Ambassadors Group, Inc. (Nasdaq:EPAX), a leading provider of
educational travel experiences and online education research
materials, announced a $0.35 fully diluted per share loss for the
quarter ended March 31, 2010, a 25 percent decline from $0.28 fully
diluted per share loss for the first quarter of 2009. Net loss was
$6.8 million and $5.3 million for the quarters ended March 31, 2010
and 2009, respectively.
"Selling and marketing continue to be challenging in our
weakened economic environment. We are encouraged by the high level
of interest shown in our product concept and the travel programs
themselves, according to recent surveys," said Jeff Thomas,
president and chief executive officer of Ambassadors Group, Inc.
"Our revenue model continues to be highly seasonal, and the first
quarter represents a low point of our revenue seasonality. As
expected, we incurred a loss for the first quarter. Although
disappointed in the results as a whole and traveling significantly
less delegates than a year ago, we are pleased to report a slightly
improved gross margin ratio, 52 percent in first quarter 2010 as
compared to 51 percent in first quarter 2009.
"For the remainder of 2010, the outlook is similar to that which
was provided last quarter. To date, enrolled revenue for 2010 is
down 22 percent. Our core international student ambassador travel
business continues to perform relatively better than our other
program offerings on both the international and domestic travel
fronts. As we enter into the second quarter, we are focused on
preparing for our largest travel quarter of this year, retaining
delegates that have already enrolled but not yet traveled, and
driving our 2011 business plans to ensure growth as the economy
regains a more solid footing.
"We continue to closely examine our operating expenses. We are
balancing investment in new marketing strategies for all
subsidiaries to support our 2011 growth plans with various savings
initiatives, such as our choice to outsource our printing and
mailing operation. At this point, nearly all of our marketing
expenses are for travel in 2011. Still, we actively evaluate
resource deployment and seek opportunities to reduce our
costs.
"Despite the reduced number of travelers in 2010, we continue to
generate positive cash flow. We generated $33.2 million in
operating cash flow, compared to $36.3 million in 2009. We
distributed $1.2 million in dividends to our shareowners and
remained debt free. We completed the quarter with $112.0
million in cash and short-term investments, compared to $108.0
million at first quarter 2009.
"We appreciate the continued support we have received from our
shareowner base while we work through the challenges that this
economic environment represents."
Quarter Ended March 31, 2010
During the first quarter of 2010, we traveled 803 delegates,
down from 3,492 delegates traveling during the same quarter one
year ago. The decrease in traveled delegates is largely due to the
absence of the presidential inauguration program that traveled
approximately 2,200 delegates in the first quarter of 2009. Gross
receipts were $3.1 million in the first quarter of 2010 compared to
$10.4 million in the first quarter of 2009. Gross margin decreased
70 percent, to $1.6 million, in the first quarter of 2010 from $5.3
million in the same period of 2009. The decrease in gross receipts
and gross margin is due to the decline in the number of delegates
traveling with us, predominantly due to the nonrecurring nature of
the 2009 presidential inauguration program as previously mentioned.
Gross receipts and gross margin also include results of operations
for BookRags of $0.8 million and $0.6 million in the first quarter
of 2010, respectively, and $0.9 million and $0.8 million in the
first quarter of 2009, respectively. Gross margin as a percentage
of gross receipts increased to 52 percent in the first quarter of
2010 from 51 percent in 2009.
Operating expenses were $12.0 million in the first quarter of
2010 compared to $12.2 million in the first quarter 2009, a
decrease of 2 percent. Selling and marketing expenses increased
$0.8 million due to additional efforts implemented in an attempt to
grow our 2010 enrollments and acceleration of marketing activities
for future year travel programs that have historically taken place
during the second quarter. General and administrative expenses
decreased $1.0 million predominantly due to insurance benefits
recorded during the quarter related to legal expense claims. For
the first quarter 2010, our operating loss was $10.4 million,
compared to $7.0 million for the first quarter of 2009.
The Company realized other income of $0.4 million in the first
quarter of 2010, as opposed to other expense of $0.4 million in the
first quarter of 2009. The $0.8 million increase in income is due
to the existence of a nonrecurring foreign currency loss of $1.0
million related to our over-hedged foreign currency contracts in
the first quarter of 2009 offset by a $0.1 million decline in
interest income earned during the first quarter of 2010 due to
lower prevailing interest rates.
Balance Sheet and Cash Flow
Total assets at March 31, 2010 were $170.6 million, of which 66
percent, or $112.0 million, were cash and short-term investments.
Our deployable cash (see definition following the cash flow
statement of the press release) increased 74 percent, to $37.4
million, in the first quarter of 2010 from $21.5 million in the
first quarter of 2009. Participant deposits at March 31, 2010 and
2009 were $81.5 million and $96.0 million, respectively, a 15
percent decline due to the decrease in net enrolled delegates.
Cash provided by operations was $33.2 million and $36.3 million
during the quarters ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively.
The $3.1 million decrease resulted from a decline in cash provided
by participant deposits, current period earnings and foreign
currency losses recorded in 2009, offset by a decrease in cash used
for prepaid program expenses. Cash used in investing activities was
$13.9 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2010 while cash
provided by investing activities was $2.3 million for the quarter
ended March 31, 2009. This $16.2 million difference was primarily
due to an increase in cash used to purchase available-for-sale
securities.
Cash used in financing activities was $0.7 million and $1.4
million during the quarters ended March 31, 2010 and 2009,
respectively. During the quarter ended March 31, 2010, we
distributed $1.2 million in cash dividends to our shareholders
offset by $0.3 million in proceeds from stock option exercises.
During the quarter ended March 31, 2009, we distributed $1.1
million in cash dividends to our shareholders and repurchased $0.4
million of our common stock.
Outlook
As of April 19, 2010, the Company's enrolled revenue for 2010
travel programs in comparison to the same date one year ago had
decreased 22 percent. Enrolled revenue was $159.0 million, driven
by the 27,274 net enrolled participants for 2010 travel programs
compared to $203.1 million of enrolled revenue due to 35,566 net
enrolled participants for 2009 on this same day one year ago. The
decrease in enrolled revenue year over year is primarily due to the
23 percent decrease of net enrolled participants. Enrolled revenue
consists of estimated gross receipts to be recognized upon future
travel of enrolled participants and revenue recognized for any
delegates who have completed travel. Net enrollments consist of all
participants who have enrolled in the Company's programs less those
that have already withdrawn. Enrolled revenue may not result in
actual gross receipts eventually recognized by the Company due to
both expected future enrollments and withdrawals from the Company's
programs.
The following summarizes our statements of operations for the
quarters ended March 31, 2010 and 2009 (in thousands, except per
share amounts).
|
UNAUDITED
|
|
Quarter ended March 31,
|
|
2010
|
2009
|
Gross receipts
|
$3,093
|
$10,405
|
Gross margin
|
$1,593
|
$5,281
|
Operating expenses:
|
|
|
Selling and marketing
|
9,629
|
8,872
|
General and administration
|
2,380
|
3,369
|
Total operating expenses
|
12,009
|
12,241
|
|
|
|
Operating loss
|
(10,416)
|
(6,960)
|
|
|
|
Other income (expense)
|
|
|
Interest and dividend income
|
411
|
514
|
Foreign currency and other expense
|
(14)
|
(961)
|
Total other income (expense)
|
397
|
(447)
|
Loss before income tax benefit
|
(10,019)
|
(7,407)
|
Income tax benefit
|
3,263
|
2,153
|
Net loss
|
$(6,756)
|
$(5,254)
|
|
|
|
Loss per share – basic and diluted
|
$(0.35)
|
$(0.28)
|
Weighted average shares outstanding –basic and diluted
|
19,271
|
19,071
|
Gross receipts reflect total payments received by us for
directly delivered and non-directly delivered programs, internet
content sales, and advertising revenues. Gross margin consists of
gross receipts, less program pass-through expenses for non-directly
delivered programs, cost of sales for directly delivered programs,
and content. For non-directly delivered programs, we do not
actively deliver the operations of each program. For directly
delivered programs however, we organize and operate all activities,
including speakers, facilitators, events, accommodations and
transportation.
The following summarizes our balance sheets as of March 31, 2010
and 2009, and December 31, 2009 (in thousands):
|
UNAUDITED
|
|
March 31,
|
|
December 31,
|
|
2010
|
2009
|
|
2009
|
Assets
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents
|
$26,258
|
$44,173
|
|
$7,656
|
Available-for-sale securities and other
|
85,764
|
63,804
|
|
73,528
|
Foreign currency exchange contracts
|
345
|
—
|
|
1,076
|
Prepaid program cost and expenses
|
12,417
|
14,866
|
|
3,175
|
Accounts receivable
|
5,366
|
4,726
|
|
2,020
|
Deferred tax asset
|
—
|
2,788
|
|
25
|
Total current assets
|
130,150
|
130,357
|
|
87,480
|
Property and equipment, net
|
29,022
|
28,874
|
|
29,376
|
Available-for-sale securities
|
1,248
|
1,837
|
|
1,397
|
Deferred tax asset
|
—
|
184
|
|
—
|
Intangibles
|
2,970
|
2,474
|
|
2,822
|
Goodwill
|
6,911
|
6,898
|
|
6,911
|
Other long-term assets
|
311
|
410
|
|
109
|
Total assets
|
$170,612
|
$171,034
|
|
$128,095
|
|
|
|
|
|
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
|
|
|
|
|
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
|
$5,419
|
$5,250
|
|
$5,188
|
Foreign currency exchange contracts
|
—
|
6,487
|
|
—
|
Participants' deposits
|
81,546
|
95,968
|
|
31,137
|
Deferred tax liability
|
73
|
—
|
|
—
|
Other liabilities
|
110
|
126
|
|
112
|
Total current liabilities
|
87,148
|
107,831
|
|
36,437
|
Deferred tax liability
|
96
|
—
|
|
652
|
Foreign currency exchange contracts
|
—
|
2,249
|
|
—
|
Total liabilities
|
87,244
|
110,080
|
|
37,089
|
Stockholders' equity
|
83,368
|
60,954
|
|
91,006
|
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity
|
$170,612
|
$171,034
|
|
$128,095
|
The following summarizes our statements of cash flows for the
quarters ended March 31, 2010 and 2009 (in thousands):
|
UNAUDITED
|
|
Quarter ended March 31,
|
|
2010
|
2009
|
Cash flows from operating activities:
|
|
|
Net loss
|
$(6,756)
|
$(5,254)
|
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by
operating activities:
|
|
|
Depreciation and amortization
|
1,135
|
1,010
|
Deferred income tax (benefit) provision
|
(92)
|
95
|
Stock-based compensation
|
507
|
465
|
Excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation
|
(106)
|
(2)
|
(Gain) loss on sale of assets
|
12
|
(1)
|
Write down of property and equipment
|
243
|
—
|
Loss on foreign currency contracts
|
—
|
962
|
Change in assets and liabilities:
|
|
|
Accounts receivable and other current assets
|
(3,346)
|
(2,760)
|
Prepaid program costs and expenses
|
(9,444)
|
(10,998)
|
Accounts payable, accrued expenses, and other current
liabilities
|
609
|
977
|
Participants' deposits
|
50,409
|
51,802
|
Net cash provided by operating activities
|
33,171
|
36,296
|
Cash flows from investing activities:
|
|
|
Proceeds from available-for-sale securities
|
7,397
|
12,626
|
Purchase of available-for-sale securities
|
(19,774)
|
(8,818)
|
Purchase and construction of property and equipment
|
(1,244)
|
(1,365)
|
Purchase of intangibles
|
(239)
|
(140)
|
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities
|
(13,860)
|
2,303
|
Cash flows from financing activities:
|
|
|
Dividend payment to shareholders
|
(1,156)
|
(1,145)
|
Repurchase of common stock
|
—
|
(409)
|
Proceeds from exercise of stock options
|
341
|
148
|
Excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation
|
106
|
2
|
Capital lease payments and other
|
—
|
(11)
|
Net cash used in financing activities
|
(709)
|
(1,415)
|
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
|
18,602
|
37,184
|
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period
|
7,656
|
6,989
|
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period
|
$26,258
|
$44,173
|
Our operations are organized into two reporting segments, (1)
"Ambassador Programs and Other", which provides educational travel
services to students, professionals and athletes through multiple
itineraries within five travel program types and (2) "BookRags",
which provides online research capabilities through book summaries,
critical essays, online study guides, biographies, and references
to encyclopedia articles.
The following presents the segment operating performance during
the quarters ended March 31, 2010 and March 31, 2009 (in
thousands):
|
Quarter ended March 31,
|
|
2010
|
2009
|
Gross margin:
|
|
|
Ambassador Programs and Other
|
$949
|
$4,506
|
BookRags
|
644
|
775
|
Total consolidated gross margin
|
$1,593
|
$5,281
|
|
|
|
Operating income (loss):
|
|
|
Ambassador Programs and Other
|
$(10,721)
|
$(7,465)
|
BookRags
|
305
|
505
|
Total operating income (loss)
|
$(10,416)
|
$(6,960)
|
|
|
|
Assets
|
|
|
Ambassador Programs and Other
|
$158,748
|
$160,193
|
BookRags
|
11,864
|
10,841
|
Total assets
|
$170,612
|
$171,034
|
Deployable cash is a non-GAAP liquidity measure. Deployable cash
is calculated as the sum of cash and cash equivalents, short-term
available-for-sale securities, and prepaid program costs and
expenses, less the sum of accounts payable, accrued expenses and
other short-term liabilities (excluding deferred taxes) and
participant deposits. Free cash flow is a non-GAAP cash flow
measure. Free cash flow is calculated as cash flow from operations
less purchase of property, plant, equipment and intangibles. We
believe these non-GAAP measures are useful to investors in
understanding the cash available to deploy for current and future
business opportunities as well as the cash generated within a
calendar year for future use in operations.
The following summarizes our deployable cash as of March 31,
2010 and 2009, and December 31, 2009 (in thousands):
|
UNAUDITED
|
|
March 31,
|
December 31,
|
|
2010
|
2009
|
2009
|
Cash, cash equivalents and short-term available-for-sale
securities
|
$112,022
|
$107,977
|
$81,184
|
Prepaid program cost and expenses
|
12,417
|
14,866
|
3,175
|
Less: Participants' deposits
|
(81,546)
|
(95,968)
|
(31,137)
|
Less: Accounts payable / accruals / other liabilities
|
(5,529)
|
(5,376)
|
(5,300)
|
Deployable cash
|
$37,364
|
$21,499
|
$47,922
|
The following summarizes our free cash flow as of March 31, 2010
and 2009, and December 31, 2009 (in thousands):
|
UNAUDITED
|
|
March 31,
|
December 31,
|
|
2010
|
2009
|
2009
|
Cash flow from operations as reported
|
$33,171
|
$36,296
|
$16,138
|
Purchase of property, equipment and intangibles
|
(1,483)
|
(1,524)
|
(5,883)
|
Free cash flow
|
$31,688
|
$34,772
|
$10,255
|
Quarterly conference call and webcast
We will host a conference call to discuss first quarter 2010
results of operations on Thursday, April 22, 2010 at 8:30 A.M.
Pacific Time. You may join the call by dialing 800-946-0712then use
the pass code: 1851248. Or, you may also join the call via the
Internet at www.ambassadorsgroup.com/EPAX. For post-view access,
you may dial 888-203-1112 with the pass code 1851248 and follow the
prompts, or visit www.ambassadorsgroup.com/EPAX. Post-view dial-in
access and post-view Webcast access will be available beginning
April 23, 2010.
Business overview
Ambassadors Group, Inc. (Nasdaq:EPAX) is a socially conscious
education company located in Spokane, Washington. Ambassadors
Group, Inc. is the parent company of Ambassador Programs, Inc.,
World Adventures Unlimited, Inc. and BookRags, Inc., an educational
research website. The company also oversees the Washington School
of World Studies, an accredited travel study and distance learning
school. Additional information about Ambassadors Group, Inc. and
its subsidiaries is available at http://www.ambassadorsgroup.com.
In this press release, "Company", "we", "us", and "our" refer to
Ambassadors Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries.
The Ambassadors Group, Inc. logo is available at
http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=3541
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements regarding
our actual and expected financial performance and the reasons for
variances between period-to-period results. Forward-looking
statements, which are included per the "safe harbor" provisions of
the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, may involve
known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may
cause our actual results and performance in future periods to be
materially different from any future results or performance
suggested by the forward-looking statements in this release. Such
forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this
release and may not reflect risks related to international unrest,
outbreak of disease, conditions in the travel industry, direct
marketing environment, changes in economic conditions and changes
in the competitive environment. We expressly disclaim any
obligation to provide public updates or revisions to any
forward-looking statements found herein to reflect any changes in
our expectations or any change in events. Although we believe the
expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based
upon reasonable assumptions, we can give no assurance that our
expectations will be met. For a more complete discussion of these
and other factors, please refer to the Ambassadors Group, Inc. 10-K
filed March 2, 2010 and proxy statement filed April 13, 2010.
CONTACT: Ambassadors Group, Inc.
Kristi J. Gravelle
(509) 568-7800
Ambassadors (NASDAQ:EPAX)
Historical Stock Chart
From May 2024 to Jun 2024
Ambassadors (NASDAQ:EPAX)
Historical Stock Chart
From Jun 2023 to Jun 2024