Twitter

Link your Twitter Account to Market Wire News


When you linking your Twitter Account Market Wire News Trending Stocks news and your Portfolio Stocks News will automatically tweet from your Twitter account.


Be alerted of any news about your stocks and see what other stocks are trending.



home / news releases / MLNK - MeridianLink Reports Third Quarter 2023 Results


MLNK - MeridianLink Reports Third Quarter 2023 Results

Revenue of $76.5 million grows 7% year-over-year driven by lending software solutions revenue of $58.9 million, reflecting growth of 12% year-over-year

MeridianLink, Inc. (NYSE: MLNK), a leading provider of modern software platforms for financial institutions and consumer reporting agencies, today announced financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2023.

“Q3 was another solid quarter of execution, and the strategic key drivers of our business continue to yield consistent performance,” said Nicolaas Vlok, chief executive officer of MeridianLink. “We are continuously improving MeridianLink® One through product innovation and value-added partner integrations. In addition, we have a talented Go-to-Market team capturing strong demand as financial institutions invest in enhancing the consumer experience through improving their digital capabilities.”

Quarterly Financial Highlights:

  • Revenue of $76.5 million, an increase of 7% year-over-year
  • Lending software solutions revenue of $58.9 million, an increase of 12% year-over-year
  • Operating income of $5.6 million, or 7% of revenue, and non-GAAP operating income of $14.0 million, or 18% of revenue
  • Net loss of $(2.1) million, or (3)% of revenue, and adjusted EBITDA of $29.8 million, or 39% of revenue
  • Cash flows from operations of $21.3 million, or 28% of revenue, and free cash flow of $18.8 million, or 25% of revenue

Business and Operating Highlights:

  • MeridianLink® captured strong demand for MeridianLink One, as demonstrated by an impressive roster of new logo and cross-sell wins, including a solid bookings quarter in mortgage lending.
  • The Company launched its new point-of-sale solution, MeridianLink® Access, for MeridianLink® Consumer and MeridianLink® Mortgage, to provide enhanced configurability and a more personalized consumer experience.
  • MeridianLink continued to innovate in the data and analytics space by launching MeridianLink® Data Connect, a solution that brings transactional data in-house for the customer to gain more insightful reporting, and expanding MeridianLink® Insight, our business intelligence tool, to integrate with MeridianLink® Engage and MeridianLink® Collect.
  • The Company integrated with a variety of leading partner solutions such as Experian’s Verify™ and PowerCurve®, designed to automate loan approvals and decisioning, as well as Cox Automotive’s Dealertrack®, a comprehensive suite of indirect lending solutions for the auto industry’s largest dealer-lender network.

Business Outlook

Based on information as of today, November 1, 2023, the Company issues fourth quarter financial guidance and reaffirms full year 2023 financial guidance as follows:

Fourth Quarter Fiscal 2023:

  • Revenue is expected to be in the range of $73.0 million to $77.0 million
  • Adjusted EBITDA is expected to be in the range of $22.0 million to $26.0 million

Full Year 2023:

  • Revenue is expected to be in the range of $302.0 million to $306.0 million
  • Adjusted EBITDA is expected to be in the range of $104.0 million to $108.0 million

Conference Call Information

MeridianLink will hold a conference call to discuss our third quarter results today, November 1, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time (5:00 p.m. Eastern Time). The conference call can be accessed by dialing (888) 259-6580 from North America toll-free or the International number of (416) 764-8624 with Conference ID 96695077. A live webcast of the conference call can be accessed from the investor relations page of MeridianLink’s website at ir.meridianlink.com . An archived replay of the webcast will be available at the same website following the conclusion of the call. A telephonic replay will be available until 8:59 p.m. Pacific Time (11:59 p.m. Eastern Time) on Wednesday, November 8, 2023, by dialing (877) 674-7070 from North America or the International number of (416) 764-8692 with Playback Passcode 695077.

About MeridianLink

MeridianLink® (NYSE: MLNK), headquartered in Costa Mesa, California, powers digital lending and account opening for financial institutions and provides data verification solutions for consumer reporting agencies. MeridianLink’s scalable, cloud-based platforms help customers build deeper relationships with consumers through data-driven, personalized experiences across the entire lending life cycle.

MeridianLink enables customers to accelerate revenue growth, reduce risk, and exceed consumer expectations through seamless digital experiences. Its partner marketplace supports hundreds of integrations for tailored innovation. For more than 20 years, MeridianLink has prioritized the democratization of lending for consumers, businesses, and communities.

Learn more at www.meridianlink.com .

Operational Measures Definitions

We reference bookings, which is an internal operational measure of the business. Bookings is defined as the total of the minimum annual contracted value for newly sold capabilities of our software-as-a-service, or SaaS, products over a given time period, inclusive of any corresponding vendor fees owed to Third Parties.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

To supplement the financial measures presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP, we provide certain non-GAAP financial measures, such as adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA margin; non-GAAP operating income (loss); non-GAAP net income (loss); non-GAAP cost of revenue; non-GAAP sales and marketing expenses; non-GAAP research and development expenses; non-GAAP general and administrative expenses; and free cash flow. The presentation of these financial measures is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for, or superior to, financial information prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP. Rather, we believe that these non-GAAP financial measures, when viewed in addition to and not in lieu of our reported GAAP financial results, provide investors with additional meaningful information to assess our financial performance and trends, enable comparison of financial results between periods, and allow for greater transparency with respect to key metrics utilized internally in analyzing and operating our business. The following definitions are provided:

  • Non-GAAP operating income (loss): GAAP operating income (loss), excluding the impact of share-based compensation, employer payroll taxes on employee stock transactions, restructuring related costs, and sponsor and third-party acquisition-related costs.
  • Non-GAAP net income (loss): GAAP net income (loss), excluding the impact of share-based compensation, employer payroll taxes on employee stock transactions, restructuring related costs, sponsor and third-party acquisition-related costs, and the effect of income taxes on non-GAAP items. The effects of income taxes on non-GAAP items reflect a fixed long-term projected tax rate of 24%.

    The Company employs a structural long-term projected non-GAAP income tax rate of 24% for greater consistency across reporting periods, eliminating effects of items not directly related to the Company's operating structure that may vary in size and frequency. This long-term projected non-GAAP income tax rate is determined by analyzing a mix of historical and projected tax filing positions, assumes no additional acquisitions during the projection period, and takes into account various factors, including the Company’s anticipated tax structure, its tax positions in different jurisdictions, and current impacts from key U.S. legislation where the Company operates. We will reevaluate this tax rate, as necessary, for significant events such as significant alterations in the U.S. tax environment, substantial changes in the Company’s geographic earnings mix due to acquisition activity, or other shifts in the Company’s strategy or business operations.
  • Adjusted EBITDA: net income (loss) before interest expense, taxes, depreciation and amortization, share-based compensation expense, employer payroll taxes on employee stock transactions, restructuring related costs, sponsor and third-party acquisition related costs, and deferred revenue reductions from purchase accounting for acquisitions prior to the adoption of ASU 2021-08, “Business Combinations (Topic 805): Accounting for Contract Assets and Contract Liabilities from Contracts with Customers,” which we early adopted on January 1, 2022 on a prospective basis. As of September 30, 2023, the remaining deferred revenue from acquisitions prior to the adoption of ASU 2021-08 was less than $0.1 million, which will be recognized on a straight line basis through December 31, 2023.
  • Non-GAAP cost of revenue: GAAP cost of revenue, excluding the impact of share-based compensation, employer payroll taxes on employee stock transactions, and amortization of developed technology.
  • Non-GAAP operating expenses: GAAP operating expenses, excluding the impact of share-based compensation, employer payroll taxes on employee stock transactions, and depreciation and amortization, as applicable.
  • Free cash flow: GAAP cash flow from operating activities less GAAP purchases of property and equipment (Capital Expenditures) and capitalized costs related to developed technology (Capitalized Software).

Reconciliations to comparable GAAP financial measures are available in the accompanying schedules, which are posted as part of this earnings release on our website. No reconciliation is provided with respect to certain forward-looking non-GAAP financial measures as the GAAP measures are not accessible on a forward-looking basis. We cannot reliably predict all necessary components or their impact to reconcile such financial measures without unreasonable effort. The events necessitating a non-GAAP adjustment are inherently unpredictable and may have a significant impact on our future GAAP financial results.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains, and our above-referenced conference call and webcast will contain, statements which are not historical facts and are considered forward-looking within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Generally, these statements can be identified by the use of words such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “may,” “plans,” “projects,” “seeks,” “should,” “will,” and variations of such words or similar expressions, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Further, statements describing our strategy, outlook, guidance, plans, intentions, or goals are also forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements reflect our predictions, expectations, or forecasts, including, but not limited to, statements regarding, and guidance with respect to, our strategy, our future financial and operational performance, future economic and market conditions, our strategic initiatives, including anticipated benefits and integration of an acquisition, our stock repurchase program, including the execution and amount of repurchases, our restructuring plan, including expected associated timing, benefits, and costs, our ability to retain and attract customers and product partners, potential losses related to any commercial disputes, our development or delivery of new or enhanced solutions and anticipated results of those solutions for our customers, our ability to effectively implement, integrate, and service our customers, our market size and growth opportunities, our competitive positioning, projected costs, technological capabilities and plans, and objectives of management. Actual results may differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements and will be affected by a variety of risks and factors that are beyond our control including, without limitation, risks related to our business and industry, as well as those set forth in Item 1A. Risk Factors, or elsewhere, in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the most recently ended fiscal year, any updates in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed for periods subsequent to such Form 10-K, and our other SEC filings. These forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions as of the date hereof. The plans, intentions, or expectations disclosed in our forward-looking statements may not be achieved, and you should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. We undertake no obligation, other than as required by applicable law, to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(unaudited)

(in thousands, except share and per share data)

As of

September 30, 2023

December 31, 2022

Assets

Current assets:

Cash and cash equivalents

$

97,560

$

55,780

Accounts receivable, net

33,996

32,905

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

12,640

9,447

Escrow deposit

30,000

Total current assets

144,196

128,132

Property and equipment, net

3,651

4,245

Right of use assets

1,407

2,185

Intangible assets, net

262,791

297,475

Deferred tax assets, net

18,201

13,939

Goodwill

609,333

608,657

Other assets

5,738

4,524

Total assets

$

1,045,317

$

1,059,157

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

Current liabilities:

Accounts payable

$

4,847

$

1,249

Accrued liabilities

34,159

32,500

Deferred revenue

26,694

16,945

Current portion of long-term debt, net of debt issuance costs

3,548

3,505

Total current liabilities

69,248

54,199

Long-term debt, net of debt issuance costs

420,921

423,404

Long-term deferred revenue

692

1,141

Other long-term liabilities

690

1,322

Total liabilities

491,551

480,066

Commitments and contingencies

Stockholders’ Equity

Preferred stock, $0.001 par value; 50,000,000 shares authorized; zero shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022

Common stock, $0.001 par value; 600,000,000 shares authorized, 79,627,213 and 80,644,452 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively

130

128

Additional paid-in capital

644,854

621,396

Accumulated deficit

(91,218

)

(42,433

)

Total stockholders’ equity

553,766

579,091

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

$

1,045,317

$

1,059,157

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations

(unaudited)

(in thousands, except share and per share data)

Three Months Ended September 30,

Nine Months Ended September 30,

2023

2022

2023

2022

Revenues, net

$

76,488

$

71,754

$

229,038

$

217,495

Cost of revenues:

Subscription and services

22,488

23,812

69,973

68,292

Amortization of developed technology

4,524

4,003

13,488

11,287

Total cost of revenues

27,012

27,815

83,461

79,579

Gross profit

49,476

43,939

145,577

137,916

Operating expenses:

General and administrative

23,218

21,423

70,182

60,416

Research and development

11,248

11,518

36,814

30,414

Sales and marketing

9,441

6,311

26,212

16,519

Acquisition related costs

163

2,549

Restructuring related costs

3,621

Total operating expenses

43,907

39,415

136,829

109,898

Operating income

5,569

4,524

8,748

28,018

Other (income) expense, net:

Interest and other income

(1,342

)

(327

)

(2,596

)

(706

)

Interest expense

9,780

6,855

28,127

16,649

Total other expense, net

8,438

6,528

25,531

15,943

(Loss) income before (benefit from) provision for income taxes

(2,869

)

(2,004

)

(16,783

)

12,075

(Benefit from) provision for income taxes

(800

)

890

(3,818

)

5,318

Net (loss) income

$

(2,069

)

$

(2,894

)

$

(12,965

)

$

6,757

Net (loss) income per share:

Basic

$

(0.03

)

$

(0.04

)

$

(0.16

)

$

0.08

Diluted

$

(0.03

)

$

(0.04

)

$

(0.16

)

$

0.08

Weighted average common stock outstanding:

Basic

81,073,915

80,659,320

80,883,310

80,353,399

Diluted

81,073,915

80,659,320

80,883,310

82,364,835

Net Revenues by Major Source

(unaudited)

(in thousands)

Three Months Ended September 30,

Nine Months Ended September 30,

2023

2022

2023

2022

Subscription fees

$

64,613

$

61,861

$

194,788

$

188,860

Professional services

8,706

7,293

26,143

21,070

Other

3,169

2,600

8,107

7,565

Total

$

76,488

$

71,754

$

229,038

$

217,495

Net Revenues by Solution Type

(unaudited)

(in thousands)

Three Months Ended September 30,

Nine Months Ended September 30,

2023

2022

2023

2022

Lending software solutions

$

58,949

$

52,414

$

172,728

$

153,249

Data verification software solutions

17,539

19,340

56,310

64,246

Total (1)

$

76,488

$

71,754

$

229,038

$

217,495

% Growth attributable to:

Lending software solutions

9

%

9

%

Data verification software

(3

)%

(4

)%

Total % growth

7

%

6

%

(1) % Revenue related to mortgage loan market:

Lending software solutions

12

%

6

%

12

%

7

%

Data verification software

57

%

62

%

60

%

66

%

Total % revenue related to mortgage loan market

22

%

21

%

24

%

24

%

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(unaudited)

(in thousands)

Nine Months Ended September 30,

2023

2022

Cash flows from operating activities:

Net (loss) income

$

(12,965

)

$

6,757

Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash provided by operating activities:

Depreciation and amortization

43,388

39,746

Provision for expected credit losses

627

Amortization of debt issuance costs

897

1,705

Share-based compensation expense

22,216

16,501

Loss on disposal of property and equipment

164

Deferred income taxes

(4,507

)

5,193

Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:

Accounts receivable

(1,726

)

(6,964

)

Prepaid expenses and other assets

(4,595

)

(2,480

)

Accounts payable

3,632

(450

)

Accrued liabilities

(782

)

(247

)

Deferred revenue

9,301

7,472

Net cash provided by operating activities

55,486

67,235

Cash flows from investing activities:

Acquisition, net of cash acquired – Beanstalk Networks L.L.C.

326

Acquisition, net of cash and restricted cash acquired – StreetShares, Inc.

(23,138

)

Return (payment) of escrow deposit

30,000

(30,000

)

Funds payable in connection with former business combination

1,219

Capitalized software additions

(7,004

)

(6,323

)

Purchases of property and equipment

(347

)

(889

)

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities

24,194

(60,350

)

Cash flows from financing activities:

Repurchases of common stock

(35,660

)

(262

)

Proceeds from exercise of stock options

1,633

186

Proceeds from employee stock purchase plan

793

922

Taxes paid related to net share settlement of restricted stock units

(1,403

)

(184

)

Principal payments of debt

(3,263

)

(2,175

)

Payment of Regulation A+ investor note

(3,265

)

Net cash used in financing activities

(37,900

)

(4,778

)

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

41,780

2,107

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

55,780

113,645

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

$

97,560

$

115,752

Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:

Cash paid for interest

$

27,498

$

14,852

Cash paid for income taxes

2,610

1,179

Non-cash investing and financing activities:

Shares withheld with respect to net settlement of restricted stock units

$

1,403

$

184

Purchase price allocation adjustment for BeanStalk Networks acquisition

757

Purchases of property and equipment included in accounts payable and accrued liabilities

611

2

Purchase price allocation adjustment related to income tax effects for StreetShares acquisition

245

Share-based compensation expense capitalized to software additions

219

255

Excise taxes payable included in repurchases of common stock

162

Vesting of restricted stock awards and restricted stock units

4

40

Regulation A+ investor note assumed in business combination

3,265

Initial recognition of operating lease liabilities

3,786

Initial recognition of operating lease right-of-use assets

3,096

Reconciliation from GAAP to Non-GAAP Results

(unaudited)

(in thousands, except share and per share data)

Three Months Ended September 30,

Nine Months Ended September 30,

2023

2022

2023

2022

Operating income

$

5,569

$

4,524

$

8,748

$

28,018

Add: Share-based compensation expense

8,322

7,253

22,879

16,501

Add: Employer payroll taxes on employee stock transactions

150

182

598

329

Add: Restructuring related costs

3,621

Add: Sponsor and third-party acquisition related costs

163

2,549

Non-GAAP operating income

$

14,041

$

12,122

$

35,846

$

47,397

Operating margin

7

%

6

%

4

%

13

%

Non-GAAP operating margin

18

%

17

%

16

%

22

%

Three Months Ended September 30,

Nine Months Ended September 30,

2023

2022

2023

2022

Net (loss) income

$

(2,069

)

$

(2,894

)

$

(12,965

)

$

6,757

Add: Share-based compensation expense

8,322

7,253

22,879

16,501

Add: Employer payroll taxes on employee stock transactions

150

182

598

329

Add: Restructuring related costs

3,621

Add: Sponsor and third-party acquisition related costs

163

2,549

Add: Income tax effect on non-GAAP items

2,033

1,824

6,503

4,651

Non-GAAP net income

$

8,436

$

6,528

$

20,636

$

30,787

Non-GAAP basic net income per share

$

0.10

$

0.08

$

0.26

$

0.38

Non-GAAP diluted net income per share

$

0.10

$

0.08

$

0.25

$

0.37

Weighted average shares used to compute Non-GAAP basic net income per share

81,073,915

80,659,320

80,883,310

80,353,399

Weighted average shares used to compute Non-GAAP diluted net income per share

83,716,804

82,543,631

83,331,901

82,364,835

Net (loss) income margin

(3

)%

(4

)%

(6

)%

3

%

Non-GAAP net income margin

11

%

9

%

9

%

14

%

Three Months Ended September 30,

Nine Months Ended September 30,

2023

2022

2023

2022

Net (loss) income

$

(2,069

)

$

(2,894

)

$

(12,965

)

$

6,757

Interest expense

9,780

6,855

28,127

16,649

Taxes

(800

)

890

(3,818

)

5,318

Depreciation and amortization

14,433

13,370

43,388

39,746

Share-based compensation expense

8,322

7,253

22,879

16,501

Employer payroll taxes on employee stock transactions

150

182

598

329

Restructuring related costs

3,621

Sponsor and third-party acquisition related costs

163

2,549

Deferred revenue reduction from purchase accounting for acquisitions prior to 2022

19

60

58

179

Adjusted EBITDA

$

29,835

$

25,879

$

81,888

$

88,028

Net (loss) income margin

(3

)%

(4

)%

(6

)%

3

%

Adjusted EBITDA margin

39

%

36

%

36

%

40

%

Reconciliation from GAAP to Non-GAAP Results

(unaudited)

(in thousands)

Three Months Ended September 30,

Nine Months Ended September 30,

2023

2022

2023

2022

Cost of revenue

$

27,012

$

27,815

$

83,461

$

79,579

Less: Share-based compensation expense

910

1,352

2,919

3,567

Less: Employer payroll taxes on employee stock transactions

26

67

135

121

Less: Amortization of developed technology

4,524

4,003

13,488

11,287

Non-GAAP cost of revenue

$

21,552

$

22,393

$

66,919

$

64,604

Cost of revenue as a % of revenue

35

%

39

%

36

%

37

%

Non-GAAP cost of revenue as a % of revenue

28

%

31

%

29

%

30

%

Three Months Ended September 30,

Nine Months Ended September 30,

2023

2022

2023

2022

General and administrative

$

23,218

$

21,423

$

70,182

$

60,416

Less: Share-based compensation expense

4,443

3,170

11,938

6,947

Less: Employer payroll taxes on employee stock transactions

59

42

217

74

Less: Depreciation expense

490

577

1,480

1,718

Less: Amortization of intangibles

9,419

8,790

28,420

26,741

Non-GAAP general & administrative

$

8,807

$

8,844

$

28,127

$

24,936

General and administrative as a % of revenue

30

%

30

%

31

%

28

%

Non-GAAP general and administrative as a % of revenue

12

%

12

%

12

%

11

%

Three Months Ended September 30,

Nine Months Ended September 30,

2023

2022

2023

2022

Research and development

$

11,248

$

11,518

$

36,814

$

30,414

Less: Share-based compensation expense

1,709

2,092

5,368

4,457

Less: Employer payroll taxes on employee stock transactions

38

56

163

97

Non-GAAP research and development

$

9,501

$

9,370

$

31,283

$

25,860

Research and development as a % of revenue

15

%

16

%

16

%

14

%

Non-GAAP research and development as a % of revenue

12

%

13

%

14

%

12

%

Three Months Ended September 30,

Nine Months Ended September 30,

2023

2022

2023

2022

Sales and marketing

$

9,441

$

6,311

$

26,212

$

16,519

Less: Share-based compensation expense

1,260

639

2,654

1,530

Less: Employer payroll taxes on employee stock transactions

27

17

83

37

Non-GAAP sales and marketing

$

8,154

$

5,655

$

23,475

$

14,952

Sales and marketing as a % of revenue

12

%

9

%

11

%

8

%

Non-GAAP sales and marketing as a % of revenue

11

%

8

%

10

%

7

%

Three Months Ended September 30,

Nine Months Ended September 30,

2023

2022

2023

2022

Net cash provided by operating activities

$

21,301

$

19,565

$

55,486

$

67,235

Less: Capitalized software

2,442

2,244

7,004

6,323

Less: Capital expenditures

42

409

347

889

Free cash flow

$

18,817

$

16,912

$

48,135

$

60,023

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231101097349/en/

Press Contact
Becky Frost
(714) 784-5839
Media@meridianlink.com

Investor Relations Contact
Gianna Rotellini
(714) 332-6357
InvestorRelations@meridianlink.com

Stock Information

Company Name: MeridianLink Inc.
Stock Symbol: MLNK
Market: NYSE
Website: meridianlink.com

Menu

MLNK MLNK Quote MLNK Short MLNK News MLNK Articles MLNK Message Board
Get MLNK Alerts

News, Short Squeeze, Breakout and More Instantly...