Stamps.com Reports Fourth Quarter and Fiscal 2019 Results

Stamps.com® (Nasdaq: STMP), the leading provider of postage online and shipping software, today announced results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended December 31, 2019.

Fourth Quarter 2019 Financial Highlights

• Total revenue was $160.9 million, down 5% compared to $170.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2018.
• GAAP net income was $20.3 million, down 52% compared to $42.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2018.
• GAAP net income per fully diluted share was $1.13, down 51% compared to $2.30 in the fourth quarter of 2018.
• Non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA was $51.4 million, down 28% compared to $71.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2018.
• Non-GAAP adjusted income per fully diluted share was $2.12, down 43% compared to $3.73 in the fourth quarter of 2018.

“In 2019, we continued to make significant strides towards our goal of being the leading worldwide multi-carrier e-commerce software company. We continued to invest in our products and partnerships throughout 2019 to address the significant opportunities in the U.S. and internationally. We are very excited about our business prospects in 2020 and beyond,” said Ken McBride, Stamps.com’s Chairman and CEO.

Fourth Quarter 2019 Detailed Results

Fourth quarter 2019 total revenue was $160.9 million, down 5% compared to the fourth quarter of 2018. Fourth quarter 2019 Mailing and Shipping revenue (which includes service, product and insurance revenue but excludes Customized Postage and Other revenue) was $156.0 million, down 6% versus the fourth quarter of 2018. Fourth quarter 2019 Customized Postage revenue was $4.9 million, up 2% versus the fourth quarter of 2018.

Fourth quarter 2019 GAAP income from operations was $32.2 million, GAAP net income was $20.3 million, and GAAP net income per share was $1.13 based on 17.9 million fully diluted shares outstanding. This compares to fourth quarter 2018 GAAP income from operations of $54.0 million, GAAP net income of $42.7 million, and GAAP net income per share of $2.30 based on 18.6 million fully diluted shares outstanding. Fourth quarter 2019 GAAP income from operations, GAAP net income, and GAAP income per fully diluted share decreased by 40%, 52%, and 51% year-over-year, respectively.

Fourth quarter 2019 GAAP income from operations included $12.5 million of non-cash stock-based compensation expense and $5.5 million of non-cash amortization of acquired intangibles. Fourth quarter 2019 GAAP net income included $93 thousand of non-cash amortization of debt issuance costs. Fourth quarter 2019 GAAP income tax expense was $11.2 million and non-GAAP income tax expense was $11.6 million, resulting in a $0.5 million non-GAAP tax expense adjustment. The non-GAAP tax expense adjustment primarily reflects the tax impact from reconciling the projected 2019 non-GAAP effective tax rates used in the prior three quarters of 2019 to the actual non-GAAP effective tax rate for fiscal year 2019. See the section later in this release entitled, “About Non-GAAP Financial Measures” for more information on how non-GAAP taxes are calculated. Excluding the non-cash stock-based compensation expense and non-cash amortization of acquired intangibles, fourth quarter 2019 non-GAAP income from operations was $50.3 million. Also excluding non-cash amortization of debt issuance costs and including the non-GAAP tax expense adjustment, fourth quarter 2019 non-GAAP adjusted income was $38.0 million or $2.12 per share based on 17.9 million fully diluted shares outstanding.

Fourth quarter 2018 GAAP income from operations included $10.0 million of non-cash stock-based compensation expense and $5.6 million of non-cash amortization of acquired intangibles. Fourth quarter 2018 GAAP net income included $93 thousand of non-cash amortization of debt issuance costs. Fourth quarter 2018 GAAP income tax expense was $10.6 million and non-GAAP income tax benefit was $0.5 million, resulting in an $11.1 million non-GAAP tax benefit adjustment. The non-GAAP tax benefit adjustment primarily reflects the tax impact from reconciling the projected 2018 non-GAAP effective tax rates used in the prior three quarters of 2018 to the actual non-GAAP effective tax rate for fiscal year 2018. Excluding the non-cash stock-based compensation expense and non-cash amortization of acquired intangibles, fourth quarter 2018 non-GAAP income from operations was $69.6 million. Also excluding non-cash amortization of debt issuance costs and including the non-GAAP tax benefit adjustment, fourth quarter 2018 non-GAAP adjusted income was $69.4 million or $3.73 per share based on 18.6 million fully diluted shares outstanding.

Therefore, fourth quarter 2019 non-GAAP income from operations, non-GAAP adjusted income, and non-GAAP adjusted income per fully diluted share decreased by 28%, 45%, and 43% year-over-year, respectively.

Non-GAAP income from operations, non-GAAP adjusted income, and non-GAAP adjusted income per share are described further in the “About Non-GAAP Financial Measures” section of this press release and are reconciled to the corresponding GAAP measures in the following tables (unaudited):

Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Financial Measures (Fourth Quarter 2019)

Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Financial Measures (Fourth Quarter 2018)

Fourth Quarter 2019 GAAP Net Income and Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA

Fourth quarter 2019 GAAP net income was $20.3 million, down 52% compared to $42.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2018.

Fourth quarter 2019 non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA was $51.4 million, down 28% compared to $71.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2018.

Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure which is described further in the “About Non-GAAP Financial Measures” section of this press release and is reconciled to GAAP net income in the following table (unaudited):

Reconciliation of GAAP Net Income to Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA

Fiscal Year 2019 Detailed Results

2019 total revenue was $571.9 million, down 3% compared to 2018. 2019 Mailing and Shipping revenue (which includes service, product and insurance revenue but excludes Customized Postage and Other revenue) was $557.1 million, down 2% versus 2018. 2019 Customized Postage revenue was $14.7 million, down 25% versus 2018.

2019 GAAP income from operations was $93.6 million, GAAP net income was $59.2 million, and GAAP net income per share was $3.33 based on 17.8 million fully diluted shares outstanding. This compares to 2018 GAAP income from operations of $194.4 million, GAAP net income of $168.6 million, and GAAP net income per share of $8.99 based on fully diluted shares outstanding of 18.8 million. 2019 GAAP income from operations, GAAP net income and GAAP income per fully diluted share decreased by 52%, 65%, and 63% year-over-year, respectively.

2019 GAAP income from operations included $42.9 million of non-cash stock-based compensation expense and $22.2 million of non-cash amortization of acquired intangibles. 2019 GAAP net income also included $374 thousand of non-cash amortization of debt issuance cost. 2019 GAAP income tax expense was $31.5 million and non-GAAP income tax expense was $54.3 million resulting in a non-GAAP tax expense adjustment of $22.8 million. The non-GAAP tax expense adjustment primarily reflects the tax impact from higher non-GAAP income as compared to GAAP income at the effective tax rate for fiscal 2019. See the section later in this release entitled “About Non-GAAP Financial Measures” for more information on how non-GAAP taxes are calculated. Excluding the non-cash stock-based compensation expense and non-cash amortization of acquired intangibles, 2019 non-GAAP income from operations was $158.7 million. Also excluding non-cash amortization of debt issuance and including the non-GAAP tax expense adjustment, 2019 non-GAAP adjusted income was $102.0 million or $5.73 per share based on 17.8 million fully diluted shares outstanding.

2018 GAAP income from operations included $36.3 million of non-cash stock-based compensation expense, $18.3 million of non-cash amortization of acquired intangibles, and $3.1 million of transaction related expenses associated with the MetaPack acquisition and legal settlement expense related to the class action wage and hours case filed against us in February 2018. 2018 GAAP net income also included $374 thousand of non-cash amortization of debt issuance costs and $1.0 million of foreign currency loss related to the MetaPack acquisition. 2018 GAAP income tax expense was $22.3 million and non-GAAP income tax expense was $29.2 million resulting in a non-GAAP tax expense adjustment of $6.9 million. The non-GAAP tax expense adjustment primarily reflects the tax impact from higher non-GAAP income as compared to GAAP income at the effective tax rate for fiscal 2018. See the section later in this release entitled “About Non-GAAP Financial Measures” for more information on how non-GAAP taxes are calculated. Excluding the non-cash stock-based compensation expense, non-cash amortization of acquired intangibles, and transaction related expenses associated with the MetaPack acquisition, and legal settlement expense, 2018 non-GAAP income from operations was $252.2 million. Also excluding non-cash amortization of debt issuance costs and foreign currency loss related to the MetaPack acquisition, and including the non-GAAP tax expense adjustment, 2018 non-GAAP adjusted income was $220.9 million or $11.78 per share based on 18.8 million fully diluted shares outstanding.

Therefore, 2019 non-GAAP income from operations, non-GAAP adjusted income and non-GAAP adjusted income per fully diluted share decreased by 37%, 54% and 51% year-over-year, respectively.

Non-GAAP income from operations, non-GAAP adjusted income and non-GAAP adjusted income per share are described further in the “About Non-GAAP Financial Measures” section of this press release and are reconciled to the corresponding GAAP measures in the following tables (unaudited):

Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Financial Measures (Fiscal Year 2019)

Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Financial Measures (Fiscal Year 2018)

Fiscal Year 2019 GAAP Net Income and Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA

2019 GAAP net income was $59.2 million, down 65% compared to $168.6 million in 2018.

2019 non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA was $164.4 million, down 36% compared to $258.0 million in 2018.

Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure which is described further in the “About Non-GAAP Financial Measures” section of this release and is reconciled to GAAP net income in the following table (unaudited):

Reconciliation of GAAP Net Income to Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA

Taxes

For the fourth quarter of 2019, the Company reported a GAAP income tax expense of $11.2 million representing an effective tax rate of 35.4%. For the fourth quarter of 2018, the Company reported a GAAP income tax expense of $10.6 million representing an effective tax rate of 19.9%.

For 2019, the Company reported a GAAP income tax expense of $31.5 million representing an effective tax rate of 34.7%. For 2018, the Company reported a GAAP income tax expense of $22.3 million representing an effective tax rate of 11.7%. The higher effective GAAP tax rate in 2019 was primarily related to fewer employee stock option exercises in 2019, resulting in lower tax benefits compared to 2018, coupled with a reduction in pre-tax book income. Neither the 2019 GAAP effective tax rate of 34.7% nor any other historical GAAP effective tax rate should be assumed to apply for 2020, as employee stock option exercises are inherently unpredictable and actual 2020 employee stock option exercises could differ materially from those in prior years, which could have a material impact on our 2020 effective tax rate as compared to such prior years. As discussed below under the heading, “About Non-GAAP Financial Measures,” we believe our effective tax rate for 2020 will be approximately 40%.

Share Repurchase and Debt Repayment

During the fourth quarter of 2019, the Company repurchased approximately 76 thousand shares at a total cost of approximately $6 million. From March 14, 2019 to February 18, 2020, we have repurchased approximately $43.2 million under a $60 million total repurchase plan.

On February 13, 2020, our Board of Directors approved a new share repurchase plan which will commence on February 24, 2020 and which authorizes the company to repurchase up to $40 million of stock over the six months following its effective date. This new repurchase plan replaces our existing repurchase plan.

During the fourth quarter of 2019, the Company made a required principal repayment of $3.1 million against the borrowings under the Company’s existing credit agreement related to the Endicia acquisition. As of December 31, 2019, total debt under the credit agreement, excluding debt issuance costs, was $50.5 million.

Summary of our Business Outlook

For fiscal year 2020, the Company currently expects its GAAP financial outlook to be as follows:

• We expect total revenue to be in a range of approximately $570 million to $600 million
• We expect GAAP net income to be in a range of approximately $41 million to $53 million
• We expect GAAP net income per fully diluted share to be in a range of approximately $2.08 to $2.92
• We expect our 2020 effective tax rate to be approximately 40%

The above GAAP amounts, adjusted as detailed below, result in the following non-GAAP financial outlook:

• We expect non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA to be in a range of approximately $135 million to $155 million
• We expect non-GAAP adjusted income per fully diluted share to be in a range of approximately $4.00 to $5.00

Detailed Discussion of our Business Outlook

As noted above, for 2020, the Company currently expects total revenue to be in a range of approximately $570 million to $600 million.

Also, for 2020, the Company currently expects GAAP net income to be in a range of approximately $41 million to $53 million.

The expected GAAP net income range includes depreciation and amortization expense of approximately $26 million, stock-based compensation expense of approximately $40 million, interest and other expense, net of approximately $1 million, and income tax expense of approximately $27 million to $35 million. Excluding the depreciation and amortization expense, stock-based compensation expense, interest and other expense, net and income tax expense, we expect non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA to be in a range of approximately $135 million to $155 million.

The following table is provided to facilitate a reconciliation of 2020 expected non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA to expected GAAP net income:

As noted above, for 2020, the Company currently expects GAAP net income per fully diluted share to be in a range of approximately $2.08 to $2.92. The expected GAAP net income per fully diluted share range includes non-cash stock-based compensation expense of approximately $40 million, non-cash amortization of acquired intangibles expense of approximately $22 million, and non-cash amortization of debt issuance costs of approximately $0.4 million. Excluding the stock-based compensation expense, amortization of acquired intangibles expense, and amortization of debt issuance costs, and including higher expected non-GAAP income taxes of approximately $25 million from the expected tax effects of these adjustments at an assumed 40% effective full-year tax rate, non-GAAP adjusted income per fully diluted share is expected to be in a range of $4.00 to $5.00.

The following table is provided to facilitate a reconciliation of 2020 expected non-GAAP adjusted income per fully diluted share to expected GAAP net income per fully diluted share:

This business outlook does not include the impact from potential future acquisitions, including acquisition costs or related financings, or unanticipated events. This business outlook also does not include the impact of foreign currency fluctuations, or other geopolitical events, such as trade negotiations or Brexit. This business outlook also does not include the impact of employee stock option exercises and any associated tax effects. This business outlook and the related assumptions are forward-looking statements subject to the safe harbor statement contained at the end of this press release, and reflect our views of current and future market conditions as of the date of this press release. Ranges reflect our business assumptions, but actual results could fall outside the range presented. Only a few of our assumptions underlying our guidance are disclosed above, and our actual results will be affected by known and unknown risks, trends, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond our control or ability to predict. Although we believe that the assumptions underlying our guidance are reasonable, they are not guarantees of future performance and some of them will inevitably prove to be incorrect. As a result, our actual future results can be expected to differ from our expectations, and those differences could be material. We do not undertake any obligation to release publicly any revisions to our business outlook or other forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

Company Metrics and Conference Call

2019 Company metrics, updated to include the fourth quarter, is available at https://investor.stamps.com (under a tab on the left side called “Company Information, Metrics”). These metrics are not incorporated into this press release.

The Stamps.com financial results conference call will be webcast today at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time and may be accessed at https://investor.stamps.com. The Company plans to discuss its business outlook during the conference call. Following the conclusion of the webcast, a replay of the call will be available at the same website.

About Stamps.com, Endicia, ShipStation, ShipWorks, ShippingEasy, and MetaPack

Stamps.com (Nasdaq: STMP) is the leading provider of postage online and shipping software solutions to customers, including consumers, small businesses, e-commerce shippers, enterprises, and high volume shippers. Stamps.com offers solutions that help businesses run their shipping operations more smoothly and function more successfully under the brand names Stamps.com, Endicia, ShipStation, ShipWorks, ShippingEasy, and MetaPack. Stamps.com’s family of brands provides seamless access to mailing and shipping services through integrations with more than 500 unique partner applications.

Endicia is a leading brand for high volume shipping technologies and services for U.S. Postal Service shipping. Under this brand we offer solutions that help businesses run their shipping operations more smoothly and function more successfully. Our Endicia branded solutions also provide seamless access to USPS shipping services through integrations with partner applications.

ShipStation is a leading web-based shipping solution that helps e-commerce retailers import, organize, process, package, and ship their orders quickly and easily from any web browser. ShipStation features the most integrations of any e-commerce web-based solution with more than 350 shopping carts, marketplaces, package carriers, and fulfillment services. Integration partners include eBay, PayPal, Amazon, Etsy, Square, Shopify, BigCommerce, Volusion, Magento, Squarespace, and carriers such as USPS, UPS, FedEx and DHL. ShipStation has sophisticated automation features such as automated order importing, custom hierarchical rules, product profiles, and fulfillment solutions that enable its customers to complete their orders, wherever they sell, and however they ship.

ShipWorks is a leading brand for client-based shipping solutions that help high volume shippers import, organize, process, fulfill, and ship their orders quickly and easily from any standard PC. With integrations to more than 100 shopping carts, marketplaces, package carriers, and fulfillment services, ShipWorks has the most integrations of any high-volume client shipping solution. Package carriers include USPS, UPS, FedEx, DHL, OnTrac and many more. Marketplace and shopping cart integrations include eBay, PayPal, Amazon, Etsy, Shopify, BigCommerce, Volusion, ChannelAdvisor, Magento, and many more. ShipWorks has sophisticated automation features such as a custom rules engine, automated order importing, automatic product profile detection, and fulfillment automation, which enable high volume shippers to complete their orders quickly and efficiently.

ShippingEasy provides a single platform for e-commerce merchants to automate order imports and shipping, manage inventory, and increase sales through customer email marketing and online reviews. Powerful integrations with leading online channels such as Amazon, eBay, Etsy, Walmart, Shopify, Magento, WooCommerce and many others allow merchants to manage orders from everywhere they sell all in one place. The inclusion of email marketing and inventory management solutions plus award-winning support from real humans via phone, email, and chat lets online merchants streamline their businesses and increase orders through a single integrated platform that provides more than best-in-class shipping solutions.

MetaPack helps e-commerce and delivery professionals to meet with the consumer’s growing expectations of delivery, while maintaining and optimizing operational efficiency. MetaPack’s SaaS solution offers a wide range of personalized delivery services, from global order tracking to simplified return procedures, through a catalog of more than 450 carriers and 5,000 services available that span every country in the world.

About Non-GAAP Financial Measures

To supplement the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheets and consolidated statements of income presented in accordance with GAAP, the Company uses non-GAAP measures of certain components of financial performance. These non-GAAP measures include non-GAAP income from operations, non-GAAP adjusted income, non-GAAP adjusted income per fully diluted share and adjusted EBITDA.

Non-GAAP financial measures are provided to enhance investors’ overall understanding of the Company’s financial performance and prospects for the future and as a means to evaluate period-to-period comparisons. The Company believes the non-GAAP measures, which: (1) exclude certain non-cash items including stock-based compensation expense, amortization of acquired intangibles, amortization of debt issuance costs, and contingent consideration charges; (2) exclude certain expenses and gains such as acquisition related expenses, litigation settlement expenses, executive consulting expenses, and insurance proceeds; and (3) include income tax adjustments, provide meaningful supplemental information regarding financial performance by excluding certain expenses and benefits that may not be reflective of our underlying operating performance.

Non-GAAP adjusted income is calculated as GAAP net income plus the cumulative impact of the adjustments outlined in the paragraph immediately above.

Non-GAAP adjusted income per fully diluted share is calculated as non-GAAP adjusted income divided by fully diluted shares.

Non-GAAP income tax expense for the first, second and third quarters of our fiscal year are calculated by multiplying the projected annual effective tax rate in that quarter by the non-GAAP adjusted income before taxes for the quarter. The projected annual effective tax rate does not reflect potential future employee option exercises in the remaining quarters of the fiscal year due to the inherent difficulty in forecasting employee option exercises. The projected annual effective tax rate also considers other factors including the Company’s tax structure and its tax positions in various jurisdictions where the Company operates. The actual annual effective tax rate realized for the fiscal year could differ materially from our projected annual effective tax rate used in the first, second and third quarters.

Non-GAAP income tax expense for the fourth quarter of the fiscal year is calculated by multiplying the actual effective tax rate for the fiscal year by the non-GAAP adjusted income before taxes for the fiscal year and subtracting the non-GAAP income tax expense or benefit reported in the first, second and third quarters. As a result, the fourth quarter reflects the tax impact of reconciling the first, second and third quarter projected annual effective rates to the actual effective tax rate for the fiscal year.

The projected non-GAAP full-year tax rate for 2020 is 40%. The increase in our estimated effective tax rate for 2020 is primarily driven by a reduction in projected pre-tax book income.

Adjusted EBITDA as calculated in this press release represents earnings before interest and other expense, net, interest and other income, net, income tax expense or benefit, depreciation and amortization and excludes certain items, such as stock-based compensation expense.

The presentation of non-GAAP financial measures is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for, or superior to, the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP. These non-GAAP financial measures may differ from similarly titled measures used by other companies. Reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures included in this press release to the corresponding GAAP measures can be found in the financial tables of this press release.

The Company believes that non-GAAP financial measures, when viewed with GAAP results and the accompanying reconciliation, enhance the comparability of operating results against prior periods and allow for greater transparency of operating results. Management uses non-GAAP financial measures in making financial, operating, compensation and planning decisions. The Company believes non-GAAP financial measures facilitate management and investors in comparing the Company’s financial performance to that of prior periods as well as in performing trend analysis over time.

Share Repurchase Timing

The timing of share repurchases, if any, and the number of shares to be bought at any one time will depend on factors including market conditions and the Company’s compliance with the covenants in its Credit Agreement. Share repurchases may be made from time to time on the open market or in negotiated transactions at the Company's discretion in compliance with Rule 10b-18 of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company's purchase of any of its shares may be subject to limitations imposed on such purchases by applicable securities laws and regulations and the rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market.

"Safe Harbor" Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995

This release includes “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. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts, and may relate to future events or the company’s anticipated results, business strategies or capital requirements, among other things, all of which involve risks and uncertainties. You can identify many (but not all) such forward-looking statements by looking for words such as “assumes,” “approximates,” “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “projects,” “seeks,” “intends,” “plans,” “could,” “would,” “may” or other similar expressions. Important factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements, include (i) the Company’s ability to monetize its customers’ transactions with carriers, including uncertainties regarding the duration, renegotiation and ultimate impact of existing and potential future arrangements with carriers and our success in implementing our strategy over the long term, (ii) the Company's ability to successfully integrate and realize the benefits of its past or future strategic acquisitions or investments, (iii) the Company’s ability to diversify its relationships with carriers, (iv) the impact of foreign exchange fluctuations and geopolitical risks, and (v) other important factors that are detailed in filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission made from time to time by Stamps.com, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and Current Reports on Form 8-K. Matters described in forward-looking statements may also be affected by other known and unknown risks, trends, uncertainties and factors, many of which are beyond the company’s ability to control or predict. Stamps.com undertakes no obligation to release publicly any revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

Trademarks

Stamps.com, the Stamps.com logo, Endicia, MetaPack, ShipStation, ShipWorks and ShippingEasy are registered trademarks of Stamps.com Inc. and its subsidiaries. All other brands and names used in this release are the property of their respective owners.

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