30, 2023, respectively  14  14
    Additional paid-in capital  100,186  99,974
    Retained earnings  4,602  2,451
    Total shareholders’ equity  104,802  102,439
    Total liabilities and shareholders' equity $331,330 $339,841
           

    DLH HOLDINGS CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
    CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
    (Amounts in thousands) 

      Three Months Ended
      December 31,
       2023   2022 
    Operating activities    
    Net income $2,151  $1,547 
    Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:    
    Depreciation and amortization  4,253   2,402 
    Amortization of deferred financing costs charged to interest expense  642   276 
    Stock-based compensation expense  620   552 
    Deferred taxes, net  (6)  (13)
    Changes in operating assets and liabilities    
    Accounts receivable  3,542   780 
    Other assets  510   994 
    Accounts payable and accrued liabilities  (7,397)  1,075 
    Accrued payroll  1,909   347 
    Other liabilities  (1,153)  13 
        Net cash provided by operating activities  5,071   7,973 
    Investing activities    
    Business acquisition, net of cash acquired     (179,958)
    Purchase of equipment and improvements  (174)  (384)
        Net cash used in investing activities  (174)  (180,342)
    Financing activities    
    Proceeds from revolving line of credit  69,831    
    Repayment of revolving line of credit  (64,026)   
    Proceeds from debt obligations     200,703 
    Repayments of debt obligations  (10,378)  (19,327)
    Payments of deferred financing costs     (7,221)
    Proceeds from issuance of common stock upon exercise of options and warrants  261    
    Payment of tax obligations resulting from net exercise of stock options  (669)  (650)
        Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities  (4,981)  173,505 
    Net change in cash  (84)  1,136 
    Cash - beginning of year  215   228 
    Cash - end of year $131  $1,364 
    Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information    
    Cash paid during the year for interest $3,972  $339 
    Cash paid during the year for income taxes $  $5 
    Supplemental disclosures of non-cash activity    
    Common stock surrendered for the exercise of stock options $244  $238 
             

    Non-GAAP Financial Measures

    The Company uses EBITDA and EBITDA as a percent of revenue as supplemental non-GAAP measures of performance. We define EBITDA as net income excluding (i) interest expense, (ii) Provision for income tax expense and (iii) depreciation and amortization. EBITDA as a percent of revenue is EBITDA for the measurement period divided by revenue for the same period.

    These non-GAAP measures of performance are used by management to conduct and evaluate its business during its review of operating results for the periods presented. Management and the Company's Board utilize these non-GAAP measures to make decisions about the use of the Company's resources, analyze performance between periods, develop internal projections and measure management performance. We believe that these non-GAAP measures are useful to investors in evaluating the Company's ongoing operating and financial results and understanding how such results compare with the Company's historical performance. EBITDA is not a recognized measurement under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, or GAAP, and when analyzing our performance investors should (i) evaluate adjustments in our reconciliation to the nearest GAAP financial measures and (ii) use non-GAAP measures in addition to, and not as an alternative to, measures of our operating results as defined under GAAP.

    Reconciliation of GAAP net income to EBITDA, a non-GAAP measure:        

      Three Months Ended
      December 31,
    (in thousands)  2023   2022  Change
    Net income $2,151  $1,547  $604 
    (i) Interest expense, net  4,658   1,830   2,828 
    (ii) Provision for income tax expense  10   544   (534)
    (iii) Depreciation and amortization  4,253   2,402   1,851 
    EBITDA $11,072  $6,323  $4,749 
           
    Net income as a % of revenue  2.2%  2.1%  0.1%
    EBITDA as a % of revenue  11.3%  8.7%  2.6%
    Revenue $97,850  $72,738  $25,112 


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