Fourth Quarter 2018 Financial Results
The Company reported a net loss of $7.3 million or ($0.30) per share in the fourth quarter as compared to net income of $1.5 million or $0.06 per diluted share in the prior year period. The year-over-year change in operating results was primarily due to the elimination of profits from nine company-owned hotels sold during 2018, $3.5 million innon-cash impairment charges and a $3.8 million benefit realized in the prior year associated with the Tax Cut & Jobs Act of 2017.
Adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations, which is adjusted fornon-cash and certainone-time items, was $2.3 million for the fourth quarter as compared to $3.6 million in prior year period. The change in Adjusted EBITDA primarily reflects the lost EBITDA contribution from the sold hotels, partially offset by growth of the franchise business.
Royalty fees increased 36% to $5.7 million primarily due to the contribution from the Knights Inn acquisition and organic growth.
Marketing, reservations and reimbursables revenue, which are fees from franchised properties associated with the Company’s brands and shared services, increased 6.1% to $6.1 million due to new and acquired franchise agreements.
Other franchise fees, which are primarily charges for services provided to franchised properties for services such as revenue management, brand conference, and quality assurance inspections grew 21% to $3.1 million due to the organic and external growth achieved over the last 12 months.
Selling, general, and administrative expenses which include franchise sales, operations and corporate costs decreased by 3.9% to $8.5 million due to our focus on reductions in corporate overhead and efficiencies of the franchise business.
The Company executed 58 franchise agreements in the fourth quarter comprised of 6 upscale and midscale hotels and 52 select service hotels.
Full Year 2018 Financial Results
Net income for the twelve months ended December 31, 2018 was $2.0 million or $0.08 per diluted share compared to net income of $0.6 million or $0.02 per diluted share in the prior year period.
Adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations, which adjusts fornon-cash and certainone-time items, was $15.8 million for 2018 compared to $25.7 million for 2017. The change in adjusted EBITDA reflects the lost EBITDA contribution from the sold hotels, offset by the growth of the franchise business. The nine hotels sold during 2018 contributed $14.5 million in EBITDA during 2017.
Royalty fees increased 27% to $22.3 million primarily due organic growth and the contribution of the Knights Inn acquisition, which added $3.6 million of incremental royalty fees in 2018.
Marketing, reservations and reimbursables revenue fell modestly by 1% to $25.9 million. This was primarily the result of a strategic decision to restructure and enhance the competitiveness of our upscale brand marketing fees.
Selling, general, and administrative expenses increased by 8.0% to $32.1 million. The year over year change primarily reflects incremental costs for severance, the closing of the Florida office, and share based compensation during 2018.
Marketing, reservations and reimbursables expenses rose 5.7% to $26.9 million driven by an increase in transaction and reservation counts, primarily due to more hotels in the system.
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