HEALTHSTREAM INC - Quarter Report: 2023 March (Form 10-Q)

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements

HEALTHSTREAM, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (UNAUDITED)

(In thousands)

See accompanying Notes to the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

HEALTHSTREAM, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (UNAUDITED)

(In thousands, except per share data)

See accompanying Notes to the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

HEALTHSTREAM, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (UNAUDITED)

(In thousands)

See accompanying Notes to the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

HEALTHSTREAM, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY (UNAUDITED)

(In thousands, except per share data)

See accompanying Notes to the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

HEALTHSTREAM, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)

(In thousands)

See accompanying Notes to the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

HEALTHSTREAM, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

1. OVERVIEW AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION

Company Overview

HealthStream provides primarily Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) based applications for healthcare organizations—all designed to improve business and clinical outcomes by supporting the people who deliver patient care. We are focused on helping healthcare organizations meet their ongoing clinical development, talent management, training, education, assessment, competency management, safety and compliance, scheduling, and provider credentialing, privileging, and enrollment needs. The Company is organized and operated according to our One HealthStream approach, with our hStream technology platform at the center of that approach. Increasingly, SaaS based applications in our diverse ecosystem of solutions utilize our proprietary hStream technology platform to enhance their value proposition by creating interoperability with and among other applications. As used in this Report, “HealthStream,” “Company,” “we,” “us,” and “our” mean HealthStream, Inc. and its subsidiaries unless the context indicates otherwise.

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“US GAAP”) for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10‑Q and Article 10 of Regulation S‑X. Accordingly, condensed consolidated financial statements do not include all of the information and footnotes required by US GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. All intercompany transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. Operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2023 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2023.

The Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet at December 31, 2022 was derived from the audited Consolidated Financial Statements at that date but does not include all of the information and footnotes required by US GAAP for a complete set of financial statements. For further information, refer to the Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto for the year ended December 31, 2022 (included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 28, 2023).

Consolidated Segment Information

Our business is managed and organized around a single platform strategy, also referred to as our One HealthStream approach. At the center of this single platform strategy is our hStream technology platform. By facilitating interoperability among our applications, as well as third party applications, we believe that our hStream technology platform is allowing stand-alone applications to leverage each other to more efficiently and effectively empower our customers to manage their business and improve their outcomes.

As indicated in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, filed on February 28, 2023, the Company has reached an inflection point in its efforts to operate according to its single platform strategy, also known as our One HealthStream approach. As of January 1, 2023, the Company’s business is now organized and managed around a consolidated, enterprise approach, including with regard to technology, operations, accounting, internal reporting (including the nature of information reviewed by our key decision maker), organization structure, compensation, performance assessment, and resource allocation.

As the result of these developments, the Company determined that Workforce Solutions and Provider Solutions were no longer separate operating segments or separate reportable segments as of January 1, 2023, such that the Company would no longer present two reportable segments for periods beginning on and after this date. As such, beginning January 1, 2023, the Company has a single reportable segment, such that the Company is presenting historical financial information on a single segment basis beginning with this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31, 2023. For purposes of reporting historical 2022 results in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, we are reporting comparable performance on a consolidated basis unless otherwise indicated.

2. REVENUE RECOGNITION AND SALES COMMISSIONS

Revenue Recognition

Revenues are recognized when control of the promised goods or services is transferred to the customer in an amount that reflects the consideration the Company expects to be entitled in exchange for transferring those goods or services.

Revenue is recognized based on the following five step model:

HEALTHSTREAM, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

The following table represents revenues disaggregated by revenue source (in thousands). Sales taxes are excluded from revenues.

For the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company recognized $0.2 million and $6,000, respectively, in impairment losses on receivables and contract assets arising from the Company’s contracts with customers.

Deferred revenue represents contract liabilities that are recorded when cash payments are received or are due in advance of our satisfaction of performance obligations. During the three months ended  March 31, 2023 and 2022, we recognized revenues of approximately $39.1 million and $34.6 million, respectively, from amounts included in deferred revenue at the beginning of the respective periods. As of March 31, 2023, approximately $504 million of revenue is expected to be recognized from remaining performance obligations under contracts with customers. We expect to recognize revenue related to approximately 44% of these remaining performance obligations over the next 12 months, with the remaining amounts recognized thereafter.

Sales Commissions

Sales commissions earned by our sales force are considered incremental and recoverable costs of obtaining a contract with a customer. The Company recorded amortization of deferred commissions of approximately $2.7 million and $2.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, which is included in sales and marketing expenses in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income.

3. INCOME TAXES

Income taxes are accounted for using the asset and liability method, whereby deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the temporary differences between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities measured at tax rates that will be in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to affect taxable income.

The Company computes its interim period provision for income taxes by applying the estimated annual effective tax rate to year-to-date pretax income or loss and adjusts the provision for discrete tax items recorded in the period. During the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company recorded a provision for income taxes of approximately $0.5 million and $0.9 million, respectively. The Company’s effective tax rate was 16% and 23% for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The Company’s effective tax rate primarily reflects the statutory corporate income tax rate, the net effect of state taxes, foreign income taxes, and the effect of various permanent tax differences. The Company recognizes excess tax benefits and tax deficiencies associated with stock-based awards as a component of its provision for income taxes. During the three months ended March 31, 2023, the Company recorded discrete tax benefits of $53,000, which consisted primarily of a $133,000 tax benefit associated with stock-based awards. This tax benefit was partially offset by $80,000 of discrete tax expense related to reserves for uncertain tax positions. During the three months ended March 31, 2022, the Company recorded discrete tax expense of $0.1 million, which consisted primarily of tax deficiencies associated with stock-based awards. 

4. SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Dividends on Common Stock

On February 20, 2023, the Company's Board of Directors ("Board") approved a dividend policy under which the Board declared the initial quarterly dividend in the amount of $0.025 per share, which will be payable on April 28, 2023 to the holders of record of all of the issued and outstanding shares of common stock as of the close of business on April 17, 2023. This marks the first quarterly cash dividend policy adopted by the Company.

On April 24, 2023, the Board approved the Company's second quarterly cash dividend of $0.025 per share, payable on June 23, 2023 to holders of record on June 12, 2023.

HEALTHSTREAM, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

Stock-Based Compensation

The Company has stock awards outstanding under its 2016 Omnibus Incentive Plan and 2022 Omnibus Incentive Plan. The Company accounts for its stock-based compensation plans using the fair-value based method for costs related to share-based payments, including restricted share units (“RSUs”) and stock options. During the three months ended March 31, 2023, the Company issued 45,907 RSUs subject to service-based time vesting, with a weighted average grant date fair value of $26.25 per share, measured based on the closing fair market value of the Company's stock on the date of the grant. During the three months ended March 31, 2022, the Company approved the grant of 135,352 RSUs subject to service-based time vesting, of which 35,161 of these RSUs were conditioned upon and subject to shareholder approval of the 2022 Omnibus Incentive Plan submitted to the Company's shareholders for approval at the annual meeting of the Company's shareholders held on  May 26, 2022. Of these, the 100,191 RSUs that were not conditioned on shareholder approval of the 2022 Omnibus Incentive Plan were granted with a weighted average grant date fair value of $20.32 per share, measured based on the closing fair market value of the Company’s stock on the date of grant. Applicable accounting standards required that the 35,161 RSUs conditioned upon approval of the 2022 Omnibus Incentive Plan not be valued until the condition was met (that is, at such time that the 2022 Omnibus Incentive Plan was approved by shareholders at the annual meeting of the Company’s shareholders on  May 26, 2022).

During the three months ended March 31, 2023, the Company granted 138,000 performance-based RSUs, the vesting of which occurs over a five-year period and is contingent upon continued service and achieving certain performance criteria established by the Compensation Committee on an annual basis in increments of 15%, 20%, 20%, 20%, and 25% based on performance in 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026, and 2027, respectively. The performance criteria for the first-year tranche, or 20,700 of these performance-based RSUs, is based on 2023 adjusted EBITDA. The measurement date for these 20,700 performance-based RSUs was established during the three months ended March 31, 2023 with a weighted average grant date fair value of $26.25 per share, measured based on the closing fair market value of the Company's stock on the date the performance criteria was established. The performance criteria for the remaining 117,300 performance-based RSUs has not yet been determined and will be established on an annual basis in 2024, 2025, 2026, and 2027, as applicable; therefore, the measurement date for these remaining 117,300 performance-based RSUs cannot be determined until the performance criteria have been established. 

During the three months ended March 31, 2022, the Company approved the grant of 91,042 performance-based RSUs, the vesting of which occurs over a five-year period and is contingent upon continued service and achieving certain performance criteria established by the Compensation Committee on an annual basis in increments of 15%, 20%, 20%, 20%, and 25% based on performance in 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026, respectively. The performance criteria and measurement date for the second-year tranche, or 18,210 of these performance-based RSUs, is based on 2023 adjusted EBITDA and was established during the three months ended March 31, 2023 with a grant date fair value of $26.25 per share, measured based on the closing fair market value of the Company's stock on the date the performance criteria was established. The performance criteria for the remaining 59,178 performance-based RSUs has not yet been determined and will be established on an annual basis in 2024, 2025, and 2026, as applicable; therefore, the measurement date for these remaining 59,178 performance-based RSUs cannot be determined until the performance criteria have been established.

Total stock-based compensation expense recognized in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income is as follows (in thousands):

Share Repurchase Plan

On March 14, 2022, the Company's Board approved an expansion of the Company's share repurchase program initially authorized by the Board on November 1, 2021 by authorizing the repurchase of up to an additional $10.0 million of the Company's outstanding shares of common stock. The share repurchase expansion program expired on  March 13, 2023. Under this program, the Company repurchased a total of 402,050 shares at an aggregate fair value of $8.1 million, reflecting an average price per share of $20.19 (excluding the cost of broker commissions). No repurchases occurred during the three months ended March 31, 2023.

5. EARNINGS PER SHARE

Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing the net income available to common shareholders for the period by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share is computed by dividing the net income available to common shareholders for the period by the weighted average number of potentially dilutive common and common equivalent shares outstanding during the period. Common equivalent shares are composed of incremental common shares issuable upon the exercise of stock options and RSUs subject to vesting. The dilutive effect of common equivalent shares is included in diluted earnings per share by application of the treasury stock method. The total number of common equivalent shares excluded from the calculations of diluted earnings per share, due to their anti-dilutive effect or contingent performance conditions, was approximately 268,000 and 218,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

HEALTHSTREAM, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share (in thousands, except per share data):

6. MARKETABLE SECURITIES

The fair value of marketable securities, which were all classified as available for sale and which the Company does not intend to sell nor will the Company be required to sell prior to recovery of their amortized cost basis, included the following (in thousands):

The carrying amounts reported in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets approximate fair value based on quoted market prices or alternative pricing sources and models utilizing market observable inputs. As of March 31, 2023, the Company did not recognize any allowance for credit impairments on its available for sale debt securities. All investments in marketable securities are classified as current assets on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets because the underlying securities mature within one year from the balance sheet date.

7. BUSINESS COMBINATIONS

On  December 31, 2022, the Company acquired substantially all of the assets of Electronic Education Documentation System, LLC (d/b/a eeds) ("eeds"), an Asheville, North Carolina-based healthcare technology company offering a SaaS-based continuing education (CME/CE) management system for healthcare organizations, for approximately $6.6 million in cash, reflecting customary purchase price adjustments made to the purchase price paid of $7.0 million. After the filing of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 on February 28, 2023, the Company received an updated valuation report for the acquisition from a third-party valuation firm. Based on the results of that valuation report, the Company has estimated the fair value of the customer relationships, developed technology, non-compete, and trade name intangible assets to be $2.6 million, $1.9 million, $0.2 million, and $0.1 million, respectively. As a result, the fair value of the customer relationships and non-compete intangible assets were increased by $2.0 million and $0.1 million during the three months ended March 31, 2023, respectively, while the developed technology and trade name intangible assets were decreased by $0.8 million and $20,000 during the three months ended March 31, 2023, respectively, due to this new information, with a corresponding decrease to goodwill of $1.3 million for the net change in the fair value of identifiable intangible assets.

HEALTHSTREAM, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

8. DEBT

Revolving Credit Facility

On October 28, 2020, the Company entered into a Third Amendment to Revolving Credit Agreement ("Revolving Credit Facility"), amending the Revolving Credit Facility dated as of November 24, 2014 with Truist Bank, successor by merger to SunTrust Bank ("Truist"), extending the maturity date to October 28, 2023. Under the Revolving Credit Facility, the Company may borrow up to $65.0 million, which includes a $5.0 million swing line sub-facility and a $5.0 million letter of credit sub-facility, as well as an accordion feature that allows the Company to increase the Revolving Credit Facility by a total of up to $25.0 million, subject to securing additional commitments from existing lenders or new lending institutions.

At the Company’s election, the borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility bear interest at either (1) a rate per annum equal to the highest of Truist’s prime rate or 0.5% in excess of the Federal Funds Rate or 1.0% in excess of one-month LIBOR (the "Base Rate"), plus an applicable margin, or (2) the one, two, three, or six-month per annum LIBOR for deposits in the applicable currency (the "Eurocurrency Rate"), as selected by the Company, plus an applicable margin. The applicable margin for Eurocurrency Rate loans depends on the Company’s funded debt leverage ratio and varies from 1.50% to 1.75%. The applicable margin for Base Rate loans depends on the Company’s funded debt leverage ratio and varies from 0.50% to 0.75%. Commitment fees and letter of credit fees are also payable under the Revolving Credit Facility. Principal is payable in full at maturity on October 28, 2023, and there are no scheduled principal payments prior to maturity. The Company is required to pay a commitment fee ranging between 20 and 30 basis points per annum of the average daily unused portion of the Revolving Credit Facility, depending on the Company’s funded debt leverage ratio. The obligations under the Revolving Credit Facility are guaranteed by each of the Company’s subsidiaries.

The purpose of the Revolving Credit Facility is for general working capital needs, permitted acquisitions (as defined in the Revolving Credit Facility), and for stock repurchase and/or redemption transactions that the Company may authorize.

The Revolving Credit Facility contains certain covenants that, among other things, restrict additional indebtedness, liens and encumbrances, changes to the character of the Company’s business, acquisitions, asset dispositions, mergers and consolidations, sale or discount of receivables, creation or acquisitions of additional subsidiaries, and other matters customarily restricted in such agreements.

In addition, the Revolving Credit Facility requires the Company to meet certain financial tests, including, without limitation:

As of March 31, 2023, the Company was in compliance with all covenants. There were no balances outstanding on the Revolving Credit Facility as of or during the three months ended March 31, 2023.

Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Special Cautionary Notice Regarding Forward‑Looking Statements

You should read the following discussion and analysis in conjunction with our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and related Notes included elsewhere in this report and our audited Consolidated Financial Statements and the Notes thereto for the year ended December 31, 2022, appearing in our Annual Report on Form 10-K that was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on February 28, 2023 (the “2022 Form 10-K”). Statements contained in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements that the Company intends to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements that are predictive in nature, that depend on or refer to future events or conditions, or that include words such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “could,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “may,” “plans,” “potential,” “predicts,” “projects,” “should,” “will,” “would,” and similar expressions are forward-looking statements.

The Company cautions that forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements reflect our current views with respect to future events and are based on assumptions and subject to risks and uncertainties. Given these uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.

In evaluating any forward-looking statement, you should specifically consider the information regarding forward-looking statements set forth above and the risks set forth under the caption Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors in our 2022 Form 10-K and other disclosures in our 2022 Form 10-K, earnings releases, and other filings with the SEC from time to time, as well as other cautionary statements contained elsewhere in this report, including our critical accounting policies and estimates as discussed in this report and our 2022 Form 10-K. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements. You should read this report and the documents that we reference in this report and have filed as exhibits to this report completely and with the understanding that our actual future results may be materially different from what we currently expect.

Business Overview

HealthStream provides primarily SaaS based applications for healthcare organizations—all designed to improve business and clinical outcomes by supporting the people who deliver patient care. We are focused on helping healthcare organizations meet their ongoing clinical development, talent management, training, education, assessment, competency management, safety and compliance, scheduling, and provider credentialing, privileging, and enrollment needs.

Our business is managed and organized around a single platform strategy, also referred to as our One HealthStream approach. At the center of this single platform strategy is our hStream technology platform. By facilitating interoperability among our applications, as well as third party applications, we believe that our hStream technology platform is allowing stand-alone applications to leverage each other to more efficiently and effectively empower our customers to manage their business and improve their outcomes.

As indicated in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, filed on February 28, 2023, the Company has reached an inflection point in its efforts to operate according to its One HealthStream approach. As of January 1, 2023, the Company’s business is now organized and managed around a consolidated, enterprise approach, including with regard to technology, operations, accounting, internal reporting (including the nature of information reviewed by our key decision maker), organization structure, compensation, performance assessment, and resource allocation.

As the result of these developments, the Company determined that Workforce Solutions and Provider Solutions were no longer separate operating segments or separate reportable segments as of January 1, 2023, such that the Company would no longer present two reportable segments for periods beginning on and after this date. As such, beginning January 1, 2023, the Company has a single reportable segment, such that the Company is presenting historical financial information on a single segment basis beginning with this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ending March 31, 2023.

Significant financial metrics for the first quarter of 2023 are set forth in the bullets below.

COVID-19 Pandemic and Other Recent Developments

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic continues to cause uncertainty and potential economic volatility, including with regard to our healthcare customers and our business. However, the impact of the pandemic itself on public health and economic conditions has significantly lessened and conditions have normalized since the height of the pandemic in 2020 and 2021, potentially to the point of reaching an endemic stage.

Our business is focused on providing solutions to healthcare organizations, and as such the pandemic’s adverse impact on healthcare organizations has resulted in an adverse impact on our Company. We believe that certain developments related to the pandemic negatively impacted our business in 2021 and to a lesser extent in 2022 and the three months ended March 31, 2023. In particular, sales cycles in 2021 and 2022 were delayed or postponed such that declines in sales bookings by customers over this period resulted in a negative impact to revenue and earnings in 2022 and the three months ended March 31, 2023 and may continue to result in a negative impact (to a lesser extent) to revenue and earnings for a portion of the remainder of 2023. Earlier in the pandemic, such impacts on our healthcare organization customers were more frequently associated with the need to focus on providing critical care to pandemic victims and the negative economic impact many of our healthcare organization customers experienced from being forced to temporarily reduce or discontinue services, like elective surgeries, from which they derive revenue. More recently, such impacts on healthcare customers appear to be associated with the cessation of or significant reduction in governmental funds such customers have received or anticipate receiving through earlier federal stimulus and relief measures, including the Public Health Emergency Fund, the Paycheck Protection Program, and the Provider Relief Fund.

Macroeconomic conditions in the U.S. continue to be challenging in various respects, including as the result of ongoing inflationary pressures, elevated interest rate levels, disruptions to global supply networks, challenging labor market conditions, and instability in the banking system. Such negative macroeconomic conditions have adversely affected, and may continue to adversely affect, us and our customers in the healthcare industry. In particular, we have experienced, and believe that some of our customers have experienced, increased labor, supply chain, capital, and other expenditures associated with current inflationary pressures and labor market conditions.

Key Business Metrics

Our management utilizes the following financial and non-financial metrics in connection with managing our business.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

The Company’s Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements are prepared in accordance with US GAAP. These accounting principles require us to make certain estimates, judgments, and assumptions during the preparation of our Financial Statements. We believe the estimates, judgments, and assumptions upon which we rely are reasonable based upon information available to us at the time they are made. These estimates, judgments, and assumptions can affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities as of the date of the Financial Statements, as well as the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the periods presented and related disclosures. To the extent there are material differences between these estimates, judgments, or assumptions and actual results, our Financial Statements will be affected.

The accounting policies and estimates that we believe are the most critical in fully understanding and evaluating our reported financial results include the following:

In many cases, the accounting treatment of a particular transaction is specifically dictated by US GAAP and does not require management’s judgment in its application. There are also areas where management’s judgment in selecting among available alternatives would not produce a materially different result. See Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in our 2022 Form 10-K and the Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements herein which contain additional information regarding our accounting policies and other disclosures required by US GAAP. There have been no changes in our critical accounting policies and estimates from those reported in our 2022 Form 10-K.

Three Months Ended March 31, 2023 Compared to Three Months Ended March 31, 2022

Revenues, net. Revenues increased approximately $3.5 million, or 5%, to $68.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023 from $65.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022. The revenue growth was attributable to growth in several product categories, including contributions from our recent acquisitions. Subscription revenues increased $3.9 million, or six percent, but were partially offset by $0.4 million of declines from professional services revenues.

A comparison of revenues by revenue source is as follows (in thousands):

Cost of Revenues (excluding Depreciation and Amortization). Cost of revenues increased $1.9 million, or 8%, to $23.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023, from $22.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022. Cost of revenues as a percentage of revenues were 35% and 34% for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The increase is primarily associated with personnel costs, including severance costs associated with the elimination of 33 job roles as part of the consolidation of HealthStream's business under a single platform strategy. In addition, we experienced higher costs for contract labor, software expenses, royalties, and cloud hosting. 

Product Development. Product development expenses increased $1.3 million, or 12%, to $11.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023, from $10.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022. Product development expenses as a percentage of revenues were 17% and 16% for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The increase is primarily due to increased personnel costs, including severance costs as noted above, and an increase in contract labor, which were partially offset by an increase in labor capitalized for internally developed software.

Sales and Marketing. Sales and marketing expenses, including personnel costs, increased $1.3 million, or 13%, to $11.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023, from $10.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022. Sales and marketing expenses were 17% and 16% of revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The increase is primarily due to increased personnel costs, including severance costs as noted above, as well as higher travel expense and higher software costs, which were partially offset by a decrease in general marketing expenses.

Other General and Administrative Expenses. Other general and administrative expenses decreased $0.3 million, or 3%, to $8.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023, from $9.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022. Other general and administrative expenses were 13% and 14% of revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The decrease is primarily due to lower employee recruitment expenses, professional service fees, and software.

Depreciation and Amortization. Depreciation and amortization expense increased $0.6 million, or 6%, to $9.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023, from $9.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022. This increase is primarily a result of an increase in amortization associated with capitalized software but was partially offset by lower depreciation expense.

Other Income (Loss), Net. Other income (loss), net was income of $0.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023, compared to a loss of $0.3 for the three months ended March 31, 2022. The increase is primarily the result of interest income earned on cash and investments during the three months ended March 31, 2023 compared to the prior year period.

Income Tax Provision. The Company recorded a provision for income taxes of $0.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023, compared to $0.9 million the three months ended March 31, 2022. The Company’s effective tax rate was 16% for the three months ended March 31, 2023, compared to 23% for the three months ended March 31, 2022. The Company’s effective tax rate primarily reflects the statutory corporate income tax rate, the net effect of state taxes, foreign income taxes, the effect of various permanent tax differences, and recognition of discrete tax items. During the three months ended March 31, 2023, the Company recorded discrete tax benefits of $53,000, which consisted primarily of a $133,000 tax benefit associated with stock-based awards. This tax benefit was partially offset by $80,000 of discrete tax expense related to uncertain tax positions. During the three months ended March 31, 2022, the Company recorded discrete tax expense of $0.1 million, primarily related to tax deficiencies associated with stock-based awards. 

Net Income. Net income was $2.6 million and $2.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Earnings per share (EPS) was $0.09 per share (diluted) for both the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022. 

Adjusted EBITDA was $13.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023, compared to $14.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022. See “Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below for our reconciliation of adjusted EBITDA to the most directly comparable measure under US GAAP and disclosure regarding why we believe adjusted EBITDA provides useful information to investors.

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q presents adjusted EBITDA, which is a non-GAAP financial measure used by management in analyzing our financial results and ongoing operational performance.

In order to better assess the Company’s financial results, management believes that net income excluding the impact of the deferred revenue write-downs associated with fair value accounting for acquired businesses (as discussed in greater detail below) and before interest, income taxes, stock-based compensation, depreciation and amortization, and changes in fair value of, including gains (losses) on the sale of, non-marketable equity investments (“adjusted EBITDA”) is a useful measure for evaluating the operating performance of the Company because adjusted EBITDA reflects net income adjusted for certain GAAP accounting, non-cash, and/or non-operating items which may not, in any such case, fully reflect the underlying operating performance of our business. We also believe that adjusted EBITDA is useful to investors to assess the Company’s ongoing operating performance and to compare the Company’s operating performance between periods. Additionally, short-term cash incentive bonuses and performance-based equity awards are based on the achievement of adjusted EBITDA targets (as defined in applicable bonus and equity grant documentation).

As noted above, the definition of adjusted EBITDA includes an adjustment for the impact of the deferred revenue write-downs associated with fair value accounting for acquired businesses. Prior to the Company early adopting ASU 2021-08 effective January 1, 2022, following the completion of any acquisition by the Company, the Company was required to record the acquired deferred revenue at fair value as defined in GAAP, which typically resulted in a write-down of the acquired deferred revenue. When the Company was required to record a write-down of deferred revenue, it resulted in lower recognized revenue, operating income, and net income in subsequent periods. Revenue for any such acquired business was deferred and was typically recognized over a one-to-two year period following the completion of any particular acquisition, so our GAAP revenues for this one-to-two year period would not reflect the full amount of revenues that would have been reported if the acquired deferred revenue was not written down to fair value. Management believes that including an adjustment in the definition of adjusted EBITDA for the impact of the deferred write-downs associated with fair value accounting for businesses acquired prior to the January 1, 2022 effective date of the Company's adoption of ASU 2021-08 provides useful information to investors because the deferred revenue write-down recognized in periods after an acquisition may, given the nature of this non-cash accounting impact, cause our GAAP financial results during such periods to not fully reflect our underlying operating performance and thus adjusting for this amount may assist in comparing the Company’s results of operations between periods. Following the adoption of ASU 2021-08, contracts acquired in an acquisition completed on or after January 1, 2022 are measured as if the Company had originated the contract (rather than the contract being measured at fair value) such that, for such acquisitions, the Company no longer records deferred revenue write-downs associated with acquired businesses (for acquisitions completed prior to January 1, 2022, the Company continues to record deferred revenue write-downs associated with fair value accounting for periods on and after January 1, 2022 consistent with past practice). At the current time, the Company intends to continue to include an adjustment in the definition of adjusted EBITDA for the impact of deferred revenue write-downs from business acquired prior to January 1, 2022 given the ongoing impact of such deferred revenue on our financial results.

Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure and should not be considered as a measure of financial performance under GAAP. Because adjusted EBITDA is not a measurement determined in accordance with GAAP, adjusted EBITDA is susceptible to varying calculations. Accordingly, adjusted EBITDA, as presented, may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies and has limitations as an analytical tool. 

A reconciliation of adjusted EBITDA to the most directly comparable GAAP measure is set forth below (in thousands).

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Net cash provided by operating activities decreased by $0.1 million to $20.5 million during the three months ended March 31, 2023, from $20.7 million during the three months ended March 31, 2022. Our days sales outstanding ("DSO") was 51 days for the first quarter of 2023 compared to 45 days for the first quarter of 2022. The Company calculates DSO by dividing the average accounts receivable balance for the quarter by average daily revenues for the quarter. The Company’s primary sources of cash were receipts generated from the sales of our products and services. The primary uses of cash to fund operations included personnel expenses, sales commissions, royalty payments, payments for contract labor and other direct expenses associated with delivery of our products and services, and general corporate expenses.

Net cash used in investing activities was $16.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023, compared to $4.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022. During the three months ended March 31, 2023, the Company spent $6.6 million for the acquisition of substantially all of the assets of Electronic Education Documentation System, LLC ("eeds") (note: the eeds acquisition was consummated on December 31, 2022, but was funded in January 2023 such that the purchase price for eeds impacted net cash used in investing activities during the three months ended March 31, 2023), invested in marketable securities of $2.9 million, made payments for capitalized software development of $7.6 million, and purchased property and equipment of $0.9 million. These uses of cash were partially offset by $1.0 million in maturities of marketable securities. During the three months ended March 31, 2022, the Company spent $22,000 related to a post-closing adjustment for a prior acquisition, invested in marketable securities of $2.0 million, made payments for capitalized software development of $6.3 million, and purchased property and equipment of $0.6 million. These uses of cash were partially offset by $5.0 million in maturities of marketable securities. 

Net cash used in financing activities was approximately $0.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023, compared to $20.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022. The uses of cash for the three months ended March 31, 2023 included $0.8 million for the payment of employee payroll taxes in relation to the vesting of restricted share units. The uses of cash for the three months ended March 31, 2022 included $19.7 million for repurchases of common stock and $0.5 million for the payment of employee payroll taxes in relation to the vesting of restricted share units.

Our balance sheet reflects positive working capital of $4.1 million at March 31, 2023, compared to negative working capital of $2.8 million at December 31, 2022. The increase in working capital is primarily a result of an increase in cash and cash equivalents despite the use of cash to fund the acquisition of eeds during the quarter as a result of strong collections coupled with an increase in accounts receivable. The Company’s primary source of liquidity as of March 31, 2023 was $48.8 million of cash and cash equivalents and $9.8 million of marketable securities. The Company also has a $65.0 million revolving credit facility, all of which was available for additional borrowing at March 31, 2023. The revolving credit facility expires on October 28, 2023, unless earlier renewed or amended.

On November 30, 2021, the Company announced a share repurchase program approved by the Company’s Board of Directors under which the Company was authorized to purchase up to $20.0 million of its common stock. This share repurchase program concluded on March 8, 2022, when the maximum dollar amount authorized under the program was expended. During the three months ended March 31, 2022 the Company repurchased 649,739 shares of common stock pursuant to this share repurchase program at an aggregate fair value of $14.9 million, reflecting an average price per share of $22.92 (excluding the cost of broker commissions).

On March 14, 2022, the Board approved an expansion of the Company's share repurchase program by authorizing the repurchase of up to an additional $10.0 million of the Company's outstanding shares of common stock. The share repurchase program expired on March 13, 2023, and no repurchases occurred during the three months ended March 31, 2023. Under this program, the Company repurchased a total of 402,050 shares at an aggregate fair value of $8.1 million, based on an average price per share of $20.19 (excluding the cost of broker commissions), including 242,647 shares purchased during the three months ended March 31, 2022, at an aggregate fair value of $5.0 million, based on an average per share price of $20.52 (excluding the cost of broker commissions). We may elect in the future to adopt a new share repurchase program.

On February 20, 2023, we announced that our Board approved a dividend policy under which we intend to pay quarterly cash dividends on our common stock, at an initial rate of $0.025 per share per fiscal quarter. We also announced that our Board declared the initial quarterly dividend under the new policy in the amount of $0.025 per share, which will be payable on April 28, 2023 to the holders of record of all of the issued and outstanding shares of common stock as of the close of business on April 17, 2023. This marks the first quarterly cash dividend policy adopted by the Company.

On April 24, 2023, the Board approved the Company's second quarterly cash dividend of $0.025 per share, payable on June 23, 2023 to holders of record on June 12, 2023. Further, the Company intends to declare and pay two more quarterly cash dividends in 2023.

The dividend policy and the declaration and payment of each quarterly cash dividend will be subject to our Board’s continuing determination that the policy and the declaration of dividends thereunder are in the best interests of our stockholders and are in compliance with applicable law and our credit agreement. Our Board retains the power to modify, suspend, or cancel the dividend policy in any manner and at any time that our Board may deem necessary or appropriate.

We believe that our existing cash and cash equivalents, marketable securities, cash generated from operations, and available borrowings under our revolving credit facility will be sufficient to meet anticipated working capital needs, new product development, and capital expenditures for at least the next 12 months and for the foreseeable future thereafter.

In addition, the Company’s growth strategy includes acquiring businesses or making strategic investments in businesses that complement or enhance our business. It is anticipated that future acquisitions or strategic investments, if any, would be effected through cash consideration, stock consideration, or a combination of both. The issuance of our stock as consideration for an acquisition or to raise additional capital could have a dilutive effect on earnings per share and could adversely affect our stock price. Our revolving credit facility contains financial covenants and availability calculations designed to set a maximum leverage ratio of outstanding debt to adjusted EBITDA and an interest coverage ratio of adjusted EBITDA to interest expense. Therefore, the maximum borrowings against our revolving credit facility would be dependent on the covenant calculations at the time of borrowing. As of March 31, 2023, we were in compliance with all covenants. There can be no assurance that amounts available for borrowing under our revolving credit facility will be sufficient to consummate any possible acquisitions, and we cannot assure you that if we need additional financing that it will be available on terms favorable to us, or at all. Failure to generate sufficient cash flow from operations or raise additional capital when required in sufficient amounts and on terms acceptable to us could harm our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

The Company is exposed to market risk from changes in interest rates, foreign currency risk, and investment risk. We do not have any commodity price risk.

Interest Rate Risk

As of March 31, 2023, and during the three months then ended, the Company had no outstanding debt. We may become subject to interest rate market risk associated with any future borrowings under our revolving credit facility. The interest rate under the revolving credit facility varies depending on the interest rate option selected by the Company plus a margin determined in accordance with a pricing grid. We are also exposed to market risk with respect to our cash and investment balances, which approximated $58.7 million at March 31, 2023. Assuming a hypothetical 10% decrease in interest rates for invested balances, interest income from cash and investments would decrease on an annualized basis by approximately $0.2 million.

Foreign Currency Risk

We have foreign currency risks related to our revenue and operating expenses denominated in currencies other than the US dollar, including Canadian dollar, New Zealand dollar, and Australian dollar. Increases or decreases in our foreign-denominated revenue from movements in foreign exchange rates are often partially offset by the corresponding increases or decreases in our foreign-denominated operating expenses.

To the extent that our international operations grow, our risks associated with fluctuation in currency rates will become greater, and we will continue to assess our approach to managing this risk. In addition, currency fluctuations or a weakening US dollar can increase the costs of our international operations. To date, we have not entered into any foreign currency hedging contracts although we may do so in the future.

Investment Risk

The Company’s investment policy and strategy is focused on investing in highly rated securities with the objective of minimizing the potential risk of principal loss. The Company’s policy limits the amount of credit exposure to any single issuer and sets limits on the average portfolio maturity.

We have an investment portfolio that includes strategic investments in privately held companies, which primarily include early-stage companies. We primarily invest in healthcare technology companies that we believe can help expand our ecosystem. We may continue to make these types of strategic investments as opportunities arise that we find attractive. We may experience additional volatility to our Consolidated Financial Statements due to changes in market prices, observable price changes, and impairments to our strategic investments. These changes could be material based on market conditions and events. 

The above market risk discussion and the estimated amounts presented are forward-looking statements of market risk assuming the occurrence of certain adverse market conditions. Actual results in the future may differ materially from those projected as a result of actual developments in the market.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

Evaluation of Controls and Procedures

HealthStream’s chief executive officer and principal financial officer have reviewed and evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”)) as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report. Based on that evaluation, the chief executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that HealthStream’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective to ensure that the information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports the Company files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and the information required to be disclosed in the reports the Company files or submits under the Exchange Act was accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its chief executive officer and principal financial officer, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

There was no change in HealthStream’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the first quarter of 2023 that has materially affected, or that is reasonably likely to materially affect, HealthStream’s internal control over financial reporting.

PART II ‑ OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1A. Risk Factors

There have been no material changes to the risk factors previously disclosed in the 2022 Form 10-K.

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

On March 14, 2022, the Company announced an expansion of the share repurchase program authorized by the Company’s Board of Directors under which the Company could purchase up to an additional $10.0 million of its common stock. Under this program, the Company repurchased 402,050 shares at an aggregate fair value of $8.1 million, reflecting an average price per share of $20.19 (excluding the cost of broker commissions). The program expired on March 13, 2023.

The table below sets forth activity under the stock repurchase plan for the three months ended March 31, 2023.
 

Item 5. Other Information.

The following information was required to be disclosed in a Current Report on Form 8-K during the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, but was inadvertently not timely reported by the Company. Instead of filing such information on a separate Current Report on Form 8-K, we have elected to make the following disclosure in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q under Item 2.05 of Form 8.K:

Item 2.05 Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities.

In connection with organizing HealthStream’s business under a single platform strategy as previously disclosed and as described in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, on February 17, 2023, authorized officers of the Company approved a consolidation program involving the elimination of 33 job roles during the first quarter of 2023, many of which job roles were duplicative as a result of several areas of consolidation. In connection with these job reductions, we incurred severance charges in the amount of approximately $1.0 million during the three months ended March 31, 2023. In addition, while these job reductions were completed during the three months ended March 31, 2023, we expect to incur additional severance charges in the range of $0.1 million to $0.2 million associated with these job reductions during the remainder of 2023, the substantial majority of which remaining charges are expected to be incurred during the three months ended June 30, 2023. All of the charges noted above have involved or will involve cash outlays. A portion of these cash outlays were made by the Company during the three months ended March 31, 2023, and the remaining portion of these cash outlays are expected to be made during the remainder of 2023 and in 2024, with the majority of such remaining outlays anticipated to be made during the three months ended June 30, 2023.

Item 6. Exhibits

SIGNATURE

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.