CalAmp Q2 2024 Earnings Call Transcript

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October 5, 2023

There are 6 speakers on the call.

Operator

Welcome to CalAmp's Second Quarter 20 24 Financial Results Conference Call. My name is Cole, and I'll be the moderator for today's call. All lines will be muted during the presentation portion of the call with an opportunity for questions and answers at the end. Keypad. As a reminder, this call is being recorded.

Operator

I would now like to introduce your host for today's conference call, Logan Lucas, Corporate Strategy and Investor Relations Manager at CalAmp. Logan, you may begin.

Speaker 1

Good afternoon, and welcome to CalAmp's Fiscal Second Quarter 2024 Financial Results Conference Call. I'm Logan Lucas, Corporate Strategy and Investor Relations Manager at CalAmp. With us today are CalAmp's Interim President and Chief Executive Officer, Jason Koeenhauer and Chief Financial Officer, Chetan Kim. During today's call, we will make certain forward looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 in Section 21E of the Exchange Act of 1934. Forward looking statements are predictions, projections and other statements about future events that are based on current expectations and assumptions, and as a result, are subject to risks and uncertainties.

Speaker 1

Many factors could cause actual future events to differ materially from the forward looking statements in this communication. You should listen to today's call with the understanding that our actual results may be materially different from the plans, intentions and expectations disclosed in the forward looking statements we make. For more information about factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from forward looking statements, please refer to earnings press release we issued today as well as the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Readers are cautioned not to Put undue reliance on forward looking statements, and the company specifically disclaims any obligation to update the forward looking statements that may be discussed during this call. Now Jason will begin today's call with a review of the company's recent operational highlights, and then Jikun will provide a more detailed review of the financial results, followed by a question and answer session.

Speaker 1

With that, it is my great pleasure to turn the call over to CalAmp's Interim President and CEO, Jason Koeenhauer. Jason, please go ahead. Thank you, Logan, and thanks to all of you for joining us on the call today. I will start by taking a moment to express our heartfelt condolences to the family, friends and teammates of Jeff Gardner following his passing in late August. Jeff was not only a passionate leader for this organization, but a kind and compassionate friend to many.

Speaker 1

We appreciate the effort and countless hours you put into CalAmp over these past few years, taking on challenges and opportunities with positivity and resilience. He had a truly remarkable life and career, And the outreach the company has received on his behalf following his unexpected passing is a testament to the positive impact He had on others along the way. The CalAmp team is keeping Jeff and his loved ones in our thoughts and hearts through this difficult time. Moving to our results. The company's Q2 for fiscal year 2024 produced mixed results.

Speaker 1

While we continue to experience demand softness with TSP customers, We saw strength in other parts of the business, including international connected car and with our large industrial OEM customer. The TSP softness is attributed to continued customer inventory rebalancing following the fulfillment of a large volume of orders in the second half of fiscal year twenty twenty three. These orders had been backlogged due to the severe supply chain constraints that we and many others encountered over the past few years. Additionally, Competitive pressures experienced by our PSP customers have complicated the inventory rebalancing process. We are continuing to work with each of these customers as they align their inventory levels with demand.

Speaker 1

Consolidated Q2 revenue was $61,700,000 which was below our guidance range. Revenue from TSPs, which was lower than expected, was the key driver of the revenue miss. Q2 adjusted EBITDA was $5,900,000 which was within our guidance range. The company also delivered strong cash flow from operations of $7,100,000 The strength in adjusted EBITDA and cash flow from operations is primarily the result of cost savings initiatives. Some of these initiatives were carried out during the Q2, so we expect to see some incremental expense reductions from our previous actions in the back half of the year.

Speaker 1

We continue to evaluate opportunities to refocus, simplify and streamline the business. On the product front, our team continues to push forward with several initiatives focused on value creation for our customers. For example, in the Q2, we launched our electronic logging device or ELD to help customers streamline their compliance workflows. Our ELD solution is integrated with the rest of our fleet management product suite and adds to a portfolio that we plan to leverage to drive increased ARPU and gross margins in our fleet segments. We also commenced commercial shipments of our new Vision 2.0 Dash Cam solution during the quarter and now have our first successful installations.

Speaker 1

We expect to see additional commercial traction with Vision at our fleet customers in the coming months quarters. We also secured several new customer wins during the quarter, including with Transportes Castores, one of the largest transportation and logistics companies in Mexico. Transportes Castores is leveraging both CalAmp's in cab and trailer tracking solutions to pull data from their assets and to integrate the data with their proprietary enterprise applications. The solution provides seamless visibility across the customer's operations and illustrates our unique ability to integrate data from many different asset types into a variety of systems, thereby providing highly tailored insights that drive efficiency, safety and compliance. We are excited to embark on this partnership with Transportes Castorez to optimize the management of their fleet.

Speaker 1

Our international connected car business continued to deliver strong performance during the quarter, driven by expanding relationships with large automotive OEMs and rental customers, particularly in Europe. We expect this segment to continue to deliver consistent profitable growth as we expand with our customers, secure new B2B customers And grow new geographical markets such as Spain. With respect to the CalAmp team, You may have seen the news regarding the departure of our Chief Revenue Officer. In response to this departure, We have elevated 2 highly qualified individuals to lead this critical function. 1 of these team members now leads new revenue generation, while the other leads customer success and sales operations.

Speaker 1

Both leaders report directly to the CEO And the transition has been seamless. Our CEO search is ongoing, and interest in the position is high. Similarly, our exploration of strategic alternatives is ongoing and we have no additional news to report as of at this time. As for me, I've been serving as the Interim CEO of CalAmp since August 28, Following Jeff's tragic passing, I can report without hesitation that the CalAmp team is talented and passionate and they believe in the opportunity before us. In addition to having a great team, the company has other tremendous assets, including excellent products and solutions, a blue chip customer base and a large and growing market opportunity.

Speaker 1

While I am here, I will be supporting the team. I will be supporting customers and I will be helping the team to hone focus, to execute operationally and to capture efficiencies as we strive to deliver profitable growth and positive cash flow. With that, I'll turn the call over to Jikun to discuss our Q2 financial results in more detail. Jikun?

Speaker 2

Thank you, Jason, and thank you for stepping up to this transition. My commentary will include references to our non GAAP financial measures. A full reconciliation of these non GAAP measures with the corresponding GAAP measure is included in our earnings release. The total revenue in the second quarter was $61,700,000 Revenues declined 15% year over year and driven by lower sales to our telematics service provider customers. As Jason mentioned in his remarks, the revenue decline was driven by our TSP customers continuing to rebalance their inventories while also navigating competitive pressures in their end markets.

Speaker 2

We now expect this inventory rebalancing with our TSB customers to take longer than previously expected. Revenue declines from the TSB customers were partially offset by revenue increases from our industrial and international connected card businesses. Recurring application subscription revenues in the quarter were $18,700,000 a $500,000 sequential decline. Most of the decline was driven by a $400,000 tune catch up for prior period accounting cleanups and corrections. RPO and hardware backlog ended the quarter at $194,000,000 $14,000,000 respectively.

Speaker 2

RPO declined $24,000,000 and hardware backlog declined $6,000,000 sequentially. The RPO and hardware backlog decline was driven by customer PO fulfillment as well as TSP conversions that have already been completed. Consolidated gross margin in the 2nd quarter was 36% compared to 38% last quarter. The sequential gross margin decline was driven by lower volumes and unfavorable product mix. 2nd quarter GAAP operating expenses declined $3,900,000 sequentially $8,800,000 year over year.

Speaker 2

The cost reductions that we implemented over the past 12 months are starting to significantly impact not only our OpEx, but also our cost of goods sold and CapEx. Q2 FY 'twenty four adjusted EBITDA was $5,900,000 or 9.5 percent of revenue, essentially flat compared to the $6,000,000 in the prior quarter. Year over year adjusted EBITDA increased by $1,100,000 At the end of Q2 FY twenty twenty four, we had a total cash And cash equivalent of $38,500,000 as compared to $35,000,000 last quarter, an increase of $3,600,000 Cash flow from operations was $7,100,000 in the 2nd quarter. Positive cash flow was driven by a $4,200,000 Cash flow from operations, excluding working capital changes, as well as a $2,900,000 in net working capital reductions. Unlike the prior quarter, working capital changes worked in our favor in Q2.

Speaker 2

Compared to the prior quarter, Cash flow from operations, excluding working capital, increased by $100,000 sequentially and continues to be strong despite volume reductions. Cash flow stability is driven by our cost reductions. At the end of the quarter, we have 30 $2,700,000 in undrawn asset back line availability. This availability is subject to customary covenant tests. The $230,000,000 2 percent coupon convertible notes are due on August 1, 2025.

Speaker 2

Our objective is to generate a high quality EBITDA run rate in order to optimize our options for refinancing the convertible notes. As demonstrated over the past few quarters, EBITDA performance has been strong and stable. We believe that our future EBITDA run rate increases will be driven by several factors and initiatives, including The normalization of TSP revenues as we stabilize and then return to growth in this market segment growth in recurring revenues driven by new solution introductions such as Vision 2.0, which we expect to drive significant ARPU growth with new and existing customers. Improvements in gross margin trending back to our historical levels and continued focus on our cost management. In addition, we will have to continue our vigilance with respect to cash flow and cash generation.

Speaker 2

Continued strong EBITDA and positive cash flow will enable us to retire a portion of the convertible loan as it matures. In addition, we are actively exploring a range of additional financing options and how they can play in our capital structure. From a business outlook standpoint, we continue to manage through a dynamic situation with our TSB customers And we expect Q3 FY twenty twenty four revenues and adjusted EBITDA to be slightly down sequentially. With that, I'll turn the call back over to Jason for some final thoughts. Jason?

Speaker 1

Thank you, Jai Khan. In closing, I will assert our unwavering commitment to our customers, Partners, employees and investors. While we have experienced challenges, we also see tremendous opportunity ahead and we are confident in our ability to overcome these obstacles and to return to profitable growth. Thanks to all of you for your continued support and interest in the company. With that, we will now open the call to your questions.

Speaker 1

Operator?

Operator

Thank you. We will now begin the Q and A session. It has been asked that all question askers hold themselves to one question with one follow-up question. We will pause here briefly as questions are registered. Our first question is from Jerry Revich with Goldman Sachs.

Operator

Please go ahead.

Speaker 3

Hi. Thanks for taking my Question, this is Adam Bubis on for Jerry today. Good nice to see the positive Cash flow from ops. Just wondering if you could talk about how you're thinking about the free cash flow trajectory from here. What does normalized free cash flow conversion look like in this business and when can you get there?

Speaker 2

Yes. I think Jerry asked me this question last quarter also. So thank you for your question. So You can see based on the last few quarters of cash flow statements that cash flow from operations excluding working capital changes have been in the $4,000,000 range, right? We're at $4,200,000 this quarter.

Speaker 2

I think we're at $4,100,000 last quarter. Working capital worked in our favor this quarter. It didn't last quarter. The question that you asked about free cash flow and stability, I think, one, we need to make sure that our revenue is back to where it should be, right, and then be able to project that into the future. But, what you're experiencing is very strong cost management from management as well as continued vigilance in that So it's difficult for me to say based on the working capital changes that we have right now, but I think you can You sure that we will do our hardest and utmost to make sure that we manage our costs and continue to generate cash here.

Speaker 3

Thanks for that. And it looks like revenue per subscriber in the software and subscription segment was down Sequentially, just wondering if you could unpack the moving pieces there. What's the price versus True core price versus mix impact and what's the path here going forward now that most of conversion is Through, should we expect higher ARPU starting to flow through that metric?

Speaker 2

Yes. So keep in mind, I think it was commented in our prepared remarks as well as our earnings release We had about a $400,000 recurring revenue tune catch up impact that we corrected in the quarter. So The recurring revenue is it should be roughly $400,000 higher. We had some accounting errors in the past that we corrected in this quarter, right? It just caught up.

Speaker 2

So if you do that, I think you'll see the ARPU is coming back a little better from a calculation standpoint. Fundamentally, we are looking to grow our recurring revenue business, and it's on new applications like Vision and ELD. We just launched Vision 2 months ago, 3 months ago, and we're starting to see we're seeing very good pipeline And customer interest, we just need to convert those and accelerate those into the Q4. We have an opportunity coming up In the December time frame, as school buses kids go on vacation during school buses during the Christmas time, and that will be able to Fit a lot more of those vision opportunities onto our customers' fleets.

Operator

Yes. And Adam, I'll add a little bit

Speaker 1

of color. As we complete these conversions, that's going to goose Subscriber count and those TSP customers come in at a lower ARPU, right? So that's going to be we're going to have A battle of mix, if you will, as those low ARPU customers come in and as we win new higher ARPU customers With products like Vision and ELD. So a couple of moving parts there with respect to ARPU.

Speaker 3

Got it. Helpful. And then lastly for me, on the Q3 revenue and adjusted EBITDA guide to be down slightly sequentially, Could you provide any color by segment there? Will software and subscription be up sequentially? Or are we Expecting both segments to be down?

Speaker 2

Yes. So again, we don't break out the sub components Of the revenue, but you can see that our TSP has a very large impact on our business. And So you'll what you're seeing is the continued our customers continuing to rebalance their inventory positions. In terms of recurring revenue, I would hope that we could do better.

Speaker 3

Got it. Thanks so much.

Speaker 2

Sure.

Operator

Our next question is from Scott Searle with ROTH. Your line is now open.

Speaker 4

Hey, good afternoon. Thanks for taking my questions. Jason, just wanted to extend my condolences to you, your team and Jeff's family and his untimely passing. Maybe to follow-up on some of the earlier questions. I'm wondering what is the level of normalized TSP that you would expect.

Speaker 4

And then on the OpEx front, Chikun, that's been coming down. It sounds like there's more that will come out in the back half of Is there an absolute number that you could calibrate us with?

Speaker 2

Yes. So I mean So most of the cost reductions that we implemented on the OpEx side were done earlier in the year. We just Had transition periods where we had to make sure that various tasks that employees were responsible were transferred to the appropriate people. So You're going to see I mean, it's not going to be $3,800,000 quarter over quarter, but it should be a little down and some Yeah. It's not a lot, but just a little bit.

Speaker 2

In terms of, TSPs, yeah, I mean, it's Normalization of TSPs, I mean, I can tell you in 2021, we did $104,000,000 in 'twenty We did $91,000,000 and $23,000,000 we did $110,000,000 Right? Those are historical numbers. Need to figure out, obviously, when we can get back there, and whether that's sustainable or not as our customers provide us feedback and information. Jason, any thoughts on that?

Speaker 1

Yes. Just a little more color, Scott, on the TSPs. I mean, it was the part of our business That was considerably softer than we expected in Q2. So down considerably from Q1 and down considerably from historical run rates. So we believe we're battling through this inventory rebalancing thing, but we're also conscious of the fact That our TSPs operate in a very competitive environment, right?

Speaker 1

So we need to keep an eye on that as well. We're hoping we're around stability here, Scott, and we can grow from here. But to be There's still a little bit of uncertainty around that channel, where inventory levels are and should be And the ability of RTSPs to compete in a pretty competitive marketplace. So I would say we're getting our arms around that. Obviously, it

Speaker 4

Okay. Very helpful. And as my follow-up and perhaps a little bit unfair given the transition in current events, but as you start to think about The convert and what you need to do to be able to refinance that, it implies that EBITDA levels are higher than where we are today. Clearly, you've got to get the top line going a little bit more and more subscription. It seems like OpEx has been tightened up.

Speaker 4

I'm wondering if you could talk a little bit about Timing and model as it relates to EBITDA margins or otherwise as we get out several quarters from now To think about that, because I guess you got to be getting close to doing 10, 12 or more in terms of quarterly EBITDA to be able to fully handle that convert.

Speaker 2

Thanks. Yes. So again, we provided next Quarter guidance, but I can point in some direction from the current quarter if you like, right? We missed revenue guidance. The midpoint would have been $70,000,000 That would have generated roughly an $8,000,000 revenue I mean, our revenues would have been $8,000,000 higher.

Speaker 2

You can add a gross margin number to that. And if you make the assumption that that drops down, you kind of get a feel for where we could be, have our revenues normalized sometime in the future. I'm not saying 70% is a normalized revenue, but that was the midpoint of your guidance.

Speaker 1

Yes. And I'll add, Scott. I mean, you're not off base with respect to EBITDA levels we need to get to In order to have maximum optionality, maximum options on the convert and that has got to come through a Combination of growth obviously and continued vigilance on cost and not just OpEx But COGS

Speaker 4

as well. Great. Thank you.

Operator

Thank you, Scott. Our next question is from George Notter with Jefferies. Your line is now open.

Speaker 5

Hi. Thanks a lot guys.

Speaker 4

I guess I a clarification.

Speaker 5

Can you guys give us the backlog metrics and RPO metrics that you referenced earlier in the monologue?

Speaker 2

Sure. Do you have another question? I'll dig that up for you in a minute.

Speaker 4

Yes.

Speaker 2

And then I also wanted to just kind

Speaker 5

of go through what are the options on on refinancing the convertible debt. I'm kind of wondering how you guys are thinking about it. Obviously, growing the EBITDA As part of the formula here, but I'm just wondering what kind of options are available to you. What are you contemplating? Thanks.

Speaker 2

Sure. So just going back to your first question, our RPO was 194,000,000 And our hardware backlog was $14,000,000 in the quarter

Speaker 4

at the

Speaker 2

end of the quarter, I'm sorry. Anything else on that?

Speaker 5

And then, no.

Speaker 4

And I'm just curious

Speaker 5

about your refinancing options. How do you think about it?

Speaker 2

Yes, yes, sure, sure. So I mean, it's clear that we've got to Do better from a top line standpoint and generate sustainable sufficient EBITDA. Higher the EBITDA, more optionality we'll have. But look at it at the same time, The RP the 2% convertible note has a 2% coupon on it. It's very valuable, right?

Speaker 2

So As we increase our EBITDA and revenues come back, you're going to see more cash flow drop to the bottom line. And ideally, some portion of this 2% coupon, I'd like to take to maturity and pay it off at This 2% coupon, I'd like to take to maturity and pay it off at maturity, right? And then we're looking at once you get the EBITDA high enough, We might have turn loans available to us, different types of financial instruments that might be available to us. So the key is operational performance, revenue growth, EBITDA growth and which will provide various Levers that we might be able to pull on.

Speaker 1

Got it. Okay.

Speaker 4

Great. Thank you.

Speaker 2

Sure.

Operator

Thank you, George. There are no additional questions waiting at this time. So I'll pass the call back over to Jason Koehnauer for any closing remarks.

Speaker 1

Thank you very much and thank you to everybody for joining us on the call today and for your continued interest in Calab. We look forward to speaking with you during our Q3 earnings call. Operator, you may now disconnect the call.

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Key Takeaways

  • Q2 revenue was $61.7 million, down 15% year-over-year and below guidance due to ongoing inventory rebalancing and competitive pressures among telematics service provider customers.
  • Q2 adjusted EBITDA reached $5.9 million (9.5% margin) and operating cash flow was $7.1 million, driven by cost‐savings initiatives and streamlined operations.
  • The company launched an integrated electronic logging device (ELD) for compliance workflows and began commercial shipments of the Vision 2.0 dash cam, both aimed at boosting ARPU and gross margins.
  • Its international connected-car business posted strong performance in Europe with major OEMs and rental customers, and is expected to drive consistent, profitable growth into new markets.
  • An interim CEO is leading the company through a permanent CEO search and strategic review, with EBITDA improvement and cash flow generation prioritized to refinance a $230 million convertible note due August 2025.
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Earnings Conference Call
CalAmp Q2 2024
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