PHOENIX, Oct. 28, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Grand Canyon Education, Inc. (NASDAQ: LOPE), a comprehensive regionally accredited university that offers over 160 graduate and undergraduate degree programs across eight colleges both online and on ground at our 200+ acre campus in Phoenix, Arizona, today announced financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2015.
For the three months ended September 30, 2015:
For the nine months ended September 30, 2015:
Balance Sheet and Cash Flow
The University financed its operating activities and capital expenditures during the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 primarily through cash provided by operating activities. Our unrestricted cash, cash equivalents and investments were $162.2 million and $166.0 million at September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively. Our restricted cash, cash equivalents and investments at September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014 were $64.7 million and $67.8 million, respectively.
The University generated $169.0 million in cash from operating activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 compared to $156.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014. The increase in cash generated from operating activities between the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and the nine months ended September 30, 2015 is primarily due to increased net income.
Net cash used in investing activities was $152.9 million and $159.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively. Our cash used in investing activities was primarily related to capital expenditures. Capital expenditures were $169.7 million and $141.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively. During the nine-month period for 2015, capital expenditures primarily consisted of ground campus building projects such as the construction of four additional dormitories, an additional classroom building for our College of Science, Engineering and Technology, a new parking structure and land purchases adjacent to our Phoenix campus to support our growing traditional student enrollment as well as purchases of computer equipment, other internal use software projects and furniture and equipment to support our increasing employee headcount. During the nine-month period for 2014, capital expenditures primarily consisted of ground campus building projects such as the construction of an additional classroom building, additional residence halls, the expansion of our arena, and land purchases adjacent to our Phoenix campus to support our growing traditional student enrollment as well as purchases of computer equipment, other internal use software projects and furniture and equipment to support our increasing employee headcount. Also included in investing activities is the net short-term investment activity. In the first nine months of 2015 proceeds from the sale of short-term investments exceeded purchases by $16.8 million whereas in the first nine months of 2014 purchases exceeded proceeds by $18.7 million.
Net cash used in financing activities was $3.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 whereas net cash provided by financing activities was $3.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014. During the first nine months of 2015 $4.2 million was used to purchase common shares withheld in lieu of income taxes resulting from restricted share awards while principal payments on notes payable and capital leases totaled $5.1 million. These uses were partially offset by proceeds from the exercise of stock options of $2.9 million and excess tax benefits from share-based compensation of $3.3 million. During the first nine months of 2014, proceeds from the exercise of stock options of $7.0 million and excess tax benefits from share-based compensation of $7.2 million were partially offset by $3.6 million used to purchase common shares withheld in lieu of income taxes resulting from restricted share awards, $1.7 million used to purchase treasury stock in accordance with the university's share repurchase program and principal payments on notes payable and capital leases totaled $5.0 million.
2015 Outlook by Quarter
Q4 2015: Net revenue of $211.9 million; Target Operating Margin 28.4%; Diluted EPS of $0.78 using 47.6 million diluted shares; student counts of 74,700
Full Year 2015: Net revenue of $774.1 million; Target Operating Margin 27.1%; Diluted EPS of $2.75 using 47.3 million diluted shares
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains "forward-looking statements" which include information relating to future events, future financial performance, strategies expectations, competitive environment, regulation, and availability of resources. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements regarding: projections, predictions, expectations, estimates, and forecasts as to our business, financial and operating results, and future economic performance; and statements of management's goals and objectives and other similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts. Words such as "may," "should," "could," "would," "predicts," "potential," "continue," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates" and similar expressions, as well as statements in future tense, identify forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements should not be read as a guarantee of future performance or results, and will not necessarily be accurate indications of the times at, or by, which such performance or results will be achieved. Forward-looking statements are based on information available at the time those statements are made or management's good faith belief as of that time with respect to future events, and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual performance or results to differ materially from those expressed in or suggested by the forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause such differences include, but are not limited to: our failure to comply with the extensive regulatory framework applicable to our industry, including Title IV of the Higher Education Act and the regulations thereunder, state laws and regulatory requirements, and accrediting commission requirements; the ability of our students to obtain federal Title IV funds, state financial aid, and private financing; risks associated with changes in applicable federal and state laws and regulations and accrediting commission standards, including pending rulemaking by the Department of Education; potential damage to our reputation or other adverse effects as a result of negative publicity in the media, in the industry or in connection with governmental reports or investigations, lawsuits, or otherwise, affecting us or other companies in the for-profit postsecondary education sector; our ability to properly manage risks and challenges associated with strategic initiatives, including the potential conversion of our university operations to non-profit status, the expansion of our campus, potential acquisitions of, or investments in, new businesses, acquisitions of new properties, or the development of new campuses; our ability to hire and train new, and develop and train existing, faculty and employees; the pace of growth of our enrollment; our ability to convert prospective students to enrolled students and to retain active students; our success in updating and expanding the content of existing programs and developing new programs in a cost-effective manner or on a timely basis; industry competition, including competition for qualified executives and other personnel; risks associated with the competitive environment for marketing our programs; failure on our part to keep up with advances in technology that could enhance the online experience for our students; the extent to which obligations under our loan agreement, including the need to comply with restrictive and financial covenants and to pay principal and interest payments, limits our ability to conduct our operations or seek new business opportunities; our ability to manage future growth effectively; general adverse economic conditions or other developments that affect job prospects of our students; and other factors discussed in reports on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date the statements are made. You should not put undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. We assume no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, changes in assumptions, or changes in other factors affecting forward-looking information, except to the extent required by applicable securities laws. If we do update one or more forward-looking statements, no inference should be drawn that we will make additional updates with respect to those or other forward-looking statements.
Conference Call
Grand Canyon Education, Inc. will discuss its third quarter 2015 results and fourth quarter 2015 outlook during a conference call scheduled for today, October 28, 2015 at 4:30 p.m. Eastern time (ET). To participate in the live call, investors should dial 877-577-1769 (domestic and Canada) or 706-679-7806 (international), passcode 52780393 at 4:25 p.m. (ET). The Webcast will be available on the Grand Canyon Education, Inc. Web site at www.gcu.edu.
A replay of the call will be available approximately two hours following the conclusion of the call, at 855-859-2056 (domestic) or 404-537-3406 (international), passcode 52780393. It will also be archived at www.gcu.edu in the investor relations section for 60 days.
About Grand Canyon Education, Inc.
Grand Canyon Education, Inc. is a comprehensive regionally accredited university that offers over 160 graduate and undergraduate degree programs across eight colleges both online and on ground at our 200+ acre campus in Phoenix, Arizona, at leased facilities and at facilities owned by third party employers of our students. Our undergraduate programs are designed to be innovative and meet the future needs of employers while providing students with the needed critical thinking and effective communication skills developed through a Christian, liberal arts foundation. We offer master and doctoral degrees in contemporary fields that are designed to provide students with the capacity for transformational leadership in their chosen industry, emphasizing the immediate relevance of theory, application, and evaluation to promote personal and organizational change. Approximately 75,100 students were enrolled as of September 30, 2015. For more information about Grand Canyon Education, Inc., please visit http://www.gcu.edu.
Grand Canyon Education, Inc. is regionally accredited by The Higher Learning Commission, Grand Canyon University, 3300 W. Camelback Road, Phoenix, AZ 85017, www.gcu.edu.
| GRAND CANYON EDUCATION, INC. |
||||
| Consolidated Income Statements |
||||
| (Unaudited) |
||||
| Three Months Ended |
Nine Months Ended |
|||
| September 30, |
September 30, |
|||
| 2015 |
2014 |
2015 |
2014 |
|
| (In thousands, except per share data) |
||||
| Net revenue |
$193,393 |
$175,056 |
$562,246 |
$501,082 |
| Costs and expenses: |
||||
| Instructional costs and services |
83,180 |
71,714 |
237,224 |
210,239 |
| Admissions advisory and related, including $412 and $762 for the three months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively, and $1,406 and $2,373 for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively, to related parties |
27,506 |
27,324 |
83,211 |
79,793 |
| Advertising |
19,360 |
16,491 |
57,810 |
48,954 |
| Marketing and promotional |
1,827 |
1,931 |
5,309 |
5,629 |
| General and administrative |
12,536 |
11,640 |
31,466 |
29,188 |
| Total costs and expenses |
144,409 |
129,100 |
415,020 |
373,803 |
| Operating income |
48,984 |
45,956 |
147,226 |
127,279 |
| Interest expense |
(313) |
(576) |
(834) |
(1,455) |
| Interest and other income |
201 |
43 |
585 |
377 |
| Income before income taxes |
48,872 |
45,423 |
146,977 |
126,201 |
| Income tax expense |
15,530 |
16,407 |
53,680 |
47,828 |
| Net income |
$ 33,342 |
$ 29,016 |
$ 93,297 |
$ 78,373 |
| Earnings per share: |
||||
| Basic income per share |
$ 0.72 |
$ 0.64 |
$ 2.03 |
$ 1.72 |
| Diluted income per share |
$ 0.70 |
$ 0.62 |
$ 1.97 |
$ 1.67 |
| Basic weighted average shares outstanding |
46,063 |
45,651 |
45,956 |
45,486 |
| Diluted weighted average shares outstanding |
47,320 |
47,051 |
47,262 |
46,962 |
GRAND CANYON EDUCATION, INC.
Adjusted EBITDA
Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net income plus interest expense net of interest income, plus income tax expense, and plus depreciation and amortization (EBITDA), as adjusted for (i) the amortization of prepaid royalty payments recorded in conjunction with a settlement of a dispute with our former owner; (ii) contributions to Arizona school tuition organizations in lieu of the payment of state income taxes; (iii) share-based compensation and (iv) one-time, unusual charges or gains, such as litigation and regulatory reserves, impairment charges and asset write-offs, exit or lease termination costs or the gain recognized on the settlement of a third party note receivable. We present Adjusted EBITDA because we consider it to be an important supplemental measure of our operating performance. We also make certain compensation decisions based, in part, on our operating performance, as measured by Adjusted EBITDA, and our loan agreement requires us to comply with covenants that include performance metrics substantially similar to Adjusted EBITDA. All of the adjustments made in our calculation of Adjusted EBITDA are adjustments to items that management does not consider to be reflective of our core operating performance. Management considers our core operating performance to be that which can be affected by our managers in any particular period through their management of the resources that affect our underlying revenue and profit generating operations during that period. Royalty expenses paid to our former owner, contributions made to Arizona school tuition organizations in lieu of the payment of state income taxes, share-based compensation, one time unusual charges or gains such as estimated litigation and regulatory reserves, exit costs, contract and lease termination fees are not considered reflective of our core performance.
We believe Adjusted EBITDA allows us to compare our current operating results with corresponding historical periods and with the operational performance of other companies in our industry because it does not give effect to potential differences caused by variations in capital structures (affecting relative interest expense, including the impact of write-offs of deferred financing costs when companies refinance their indebtedness), tax positions (such as the impact on periods or companies of changes in effective tax rates or net operating losses), the book amortization of intangibles (affecting relative amortization expense), and other items that we do not consider reflective of underlying operating performance. We also present Adjusted EBITDA because we believe it is frequently used by securities analysts, investors, and other interested parties as a measure of performance.
In evaluating Adjusted EBITDA, investors should be aware that in the future we may incur expenses similar to the adjustments described above. Our presentation of Adjusted EBITDA should not be construed as an inference that our future results will be unaffected by expenses that are unusual, non-routine, or non-recurring. Adjusted EBITDA has limitations as an analytical tool, and you should not consider it in isolation, or as a substitute for net income, operating income, or any other performance measure derived in accordance with and reported under GAAP or as an alternative to cash flow from operating activities or as a measure of our liquidity. Some of these limitations are that it does not reflect:
In addition, other companies, including other companies in our industry, may calculate these measures differently than we do, limiting the usefulness of Adjusted EBITDA as a comparative measure. Because of these limitations, Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered as a substitute for net income, operating income, or any other performance measure derived in accordance with GAAP, or as an alternative to cash flow from operating activities or as a measure of our liquidity. We compensate for these limitations by relying primarily on our GAAP results and only use Adjusted EBITDA as a supplemental performance measure.
The following table provides a reconciliation of net income to Adjusted EBITDA, which is a non-GAAP measure for the periods indicated:
| Three Months Ended |
Nine Months Ended |
|||
| September 30, |
September 30, |
|||
| 2015 |
2014 |
2015 |
2014 |
|
| (Unaudited, in thousands) |
||||
| Net income |
$33,342 |
$29,016 |
$ 93,297 |
$ 78,373 |
| Plus: interest expense net of interest income |
112 |
533 |
249 |
1,078 |
| Plus: income tax expense |
15,530 |
16,407 |
53,680 |
47,828 |
| Plus: depreciation and amortization |
8,677 |
7,344 |
25,138 |
21,196 |
| EBITDA |
57,661 |
53,300 |
172,364 |
148,475 |
| Plus: royalty to former owner |
74 |
74 |
222 |
222 |
| Plus: prepaid royalty impairment and other fixed asset impairments |
1,226 |
385 |
2,098 |
3,441 |
| Plus: contributions in lieu of state income taxes |
2,750 |
2,750 |
2,750 |
2,750 |
| Plus: estimated litigation and regulatory reserves |
66 |
- |
307 |
897 |
| Plus: lease termination costs |
- |
518 |
- |
518 |
| Plus: share-based compensation |
2,911 |
2,575 |
8,423 |
7,412 |
| Adjusted EBITDA |
$64,688 |
$59,602 |
$186,164 |
$163,715 |
| GRAND CANYON EDUCATION, INC. |
||
| Consolidated Balance Sheets |
||
| ASSETS: |
September 30, |
December 31, |
| (In thousands, except par value) |
2015 |
2014 |
| Current assets |
(Unaudited) |
|
| Cash and cash equivalents |
$ 78,177 |
$ 65,238 |
| Restricted cash, cash equivalents and investments |
64,737 |
67,840 |
| Investments |
84,016 |
100,784 |
| Accounts receivable, net |
9,500 |
7,605 |
| Deferred income taxes |
5,651 |
6,149 |
| Other current assets |
21,152 |
19,429 |
| Total current assets |
263,233 |
267,045 |
| Property and equipment, net |
639,631 |
478,170 |
| Prepaid royalties |
3,429 |
3,650 |
| Goodwill |
2,941 |
2,941 |
| Other assets |
3,377 |
3,907 |
| Total assets |
$ 912,611 |
$ 755,713 |
| LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY: |
||
| Current liabilities |
||
| Accounts payable |
$ 41,482 |
$ 22,715 |
| Accrued compensation and benefits |
21,580 |
23,995 |
| Accrued liabilities |
14,819 |
13,533 |
| Income taxes payable |
612 |
4,906 |
| Student deposits |
65,978 |
69,584 |
| Deferred revenue |
86,712 |
36,868 |
| Due to related parties |
382 |
403 |
| Current portion of capital lease obligations |
495 |
91 |
| Current portion of notes payable |
6,723 |
6,616 |
| Total current liabilities |
238,783 |
178,711 |
| Capital lease obligations, less current portion |
153 |
406 |
| Other noncurrent liabilities |
3,689 |
4,513 |
| Deferred income taxes, noncurrent |
14,590 |
15,974 |
| Notes payable, less current portion |
75,759 |
79,877 |
| Total liabilities |
332,974 |
279,481 |
| Commitments and contingencies |
||
| Stockholders' equity |
||
| Preferred stock, $0.01 par value, 10,000 shares authorized; 0 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014 |
- |
- |
| Common stock, $0.01 par value, 100,000 shares authorized; 50,247 and 49,746 shares issued and 47,138 and 46,744 shares outstanding at September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively |
502 |
497 |
| Treasury stock, at cost, 3,109 and 3,002 shares of common stock at September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively |
(58,000) |
(53,770) |
| Additional paid-in capital |
173,301 |
158,549 |
| Accumulated other comprehensive loss |
(454) |
(35) |
| Retained earnings |
464,288 |
370,991 |
| Total stockholders' equity |
579,637 |
476,232 |
| Total liabilities and stockholders' equity |
$ 912,611 |
$ 755,713 |
| GRAND CANYON EDUCATION, INC. |
||
| Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows |
||
| (Unaudited) |
||
| Nine Months Ended |
||
| September 30, |
||
| (In thousands) |
2015 |
2014 |
| Cash flows provided by operating activities: |
||
| Net income |
$ 93,297 |
$ 78,373 |
| Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: |
||
| Share-based compensation |
8,423 |
7,412 |
| Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation |
(3,343) |
(7,232) |
| Provision for bad debts |
11,412 |
10,835 |
| Depreciation and amortization |
25,360 |
21,418 |
| Deferred income taxes |
(1,305) |
(137) |
| Prepaid royalty impairment |
— |
966 |
| Other, including fixed asset impairments |
2,098 |
2,475 |
| Changes in assets and liabilities: |
||
| Restricted cash, cash equivalents and investments |
3,103 |
5,567 |
| Accounts receivable |
(13,307) |
(11,907) |
| Prepaid expenses and other |
(1,549) |
(317) |
| Due to/from related parties |
(21) |
17 |
| Accounts payable |
1,400 |
(2,956) |
| Accrued liabilities and employee related liabilities |
(1,181) |
(1,610) |
| Income taxes receivable/payable |
(791) |
18,782 |
| Deferred rent |
(824) |
(2,736) |
| Deferred revenue |
49,844 |
44,092 |
| Student deposits |
(3,606) |
(6,300) |
| Net cash provided by operating activities |
169,010 |
156,742 |
| Cash flows used in investing activities: |
||
| Capital expenditures |
(169,706) |
(141,217) |
| Purchases of investments |
(35,547) |
(101,185) |
| Proceeds from sale or maturity of investments |
52,315 |
82,479 |
| Net cash used in investing activities |
(152,938) |
(159,923) |
| Cash flows (used in) provided by financing activities: |
||
| Principal payments on notes payable and capital lease obligations |
(5,117) |
(5,021) |
| Repurchase of common shares including shares withheld in lieu of income taxes |
(4,230) |
(5,338) |
| Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation |
3,343 |
7,232 |
| Net proceeds from exercise of stock options |
2,871 |
6,966 |
| Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities |
(3,133) |
3,839 |
| Net increase in cash and cash equivalents |
12,939 |
658 |
| Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period |
65,238 |
55,824 |
| Cash and cash equivalents, end of period |
$78,177 |
$56,482 |
| Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information |
||
| Cash paid for interest |
$ 849 |
$ 1,327 |
| Cash paid for income taxes |
$ 54,408 |
$ 29,223 |
| Cash received for income tax refunds |
$ 2 |
$ 364 |
| Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing and financing activities |
||
| Purchases of property and equipment included in accounts payable |
$ 23,212 |
$ 11,650 |
| Purchases of equipment through capital lease and note payable obligations |
$ 1,257 |
$ - |
| Tax benefit of Spirit warrant intangible |
$ 190 |
$ 195 |
| Shortfall tax expense from share-based compensation |
$ 18 |
$ 14 |
The following is a summary of our student enrollment at September 30, 2015 and 2014 by degree type and by instructional delivery method:
| 2015(1) |
2014(1) |
|||
| # of Students |
% of Total |
# of Students |
% of Total |
|
| Graduate degrees(2) |
29,302 |
39.0% |
26,007 |
38.2% |
| Undergraduate degree |
45,771 |
61.0% |
42,115 |
61.8% |
| Total |
75,073 |
100.0% |
68,122 |
100.0% |
| 2015(1) |
2014(1) |
|||
| # of Students |
% of Total |
# of Students |
% of Total |
|
| Online(3) |
59,600 |
79.4% |
55,218 |
81.1% |
| Ground(4) |
15,473 |
20.6% |
12,904 |
18.9% |
| Total |
75,073 |
100.0% |
68,122 |
100.0% |
| (1) |
Enrollment at September 30, 2015 and 2014 represents individual students who attended a course during the last two months of the calendar quarter. Included in enrollment at September 30, 2015 and 2014 are students pursuing non-degree certificates of 716 and 621, respectively. |
| (2) |
Includes 6,259 and 5,336 students pursuing doctoral degrees at September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively. |
| (3) |
As of September 30, 2015 and 2014, 47.5% and 45.2%, respectively, of our working adult students (online and professional studies students) were pursuing graduate degrees. |
| (4) |
Includes both our traditional on-campus ground students and our professional studies students. |
Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150814/258640LOGO
SOURCE Grand Canyon Education, Inc.
Share this article