Inuvo Revenue Increases 40% Sequentially to $16.7 Million for the Second Quarter of 2023

Management to host conference call at 4:15 PM ET today, Thursday, August 10, 2023


LITTLE ROCK, Ark., Aug. 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Inuvo, Inc. (NYSE American: INUV), a leading provider of marketing technology, powered by artificial intelligence (AI) that serves brands and agencies, today provided a business update, and announced its financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2023.

Recent Highlights:

  • Signed up 10 new clients and had 2 returning clients
  • Launched a new product with a large indirect client that is scaling
  • Added the former CEO of MediaKitchen to the Executive team as President
  • Enhanced the IntentKey’s suite of AI solutions by adding predictive Media Mix Modeling
  • Launched the Audience Discovery Portal at inuvo.com/portal
  • Enhanced the Company’s AI generated audience personas using the ChatGPT API integration
  • Interviewed in notable publications, including national exposure on Yahoo Finance

Richard Howe, CEO of Inuvo, stated, “I am pleased to report that our revenue increased sequentially by 40% from the first quarter of 2023 with June up roughly 16% year-over-year providing confidence that we could be back to quarterly year-over-year growth in the second half of the year. We made a significant hire, adding a President to the executive team, we strengthen our balance sheet with a $4 million capital raise and launched several transformative AI technologies within the quarter. Our goal remains to be at the forefront of artificial intelligence for advertising.”

Mr. Howe added, “We strongly believe that the industry we serve is on the verge of a material change. We see increasing pressure legislatively and technologically with respect to using consumer identity and data. There are now 11 states with privacy laws and 5 states with active privacy bills. Apple continues to implement browser features that thwart or limit conventional AdTech from using 3rd and 1st party cookies, IP addresses, email addresses and in their most recent IOS release, URL tracking. The writing is on the wall.”

Financial Results for the Three and Six Month Ended June 30, 2023
Net revenue for the second quarter of 2023 totaled $16.7 million, compared to $22.7 million for the same period last year. Net revenue for the six months ended June 30, 2023, totaled $28.5 million compared to $41.3 million for the same period last year. The lower revenue this year compared to last year was attributable to the loss of a Direct Customer in the fourth quarter of last year.

Cost of revenue for the second quarter of 2023 totaled $2.4 million, compared to $9.3 million for the same period last year. Cost of revenue for the six months ended June 30, 2023, totaled $5.6 million as compared to $17.9 million for the same period last year. The decrease in the cost of revenue for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2023, as compared to the same periods last year, was related to the decline in Direct Customers.

Gross profit for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023, totaled $14.3 million and $22.9 million, respectively, as compared to $13.4 million and $23.3 million, respectively, for the same periods last year. Gross profit margin for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023, was 85.8% and 80.5%, respectively, as compared to 59.1% and 56.5%, respectively, for the same periods last year. The higher gross margin was due to changes in revenue mix, where a greater percentage of the revenue this year was from Indirect Customers, which typically have higher gross margins.

Operating expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2023, totaled $17.6 million compared to $16.2 million for the same period last year. Operating expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2023, totaled $29.7 million compared to $28.3 million for the same period last year. We had $1.6M and $2.7M of non cash-based expenses for the three and six month periods respectively.

Net loss for the second quarter of 2023 totaled $3.4 million, or $0.03 per basic and diluted share, as compared to net loss of $3.2 million, or $0.03 per basic and diluted share, for the same period last year. Net loss for the six months ended June 30, 2023, totaled $6.8 million, or $0.05 per basic and diluted share, as compared to net loss of $5.3 million, or $0.04 per basic and diluted share, for the same period last year.

Adjusted EBITDA [see reconciliation table below] was a loss of approximately $1.8 million in the second quarter of 2023, compared to a loss of approximately $142 thousand for the same period last year. Adjusted EBITDA was a loss of approximately $4.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2023, compared to a loss of approximately $863 thousand for the same period last year.

        
Liquidity and Capital Resources:

As of June 30, 2023, Inuvo had $5.0 million in cash and cash equivalents, approximately $2.0 million of working capital, and a working capital facility of $5.0 million with no outstanding balance.

As of June 30, 2023, Inuvo had 137,817,253 common shares issued and outstanding.

Conference Call Details:
Date: Thursday, August 10, 2023
Time: 4:15 p.m. Eastern Time
Toll-free Dial-in Number: 1-888-886-7786
International Dial-in Number: +1-416-764-8658
Conference ID: 26719286
Webcast Link: HERE

An audio replay of the call will be available through August 24, 2023, and can be accessed by dialing 844-512-2921 for U.S. callers or +1 412-317-6671 for international callers and by entering the access code: 26719286.

About Inuvo
Inuvo®, Inc. (NYSE American: INUV) is a market leader in Artificial Intelligence built for advertising. Its IntentKey AI solution is a first-of-its-kind proprietary and patented technology capable of identifying and actioning to the reasons why consumers are interested in products, services, or brands, not who those consumers are. To learn more, visit www.inuvo.com.

Safe Harbor / Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding Inuvo’s quarter-end financial close process and preparation of financial statements for the quarter that are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause results to be materially different than expectations. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially, including, without limitation risks detailed from time to time in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), and represent our views only as of the date they are made and should not be relied upon as representing our views as of any subsequent date. You are urged to carefully review and consider any cautionary statements and other disclosures, including the statements made under the heading "Risk Factors" in Inuvo, Inc.'s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022 as filed on March 10, 2023, and our other filings with the SEC.  Additionally, forward looking statements are subject to certain risks, trends, and uncertainties including the continued impact of Covid-19 on Inuvo’s business and operations. Inuvo cannot provide assurances that the assumptions upon which these forward-looking statements are based will prove to have been correct. Should one of these risks materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements, and investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which are current only as of this date. Inuvo does not intend to update or revise any forward-looking statements made herein or any other forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Inuvo further expressly disclaims any written or oral statements made by a third party regarding the subject matter of this press release. The information which appears on our websites and our social media platforms is not part of this press release.

Inuvo Company Contact:
Wally Ruiz
Chief Financial Officer
Tel (501) 205-8397
wallace.ruiz@inuvo.com

Investor Relations :
David Waldman / Natalya Rudman
Crescendo Communications, LLC
Tel: (212) 671-1020
inuv@crescendo-ir.com

(Tables follow)

INUVO, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
        
  Three Months Ended Six Months Ended
  June 30 June 30 June 30June 30
   2023   2022   2023  2022 
Net revenue $16,651,405  $22,651,305  $28,498,845 $41,260,672 
Cost of revenue  2,368,540   9,273,589   5,559,103  17,935,095 
Gross profit  14,282,865   13,377,716   22,939,742  23,325,577 
Operating expenses  85.8%   59.1%   80.5%  56.5% 
Marketing costs  12,056,616   10,988,409   19,144,166  18,157,858 
Compensation  3,253,416   3,215,890   6,676,257  6,373,596 
Selling, general and administrative  2,311,885   2,011,237   3,893,774  3,737,909 
Total operating expenses  17,621,917   16,215,536   29,714,197  28,269,363 
Operating loss  (3,339,052)   (2,837,820)   (6,774,455)  (4,943,786) 
Interest (expense) income, net  (38,186)   3,070   (57,306)  2,071 
Other income (loss) , net  -   (395,177)   14,418  (377,475) 
Net loss  (3,377,238)   (3,229,927)   (6,817,343)  (5,319,190) 
Other comprehensive income       
Unrealized loss on marketable securities  -   (124,253)   84,868  (222,409) 
Comprehensive loss  (3,377,238)   (3,354,180)   (6,732,475)  (5,541,599) 
        
Earnings per share, basic and diluted       
Net loss income ($0.03)  ($0.03)  ($0.05) ($0.04) 
Weighted average shares outstanding       
Basic  127,249,916   119,827,944   124,115,098  118,788,819 
Diluted  127,249,916   119,827,944   124,115,098  118,788,819 
        


INUVO, INC. 
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS 
        
  June 30
 December 31
 
   2023  2022 
Assets     
      
Cash and cash equivalent $5,045,112 $2,931,415 
Marketable securities-short term  -  1,529,464 
Accounts receivable, net  10,795,658  11,119,892 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets  828,601  798,977 
Total current assets  16,669,371  16,379,748 
      
Property and equipment, net  1,680,448  1,668,972 
      
Intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization  9,853,342  9,853,342 
Goodwill  5,157,041  5,649,291 
Other assets  924,597  2,005,957 
      
Total assets $34,284,799 $35,557,310 
      
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity     
      
Current liabilities     
Accounts payable $6,192,824 $8,044,802 
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities  8,435,093  5,550,984 
Total current liabilities  14,627,917  13,595,786 
      
Long-term liabilities  154,230  212,208 
      
Total stockholders' equity  19,502,652  21,749,316 
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $34,284,799 $35,557,310 


RECONCILIATION OF LOSS FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE TAXES TO ADJUSTED EBITDA 
(unaudited) 
        
  Three Months Ended Six Months Ended
 
  June 30 June 30 June 30June 30 
  2023   2022   2023  2022  
Net loss (3,377,238) $(3,229,927) $(6,817,343)$(5,319,190) 
Interest (Income) Expense 38,186   (3,070)  57,306  (2,071) 
Depreciation 432,053   372,939   824,954  729,732  
Amortization 273,495   270,563   550,263  627,741  
EBITDA (2,633,504)  (2,589,495)  (5,384,820) (3,963,788) 
Stock-based compensation 503,061   684,376   935,145  1,355,534  
Non recurring items:        
Expense of fraudulent media    1,367,800    1,367,800  
Unrealized loss on marketable securities    395,177    377,475  
Doubtful account reserve 378,928     361,097   
Adjusted EBITDA (1,751,515)  (142,142)  (4,088,578) (862,979) 
         

Reconciliation of Operating Loss to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA 

We present EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA as a supplemental measure of our performance. We defined EBITDA as Net loss plus (i) interest expense, (ii) depreciation, and (iii) amortization. We further define Adjusted EBITDA as EBITDA plus (iv) stock-based compensation and (v) certain identified expenses that are not expected to recur or be representative of future ongoing operation of the business. These adjustments are itemized above. You are encouraged to evaluate these adjustments and the reasons we consider them appropriate for supplemental analysis. In evaluating EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA, you should be aware that in the future we may incur expenses that are the same or similar to some of the adjustments in the presentation. Our presentation of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA should not be construed as an inference that our future results will be unaffected by unusual or non-recurring items.