Grand Canyon Education, Inc. Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2014 Results

PHOENIX, Feb. 18, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Grand Canyon Education, Inc. LOPE, a comprehensive regionally accredited university that offers over 160 graduate and undergraduate degree programs across eight colleges both online and on ground at our approximately 205 acre campus in Phoenix, Arizona, today announced financial results for the quarter and fiscal year ended December 31, 2014.

Grand Canyon Education, Inc. Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2014 Results

For the three months ended December 31, 2014:

• Net revenue increased 16.9% to $190.0 million for the fourth quarter of 2014, compared to $162.4 million for the fourth quarter of 2013.
• At December 31, 2014, our enrollment was 67,806, an increase of 13.7% from our enrollment of 59,658 at December 31, 2013.  Ground enrollment increased 26.5% to 12,746 from enrollment of 10,078 at December 31, 2013.  Online enrollment increased 11.1% to 55,060 from enrollment of 49,580 at December 31, 2013.
• Operating income for the fourth quarter of 2014 was $53.5 million, an increase of 31.0% as compared to $40.9 million for the same period in 2013. The operating margin for the fourth quarter of 2014 was 28.2%, compared to 25.2% for the same period in 2013.  Operating income for the fourth quarter of 2013 excluding contributions made in lieu of state income taxes to school tuition organizations during the quarter of $2.5 million was $43.4 million and the operating margin was 26.7% excluding these contributions.  In 2014, we made contributions in the amount of $2.8 million in the third quarter of 2014.
• Adjusted EBITDA increased 22.1% to $64.1 million for the fourth quarter of 2014, compared to $52.5 million for the same period in 2013.
• The tax rate in the fourth quarter of 2014 was 38.1% compared to 35.2% in the fourth quarter of 2013.  The effective tax rate was favorably affected in the fourth quarter of 2013 by our contributions in lieu of state income taxes to school tuition organizations made during the quarter.  Excluding the contributions of $2.5 million made in the fourth quarter of 2013 our tax rate was 39.0%.
• Net income increased 26.5% to $33.1 million for the fourth quarter of 2014, compared to $26.2 million for the same period in 2013. 
• Diluted net income per share was $0.70 for the fourth quarter of 2014, compared to $0.56 for the same period in 2013. 

For the year ended December 31, 2014:

• Net revenue increased 15.5% to $691.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2014, compared to $598.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2013.
• Operating income for the year ended December 31, 2014 was $180.8 million, an increase of 26.2% as compared to $143.3 million for the same period in 2013. The operating margin for the year ended December 31, 2014 was 26.2%, compared to 23.9% for the same period in 2013. 
• Adjusted EBITDA increased 23.1% to $227.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2014, compared to $185.1 million for the same period in 2013.
• The tax rate for the year ended December 31, 2014 was 38.0% compared to 38.8% for the year ended December 31, 2013.  The effective tax rate in 2014 was lower than the prior year due primarily to state tax rate changes that began a gradual phase-in process during the first quarter of 2014.
• Net income increased 25.7% to $111.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2014, compared to $88.7 million for the same period in 2013. 
• Diluted net income per share was $2.37 for the year ended December 31, 2014, compared to $1.92 for the same period in 2013.  

Balance Sheet and Cash Flow

The University financed its operating activities and capital expenditures during the year ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 primarily through cash provided by operating activities. Our unrestricted cash and cash equivalents and investments were $166.0 million and $164.2 million at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Our restricted cash, cash equivalents and investments at December 31, 2014 and 2013 were $67.8 million and $64.4 million, respectively. 

The University generated $167.0 million in cash from operating activities for the year ended December 31, 2014 compared to $118.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2013.  Cash provided by operations in 2014 and 2013 resulted from our net income plus non-cash charges for provision for bad debts, depreciation and amortization, timing of income tax and employee related payments and student deposits and changes in our working capital.

Net cash used in investing activities was $161.0 million and $172.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Our cash used in investing activities is primarily related to the purchase of short-term investments and property and equipment, partially offset by proceeds from the sale or maturity of short-term investments and in 2013 proceeds received from the settlement of a note receivable of $29.2 million. Proceeds from investment, net of purchases of short-term investments, was $7.6 million during the year ended December 31, 2014.  Purchases of short-term investments, net of proceeds of these investments, was $108.4 million during the year ended December 31, 2013.  Capital expenditures were $168.7 million and $78.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. In 2014, capital expenditures primarily consisted of ground campus building projects such as the construction of an additional classroom building and parking garage, additional residence halls that accommodate another 1,600 students and land purchases adjacent to our Phoenix campus to support our growing traditional student enrollment as well as purchases of computer equipment, other internal use software projects and furniture and equipment to support our increasing employee headcount.  Also, in late 2014 we commenced construction on an additional classroom building for our College of Science, Technology and Engineering, started four additional dormitories that will house 3,200 students beginning in the Fall of 2015 and a new parking garage to increase our capacity on the Phoenix, Arizona campus.  In 2013, capital expenditures primarily consisted of ground campus building projects including the construction costs for two additional dormitories and an expansion of our student union, which includes additional food services and library space to support our growing traditional student enrollment as well as purchases of computer equipment, other internal use software projects and furniture and equipment to support our increasing employee headcount. In addition, during 2013 we spent $14.5 million to purchase and refurbish a building that is located less than two miles from our Phoenix, Arizona campus and is being used as office space for our employees.  

Net cash provided by financing activities was $3.4 million and $4.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. During 2014, proceeds from the exercise of stock options of $7.8 million and excess tax benefits from share-based compensation of $7.6 million were partially offset by $5.3 million used to purchase treasury stock in accordance with the University's share repurchase program and principal payments on notes payable and capital leases totaling $6.7 million.  During 2013, proceeds from the exercise of stock options of $16.3 million and excess tax benefits from share-based compensation of $4.5 million were partially offset by $9.3 million used to purchase treasury stock in accordance with the University's share repurchase program and principal payments on notes payable and capital leases totaling $6.7 million.  

2015 Outlook by Quarter

Q1 2015: Net revenue of $193.0 million; Target Operating Margin 27.3%; Diluted EPS of $0.68 using 47.2 million diluted shares; student counts of 68,700
Q2 2015: Net revenue of $172.8 million; Target Operating Margin 23.5%; Diluted EPS of $0.52 using 47.7 million diluted shares; student counts of 62,500
Q3 2015: Net revenue of $193.3 million; Target Operating Margin 26.6%; Diluted EPS of $0.65 using 47.9 million diluted shares; student counts of 75,600
Q4 2015: Net revenue of $211.9 million; Target Operating Margin 28.9%; Diluted EPS of $0.77 using 48.1 million diluted shares; student counts of 75,200

Full Year 2015: Net revenue of $771.0 million; Target Operating Margin 26.7%; Diluted EPS of $2.62 using 48.1 million diluted shares

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" which include information relating to future events, future financial performance, strategies expectations, competitive environment, regulation, and availability of resources. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements regarding: projections, predictions, expectations, estimates, and forecasts as to our business, financial and operating results, and future economic performance; and statements of management's goals and objectives and other similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts. Words such as "may," "should," "could," "would," "predicts," "potential," "continue," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates" and similar expressions, as well as statements in future tense, identify forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements should not be read as a guarantee of future performance or results, and will not necessarily be accurate indications of the times at, or by, which such performance or results will be achieved. Forward-looking statements are based on information available at the time those statements are made or management's good faith belief as of that time with respect to future events, and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual performance or results to differ materially from those expressed in or suggested by the forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause such differences include, but are not limited to: our failure to comply with the extensive regulatory framework applicable to our industry, including Title IV of the Higher Education Act and the regulations thereunder, state laws and regulatory requirements, and accrediting commission requirements; the ability of our students to obtain federal Title IV funds, state financial aid, and private financing; risks associated with changes in applicable federal and state laws and regulations and accrediting commission standards, including pending rulemaking by the Department of Education; potential damage to our reputation or other adverse effects as a result of negative publicity in the media, in the industry or in connection with governmental reports or investigations or otherwise, affecting us or other companies in the for-profit postsecondary education sector; our ability to properly manage risks and challenges associated with potential acquisitions of, or investments in, new businesses, acquisitions of new properties, or the expansion of our campus to new locations; our ability to hire and train new, and develop and train existing, faculty and employees; the pace of growth of our enrollment; our ability to convert prospective students to enrolled students and to retain active students; our success in updating and expanding the content of existing programs and developing new programs in a cost-effective manner or on a timely basis; industry competition, including competition for qualified executives and other personnel; risks associated with the competitive environment for marketing our programs; failure on our part to keep up with advances in technology that could enhance the online experience for our students; the extent to which obligations under our loan agreement, including the need to comply with restrictive and financial covenants and to pay principal and interest payments, limits our ability to conduct our operations or seek new business opportunities; our ability to manage future growth effectively; general adverse economic conditions or other developments that affect job prospects in our core disciplines; and other factors discussed in reports on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date the statements are made. You should not put undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. We assume no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, changes in assumptions, or changes in other factors affecting forward-looking information, except to the extent required by applicable securities laws. If we do update one or more forward-looking statements, no inference should be drawn that we will make additional updates with respect to those or other forward-looking statements.

Conference Call

Grand Canyon Education, Inc. will discuss its fourth quarter 2014 results and 2015 outlook during a conference call scheduled for today, February 18, 2015 at 4:30 p.m. Eastern time (ET). To participate in the live call, investors should dial 877-577-1769 (domestic and Canada) or 706-679-7806 (international), passcode 80714931 at 4:25 p.m. (ET). The Webcast will be available on the Grand Canyon Education, Inc. Web site at  www.gcu.edu.

A replay of the call will be available approximately two hours following the conclusion of the call, at 855-859-2056 (domestic) or 404-537-3406 (international), passcode 80714931. It will also be archived at  www.gcu.edu in the investor relations section for 60 days.

About Grand Canyon Education, Inc.

Grand Canyon Education, Inc. is a comprehensive regionally accredited university that offers over 160 graduate and undergraduate degree programs across eight colleges both online and on ground at our approximately 205 acre campus in Phoenix, Arizona, and at facilities we lease and at facilities owned by third party employers.  Our undergraduate programs are designed to be innovative and meet the future needs of employers while providing students with the needed critical thinking and effective communication skills developed through a Christian, liberal arts foundation. Approximately 67,800 students were enrolled as of December 31, 2014. For more information about Grand Canyon Education, Inc., please visit http://www.gcu.edu.

Grand Canyon Education, Inc. is regionally accredited by The Higher Learning Commission, Grand Canyon University, 3300 W. Camelback Road, Phoenix, AZ 85017, www.gcu.edu.

 

 

GRAND CANYON EDUCATION, INC.

Adjusted EBITDA

Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net income plus interest expense net of interest income, plus income tax expense, and plus depreciation and amortization (EBITDA), as adjusted for (i) the amortization of prepaid royalty payments recorded in conjunction with a settlement of a dispute with our former owner; (ii) contributions to Arizona school tuition organizations in lieu of the payment of state income taxes; (iii) share-based compensation and (iv) one-time, unusual charges or gains, such as litigation and regulatory reserves, impairment charges and asset write-offs, exit or lease termination costs or the gain recognized on the settlement of a third party note receivable. We present Adjusted EBITDA because we consider it to be an important supplemental measure of our operating performance.  We also make certain compensation decisions based, in part, on our operating performance, as measured by Adjusted EBITDA, and our loan agreement requires us to comply with covenants that include performance metrics substantially similar to Adjusted EBITDA.  All of the adjustments made in our calculation of Adjusted EBITDA are adjustments to items that management does not consider to be reflective of our core operating performance. Management considers our core operating performance to be that which can be affected by our managers in any particular period through their management of the resources that affect our underlying revenue and profit generating operations during that period.  Royalty expenses paid to our former owner, contributions made to Arizona school tuition organizations in lieu of the payment of state income taxes, share-based compensation, one time unusual charges or gains such as estimated litigation and regulatory reserves, exit costs, contract and lease termination fees, and the gain recognized on the settlement of notes receivable are not considered reflective of our core performance.

We believe Adjusted EBITDA allows us to compare our current operating results with corresponding historical periods and with the operational performance of other companies in our industry because it does not give effect to potential differences caused by variations in capital structures (affecting relative interest expense, including the impact of write-offs of deferred financing costs when companies refinance their indebtedness), tax positions (such as the impact on periods or companies of changes in effective tax rates or net operating losses), the book amortization of intangibles (affecting relative amortization expense), and other items that we do not consider reflective of underlying operating performance.  We also present Adjusted EBITDA because we believe it is frequently used by securities analysts, investors, and other interested parties as a measure of performance.

In evaluating Adjusted EBITDA, investors should be aware that in the future we may incur expenses similar to the adjustments described above.  Our presentation of Adjusted EBITDA should not be construed as an inference that our future results will be unaffected by expenses that are unusual, non-routine, or non-recurring.  Adjusted EBITDA has limitations as an analytical tool, and you should not consider it in isolation, or as a substitute for net income, operating income, or any other performance measure derived in accordance with and reported under GAAP or as an alternative to cash flow from operating activities or as a measure of our liquidity.  Some of these limitations are that it does not reflect:

• cash expenditures for capital expenditures or contractual commitments;
• changes in, or cash requirement for, our working capital requirements;
• interest expense, or the cash required to replace assets that are being depreciated or amortized; and
• the impact on our reported results of earnings or charges resulting from the items for which we make adjustments to our EBITDA, as described above and set forth in the table below.

In addition, other companies, including other companies in our industry, may calculate these measures differently than we do, limiting the usefulness of Adjusted EBITDA as a comparative measure.  Because of these limitations, Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered as a substitute for net income, operating income, or any other performance measure derived in accordance with GAAP, or as an alternative to cash flow from operating activities or as a measure of our liquidity. We compensate for these limitations by relying primarily on our GAAP results and only use Adjusted EBITDA as a supplemental performance measure.  

The following table provides a reconciliation of net income to Adjusted EBITDA, which is a non-GAAP measure for the periods indicated:

 

 

 

 

 

The following is a summary of our student enrollment at December 31, 2014 and 2013 by degree type and by instructional delivery method:

 

 

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SOURCE Grand Canyon Education, Inc.