WFCF - Where Food Comes From Inc. Reports 2023 Fourth Quarter and Full Year Financial Results | Benzinga

Fourth Quarter Highlights – 2023 vs. 2022

• Verification and certification revenue up 17% to $5.5 million from $4.7 million
  
• Product sales flat at $0.9 million
• Total revenue up 10% to $6.7 million from $6.1 million
• Net income increased 58% to $776,000 from $490,000
• Diluted EPS increased to $0.14 from $0.08
• Adjusted EBITDA up 31% to $1.3 million from $1.0 million
• Company buys back more than $1.0 million of its stock in Q4

Full-Year Highlights – 2023 vs. 2022

• Verification and certification revenue up 10% to $19.4 million from $17.6 million
• Product sales decline 8% to $4.0 million from $4.4 million
• Total revenue up slightly to $25.1 million from $24.8 million
• Net income increases 8% to $2.2 million from $2.0 million
• Diluted EPS of $0.39 vs. $0.33
• Adjusted EBITDA flat at $3.8 million
• Cash generated from operations increased to $2.8 million from $2.7 million
• Cash & cash equivalents of $2.6 million vs. $4.4 million at 2022 year-end, reflecting impact of $3.9 million in stock buybacks for full year

CASTLE ROCK, Colo., Feb. 15, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Where Food Comes From, Inc. (WFCF) (NASDAQ:WFCF), the most trusted resource for independent, third-party verification of food production practices in North America, today announced financial results for its fourth quarter and full-year ended December 31, 2023.

"We closed the year with a very strong fourth quarter, highlighted by a 17% increase in core verification services revenue and a 58% increase in net income year over year," said John Saunders, chairman and CEO. "This solid performance enabled us to overcome industry headwinds in the form of inflation and cyclical herd contraction and deliver another full year of revenue and profit growth. We are also pleased to report that SG&A expenses were flat for both the fourth quarter and full year, reflecting our continued focus on carefully managing overhead costs. We anticipate macro headwinds will persist in the near future but believe we can offset the impact through continued customer growth, expansion of service offerings and addition of new revenue streams.

"In 2023 we continued to diversify our business mix with a number of transactions and partnerships that give our customers additional options to differentiate and add value to their products," Saunders added. "These moves include multiple seafood initiatives, another exclusive verifier designation and acquisition of the industry's leading upcycled food program. As we continue to expand on what is already the industry's largest solutions set, we widen our competitive moat while affording customers convenience and price advantages through services bundling."

Fourth Quarter Results – 2023 vs. 2022
Total revenue in the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2023, increased 10% to $6.7 million from $6.1 million.

Revenue mix included:

• Verification and certification services, up 17% to $5.5 million from $4.7 million.
• Product revenue, flat at $0.9 million
• Professional services revenue of $0.4 million vs. $0.5 million.
  

Gross profit in the third quarter increased to $3.0 million from $2.8 million.

Selling, general and administrative expense was flat at $2.1 million.

Operating income was 44% higher at $0.9 million vs. $0.6 million.

Net income increased 58% to $776,000, or $0.14 per diluted share, from $490,000, or $0.08 per diluted share.

Adjusted EBITDA in the fourth quarter increased 31% to $1.3 million from $1.0 million.

The Company bought back more than $1.0 million of its common stock in the fourth quarter, or 76,109 shares.

Full Year Results – 2023 vs. 2022
Total revenue for 2023 increased slightly to $25.1 million from $24.8 million in the prior year when the Company booked a $0.9 million non-recurring order.

Revenue mix included:

• Verification and certification services, up 10% to $19.4 million from $17.6 million.
• Product revenue, down 8% to $4.0 million from $4.4 million.
• Professional services revenue of $1.7 million compared to $2.9 million in the prior year due to the aforementioned $0.9 million, non-recurring order from a Japanese government entity.
  

Gross profit for the full year was flat at $10.5 million.

Selling, general and administrative expense was also flat at $7.8 million, reflecting management's commitment to controlling overhead costs.

Operating income was flat at $2.7 million.

Net income for the year increased 8% to $2.2 million, or $0.39 per diluted share, compared to net income of $2.0 million, or $0.33 per diluted share, in the prior year.

Adjusted EBITDA for the year was flat at $3.8 million.

The Company generated $2.8 million in cash from operations in 2023 compared to $2.7 million in 2022.

The cash and cash equivalents balance at December 31, 2023, declined to $2.6 million from $4.4 million at 2022 year-end due primarily to the Company's investment in its share repurchase program. In 2023, the Company bought back more than $3.9 million of its shares.

In 2023, the Company realized $320,000 in dividend income from the Progressive Beef (PB) ownership interest – a 28% increase over $250,000 in PB dividend income in the prior year. Since buying a 10% membership interest in PB in 2018 for $900,000 in cash and 50,340 shares of stock, the Company has earned $1,140,000 in dividends.

The Company will conduct a conference call today at 10:00 a.m. Mountain Time.

Call-in numbers for the conference call:
Domestic Toll Free: 1-877-407-8289
International: 1-201-689-8341
Conference Code: 13744489

Phone replay:
A telephone replay of the conference call will be available through February 29, 2024, as follows:
Domestic Toll Free: 1-877-660-6853
International: 1-201-612-7415
Conference Code: 13744489

About Where Food Comes From, Inc.
Where Food Comes From, Inc. is America's trusted resource for third party verification of food production practices.  Through proprietary technology and patented business processes, the Company estimates that it supports more than 17,500 farmers, ranchers, vineyards, wineries, processors, retailers, distributors, trade associations, consumer brands and restaurants with a wide variety of value-added services. Through its IMI Global, Validus Verification Services, SureHarvest, WFCF Organic, and Postelsia units, Where Food Comes From solutions are used to verify food claims, optimize production practices and enable food supply chains with analytics and data driven insights. In addition, the Company's Where Food Comes From® retail and restaurant labeling program uses web-based customer education tools to connect consumers to the sources of the food they purchase, increasing meaningful consumer engagement for our clients. 

*Note on non-GAAP Financial Measures
This press release and the accompanying tables include a discussion of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA, which are non-GAAP financial measures provided as a complement to the results provided in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"). The term "EBITDA" refers to a financial measure that we define as earnings (net income or loss) plus or minus net interest plus taxes, depreciation and amortization. Adjusted EBITDA excludes from EBITDA stock-based compensation and, when appropriate, other items that management does not utilize in assessing WFCF's operating performance (as further described in the attached financial schedules). None of these non-GAAP financial measures are recognized terms under GAAP and do not purport to be an alternative to net income as an indicator of operating performance or any other GAAP measure. We have reconciled Adjusted EBITDA to GAAP net income in the Consolidated Statements of Income table at the end of this release.   We intend to continue to provide these non-GAAP financial measures as part of our future earnings discussions and, therefore, the inclusion of these non-GAAP financial measures will provide consistency in our financial reporting.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT
This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, based on current expectations, estimates and projections that are subject to risk. Forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain, and actual events could differ materially from the Company's predictions. Important factors that could cause actual events to vary from predictions include those discussed in our SEC filings. Specifically, statements in this news release about industry leadership, expectations for offsetting industry headwinds, ability to continue expanding on the solutions set, widening the competitive moat and providing customers with convenience and price advantages, and demand for, and impact and efficacy of, the Company's products and services on the marketplace are forward-looking statements that are subject to a variety of factors, including availability of capital, personnel and other resources; competition; governmental regulation of the agricultural industry; the market for beef and other commodities; and other factors. Financial results for 2023 and the Company's pace of stock buybacks are not necessarily indicative of future results. Readers should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. The Company assumes no obligation to update its forward-looking statements to reflect new information or developments. For a more extensive discussion of the Company's business, please refer to the Company's SEC filings at www.sec.gov.

Company Contacts:

John Saunders
Chief Executive Officer
303-895-3002

Jay Pfeiffer
Director, Investor Relations
303-880-9000
jpfeiffer@wherefoodcomesfrom.com

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