Aspen Group Reports Record Revenue of $10.4 Million in the First Quarter Fiscal Year 2020, an Increase of 43% Year-over-Year

NEW YORK, Sept. 09, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Aspen Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: ASPU)( “the Company or AGI”), an education technology holding company, today announced financial results for its 2020 fiscal first quarter ended July 31, 2019.

First Quarter Fiscal Year 2020 Summary

  Three months ended  
(in millions)   July 31, 2019   July 31, 2018    % Change
Revenue $10.4 $7.2    43%
Gross profit $5.8 $3.3    74%
Gross profit margin (%)  56%  46%    1,000 basis points
Operating Income (Loss) ($1.6) ($2.9)    43%
Net Income (Loss) ($2.1) ($2.8)    27%
Cash Used in Operations ($1.7) ($3.4)    50%
EBITDA (Loss) ($1.0) ($2.3)    58%
Adjusted EBITDA (Loss) ($0.1) ($1.8)    95%

First Quarter Performance Highlights

  • New student enrollments increased to 1,929 or 46% year-over-year
    º Aspen University (AU) new student enrollments increased to 1,415 or 29% year-over-year
    º United States University (USU) new student enrollments increased to 514 or 133% year-over-year
  • Weighted average cost of enrollment declined 18%
  • Bookings increased 83% to $26.9 million
  • Average revenue per enrollment (ARPU) increased 24% to $13,919

Michael Mathews, Chairman and CEO of AGI, commented, “Fiscal 2020 is off to a strong start with record revenue and enrollments in our seasonally weakest summer quarter. By focusing our marketing spend on delivering enrollment growth in the degree programs with the highest lifetime value (LTV), we expanded bookings in the quarter by 83% and increased our average revenue per enrollment, or ARPU, by 24%. For the remainder of fiscal year 2020 we expect to continue to focus on these highest LTV degree programs in order to accelerate our long-term growth. We are on track to deliver annual revenue growth over 34% in fiscal year 2020, based on anticipated year-over-year enrollment growth of approximately 25% and bookings forecasted to grow 35% to approximately $89 million. We now expect the company to achieve positive Adjusted EBITDA in the second fiscal quarter and for the foreseeable future.”

Fiscal 2020 First Quarter Financial and Operational Results:

AGI delivered 1,929 new student enrollments for the fiscal quarter ended July 31, 2019, a 46% increase year-over-year. Aspen University accounted for 1,415 new student enrollments (including 198 Doctoral enrollments and 276 Pre-licensure Bachelor of Science in Nursing (“BSN”) Arizona campus enrollments). USU accounted for 514 new student enrollments (primarily Family Nurse Practitioner (“FNP”) enrollments), a 133% increase year-over-year. Enrollments for Aspen University’s Pre-Licensure BSN program increased 48% sequentially as the university began accepting enrollments for prerequisite students taking online courses in anticipation of entering the HonorHealth final two-year core campus program that is expected to launch on September 17, 2019.

In the charts below, we have provided a comparison of enrollments and bookings* from Q1 fiscal year 2019 to Q1 fiscal year 2020.  The company’s enrollments rose 46% year-over-year, while bookings increased 83% year-over-year. This translates to a 24% average revenue per user (ARPU)* increase year-over-year, from $11,185 to $13,919, driven by the company’s focused marketing spending on the highest LTV degree programs during the quarter.

  Lifetime Value (LTV) Q1 FY'2019 Q1 FY'2019 Q1 FY'2020 Q1 FY'2020
  Per Enrollment Enrollments Bookings Enrollments Bookings
AU Online (Nursing + Other) Unit $                  7,350   882 $           6,482,700   941 $         6,916,350
AU (Doctoral) Unit $                12,600   118 $           1,486,800   198 $         2,494,800
AU (Pre-Licensure BSN) Unit $                30,000   93 $           2,790,000   276 $         8,280,000
USU (FNP + Other) Unit $                17,820 221 $           3,938,220 514 $         9,159,480
Total     1,314 $         14,697,720   1,929 $       26,850,630
Average Revenue Per User (ARPU)     $                11,185   $              13,919

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d3a4a8a0-f728-4c09-95b3-ee6e68f50711

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/da8fa2e1-18e0-48e3-833a-7dbb57344ab1

*“Bookings” are defined by multiplying LTV by new student enrollments for each operating unit. “Average Revenue Per User or (ARPU)” is defined by dividing total bookings by total enrollments.

AGI’s overall active student body (including both Aspen University and USU) grew 34% year-over-year from 7,274 to 9,752 students as of July 31, 2019.

Of the 9,752 total active students at both universities, 82% or 8,002 students are degree-seeking Nursing students.

Aspen University’s total active degree-seeking student body grew 25% year-over-year from 6,590 to 8,261 students. Aspen’s School of Nursing grew 36% year-over-year, from 4,863 to 6,595 active students, which includes 670 active students in the BSN Pre-Licensure program in Phoenix, AZ. Aspen University students paying tuition and fees through a monthly payment method grew by 17% year-over-year, from 4,769 to 5,580 students. Those 5,580 students paying through a monthly payment method represent 68% of Aspen University’s total active student body.

USU’s total active student body grew sequentially from 1,148 to 1,491 students or a sequential increase of 30%. On a year-over-year basis, USU’s total active student body grew from 684 to 1,491 students or 118%. USU’s MSN-FNP active student body grew sequentially from 970 to 1,294 students or a sequential increase of 33%. USU’s MSN-FNP program now represents 87% of USU’s active student body. USU students paying tuition and fees through a monthly payment method grew from 758 to 1,053 students sequentially. The 1,053 students paying through a monthly payment method represent 71% of USU’s total active student body.

Following the end of the fiscal first quarter of 2020, the Company announced a significant enrollment milestone of exceeding 10,000 total active students at Aspen University and United States University combined.

Revenues increased to $10,357,982 for the fiscal quarter ended July 31, 2019, an increase of 43% as compared to the prior fiscal year first quarter. USU accounted for approximately 26% and Aspen University’s Pre-Licensure BSN program accounted for approximately 8% of overall Company revenues.

Gross profit increased to $5,765,328 for the fiscal quarter ended July 31, 2019 or 56% gross margin. Aspen University gross profit represented 59% of Aspen University revenues for the fiscal quarter, while USU gross profit equaled 55% of USU revenues during the fiscal quarter. Aspen University instructional costs and services represented 18% of Aspen University revenues for the fiscal quarter, while USU instructional costs and services equaled 28% of USU revenues during the fiscal quarter. Aspen University marketing and promotional costs represented 20% of Aspen University revenues for the fiscal quarter, while USU marketing and promotional costs equaled 17% of USU revenues during the fiscal quarter.

Net loss applicable to shareholders was ($2,075,282) or diluted net loss per share of ($0.11). Aspen University generated $0.9 million of net income for the fiscal quarter, while USU experienced a net loss of ($0.4) million in the fiscal quarter. AGI corporate incurred $2.6 million of expenses for the first quarter.

EBITDA, a non-GAAP financial measure, was a loss of ($958,364) or (9%) as a percentage of revenue. Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP financial measure, was a loss of ($86,099) or (1%) as a percentage of revenue. Aspen University generated $1.6 million of Adjusted EBITDA for the fiscal quarter, while USU experienced an Adjusted EBITDA loss of ($10,006) in the fiscal quarter. AGI corporate contributed $1.6 million of expenses toward the ($86,099) Adjusted EBITDA result for the fiscal quarter.

The Company used cash of $1.7 million in operations in the fiscal quarter, as compared to using $3.4 million in the prior fiscal year first quarter, an improvement of 50% year-over-year.

Conference Call:

AGI will host a conference call to discuss its fiscal year 2020 first quarter financial results and business outlook on Monday, September 9th, 2019, at 4:30 p.m. (ET). The conference call can be accessed by dialing toll-free (844) 452-6823 (U.S.) or (731) 256-5216 (international), passcode 2587764. Subsequent to the call, a transcript of the audiocast will be available from the Company’s website at ir.aspen.edu. There will also be a 7-day dial-in replay which can be accessed by dialing toll-free (855) 859-2056 or (404) 537-3406 (international), passcode 2587764.

Non-GAAP – Financial Measures:

This press release includes both financial measures in accordance with the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, or GAAP, as well as non-GAAP financial measures. Generally, a non-GAAP financial measure is a numerical measure of a company’s performance, financial position or cash flows that either excludes or includes amounts that are not normally included or excluded in the most directly comparable measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP. Non-GAAP financial measures should be viewed as supplemental to, and should not be considered as alternatives to net income (loss), operating income (loss), and cash flow from operating activities, liquidity or any other financial measures. They may not be indicative of the historical operating results of AGI nor are they intended to be predictive of potential future results. Investors should not consider non-GAAP financial measures in isolation or as substitutes for performance measures calculated in accordance with GAAP.

Our management uses and relies on Adjusted EBITDA and EBITDA, each of which are non-GAAP financial measures. We believe that both management and shareholders benefit from referring to these non-GAAP financial measures in planning, forecasting and analyzing future periods. Our management uses these non-GAAP financial measures in evaluating its financial and operational decision making and as a means to evaluate period-to-period comparisons.  Our management recognizes that the non-GAAP financial measures have inherent limitations because of the excluded items described below.

AGI defines Adjusted EBITDA as earnings (or loss) from continuing operations before the items in the table below including non-recurring charges of $132,949 in fiscal quarter ended July 31, 2019 and $188,665 in fiscal quarter ended July 31, 2018. Adjusted EBITDA is an important measure of our operating performance because it allows management, investors and analysts to evaluate and assess our core operating results from period-to-period after removing the impact of items of a non-operational nature that affect comparability.

We have included a reconciliation of our non-GAAP financial measures to the most comparable financial measures calculated in accordance with GAAP. We believe that providing the non-GAAP financial measures, together with the reconciliation to GAAP, helps investors make comparisons between AGI and other companies. In making any comparisons to other companies, investors need to be aware that companies use different non-GAAP measures to evaluate their financial performance. Investors should pay close attention to the specific definition being used and to the reconciliation between such measure and the corresponding GAAP measure provided by each company under applicable SEC rules.

The following table presents a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to net loss allocable to common shareholders, a GAAP financial measure:

    Quarter Ended
July 31,
 
    2019     2018  
Net loss   $ (2,075,282 )   $ (2,837,276 )
Interest expense, net of interest income     420,067       40,353  
Taxes     90,277        
Depreciation & amortization     606,574       498,105  
EBITDA (loss)     (958,364 )     (2,298,818 )
Bad debt expense     240,899       121,805  
Non-recurring charges     132,949       188,665  
Stock-based compensation     498,417       209,976  
Adjusted EBITDA (Loss)   $ (86,099 )   $ (1,778,372 )

About Aspen Group, Inc.:

Aspen Group, Inc. is an education technology holding company that leverages its infrastructure and expertise to allow its two universities, Aspen University and United States University, to deliver on the vision of making college affordable again.

Forward-Looking Statements:

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 including statements regarding our continued focus on the highest LTV units, sustained revenue growth, enrollment growth, achieving and maintaining positive Adjusted EBITDA for the foreseeable future, and forecasted bookings. The words “believe,” “may,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “should,” “plan,” “could,” “target,” “potential,” “is likely,” “will,” “expect” and similar expressions, as they relate to us, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. We have based these forward-looking statements largely on our current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that we believe may affect our financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ from those in the forward-looking statements include the continued high demand for nurses, the continued effectiveness of our marketing efforts, unanticipated delays in opening new campuses, failure to continue to obtain enrollments at low acquisition costs and keeping instructional costs down, potential student attrition and national and local economic factors. Other risks are included in our filings with the SEC including our Form 10-K for the year ended April 30, 2019. Any forward-looking statement made by us herein speaks only as of the date on which it is made. Factors or events that could cause our actual results to differ may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all of them. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by law.

Investor Relations Contact:

Kim Rogers
Managing Director
Hayden IR
385-831-7337 
Kim@HaydenIR.com

ASPEN GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

    July 31, 2019     April 30, 2019  
      (Unaudited)          
Assets                
Current assets:                
Cash   $ 7,243,580     $ 9,519,352  
Restricted cash     452,021       448,400  
Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $1,484,559 and $1,247,031, respectively     10,786,265       10,656,470  
Prepaid expenses     546,767       410,745  
Other receivables     1,435       2,145  
Total current assets     19,030,068       21,037,112  
                 
Property and equipment:                
Call center equipment     245,715       193,774  
Computer and office equipment     330,267       327,621  
Furniture and fixtures     1,430,349       1,381,271  
Software     4,765,597       4,314,198  
      6,771,928       6,216,864  
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization     (2,083,277 )     (1,825,524 )
Total property and equipment, net     4,688,651       4,391,340  
Goodwill     5,011,432       5,011,432  
Intangible assets, net     8,266,667       8,541,667  
Courseware, net     145,063       161,930  
Accounts receivable, secured - net of allowance of $625,963 and $625,963, respectively     45,329       45,329  
Long term contractual accounts receivable     4,249,969       3,085,243  
Debt issue cost, net     271,162       300,824  
Right of use lease asset     7,996,585        
Deposits and other assets     562,594       629,626  
                 
Total assets   $ 50,267,520     $ 43,204,503  

ASPEN GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (CONTINUED)

    July 31, 2019     April 30, 2019  
      (Unaudited)          
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity                
Current liabilities:                
Accounts payable   $ 1,588,331     $ 1,699,221  
Accrued expenses     577,755       651,418  
Deferred revenue     2,681,037       2,456,865  
Refunds due students     1,591,632       1,174,501  
Deferred rent, current portion     53,140       47,436  
Convertible notes payable, current portion     50,000       50,000  
Right of use lease liability, current portion     1,100,411        
Other current liabilities     279,411       270,786  
Total current liabilities     7,921,717       6,350,227  
                 
Senior secured loan payable, net of discount of $287,626 and $353,328 respectively     9,712,374       9,646,672  
Right of use lease liability     7,095,695        
Deferred rent     704,689       746,176  
Total liabilities     25,434,475       16,743,075  
                 
Commitments and contingencies – see Note 10                
                 
Stockholders’ equity:                
Preferred stock, $0.001 par value; 1,000,000 shares authorized,                
0 issued and outstanding at July 31, 2019 and April 30, 2019            
Common stock, $0.001 par value; 40,000,000 shares authorized                
18,913,527 issued and 18,896,443 outstanding at July 31, 2019                
18,665,551 issued and 18,648,884 outstanding at April 30, 2019     18,914       18,666  
Additional paid-in capital     69,146,123       68,562,727  
Treasury stock (16,667 shares)     (70,000 )     (70,000 )
Accumulated deficit     (44,261,992 )     (42,049,965 )
Total stockholders’ equity     24,833,045       26,461,428  
                 
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity   $ 50,267,520     $ 43,204,503  


ASPEN GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Unaudited)

    Three Months Ended  
    July 31,  
    2019     2018  
             
Revenues   $ 10,357,982     $ 7,221,305  
                 
Operating expenses                
Cost of revenues (exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below)     4,353,058       3,752,392  
General and administrative     7,037,150       5,824,132  
Depreciation and amortization     606,574       498,105  
Total operating expenses     11,996,782       10,074,629  
                 
Operating loss     (1,638,800 )     (2,853,324 )
                 
Other income (expense)                
Other income     22,802       56,401  
Interest expense     (423,689 )     (40,353 )
Total other income/(expense), net     (400,887 )     16,048  
                 
Loss before income taxes     (2,039,687 )     (2,837,276 )
                 
Income tax expense     35,595        
                 
Net loss   $ (2,075,282 )   $ (2,837,276 )
                 
Net loss per share allocable to common stockholders - basic and diluted   $ (0.11 )   $ (0.15 )
                 
Weighted average number of common stock outstanding - basic and diluted     18,733,317       18,317,830  


ASPEN GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
 (Unaudited)

                Additional                 Total  
    Common Stock     Paid-In     Treasury     Accumulated     Stockholders’  
    Shares     Amount     Capital     Stock     Deficit     Equity  
Balance at April 30, 2019     18,665,551     $ 18,666     $ 68,562,727     $ (70,000 )   $ (42,049,965 )   $ 26,461,428  
                                                 
Stock-based compensation                 498,417                   498,417  
Common stock issued for cashless stock options exercised     101,894       102       (102 )                  
Common stock issued for stock options exercised for cash     21,876       22       45,168                   45,190  
Common stock issued for cashless warrant exercise     19,403       19       (19 )                  
Amortization of warrant based cost                 9,440                   9,440  
Amortization of restricted stock issued for service                 30,597                   30,597  
Restricted Stock Issued for Services, subject to vesting     104,803       105       (105 )                  
Cumulative effect of Adoption of ASC 842                             (136,745 )     (136,745 )
Net loss                             (2,075,282 )     (2,075,282 )
Balance at July 31, 2019     18,913,527     $ 18,914     $ 69,146,123     $ (70,000 )   $ (44,261,992 )   $ 24,833,045  


                Additional                 Total  
    Common Stock     Paid-In     Treasury     Accumulated     Stockholders’  
    Shares     Amount     Capital     Stock     Deficit     Equity  
Balance at April 30, 2018     18,333,521     $ 18,334     $ 66,557,005     $ (70,000 )   $ (32,771,748 )   $ 33,733,591  
                                                 
Stock-based compensation                 209,976                   209,976  
Common stock issued for cashless stock options exercised     5,230       5       (5 )                  
Common stock issued for stock options exercised for cash     2,689       2       7,815                   7,817  
Purchase of treasury stock, net of broker fees                       (7,370,000 )           (7,370,000 )
Re-sale of treasury stock, net of broker fees                       7,370,000             7,370,000  
Fees associated with equity raise                 (29,832 )                 (29,832 )
Net loss                             (2,837,276 )     (2,837,276 )
Balance at July 31, 2018     18,341,440     $ 18,341     $ 66,744,959     $ (70,000 )   $ (35,609,024 )   $ 31,084,276  


ASPEN GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited)

    Three months ended  
    July 31,  
    2019     2018  
Cash flows from operating activities:                
Net loss   $ (2,075,282 )   $ (2,837,276 )
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:                
Bad debt expense     240,899       121,805  
Depreciation and amortization     606,574       498,105  
Stock-based compensation     498,417       209,976  
Warrants issued for services     9,440        
Loss on asset disposition     20,240        
Amortization of debt discounts     65,702        
Amortization of debt issue costs     29,662        
Amortization of prepaid shares for services           8,285  
Non-cash payments to investor relations firm     30,597        
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:                
Accounts receivable     (1,535,420 )     (1,592,941 )
Prepaid expenses     (136,022 )     (229,168 )
Other receivables     710       173,475  
Other assets     67,032        
Accounts payable     (110,890 )     (728,230 )
Accrued expenses     (73,663 )     10,401  
Deferred rent     (35,783 )     217,433  
Refunds due students     417,131       302,609  
Deferred revenue     224,172       430,015  
Right of use assets, net     62,776        
Other liabilities     8,625       27,301  
Net cash used in operating activities     (1,685,083 )     (3,388,210 )
                 
Cash flows from investing activities:                
Purchases of courseware and accreditation     (2,275 )     (42,917 )
Purchases of property and equipment     (629,983 )     (735,757 )
Net cash used in investing activities     (632,258 )     (778,674 )
                 
Cash flows from financing activities:                
Disbursements for equity offering costs           (29,832 )
Proceeds of stock options exercised and warrants exercised     45,190       7,817  
Purchase of treasury stock, net of broker fees           (7,370,000 )
Re-sale of treasury stock, net of broker fees           7,370,000  
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities     45,190       (22,015 )
                 
Net (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents     (2,272,151 )     (4,188,899 )
Cash, restricted cash, and cash equivalents at beginning of period     9,967,752       14,803,065  
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period   $ 7,695,601     $ 10,614,166  
                 
Supplemental disclosure cash flow information                
Cash paid for interest   $ 324,861     $  
Cash paid for income taxes   $     $  
                 
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing and financing activities                
Common stock issued for services   $ 178,447     $  


ASPEN GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (CONTINUED)
(Unaudited)

The following table provides a reconciliation of cash and restricted cash reported within the consolidated balance sheet that sum to the same such amounts shown in the consolidated statement of cash flows:

    Three months ended  
    July 31,  
    2019     2018  
                 
Cash   $ 7,243,580     $ 10,423,660  
Restricted cash     452,021       190,506  
Total cash and restricted cash   $ 7,695,601     $ 10,614,166  

 

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Source: Aspen Group Inc.