Q4 2023 Digimarc Corp Earnings Call

Greetings and welcome to the did you Mark Corporation fourth quarter fiscal year 2023 earnings Conference call. At this time, all participants are in a listen only mode.

Operator: Greetings and welcome to the Digimarc Corporation 4th Quarter Fiscal Year 2023 Earnings Conference Call. At this time, all participants are in a listen-only mode.

Operator: A brief question and answer session will follow the formal presentation. If anyone should require operator assistance during the conference, please press star zero on your telephone keypad. As a reminder, this conference is being recorded. It is now my pleasure to introduce your host, Joel Meyer, Chief Legal Officer. Please go ahead.

Question and answer session will follow the formal presentation, if anyone should require operator assistance during the conference. Please.

Just press Star zero on your telephone keypad as a reminder, this conference is being recorded.

It's now my pleasure to introduce your host Joe Meyer Chief Legal Officer. Please go ahead.

Thank you.

Joel Meyer: Thank you. Welcome to our Q4 conference call. Riley McCormack, our CEO, and Charles Beck, our CFO are with me on the call. On the call today, we will provide a business update and discuss Q4 2023 and fiscal year 2023 financial results. This will be followed by a question and answer forum. We have posted our prepared remarks in the investor relations section of our website, and we'll archive this webcast there. Before we begin, let me remind everyone that today's discussion contains forward-looking statements that have risks and uncertainties. Please refer to our press release for more information on the specific risk factors that could cause actual results to differ materially.

Welcome to our Q4 conference call Riley Mccormack, our CEO Charles Beck, our CFO are with me on the call on the call today, we will provide a business update and discuss Q4 2023 and fiscal year 2023 financial results. This will be followed by a question and answer Forum, we have posted our prepared remarks in the Investor Relations section of.

Our website and will archive this webcast there.

Before we begin let me remind everyone that today's discussion contains forward looking statements that have risks and uncertainties. Please refer to our press release for more information on the specific risk factors that could cause actual results to differ materially.

Joel Meyer: Riley will now provide a business update. Thank you, Joel. And hello, everyone.

Bradley will now provide a business update.

Thank you Joe and Hello, everyone Q4 was another strong quarter for <unk> on a year over year basis, we accelerated our air growth to 71% accelerated our subscription revenue growth to 37% and expanded our subscription gross profit margins more than a thousand basis points to 87 three.

Riley Young McCormack: Q4 was another strong quarter for Digimarc. On a year-over-year basis, we accelerated our ARR growth to 71 percent, accelerated our subscription revenue growth to 37 percent, and expanded our subscription gross profit margins more than a thousand basis points to 87.3 percent. This performance was a result of our continued execution against our transformation strategy, but it is important to note that our transformation strategy itself continues to evolve, as I hope it always will. While the rate of change is attenuating as we move from the radical transformation stage we entered in Q2 2021 to the constant iteration and continuous improvement stage in which we are now, the fact is we can always be better tomorrow, and thus that will always be our goal. Constant iteration and continuous improvement can be confusing if not anchored by a consistent true north, and our true north is beautifully simple.

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This performance was a result of our continued execution against our transformation strategy, but it is important to note that our transformation strategy itself continues to evolve as I hope it always will.

While the rate of change is attenuating as we moved from the radical transformation stage, we entered Q2 2021 through the constant iteration that continuous improvement stage in which we are now. The fact is we can always be better tomorrow and that will always be our goal.

Constant iteration and continuous improvement could be confusing if not anchored by a consistent true north and our true north is beautifully simple our goal is to support companies progressing in their digital transformation journey and to achieve that we need to be easy to begin doing business with an excellent guiding customers along their journey.

Riley Young McCormack: Our goal is to support companies progressing in their digital transformation journey, and to achieve that, we need to be easy to begin doing business with, and excellent at guiding customers along their journey. The initiatives we are pursuing in pursuit of our True North range in maturation from just exiting ideation to already launch and in execution, and the quality of both the initiatives as well as our execution of those initiatives will dictate the strength of our future performance. I want to use today's call to talk about four initiatives in greater detail, because I believe all four are likely to have outsized impacts on our quarterly results for years to come. The first is the recent launch of our next generation configuration of our digital water, an initiative we've been working on for over two years.

The initiatives, we are pursuing in pursuit of our true north range and maturation for just exiting ideation to already launched and in execution and the quality of both the initiatives as well as our execution of those initiatives what they take the strength of our future performance.

I want to use today's call to talk about four initiatives in greater detail because I believe all four likely to have an outsized impact at our quarterly results for years to come.

The first is the recent launch of our next generation configuration of our digital watermark an initiative, we've been working on for over two years.

Riley Young McCormack: Our next gen digital watermark is a culmination of a lot of incredible work by a lot of incredible people and represents not just a step change and proven in our digital watermarking technology, but also allows us to knock over a barrier that has historically added friction in our quest to digitize the world's products. Yes, the latest configuration of our digital watermark delivers dramatic improvement in important areas such as security, adaptability, and perceptibility and performance.

Our next Gen digital watermark is a culmination of a lot of incredible work by a lot of incredible people and represents not just a step change improvement in our digital watermark technology, but also allows us to knock over a barrier that is historically added friction in our quest to digitize the world's products.

Yes, the latest configuration of our digital watermark delivers dramatic improvement in important areas, such as security adaptability and Perceptibility in performance and all of these improvements are important because they all deliver a step change increase in value to our customers.

Riley Young McCormack: And all of these improvements are important because they all deliver a step change increase in value to our customers. But it is the addition of powerful new data access and detection controls that I believe will ultimately be what this new configuration is best known for, because these controls not only deliver value to our current offerings, they also enable something never before possible. The application of digital watermarking to products and packaging, well ahead of adoption of any Digimarc.

But it is the addition of powerful new data access at detection controls that I believe will ultimately be what this new configuration is best known for because these controls not only deliver value to our current offerings. They also enable something never before possible.

The application of digital watermark into products and packaging well ahead of adoption of any picture Mark offering.

Riley Young McCormack: With these new controls, companies can now embed our digital watermarks well ahead of planned activation. Future-proofing their products during planned packaging refreshes, regional rollouts, or ahead of future product digitization initiatives. This is not only a new capability of ours, it is something that no other data carrier can provide. It becomes yet another point of differentiation for us and our platform, while simultaneously allowing Digimarc and our partners to rapidly plant seeds we can harvest for years to come. The second initiative that I believe will have a not sized impact on future quarters is the evolution of our partner strategy to, Our partner strategy to encompass and incentivize partners not yet ready to build their own products and services on top of a loop. This is another step towards our being easy to begin doing business with, in this case, not only for our customers, but also our partners. Digimarc excels in supporting customers progressing in their digital transformation journey, where the identification or the authentication of physical and digital assets is critical.

With these new controls companies can now embed our digital watermarks, while ahead of planned activation.

Future proofing their products during plant packaging refreshes regional Rollouts are ahead of future product digitization initiatives.

This is not only a new capability of ours. It is something that no other data carrier can provide.

It becomes yet another point of differentiation for us and our platform, while simultaneously, allowing did you mark and our partners to rapidly plant seats, we can harvest for years to come.

The second initiative that I believe will have an outsized impact on future quarters is the evolution of our partner strategy.

Our partner strategy to encompass and incentivize partners, not yet ready to build their own products and services on top of illuminate.

This is another step towards aren't being easy began doing business with in this case not only for our customers, but also our partners.

Did you Mark excels in supporting customers progressing in their digital transformation journey with the identification of the authentication of physical and digital assets is critical.

The superpowers ethical to almost every single industry and brings us in contact with an incredible number of potential partners. These.

Riley Young McCormack: The superpower is applicable to almost every single industry and brings us in contact with an incredible number of potential partners. These partners, in turn, possess existing customers, large pipelines of prospects, many salespeople, and incredible domain expertise. Our new Center of Expertise, or COE, program allows us to build a mutually beneficial relationship by combining the strengths we both bring to bear, while also allowing us to benefit as we support our shared customers in progressing their digital transformation journey. The COE program is new, but the early results have been promising.

These partners in turn possession existing customers large pipelines of prospects, many salespeople and incredible domain expertise.

Our new center of expertise or C. O program allows us to build the mutually beneficial relationship by combining the strengths. We both bring to bear while also allowing us to benefit as we support our shared customers and progressing their digital transformation journey.

The Coa program is new but the early results have been promising.

Riley Young McCormack: Taking a step back, just like our products themselves, our initiatives should also be accretive, and in the case of the two just mentioned, they indeed are. While the interest in our COE program was strong ahead of the announcement of our next generation configuration of our digital watermark, post that announcement, the interest is notably increased. While all the improvements delivered by our latest digital watermark are resonating, it is the new data access and detection controls that have really spurred partner interest, as they understand these controls not only help them ensure their customers' products and packaging are future-proofed, but also allow them to share in our success, and those customers activate those watermarks by subscribing to a Digimarc offering. The third initiative I'd like to discuss was one we announced just a few days ago. In pursuit of being easy to begin doing business with, we have opened a fifth avenue to market for Digimarc Recycle.

Taking a step back just like our products themselves are initiatives should also be accretive and then in the case of the two just mentioned today Dr. While.

While the interest in our C. O program was strong ahead of the announcement of our next generation configuration of our digital watermark post that announcement the interest has noticed notably increased.

While all of the improvements delivered by our latest digital watermark are resonating it as the new data access and detection controls that have really spurred partner interest as they understand these controls not only help them ensure their customers products and packaging or future proofed, but also allow them to share in our success most customers activate those watermarks by subscribing to a <unk> offering.

The third initiative I'd like to discuss with one we announced just a few days ago.

Pursuit of being easy began doing business with we have opened a fifth avenue to market for did you Mark recycle.

Riley Young McCormack: Under this new avenue to market, Digimarc will license Digimarc Recycle to qualified partners, who would then lead the regional or country-wide rollout of our powerful offering to address the plastic packaging pollution crisis. To be clear, our other four avenues are still open. This is not a replacement, but an augmentation of the options available.

Under this new Avenue to market did you Mark with license did you Mark recycled to qualified partners.

We then lead the regional or country wide rollout of our powerful offering to address the packaging the plastic packaging pollution crisis.

To be clear our other four avenues are still open this is not a replacement, but an augmentation of the options available.

And like I imagine many of our successful initiatives will be this new Avenue to market was informed by conversations we had with multiple stakeholders, who added their feedback to improve our final offering while sharing their excitement about its potential to open their markets.

Riley Young McCormack: And like I imagine many of our successful initiatives will be, this new Abenu to market was informed by conversations we had with multiple stakeholders who added their feedback to improve our final offering, while sharing their excitement about its potential to open their market. This new avenue excites us as well, because of its potential to not just be time to revenue, but also time to broad adoption. And when it comes to Digimarc Recycle, our interest in shortening time to adoption comes not just from the opportunity Digimarc Recycle presents us as a business, but also the opportunity that widespread adoption of Digimarc Recycle presents us as a plant.

This new Avenue excites us as well because it has potential to not just be time to revenue, but also time to broad adoption.

And when it comes to digital Macrocycle are interesting or interest in shortening time to adoption comes not just from the opportunity did you Macrocycle presents us as a business, but also the opportunity that widespread adoption of digital Macrocycle presents us as a as a planet.

Finally, as discussed at an Investor Conference last month, where you're putting the finishing touches on some major updates to ditch American gauge.

Riley Young McCormack: Finally, as discussed at an investor conference last month, we are putting the finishing touches on some major updates to Digimarc Engage. Being easy to begin doing business with an excellent and guiding customers along the journey sometimes entails providing the market something they've never had the ability to do before. New capabilities that lead to a better end customer experience, while also revealing data that has never been, has never before been available for the revealing. Our upgrade to Digimarc Engage will not only provide new functionality for physical products, it will also take the industry-leading capabilities of Digimarc Engage into the digital domain. Moreover, it will allow for a seamless experience between these two domains.

Being easy to begin doing business with an excellent guiding customers along the journey, sometimes entails providing the market something they've never had the ability to do before new capabilities that lead to a better end customer experience. While also revealing data that has never been as.

He has never before been available for the revealing.

Our upgraded did you mark engage will not only provide new functionality for physical products. It will also take the industry leading capabilities a ditch American gauge into the digital domain.

Moreover, it will allow for a seamless experience between these two domains.

That is not possible with any other consumer engagement offering.

We are excited to share more on this very very soon.

The results of our initiatives don't just show up in our quarterly results. They also allow our participation in an important conversations focused on driving the world forward.

Riley Young McCormack: Something that is not possible with any other consumer engagement offer. We are excited to share more on this very, very soon. The results of our initiatives don't just show up in our quarterly results. They also allow our participation in important conversations focused on driving the world forward. As a pioneer and global leader in digital watermarking, we welcome the world's understanding of the power of this technology and believe it is our responsibility to lend our almost 30 years of experience and expertise to conversations in which digital watermarking is a topic. Throughout the fourth quarter, we participated in a series of meetings in Washington, D.C. with leaders from both the executive and legislative branches on the critical topic of AI security. We were afforded this opportunity given our expertise and proven track record of protecting some of the world's most recognized brands and critical assets. In November, we were invited to participate in one of the Senate AI Insight Forums hosted by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, and Senators Todd Young, Martin Heinrich, and Mike Ryan.

As the pioneer and global leader in digital water, marking we welcomed the world's understanding of the power of this technology and believe it is our responsibility to lend our almost 30 years of experience and expertise to conversations in which digital water marketing as a topic.

Throughout the fourth quarter, we participated in a series of meetings in Washington D. C with leaders from both the executive and legislative branches on the critical topic of AI security.

We were afforded this opportunity given our expertise and proven track record of protecting some of the world's most recognized brands and critical assets.

In November we were invited to participate in one of the Senate AI insight for them. So it's about centered Senate majority leader, Chuck Schumer, and Senators Todd Young Barton Heinrich and Micron's.

It was there that I testified to the need of trustworthy digital watermarks in the fight for AMA online authenticity, given the advent of artificial intelligence.

We remain steadfast in our belief that among the many benefits Jenny I will bring perhaps the most powerful but perhaps the most powerful will be catalyzing, the safer fair and more transparent internet, we all deserve.

In addition to our work inside the Beltway did you Mark was appointed co chair of the C. T. P. A working group on digital water marking.

Riley Young McCormack: It was there that I testified to the need of trustworthy digital watermarks in the fight for online authenticity, given the advent of artificial intelligence. We remain steadfast in our belief that among the many benefits Gen AI will bring, perhaps the most powerful will be catalyzing the safer, fairer, and more transparent internet we all deserve. In addition to our work inside the Beltway, Digimarc was appointed co-chair of the C2PA Working Group on Digital Water Markets.

Once again, establishing our credibility and leadership in the authenticity ecosystem our position, we look forward to maintaining.

Whether it be individual events are ongoing engagements do things every coming clearer to more and more stakeholders.

Digital water, marking as a technology of unlimited potential.

Did you Mark is the company best positioned to bring that technology to the world.

Riley Young McCormack: Once again, establishing our credibility and leadership in the authenticity ecosystem, position we look forward to maintaining. Whether it be individual events or ongoing engagements, two things are becoming clearer to more and more stakeholders. Digital watermarking is a technology of unlimited potential, and Digimarc is a company best positioned to bring that technology to the world.

I'll now turn the call over to Charles to discuss our financial results.

Thank you Ryan and good afternoon, everyone.

Building on the positive financial trends, we delivered in the third quarter. We saw continued progress in our financial performance during the fourth quarter in several key areas.

<unk> grew to $22 3 million, representing a 71% year over year growth.

Subscription revenue increased 37% year over year.

Charles Beck: I will now turn the call over to Charles to discuss our financial. Thank you, Riley, and good afternoon, everyone. Building on the positive financial trends we delivered in the third quarter, we saw continued progress in our financial performance during the fourth quarter in several key areas, ending ARR grew to $22.3 million, representing a 71% year-over-year growth. Subscription revenue increased 37% year over year. Subscription gross profit margin reached 87.3%, a thousand basis point improvement. Operating expenses decreased 2% from Q4 last year, non-gap net loss decreased $2.5 million or 31%, and free cash flow usage improved $2.2 million or 29%.

Subscription gross profit margin reached 87, 3%, a 1000 basis point improvement.

Operating expenses decreased 2% from Q4 last year non.

non-GAAP net non-GAAP net loss decreased $2 5 million or 31%.

And free cash flow usage improved $2 2 million or 29%.

How long do these areas as they are all critical drivers toward reaching positive free cash flow.

<unk> increased 71% from $13 million at the end of 2022 to $22 3 million at the end of 2023.

The increase in air are largely reflects the impact of new customer contracts and to a lesser extent several important customer upsells during the year.

As a reminder, we believe <unk> is the best leading indicator for future commercial subscription revenue growth.

Subscription revenue will lag <unk> growth as subscription revenue is recognized ratably over the contract term.

Charles Beck: I highlight these areas as they are all critical drivers toward reaching positive free cash flow. ARR increased 71% from $13 million at the end of 2022 to $22.3 million at the end of 2023. The increase in ARR largely reflects the impact of new customer contracts, and to a lesser extent, several important customer upsells during the year.

<unk> is recognized upfront upon entering into a contract.

Total revenue for the quarter was $9 3 million, an increase of $2 1 million or 29% from $7 2 million in Q4 last year, reflecting strong growth in both subscription and commercial work and service revenue.

Subscription revenue, which accounted for 60% of total revenue for the quarter grew 37% from $4 1 million to $5 6 million.

Charles Beck: As a reminder, we believe ARR is the best leading indicator for future commercial subscription revenue growth. Subscription revenue will lag ARR growth as subscription revenue is recognized radically over the contract term versus ARR is recognized upfront upon entering into a contract. Total revenue for the quarter was $9.3 million, an increase of $2.1 million, or 29%, from $7.2 million in Q4 last year, reflecting strong growth in both subscription and service revenue. Subscription revenue, which accounted for 60% of total revenue for the quarter, grew 37% from $4.1 million to $5.6 million. The increase reflects subscription revenue recognized on new customer contracts, as well as upsells on existing customer contracts. Commercial subscription revenue grew at an even higher rate at 40%. Service revenue increased 18% from $3.1 million to $3.7 million. The increase primarily reflects a larger annual budget from the central banks for project work in 2023 than in 2022.

The increase reflects subscription revenue recognized on new customer contracts as well as upsells on existing customer contracts.

Commercial subscription revenue grew at an even higher rate at 40%.

Service revenue increased 18% from $3 1 million to $3 7 million.

The increase primarily reflects a larger annual budget from the central banks for project work in 2023, then in 2022.

Subscription gross profit margin improved from 77% in Q4 last year to over 87% in Q4 of 2023.

The large increase year over year reflects a favorable mix in subscription revenue to our newer products, which have higher gross profit margins than our legacy products.

<unk> well for continued expansion of our subscription gross profit margins as we both migrate existing customers to our newer products and we sign up new customers.

Service gross profit margin was flat at 56% in Q4 for both years.

We continue to expect services gross profit margin to be in the mid fifties on average going forward with some fluctuation quarter to quarter, depending on the products.

Operating expenses for the quarter were $16 8 million compared to $17 1 million in Q4 last year, a decrease of 2%.

Charles Beck: Subscription gross profit margin improved from 77% in Q4 last year to over 87% in Q4 2023. The large increase year-over-year reflects a favorable mix in subscription revenue to our new product, which have higher gross profit margins than our legacy products. This bodes well for continued expansion of our subscription gross profit margins as we both migrate existing customers to our newer products and we sign up new customers. Service gross profit margin was flat at 56% in Q4 for both years. We continue to expect service gross profit margin to be in the mid 50s on average going forward with some fluctuation quarter to quarter depending on labor market. Operating expenses for the quarter were $16.8 million compared to $17.1 million in Q4 last year, a decrease of 2%.

Despite the impact of annual compensation adjustments for our employees, we were able to reduce our operating expenses year over year as we continue to focus on ways to maximize our productivity and efficiency as an organization.

non-GAAP operating expenses, which excludes noncash and nonrecurring items of $13 4 million for the quarter down 6% compared to the $14 3 million in Q4 last year.

Net loss per share for the quarter was 52 says versus 62 in Q4 last year.

non-GAAP net loss per share was also considerably lower for the quarter at 28 versus 41 says in Q4 last year.

We ended the year with $27 2 million in cash and investments.

Free cash flow usage was $5 6 million for the quarter compared to $7 8 million used in Q4 last year, we used an additional 700000 of cash in Q4 for share repurchases.

Charles Beck: Despite the impact of annual compensation adjustments for our employees, we were able to reduce our operating expenses year over year as we continue to focus on ways to maximize our productivity and efficiency as an organization, non-GAAP operating expenses, which excludes non-cash and non-recurring items, with $13.4 million for the quarter, down 6% compared to the $14.3 million in Q4 last year. Net loss per share for the quarter was $0.52 versus $0.62 in Q4 last year. And non-GAAP net loss per share was also considerably lower for the quarter at $0.28 versus $0.41 in Q4 last year. We ended the year with $27.2 million in cash and investments. Free cash flow usage was $5.6 million for the quarter compared to $7.8 million used in Q4 last year.

Our free cash flow usage was down considerably in the second half of 2023 as compared to the first half of the year largely reflecting the impact of growing our <unk> and as promised free cash flow usage was noticeably less in the second half of 2023 as compared to Q2.

Given cash flows can fluctuate quarter to quarter, depending on the timing of cash inflows and outflows. We continue to believe that a good proxy for a normalized level of free cash flow is using non-GAAP loss and adding capital expenditures.

While the trend in free cash flow is significantly improved over the past few quarters and we expect it to continue to improve we do expect Q1 2024 to be higher than Q4, 2023 due to year end related expenses, including annual incentive payments.

As I'm sure you are all aware by now we entered into a registered direct stock transaction over the weekend, whereby we raised $32 5 million of gross cash proceeds by selling 929000 shares of our common stock at a price of $35 per share.

Charles Beck: We use an additional $700,000 of cash in Q4 per share. Our free cash flow usage was down considerably in the second half of 2023 as compared to the first half of the year, largely reflecting the impact of growing our ARR. And as promised, free cash flow usage was noticeably less in the second half of 2023 as compared to Q2. Given cash flows can fluctuate quarter to quarter depending on the timing of cash inflows and outflows. We continue to believe that a good proxy for a normalized level of free cash flow is using non-gap loss and adding capital expenditure.

The price represented only a two 5% discount to the last trade.

This transaction not only topped off our balance sheet and expanded our roster of both long term and value added shareholders.

A special thank you to Rishi and the team at <unk> capital for the introduction to the new shareholders their efforts in bringing this deal together and their continued partnership.

After completing this transaction, we also decided to terminate our at the market or ATM stock program that we had established back in 2019.

The ATM program will be terminated effective March one 2024.

For the fiscal year, we made considerable progress in the underlying fundamentals of our business.

Charles Beck: While the trend in free cash flow has significantly improved over the past two quarters, and we expect it to continue to improve, we do expect Q1 2024 to be higher than Q4 2023 due to year-end related expenses, including annual incentive payments. As I'm sure you are all aware by now, we entered into a registered direct stock transaction over the weekend, whereby we raised $32.5 million of gross cash proceeds by selling 929,000 shares of our common stock at a price of $35 per share. The price represented only a 2.5% discount to the last trade.

Subscription revenue increased 25% from last year and 33%. If you include the impact of our retired piracy intelligence product.

While commercial subscription revenue grew at an even higher rate at 38% excluding Parison intelligence.

Subscription gross profit margin averaged 84, 3% for the year 1000 basis point improvement over last year.

Operating expenses decreased $8 8 million or 11% despite the headwinds from inflation.

As a result of accelerating our subscription revenue growth expanding our subscription gross profit margins and lowering our operating expenses non-GAAP loss decreased $12 1 million or 31% for the year.

Charles Beck: This transaction not only topped off our balance sheet, it expanded our roster of both long-term and value-added shareholders. A special thank you to Rishi and the team at Altai Capital for the introduction to these new shareholders, their efforts in bringing this deal together, and their continued partnership. After completing this transaction, we also decided to terminate our at the market or ATM stock program that we had established back in 2019. The ATM program will be terminated effective March 1st, 2020.

And free cash flow usage was more than cut in half decreasing from $45 9 million in 2022 to $22 7 million in 2023.

Took a giant step in 2023 to move the company down the path to cash flow positive. We still have work to do but we will remain maniacally focused on continuing to grow a are expanding our gross profit margins and effectively managing our expenses to shorten that path.

For further discussion of our financial results and risks and prospects for our business. Please see our Form 10-K that will be filed with the SEC later this week.

Charles Beck: For the fiscal year, we made considerable progress in the underlying fundamentals of our business. Subscription revenue increased 25% from last year, and 33% if you include the impact of our retired piracy intelligence product, while commercial subscription revenue grew at an even higher rate at 38% excluding piracy and telechips. Subscription gross profit margin averaged 84.3% for the year, 1,000 basis point improvement over last year, and operating expenses decreased 8.8 million or 11% despite the headwinds from inflation. As a result of accelerating our subscription revenue growth, expanding our subscription gross profit margins and lowering our operating expenses. Non-GAAP loss decreased $12.1 million, or 31% for the year, and free cash flow usage was more than cut in half, decreasing from $45.9 million in 2022 to $22.7 million in 2023, took a giant step in 2023 to move the company down the path to cash flow positive.

I'll now turn the call back over to rally for final remarks.

Thank you Charles Q.

Q4 was another strong quarter for Digi, Mark made possible by the progress we've made on multiple important initiatives. We've been pursuing since we began our transformation in Q2 2021.

Well, we are through the most radical part of our transformation, we will always be focused on what's next guided by our simple mantra of being easy to began doing business with an excellent at guiding customers along their journey.

I believe the four initiatives, we shared today are likely to become inputs to future strong quarterly reports and it is important to note here are just a sampling of the things on which we are hard at work every day.

I share my teammates excitement about where we are going as well as the urgency to get their urgency that comes from knowing there is a massive marketing massive market waiting for us to unlock it and that we are in a unique position to do just that.

Strong results are wonderful and as we've said consistently over the last two and a half years, we expect you to judge us nothing.

Nothing about our results, but they are only made possible by never settling for the status quo and by always planting the seeds for future growth. The only constant at least it did you Mark is improvement and I don't I don't expect that will ever change.

Riley Young McCormack: We still have work to do, but we will remain maniacally focused on continuing to grow ARR, expanding our gross profit margins, and effectively managing our expenses to shorten that path. For further discussion of our financial results and risks and prospects for our business, please see our Form 10-K that will be filed with the SEC later this week. I'll now turn the call back over to Riley for final remarks. Thank you, Charles. Q4 was another strong quarter for Digimarc, made possible by the progress we have made on multiple important initiatives we have been pursuing since we began our transformation in Q2 2021.

The combination of this team and this tech is a scary.

Curly powerful mix and as a team we are excited by what the future holds Stacy we will now open up the call for questions.

Thank you we will now be conducting a question and answer session.

To ask a question. Please press star one on your telephone keypad.

Paul from Asia and good to.

Your line is another question in queue you.

You May press Star two if you would like.

I'll get questions from the queue.

For participants using speaker equipment, it may be necessary to pick up your handset before pressing the star keys.

Riley Young McCormack: While we are through the most radical part of our transformation, we will always be focused on what's next, guided by our simple mantra of being easy to begin doing business with and excellent at guiding customers along their journey. I believe the four initiatives we share today are likely to become inputs to future strong quarterly reports, and it is important to note they are just a sampling of the things on which we are hard at work every day. I share my teammates' excitement about where we are going, as well as their urgency to get there.

One moment, please while we poll for questions.

Yeah.

Once again Thats Star one if you would like to ask the question.

First question comes from Robin Knipp with Janney Montgomery Scott. Please go ahead.

Thanks for taking the question rally could you elaborate a little bit on the $1 less than one dollar per capita what that means and who that is gonna be applying to.

Yeah. So thanks, Robert for the question how have you been.

If I had been well thanks.

Good.

Yeah. So this is a new go to market as I said.

Uh huh.

Perfected, perhaps maybe the term to use along with some interested parties. So the partners could range from Ngos they could range to governments, they could rote range systems integrators.

Riley Young McCormack: Urgency that comes from knowing there is a massive market waiting for us to unlock it, and that we are in a unique position to do just that. Strong results are wonderful, and as we've said consistently over the last two and a half years, we expect you to judge us on nothing but our results. They are only made possible by never settling for the status quo and by always planting the seeds for future growth.

And Ah.

Less than one dollar per capita as a total price that our partner would pay to rollout did you macrocycle in a region or a country.

So looking at you know our country's population.

Operator: The only constant, at least at Digimarc, is improvement, and I don't expect that will ever change. The combination of this team and this tech is a scarily powerful mix and is a team we are excited by what the future holds. Stacey, we will now open up the call for questions. Thank you. We will now be conducting a question and answer session. If you would like to ask a question, please press star 1 on your telephone keypad. A confirmation tone will indicate your line is in the question queue. You may press star two if you would like to remove your question from the queue.

Price to our partner.

It would be in charge of orchestration of the rollout in the country or region it would be less than a dollar.

Per person in that country or region.

So just as a follow up have you seen any traction with this pricing model yet.

We just launched it.

A couple of days ago, right, So [laughter] little.

A little bit early but I will say, yes, but I I did say that and I and I did say in the in the script that right is it is that this is not the first people have heard about it. So first we started talking about it so we.

We are optimistic and we are excited and you know it is you know Robyn our excitement about digital exactly yes of course, what it means for our business. But also we think this is a proven powerful technology to address perhaps one of the top three problems of this planet faces.

Operator: For participants using speaker equipment, it may be necessary to pick up your handset before pressing the star key. One moment, please, while we poll for questions. Once again, that's star one if you would like to ask a question. First question comes from Robin Knipp with Janie Montgomery Scott.

So we want to see it get adopted for her.

Robin Knipp: Please go ahead. Thanks for taking the question. Riley, could you elaborate a little bit on the $1, less than $1 per capita, what that means and who that is going to be applying to? Yeah, so thanks, Robin, for the question. How you been?

Yeah.

As residents of this planet.

Understood Thanks, and thanks again.

Great quarter.

Thanks Robyn.

Next question comes from Jeff Bernstein with Silverback. Please go ahead.

Yeah.

Hi, good afternoon.

Riley Young McCormack: I've been well, thanks. Good. Yeah, so this is a new go to market, as I said, perfected, perhaps there's a term to use along with some interested parties. So the partners could range from NGOs, they could range to governments, they could range systems as integrators. And less than $1 per capita is a total price that our partner would pay to roll out Digimarc Recycle in a region or a country.

So really you mentioned the new did you Mark watermark technology.

And the improvements there and in Perceptibility being one of them and can you just talk a little bit more about that I I remember you know quite a number of years ago. There was discussion by some of the consumer packaged goods guys about some of their very iconic artwork and why.

Riley Young McCormack: So looking at, you know, a country's population, the price to our partner would be in charge of orchestration of a rollout in the country or region would be less than a dollar per person in that country or region. So just as a follow-up, have you seen any traction with this pricing model yet? We just launched it a couple days ago, right? So a little bit early, but I will say, yeah, but I did say in the script though, right, is that this is not the first people have heard about it. It's the first we've started talking.

They really wanted to.

Embedded watermark on that artwork et cetera, So just talk to us a little bit about kind of the history of the perceptibility of the watermark in and what the improvements are like.

Yeah.

Thanks, Jeff.

So perceptibility is is is.

Riley Young McCormack: We are optimistic and we are excited and, you know, it as you know, Robin, our excitement about digital work cycle. Yes, of course, what it means for our business. But also we think this is a proven, powerful technology to address perhaps one of the top three problems that this planet faces. So we want to see it get adopted for for, as residents of this planet.

Impacted by two things a size of payload and then also the.

Colors used to embed the watermark.

And both of those we've made incredible improvements on them I don't know if you've seen any of this stuff for example that we've we've rolled out for recycle.

These are some of the most iconic brands packaging that I think we would have all looked at five years ago I've been like this is going to be really really hard to watermark and it's there and you can't see it so.

Riley Young McCormack: Understood. Thanks. And thanks again for the for the great quarter.

Robin Knipp: Thanks, Robert. Next question comes from Jeff Bernstein with Silverberg. Please go ahead. Hi, good afternoon.

We're constantly looking at ways to knock down barriers are the new configuration of the watermark plays a part of that so it is an update to our tools that allows for a broader use of chrominance illuminance.

Jeffrey M. K. Bernstein: So, Riley, you mentioned the new Digimarc watermark technology and the improvements there and imperceptibility being one of them. And can you just talk a little bit more about that? I remember, you know, quite a number of years ago, there was, you know, discussion by some of the consumer packaged goods guys about, you know, some of their very iconic artwork and whether they really wanted to, you know, embed a watermark on that artwork, etc. So, just talk to us a little bit about kind of the history of the perceptibility of the watermark and what the improvements are like. Yeah, thanks, Jeff. So, perceptibility is impacted by two things, size of payload, and then also the colors used to embed the watermark. And both of those we made incredible improvements on.

Keys or or or inputs are.

All focused on driving down that Perceptibility and even ahead of this new watermark I think we've made great strides as stuff on the shelf with today I guess, the fact, you can't see it on the shelf maybe is the best proof of that but it's always a focus how can we knock down barriers.

That's great.

And then out there in the media there is a.

Riley Young McCormack: I don't know if you've seen any of this stuff, for example, that we've rolled out for Recycle. These are some of the most iconic brands packaging that I think we would have all looked at five years ago and been like, this is going to be really, really hard to watermark. And it's there and you can't see it.

Some discussion of a sprite bottle I think in Europe.

We've completely laser engraved so had no.

Shrink wrap.

Label around the bottle.

And you know had us.

Riley Young McCormack: So. We're constantly looking at ways to knock down barriers, the new configuration of the watermark plays a part of that. So does an update to our tools that allows for broader use of chrominance and luminance, keys or inputs, all focused on driving down the perceptibility and even ahead of this new watermark, I think we've made great strides as stuff on the shelf. I guess the fact you can't see it on the shelf maybe is the best, Proof of that, that it's always a focus, how can we knock down barriers? That's great. And then out there in the media, there is a some discussion of a Sprite bottle, I think, in Europe, that was completely laser engraved, so had no shrink wrap, you know, label around the bottle.

A data carrier on at laser engraved they didn't specify what kind it was and I guess, it's possible to do both digital water marketing as well as QR codes or or anything else that way, but but just talk about where we are on that laser engraving and I think there may even be some other technologies that can be.

He brought to bear there again that was something that I know it was not completely proven out as of a couple of years ago.

Yeah, Yeah. So on the on the striped bottle I believe that was a limited market test with.

Would love to see the world moved to labeling again, both as an opportunity for us as a business, but also for what it would mean for the planet.

Riley Young McCormack: And, you know, had, you know, a data carrier on it, laser engraved, they didn't specify what kind it was. And I guess it's possible to do both digital watermarking as well as QR codes or, or anything else that way. But, but just talk about where we are on that laser engraving. And I think there's may even be some other technologies that can be brought to bear there. Again, that was something that I know was not completely proven out as of a couple years ago.

There is we've done studies as before my time here, but I recall that there were studies that show that digital watermarks actually read better the QR codes in three D and embedding that.

Or just more.

Would it be laughed at by my technical team. After this call, but theres more angles for which the light that like to catch digital watermarks PCR codes that they do re better.

Outside of course, as you do need a nap today to read a watermark so.

Riley Young McCormack: Yeah, yeah. So on the on the Sprite bottle, you know, I believe that was a limited market test. Would love to see the world move to labelless again, both as an opportunity for us as a business, but also for what it would mean for the planet. There is we've done studies before my time here, but I recall that there were studies that show that digital watermarks actually read better than QR codes in 3d in embedding. There's just more, I'm going to be laughed at by my technical team after this call. But there's more angles in which the light to catch digital watermarks with QR codes. So they do read better.

I think there are definitely applications or consumer engagement, where watermarks are great I still think QR codes.

Normally better now three day might be the wanted it proves the digital watermark against the best in terms of our work with lasers.

The.

Conversations are pursuing there.

<unk> talked about Coes earlier in the call.

There's a couple of <unk>.

<unk> Coes are actually laser based.

Is it just another great way to lay down our signal a whether it be ink, whether it be lasers, whether it be boats.

Riley Young McCormack: You know, the downside, of course, is you do need an app today to read a watermark. So. I think there are definitely applications for consumer engagement where watermarks are great. I still think QR code is, normally better. Now, 3D might be the one that proves that digital watermarking is the best for that.

The beautiful thing about digital watermarks, there's a lot of ways to embed them and I agree I think lasers isn't it very interesting area.

And a lot of different ways.

Got you and then last question.

Was in the past there was an issue about.

Riley Young McCormack: In terms of our work with lasers, THANKS! Conversations are pursuing there, you know, we talked about COEs earlier in the call. There's a couple of potential COEs that are actually laser based. It is just another great way to lay down our signal, whether it be ink, whether it be lasers, whether it be molds. It's the beautiful thing about digital watermarks. There's a lot of ways to embed them, and I agree. I think lasers is a very interesting area, and a lot of.

There's been some discussion in the media about.

Reading without having an app on your phone and I think there was an issue about Apple iOS embedding reading and.

And not embedding reading versus.

As you know.

Everyone else can you just talk about where we are now on Atlas reading.

Yeah. So.

Riley Young McCormack: Gotcha. And then last question was, in the past, there was an issue about, and there's been some discussion in the media about, you know, reading without having an app on your phone. And I think there was an issue about, you know, Apple iOS, embedding reading, and not embedding reading versus, you know, everyone else.

Nothing to talk about publicly here you know one of the things. If you think about are we.

We've alluded there is a lot of benefits by uniting the digital and physical worlds right.

Four digit mark validate.

The detection and did you Mark validate if we round device would be a wonderful way to get a watermark detection on devices for physical goods as well.

Riley Young McCormack: Can you just talk about where we are now on app-less reading? Yeah, so nothing to talk about publicly here. You know, one of the things if you think about our, We've alluded, there's a lot of benefits by uniting the digital and physical worlds, right? And for Digimarc Validate, the detection in Digimarc Validate, if we were on device, would be a wonderful way to get watermark detection on devices for physical goods as well.

But nothing to update.

I'm not sure I gotcha.

Thanks very much.

Of course thanks.

Once again, if you would like to ask a question. Please press star one.

Right.

Next question comes from that cohort with PCB Advisory. Please go ahead.

Riley Young McCormack: But nothing to update, on that front. Bye. Of course. Thanks. Once again, if you would like to ask a question, please press star 1 on your keyboard keypad. Next question comes from Matt Collard with PCB Advisory. Please go ahead. Hey, Riley. Hey, Charles, congrats on the quarter. I just wanted to ask if there's an update you can give us on the anything on the safe digital watermark registry. Unknown Attendee to that, early fourth quarter. Yeah, nothing to update specifically on that. You know, one of the wonderful, .

Hey, Ryan.

So I congratulate them.

On the quarter.

I just wanted to ask if there's any update you can give us on the anything on the sea digital watermark registry to that was hinted at I don't know maybe early fourth quarter.

Yeah.

Nothing to update specifically on that you know one of the wonderful.

Riley Young McCormack: . . Parts of entering this conversation is the number of people who realize we would be a great addition to their tech stack. And maybe there's a partnership opportunity there. So we're still progressing what we're doing. There's also a couple of people who have incredible registries focused on different end markets, different footprints, different levels of security in terms of government grade versus non-government grade.

Uh huh.

Parts of entering this conversation is is the number of people who realize we would be a great addition to their tech stack and maybe Theres a partnership.

Opportunity there.

So we are still progressing our what we're doing there's also a couple of people have incredible registries.

Focus on different end markets.

Different footprints.

Levels of security.

In terms of our government grade versus nongovernment grade.

Riley Young McCormack: And we'll figure out the best path to market. Right. Do we partner? Do we build our own? Do we do both?

And well figure out the best.

Our path to market right do we partner do we build our own do we do both.

Riley Young McCormack: So nothing's been announced yet. Okay. Fair enough.

So nothing to announce yet.

Okay Fair enough and I guess my follow up to that if I can if I may I'm congrats on your leadership.

Matthew Charles Collard: And I guess, My follow-up to that, if I may, congrats on your leadership in C2PA with Adobe on the working group. Impressive and I understand you're early in your work, but could you give us or me a little bit of a, Unknown Attendee. Unknown Attendee, Unknown Speaker, Unknown Speaker, Unknown Attendee, Unknown Speaker, post, those standards being developed, are going to be. Who's going to be ultimately responsible for the management and oversight? Unknown Attendee, Transcripts provided by Transcription Outsourcing, LLC.

In situ P. A with Adobe on the on the working group, that's obviously well earned and an impressive and I understand you're early in your work, but it could you give us or me a little bit of.

Yes, if you can what the landscape might look like.

Post those standards being developed is there going to be Uh huh.

Who's going to be ultimately responsible for the management and oversight of those standards is that something to tpa would evolve into or another you know regulatory gatekeeper or industry driven.

Yeah, I think the the efforts now are to get to stand it up and.

Riley Young McCormack: Yeah, I think the efforts now are to get the standard up. And then it would probably be something that they would maintain compliance with that standard. Joel, I don't know if you have any thoughts on that you want to add. No, I think that's right. It's early, the C2PA will set the standard specification, but it's a little early as to how much detail they'll put into that standard in terms of specifying a technology or guideposts for implementation of the digital watermark. The key is that the digital watermark is going to be used to link the content to the authentication and provenance information. So that's the first part of the standard that will be set. And the implementation of the watermarking technology will be figured out later. Would you envision?

And then it would probably be something that they would maintain.

Compliance with that standard Joel I don't know if you have any thoughts on that you want to add.

No I think that's right. It's early the Cta will set the standard specification, but it's all early as to how much details I'll put it into that standard in terms of specifying a technology or guide post for implementation of the digital watermark.

The key is that the digital watermark is gonna be used to link the content to the authentication and provenance information. So that's the first part of the standard that'll be set.

And the implementation of the watermark technology will will figure it out later.

Would you envision.

Joel Meyer: Oversight Body in that, Joel, I guess. Yes, I think C2PA will continue to be that that standard setting organization to oversee that. Fair enough, thanks. I'll jump back into the queue. Thanks, Matt. We've come to the end of our Q&A session. I would like to turn the call over to Riley McCormack for closing remarks. Thank you, Stacey, and thank you everybody for your time this afternoon. I hope you have a great rest of your day. Thanks. This concludes today's teleconference. You may disconnect your lines at this time and thank you for your participation. © BF-WATCH TV 2021

And oversight body and that Joel I guess as a follow up.

Yes, I think <unk> will continue to be that that standard setting organization to oversee that.

Fair enough. Thanks, I'll jump back into the queue. Appreciate the response.

Yeah.

Thanks, Matt.

We've come to the end of our Q&A session I would like to turn the call over to Riley Mccormick for closing remarks.

Thank you Stacy and thank you everybody for your time. This afternoon I Hope you have a great rest of your day.

This concludes today's teleconference. You may disconnect your lines at this time and thank you for your participation.

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