Edgewater Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2014 Results

2014 Service Revenue Up 14% to a Record $96.6 Million


WAKEFIELD, Mass., Feb. 25, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Edgewater Technology, Inc. (Nasdaq:EDGW), a leading consulting firm that brings a blend of classic and product-based consulting services to its clients, reported financial results for the fourth quarter and full year periods ended December 31, 2014.

Fourth Quarter 2014 Highlights

  • Service revenue increased 7% to $23.5 million;
  • Year-over-year service revenue grew across all offerings; and
  • Continued strong growth trend in Dynamics AX ERP service offering.

Fourth Quarter 2014 Financial Results vs. Same Year-Ago Quarter

  • Total revenue was $27.4 million compared to $26.8 million;
  • Service revenue was $23.5 million compared to $21.9 million;
  • Gross profit was $10.0 million, or 36.3% of total revenue, compared to $10.7 million, or 40.1% of total revenue;
  • Gross profit margin related to service revenue was 36.9% compared to 41.2%; 
  • Utilization was 73.9% compared to 73.7%;
  • Net income was $656,000, or $0.05 per diluted share, compared to net income of $32.4 million, or $2.55 per diluted share. The reported net income for the fourth quarter of 2013 included a $30.4 million tax benefit in connection with the reversal of a majority of the Company's valuation allowance against the carrying value of its deferred tax assets;
  • Adjusted EBITDA (a non-GAAP measure) was $1.8 million, or 6.4% of total revenue, and $0.13 per diluted share (see "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" below for further discussion of this non-GAAP term), compared to adjusted EBITDA of $2.7 million, or 10.1% of total revenue, and $0.21 per diluted share; and
  • Cash flow provided by operating activities was $380 thousand compared to $2.4 million.

Full Year 2014 Highlights

  • Service revenue increased 14% to a record $96.6 million;
  • Adjusted EBITDA increased 14% to $8.9 million;
  • Generated $5.8 million in operating cash flow; and
  • Repurchased 142,798 shares of common stock for an aggregate purchase price of $967,000, or $6.77 per share.

Full Year 2014 Financial Results vs. Same Year-Ago Period

  • Total revenue was $113.0 million compared to $103.6 million;
  • Service revenue was $96.6 million compared to $84.6 million;
  • Gross profit was $41.4 million, or 36.6% of total revenue, compared to $37.6 million, or 36.3% of total revenue;
  • Gross profit margin related to service revenue was 39.0% compared to 37.7%; 
  • Utilization was 76.7% compared to 72.4%;
  • Net income was $4.1 million, or $0.31 per diluted share, compared to net income of $34.7 million, or $2.88 per diluted share. The reported net income for the full year 2013 included a $30.4 million tax benefit in connection with the reversal of a majority of the Company's valuation allowance against the carrying value of its gross deferred tax assets;
  • Adjusted EBITDA was $9.0 million, or 7.9% of total revenue, and $0.68 per diluted share, compared to adjusted EBITDA of $7.9 million, or 7.6% of total revenue, and $0.65 per diluted share; and
  • Cash flow provided by operating activities was $5.8 million compared to $4.7 million.

Management Commentary

"During 2014, we indicated that we were striving for double-digit service revenue growth," said Shirley Singleton, Edgewater's chairman, president and CEO. "I am pleased to report a 14% year-over-year increase in full year service revenue and a meaningful increase in service gross margin.  The strong organic growth and the associated gross margin generated from this growth enabled us to offset the absence of the significant margin contribution that we generated in 2013 from the sale of internally generated intellectual property.

"Despite a challenging holiday season, fourth quarter service revenue increased 7% on a year-over-year basis, with our Dynamics AX ERP offering driving the lion's share of the growth. As highlighted during our third quarter earnings call, some of our customers did delay the start of newly signed projects.

"The project start delays, which occurred primarily in our EPM service offering, continued throughout January, creating a slow start in converting backlog into revenue in the early stages of the first quarter of 2015. Projects have now started and sales wins have been very strong, creating a nice uptick in our backlog. However, the timing of the projects starts has made it challenging to convert available backlog in to first quarter service revenue. Given this, we anticipate that service revenue will be flat sequentially and flat compared to the first quarter of 2014.

"Demand for our specialty services remains strong and we expect to continue to see organic growth in 2015. We will look to expand cloud-based services in our channels and as always, we remain open to tuck-in acquisitions that expand our base of specialty services."

Conference Call and Webcast Information

Edgewater has scheduled a conference call today (Wednesday, February 25, 2015) at 10:00 a.m. Eastern time to discuss its fourth quarter and full year 2014 financial results.

Date: Wednesday, February 25, 2015
Time: 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time
Dial-in number: 1-877-713-9347
Webcast: http://ir.edgewater.com/

Please call the conference telephone number 5-10 minutes prior to the start time. An operator will register your name and organization. If you have any difficulty connecting with the conference call, please contact Liolios Group at 1-949-574-3860.

A replay of the conference call can be accessed via Edgewater's investor relations web site at http://ir.edgewater.com/ or by dialing 1-404-537-3406 (Conference ID#: 70999244) after 1:00 p.m. Eastern time through March 11, 2015.

About Edgewater

Edgewater Technology, Inc. (Nasdaq:EDGW) is a strategic consulting firm delivering a blend of classic and product-based consulting services. Edgewater addresses the market both vertically by industry and horizontally by product and technology specialty, providing its client base with a wide range of business and technology solutions. As one of the largest IT consulting firms based in New England, the company works with clients to reduce costs, improve processes and increase revenue through the judicious use of technology. Edgewater's brand names include Edgewater Technology, Edgewater Ranzal and Edgewater Fullscope. To learn more, please visit www.edgewater.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This Press Release contains certain forward-looking statements 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, including statements concerning our expected first quarter 2015 service revenue, changes in our first quarter 2015 service revenue on both a sequential and year-over-year basis, the timing of the start of delayed projects, our ability to convert backlog into service revenue, sales pipeline activity, our ability to successfully convert sales pipeline opportunities to signed contracts, 2015 organic growth in specialty services and expansion of cloud-based services. These forward-looking statements inherently involve certain risks and uncertainties, although they are based on our current plans or assessments which are believed to be reasonable as of the date of this Press Release. Factors that may cause actual results, goals, targets or objectives to differ materially from those contemplated, projected, forecasted, estimated, anticipated, planned or budgeted in such forward-looking statements include, among others, the following possibilities: (1) failure to obtain new customers or retain significant existing customers; (2) the loss of one or more key executives and/or employees; (3) changes in industry trends, such as a decline in the demand for Enterprise Resource Planning and Enterprise Performance Management solutions, custom development and system integration services and/or declines in industry-wide information technology spending, whether on a temporary or permanent basis and/or delays by customers in initiating new projects or existing project milestones; (4) inability to execute upon growth objectives; (5) adverse developments and volatility involving geopolitical or technology market conditions; (6) unanticipated events or the occurrence of fluctuations or variability in the matters identified under "Critical Accounting Policies" in our 2013 Annual Report on Form 10-K; (7) delays in, or the failure of, our sales pipeline being converted to billable work and recorded as revenue; (8) termination by clients of their contracts with us or inability or unwillingness of clients to pay for our services, which may impact our accounting assumptions; (9) inability to recruit and retain professionals with the high level of information technology skills and experience needed to provide our services; (10) failure to expand outsourcing services to generate additional revenue; (11) any changes in ownership of the Company or otherwise that would result in a limitation of the net operating loss carry forward under applicable tax laws; (12) the failure of the marketplace to embrace advisory and product-based consulting services; and/or (13) changes in our utilization levels. In evaluating these statements, you should specifically consider various factors described above as well as the risks outlined under "Part I - Item IA. Risk Factors" in our 2013 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 10, 2014. These factors may cause our actual results to differ materially from those contemplated, projected, anticipated, planned or budgeted in any such forward-looking statements.

Although the Company believes that the expectations in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance, growth, earnings per share or achievements. However, neither the Company nor any other person assumes responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of such statements. Except as required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update any of the forward-looking statements after the date of this Press Release to conform such statements to actual results. 

EDGEWATER TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(In Thousands)
(Unaudited)
     
  December 31,
2014
December 31,
2013
Assets    
Cash and cash equivalents $26,768 $20,321
Accounts receivable, net 24,654 19,842
Deferred tax assets, net 1,196 1,175
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 1,053 936
Total current assets 53,671 42,274
Property and equipment, net 1,029 1,437
Goodwill and intangible assets, net 12,529 13,005
Deferred tax assets, net 25,974 29,097
Other assets 210 254
Total Assets $93,413 $86,067
     
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity    
Accounts payable $315 $680
Accrued liabilities 16,142 14,326
Deferred revenue 1,516 1,715
Total current liabilities 17,973 16,721
Other long-term liabilities 411 760
Total liabilities 18,384 17,481
Stockholders' Equity 75,029 68,586
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity $93,413 $86,067
     
Shares Outstanding 11,440 11,049
 
EDGEWATER TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
         
  Three Months Ended Year Ended
  December 31, December 31,
  2014 2013 2014 2013
Revenue:        
Service revenue $23,464 $21,932 $96,604 $84,616
Software 2,198 3,019 8,118 11,587
Reimbursable expenses 1,762 1,830 8,267 7,353
Total revenue 27,424 26,781 112,989 103,556
         
Cost of revenue:        
Project and personnel costs 14,806 12,904 58,912 52,741
Software costs 899 1,313 4,444 5,890
Reimbursable expenses 1,762 1,830 8,267 7,353
Total cost of revenue 17,467 16,047 71,623 65,984
Gross profit 9,957 10,734 41,366 37,572
         
Selling, general and administrative 8,585 8,393 34,145 31,518
Lease abandonment charge   --  --  400  --
Embezzlement costs (loss recovery) --  12  ( 1,529)  118
Depreciation and amortization 226 300 928 1,225
Operating income 1,146 2,029 7,422 4,711
         
Other expense, net  34  -- 181 92
Income before income taxes 1,112 2,029 7,241 4,619
Tax provision (benefit) 456  (30,382) 3,177  (30,089)
Net income $656 $32,411 $4,064 $34,708
         
BASIC EARNINGS PER SHARE:        
Basic earnings per share $0.06 $2.99 $0.37 $3.21
Weighted average shares outstanding – Basic 11,246 10,855 11,131 10,813
         
DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE:        
Diluted earnings per share $0.05 $2.55 $0.31 $2.88
Weighted average shares outstanding – Diluted  
13,098
 
12,723
 
13,090
 
12,031
 
EDGEWATER TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(In Thousands)
(Unaudited)
         
  Three Months Ended Year Ended
  December 31, December 31,
  2014 2013 2014 2013
Cash flow provided by (used in):        
Operating activities $380 $2,414 $5,768 $4,733
Investing activities (77) (38) (260) (807)
Financing activities 660 454 975 (266)
Effect of exchange rates on cash (11) 4 (36) 10
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents $952 $2,834 $6,447 $3,670

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Edgewater reports its financial results in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"). Management believes, however, that certain non-GAAP financial measures used in managing the Company's business may provide users of this financial information with additional meaningful comparisons between current results and prior reported results. Certain of the information set forth herein and certain of the information presented by the Company from time to time may constitute non-GAAP financial measures within the meaning of Regulation G adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission. We have presented herein a reconciliation of these measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure. The non-GAAP measures presented herein may not be comparable to similarly titled measures presented by other companies. As noted below, the foregoing measures have limitations and do not serve as a substitute and should not be construed as a substitute for GAAP performance, but provide supplemental information concerning our performance that our investors and we find useful.

Edgewater views Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA per Diluted Share and Adjusted EBITDA as a Percentage of Total Revenue as important indicators of performance, consistent with the manner in which management measures and forecasts the Company's performance. We believe Adjusted EBITDA measures are important performance metrics because they facilitate the analysis of our results, exclusive of certain non-cash items, including items which do not directly correlate to our business operations. 

The non-GAAP adjustments, and the basis for excluding them, are outlined below:

Income tax provision. The exit of our former significant unrelated operations in 2000 and 2001 created significant net operating loss carry-forwards and deferred tax assets, and the tax provisions that we take under GAAP, for which there is no corresponding federal tax payment obligation for us, and the adjustments that we make to our deferred tax asset, based on the prospects and anticipated future profitability of our ongoing operations, can be significant and can obscure, either significantly, or in part, period-to-period changes in our core operating results.

Depreciation and amortization. We incur expense associated with the amortization of intangible assets that is primarily related to the various acquisitions we have completed. We believe that eliminating this expense from our non-GAAP financial measures is useful to investors because the amortization of intangible assets can be inconsistent in amount and frequency, and is significantly impacted by the timing and magnitude of the individual acquisition transactions, which also vary substantially in frequency from period-to-period.

Stock-based compensation expense. We incur stock-based compensation expense under Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718, "Compensation – Stock Compensation." We exclude this non-cash expense as we do not believe it is reflective of business performance. The nature of stock-based compensation expense also makes it very difficult to estimate prospectively, since the expense will vary with changes in the stock price and market conditions at the time of new grants, varying valuation methodologies, subjective assumptions and different award types, making the comparison of current results with forward-looking guidance potentially difficult for investors to interpret. Edgewater believes that non-GAAP financial measures of profitability, which exclude stock-based compensation, are widely used by analysts and investors.

Adjustments to contingent consideration earned, at fair value. We are required to remeasure the fair value of our contingent consideration liability related to acquisitions each reporting period until the contingency is settled. Any changes in fair value are recognized as a current period operating expense. The Company believes that excluding these adjustments from its non-GAAP financial measures is useful to investors because they are related to acquisition events and make it difficult to evaluate core operating results.

Direct acquisition costs. We incur direct transaction costs related to acquisitions which are expensed in our GAAP financial statements. Our non-GAAP financial measures exclude the effects of direct acquisition-related costs as we believe these transaction-specific expenses are inconsistent in amount and frequency and make it difficult to make period-to-period comparisons of our core operating results.

Fullscope embezzlement costs. During the second quarter of 2010, we discovered embezzlement activities within Fullscope, Inc. The Company, since the discovery, has incurred non-routine professional services-related expenses addressing the embezzlement issue. Our non-GAAP financial measures exclude the effects of the embezzlement-related expenses (and loss recoveries) as we believe excluding these costs (and loss recoveries) from our non-GAAP financial measures is useful to investors because these expenses (loss recoveries) are not directly associated with the Company's operations and are inconsistent in amount and frequency, causing difficulties in comparisons of our core operating results.

Lease abandonment charge. During 2011 and again in the second quarter of 2014, we recorded a non-cash charge of $2.2 million and $400,000, respectively, in connection with the abandonment of certain excess office space at our corporate headquarters. Our non-GAAP financial measures exclude expense associated with the lease abandonment charge as we believe such expense is associated with a non-routine charge, causing difficulties in comparisons of our core operating results.

Interest and other (income) expense, net. We record periodic interest and other (income) and expense amounts in connection with our cash and cash equivalents, capital lease obligations and (gains) and losses on foreign currency transactions. Our non-GAAP financial measures exclude (income) expense associated with these items as we believe such (income) expense is inconsistent in amount and frequency and makes it difficult to make period-to-period comparisons of our core operating results.

We believe that Adjusted EBITDA metrics provide qualitative insight into our current performance; we use these measures to evaluate our results, the performance of our management team and our management's entitlement to incentive compensation; and we believe that making this information available to investors enables them to view our performance the way that we view our performance and thereby gain a meaningful understanding of our core operating results, in general, and from period to period. 

EDGEWATER TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reconciliation of GAAP Net Income to Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA
(In Thousands, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
         
  For The Three Months Ended
December 31,
For The Year Ended
December 31,
  2014 2013 2014 2013
Reported GAAP net income  $656  $32,411 $4,064  $34,708
Add: Income tax provision 456 (30,382) 3,177 (30,089)
Add: Depreciation and amortization 288 370 1,150 1,553
Add: Stock-based compensation expense 331 295 1,512 1,469
Add: Lease abandonment charge  --  --  400  --
Add: Fullscope embezzlement costs (loss recovery) -- 12 (1,529) 118
Less: Other expense, net  34  -- 181 92
Adjusted EBITDA1  $1,765  $2,706  $8,955  $7,851
Adjusted EBITDA per diluted share1  $0.13  $0.21  $0.68   $0.65
Diluted shares outstanding 13,098 12,723 13,090 12,031
         
Adjusted EBITDA as a % of total revenue1 6.4% 10.1% 7.9%  7.6%
Total revenue $27,424 $26,781  $112,989  $103,556
 
1- Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA Per Diluted Share and Adjusted EBITDA as a Percentage of Total Revenue are Non-GAAP performance measures and are not intended to be performance measures that should be regarded as an alternative to, or more meaningful than, GAAP Net Income and Diluted Earnings Per Share. Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA per Diluted Share measures presented may not be comparable to similarly titled measures presented by other companies. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net income less interest and other (income) expense, net, plus taxes, depreciation and amortization, stock-based compensation expense, adjustments to contingent consideration earned, goodwill and intangible asset impairment charges, direct acquisition costs, costs associated with the Fullscope embezzlement issue and the lease abandonment charge. Adjusted EBITDA per Diluted Share is defined as Adjusted EBITDA divided by the diluted common shares outstanding used in Diluted Earnings per Share calculations, while Adjusted EBITDA as a % of Total Revenue is defined as Adjusted EBITDA divided by Total Revenue.


            

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