• Stride Posts Another Record Quarter

    Source: Nasdaq GlobeNewswire / 23 Apr 2024 16:15:00   America/New_York

    RESTON, Va., April 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Stride, Inc. (NYSE: LRN), one of the nation’s leading technology-based education companies, today announced its results for the third fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2024.

    Third Quarter Fiscal 2024 Highlights Compared to 2023

    • Revenue of $520.8 million, compared with $470.3 million, driven by continued strong enrollment trends.
    • Income from operations of $88.3 million, compared with $72.2 million.
    • Net income of $69.7 million, compared with $55.5 million.
    • Diluted net income per share of $1.60 compared with $1.30.
    • Adjusted operating income of $96.4 million, compared with $80.2 million. (1)
    • Adjusted EBITDA of $120.5 million, compared with $103.9 million. (1)

    Third Quarter Fiscal 2024 Summary Financial Metrics

     Three Months Ended March 31, Change 2024/2023 
     2024    2023  $ % 
     (In thousands, except percentages and per share data) 
    Revenues$520,837 $470,284 $50,553 10.7% 
                
    Income from operations 88,313  72,199  16,114 22.3% 
    Adjusted operating income (1) 96,410  80,224  16,186 20.2% 
                
    Net income 69,687  55,462  14,225 25.6% 
    Net income per share, diluted 1.60  1.30  0.30 23.1% 
                
    EBITDA (1) 115,297  99,141  16,156 16.3% 
    Adjusted EBITDA (1) 120,547  103,886  16,661 16.0% 
                

    (1)   To supplement our financial statements presented in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), we also present non-GAAP financial measures including adjusted operating income (loss), EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA. Management believes that these additional metrics provide useful information to investors relating to our financial performance. A reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures is provided below.

    Nine Month Fiscal 2024 Highlights Compared to 2023

    • Revenue of $1,505.9 million, compared with $1,353.9 million.
    • Income from operations of $175.9 million, compared with $111.6 million.
    • Net income of $141.4 million, compared with $83.5 million.
    • Diluted net income per share of $3.26, compared with $1.96.
    • Adjusted operating income of $206.0 million, compared with $136.6 million. (1)
    • Adjusted EBITDA of $278.7 million, compared with $207.4 million. (1)

    Nine Month Fiscal 2024 Summary Financial Metrics

     Nine Months Ended March 31, Change 2024/2023 
     2024    2023  $ % 
     (In thousands, except percentages and per share data) 
    Revenues$1,505,886  1,353,869  152,017 11.2% 
                
    Income from operations 175,922  111,553  64,369 57.7% 
    Adjusted operating income (1) 206,044  136,597  69,447 50.8% 
                
    Net income 141,401  83,495  57,906 69.4% 
    Net income per share, diluted 3.26  1.96  1.30 66.3% 
                
    EBITDA (1) 257,386  192,209  65,177 33.9% 
    Adjusted EBITDA (1) 278,658  207,405  71,253 34.4% 
                

    (1)   To supplement our financial statements presented in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), we also present non-GAAP financial measures including adjusted operating income (loss), EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA. Management believes that these additional metrics provide useful information to investors relating to our financial performance. A reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures is provided below.

    Revenue and Enrollment Data

    Revenue

    The following table sets forth the Company’s revenues for the periods indicated:

      Three Months Ended       Nine Months Ended      
      March 31,  Change 2024 / 2023 March 31, Change 2024 / 2023
       2024  2023  $  % 2024  2023  $  %
      (In thousands, except percentages)
                           
    General Education $328,894 $289,566 $39,328  13.6% $942,135 $835,989 $106,146  12.7%
    Career Learning                      
    Middle - High School  167,919  150,772  17,147  11.4%  483,972  430,101  53,871  12.5%
    Adult  24,024  29,946  (5,922) (19.8%)  79,779  87,779  (8,000) (9.1%)
    Total Career Learning  191,943  180,718  11,225  6.2%  563,751  517,880  45,871  8.9%
    Total Revenues $520,837 $470,284 $50,553  10.7% $1,505,886 $1,353,869 $152,017  11.2%
                           


    Enrollment Data
    1

    The following table sets forth enrollment data for students in our General Education and Career Learning lines of revenue. Enrollments for General Education and Career Learning only include those students in full service public or private programs where Stride provides a combination of curriculum, technology, instructional and support services inclusive of administrative support.

      Three Months Ended  Change Nine Months Ended  Change 
      March 31, 2024 / 2023 March 31, 2024 / 2023 
       2024  2023  #  %  2024  2023  #  % 
      (In thousands, except percentages) 
                            
    General Education (2)  124.6  114.6  10.0 8.7%  121.9  112.8  9.1 8.1% 
    Career Learning (2)(3)  73.8  67.2  6.6 9.8%  72.7  66.0  6.7 10.2% 
    Average Enrollment  198.4  181.8  16.6 9.1%  194.6  178.8  15.8 8.8% 
                            

    (1)   Enrollments are presented as the average monthly enrollments during the third quarter fiscal year 2024.
    (2)   This data includes enrollments for which Stride receives no public funding or revenue.
    (3)   No enrollments are included in Career Learning for the Adult Learning offerings.


    Revenue per Enrollment Data

    The following table sets forth revenue per average enrollment data for students for the period indicated. If the mix of enrollments changes, our revenues will be impacted to the extent the average revenues per enrollments are significantly different.

      Three Months Ended  Change Nine Months Ended  Change
      March 31, 2024 / 2023 March 31, 2024 / 2023
       2024  2023  $  %  2024  2023  $  %
                           
    General Education $2,507 $2,332 $175 7.5% $7,298 $6,823 $475 7.0%
    Career Learning  2,272  2,237  35 1.6%  6,652  6,500  152 2.3%
                           


    Cash Flow and Capital Allocation

    As of March 31, 2024, the Company’s cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities totaled $570.7 million, compared with $545.5 million reported at June 30, 2023.

    Capital expenditures for three months ended March 31, 2024 were $16.3 million, compared to $15.2 million in the third quarter of fiscal year 2023, and were comprised of ($0.2) million of property and equipment, $11.7 million of capitalized software development and $4.8 million of capitalized curriculum development.

    Fiscal Year 2024 Outlook

    The Company is raising its adjusted operating and tightening its revenue forecast for the full year fiscal 2024:

    • Revenue in the range of $2.025 billion to $2.040 billion.
    • Capital expenditures in the range of $60 million to $65 million. Note that capital expenditures include the purchase of property and equipment, and capitalized software, and curriculum development costs as defined on our Statement of Cash Flows.
    • Effective tax rate of 24% to 26%.
    • Adjusted operating income in the range of $280 million to $290 million. (1)

    Conference Call

    The Company will discuss its third quarter fiscal year 2024 financial results during a conference call scheduled for Tuesday, April 23, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. eastern time (ET).

    A live webcast of the call will be available at https://events.q4inc.com/attendee/945956563. To participate in the live call, investors and analysts should dial (800) 715-9871 (domestic) or +1 (646) 307-1963 (international) and provide the conference ID number 8901384. Please access the website at least 15 minutes prior to the start of the call.

    A replay of the call will be posted at https://events.q4inc.com/attendee/945956563 as soon as it is available.

    About Stride Inc.

    At Stride, Inc. (NYSE: LRN), we are reimagining learning—where learning is lifelong, deeply personal, and prepares learners for tomorrow. The company has transformed millions of people’s teaching and learning experiences by providing innovative, high-quality, tech-enabled education solutions, curriculum, and programs directly to students, schools, the military, and enterprises in primary, secondary, and postsecondary settings. Through K12, Stride is a premier provider of K-12 education for students, schools, and districts, including career learning services through middle and high school curriculum. For adult learners, Stride delivers professional skills training in healthcare and technology, as well as staffing and talent development for Fortune 500 companies. Stride has delivered millions of courses over the past decade and serves learners in all 50 states and more than 100 countries. More information can be found at stridelearning.com.

    Investor Contact
    Timothy Casey
    Vice President, Investor Relations
    Stride, Inc.
    tcasey@k12.com

    Special Note on Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this press release are forward-looking statements. We have tried, whenever possible, to identify these forward-looking statements using words such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “continues,” “likely,” “may,” “opportunity,” “potential,” “projects,” “will,” “will be,”expects,” “plans,” “intends” and similar expressions to identify forward looking statements, whether in the negative or the affirmative. These statements reflect our current beliefs and are based upon information currently available to us. Accordingly, such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which could cause our actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, such statements. These risks, uncertainties, factors and contingencies include, but are not limited to: reduction of per pupil funding amounts at the schools we serve; inability to achieve a sufficient level of new enrollments to sustain our business model; limitations of the enrollment data we present, which may not fully capture trends in the performance of our business; failure to enter into new school contracts or renew existing contracts, in part or in their entirety; failure of the schools we serve or us to comply with federal, state and local regulations, resulting in a loss of funding, an obligation to repay funds previously received, or contractual remedies; governmental investigations that could result in fines, penalties, settlements, or injunctive relief; declines or variations in academic performance outcomes of the students and schools we serve as curriculum standards, testing programs and state accountability metrics evolve; harm to our reputation resulting from poor performance or misconduct by operators or us in any school in our industry and/or in any school in which we operate; legal and regulatory challenges from opponents of virtual public education or for-profit education companies; changes in national and local economic and business conditions and other factors, such as natural disasters, pandemics and outbreaks of contagious diseases and other adverse public health developments; discrepancies in interpretation of legislation by regulatory agencies that may lead to payment or funding disputes; termination of our contracts, or a reduction in the scope of services, with schools; failure to develop the Career Learning business; entry of new competitors with superior technologies and lower prices; unsuccessful integration of mergers, acquisitions and joint ventures; failure to further develop, maintain and enhance our technology, products, services and brands; inadequate recruiting, training and retention of effective teachers and employees; infringement of our intellectual property; disruptions to our Internet-based learning and delivery systems, including, but not limited to, our data storage systems and third-party cloud facilities, resulting from cybersecurity attacks; misuse or unauthorized disclosure of student and personal data; and failure to prevent or mitigate a cybersecurity incident that affects our systems; and other risks and uncertainties associated with our business described in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Although the Company believes the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, it can give no assurance that the expectations will be attained or that any deviation will not be material. All information in this press release is as of today’s date, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to conform the statement to actual results or changes in the Company’s expectations.

    Financial Statements

    The financial statements set forth below are not the complete set of Stride, Inc.’s financial statements for the three and nine months ended March 31, 2024 and are presented below without footnotes. Readers are encouraged to obtain and carefully review Stride Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2024, including all financial statements contained therein and the footnotes thereto, filed with the SEC, which may be retrieved from the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov or from Stride Inc.’s website at www.stridelearning.com.


    STRIDE, INC.
    UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
      Three Months Ended  Nine Months Ended
      March 31, March 31,
         2024    2023    2024    2023
      (In thousands except share and per share data)
    Revenues  $520,837  $470,284  $1,505,886  $1,353,869 
    Instructional costs and services  319,508   295,032   930,495   878,880 
    Gross margin  201,329   175,252   575,391   474,989 
    Selling, general, and administrative expenses  113,016   103,053   399,469   363,436 
    Income from operations   88,313   72,199   175,922   111,553 
    Interest expense, net  (2,404)  (2,206)  (6,494)  (6,334)
    Other income, net  7,678   4,587   19,381   9,594 
    Income before income taxes and income (loss) from equity method investments  93,587   74,580   188,809   114,813 
    Income tax expense  (24,657)  (19,525)  (48,383)  (30,878)
    Income (loss) from equity method investments  757   407   975   (440)
    Net income attributable to common stockholders $69,687  $55,462  $141,401  $83,495 
    Net income attributable to common stockholders per share:            
    Basic $1.63  $1.31  $3.32  $1.98 
    Diluted $1.60  $1.30  $3.26  $1.96 
    Weighted average shares used in computing per share amounts:            
    Basic  42,684,561   42,375,480   42,581,869   42,237,056 
    Diluted  43,655,841   42,714,090   43,389,903   42,652,223 
                 



    STRIDE, INC.
    UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
      March 31,  June 30,
         2024    2023
         (audited)
      (In thousands except share and per share data)
    ASSETS      
    Current assets      
    Cash and cash equivalents $376,577  $410,807 
    Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $34,852 and $30,031  577,792   463,722 
    Inventories, net  21,038   36,716 
    Prepaid expenses  40,127   24,817 
    Other current assets  193,547   129,137 
    Total current assets   1,209,081   1,065,199 
    Operating lease right-of-use assets, net  57,725   69,508 
    Property and equipment, net  57,213   52,332 
    Capitalized software, net  83,320   83,465 
    Capitalized curriculum development costs, net  51,451   50,787 
    Intangible assets, net  64,668   74,771 
    Goodwill  246,676   246,676 
    Deferred tax asset  14,773   8,776 
    Deposits and other assets  107,306   109,152 
    Total assets  $1,892,213  $1,760,666 
    LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY      
    Current liabilities      
    Accounts payable $37,156  $48,854 
    Accrued liabilities  67,671   76,626 
    Accrued compensation and benefits  62,383   57,426 
    Deferred revenue  70,907   76,159 
    Current portion of finance lease liability  30,991   35,621 
    Current portion of operating lease liability  12,853   14,449 
    Total current liabilities   281,961   309,135 
    Long-term finance lease liability  29,920   21,278 
    Long-term operating lease liability  48,418   59,425 
    Long-term debt  414,271   413,035 
    Other long-term liabilities  14,436   10,497 
    Total liabilities   789,006   813,370 
    Commitments and contingencies      
    Stockholders’ equity      
    Preferred stock, par value $0.0001; 10,000,000 shares authorized; zero shares issued or outstanding      
    Common stock, par value $0.0001; 100,000,000 shares authorized; 48,586,413 and 48,339,048 shares issued; and 43,251,670 and 43,004,305 shares outstanding, respectively  4   4 
    Additional paid-in capital  709,997   695,480 
    Accumulated other comprehensive loss  (42)  (35)
    Retained earnings  495,730   354,329 
    Treasury stock of 5,334,743 shares at cost  (102,482)  (102,482)
    Total stockholders’ equity   1,103,207   947,296 
    Total liabilities and stockholders' equity  $1,892,213  $1,760,666 
           



    STRIDE, INC.
    UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
      Nine Months Ended
      March 31,
         2024    2023
      (In thousands)
    Cash flows from operating activities      
    Net income $141,401  $83,495 
    Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:      
    Depreciation and amortization expense  81,464   80,656 
    Stock-based compensation expense  21,272   15,196 
    Deferred income taxes  (4,629)  2,982 
    Provision for credit losses  18,895   5,939 
    Amortization of fees on debt  1,236   1,200 
    Noncash operating lease expense  11,055   11,039 
    Other  1,444   (2,015)
    Changes in assets and liabilities:      
    Accounts receivable  (133,144)  (61,949)
    Inventories, prepaid expenses, deposits and other current and long-term assets  (2,763)  (9,966)
    Accounts payable  (11,585)  (26,101)
    Accrued liabilities  (9,875)  (6,455)
    Accrued compensation and benefits  4,834   (19,130)
    Operating lease liability  (11,695)  (8,602)
    Deferred revenue and other liabilities  (1,315)  39,931 
    Net cash provided by operating activities   106,595   106,220 
    Cash flows from investing activities      
    Purchase of property and equipment  (1,500)  (3,579)
    Capitalized software development costs  (30,130)  (32,574)
    Capitalized curriculum development costs  (13,534)  (12,798)
    Sale of other investments     60 
    Acquisition of assets     (1,409)
    Other acquisitions, loans and investments, net of distributions  (693)  (1,377)
    Proceeds from the maturity of marketable securities  107,020   66,204 
    Purchases of marketable securities  (162,179)  (85,289)
    Net cash used in investing activities   (101,016)  (70,762)
    Cash flows from financing activities      
    Repayments on finance lease obligations  (32,212)  (31,238)
    Payments of contingent consideration     (7,024)
    Proceeds from exercise of stock options     20 
    Repurchase of restricted stock for income tax withholding  (7,597)  (12,936)
    Net cash used in financing activities   (39,809)  (51,178)
    Net change in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash  (34,230)  (15,720)
    Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period  410,807   389,398 
    Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period $376,577  $373,678 
           


    Non-GAAP Financial Measures

    To supplement our financial statements presented in accordance with GAAP, we have presented adjusted operating income (loss), EBITDA, and adjusted EBITDA, which are not presented in accordance with GAAP.

    • Adjusted operating income (loss) is defined as income (loss) from operations as adjusted for stock-based compensation and the amortization of intangible assets.
    • EBITDA is defined as income (loss) from operations as adjusted for depreciation and amortization.
    • Adjusted EBITDA is defined as income (loss) from operations as adjusted for stock-based compensation and depreciation and amortization.
    • Adjusted EBITDA and adjusted operating income (loss) exclude stock-based compensation, which consists of expenses for stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units, and performance stock units.

    Management believes that the presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures provides useful information to investors relating to our financial performance. Adjusted operating income (loss) and Adjusted EBITDA remove stock-based compensation, which is a non-cash charge that varies based on market volatility and the terms and conditions of the awards. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA remove depreciation and amortization, which can vary depending upon accounting methods and the book value of assets. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA provide a measure of corporate performance exclusive of capital structure and the method by which assets were acquired.

    Our management uses these non-GAAP financial measures:

    • as additional measures of operating performance because they assist us in comparing our performance on a consistent basis; and
    • in presentations to the members of our Board of Directors to enable our Board to review the same measures used by management to compare our current operating results with corresponding prior periods.

    Other companies may define these non-GAAP financial measures differently and, as a result, our use of these non-GAAP financial measures may not be directly comparable to similar non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies. Although we use these non-GAAP financial measures to assess the performance of our business, the use of non-GAAP financial measures is limited as they include and/or do not include certain items not included and/or included in the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure.

    These non-GAAP financial measures should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for, revenues, income (loss) from operations, net income (loss) and net income (loss) per share or other related financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP. Adjusted EBITDA is not intended to be a measure of liquidity. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these non-GAAP financial measures.

    A reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures is provided below.


    Third Quarter and Nine Months Fiscal Year 2024

    Reconciliation of Income from Operations to Adjusted Operating Income

     Three Months Ended  Nine Months Ended
     March 31, March 31,
     2024 2023 2024 2023
     (In thousands)
    Income from operations$88,313 $72,199 $175,922 $111,553
    Amortization of intangible assets 2,847  3,280  8,850  9,848
    Stock-based compensation expense 5,250  4,745  21,272  15,196
    Adjusted operating income 96,410  80,224  206,044  136,597
            


    Reconciliation of Net Income to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA

             
     Three Months Ended March 31,  Nine Months Ended March 31,  
      2024   2023   2024   2023  
     (In thousands) 
    Net income$69,687  $55,462  $141,401  $83,495  
    Interest expense, net 2,404   2,206   6,494   6,334  
    Other income, net (7,678)  (4,587)  (19,381)  (9,594) 
    Income tax expense 24,657   19,525   48,383   30,878  
    (Income) loss from equity method investments (757)  (407)  (975)  440  
    Depreciation and amortization 26,984   26,942   81,464   80,656  
    EBITDA 115,297   99,141   257,386   192,209  
    Stock-based compensation expense 5,250   4,745   21,272   15,196  
    Adjusted EBITDA$120,547  $103,886  $278,658  $207,405  
             


    Fiscal Year 2024 Outlook

    Reconciliation of Income from Operations to Adjusted Operating Income (unaudited)

     Year Ended June 30, 2024
     Low High
     (In millions)
    Income from operations$240.5 $247.0
    Stock-based compensation expense 28.0  31.0
    Amortization of intangible assets 11.5  12.0
    Adjusted operating income$280.0 $290.0
        

     


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