CREDITRISKMONITOR COM INC - Quarter Report: 2021 September (Form 10-Q)

For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, the computation of diluted net income per share excludes the effects of the assumed exercise of 148,550 and 362,017 options, respectively, since their inclusion would be anti-dilutive as their exercise prices were above market value.

Business Environment

The continuing uncertainty in the worldwide financial system has negatively impacted general business conditions. It is possible that a weakened economy could adversely affect our clients’ need for credit information, or even their solvency, but we cannot predict whether or to what extent this will occur.

Our strategic priorities and plans for 2021 are to continue to build on the improvement initiatives underway to achieve sustainable, profitable growth. Due to COVID-19, the Company has elected to voluntarily close in-office personnel functions for the safety of our employees. Only a limited number of IT and other personnel are periodically visiting our office to ensure the integrity of our computer network, retrieve physical files, and any other function that cannot be done remotely. This has allowed our employee base to work remotely and the Company’s operations to continue normally. Nevertheless, the long-term impact the pandemic will have on the Company’s subscriber base is unknown at this time. The Company may face loss of contracts and/or customers, customer credit risk, and general economic calamities. Accordingly, these global market conditions will affect the level and timing of resources deployed in pursuit of these initiatives in 2021.

Financial Condition, Liquidity and Capital Resources

The following table presents selected financial information and statistics as of September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020 (dollars in thousands):

The Company has invested some of its excess cash in cash equivalents. All highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less when purchased are considered cash equivalents, while those with maturities in excess of three months when purchased are reflected as available-for-sale securities (municipal bonds).

As of September 30, 2021, the Company had $11.69 million in cash and cash equivalents, an increase of approximately $1.4 million from December 31, 2020. This increase was primarily the result of cash provided by investing activities from the sale of our municipal bond investments of approximately $458,000 and cash provided from operating activities of approximately $1.2 million being greater than the purchase of equipment totaling approximately $272,000.

The main component of current liabilities at September 30, 2021 was unexpired subscription revenue of $9.3 million, which should not require significant future cash outlay, as this is annual reoccurring revenue, other than the cost of preparation and delivery of the applicable commercial credit reports, which cost much less than the unexpired subscription revenue shown. Unexpired subscription revenue is recognized as income over the subscription term, which generally approximates 12 months.

The Company has no bank lines of credit or other currently available credit sources.

A major component of short-term liabilities is the Company’s bank loan from the SBA for the PPP program in the amount of $1.56 million. The loan and accrued interest is forgivable after eight weeks so long as the Company uses the loan proceeds for eligible purposes, including payroll, benefits, rent and utilities, and maintains its employment levels.  In accordance with the requirements of the CARES Act, the Company has used the entire proceeds from the PPP Loan for eligible payroll, benefits, rent, utility costs, and maintained its employment levels.  The Company has applied for forgiveness by the deadline set forth by the lender, and the current portion of this loan, including interest that is due within the next 12 months is $1,561,500.  The Company is waiting on the review process to be completed by the SBA.

Given the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, there is no guarantee that our current business levels can be sustained or that our subscriber base will renew their service(s) at similar spend levels in the future. To ensure we have the financial resources to meet our commitments to our employees and service providers in the upcoming months, and to avoid lay-offs or other cost cutting measures, the Company applied for and received a loan under the Paycheck Protection Program. With the proceeds of this loan, along with its existing balance of cash and cash equivalents and cash generated from operations, the Company expects to have sufficient liquidity to continue operations for the next 12 months.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

The Company is not a party to any off-balance sheet arrangements.

Results of Operations

		3 Months Ended September 30,
		2021								2020
		Amount				% of Total Operating Revenues				Amount				% of Total Operating Revenues
Operating revenues		$	4,323,676				100	%		$	4,037,456				100	%
Operating expenses:
Data and product costs			1,519,860				35	%			1,514,659				38	%
Selling, general and administrative expenses			2,024,562				47	%			2,110,280				52	%
Depreciation and amortization			75,067				2	%			52,931				1	%
Total operating expenses			3,619,489				84	%			3,677,870				91	%
Income from operations			704,187				16	%			359,586				9	%
Other income, net			263				0	%			916				0	%
Income before income taxes			704,450				16	%			360,502				9	%
Provision for income taxes			(209,098	)			(5	%)			(79,420	)			(2	%)
Net income		$	495,352				11	%		$	281,082				7	%

Operating revenues increased approximately $286,000, or 7%, for the three months ended September 30, 2021 compared to the third quarter of fiscal 2020. This overall revenue growth resulted from an increase in internet subscription service revenue, attributable to increased sales to new and existing subscribers.

Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased approximately $86,000, or 4%, for the third quarter of fiscal 2021 compared to the same period of fiscal 2020. This decrease was due to a revised methodology of accruing commissions implemented in December 2020 and lower commission expense for the third quarter of 2021. This decrease was partially offset by higher salary and related employee benefits.

Operating revenues increased approximately $1.1 million, or 10%, for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 compared to the same period of fiscal 2020. This overall revenue growth resulted from an increase in internet subscription service revenue, attributable to increased sales to new and existing subscribers.

Data and product costs increased approximately $165,000, or 4%, for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 compared to the same period of fiscal 2020. This increase was due primarily to: (1) higher salary and related employee benefits due to pay raises to staff, (2) higher costs of third-party content, due to minor inflationary increases instituted by some of the Company’s major suppliers.

Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased approximately $504,000, or 7%, for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 compared to the same period of fiscal 2020. This decrease was due to a revised methodology of accruing commissions implemented in December 2020 and lower commission expense in 2021. This decrease was partially offset by higher salary and related employee benefits.

Future Operations

The Company over time intends to expand its operations by expanding the breadth and depth of its product and service offerings and introducing new and complementary products. Gross margins attributable to new business areas may be lower than those associated with the Company’s existing business activities.

As a result of the evolving nature of the markets in which it competes and the uncertainties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Company’s ability to accurately forecast its revenues, gross profits and operating expenses as a percentage of net sales is somewhat limited, as the Company cannot fully utilize its historical subscription and renewal rates of its clients for guidance. The Company’s current and future expense levels are based largely on its investment plans and estimates of future revenues. To a large extent these costs do not vary with revenue. Sales and operating results generally depend on the Company’s ability to attract and retain customers and the volume of and timing of customer subscriptions for the Company’s services, which are difficult to forecast. The Company may be unable to adjust spending in a timely manner to compensate for any unexpected revenue shortfall. Accordingly, any significant shortfall in revenues in relation to the Company’s planned expenditures would have an immediate adverse effect on the Company’s business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations. Further, as a strategic response to changes in the competitive environment, the Company may from time to time make certain pricing, service, marketing or acquisition decisions that could have a material adverse effect on its business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations.

Achieving greater profitability depends on the Company’s ability to generate and sustain increased revenue levels. The Company believes that its success will depend in large part on its ability to (i) increase its brand awareness, (ii) provide its customers with outstanding value, thus encouraging customer renewals, and (iii) achieve sufficient sales volume to realize economies of scale. Accordingly, the Company intends to continue to increase the size of its sales force and service staff, and to invest in product development, operating infrastructure, marketing and promotion.

The Company believes that these expenditures will help it to sustain the revenue growth it has experienced over the last several years. The Company anticipates that sales and marketing expenses will continue to increase in dollar amount and as a percentage of revenues during the remainder of 2021 and future periods as the Company continues to expand its business on a worldwide basis. Further, the Company expects that product development expenses will also continue to increase in dollar amount and may increase as a percentage of revenues during the remainder of 2021 and future periods because it expects to employ more development personnel on average compared to prior periods and build the infrastructure required to support the development of new and improved products and services. However, as some these expenditures are discretionary in nature, the Company expects that the actual amounts incurred will be in line with its projections of future cash flows in order not to negatively impact its future liquidity and capital needs. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to achieve these objectives within a meaningful time frame.

The Company expects to experience fluctuations in its future quarterly operating results due to a variety of factors, some of which are outside the Company’s control. Factors that may adversely affect the Company’s quarterly operating results include, among others, (i) the short-term and long-term effects the COVID-19 outbreak and related developments will have on our customers and their ongoing businesses and how those effects may impact our sales to them, (ii) the Company’s ability to retain existing customers, attract new customers at a steady rate and maintain customer satisfaction, (iii) the Company’s ability to maintain gross margins in its existing business and in future product lines and markets, (iv) the development of new services and products by the Company and its competitors, (v) price competition, (vi) the Company’s ability to obtain products and services from its vendors, including information suppliers, on commercially reasonable terms, (vii) the Company’s ability to upgrade and develop its systems and infrastructure, and adapt to technological change, (viii) the Company’s ability to attract and retain personnel in a timely and effective manner, (ix) the Company’s ability to manage effectively its development of new business segments and markets, (x) the Company’s ability to successfully manage the integration of operations and technology of acquisitions or other business combinations, (xi) technical difficulties, system downtime or Internet brownouts, (xii) the amount and timing of operating costs and capital expenditures relating the Company’s business, operations and infrastructure, (xiii) governmental regulation and taxation policies, (xiv) disruptions in service by common carriers due to strikes or otherwise, (xv) risks of fire or other casualty, (xvi) litigation costs or other unanticipated expenses, (xvii) interest rate risks and inflationary pressures, and (xviii) general economic conditions and economic conditions specific to the Internet and online commerce.

Due to the foregoing factors, the Company believes that period-to-period comparisons of its revenues and operating results are not necessarily meaningful and should not be relied on as an indication of future performance.

Forward-Looking Statements

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q may contain forward-looking statements, including statements regarding future prospects, industry trends, competitive conditions and litigation issues. Any statements contained herein that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Without limiting the foregoing, the words “believes”, “expects”, “anticipates”, “plans” or words of similar meaning are intended to identify forward-looking statements. This notice is intended to take advantage of the “safe harbor” provided by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 with respect to such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Among others, factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company’s beliefs or expectations are those listed under “Business Environment” and “Results of Operations” and other factors referenced herein or from time to time as “risk factors” or otherwise in the Company’s Registration Statements or Securities and Exchange Commission reports. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, a future event or otherwise.

The Company’s management, with the participation of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on that evaluation, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that, as of the end of such period, the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure that all material information required to be disclosed by us in reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to them as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure and that all such information is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC's rules and forms.

There have not been any changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) during the most recent fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

Limitations of the Effectiveness of Internal Control

A control system, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the internal control system are met. Because of the inherent limitations of any internal control system, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues, if any, within a company have been detected.

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.