Q4 2023 Perdoceo Education Corporation Earnings Call

Yeah.

Good day, everyone and welcome to the <unk> Education Corporation fourth quarter and full year 2023 earnings Conference call today's call is being recorded.

Now like to turn the call over to David Schneider with Investor Relations. Please go ahead Sir.

Thank you Lisa good afternoon, everyone and thank you for joining us for our fourth quarter 2023 earnings call.

With me on the call today is Todd Nelson, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Ashish Ghia Chief Financial Officer.

This financial this conference call is being webcast live within the Investor Relations section at <unk> Dot com.

A webcast replay will also be available on our site and you can always contact the Alpha IR group for Investor Relations support.

Let me remind you that this afternoon's earnings release and remarks made today include forward looking statements as defined in section 21 E. The Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These statements are based on assumptions made by and information currently available to.

As you know education and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual future results performance business prospects and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by these statements.

These risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to those factors identified in <unk>. Most recent annual report on Form 10-K.

In subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, except as expressly required by the securities laws. The company undertakes no obligation to update those factors or any forward looking statements to reflect future events developments or changed circumstances or for any other reason.

In addition, today's remarks refer to non-GAAP financial measures.

They are intended to supplement but not substitute for the most directly comparable GAAP measures.

The earnings release that accompanies today's call contains financial and other quantitative information to be discussed today as well as the reconciliation of the GAAP to non-GAAP measures and is available within the Investor Relations page of the Companys website.

With that I'd like to turn the call over to Chief Executive Officer, Todd Nelson Todd.

Thank you Davis.

Afternoon, everyone and thank you for joining us for our fourth quarter 2023 earnings call.

I'd like to begin by thanking our faculty students support staff and all other employees for their ongoing commitment and work.

And serving in educating our students.

We ended 2023 on a strong note as it relates to student retention and engagement and I am proud of the entire <unk> team as they executed on our priorities and delivered on our commitment of further enhancing student experiences retention and academic outcomes.

Before I go into some details for the fourth quarter and full year here are some of the key observations and highlights first.

As we exit 2023 student retention and engagement are the highest they have been over the past few years across both our academic institutions.

And we expect to operate at these improved levels through 2024.

Short term operational changes that were undertaken at our U S. During 2023 to comply with new regulations are now behind us and we have mostly reverted to normalized levels of operations beginning in the fourth quarter of 2023.

Next 2023, ending total student enrollments reflected a three 2% growth at <unk> and as expected at 39, 3% decline at <unk> due to the operating changes undertaken however.

However, as Ashish will share with you shortly we expect to mostly offset any lag impact of this planned decline on 2024 operating results.

Marketing and admission spin and commensurately prospective student inquiry generation was lower in 2023 as compared to 2022 due to the short term operational changes made at our U S as well as adjustments made to our processes around generating prospective student inquiries in order to comply.

With updated expectations for various federal agencies around prospective student outreach. This impact was partially offset by increased operating efficiency within our student enrollment onboarding processes.

Our institutions remain focused on and continued investments.

Investments in personnel and processes to support their respective corporate engagement programs.

Lastly, we used approximately $22 $7 million of cash for dividends and stock buyback during 2023.

Returning cash to shareholders via quarterly dividends is expected to be an integral and growing part of our capital allocation strategy.

Now to our operating results fourth quarter and full year results came in ahead of our expectations. We reported fourth quarter net income of $17 $2 million or 26 per diluted share.

While adjusted earnings per diluted share, which excludes certain significant and noncash items was 27.

A quick note on total enrollments at <unk> total student enrollments increased by three 2% as compared to the prior year and at ARU system total student enrollments decreased by $39 three as compared to the prior year.

Which is in line with our expectations that we discussed on last quarter's conference call.

<unk> system, mostly reverted to normalized operations during the fourth quarter and as a result, we expect total enrollments in subsequent quarters. During 2024, two experienced double digit growth as compared to the low point in the fourth quarter 2023.

A few operational updates before I turn the call over to Ashish first aided by data analytics, we continue to adjust our marketing strategies to further improve our focus on identifying prospective students.

Most likely to succeed at one of our universities as well as comply with updated expectations with various federal agencies around prospective student outreach. While these marketing adjustments may have impacted new student enrollments improved student engagement across their dry eye, but quite stable as mostly offset any negative impact on the total enrollment.

Okay Alright.

<unk> corporate engaged programs remain a focus and priority and both institutions continue to make investments in staff and technology to further grow their programs in an efficient and effective manner third we continue to place an emphasis on investing in and utilizing technology.

Eight the academic experiences of our students and improve the efficiency and effectiveness of our institutions diverse student support functions. For example, we've made investments toward enhancing student tools, the student portal and the overall classroom experience at our institutions and are actively exploring integration regenerative.

AI into our institutions various student processes.

We continue to view technology as a catalyst and a differentiator for us to remain committed to making selective investments that deliver a more meaningful and relevant education experience for our learners.

2023 was a strong year of execution against our key objectives of enhancing student experiences retention and academic outcomes during the year our institutions make further improvements to student focused operations all of which were ultimately focused on serving and educating our students in an effective and efficient manner.

With that said I'd like to now turn the call over to Ashish for a deeper review of our operating performance Ashish.

Thank you Todd.

I will give you the full year and fourth quarter results and then discuss our balance sheet and 2024 outlook before handing the call back to talk for his closing remarks.

Please note all comparisons I discuss are versus the comparative prior year period, unless otherwise stated.

Before I begin a quick reminder, about year over year compatibility.

Financial results for <unk> reflect the acquisition that was completed in December of 2022.

Your system results are now comparable versus the prior year quarter.

Additionally, total enrollment numbers did I discussed.

Or any enrollment trends that I referred to exclude learners pursuing non degree seeking professional development programs and degree seeking non title for self paced programs at our universities.

With that said.

Let us begin with an overview of our operating results.

For the full year 2023, operating income increased 16, 1% to $150 4 million.

Adjusted operating income, which excludes certain significant and noncash items was $174 9 million or six 7% higher as compared to the prior year.

This increase in adjusted operating income was primarily due to lower marketing spend across all of our academic institutions.

As well as organic revenue growth at <unk>.

The lower marketing spend was due to.

Ongoing adjustments made to prospective student inquiry generation processes to comply with updated expectations from various federal agencies around prospective student outreach and b the necessary operational changes undertaken at <unk> system.

Please also note the full year adjusted operating income of $174 9 million exceeded our latest outlook range of $171 million to $174 million.

Primarily due to better than expected retention and engagement in the fourth quarter.

Net income for the full year was $147 7 million or.

Or $2.18 per diluted share compared to $95 9 million or $1 39 per diluted share.

Adjusted earnings per diluted share, which again, we believe is more indicative.

Our underlying operating performance was $2 10.

As compared to $1 63, reflecting an increase of 28, 8%.

For the fourth quarter adjusted operating income was $19 4 million as compared to $32 4 million in the prior year quarter and adjusted earnings per diluted share was 27 as compared with 31.

While this anticipated decrease was primarily due to lower revenue at our academic institutions. It was actually better than what we had expected for.

For the fourth quarter revenue at <unk> was lower due to the academic calendar redesign and the resulting lower revenue base.

While revenue at AIG system was lower due to the peak impact of the operational changes made earlier in 2023 that was experienced in the fourth quarter results.

Full year revenue increased to $710 million as compared to $695 2 million.

Revenue in the fourth quarter decreased by 16% to $147 9 million.

Both institutions experienced sequential improvements in sooner and retention and engagement throughout the year.

For the full year revenue comparison was also positively impacted by the academic calendar redesign CDU.

As well as the acquisitions completed in 2022 that were not part of the full comparative prior year period.

As it relates to total student enrollments.

Total student enrollments for <unk> increased by three 2% as of December 31.

And as expected.

<unk> ended the year approximately 39, 3% lower.

Despite a negative impact from the academic calendar as it relates to enrollment days.

Growth in total enrollments at <unk> was supported by organic improvements in student retention and engagement.

As it relates to the AI ecosystem.

Our total enrollments were in line with our expectations as discussed during prior quarter's earnings call.

This decrease was driven by the short term operational changes and adjustments within prospective student enrollment marketing and outreach processes undertaken earlier in the year to ensure compliance with anticipated and final regulatory changes.

While these operating changes and adjustments where necessary. We are pleased to share that as planned marketing and student enrollment activities have mostly been alerted to normalized levels and we expect this system to experience double digit total enrollment growth in subsequent quarters during 2024 as compared to the fourth.

Quarter of 2023.

Now to our segment results.

Full year revenue at <unk> increased by 11, 8% to $468 9 million due.

Due to a positive timing impacts on the academic calendar redesign and the 'twenty to 'twenty two acquisition as well as underlying organic growth in student enrollments.

As expected fourth quarter revenue at <unk> was three 6% lower than the prior year quarter due to a negative impact of the academic calendar on revenue, earning days during the quarter.

Operating income was $25 4 million for the quarter.

As compared with $34 1 million in the prior year quarter, while full year operating income increased by one 7% to $144 million.

Please note that the operating income for the quarter was impacted by certain nonrecurring charges related to recent acquisitions.

At AIG system full year revenue decreased by 12, 5% to $243 million, while fourth quarter revenue was $43 2 million or 36% lower than prior year quarter.

Please note that the peak impact from the operational changes undertaken within AIG system was experienced in the fourth quarter of 2023.

Operating income for the quarter was zero point $6 million.

Full year operating income increased by 35, 9% to $45 3 million.

Despite the revenue decrease full year operating income increased primarily due to lower marketing and admissions expenses.

AIG system will see some of this operating leverage reverse in 2024 added reinvest in its marketing and admission functions.

Overall, we ended the year on a high note as it relates to certain retention and engagement and as we enter 2024, we expect to operate at levels consistent with the second half of 2023.

Moving on to corporate and other.

Operating losses for the quarter and the year were $10 million and $38 8 million, which improved 32, 6% and 14, 2%, respectively as compared to the prior year periods.

This improvement was driven by a decrease in legal fees, primarily associated with the responses to the department of education relating to loan forgiveness applications by former students.

Please refer to the disclosures regarding board defense to repayment in our 10-Q.

That was filed this afternoon.

Additional information on this matter.

Now turning to income taxes for the fourth quarter, we recorded a provision for income taxes of $5 2 million.

This resulted in an effective tax rate of 23, 2% for the quarter, bringing our annual tax rate to 23, 1%.

The effective tax rate for the quarter was positively impacted by approximately three 7% as a result of the release of previously recorded tax reserves for uncertain tax positions.

Full year tax rate was positively impacted by the tax benefits associated with the previously disclosed prior year ordinary loss attributable to the stock of a subsidiary we decreased the effective tax rate by two 4%.

Finally, we expect that for full year 2024, our effective tax rate will be between 25, 5% and 26, 5%.

Now to our balance sheet and liquidity.

For the full year 2023 cash flow from operations was $112 million versus $148 2 million in the priority.

We ended the year with $604 two millions of cash cash equivalents restricted cash and available for sale short term investments.

This represents an increase of approximately $86 million over year end 2022.

Some of the key offsets to the positive cash flows from our academic institutions were $41 $8 million of income tax payments $22 7 million and return of capital to shareholders and $6 4 million of capital expenditures.

Finally, we expect that our 2024 ending cash balance will continue to grow as compared to year end 2023.

Okay.

Capital expenditures for the full year were approximately $6 $4 million or <unk>, 9% of revenue.

For full year 2024, we foresee capital expenditures to be approximately 1% to 2% of revenues.

Before I share the updated outlook, let me take a minute to discuss capital allocation.

We were pleased to announce that consistent with our dividend policy on February five the board of directors approved the fourth quarter 2023 dividend payment of <unk> 11 per share payable on March 15th 2024 to the holders of record of <unk> common stock at the close of business on March one 2024.

To provide context on an annualized basis. This quarterly dividend represents roughly 27% of our trailing 12 months free cash flows.

Future quarterly dividend payments are expected to be paid out of the free cash flow for the railroad year subject to board approval and the companies available retained earnings.

Shall condition and other relevant factors.

Subject to the requirements just mentioned, we expect quarterly dividend payments will be an integral and growing part of our balanced capital allocation strategy and generally expect to review quarterly dividend amounts on an annual basis.

Our balanced capital allocation strategy also prioritizes investments in organic projects in particular technology related initiatives designed to benefit of our students and maintaining a strong balance sheet, while also evaluating diverse strategies to enhance stockholder value, including acquisitions and share repurchases.

In line with that strategy. We are pleased to announce that the board has approved a new stock repurchase program commencing March one 2024, which replaces our existing repurchase program.

This new program authorizes the company to repurchase up to $50 million of the company's outstanding stock.

Now, let us discuss our outlook for 2024.

We expect full year 2024, adjusted operating income to range between $170 million and $190 million.

This compares to an adjusted operating income of $1 $74 9 million in 2023.

Adjusted earnings per diluted share is expected to range between $2 <unk> and $2 26.

Versus $2 10 and 2023.

This outlook reflects our current belief that the high levels of student retention engagement, we experienced in the second half of 2023.

Partly supported by the positive impact from various student federal student aid initiatives, we will continue to persist into 2024.

Full year revenue is expected to be lower than 2023 due to the impact of the academic calendar redesign of CPU, resulting in lower revenue days.

As a reminder, <unk> academic calendar redesign may impact the comparability of revenue, earning days and enrollment results in any given quarter, but not necessarily in the same magnitude or direction.

AIG your system revenue is expected to be lower in 2024 due to the lag impact of lower beginning total enrollments at AIG system.

However for 2024 ARU is expected to experience double digit total enrollment growth as compared to year end 2023, primarily due to normalized levels of marketing and admission stents as well as organic growth driven by higher levels of student retention and engagement.

We also expect <unk> to experience total enrollment growth for the year end 2024, primarily driven by higher levels of student retention and engagement as well as continued growth from their corporate engagement program.

For the first quarter of 2020, we expect adjusted operating income to be in the range of $43 million to $45 million as compared to $53 1 million in the prior year quarter.

<unk> earnings per diluted share to range between 53 and 55.

Per diluted share versus <unk> 58 in the first quarter of 2023.

Please note that the academic calendar redesign the CPU will disproportionately impact the first half of 2024 as compared to the prior year.

Also the lag impact from lower beginning total enrollments at AIG system will be experienced more acutely in the first half of 'twenty four.

As a result, we expect the 2024 first half adjusted operating income to be lower as compared to the first half of 2023, while the second half is expected to show growth as compared to the 2023.

As disclosed in our Form 10-K filed today the department of Education has recently gone through and is going through additional negotiated rule, making processes, while also updating interpretations and providing new guidance surrounding various other topics.

While we continue to monitor and evaluate this rulemaking initiatives.

As well as new or updated guidance coming from the department.

Any further operational changes that are necessary to ensure compliance with the department's rules and interpretations could have an impact on the outlook I just presented.

Yes.

Our 2024 outlook also assumes ongoing investments in technology data analytics academic and student support processes.

We believe these investments have been successful and positively impacting academic outcomes and student experiences.

Additionally, we will also continue to increase the size of our institutions corporate engagement teams.

Please refer to earnings release filed today for important information about key assumptions and factors underlying the discussion from today's call as well as the GAAP to non-GAAP reconciliations with that I will turn the call back over to talk for his closing remarks.

Thank you Ashish.

In closing I am proud of the way our company executed throughout 2023, and I am pleased with the progress we are bringing into the new year.

Our academic institutions remain focused on serving and educating students and our investments will continue to prayers student experiences and academic outcomes.

I'd like to once again, thank all of our students and staff for their hard work and education and.

And thank you again for joining us today.

Thank you and that does conclude todays presentation. Thank you for your participation you may now disconnect.

Please wait the conference will begin shortly.

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