Bill Korn
Analyst · Zacks Investment Research. Please go ahead
Thank you, Hadi. First quarter of 2018 was a remarkable quarter for MTBC. We are reporting quarter-over-quarter revenue growth even though across our industry, the first quarter is typically materially lower than other quarters due to seasonality. Most of our revenues are percentage of the payment receive by our clients, which are cyclically lower in Q1 due to annual deductibles. We are also very pleased to report our first quarter of positive GAAP net income since the IPO an increased of $2.8 million from Q1 2017 together with adjusted EBITDA for the first quarter of almost $1 million. Revenues for the first quarter 2018 were $8.3 million, compared to $8.2 million in the same period last year. MTBC’s revenue includes revenue from clients who signed contract with MTBC during fourth quarter 2017 and began generating revenue during the first quarter of 2018. Our revenues for 2018 is based on the new ASC 606 revenue recognition standard which did not have a material impact on reported revenue. MTBC adopted the new revenue recognition standard on January 1, 2018. Under the old standard revenue could not be recognized until it was fixed to determinable which met that MTBC recognized revenue at the same time insurance agreed upon the level of payments to our healthcare provider clients. Under the new standard revenue is recognized as value is created for clients, which means a portion of the revenue is recognized over a period of weeks after each patient visit as work is performed and the final amount of revenue based on the ultimate payments by insurers and patients is trued up each quarter. During the first quarter of 2018 MTBC recognized $47,000 of additional revenue due to the new revenue recognition standard, but since our revenue is recurring ,the impact of the new standard is not at all material. Our first quarter 2018 GAAP net income was $75,000 or 0.9% of revenue, an improvement of $2.8 million compared with a net loss of $2.7 million in the first quarter of 2017. This was MTBC's first quarter with positive GAAP net income since our IPO and the purchase of three companies at the time of the IPO in 2014. First quarter GAAP net income includes $591,000 of non-cash amortization and depreciation expenses, so our operations generated positive cash flow of over $600,000 for the quarter. The dramatic turnaround from a GAAP net loss of $2.7 million to GAAP net income of $75,000 was due to four factors. First, a reduction of $739,000 or 14% in direct operating costs. Second, a $385,000 or 13% reduction in general and administrative expenses. Third, a $929,000 reduction in depreciation and amortization expenses as the intangible assets associated with some prior acquisitions was fully amortized and finally, the elimination of $276,000 of restructuring charges while compared with the first quarter of 2017. First quarter of 2017 included restructuring charges as we closed offices in Poland and Bangalore India that were obtained during prior acquisitions and shifted the work to our teams in Pakistan and Sri Lanka to gain operating efficiencies. The impact of the new revenue standard on our net income was $51,000, just a few dollars more than the impact on our revenue. So our net income would have been positive even without the new revenue recognition standard. There is a table at the back of our earnings release which compares first quarter results under the old and new standard for anyone who is interested. Our GAAP net loss per share for the first quarter 2018 was $0.06 per share calculated using the net loss attributable to common shareholders divided by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. Overall, GAAP net income is always calculated before the effects of any dividend. The dramatic turnaround from a GAAP net loss of $2.7 million to GAAP net income of positive $75000 was due to four factors. First, A reduction of $739,000 or 14% in direct operating costs. Second, $385,000 or 13% reduction in general, and administrative expenses. Third, $929,000 reduction in depreciation and amortization expenses as we fully amortized the intangible assets from the companies that we bought in 2014 and fourth the elimination of $276,000 of restructuring charges. First quarter 2017 included restructuring charges as we closed offices in Poland and Bangalore, India that were obtained during previous acquisitions and shifted the work to our teams in Pakistan and Sri Lanka to gain operating efficiencies. There were no restructuring charges in first quarter of this year. The impact of the new revenue recognition standard on our net income was $51,000, just a few dollars more than the impact on our revenue. So, our net income would have been positive even without the new revenue recognition standard. We have included a table in the back of our earnings release comparing our first quarter as if we had used the old revenue recognition standard, so anyone is interested to see the details. Our GAAP net loss per share for first quarter of 2018 was $0.06 per share, calculated using the net loss attributable to common shareholders divided by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. GAAP net income is always calculated before the effect of any dividend, but GAAP net income or loss per share is always based on the net income or loss attributable to common shareholders, which subtracts the value of dividends paid to our preferred shareholders. That's why there is a GAAP net loss per share, even though overall GAAP net income is positive. Adjusted EBITDA for first quarter of 2018 was $974,000 or 11.7% of revenue compared to adjusted EBITDA of negative $313,000 or negative 3.8% of revenue in the same period last year. First quarter 2018 adjusted EBITDA represents an improvement of $1.3 million from the same period last year, reflecting the significant cost savings we have achieved. This is our third consecutive quarter of positive adjusted EBITDA, which is totaled $3.1 million over the last nine months. The difference of $899,000 between adjusted EBITDA and the GAAP net income in first quarter of 2018 reflects $591,000 of non-cash amortization and depreciation expenses $69,000 of net interest expense, $128,000 of stock-based compensation expense and $179,000 of integration and transaction costs associated with prior acquisitions as well as $47,000 provision for income taxes. Our non-GAAP adjusted net income for first quarter of 2018 was $666,000 an improvement of $1.5 million compared to adjusted net income of negative $852,000 in the same period last year. Non-GAAP adjusted net income per share is positive $0.06, calculated using the end of period common shares outstanding. First quarter of 2018 GAAP operating income was positive $39,000, which represents an improvement of $2.4 million from the operating loss in the first quarter of 2017. This is the Company’s first quarter with positive GAAP operating income since the IPO in 2014. Non-GAAP adjusted operating income for first quarter was $739,000, or 8.9% of revenue. First quarter of 2018 adjusted operating income represents an improvement of $1.3 million from first quarter of 2017. This is our fourth consecutive quarter of positive non-GAAP adjusted operating income, which excludes non-cash expenses such as the amortization of purchased intangible assets, stock-based compensation and integration and transaction costs. In first quarter of 2018, our cash flow from operations was $673,000. Management finds that non-GAAP financial measures, such as adjusted operating income and adjusted EBTIDA, are a good proxy for measuring the cash actually generated by our business. As of March 31, 2018, the Company had $3.5 million in cash and positive working capital of approximately $5.4 million. The Company has a $5 million secured revolving credit facility with Silicon Valley Bank where borrowings are based on 200% of repeatable revenue adjusted by an annualized attrition rate as defined in the agreement. While we have not drawn under Silicon Valley credit facility at any time during 2018, the SVB line can be used to fund future growth initiatives, including acquisitions with Silicon Valley Bank’s approval. The Company raised net proceeds of $9.4 million from the sale of 420,000 additional shares of its non-convertible series A preferred stock via a public offering during the first week of April. Preferred shares trade on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the ticker MTBCP and pay monthly cash dividends at the rate of 11% per annum. Our series A preferred stock is perpetual and has no mandatory redemption although the Company can choose to redeem shares at $25 per share starting in November 2020. By the end of April, after this round was closed the Company had approximately $13 million of cash in the bank and virtually no debt. Raising additional capital in early April has further positioned us to take advantage of the opportunities we see for consolidation in the market. For example, we intend to use a portion of our available cash if we close the Orion acquisition opportunity. Our highly scalable proprietary technology and processes, experienced team and a strong balance sheet have made us the leading consolidator in our space. We are uniquely equipped to succeed with opportunities such as Orion having successfully integrated MediGain business which face the similar situation before we purchased their assets 20 months ago. That transaction allowed MTBC to grow revenues by 30% in 2017, and achieve record profitability and after a successful integration of Orion, we expect to be able to grow our annualized revenue significantly more and to achieve a scale which will allow us to further expand our profit margins. I will now turn the floor over to Mahmud Haq, our Executive Chairman for his concluding comments.