Strong Third Quarter Growth Driven by Performance Across Diverse Business Segments
ALPHARETTA, Ga.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Nov. 9, 2023–
Priority Technology Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: PRTH) (“Priority” or the “Company”), the platform for unified commerce that delivers integrated payments and banking services at scale, today announced its third quarter 2023 financial results including strong quarter-over-quarter diversified revenue growth.
Highlights of Consolidated Results
Third Quarter 2023 Compared with Third Quarter 2022
Financial highlights of the third quarter of 2023 compared with the third quarter of 2022, are as follows:
- Revenue of $189.0 million increased 13.6% from $166.4 million
- Adjusted gross profit (a non-GAAP measure1) of $72.3 million increased 23.6% from $58.5 million
- Adjusted gross profit margin (a non-GAAP measure1) of 38.3% increased 310 basis points from 35.2%
- Operating income of $23.5 million increased 66.7% from $14.1 million
- Adjusted EBITDA (a non-GAAP measure1) of $45.0 million increased 28.2% from $35.1 million
“Building on the momentum we saw in the first half of the year, during the third quarter we continued to execute in all three segments of our business, delivering strong results in SMB Acquiring, B2B and Enterprise Payments,” said Tom Priore, Chairman & CEO of Priority. “We are delivering on the promise of unified commerce with clear and sustainable financial performance, as clearly evidenced in our results throughout the tumultuous economic environments like the pandemic and today. We have invested thoughtfully in technology and built scalable operations and financial resources that will continue to outperform as market demands evolve.”
(1) | See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” and the reconciliations of Adjusted Gross Profit (non-GAAP), Adjusted Gross Profit Margin (non-GAAP), and Adjusted EBITDA, to their most comparable GAAP measures provided below for additional information. |
Updated Full Year 2023 Financial Guidance
Based on a combination of results for the nine month period ended September 30, 2023 and the forecasted results for the Company’s fourth quarter, the Company has updated its outlook for the full year 2023 as follows:
- Revenue forecast revised to range between $755 million to $765 million, a growth rate of 14% to 15%, compared to fiscal results 2022 results
- Adjusted EBITDA (a non-GAAP measure) forecast to range between $167 million to $170 million, a growth rate of 19% to 21% compared to fiscal 2022 results
Conference Call
Priority’s leadership will host a conference call on Thursday, November 9, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. EST to discuss its third quarter 2023 financial results. Participants can access the call by phone in the U.S. or Canada at (833) 636-1319 or internationally at (412) 902-4286.
The Internet webcast link and accompanying slide presentation can be accessed at https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/iucimqrs and will also be posted in the “Investor Relations” section of the Company’s website at www.prioritycommerce.com.
An audio replay of the call will be available shortly after the conference call until November 16, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. EST. To listen to the audio replay, dial (877) 344-7529 or (412) 317-0088 and enter conference ID number 2955856. Alternatively, you may access the webcast replay in the “Investor Relations” section of the Company’s website at www.prioritycommerce.com.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
This communication includes certain non-GAAP financial measures that we regularly review to evaluate our business and trends, measure our performance, prepare financial projections, allocate resources, and make strategic decisions. We believe these non-GAAP measures help to illustrate the underlying financial and business trends relating to our results of operations and comparability between current and prior periods. We also use these non-GAAP measures to establish and monitor operational goals. However, these non-GAAP measures are not superior to or a substitute for prominent measurements calculated in accordance with GAAP. Rather, the non-GAAP measures are meant to be a complement to understanding measures prepared in accordance with GAAP.
Adjusted Gross Profit and Adjusted Gross Profit Margin
The Company’s adjusted gross profit metric represents revenues less cost of revenue (excluding depreciation and amortization). Adjusted gross profit margin is adjusted gross profit divided by revenues. We review these non-GAAP measures to evaluate our underlying profit trends. The reconciliation of adjusted gross profit to its most comparable GAAP measure is provided below:
(in thousands) | Three Months Ended September 30, | ||||||
2023 | 2022 | ||||||
Revenues | $ | 189,015 | $ | 166,417 | |||
Cost of revenue (excluding depreciation and amortization) | (116,682 | ) | (107,958 | ) | |||
Adjusted gross profit | $ | 72,333 | $ | 58,459 | |||
Adjusted gross profit margin | 38.3 | % | 35.1 | % | |||
Depreciation and amortization of revenue generating assets | (3,000 | ) | (2,629 | ) | |||
Gross profit | $ | 69,333 | $ | 55,830 | |||
Gross profit margin | 36.7 | % | 33.5 | % | |||
EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA
EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA are performance measures. EBITDA is earnings before interest, income tax, and depreciation and amortization expenses (“EBITDA”). Adjusted EBITDA begins with EBITDA but further excludes certain non-cash costs, such as stock-based compensation and the write-off of the carrying value of investments or other assets, as well as debt extinguishment and modification expenses and other expenses and income items considered non-recurring, such as acquisition integration expenses, certain professional fees, and litigation settlements. We review the non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA measure to evaluate our business and trends, measure our performance, prepare financial projections, allocate resources, and make strategic decisions.
The reconciliation of adjusted EBITDA to its most comparable GAAP measure is provided below:
(in thousands) | Three Months Ended September 30, | ||||||
2023 | 2022 | ||||||
Net loss | $ | (87 | ) | $ | (792 | ) | |
Interest expense | 19,997 | 13,412 | |||||
Income tax expense | 4,328 | 1,691 | |||||
Depreciation and amortization | 17,275 | 17,817 | |||||
EBITDA | 41,513 | 32,128 | |||||
Non-recurring gain | (166 | ) | — | ||||
Selling, general and administrative (non-recurring) | 2,114 | 760 | |||||
Non-cash stock-based compensation | 1,501 | 1,104 | |||||
Change in the fair value of contingent consideration | — | 1,072 | |||||
Adjusted EBITDA | $ | 44,962 | $ | 35,064 | |||
Further detail of certain of these adjustments, and where these items are recorded in our consolidated statements of operations, is provided below:
(in thousands) | Three Months Ended September 30, | ||||
2023 | 2022 | ||||
Selling, general and administrative expenses (non-recurring): | |||||
Certain legal fees | $ | 656 | $ | 199 | |
Professional, accounting and consulting fees | 1,364 | 95 | |||
Other expenses, net | 94 | 466 | |||
$ | 2,114 | $ | 760 | ||
Priority does not provide a reconciliation of forward-looking non-GAAP financial measures to their comparable GAAP financial measures because it could not do so without unreasonable effort due to the unavailability of the information needed to calculate reconciling items and due to the variability, complexity and limited visibility of the adjusting items that would be excluded from the non-GAAP financial measures in future periods. When planning, forecasting and analyzing future periods, the Company does so primarily on a non-GAAP basis without preparing a GAAP analysis as that would require estimates for various cash and non-cash reconciling items that would be difficult to predict with reasonable accuracy. For example, stock-based compensation expense would be difficult to estimate because it depends on the Company’s future hiring and retention needs, as well as the future fair market value of the Company’s common stock, all of which are difficult to predict and subject to constant change. As a result, the Company does not believe that a GAAP reconciliation would provide meaningful supplemental information about the Company’s outlook.
About Priority Technology Holdings, Inc.
Priority is a solution provider in Payments and Banking as a Service operating at scale with 820k active customers across its SMB, B2B and Enterprise channels processing $118B in annual transaction volume and providing administration for $850M in average daily deposits. Priority’s purpose-built technology enables clients to collect, store, borrow and send and provides customers the acceptance and AP payment applications and Passport financial tools that best optimize their cash flow and maximize working capital. Additional information can be found at www.prioritycommerce.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements about future financial and operating results, our plans, objectives, expectations and intentions with respect to future operations, products and services, and other statements identified by words such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “expects,” “plans,” “future,” “intends,” “could,” “estimate,” “predict,” “projects,” “targeting,” “potential” or “contingent,” “guidance,” “outlook” or words of similar meaning. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, our 2023 outlook and statements regarding our market and growth opportunities. Such forward-looking statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of our management and are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive risks, trends and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected, expressed, or implied by such forward-looking statements. Our actual results could differ materially, and potentially adversely, from those discussed or implied herein.
We caution that it is very difficult to predict the impact of known factors, and it is impossible for us to anticipate all factors that could affect our actual results. All forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements. You should evaluate all forward-looking statements made in this press release in the context of the risks and uncertainties disclosed in our SEC filings, including our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 23, 2023. These filings are available online at www.sec.gov or www.prioritycommerce.com.
We caution you that the important factors referenced above may not contain all of the factors that are important to you. In addition, we cannot assure you that we will realize the results or developments we expect or anticipate or, even if substantially realized, that they will result in the consequences we anticipate or affect us or our operations in the way we expect. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements as a predictor of future performance. The forward-looking statements included in this press release are made only as of the date hereof. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as otherwise required by law. If we do update one or more forward-looking statements, no inference should be made that we will make additional updates with respect to those or other forward-looking statements. We qualify all of our forward-looking statements by these cautionary statements.
Priority Technology Holdings, Inc. | |||||||||||||||
Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss | |||||||||||||||
(in thousands, except per share amounts) | |||||||||||||||
Three Months Ended September 30, | Nine Months Ended September 30, | ||||||||||||||
2023 | 2022 | 2023 | 2022 | ||||||||||||
Revenues | $ | 189,015 | $ | 166,417 | $ | 556,333 | $ | 486,086 | |||||||
Operating expenses | |||||||||||||||
Cost of revenue (excludes depreciation and amortization) | 116,682 | 107,958 | 353,929 | 320,187 | |||||||||||
Salary and employee benefits | 20,129 | 16,384 | 58,286 | 48,231 | |||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | 17,275 | 17,817 | 53,303 | 52,675 | |||||||||||
Selling, general and administrative | 11,423 | 10,178 | 31,328 | 27,027 | |||||||||||
Total operating expenses | 165,509 | 152,337 | 496,846 | 448,120 | |||||||||||
Operating income | 23,506 | 14,080 | 59,487 | 37,966 | |||||||||||
Other (expense) income | |||||||||||||||
Interest expense | (19,997 | ) | (13,412 | ) | (55,461 | ) | (37,282 | ) | |||||||
Other income, net | 732 | 231 | 1,319 | 311 | |||||||||||
Total other expense, net | (19,265 | ) | (13,181 | ) | (54,142 | ) | (36,971 | ) | |||||||
Income before income taxes | 4,241 | 899 | 5,345 | 995 | |||||||||||
Income tax expense | 4,328 | 1,691 | 6,550 | 1,833 | |||||||||||
Net loss | (87 | ) | (792 | ) | (1,205 | ) | (838 | ) | |||||||
Less: Dividends and accretion attributable to redeemable senior preferred stockholders | (12,192 | ) | (9,466 | ) | (35,252 | ) | (26,415 | ) | |||||||
Net loss attributable to common stockholders | (12,279 | ) | (10,258 | ) | $ | (36,457 | ) | $ | (27,253 | ) | |||||
Other comprehensive loss | |||||||||||||||
Foreign currency translation adjustments | (65 | ) | — | (34 | ) | — | |||||||||
Comprehensive loss | $ | (12,344 | ) | $ | (10,258 | ) | $ | (36,491 | ) | $ | (27,253 | ) | |||
Loss per common share: | |||||||||||||||
Basic and diluted | $ | (0.16 | ) | $ | (0.13 | ) | $ | (0.47 | ) | $ | (0.35 | ) | |||
Weighted-average common shares outstanding: | |||||||||||||||
Basic and diluted | 78,381 | 77,984 | 78,270 | 78,392 | |||||||||||
Priority Technology Holdings, Inc. | |||||||
Unaudited Consolidated Balance Sheets | |||||||
(in thousands) | |||||||
September 30, 2023 | December 31, 2022 | ||||||
Assets | |||||||
Current assets: | |||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 24,595 | $ | 18,454 | |||
Restricted cash | 13,890 | 10,582 | |||||
Accounts receivable, net of allowances | 61,134 | 78,113 | |||||
Prepaid expenses and other current assets | 13,274 | 11,832 | |||||
Current portion of notes receivable, net of allowance | 1,561 | 1,471 | |||||
Settlement assets and customer/subscriber account balances | 712,170 | 532,018 | |||||
Total current assets | 826,624 | 652,470 | |||||
Notes receivable, less current portion | 3,616 | 3,191 | |||||
Property, equipment and software, net | 41,851 | 34,687 | |||||
Goodwill | 375,794 | 369,337 | |||||
Intangible assets, net | 285,490 | 288,794 | |||||
Deferred income taxes, net | 18,879 | 16,447 | |||||
Other noncurrent assets | 11,145 | 8,437 | |||||
Total assets | $ | 1,563,399 | 1,373,363 | ||||
Liabilities, Redeemable Senior Preferred Stock and Stockholders’ Deficit | |||||||
Current liabilities: | |||||||
Accounts payable and accrued expenses | $ | 56,107 | $ | 51,864 | |||
Accrued residual commissions | 31,023 | 35,979 | |||||
Customer deposits and advance payments | 6,634 | 2,618 | |||||
Current portion of long-term debt | 6,200 | 6,200 | |||||
Settlement and customer/subscriber account obligations | 710,068 | 533,340 | |||||
Total current liabilities | 810,032 | 630,001 | |||||
Long-term debt, net of current portion, discounts and debt issuance costs | 616,781 | 598,926 | |||||
Other noncurrent liabilities | 18,545 | 11,643 | |||||
Total noncurrent liabilities | 635,326 | 610,569 | |||||
Total liabilities | 1,445,358 | 1,240,570 | |||||
Redeemable senior preferred stock, net of discounts and issuance costs | 252,923 | 235,579 | |||||
Stockholders’ deficit: | |||||||
Preferred stock | — | — | |||||
Common stock | 77 | 76 | |||||
Treasury stock, at cost | (12,577 | ) | (11,559 | ) | |||
Additional paid-in capital | — | 9,650 | |||||
Accumulated other comprehensive loss | (34 | ) | — | ||||
Accumulated deficit | (123,714 | ) | (102,208 | ) | |||
Total stockholders’ deficit attributable to stockholders of PRTH | (136,248 | ) | (104,041 | ) | |||
Non-controlling interest | 1,366 | 1,255 | |||||
Total stockholders’ deficit | (134,882 | ) | (102,786 | ) | |||
Total liabilities, redeemable senior preferred stock and stockholders’ deficit | $ | 1,563,399 | $ | 1,373,363 | |||
Priority Technology Holdings, Inc. | |||||||
Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows | |||||||
(in thousands) | |||||||
Nine Months Ended September 30, | |||||||
2023 | 2022 | ||||||
Cash flows from operating activities: | |||||||
Net loss | $ | (1,205 | ) | $ | (838 | ) | |
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities: | |||||||
Depreciation and amortization of assets | 53,303 | 52,675 | |||||
Stock-based compensation | 5,183 | 4,204 | |||||
Amortization of debt issuance costs and discounts | 2,812 | 2,613 | |||||
Deferred income tax | (2,432 | ) | (3,567 | ) | |||
Change in contingent consideration | 906 | — | |||||
Other non-cash items, net | (169 | ) | (154 | ) | |||
Change in operating assets and liabilities: | |||||||
Accounts receivable | 17,931 | (11,265 | ) | ||||
Prepaid expenses and other current assets | (2,630 | ) | (2,575 | ) | |||
Income taxes (receivable) payable | 498 | 1,003 | |||||
Notes receivable | (668 | ) | 569 | ||||
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities | 302 | 13,711 | |||||
Customer deposits and advance payments | 3,802 | (1,910 | ) | ||||
Other assets and liabilities, net | (4,953 | ) | (3,908 | ) | |||
Net cash provided by operating activities | 72,680 | 50,558 | |||||
Cash flows from investing activities: | |||||||
Acquisition of business, net of cash acquired | (28,182 | ) | — | ||||
Additions to property, equipment and software | (15,268 | ) | (11,380 | ) | |||
Notes receivable, net | 151 | (3,250 | ) | ||||
Acquisitions of assets and other investing activities | (7,925 | ) | (6,465 | ) | |||
Net cash used in investing activities | (51,224 | ) | (21,095 | ) | |||
Cash flows from financing activities: | |||||||
Debt issuance and modification costs paid | (807 | ) | — | ||||
Repayments of long-term debt | (4,650 | ) | (4,650 | ) | |||
Borrowings under revolving credit facility | 44,000 | 23,000 | |||||
Repayments of borrowings under revolving credit facility | (23,500 | ) | (32,000 | ) | |||
Repurchases of Common Stock and shares withheld for taxes | (1,018 | ) | (4,674 | ) | |||
Dividends paid to redeemable senior preferred stockholders | (17,908 | ) | (11,478 | ) | |||
Settlement and customer/subscriber accounts obligations, net | 165,610 | 25,695 | |||||
Payment of contingent consideration related to business combination | (4,698 | ) | (3,992 | ) | |||
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities | 157,029 | (8,099 | ) | ||||
Net change in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash: | |||||||
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents, and restricted cash | 178,485 | 21,364 | |||||
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period | 560,610 | 518,093 | |||||
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period | $ | 739,095 | $ | 539,457 | |||
Reconciliation of cash and cash equivalents, and restricted cash: | |||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 24,595 | $ | 12,707 | |||
Restricted cash | 13,890 | 11,624 | |||||
Cash and cash equivalents included in settlement assets and customer/subscriber account balances | 700,610 | 515,126 | |||||
Total cash and cash equivalents, and restricted cash | $ | 739,095 | $ | 539,457 | |||
Priority Technology Holdings, Inc. | ||||||||||||||||
Unaudited Reportable Segments’ Results | ||||||||||||||||
(in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||
Three Months Ended September 30, | Nine Months Ended September 30, | |||||||||||||||
2023 | 2022 | 2023 | 2022 | |||||||||||||
SMB Payments: | ||||||||||||||||
Revenue | $ | 140,109 | $ | 139,892 | $ | 442,937 | $ | 412,357 | ||||||||
Operating expenses | 128,288 | 126,445 | 407,563 | 372,429 | ||||||||||||
Operating income | $ | 11,821 | $ | 13,447 | $ | 35,374 | $ | 39,928 | ||||||||
Operating margin | 8.4 | % | 9.6 | % | 8.0 | % | 9.7 | % | ||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | $ | 9,858 | $ | 11,040 | $ | 31,473 | $ | 32,844 | ||||||||
Key indicators: | ||||||||||||||||
Merchant bankcard processing dollar value | $ | 14,150,995 | $ | 15,098,450 | $ | 44,483,491 | $ | 44,577,857 | ||||||||
Merchant bankcard transaction count | 178,721 | 165,796 | 522,470 | 476,084 | ||||||||||||
B2B Payments: | ||||||||||||||||
Revenue | $ | 13,748 | $ | 4,868 | $ | 19,505 | $ | 16,088 | ||||||||
Operating expenses | 13,670 | 4,651 | 20,295 | 14,799 | ||||||||||||
Operating income (loss) | $ | 78 | $ | 217 | $ | (790 | ) | $ | 1,289 | |||||||
Operating margin | 0.6 | % | 4.5 | % | (4.1 | )% | 8.0 | % | ||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | $ | 772 | $ | 295 | $ | 1,024 | $ | 441 | ||||||||
Key indicators: | ||||||||||||||||
B2B issuing dollar volume | $ | 221,456 | $ | 214,085 | $ | 636,361 | $ | 597,665 | ||||||||
B2B issuing transaction count | 267 | 247 | 829 | 683 | ||||||||||||
Enterprise Payments: | ||||||||||||||||
Revenue | $ | 35,158 | $ | 21,657 | $ | 93,891 | $ | 57,641 | ||||||||
Operating expenses | 13,819 | 12,345 | 43,810 | 38,137 | ||||||||||||
Operating income | $ | 21,339 | $ | 9,312 | $ | 50,081 | $ | 19,504 | ||||||||
Operating margin | 60.7 | % | 43.0 | % | 53.3 | % | 33.8 | % | ||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | $ | 6,154 | $ | 6,203 | $ | 19,557 | $ | 18,599 | ||||||||
Key indicators: | ||||||||||||||||
Average billed clients | 590,578 | 387,384 | 525,274 | 364,766 | ||||||||||||
Average new enrollments | 56,269 | 37,746 | 51,864 | 29,813 | ||||||||||||
Operating income of reportable segments | $ | 33,238 | $ | 22,976 | $ | 84,665 | $ | 60,721 | ||||||||
Less: Corporate expense | (9,732 | ) | (8,896 | ) | (25,178 | ) | (22,755 | ) | ||||||||
Consolidated operating income | $ | 23,506 | $ | 14,080 | $ | 59,487 | $ | 37,966 | ||||||||
Corporate depreciation and amortization | $ | 491 | $ | 279 | $ | 1,249 | $ | 791 | ||||||||
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231109550688/en/
Priority Investor Inquiries:
Chris Kettmann
chris.kettmann@dentonsglobaladvisors.com
(773) 497-7575
Source: Priority Technology Holdings, Inc.
