Though there are vast quantities of financial content available in print publications and on the Internet, often the insight and expertise to make sense of it all remains elusive. TheStreet.com and its expanding network of properties strive to provide a solution, offering information to increase individuals’ financial acumen and the tools to apply their knowledge.
However, we believe that the growth opportunity on the free, advertising supported side of the business is far greater than that on the subscription side of the business, and we anticipate a continued shift in our revenue mix toward increased advertising revenue as we pursue our strategy to attract a larger, consumer audience to our expanding array of content.
TheStreet.com TV is a free, advertising supported online video network providing a daily menu of original business news and short form feature programs.TheStreet.com TV offers continuous programming each day to keep investors informed of important changes in daily market conditions as well as information regarding personal finance and other topics that are relevantto investors.
We have a number of free, advertising supported email newsletters including daily and weekly market bulletins, and we continue to expand the number of advertising supported podcasts available for download.
We generate revenue from our free content through the sale of the following types of advertising placements:
- Advertisement and sponsorship placements in our advertising-supported Web sites, TheStreet.comand Stockpickr.com, as well as on our paid subscription site,RealMoney;
- Advertisement placements in our free email newsletters;
- Sponsorship of stand-alone emails to our registered users; and
- Advertisements in TheStreet.com TV and in our audio Podcasts.
Since we refocused our strategy on the consumer market in mid 2005, advertising sales have experienced significant growth, which we believe is attributable to several factors.
First, as a result of the attractiveness of our expanded content offerings and our success in implementing marketing relationships with other high-traffic Web sites, we experienced strong increases in page views and unique visitors to our network of Web sites. In the first quarter of 2007, our network generated 287 million page views, a 28% increase over the prior year, and an average of 5.0 million unique users per month, an increase of 11% over the prior year. The growth in page views increased the amount of advertising inventory we had available to sell to advertisers, while the growth in our unique audience attracted new advertisers to the site, and allowed us to expand our relationships with a number of our existing advertisers. Advertising revenue in the first quarter of 2007 from non-financial advertisers increased by 139% over the same period last year, and represented 32% of total advertising revenue in the quarter, as compared to 21% in the first quarter of 2006.
Additionally, we believe that the continued shift of advertising spending from traditional media to online advertising has led to increased spending by our advertisers. See “Risk Factors—We May Have Difficulty Increasing Our Advertising Revenue, a Significant Portion of Which Is Concentrated Among Our Top Advertisers.”
Finally, the wealth of free, advertising supported content atwww.thestreet.com and www.stockpickr.com, and paid content offerings through our RealMoney website and subscription services, has earned recognition as reliable, timely, relevant and educational, which attracts a growing audience and is attractive to advertisers seeking to associate their brands with high quality content. In 2006, we received the following awards and distinctions:
- Society of America Business Editors and Writers’ Award Winner of “Best in Business” forTheStreet.com column: “The Five Dumbest Things on Wall Street This Week”
- Media Industry Newsletter, Editorial Excellence and Special Online Coverage, honorable mention
- 2006 Media Industry Newsletter’s “Best E-mail Newsletter Award” Winner for TheStreet.com OptionsAlerts
- 2006 Gerald Loeb Award for Distinguished Business and Financial Journalism, Finalist for News Services and Online Content category
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- 2006 Media Industry Newsletter “Best of the Web” Awards, Finalist for Editor of a Website (DavidMorrow, the Company’s Editor-in-Chief)
- 2007 Codie Awards finalist for “Best Online News Service” for www.thestreet.com
- 2007 Codie Awards finalist for “Best Financial Blog” for Jim Cramer’s Daily “Booyahs!”
Our goal is to be a trusted resource to our audience, helping them to understand financial alternatives and providing them with the tools necessary for sound and informed financial decision-making. Our strategy is to continue to expand our content offerings and distribution channels to attract a wider consumer audience to our investing, personal finance, education and lifestyle content. Key initiatives for 2007 include:
TheStreet.com TV.Having establishedTheStreet.com TV as a premiere online video destination for financial news and analysis, in 2007 we expect to add additional small business, personal finance, education and lifestyle content to meet the needs of our expanding audience and to attract new advertisers. We also intend to continue to expand our roster of syndication partners, using our video content to attract new visitors to our site who may not otherwise be familiar with our offerings.
TheStreet.com Ratings. In the first quarter of 2007, we enhanced our mutual fund, stock and ETF ratings screening tool with free ratings on more than 3,800 insurance companies and 8,500 financial institutions nationwide. In April of 2007, we launched an advertising supported ETF center, combining content from TheStreet.com Ratings with editorial and educational content specifically focused on ETFs. By the end of the second quarter of 2007, we expect to launch a similar mutual fund center. We intend to continue to expand our syndication relationships with parties interested in the Ratings content, in order to increase revenue and brand awareness.
TheStreet.com University.We believe that there is an opportunity to deliver a unique educational experience focused on investing and personal finance in a free, advertising supported environment. In 2007, we intend to continue to build upon the early foundations laid within TheStreet.com University, a section of our Web site dedicated to educational content. In the first quarter of 2007, we added a searchable financial glossary to the site, which is also hyperlinked to terms within certain articles and stories throughout the site. Throughout 2007, we expect to continue to add tools, articles and video to provide a comprehensive educational experience for visitors to our site who want to increase their financial acumen. Given the evergreen nature of educational content, we also expect to incorporate our educational efforts into a comprehensive Search Engine Optimization campaign and seek appropriate syndication opportunities with partners.
Social networking. Finally, we look to continue to capitalize on opportunities to implement social networking within our offerings, to grow our audience and deepen our visitors’ engagement within our network of properties. In the first quarter of 2007 we launched Stockpickr.com in a joint venture with A.R. Partners, and we expect to continue to incorporate Web 2.0 functionality into Stockpickr, and tighten its integration with TheStreet.com. In April of 2007, we launched a stock market trading game, “Beat the Street”, a free, advertising supported competition. Throughout 2007, we will run a series of rounds of the game, which we anticipate will attract new unique visitors to our site and generate page views we can monetize. We intend to continue to incorporate interactive features on our web properties, to increase user engagement, page views and attract new unique visitors.
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Critical Accounting Estimates
General
The Company’s discussion and analysis of its financial condition and results of operations are based upon its consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. The preparation of these financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions, specifically for the allowance for doubtful accounts receivable, the useful lives of fixed assets, the valuation of goodwill and intangible assets, as well as accrued expense estimates that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expense during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
The Company believes the following critical accounting policies affect its more significant judgments and estimates used in the preparation of its consolidated financial statements.
Revenue Recognition
The Company generates its revenue primarily from subscriptions and advertising.
Subscription revenue represents fees paid by customers for access to particular services for the term of the subscription. Subscriptions are generally charged to customers’ credit cards or are directly billed to corporate subscribers. These are generally billed in advance on a monthly or annual basis. The Company calculates net subscription revenue by deducting anticipated refunds from cancelled subscriptions and chargebacks of disputed credit card charges from gross revenue. Net subscription revenue is recognized ratably over the subscription periods. Deferred revenue relates to subscription fees for which amounts have been collected but for which revenue has not been recognized.
Subscription revenue is subject to estimation and variability due to the fact that, in the normal course of business, subscribers may for various reasons contact us or their credit card companies to request a refund or other adjustment for a previously purchased subscription. Accordingly, we maintain a provision for estimated future revenue reductions resulting from expected refunds and chargebacks related to subscriptions for which revenue was recognized in a prior period. The calculation of this provision is based upon historical trends and is reevaluated each quarter.
Advertising revenue is derived from the sale of Internet sponsorship arrangements and from the delivery of banner, video and email advertisements on the Company’s Web sites, and is recognized ratably over the period the advertising is displayed, provided that no significant Company obligations remain and collection of the resulting receivable is reasonably assured. Although infrequent, Company obligations could include guarantees of a minimum number of times that users of the Company’s Web sites “click-through” to the advertisers’ Web site, or take additional specified action, such as opening an account. In such cases, revenue is recognized as the guaranteed “click-throughs” or other relevant delivery criteria are fulfilled.
Advertising revenue is subject to estimation and variability due to our policy of recognizing revenue only for arrangements with customers in which, among other things, management believes that collectibility of amounts due is reasonably assured. Accordingly, we estimate and record a provision for doubtful accounts for estimated losses resulting from the failure of our advertising customers to make required payments. This provision is recorded as a bad debt expense. A considerable amount of judgment is required in assessing the ultimate realization of these receivables, including the current credit-worthiness of each customer.
Property and Equipment
Property and equipment are stated at cost, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization. Property and equipment are depreciated on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the assets (three years for computer equipment, including capitalized software and Web site development costs, and five years for furniture and fixtures). Leasehold improvements are amortized on a straight-line basis over the shorter of the respective lease term or the estimated useful life of the asset. If the useful lives of the assets differ materially from these estimates, additional costs could be incurred, which could have an adverse impact on the Company’s expenses.
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Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets
In July 2001, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets.” SFAS No. 142 requires companies to stop amortizing goodwill and certain other intangible assets with indefinite useful lives. Instead, goodwill and other intangible assets deemed to have an indefinite useful life will be subject to an annual review for impairment. Separable intangible assets that are not deemed to have indefinite useful lives will continue to be amortized over their useful lives (but with no maximum life).
Upon the adoption of SFAS No. 142 in the first quarter of 2002, the Company stopped the amortization of goodwill and certain other intangible assets with indefinite useful lives, and completed the required transitional fair value impairment test on its goodwill and certain other intangible assets, the results of which had no impact on the Company’s financial statements. The Company’s goodwill is tested for impairment between annual tests if an event occurs or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit below its carrying amount. Based upon annual impairment tests as of September 30, 2006, 2005 and 2004, no impairment was indicated for the Company’s goodwill and intangible assets with indefinite lives.
Business Concentrations and Credit Risk
Financial instruments that subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash and accounts receivable. The Company maintains all of its cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash in four financial institutions and performs periodic evaluations of the relative credit standing of these institutions. The Company’s customers are primarily concentrated in the United States. The Company performs ongoing credit evaluations, generally does not require collateral, and establishes an allowance for doubtful accounts based upon factors surrounding the credit risk of customers, historical trends and other information. To date, actual losses have been within management’s expectations.
The Company’s top five advertisers accounted for approximately 36% of its total advertising revenue for the three-month period ended March 31, 2007, as compared to approximately 46% for the three-month period ended March 31, 2006. One advertiser accounted for approximately 11% of total advertising revenue during the three-month period ended March 31, 2007, as compared to one advertiser accounting for approximately 23% of total advertising revenue during the three-month period ended March 31, 2006.
Stock Based Compensation
As of October 1, 2005, the Company elected early adoption of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 123(R), “Share Based Payment: An Amendment of FASB Statements 123 and 95” using the modified prospective transition method. This statement requires that the cost resulting from all share-based payment transactions be recognized in the financial statements based upon estimated fair values. Prior to adoption of SFAS No. 123(R), the Company accounted for stock-based compensation expense on a pro forma basis in accordance with Accounting Principles Board No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees” (“APB 25”). In March 2005, the Securities and Exchange Commission issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 107 (“SAB 107”) relating to SFAS No. 123(R). The Company has applied the provisions of SAB 107 in its adoption of SFAS No. 123(R).
Stock-based compensation expense recognized under SFAS No. 123(R) for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2007 and 2006 was $593,937 and $348,965, respectively.
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Upon adoption of SFAS No. 123(R), the Company continued its practice of estimating the value of employee stock options on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. This determination is affected by the Company’s stock price as well as assumptions regarding expected volatility, risk-free interest rate, and expected dividends. The weighted-average estimated value of employee stock options granted during the three-month period ended March 31, 2007 was $4.23, using the Black-Scholes model with the following weighted-average assumptions. The assumptions presented in the table below represent the weighted-average value of the applicable assumption used to value stock options at their grant date. In determining the volatility assumption, the Company used a historical analysis of the volatility of the Company’s share price for the preceding two years, based on management’s assessment that recent historical volatility is representative of future stock price trends. The expected option lives, which represent the period of time that options granted are expected to be outstanding, were estimated based upon the “simplified” method for “plain-vanilla” options. The risk-free interest rate assumption is based upon observed interest rates appropriate for the term of the Company’s employee stock options.The dividend yield assumption is based on the history and expectation of future dividend payouts.
| | Three Months Ended |
| | March 31, 2007 |
Expected option lives | | 3.5 years |
Expected volatility | | 49.73% |
Risk-free interest rate | | 4.63% |
Expected dividends | | 1.04% |
As stock-based compensation expense recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Operations is based on awards that are ultimately expected to vest, it has been reduced for expected forfeitures. SFAS No. 123(R) requires forfeitures to be estimated at the time of grant and revised, if necessary, in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ from those estimates. Forfeitures were estimated based on historical experience.
If factors change and the Company employs different assumptions in the application of SFAS No. 123(R) in future periods, the compensation expense that the Company records under SFAS No. 123(R) may differ significantly from what it has recorded in the current period.
Income Taxes
The Company accounts for its income taxes in accordance with SFAS No. 109, “Accounting for Income Taxes.” Under SFAS No. 109, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply totaxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets or liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in the period that the tax change occurs. SFAS No. 109 also requires that deferred tax assets be reduced by a valuation allowance if it is more likely than not that some or all of the deferred tax asset will not be realized.
Deferred tax assets pertaining to windfall tax benefits on exercise of share awards and the corresponding credit to additional paid-in capital are recorded if the related tax deduction reduces tax payable. The Company has elected the “With-and–without approach” regarding ordering of windfall tax benefits to determine whether the windfall tax benefit did reduce taxes payable in the current year. Under this approach, the windfall tax benefits would be recognized in additional paid-in capital only if an incremental tax benefit is realized after considering all other tax benefits presently available to the Company.
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Results of Operations
Comparison of Three Months Ended March 31, 2007 and March 31, 2006
Revenue
| | | For the Three Months Ended | | | | | | |
| | | March 31, | | | Change |
| | | 2007 | | | 2006 | | | Amount | | Percent |
Revenue: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Subscription | | $ | 8,743,015 | | $ | 7,628,039 | | $ | 1,114,976 | | 15 | % |
Advertising | | | 5,069,013 | | | 3,242,749 | | | 1,826,264 | | 56 | % |
Other | | | 695,536 | | | 276,317 | | | 419,219 | | 152 | % |
Total revenue | | $ | 14,507,564 | | $ | 11,147,105 | | $ | 3,360,459 | | 30 | % |
Subscription.Subscription revenue is derived from annual and monthly subscriptions, and is recognized ratably over the subscription period. We believe the growth in subscription revenue is due largely to our success in (i) increasing overall traffic to our Web sites by signing new agreements and expanding existing relationships with large, high-traffic portal and search engine companies, (ii) promoting our brands, products and services through television and (until December 2006) radio programs hosted by contributor James J. Cramer, and (iii) generating interest in our paid subscription services with expanded content offerings, including video and podcasts, personal finance and investor education content and lifestyle-oriented content. We also believe that strong trading volume and stock market performance during much of the previous 12 months resulted in increased numbers of investors seeking the type of investment information that the Company offers. Finally, we added new subscribers as a result of our acquisition of TheStreet.com Ratings during August 2006, which contributed to the growth in our subscription revenue as compared to the prior year period.
For the three-month period ended March 31, 2007, approximately 71% of the Company’s net subscription revenue was derived from annual subscriptions, as compared to approximately 65% for the three-month period ended March 31, 2006. The Company calculates net subscription revenue by deducting anticipated refunds from cancelled subscriptions and chargebacks of disputed credit card charges from gross revenue. Refunds and chargebacks totaled less than 1% of gross subscription revenue during each of the three-month periods ended March 31, 2007 and 2006.
Advertising. Advertising revenue is derived from the placement of advertisements on the Company’s Web sites, email newsletters, video content and podcasts. In the first quarter of 2007, the Company had an 11% increase in the average number of monthly unique visitors and a 28% increase the number of page views generated by the Company’s Web sites, when compared to the three-month period ended March 31, 2006.
The growth in advertising revenue is attributable to the effective monetization of increases in both unique users and page views on the Company’s Web sites. The increase in reach and page views, combined with continued strength in our audience demographics, and the ability to create new and unique customized ad solutions enable us to expand relationships with existing advertisers, acquire new financial advertisers and attract increasing numbers of non-endemic advertisers.
We believe that we have particular appeal to a growing number of non-financial advertisers, who comprised 32% of total advertising revenue in the three-month period ended March 31, 2007, as compared to 21%in the three-month period ending March 31, 2006. Additionally, we believe that the continued shift of advertising spending from traditional media to online advertising has led generally to increased spending by the Company’s advertisers and to an increase in the number of advertisers choosing to place their advertisements in the Company’s publications.
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The number of advertisers for the three-month period ended March 31, 2007 was 75 as compared to 69 for the three-month period ended March 31, 2006. The Company’s top five advertisers accounted for approximately 36% of its total advertising revenue for the three-month period ended March 31, 2007, as compared to approximately 46% for the three-month period ended March 31, 2006. For the three-month period ended March 31, 2007, one advertiser accounted for approximately 11% of total advertising revenue. For the three-month period ended March 31, 2006, one advertiser accounted for approximately 23% of total advertising revenue.
Other. For the three-month period ended March 31, 2007, other revenue consists primarily of syndication revenue. For the three-month period ended March 31, 2006, other revenue also included revenue related to the Company’s nationally syndicated daily radio program,RealMoney with Jim Cramer prior to its discontinuation in December 2006.
The increase in other revenue is primarily the result of revenue received from the syndication of independent research from Ratings, partially offset by a decrease in revenue related to the Company’s nationally syndicated daily radio program.
Operating Expense
| | | For the Three Months Ended | | | | | |
| | | March 31, | | Change |
| | | 2007 | | | 2006 | | | Amount | | Percent |
Operating expense: | | | | | | | | | | | |
Cost of services | | $ | 5,626,089 | | $ | 4,146,912 | | $ | 1,479,177 | | 36% |
Sales and marketing | | | 3,329,740 | | | 2,146,915 | | | 1,182,825 | | 55% |
General and administrative | | | 2,708,021 | | | 2,371,850 | | | 336,171 | | 14% |
Depreciation and amortization | | | 379,207 | | | 186,988 | | | 192,219 | | 103% |
Total operating expense | | $ | 12,043,057 | | $ | 8,852,665 | | $ | 3,190,392 | | 36% |
Cost of services.Cost of services expense includes compensation and benefits for the Company’s editorial, technology and ratings analyst staffs, as well as fees paid to non-employee content providers, expenses for contract programmers and developers, communication lines and other technology costs.
As a percentage of revenue, cost of services expense was 38.8% in the first quarter of 2007, as compared to 37.2% in the first quarter of 2006. This increase is directly attributable to the operations of TheStreet.com Ratings since the Ratings acquisition on August 7, 2006. The Ratings print business requires more direct costs, primarily for analyst salaries, data and printing. The increase in absolute dollars during the period was largely the result of incremental costs associated with the operations of TheStreet.com Ratings, increased compensation and related costs within our editorial and video staffs related to the creation of additional content to drive increased advertising revenue, combined with increases in costs associated with consulting, computer maintenance and hosting, partially offset by reduced data acquisition costs.
Sales and marketing.Sales and marketing expense consists primarily of advertising and promotion, promotional materials, content distribution fees, and compensation expense for the direct sales force and customer service departments.
As a percentage of revenue, sales and marketing expense was 23.0% in the first quarter of 2007, as compared to 19.3% in the first quarter of 2006. This increase is largely attributable to the Company’s expanded promotional efforts to achieve additional pageviews and unique users to drive advertising revenue growth. The increase in absolute dollars during the period was largely the result of the overall growth of the Company, resulting in higher compensation and related costs (including an increase in the average headcount, increased non-cash compensation related to the expensing of awards under the Company’s stock incentive plan, and higher incentive compensation related to improved operating performance), combined with increased advertising and promotion costs and consulting fees. The increased expense also reflects incremental costs associated with the operations of TheStreet.com Ratings since the Rating s acquisition on August 7, 2006.
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General and administrative. General and administrative expense consists primarily of compensation for general management, finance and administrative personnel, occupancy costs, professional fees, equipment rental and other office expenses.
As a percentage of revenue, general and administrative expense was 18.7% in the first quarter of 2007, as compared to 21.3% in the first quarter of 2006. This decrease is largely attributable to management’s ability to generate additional revenue with minimal impact on the overhead cost structure. The increase in absolute dollars during the period was largely the result of the overall growth of the Company, resulting in higher compensation and related costs (including higher salary expense due to an increase in the average headcount and non-cash compensation related to the expensing of awards under the Company’s stock incentive plan). The increased expense also reflects incremental costs associated with the operations of TheStreet.com Ratings since the Ratings acquisition on August 7, 2006.
Depreciation and amortization.As a percentage of revenue, depreciation and amortization expense was 2.6% in the first quarter of 2007, as compared to 1.7% in the first quarter of 2006. This increase is largely attributable to amortization of intangible assets and depreciation of capital expenditures related to the Ratings acquisition.
Net Interest Income
| | For the Three Months Ended | | | | | | |
| | March 31, | | Change |
| | | 2007 | | | 2006 | | | Amount | | Percent |
Net interest income | | $ | 600,657 | | $ | 340,056 | | $ | 260,601 | | 77 | % |
The increase in net interest income is primarily the result of increased cash balances combined with higher interest rates.
Discontinued Operations
| | For the Three Months Ended | | |
| | March 31, | | | Change |
| | | 2007 | | | | 2006 | | | | Amount | | Percent |
Loss on disposal of discontinuedoperations | | $ | (1,385 | ) | | $ | (5,517 | ) | | $ | 4,132 | | 75 | % |
In June 2005, the Company committed to a plan to discontinue the operations of the Company’s securities research and brokerage segment. Accordingly, the operating results relating to this segment have been segregated from continuing operations and reported as a separate line item on the consolidated statements of operations.
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For the three-month periods ended March 31, 2007 and 2006, loss on disposal of discontinued operations represents additional legal fees incurred in connection with the liquidation process.
The fair market values of the remaining liabilities of the discontinued operation are as follows:
| | | March 31, | | | December 31, |
| | | 2007 | | | 2006 |
Current liabilities | | $ | 223,486 | | $ | 222,425 |
Net Income
Net income for the three-month period ended March 31, 2007 totaled $3,002,504, or $0.11 per basic and diluted share, compared to $2,576,381, or $0.10 and $0.09 per basic and diluted share, respectively, for the three-month period ended March 31, 2006.
Non-GAAP adjusted net income for the three-month period ended March 31, 2007 totaled $3,596,441, or $0.13 per basic and diluted share, compared to $2,925,346, or $0.11 per basic and diluted share for the three-month period ended March 31, 2006. Non-GAAP adjusted net income is calculated as follows:
| | | For the Three Months Ended |
| | | March 31, |
| | | 2007 | | | 2006 |
Net income | | $ | 3,002,504 | | $ | 2,576,381 |
Add noncash stock compensation expense | | | 593,937 | | | 348,965 |
Non-GAAP adjusted net income | | $ | 3,596,441 | | $ | 2,925,346 |
|
Non-GAAP adjusted basic net income per share | | $ | 0.13 | | $ | 0.11 |
Non-GAAP adjusted diluted net income per share | | $ | 0.13 | | $ | 0.11 |
|
Weighted average basic shares outstanding | | | 27,944,360 | | | 26,048,562 |
Weighted average diluted shares outstanding | | | 28,383,061 | | | 27,626,644 |
Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization
Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”) for the three-month period ended March 31, 2007 totaled $2,887,954, compared to EBITDA of $2,508,161 for the three-month period ended March 31, 2006. EBITDA is calculated as follows:
| | | For the Three Months Ended | |
| | March 31, |
| | | 2007 | | | | 2006 | |
Net income | | $ | 3,002,504 | | | $ | 2,576,381 | |
Less net interest income | | | (600,657 | ) | | | (340,056 | ) |
Add taxes | | | 106,900 | | | | 84,848 | |
Add depreciation and amortization | | | 379,207 | | | | 186,988 | |
EBITDA | | $ | 2,887,954 | | | $ | 2,508,161 | |
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Liquidity and Capital Resources
The Company invests in money market funds and other short-term, investment grade instruments that are highly liquid and of high-quality, with the intent that such funds can easily be made available for operating purposes. As of March 31, 2007, the Company’s cash and cash equivalents and noncurrent restricted cash amounted to $49,282,021, representing 73% of total assets.
Cash generated from operations was sufficient to cover expenses during the three-month period ended March 31, 2007. Net cash provided by operating activities totaled $3,718,191 for the three-month period ended March 31, 2007, as compared to net cash provided by operating activities totaling $4,138,831 for the three-month period ended March 31, 2006. The decrease in net cash provided by operating activities is primarily related to the following:
- higher annual incentive compensation payments during the three months ended March 31, 2007related to the 2006 fiscal year, as compared to payments made during the three months ended March31, 2006 related to the 2005 fiscal year; and
- a slow-down in the overall growth of deferred revenue in the three months ended March 31, 2007,as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2006.
These decreases were partially offset by the following:- improved collection of receivables in the three months ended March 31, 2007 as compared to thethree months ended March 31, 2006;
- an increase in the level of accounts payable in the three months ended March 31, 2007 as comparedto the three months ended March 31, 2006 due to the growth of the Company; and
- an increase in the level of noncash expenses.
Net cash provided by operating activities of $3,718,191 for the three-month period ended March 31, 2007 was primarily the result of the Company’s net income combined with noncash expenses, an increase in deferred revenue (resulting from increased subscription sales), a decrease in accounts receivable (resulting from improved collections) and an increase in accounts payable (due to the overall growth of the Company). This was partially offset by a decrease in accrued expenses (primarily the result of payments related to annual incentive compensation).
Net cash used in investing activities of $928,229 for the three-month period ended March 31, 2007 was primarily the result of capital expenditures consisting of capitalized website development costs and purchases of computer hardware, leasehold improvements, furniture and fixtures and software.
Net cash used in financing activities of $63,173 for the three-month period ended March 31, 2007 primarily consisted of cash dividends paid partially offset by the proceeds from the exercise of stock options.
The Company has a total of $500,000 of cash invested in a certificate of deposit that serves as collateral for an outstanding letter of credit, and is therefore restricted. The letter of credit serves as a security deposit for the Company’s principal office space in New York City. The office lease expires in November 2009, and the restricted cash is therefore classified as a noncurrent asset.
The Company believes that its current cash and cash equivalents will be sufficient to meet its anticipated cash needs for at least the next 12 months. The Company is committed to cash expenditures in an aggregate amount of approximately $4.4 million through March 31, 2008, in respect of the contractual obligations set forth below under “Commitments and Contingencies.” Additionally, the Company’s Board of Directors declared a cash dividend in the amount of $0.025 per share of common stock during the three-month period ended March 31, 2007, which resulted in a cash expenditure of approximately $0.7 million. The Company intends, although there can be no assurance, to maintain the dividend at the current annual level of $0.10 per share, and will review the dividend on an ongoing basis to ensure that, at a minimum, it serves to distribute interest income earned on the Company’s cash balances.
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The Company recognized a deferred tax asset of approximately $52 million, primarily relating to a net operating loss carryforward of approximately $130 million, as of March 31, 2007, available to offset future taxable income through 2025. In accordance with Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code, the usage of the Company’s net operating loss carryforward could be limited in the event of a change in ownership. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income during the periods in which those temporary differences become deductible. The Company considers projected future taxable income and tax planning strategies in making this assessment. At present, the Company does not have a sufficient history of income to conclude that it is more likely than not that the Company will be able to realize all of its tax benefits in the near future and therefore a valuation allowance was established in the full value of the deferred tax asset.
A valuation allowance will be maintained until sufficient positive evidence exists to support the reversal of any portion or all of the valuation allowance net of appropriate reserves. Should the Company continue to be profitable in future periods with supportable trends, the valuation allowance will be reversed accordingly.
Commitments and Contingencies
The Company is committed under operating leases, principally for office space. Certain leases are subject to rent reviews and require payment of expenses under escalation clauses. Rent and equipment rental expenses were $391,064 and $402,693 for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. The decrease in rent and equipment rental expenses was primarily due to an operating expense escalation credit received during 2007 that pertained to the year of 2006, partially offset by additional expenses resulting from the Ratings acquisition on August 7, 2006. Additionally, the Company has employment agreements with certain of its employees and outside contributors, whose future minimum payments are dependent on the future fulfillment of their services thereunder. As of March 31, 2007, total future minimum cash payments are as follows:
| | | | | | Payments Due by Period | | | | |
| | | | | | Less Than | | | | | | | | After |
Contractual obligations: | | | Total | | | 1Year | | 1 – 3 Years | | 4 – 5 Years | | 5 Years |
Operating leases | | $ | 3,272,125 | | $ | 1,385,669 | | | $ | 1,886,456 | | $ | - | | $ | - |
Employment agreements | | | 3,032,550 | | | 2,488,133 | | | | 544,417 | | | - | | | - |
Outside contributor agreements | | | 764,554 | | | 512,471 | | | | 252,083 | | | - | | | - |
Total contractual cash obligations | | $ | 7,069,229 | | $ | 4,386,273 | | | $ | 2,682,956 | | $ | - | | $ | - |
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.
The Company believes that its market risk exposures are immaterial as the Company does not have instruments for trading purposes, and reasonable possible near-term changes in market rates or prices will not result in material near-term losses in earnings, material changes in fair values or cash flows for all instruments.
Item 4. Controls and Procedures.
A control system, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the control system’s objectives will be met. The design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs. Further, because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that misstatements due to error or fraud will not occur or that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within the company have been detected. These inherent limitations include the realities that judgments in decision-making can be faulty and that breakdowns can occur because of simple error or mistake. Controls can also be circumvented by the individual acts of some persons, by collusion of two or more people, or by management override of the controls. The design of any system of controls is based in part on certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions. Projections of any evaluation of controls effectiveness to future periods are subject to risks. Over time, controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions or deterioration in the degree of compliance with policies or procedures.
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The Company carried out, under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) as of the end of the quarterly period covered by this report. Based upon that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that, as of March 31, 2007, the design and operation of these disclosure controls and procedures were effective. During the three-month period covered by this report, there have been no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
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PART II - OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings.
In December 2001, the Company was named as a defendant in a securities class action filed in United States District Court for the Southern District of New York related to its initial public offering (“IPO”) in May 1999. The lawsuit also named as individual defendants certain of its former officers and directors, James J. Cramer, a current director, and certain of the underwriters of the IPO, including The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., Hambrecht & Quist LLC (now part of JP Morgan Chase & Co.), Thomas Weisel Partners LLC, Robertson Stephens Inc. (an investment banking subsidiary of BankBoston Corp., later FleetBoston Corp., which ceased operations in 2002), and Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner & Smith, Inc. Approximately 300 other issuers and their underwriters have had similar suits filed against them, all of which are included in a single coordinated proceeding in the Southern District of New York (the “IPO Litigations”). The complaints allege that the prospectus and the registration statement for the IPO failed to disclose that the underwriters allegedly solicited and received “excessive” commissions from investors and that some investors in the IPO allegedly agreed with the underwriters to buy additional shares in the aftermarket in order to inflate the price of the Company’s stock. An amended complaint was filed April 19, 2002. The Company and the officers and directors were named in the suits pursuant to Section 11 of the Securities Act of 1933, Section 10(b) of the Exchange Act of 1934, and other related provisions. The complaints seek unspecified damages, attorney and expert fees, and other unspecified litigation costs.
On July 1, 2002, the underwriter defendants in the consolidated actions moved to dismiss all of the IPO Litigations, including the action involving the Company. On July 15, 2002, the Company, along with other non-underwriter defendants in the coordinated cases, also moved to dismiss the litigation. On February 19, 2003, the District Court ruled on the motions. The District Court granted the Company’s motion to dismiss the claims against it under Rule 10b-5, due to the insufficiency of the allegations against the Company. The motions to dismiss the claims under Section 11 of the Securities Act were denied as to virtually all of the defendants in the consolidated cases, including the Company. In addition, the individual defendants in the IPO Litigations, including Mr. Cramer, signed a tolling agreement and were dismissed from the action without prejudice on October 9, 2002.
In June 2003, a proposed collective settlement of this litigation was structured between the plaintiffs, the issuer defendants in the consolidated actions, the issuer officers and directors named as defendants, and the issuers’ insurance companies. On or about June 25, 2003, a committee of the Company’s Board of Directors conditionally approved the proposed settlement. The settlement agreements collectively provide, among other things as follows:
The Company and the other issuer defendants would will assign their interests in claims against the underwriters for excess compensation in connection with their IPOs to the plaintiffs, and agree not to assert certain other claims against the underwriters, such as underpricing, indemnification and antitrust claims, except in certain defined circumstances. A number of issuers’ assigned claims have been asserted already; these were dismissed by the Court on February 24, 2006. The dismissal is currently on appeal to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. The Company and the other issuer defendants would also cooperate with the plaintiffs to provide the plaintiffs with informal discovery as the litigation continues as to the underwriter defendants. Further, the plaintiffs would receive an undertaking from the insurers of the Company and the other issuer defendants guaranteeing that the plaintiff class would recover, in the aggregate, $1 billion from their various suits against the underwriters (including the claims assigned by the issuer defendants). The Company’s per capita portion of the maximum amount payable to the plaintiffs under the settlement, assuming the entire $1 billion is payable, would be approximately $3–4 million. The plaintiffs’ actual recoveries from the underwriter defendants (through settlements or damages assessed as a result of litigation) will be applied against the guarantee; and to the extent that the underwriter defendants settle all of the cases for at least $1 billion, no payment will be required under the issuer defendants’ settlement. In exchange for the consideration described above, the plaintiffs would release the non-bankrupt issuer defendants from all claims against them (the bankrupt issuers will receive a covenant not to sue) and their individual defendants. Under the terms of the settlement agreements, all costs and expenses of the settlement (including legal expenses after June 1, 2003) would be borne by the insurance carriers of the Company and the other issuer defendants using each issuer defendant’s existing insurance coverage, with deductibles waived.
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While the settlement process has been proceeding, the plaintiffs have continued to litigate against the underwriter defendants. The District Court directed that the litigation proceed within a number of “focus cases” rather than in all of the 310 cases that have been consolidated. The Company’s case is not one of these focus cases. On October 13, 2004, the district court certified the focus cases as class actions. The underwriter defendants appealed that ruling, and on December 5, 2006, the Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit reversed the district court’s class certification decision. On April 6January 5, 2007, the Second Circuit denied plaintiffs filed a petition for rehearing. In light of the Second Circuit opinion, counsel to the issuers has informed the district court that the settlement with the plaintiffs described above cannot be approved because the defined settlement class, like the litigation class, cannot be certified with the Court of Appeals. The petition was denied on April 6, 2007. Because the Company’s settlement with the plaintiffs involves the certification of the case as a class action as part of the approval process, the impact of this ruling on the Company’s settlement is unclear.
We cannot predict whether we will be able to renegotiate a settlement that complies with the Second Circuit’s mandate. If we cannot, we intend. If the court determines that the settlement is fair to the class members, and that the settlement classes can be certified, the settlement will be approved. If the settlement is approved, the Company is not aware of any material limitations to the payment by its insurance carriers of the costs and expenses of the settlement to the plaintiffs. The Company’s insurance coverage is sufficient, its carriers are solvent, and the Company is not aware of any uncertainties as to the legal sufficiency of an insurance claim with respect to any recovery by plaintiffs. Accordingly, the Company does not expect that the settlement, should it be approved, will involve any payment by the Company. However, there can be no assurance that this proposed settlement will be approved and implemented in its current form, or at all. If the settlement is not approved, the Company intends to defend the action vigorously. In the event the settlement does not receive final court approval and the Company or any of its individual defendants is reinstated as a defendant in the lawsuit, any unfavorable outcome of this litigation could have an adverse impact on the Company’s business, financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows. Our Board of Directors approved a proposed partial settlement with the plaintiffs in this matter. The settlement would have provided, among other things, a release of the company and of the individual defendants for the alleged wrongful conduct in the Amended Complaint in exchange for a guarantee from the company’s insurers regarding recovery from the underwriter defendants and other consideration from the company regarding its underwriters. The plaintiffs have continued to litigate against the underwriter defendants. The district court directed that the litigation proceed within a number of “focus cases” rather than in all of the 310 cases that have been consolidated. The company’s case is not one of these focus cases. On October 13, 2004, the district court certified the focus cases as class actions. The underwriter defendants appealed that ruling, and on December 5, 2006, the Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit reversed the district court’s class certification decision. On April 6, 2007, the Second Circuit denied plaintiffs’ petition for rehearing. In light of the Second Circuit opinion, we have informed the district court that this settlement cannot be approved because the defined settlement class, like the litigation class, cannot be certified. We cannot predict whether we will be able to renegotiate a settlement that complies with the Second Circuit’s mandate. Due to the inherent uncertainties of litigation, we cannot accurately predict the ultimate outcome of the matter.
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Item 1A. Risk Factors.
In addition to the other information set forth in this report, you should carefully consider the material risks discussed in Part I, “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006, which could materially affect our business, financial condition or future results.
We May Have Difficulty Increasing Our Advertising Revenue, a Significant Portion of Which Is Concentrated Among Our Top Advertisers
Our ability to increase our advertising revenue depends on a variety of factors, including general market conditions, seasonal fluctuations in financial news consumption and overall online usage, our ability to increase our unique visitors and page view inventory, and our ability to win our share of advertisers’ total advertising budgets from other Web sites, television, newspapers, magazines, newsletters or other new media. Advertising revenues could be adversely affected by significant changes in the relationships we have with portals and other high-traffic Web sites. While we have recently experienced increases in our online advertising revenue, there can be no assurance that such increases will continue. If our advertising revenue decreases, our business, results of operations and financial condition could be materially adversely affected.
For the three months ended March 31, 2007, our top five advertisers accounted for approximately 36% of our total advertising revenue, as compared to approximately 46% for the three months ended March 31, 2006. Furthermore, although we have had success attracting advertisers from outside the financial services industry, such as travel, automotive and technology, a large proportion of our top advertisers are concentrated in financial services, particularly in the online brokerage business. If these industries were to weaken significantly or to consolidate, or if other factors caused us to lose a number of our top advertisers, our business, results of operations and financial condition could be materially adversely affected. As is typical in the advertising industry, our advertising contracts have short notice cancellation provisions.
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.
The following table presents information related to repurchases of its common stock made by the Company during the three months ended March 31, 2007.
| | | | (b) | | (c) Total Number | | | (d) Maximum Number |
| | (a) Total | | Average | | of Shares (or | | | (or Approximate Dollar |
| | Number | | Price | | Units) Purchased | | | Value) of Shares (or |
| | of Shares | | Paid per | | as Part of Publicly | | | Units) that May Yet Be |
| | (or Units) | | Share (or | | Announced Plans | | | Purchased Under the |
Period | | Purchased | | Unit) | | or Programs | | | Plans or Programs * |
January 1 – 31, 2007 | | - | | $ | - | | - | | $ | 2,678,878 |
February 1 – 28, 2007 | | - | | $ | - | | - | | $ | 2,678,878 |
March 1 – 31, 2007 | | - | | $ | - | | - | | $ | 2,678,878 |
Total | | - | | $ | - | | - | | $ | 2,678,878 |
* In December 2000, the Company's Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to $10 million worth of the Company's common stock, from time to time, in private purchases or in the open market. In February 2004, the Company's Board approved the resumption of this program under new price and volume parameters, leaving unchanged the maximum amount available for repurchase under the program. The program does not have a specified expiration date. See Note 4 in Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
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Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities.
Not applicable.
Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.
Not applicable.
Item 5. Other Information.
Not applicable.
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Item 6. Exhibits.
The following exhibits are filed herewith or are incorporated by reference to exhibits previously filed with the Commission:
Exhibit | | |
Number | | Description |
|
*3.1 | | Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation |
**3.2 | | Amended and Restated Bylaws |
*4.1 | | Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of December 21, 1998, among |
| | TheStreet.com and the stockholders named therein |
*4.2 | | TheStreet.com Rights Agreement |
†4.3 | | Amendment No. 1, dated as of August 7, 2000, to Rights Agreement |
††4.4 | | Specimen Certificate for TheStreet.com’s common stock |
o10.1 | | Letter Agreement, dated March 1, 2007, between James Lonergan and TheStreet.com, Inc. |
10.2 | | Employment Agreement, dated March 26, 2007, between Steven Elkes and TheStreet.com, Inc. |
31.1 | | Rule 13a-14(a) Certification of CEO |
31.2 | | Rule 13a-14(a) Certification of Chief Financial Officer |
32.1 | | Section 1350 Certification of CEO |
32.2 | | Section 1350 Certification of Chief Financial Officer |
* | | Incorporated by reference to Exhibits to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed February 23, 1999 |
| | (File No. 333-72799). |
** | | Incorporated by reference to Exhibits to the Company’s 1999 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed March 30, 2000. |
† | | Incorporated by reference to Exhibits to the Company’s 2000 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed April 2, 2001. |
†† | | Incorporated by reference to Exhibits to Amendment 3 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed |
| | April 19, 1999. |
o | | Incorporated by reference to Exhibits to the Company’s 2006 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed March 16, 2007. |
|
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
| | THESTREET.COM, INC. |
|
|
Date: May 10, 2007 | | By: /s/ Thomas J. Clarke, Jr. |
| | Thomas J. Clarke, Jr. |
| | Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer |
|
|
Date: May 10, 2007 | | By: /s/ Eric Ashman |
| | Eric Ashman |
| | Chief Financial Officer |
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EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit | | |
Number | | Description |
|
*3.1 | | Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation |
**3.2 | | Amended and Restated Bylaws |
*4.1 | | Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of December 21, 1998, among |
| | TheStreet.com and the stockholders named therein |
*4.2 | | TheStreet.com Rights Agreement |
†4.3 | | Amendment No. 1, dated as of August 7, 2000, to Rights Agreement |
††4.4 | | Specimen Certificate for TheStreet.com’s common stock |
o10.1 | | Letter Agreement, dated March 1, 2007, between James Lonergan and TheStreet.com, Inc. |
10.2 | | Employment Agreement, dated March 26, 2007, between Steven Elkes and TheStreet.com, Inc. |
31.1 | | Rule 13a-14(a) Certification of CEO |
31.2 | | Rule 13a-14(a) Certification of Chief Financial Officer |
32.1 | | Section 1350 Certification of CEO |
32.2 | | Section 1350 Certification of Chief Financial Officer |
* | | Incorporated by reference to Exhibits to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed February 23, 1999 |
| | (File No. 333-72799). |
** | | Incorporated by reference to Exhibits to the Company’s 1999 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed March 30, 2000. |
† | | Incorporated by reference to Exhibits to the Company’s 2000 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed April 2, 2001. |
†† | | Incorporated by reference to Exhibits to Amendment 3 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed |
| | April 19, 1999. |
o | | Incorporated by reference to Exhibits to the Company’s 2006 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed March 16, 2007. |
|
33