Research Solutions Reports Fiscal Second Quarter 2021 Results

HENDERSON, Nev., Feb. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Research Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ: RSSS), a pioneer in providing cloud-based workflow solutions for R&D driven organizations, reported financial results for its fiscal 2021 second quarter ended December 31, 2020.

Fiscal Second Quarter 2021 Summary Compared to Prior Year Quarter:

    --  Platform revenue increased 29% to $1.2 million, Annual recurring revenue
        increased 35% to $5.0 million
    --  Total gross margin improved 190 basis points to 32.1%
    --  Total revenue decreased 1% to $7.4 million
    --  Net loss of $(261,000), an improvement of $332,000; loss per share of
        $(0.01), a two-cent improvement
    --  Adjusted EBITDA of $161,000, an improvement of $345,000

"I am pleased with the continued momentum within our Platforms business with 29 net deployments in the second quarter, and surpassing the $5 million mark for Annual Recurring Revenue, representing a 35% increase from the same quarter a year ago," said Peter Derycz, President and CEO of Research Solutions. "While our total transaction count is steadily increasing, the number of paid transactions is decreasing as we continue to transition away from new, large transaction customers in favor of higher margin SMB platform customers. This is, in part, why our transaction revenue decreased in the second quarter."

Fiscal Second Quarter 2021 Results

Total revenue decreased 1% to $7.4 million, compared to $7.5 million in the same year-ago quarter.

Platform subscription revenue increased 29% to approximately $1.2 million compared to $950,000 in the year-ago quarter. The increase was primarily due to an increase in the total number of paid Platform deployments, including 29 net deployments added in the quarter. The quarter ended with annual recurring revenue of $5.0 million, up 6% sequentially and 35% year-over-year (see the company's definition of annual recurring revenue below).

Transaction revenue decreased 5% to $6.2 million compared to $6.6 million in the prior-year quarter. Total transaction count, which consists of paid and unpaid transactions, increased 3.5% from the year-ago quarter to 220,000. The improvement was due to an increase in unpaid transactions, offset by a decrease in paid transactions. Customers that have purchased the Article Galaxy platform benefit from unpaid transactions (such as open access, direct publisher subscription and token content) as part of its offering, and the increase in unpaid transactions reflects customers' ever growing dependence on the platform. As we continue to gain higher margin SMB platform customers, we expect unpaid transactions to continue to increase. There were 1,109 transaction customers in the quarter, compared to 1,139 customers in the second quarter of fiscal year 2020 (see the company's definition of active customer accounts and transactions below).

Total gross margin improved 190 basis points from the prior-year quarter to 32.1%. The increase was primarily driven by a continued revenue mix shift to the higher-margin Platform business.

Total operating expenses were $2.7 million, a $330,000 decrease from the year-ago quarter.

Net loss in the second quarter was $(261,000), or a loss of $(0.01) per share, compared to a net loss of ($592,000), or $(0.03) per share, in the prior-year quarter. Adjusted EBITDA was $161,000, a $345,000 improvement from the year-ago quarter (see definition and further discussion about the presentation of Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP term, below).

Cash and cash equivalents on December 31, 2020, amounted to $10.2 million, similar to the prior quarter and an increase from $9.3 million as of June 30, 2020. There were no outstanding borrowings under the company's $2.5 million revolving line of credit and the company had no long-term liabilities or other debt.

Conference Call
Research Solutions President and CEO Peter Derycz and CFO Alan Urban will host the conference call, followed by a question and answer period.

Date: Thursday, February 11, 2021
Time: 5:00 p.m. ET (2:00 p.m. PT)
Toll-free dial-in number: 1-855-327-6837
International dial-in number: 1-631-891-4304
Conference ID: 10012898

The conference call will be broadcast live and available for replay until March 4, 2021, by dialing 1-844-512-2921 and using the replay ID 10012898, and via the investor relations section of the company's website at http://researchsolutions.investorroom.com/.

Fiscal Second Quarter Financial and Operational Summary Tables vs. Prior-Year Quarter


                                                                                 
     
     Quarter Ended December 31,                      
       
        Six Months Ended December 31,


                                                                            2020                              2019 
     
        Change       
       
             % Change                       2020           2019 
     
         Change      
     
     % Change




     Revenue:


                                      
     Platforms                                                      $1,220,535           $949,825                     $270,710          28.5%             $2,362,223          $1,806,270          $555,953        30.8%


                                      
     Transactions                                                    6,229,200          6,580,613                    (351,413)         -5.3%             12,835,937          13,319,281         (483,344)       -3.6%




     Total Revenue                                                                                   7,449,735          7,530,438                     (80,703)         -1.1%             15,198,160          15,125,551            72,609         0.5%





     Gross Profit:


                                      
     Platforms                                                       1,003,532            787,317                      216,216          27.5%              1,941,268           1,493,292           447,976        30.0%


                                      
     Transactions                                                    1,388,050          1,486,483                     (98,433)         -6.6%              2,899,890           3,097,043         (197,153)       -6.4%




     Total Gross Profit                                                                              2,391,582          2,273,800                      117,783           5.2%              4,841,158           4,590,335           250,823         5.5%





     Gross profit as a % of revenue:


                                      
     Platforms                                                           82.2%             82.9%                       -0.7%                                82.2%              82.7%            -0.5%


                                      
     Transactions                                                        22.3%             22.6%                       -0.3%                                22.6%              23.3%            -0.7%



     Total Gross Profit                                                   32.1%                            30.2%              1.9%                                              31.9%         30.3%               1.5%





     Operating Expenses:


                                      
     Sales and marketing                                               487,571            638,837                    (151,266)        -23.7%                985,945           1,189,186         (203,241)      -17.1%


                                      
     Technology and product development                                624,747            548,719                       76,028          13.9%              1,247,708           1,047,910           199,798        19.1%


                                      
     General and administrative                                      1,118,750          1,270,375                    (151,624)        -11.9%              2,279,812           2,501,720         (221,908)       -8.9%


                                      
     Depreciation and amortization                                       3,039              6,840                      (3,801)        -55.6%                  6,762              14,398           (7,636)      -53.0%


                                      
     Stock-based compensation                                          435,949            523,632                     (87,683)        -16.7%                606,739             666,304          (59,565)       -8.9%


                                      
     Foreign currency translation loss                                (17,469)           (5,456)                    (12,013)       -220.2%               (41,718)              6,667          (48,385)     -725.7%



     Total Operating Expenses                                                                        2,652,587          2,982,947                    (330,359)        -11.1%              5,085,248           5,426,185         (340,937)       -6.3%




     Income (loss) from operations                                                                   (261,005)         (709,147)                     448,142          63.2%              (244,090)          (835,850)          591,760        70.8%





     Other Income (Expenses):


                                      
     Interest expense


                                      
     Other income (expense)                                                399             26,527                     (26,128)        -98.5%                    634              52,076          (51,442)      -98.8%


                                      
     Provision for income taxes                                                            (806)                         806         100.0%                (2,505)            (7,300)            4,795        65.7%


                                      
     Gain on sale of disc'd operations                                                    91,254                     (91,254)       -100.0%                                   117,445         (117,445)     -100.0%




     Total Other Income (Expenses):                                                                        399            116,975                    (116,576)        -99.7%                (1,871)            162,221         (164,092)     -101.2%




     Net income (loss)                                                                              $(260,606)        $(592,172)                     331,566          56.0%             $(245,961)         $(673,629)          427,668        63.5%






     Adjusted EBITDA                                                                                  $160,514         $(184,131)                    $344,645         187.2%               $327,693          $(148,481)         $476,174       320.7%




                                                                                 
     
     Quarter Ended December 31,                     
       
        Six Months Ended December 31,


                                                                            2020                              2019 
     
        Change       
       
             % Change                       2020           2019 
     
         Change      
     
     % Change




     
              Platforms:


                                      
     ARR (Annual recurring revenue):


                                      
       Beginning of Period                                          $4,741,183         $3,498,369                   $1,242,814          35.5%             $4,446,088          $3,224,672        $1,221,416        37.9%


                                      
        Incremental ARR                                                279,871            219,431                       60,440          27.5%                574,966             493,128            81,838        16.6%



                                      
       End of Period                                                $5,021,054         $3,717,800                   $1,303,254          35.1%             $5,021,054          $3,717,800        $1,303,254        35.1%




                                      
     Deployments:


                                      
       Beginning of Period                                                 432                320                          112          35.0%                    401                 301               100        33.2%


                                      
        Incremental Deployments                                             29                 18                           11          61.1%                     60                  37                23        62.2%



                                      
       End of Period                                                       461                338                          123          36.4%                    461                 338               123        36.4%




                                      
     ASP (Average sales price):


                                      
       Beginning of Period                                             $10,975            $10,932                          $43           0.4%                $11,088             $10,713              $374         3.5%


                                      
       End of Period                                                   $10,892            $10,999                       $(108)         -1.0%                $10,892             $10,999            $(108)       -1.0%





     
              Transactions:


                                      
     Transaction count                                                 220,228            212,759                        7,469           3.5%                445,314             428,539            16,775         3.9%


                                      
     Corporate customers                                                   809                856                         (47)         -5.5%                    807                 855              (48)       -5.6%


                                      
     Academic customers                                                    300                283                           17           6.0%                    293                 282                11         3.7%


                                      
     Total customers                                                     1,109              1,139                         (30)         -2.6%                  1,100               1,137              (37)       -3.3%

Active Customer Accounts, Transactions and Annual Recurring Revenue

The company defines active customer accounts as the sum of the total quantity of customers per month for each month in the period divided by the respective number of months in the period. The quantity of customers per month is defined as customers with at least one transaction during the month.

A transaction is an order for a unit of copyrighted content fulfilled or managed in the Platform.

The company defines annual recurring revenue as the value of contracted Platform subscription recurring revenue normalized to a one-year period.

Use of Non-GAAP Measure - Adjusted EBITDA

Research Solutions' management evaluates and makes operating decisions using various financial metrics. In addition to the company's GAAP results, management also considers the non-GAAP measure of Adjusted EBITDA. Management believes that this non-GAAP measure provides useful information about the company's operating results.

The tables below provide a reconciliation of this non-GAAP financial measure with the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net income (loss), plus interest expense, other income (expense), foreign currency transaction loss, provision for income taxes, depreciation and amortization, stock-based compensation, gain on sale of discontinued operations, and other potential adjustments that may arise. Set forth below is a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to net income (loss):


                                          
            
          Quarter Ended December 31,             
            
     Six Months Ended December 31,


                                                  2020        2019       
              
      Change      % Change                2020              2019 
     
       Change      % Change




     
                Net Income (loss)        $(260,606) $(592,172)                     $331,566       56.0%          $(245,961)       $(673,629)       $427,668       63.5%



      Add (deduct):



       Interest expense



       Other income (expense)                   (399)   (26,527)                       26,128       98.5%               (634)         (52,076)         51,442       98.8%



       Foreign currency translation loss     (17,469)    (5,456)                     (12,013)     220.2%            (41,718)            6,667        (48,385)    -725.7%



       Provision for income taxes                            806                         (806)    -100.0%               2,505             7,300         (4,795)     -65.7%



       Depreciation and amortization            3,039       6,840                       (3,801)     -55.6%               6,762            14,398         (7,636)     -53.0%



       Stock-based compensation               435,949     523,632                      (87,683)     -16.7%             606,739           666,304        (59,565)      -8.9%



       Gain on sale of disc. ops.                       (91,254)                       91,254      100.0%                            (117,445)        117,445      100.0%




     Adjusted EBITDA                         $160,514  $(184,131)                     $344,645      187.2%            $327,693        $(148,481)       $476,174      320.7%

About Research Solutions and Reprints Desk
Research Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ: RSSS) is a pioneer in providing seamless access and simplifies how organizations and individual researchers discover, acquire, and manage scholarly journal articles, book chapters and other content in scientific, technical, and medical (STM) research. More than 70 percent of the top pharmaceutical companies, prestigious universities, and emerging businesses rely on Article Galaxy, a cloud-based SaaS research platform, for simplified and lowest cost access to the latest scientific research and data. Featuring an ecosystem of app-like Gadgets for a personalized research experience, Article Galaxy offers individual as well as enterprise plans, coupled with unparalleled, 24/7 customer support. For more information and details, please visit www.researchsolutions.com

Important Cautions Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this press release may contain "forward-looking statements" regarding future events and our future results. All statements other than statements of historical facts are statements that could be deemed to be forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts, and projections about the markets in which we operate and the beliefs and assumptions of our management. Words such as "expects," "anticipates," "targets," "goals," "projects", "intends," "plans," "believes," "seeks," "estimates," "endeavors," "strives," "may," or variations of such words, and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned that these forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict, estimate or verify. Therefore, actual results may differ materially and adversely from those expressed in any forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include those factors described in the Company's most recent annual report on Form 10-K, as such may be amended or supplemented by subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, or other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Examples of forward-looking statements in this release include statements regarding continued momentum in the Company's business and financial performance, and the Company's strong outlook. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements are made only as of the date hereof, and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly release the result of any revisions to these forward-looking statements. For more information, please refer to the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.


                                                   
              
         Research Solutions, Inc. and Subsidiaries
                                                          
         Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets




                                                                                        December 31
                                                                                                 ,                         June 30,


                                                                                               2020                             2020


                                                                                  (unaudited)



                
              
                Assets



     
                Current assets:



     Cash and cash equivalents                                                                       $
            10,163,504            $
         9,311,556


      Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $47,830 and
       $88,485, respectively                                                                                     4,227,603                   4,449,260



     Prepaid expenses and other current assets                                                                    297,280                     241,747



     Prepaid royalties                                                                                            673,864                     720,367



     Total current assets                                                                                      15,362,251                  14,722,930





     
                Other assets:


      Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation
       of $819,263 and $804,999, respectively                                                                       11,677                      11,276



     Deposits and other assets                                                                                      6,280                       6,155


      Right of use asset, net of accumulated amortization of
       $452,577 and $390,691, respectively                                                                          10,445                      72,331




     
                Total assets                                                                       $
            15,390,653           $
         14,812,692





                         Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity



     
                Current liabilities:



     Accounts payable and accrued expenses                                                            $
            5,799,152            $
         6,349,845



     Deferred revenue                                                                                           4,385,507                   3,524,507



     Lease liability, current portion                                                                              11,444                      79,326




     Total current liabilities                                                                                 10,196,103                   9,953,678





     
                Commitments and contingencies




                   Stockholders' equity
                :


      Preferred stock; $0.001 par value; 20,000,000 shares
       authorized; no shares issued and outstanding


      Common stock; $0.001 par value; 100,000,000 shares
       authorized; 26,266,008 and 26,032,263  shares issued and
       outstanding, respectively                                                                                    26,266                      26,032



     Additional paid-in capital                                                                                26,709,401                  26,134,819



     Accumulated deficit                                                                                     (21,422,760)               (21,176,799)



     Accumulated other comprehensive loss                                                                       (118,357)                  (125,038)




     Total stockholders' equity                                                                                 5,194,550                   4,859,014



                   Total liabilities and stockholders' equity                                         $
            15,390,653           $
         14,812,692


                                                                             
              
                Research Solutions, Inc. and Subsidiaries
                                                                       
     Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
                                                                                                        (Unaudited)




                                                                                         Three Months Ended                                                      Six Months Ended


                                                                                     December 31
                ,                                                   December 31
           ,



                                                                                                          2020                                          2019                                2020   2019






     Revenue:



     Platforms                                                                                                           $
              1,220,535                                  $
         949,825           $
        2,362,223        $
        1,806,270



     Transactions                                                                                                                    6,229,200                                       6,580,613                12,835,937             13,319,281




     Total revenue                                                                                                                   7,449,735                                       7,530,438                15,198,160             15,125,551






     Cost of revenue:



     Platforms                                                                                                                         217,003                                         162,508                   420,955                312,978



     Transactions                                                                                                                    4,841,150                                       5,094,130                 9,936,047             10,222,238




     Total cost of revenue                                                                                                           5,058,153                                       5,256,638                10,357,002             10,535,216




     Gross profit                                                                                                                    2,391,582                                       2,273,800                 4,841,158              4,590,335






     
                Operating expenses:



     Selling, general and administrative                                                                                             2,649,548                                       2,976,107                 5,078,486              5,411,787



     Depreciation and amortization                                                                                                       3,039                                           6,840                     6,762                 14,398



     Total operating expenses                                                                                                        2,652,587                                       2,982,947                 5,085,248              5,426,185




     Loss from operations                                                                                                            (261,005)                                      (709,147)                (244,090)             (835,850)





     Other income                                                                                                                          399                                          26,527                       634                 52,076





     Loss from operations before provision for income taxes                                                                          (260,606)                                      (682,620)                (243,456)             (783,774)



     Provision for income taxes                                                                                                                                                         (806)                  (2,505)               (7,300)






     Loss from continuing operations                                                                                                 (260,606)                                      (683,426)                (245,961)             (791,074)





     Gain from sale of discontinued operations                                                                                                                                         91,254                                         117,445





     Net loss                                                                                                                        (260,606)                                      (592,172)                (245,961)             (673,629)





     
                Other comprehensive income (loss):                                                                                     5,516                                           1,543                     6,681                (2,025)


     Foreign currency translation




     Comprehensive loss                                                                                                  $
              (255,090)                               $
         (590,629)          $
        (239,280)       $
        (675,654)






     Loss per common share:



     Loss per share from continuing operations, basic and diluted                                                           $
              (0.01)                                  $
         (0.03)             $
        (0.01)          $
        (0.03)



     Income per share from discontinued operations, basic and diluted                            
              $                                                
     $                                
     $                      
     $



     Net loss per share, basic and diluted                                                                                  $
              (0.01)                                  $
         (0.03)             $
        (0.01)          $
        (0.03)



     Weighted average common shares outstanding, basic and diluted                                                                  25,988,117                                      24,185,966                25,943,509             24,140,616

View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/research-solutions-reports-fiscal-second-quarter-2021-results-301227227.html

SOURCE Research Solutions, Inc.