j2 Global Reports Q4 and Year End 2013 Results and Provides 2014 Outlook
Achieves Record Annual Revenues ($521M; 40% YoY Increase), Adjusted EPS ($3.24; 11% YoY Increase), EBITDA ($233M; 20% YoY Increase) and Free Cash Flow ($177M; 7% YoY Increase)
Achieves Record Low Quarterly Cancel Rate of 2.17%
Estimates 2014 Revenues to Increase More Than 11% to between $580M and $600M
Estimates 2014 Adjusted EPS between $3.23 and $3.47
Quarterly Dividend Increased by 13% to $0.2625 per Share versus Q1 2013
LOS ANGELES —February 13, 2014—j2 Global, Inc. [NASDAQGS:JCOM] today reported financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2013, provided fiscal 2014 financial estimates and announced that its Board of Directors has declared an increased quarterly cash dividend of $0.2625 per share.
FOURTH QUARTER 2013 RESULTS
Quarterly revenues increased 35.3% to $138.0 million compared to $102.0 million for Q4 2012.
Quarterly EBITDA(4) increased 26.9% to $65.6 million compared to $51.7 million for Q4 2012.
GAAP earnings per diluted share for the quarter decreased 32.3% to $0.44 compared to $0.65 for Q4 2012, primarily due to the acquisition of the remaining portion of Ziff Davis, Inc. not previously owned, which resulted in a non-cash charge of $14.4 million or $0.31 per share.
Non-GAAP earnings per diluted share(1)(2) increased 14.3% to $0.80 compared to $0.70 for Q4 2012.
The Company has historically reported non-GAAP earnings per diluted share inclusive of amortization of acquired intangibles. For Q4 2013 and going forward, to more closely align the Company’s reported non-GAAP earnings with its cash earnings, the Company is reporting non-GAAP earnings per diluted share exclusive of amortization of acquired intangibles. To avoid confusion, we refer to this new non-GAAP financial measure as “Adjusted earnings per diluted share”.
Adjusted earnings per diluted share(1)(3) increased 18.1% to $0.91 compared to $0.77 for Q4 2012.
Q4 2013 free cash flow(5) increased 11.7% to $50.5 million compared to $45.2 million for Q4 2012.
Cancel rate(6) for the quarter continued to decline to an all-time record low of 2.17%.
j2 ended the quarter with $346 million in cash and investments after deploying $56.6 million during the quarter for acquisitions and the payment of j2's regular quarterly dividend.
Key financial results for fourth quarter 2013 versus fourth quarter 2012 are set forth in the following table (in millions, except per share). Reconciliations of non-GAAP earnings per diluted share, Adjusted earnings per diluted share, EBITDA and free cash flow to their nearest comparable GAAP financial measures are attached to this Press Release.
| Q4 2013 | Q4 2012 | % Change |
Revenues | $138.0 million | $102.0 million | 35.3% |
Earnings per Diluted Share(1) | $0.44 | $0.65 | (32.3)% |
Non-GAAP Earnings per Diluted Share(1) (2) | $0.80 | $0.70 | 14.3% |
Adjusted Earnings per Diluted Share(1) (3) | $0.91 | $0.77 | 18.1% |
EBITDA(4) | $65.6 million | $51.7 million | 26.9% |
Free Cash Flow(5) | $50.5 million | $45.2 million | 11.7% |
FULL YEAR 2013 RESULTS
Annual revenues increased 40.2% to a record $520.8 million compared to $371.4 million for 2012.
Annual EBITDA (4) increased 20% to a record $233.0 million compared to $194.2 million for 2012.
GAAP earnings per diluted share for the year decreased 12.6% to $2.28 compared to $2.61 for 2012. 2013 Non-GAAP earnings per diluted share(7)(8) increased 4.8% to a record $2.82 compared to $2.69 for 2012. 2013 Adjusted earnings per diluted share(7)(9) increased 10.5% to a record $3.24 compared to $2.93 for 2012.
Free cash flow(5) for the year increased 6.9% to a record $177.4 million compared to $166.0 million for 2012.
Annual cancel rate(6) was an all-time record low of 2.26%.
Key annual financial results for 2013 versus 2012 are set forth in the following table (in millions, except per share). Reconciliations of non-GAAP earnings per diluted share, Adjusted earnings per diluted share, EBITDA and free cash flow to their nearest comparable GAAP financial measures are attached to this Press Release.
| 2013 | 2012 | % Change |
Revenues | $520.8 million | $371.4 million | 40.2% |
Earnings per Diluted Share(6) | $2.28 | $2.61 | (12.6)% |
Non-GAAP Earnings per Diluted Share(7) (8) | $2.82 | $2.69 | 4.8% |
Adjusted Earnings per Diluted Share(7) (9) | $3.24 | $2.93 | 10.5% |
EBITDA(4) | $233.0 million | $194.2 million | 20% |
Free Cash Flow(5) | $177.4 million | $166.0 million | 6.9% |
“We are all very proud of our accomplishments during 2013,” said Hemi Zucker, CEO of j2. “We made significant inroads in our program to broaden our revenue base beyond digital fax while continuing to grow our digital fax business. We invested in and built upon our strong position in the Digital Media space and expanded our rapidly growing online backup business. As a result, our non-fax business has grown to represent 45% of our 2013 revenue versus 17% five years ago, notwithstanding continued growth in our fax business over this period. We were able to achieve these results while maintaining our focus on profitability and cash generation. This allowed us to deploy $181 million on acquisitions and dividends during 2013 and still end the year with more cash and investments than when we started 2013. These efforts have put j2 in a strong position as we grow both our fax and non-fax revenues while maintaining growth in our earnings and cash flow.”
BUSINESS OUTLOOK
For fiscal 2014, the Company estimates that it will achieve revenues between $580 and $600 million and Adjusted earnings per diluted share of between $3.23 and $3.47.
Adjusted earnings per diluted share for 2014 excludes share-based compensation of between $10 and $12 million, amortization of acquired intangibles and the impact of any currently unanticipated items, in each case net of tax.
It is anticipated that the normalized tax rate for 2014 (exclusive of the release of reserves for uncertain tax positions) will be between 27% and 29%.
DIVIDEND
j2’s Board of Directors has approved a quarterly cash dividend of $0.2625 per common share, a 2.9% increase versus last quarter's dividend and a 12.9% increase versus the dividend paid in Q1 2013. This is j2’s tenth consecutive quarterly dividend increase and represents a 31.25% increase versus its first quarterly dividend in September, 2011. The dividend will be paid on March 10, 2014 to all shareholders of record as of the close of business on February 24, 2014. Future dividends will be subject to Board approval.
EXTENSION OF SHARE REPURCHASE PROGRAM
The Company has extended its one-year five million share repurchase program set to expire February 20, 2014 by an additional year. Approximately 2.9 million shares remain available for purchase under the program.
Notes:
(1) | The estimated GAAP effective tax rate was approximately 33.7% for Q4 2013 and 19.6% for Q4 2012. The estimated Non-GAAP effective tax rate was approximately 24.3% for Q4 2013 and 19.8% for Q4 2012. The estimated Adjusted effective tax rate was approximately 26.2% for Q4 2013 and 21.2% for Q4 2012. |
(2) | For Q4 2013, Non-GAAP earnings per diluted share excludes share-based compensation and related payroll taxes, certain acquisition-related integration costs and loss on extinguishment of debt and related interest expense, in each case net of tax, totaling $0.36. For Q4 2012, Non-GAAP earnings per diluted share excludes share-based compensation and related payroll taxes and certain acquisition-related integration costs, in each case net of tax, totaling $0.05. Non-GAAP earnings per diluted share amounts are not meant as a substitute for GAAP, but are solely for informational purposes. |
(3) | For Q4 2013, Adjusted earnings per diluted share excludes share-based compensation and related payroll taxes, amortization of acquired intangibles, certain acquisition-related integration costs and loss on extinguishment of debt and related interest expense, in each case net of tax, totaling $0.47. For Q4 2012, Adjusted earnings per diluted share excludes share-based compensation and related payroll taxes, amortization of acquired intangibles and certain acquisition-related integration costs, in each case net of tax, totaling $0.12. Adjusted earnings per diluted share amounts are not meant as a substitute for GAAP, but are solely for informational purposes. |
(4) | EBITDA is defined as earnings before interest and other expense, net; income tax expense; depreciation and amortization; and the items used to reconcile GAAP to Non-GAAP financial measures referred to in Note (2) above. EBITDA amounts are not meant as a substitute for GAAP, but are solely for informational purposes. |
(5) | Free cash flow is defined as net cash provided by operating activities, less purchases of property, plant and equipment, plus excess tax benefit from share-based compensation. Free cash flow amounts are not meant as a substitute for GAAP, but are solely for informational purposes. |
(6) | Cancel rate is defined as cancels related to individual customer DIDs with greater than 4 months of continuous service (continuous service includes customer DIDs administratively cancelled and reactivated within the same calendar month), and DIDs related to enterprise customers beginning with their first day of service. For the quarter, calculated monthly and expressed here as an average over the three months of the quarter. For the year, expressed as an average over the four quarters of the year. |
(7) | The GAAP effective tax rate was approximately 24.7% for 2013 and 21.5% for 2012. The non-GAAP effective tax rate was approximately 24.0% for 2013 and 23.8% for 2012. The Adjusted effective tax rate was approximately 25.6% for 2013 and 24.4% for 2012. |
| For 2013, Non-GAAP earnings per diluted share excludes share-based compensation and related payroll taxes, amortization expense, certain acquisition-related integration costs and loss on extinguishment of debt and related interest expense, in each case net of tax, totaling $0.57. For 2012, Non-GAAP earnings per diluted share excludes share-based compensation and related payroll taxes, amortization expense, domestic production activities tax deduction from prior years, certain acquisition-related integration costs, and gain on sale of investments, in each case net of tax, totaling $0.08. Non-GAAP earnings per diluted share amounts are not meant as a substitute for GAAP, but are solely for informational purposes. |
(9) | For 2013, Adjusted earnings per diluted share excludes share-based compensation and related payroll taxes, amortization of acquired intangibles, certain acquisition-related integration costs and loss on extinguishment of debt and related interest expense, in each case net of tax, totaling $0.96. For 2012, Adjusted earnings per diluted share excludes share-based compensation and related payroll taxes, amortization of acquired intangibles, domestic production activities tax deduction from prior years, certain acquisition-related integration costs, and gain on sale of investments, in each case net of tax, totaling $0.32. Adjusted earnings per diluted share amounts are not meant as a substitute for GAAP, but are solely for informational purposes. |
About j2 Global
j2 Global, Inc. (NASDAQ: JCOM) and its affiliates provide Internet services through their two divisions: Business Cloud Services and Digital Media. The Business Cloud Services Division offers Internet fax, virtual phone, hosted email, email marketing, online backup, unified communications and CRM solutions. It markets its services principally under the brand names eFax®, eVoice®, FuseMail®, Campaigner®, KeepItSafe® and Onebox® and operates a messaging network spanning 49 countries on six continents. The Digital Media Division consists of Ziff Davis Inc., which offers technology, gaming and lifestyle content through its digital properties, which include PCMag.com, IGN.com, AskMen.com, Toolbox.com and others. Ziff Davis also operates NetShelter Powered by BuyerBase, an advanced digital ad targeting platform, and Ziff Davis B2B, a leading provider of research to enterprise buyers and leads to IT vendors. As of December 31, 2013, j2 had achieved 18 consecutive fiscal years of revenue growth. For more information about j2, please visit www.j2global.com.
Contact:
Laura Hinson
j2 Global, Inc.
press@j2.com
“Safe Harbor” Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Certain statements in this Press Release are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, particularly those contained in Hemi Zucker’s quote and the “Business Outlook” portion regarding the Company's expected fiscal 2013 financial performance. These forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations or beliefs and are subject to numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. These factors and uncertainties include, among other items: ability to grow non-fax revenues, profitability and cash flows; ability to identify and close acquisitions; subscriber growth and retention; variability of revenue based on changing conditions in particular industries and the economy generally; protection of the Company's proprietary technology or infringement by the Company of intellectual property of others; the risk of adverse changes in the U.S. or international regulatory environments surrounding messaging and communications, including but not limited to the imposition or increase of taxes or regulatory-related fees; and the numerous other factors set forth in j2 Global's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). For a more detailed description of the risk factors and uncertainties affecting j2 Global, refer to the 2012 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed by j2 Global on March 1, 2013, and the other reports filed by j2 Global from time-to-time with the SEC, each of which is available at www.sec.gov. The forward-looking statements provided in this press release and particularly those contained in Hemi Zucker’s quote and the “Business Outlook” portion regarding the Company's expected fiscal 2014 financial performance are based on limited information available to the Company at this time, which is subject to change. Although management's expectations may change after the date of this press release, the Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update these statements. j2 GLOBAL, INC.