UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-QSB
(Mark One)
[X] QUARTERLY REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 or 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For
the quarterly period ended March 31, 2006.
[ ] TRANSITION REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE EXCHANGE ACT
For the transition period from _______________ to _______________
Commission file number: 0-23687
STOCKGROUP INFORMATION SYSTEMS INC. |
(Exact name of small business issuer as specified in its charter) |
Colorado | 84-1379282 |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | (IRS Employer Identification No.) |
Suite 500-750 West Pender Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6C 2T7 |
(Address of principal executive offices) |
(604) 331-0995 |
(Issuer's telephone number) |
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report) |
Yes: _X_ No: ___
APPLICABLE ONLY TO ISSUERS INVOLVED IN BANKRUPTCY PROCEEDINGS DURING THE PRECEDING FIVE YEARS
Check whether the registrant filed all documents and reports required to be filed by Section 12, 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the distribution of securities under a plan confirmed by court.
Yes ___ No ___
APPLICABLE ONLY TO CORPORATE
ISSUERS
State the number of shares outstanding of
each of the issuer's classes of common equity, as of the latest practicable
date:
33,522,346 common shares
Transitional Small Business Disclosure
Format (check one):
Yes: ___ No: _X_
Page 1 of 18
Stockgroup Information Systems Inc. | ||
FORM 10-QSB |
||
INDEX |
||
PART I
|
FINANCIAL
INFORMATION |
3 |
Item 1 | Financial Statements (unaudited) | 3 |
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS | 3 | |
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS | 4 | |
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS | 5 | |
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
6 | |
Item 2 | Management's Discussion and Analysis | 10 |
Item 3 | Controls and Procedures | 16 |
PART II | OTHER INFORMATION | 17 |
Item 1 | Legal Proceedings | 17 |
Item 2 | Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds | 17 |
Item 3 | Defaults Upon Senior Securities | 17 |
Item 4 | Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders | 17 |
Item 5 | Other Information | 17 |
Item 6 | Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K | 17 |
SIGNATURE | 18 |
Page 2 of 18
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION | ||||
Item 1. Financial Statements (unaudited) | ||||
Stockgroup Information
Systems Inc. CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (UNAUDITED - Expressed in U.S. Dollars) | ||||
March 31, | December 31, | |||
2006 | 2005 | |||
ASSETS | ||||
CURRENT | ||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 2,070,888 | $ | 2,056,761 |
Marketable securities | 6,641 | 13,559 | ||
Accounts receivable [net of allowances for doubtful | ||||
accounts of $89,323; | ||||
December 31, 2005 $79,982 ] | 810,020 | 760,294 | ||
Prepaid expenses | 123,833 | 120,624 | ||
TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS | $ | 3,011,382 | $ | 2,951,238 |
Property and equipment, net | $ | 445,186 | $ | 338,686 |
|
$ | 3,456,568 | $ | 3,289,924 |
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY | ||||
CURRENT | ||||
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | $ | 859,084 | $ | 788,618 |
Accrued payroll liabilities | 159,125 | 157,570 | ||
Deferred revenue | 870,288 | 745,918 | ||
Capital lease obligations | 97,391 | 63,647 | ||
Income tax payable | 10,000 | 10,000 | ||
TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES | $ | 1,995,888 | $ | 1,765,753 |
Capital lease obligations | 128,960 | 75,233 | ||
TOTAL LIABILITIES |
2,124,848 | 1,840,986 | ||
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (note 5) | ||||
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY (note 2) | ||||
Authorized shares 75,000,000 common shares, no par value | ||||
5,000,000 preferred shares, no par value | ||||
Issued and outstanding - 33,422,296 common shares at | ||||
March 31, 2006; 33,522,296 common shares - December 31, 2005 | $ | 13,319,452 | $ | 13,359,341 |
Additional paid-in capital | 3,240,025 | 3,202,417 | ||
Accumulated deficit | (15,227,757) | (15,112,820) | ||
TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY | $ | 1,331,720 | $ | 1,448,938 |
|
$ | 3,456,568 | $ | 3,289,924 |
The Accompanying Notes Are An Integral
Part
Of
These Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements.
Page 3 of 18
Stockgroup
Information Systems Inc. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED - Expressed in U.S. Dollars) | ||||
Three months | Three Months | |||
Ended | Ended | |||
March 31, | March 31, | |||
2006 | 2005 | |||
REVENUE | ||||
Revenues (note 4) | $ | 1,804,438 | $ | 1,456,675 |
Cost of revenues (note 4) | 520,374 | 270,983 | ||
Gross profit |
$ |
1,284,064 |
$ | 1,185,692 |
EXPENSES |
||||
Sales and marketing | $ | 776,201 | $ | 476,813 |
General and administrative | 633,182 | 699,864 | ||
|
$ | 1,409,383 | $ | 1,176,677 |
INCOME(LOSS) FROM OPERATIONS |
$ | (125,319) | $ | 9,015 |
Interest income |
13,594 | 3,834 | ||
Interest expense | (3,212) | (38) | ||
NET INCOME (LOSS) AND |
||||
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) | $ | (114,937) | $ | 12,811 |
BASIC AND DILUTED INCOME |
||||
(LOSS) PER SHARE | $ | (0.00) | $ | 0.00 |
|
||||
outstanding for the period | 33,423,407 | 33,954,977 | ||
Fully diluted weighted average common shares | ||||
outstanding for the period | 33,423,407 | 35,173,397 |
The Accompanying Notes Are An Integral
Part
Of These Unaudited Consolidated Financial
Statements.
Page 4 of 18
Stockgroup
Information Systems Inc. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED - Expressed in U.S. Dollars) | ||||
Three Months | Three Months | |||
Ended | Ended | |||
March 31, | March 31, | |||
2006 | 2005 | |||
OPERATING ACTIVITIES | ||||
Net income (loss) | $ | (114,937) | $ | 12,811 |
Add non-cash items | ||||
Amortization | 48,034 | 92,756 | ||
Bad debt expense | 42,081 | 22,736 | ||
Stock-based compensation | 25,037 | 16,059 | ||
$ | 215 | $ | 144,362 | |
Net changes in non-cash | ||||
working capital | ||||
Marketable securities | 6,918 | - | ||
Accounts receivable | (91,808) | (136,796) | ||
Prepaid expenses | (3,209) | 35,330 | ||
Accounts payable and | ||||
accrued liabilities | 70,466 | 38,171 | ||
Accrued payroll liabilities | 1,555 | (5,417) | ||
Deferred revenue | 124,370 | 126,369 | ||
CASH PROVIDED BY | ||||
OPERATING ACTIVITIES | $ | 108,507 | $ | 202,019 |
INVESTING ACTIVITIES | ||||
Property and equipment (net) | $ | (47,834) | $ | (18,761) |
CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES | $ | (47,834) | $ | (18,761) |
FINANCING ACTIVITIES | ||||
Repurchase of common stock | $ | (27,318) | $ | - |
Proceeds on exercise of warrants | - | 5,478 | ||
Proceeds on exercise | ||||
of stock options | - | 9,163 | ||
Repayment of capital lease obligations | (19,228) | - | ||
CASH PROVIDED BY | ||||
(USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES | $ | (46,546) | $ | 14,641 |
INCREASE IN CASH | ||||
AND CASH EQUIVALENTS | $ | 14,127 | $ | 197,899 |
Cash and cash equivalents, | ||||
beginning of period | 2,056,761 | 1,837,012 | ||
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, | ||||
END OF PERIOD | $ | 2,070,888 | $ | 2,034,911 |
Supplemental Cash Flow Information | ||||
Interest Paid | 4,533 | - | ||
The Accompanying Notes Are An Integral
Part
Of These Unaudited
Consolidated Financial Statements.
Page 5 of 18
Stockgroup Information Systems
Inc.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS
For the three months ended March
31, 2006
(UNAUDITED)
1. NATURE OF BUSINESS AND BASIS OF
PRESENTATION
Stockgroup Information Systems Inc. (the Company) provides various financial market data, software, tools, and content to its customers in media, corporate, and financial services. In addition, the Company provides advertising services and automated investor disclosure tools to companies through its Web site properties, including StockHouse.com, and through hosted services to its customers Web sites. All services are delivered via the Internet.
The Company was incorporated under the laws of Colorado on December 6, 1994.
The accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements have been prepared by management in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-QSB and Item 310(b) of Regulation S-B. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles for annual financial statements and should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and footnotes thereto included in the Companys annual report on Form 10-KSB for the year ended December 31, 2005. In the opinion of management, the adjustments considered necessary for fair presentation, all of which are of a normal and recurring nature have been included in these consolidated financial statements. Operating results for the three-month period ended March 31, 2006 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ended December 31, 2006 or for other subsequent interim periods.
Certain comparative period figures have been reclassified to conform to the current basis of presentation.
2. SHARE CAPITAL
The Company is authorized to issue up to 75,000,000 shares of common stock and 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock.
Issues of common shares for the three-month period ended March 31, 2006 are summarized as follows:
During the quarter ended March 31, 2006, 100,000 shares of common stock were repurchased by the Company. These were purchased for the prices ranging from C$0.32 and C$0.33 per share, for gross costs of C$32,913 ($27,318 US).
Stock Options
The Company's 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, and 2003 Stock Option Plans (collectively the "Plans") authorize a total of 5,186,975 shares of common stock for issuance. Activity under the Plans is set forth below.
Options Outstanding | ||||
|
Shares Available For Grant # |
Number of Shares # |
Price Per Share $ |
Weighted Average Exercise Price $ |
Balance at December 31, 2005 | 955,075 | 4,129,400 | $0.12 - $0.59 | $0.26 |
Options granted | (285,000) | 285,000 | $0.285 - $0.32 | $0.31 |
Options exercised | - | - | - | - |
Options forfeited | 230,000 | (230,000) | $0.31 - $0.32 | $0.32 |
Balance at March 31, 2006 | 900,075 | 4,184,400 | $0.12 - $0.59 | $0.26 |
The Company discontinued the granting of options under the 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002 Stock Option Plans in December 2002. Options outstanding under these Plans continue to be exercisable as vested until exercised or forfeited, and if forfeited, they are no longer available for future grants. Stock options forfeited under the 2003 Plan are available for future grants.
Page 6 of 18
3. ACCOUNTING FOR STOCK-BASED
COMPENSATION
On January 1, 2006, the Company adopted the fair value recognition provisions of FASB Statement No. 123(R) Share-Based Payment, using the modified-prospective-transition method. Under that transition method, compensation cost recognized in the three-month period ended March 31, 2006 includes (a) compensation cost for all share-based payments granted prior to, but not yet vested as of December 31, 2005, based on the grant date fair value estimated in accordance with the original provisions of Statement 123, and (b) compensation cost for all share-based payment granted subsequent to January 1, 2006, based on the grant-date fair value estimated in accordance with the provisions of 123(R). Results for prior periods have not been restated. Previously, the Company measured compensation expense for all of its Plans using the intrinsic value method prescribed by Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees (APB 25) and related interpretations and complied with the disclosure provisions of Statement of Accounting Standards No. 123 Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation (SFAS 123), as amended by Statement of Accounting Standards No. 148, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation Transition and Disclosure an amendment of FASB Statement No. 123 (SFAS 148). No stock-based employee compensation cost was recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three-month period ended March 31, 2005.
As FAS123(R) requires that stock-based compensation expense be based on awards that are ultimately expected to vest, stock-based compensation expense for the three-month period ended March 31, 2006 has considerations for estimated forfeitures. When estimating forfeitures, the Company considers voluntary termination behavior as well as trends of actual option forfeitures.
Impact of the Adoption of FAS
123(R)
As a result of adopting Statement 123(R) on January 1, 2006, by using the modified prospective method, the Companys net loss for the three-month period ended March 31, 2006, are $25,037 more, than if it had continued to account for share-based compensation under APB 25. Basic and diluted earnings per share for the three-month period ended March 31, 2006 would have remained at $(0.00), if the Company had not adopted Statement 123(R). The $25,037 stock based compensation expense is a part of general and administrative expenses.
Valuation Assumptions
The fair value of the Companys stock-based awards granted to employees for the three-month period ended March 31, 2006 and 2005 were estimated using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model.
The fair value of each option award is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model that used the assumptions noted in the following table:
For the three months ended March 31 | ||
2006 | 2005 | |
Expected life (in years) | 5 years | 5 years |
Exercise Price | As at grant | As at grant |
date | date | |
Risk-free interest rate | 4.11% | 3.70% |
Expected volatility | 0.55% | 0.74% |
Dividend yields | 0% | 0% |
Computation of expected volatility for the period ended March 31, 2006, is based on historical computations of expected volatility. The computation of expected life is based on the average expected life of all outstanding stock options taking into consideration past employee behavior. The risk free interest rates used in the valuations of the fair value are based on risk free bond rates of similar time periods as the expected life of the stock options. Stock option expense, as required under FAS 123(R), is adjusted by an estimate for forfeitures. The Company has calculated its forfeitures estimate based on historical forfeiture rates.
Stock-based Payment Award
Activity
A summary of option activity under the Plans as of March 31, 2006 and changes during the three-month period ended is presented below:
Page 7 of 18
Options |
Shares |
Weighted Average Exercise Price |
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term (in years) |
Aggregate Intrinsic Value |
Outstanding at January 1, 2006 | 4,129,400 | $0.26 | ||
Granted | 285,000 | $0.31 | ||
Forfeited | (230,000) | $0.32 | ||
Outstanding at March 31, 2006 | 4,184,400 | $0.26 | 1.96 | $395,717 |
Vested and exercisable at March 31, 2006 | 3,427,300 | $0.25 | 1.96 | $366,746 |
The aggregate intrinsic value is calculated as the difference between the exercise price of the underlying awards and the quoted price of the Companys common stock for the 3,427,300 options that were in-the-money at March 31, 2006. The weighted-average grant date fair value of options granted during the three-month period ended March 31, 2006 and 2005 was $0.31 and $0.39, respectively.
A summary of the status of the Companys nonvested shares as of March 31, 2006 and changes during the three-month period ended March 31, 2006 is presented below:
Nonvested Shares | Shares | Weighted Average Grant-Date Fair Value |
Nonvested at January 1, 2006 | 963,263 | $0.19 |
Granted | 285,000 | 0.17 |
Vested | (261,163) | 0.19 |
Forfeited | (230,000) | 0.17 |
Nonvested at March 31, 2006 | 757,100 | 0.18 |
As of March 31, 2006, there was $137,792 of total unrecognized compensation cost related to nonvested share-based compensation arrangements granted under the Plans. That cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.96 years. The total fair value of shares vested during the three-month period ended March 31, 2006 was $50,666.
Page 8 of 18
Pro forma Information for Prior
Periods
The following is pro forma information from the quarter ended March 31, 2005:
For the three | ||
months ended | ||
March 31, | ||
2005 | ||
Net income | ||
- as reported | $ | 12,811 |
Deduct: Stock-based | ||
employee compensation | ||
expense determined | ||
under the fair value- | ||
based method | ||
for all awards | (53,672) | |
Net loss | ||
- pro forma | $ | (40,861) |
Basic and diluted loss per share | ||
As reported | $ | 0.00 |
Pro forma | 0.00 | |
SFAS No. 131, Disclosure about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information, requires a public business enterprise to report financial and descriptive information about its reportable operating segments. The Company has concluded that its business activities fall into one identifiable business segment with the following sources of revenue:
For the three months ended | ||||
March 31, | March 31, | |||
(in thousands) | 2006 | 2005 | ||
Financial Software | ||||
and Content Systems | $ | 853 | $ | 606 |
Advertising Services | 951 | 851 | ||
$ | 1,804 | $ | 1,457 |
During the three-months ended March 31, 2006 and 2005, no customers represented greater than 10% of total revenue. No customers constituted account receivables greater than 10% of total accounts receivable at March 31, 2006 and 2005.
In the normal course of business, the Company entered into a non-monetary transaction with a bandwidth provider on March 27, 2003, in which the Company received bandwidth in exchange for advertising services on the Companys Web sites. The non-monetary transaction resulted in revenue of $0 for the three-months ended March 31, 2006 [March 31, 2005 $13,695] with a corresponding expense included in cost of revenues in each period. The non-monetary pricing was at fair market prices based on equivalent services paid for in cash during the same period. No other non-monetary transactions occurred in the three-month periods ended March 31, 2006 and 2005.
5. COMMITMENTS AND
CONTINGENCIES
The Company is currently involved in litigation with a customer to collect amounts owing pursuant to a contract entered into in September 2000. The defendant provided a C$100,000 deposit and contracted the Company to provide certain lead generation services. The Company delivered the requested services throughout October and November 2000, however, the defendant defaulted on all additional payments. The Company is suing the defendant for the C$351,800 balance owing, plus interest and costs. The defendant has filed a statement of defense and counterclaim to recover the C$100,000 deposit. As of December 31, 2004, no further action had been taken by either party and no court date has been set. Although management currently believes the outcome of the
Page 9 of 18
litigation will be in the Companys favor, it has not elected to aggressively pursue the litigation at this time. The Company has made no provision for the counterclaim in the financial statements and any settlement or final award will be reflected in the statement of operations as the litigation is resolved.
The Company has been named as a defendant in a lawsuit in Saskatchewan Court of Queens Bench by plaintiffs Black Strap Hospitality, Harold Lane and Derek Neis. The plaintiffs have brought the action seeking damages for defamation in the amount of C$100,000 plus pre-judgment interest. The alleged defamation was caused by certain members of the Companys Bull Boards investment discussion forum on www.stockhouse.com/ca. The Company has responded to the action by providing, under court order, information on the Bull Boards members specified in the court order. The Company expects to be released from this litigation without incurring significant expense.
The Company is currently involved in litigation with a vendor to recover approximately C$471,000 in unused advertising credits which were prepaid in 1999. The case is currently pending final resolution and there is considerable uncertainty as to what value, if any, will be derived if the Company wins the lawsuit. No provision has been made for recovery of these credits in the financial statements in any year.
In addition, the Company is subject to various other legal matters in the ordinary course of business. It is not possible at this time to predict with any certainty the outcome of such litigation. Management believes that the ultimate resolution of these matters would not have a material effect on the Companys financial position or results of operations.
6. ACCOUNTING FOR AND DISCLOSURE OF GUARANTEES
The Company from time-to-time enters into certain types of contracts that contingently require the Company to indemnify parties against third party claims. These contracts primarily relate to: (i) service agreements, under which the Company may be required to indemnify clients for liabilities relating to data transmission and dissemination; and (ii) certain agreements with the Companys officers, directors and employees and third parties, under which the Company may be required to indemnify such persons for liabilities arising out of their duties to the Company.
The Company regularly enters into service level agreements with clients, under which the Company guarantees consistent streaming of data within certain pre-defined tolerances.
The terms of such obligations vary. Generally, a maximum obligation is not explicitly stated. Because the obligated amounts of these types of agreements often are not explicitly stated, the overall maximum amount of the obligations cannot be reasonably estimated. Historically, the Company has not been obligated to make significant payments for these obligations, and no liabilities have been recorded for these obligations on its balance sheet as of March 31, 2006.
Item 2. Management's Discussion and
Analysis
This report includes forward-looking statements relating to, among other things, projections of future results of operations, our plans, objectives and expectations regarding our future services and operations and general industry and business conditions applicable to us. We have based these forward-looking statements on our current expectations and projections about future events. You can find many of these forward-looking statements by looking for words such as "may", "should", "believes", "expects", "anticipates", "estimates", "intends", "projects", "goals", "objectives", or similar expressions in this document or in documents incorporated herein. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions about us that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. Such risks, uncertainties and assumptions include, but are not limited to, the factors that we describe in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in the Form 10-KSB for the year ended December 31, 2005. We claim the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS THREE-MONTH PERIODS ENDED MARCH 31, 2006 AND MARCH 31, 2005
The Companys services can be categorized into two areas: (i) Financial Software and Content Systems and (ii) Advertising Services. There are basic commonalities between the two segments. All of our services relate to the financial markets and all of our services are currently delivered over the Internet.
Much of our sales are driven by popular interest in the stock markets. Our Financial Software and Content Systems business is driven by the demand for market information by our clients customers. Our Advertising Services are in greater demand when there is greater overall demand for online advertising across all industries. Our audience levels on our StockHouse Web site are closely correlated with the popularity of the stock market. We believe that greater audience levels on StockHouse will translate into larger advertising revenues for us over the long term.
Page 10 of 18
The Internet is the delivery vehicle for all of our products. We believe the Internet has not yet reached maturity and continues to reach new levels of sophistication. Increasing numbers of people are using the Internet as a source of stock market information. As a result, financial content is becoming an expected standard offering for media and financial services companies. Our Financial Software and Content Systems clients, including large news Web sites, brokerages, banks, and other media are encountering competitive pressures to improve their financial content offering. This market expansion has driven demand for our services and has resulted in continued sales growth over the past 12 months.
Revenue
Revenue Summary (in thousands) | ||||
2006 | 2005 | Change ($) | Change (%) | |
For the three months ended March 31 | ||||
Breakdown of major categories: |
||||
Financial Software and Content | 853 | 606 | 247 | +40.8 % |
Advertising Services | 951 | 851 | 100 | +11.8% |
Total revenues | $1,804 | $1,457 | $347 | +23.8 % |
Financial Software and Content Systems (FSCS) revenue has grown by 40.8% when comparing the three-months ended March 31, 2006 to the three-months ended March 31, 2005. The growth is attributable to a growing number of monthly agreements, renewals of existing agreements, and the expansion of our services to existing clients. Existing clients have been adding new and current products to their websites.
Advertising Services revenue includes general advertising on StockHouse and our specialty advertising products such as our investor relations and marketing packages. The increase of 11.8% between the three-months ended March 31, 2006 and 2005 is due in part to an increased number of clients purchasing specialty advertising products such as our investor relations and marketing packages throughout that period. These products target specific investors in order to maximize client exposure to potential investors. We have developed a certain level of access to the investment community through our StockHouse Web site. Our access and StockHouse brand name give us the ability to provide a range of advertising services for companies. This exposure is highly valued, and is normally sold as a comprehensive monthly program that gives the client sustained and multi-faceted exposure to potential investors. The increase is attributable to an increased market size for online advertising in general on the Stockhouse website. The Company also has launched a new real-time streaming product called StockStream. This product has now started to generate revenue and will continue to increase as we introduce the product to a larger market.
Cost of Revenues and Gross Profit | ||||
Cost of Revenues and Gross Profit Summary | ||||
(in thousands) | 2006 | 2005 | Change ($) | Change (%) |
For the 3 months ended March 31 |
||||
Total cost of revenue | $ 520 | $271 | $249 | +92% |
Gross profit | 1,284 | 1,186, | 98 | +8% |
Gross margin | 71% | 81% |
Our cost of revenues consists of bandwidth, data feeds, and other direct product costs. Bandwidth costs are correlated with changes in our StockHouse and Financial Software and Content Systems traffic, both of which have increased from the three-months ended March 31, 2005 as compared to the three-months ended March 31, 2006.
Data feed providers, including vendors, exchanges and indices, have in the last year seen the increased value of their content. These providers want to capture this value and are requiring that the purchasers of this content track the dissemination of the proprietary data and remit a user fee. These data costs have increased and therefore have added to the cost of revenue. Cost of revenues has increased by 92% compared with the same period last year. Technological advances, improved systems and clearer interpretation by the vendors are allowing the Company to estimate the increased cost for purchasing and disseminating data. Recovery of data fees will be reported as revenue.
Page 11 of 18
Gross profit has increased by 8% compared to the quarter ended March 31, 2005. This is primarily due to the increase in costs of securing quality data and increased usage fees.
Operating Expenses
Operating Expense Summary | ||||
(in thousands) | 2006 | 2005 | Change ($) | Change (%) |
For the 3 months ended March 31 |
||||
Breakdown: |
||||
Sales and marketing | 776 | 477 | 299 | + 63 % |
General and administrative | 633 | 700 | (67) | - 10% |
Total operating expenses | $1,409 | $1,177 | $232 | + 20 % |
Total operating expenses increased by 20% compared to the same period in 2005. These increases were expected as we are expanding the Company and increasing marketing activities.
Sales and marketing expenses increased by 63% for the three-months ended March 31, 2006 when compared with the same period in 2005. The increase in sales and marketing expenses from the comparative three-months ended March 31, 2005 is primarily due to an overall expansion of the Company and increased spending on marketing staff and marketing activities. In addition, we experienced increased commissions expense due to increased sales.
General and administrative expense decreased by 10% for the three-months ended March 31, 2006 compared to the same period in 2005. The decrease in the current quarter compared to the same period last year is primarily due to the fact that rent expense has decreased and that certain intangible assets are fully amortized. In the first quarter last year the Company paid a settlement of approximately $77,000 to cancel a lease agreement for an old New York office.
The Company allocated increased amounts to sales and marketing expenses from general and administrative expenses due to a more accurate tracking process. The following table shows previously reported operating expenses before applying similar allocations to the comparative period.
Previously reported operating expenses were: | |
|
For the 3 months ended March 31, 2005 |
Sales and marketing | 413 |
General and administrative | 763 |
Total operating expenses | $1,177 |
The Company anticipates that general and administrative expense will increase in the future, as the Company prepares for internal control reporting requirements of section 404 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act.
Page 12 of 18
Interest income (Expenses)
|
||
Interest (Expense) Summary | ||
2006 | 2005 | |
For the 3 months ended March 31 | ||
Total interest (expenses) | $10,382 | $3,796 |
Breakdown: | ||
Interest income | 13,594 | 3,834 |
Cash interest expense | (3,212) | (38) |
We earn interest income from our cash reserves which are held in major banks, either in interest bearing accounts or term deposits. Interest expense for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2006 consists of interest on capital leases.
The net income (loss) for three-months ended March 31, 2006 and 2005 was $(114,937) and $12,811, respectively.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL
RESOURCES
As at March 31, 2006, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $2,070,888, an increase of $14,127 from December 31, 2005. Our cash from (used in) operations for the past 4 quarters is as follows:
(in thousands) | |
Q1 2006 | 121K |
Q4 2005 | (107)K |
Q3 2005 | 205K |
Q2 2005 | 256K |
Our working capital at March 31, 2006 was $1,015,494.1 |
The Company has purchased $102,226 of computer equipment during the first three months of 2006, of which $54,392 is under capital lease.
During 2005 the Company started entering into contracts to lease computer equipment primarily for network servers. These leases generally have a term of three years. These have created capital lease obligations of $226,351 at March 31, 2006, $97,391 of which is due within the next 12 months. As certain of these capital leases, as well as certain other current liabilities are denominated in Canadian dollars, fluctuations in exchange rates with the United States can have an effect on the USD equivalent liabilities. At March 31, 2006, the Company estimates that a Canadian $0.01 increase in the exchange rate of the Canadian dollar relative to the U.S. dollar would have an approximate negative impact of $3,500 on the results of operations for the quarter.
The Companys cash balance is expected to provide enough liquidity to help with the next twelve months of our growth, including acquisition of computer hardware upgrades. There is a risk that our current cash balance will not be adequate for our long term needs, in which case we would need to raise additional financing through equity or debt issues. You should be cautioned that there can be no assurance that revenue, margins, and profitability will increase. There can be no assurance that we will be successful in raising a sufficient amount of additional capital or in internally generating a sufficient amount of capital to meet long-term requirements. We do not expect to declare any cash dividends in the foreseeable future.
ACCOUNTING FOR AND DISCLOSURE OF
GUARANTEES
From time-to-time the Company enters into certain types of contracts that contingently require us to indemnify parties against third party claims. These contracts primarily relate to: (i) service agreements, under which the Company may be required to indemnify clients for liabilities relating to data transmission and dissemination; (ii) certain agreements with its officers, directors and employees and third parties, under which the Company may be required to indemnify such persons for liabilities arising out of their duties to us.
_____________________________________________
1 Working Capital is a non-GAAP measure that does not have a
standardized meaning and may not be comparable to similar measures disclosed by
other issuers. This measure does not have a comparable GAAP measure. Working
Capital is defined as current assets less current liabilities.
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The Company regularly enters into service level agreements with clients, under which the Company guarantees consistent streaming of data within certain pre-defined tolerances. The terms of such obligations vary and generally, a maximum obligation is not explicitly stated as such the overall maximum amount of the obligations cannot be reasonably estimated. Historically, the Company has not been obligated to make significant payments for these obligations, and no liabilities have been recorded for these obligations on its balance sheet as of March 31, 2006 and March 31, 2005.
OFF-BALANCE SHEET
ARRANGEMENTS
The Company did not have any off-balance sheet arrangements at March 31, 2006.
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING
POLICIES
Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations discusses the Companys unaudited consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting policies generally accepted in the United States. The preparation of these unaudited consolidated financial statements requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. The Company believes the following critical accounting policies require significant judgments, estimates and assumptions used in the preparation of the unaudited consolidated financial statements.
Revenue
Financial Software and Content Systems services consist of managing, licensing, and delivering financial market information. Examples of financial market information are real time stock quotes, stock charts, public company profiles, investment information and technical stock analysis. The Company uses formal service agreements, which are typically for 24-month terms. Under the service agreements the Company normally charges its clients a set up fee, a fixed monthly fee, and additional fees for usage beyond the threshold specified in the agreement. Usage usually refers to Web site page views by the clients end users. Revenue from set up fees and fixed monthly licensing fees for ongoing use of financial tools and content is recognized ratably over the agreement term.
All Financial Software and Content Systems services are delivered via the Internet from the Companys Web servers to the clients Web sites on a continuous real time basis. Revenue is earned starting on the day the service is delivered to the customer. The Company monitors usage from the day the service is activated and record any usage-based revenue on a monthly basis as it occurs. Many agreements contain service level agreements, which specify minimum service standards and remedies, such as billing reductions, for deficiency of service. In cases where a billing adjustment occurs due to a service level deficiency, the Company reverses the applicable revenue in the month where the deficiency occurred.
Investor relations Web page tools, sold under the name IntegrateIR, are delivered to the clients investor relations page of their Web site via an Internet data feed, in real time and on a continuous basis for an agreed period of time, normally 12 months. Revenue is recognized evenly, according to the agreed fixed rate, on a monthly basis over the term of the agreement once the IntegrateIR data feed has been activated. Setup fees, if any, are recognized ratably over the initial term of the agreement.
Advertising Services consist of investor relations Web page tools, client advertising on the Companys investment-oriented Web sites, e-mail services, sponsorships and Internet advertising services. These services are sold either individually or bundled together into comprehensive programs.
Client advertising on the Companys investment-oriented Web sites consists of continuous or rotating client profiles on various specialized Web pages within StockHouse.com, Smallcapcenter.com and Investormarketplace.com. Delivery of these profiles is based either on a certain number of days appearing on the Web pages or a certain quantity of page views, profile views or click-throughs, depending on the agreement. A page view is a single instance of an Internet user viewing the page which contains the clients name and/or logo. A profile view is a single instance of an Internet user clicking on the clients profile link. A click-through is a single instance of an Internet user clicking on the clients profile and being redirected to the clients Web site. Revenue is recognized on such client profile programs based on delivery, and delivery is organized and measured to equal the agreed monthly fee in each month the client is profiled on the Web pages.
E-mail services are mailings to a targeted list of e-mail addresses, with delivery consisting solely of transmitting the mailing to the e-mail targets. E-mail services may be bought on a per-transmittal basis, for which revenue is recorded when the transmittal occurs, or on a fixed-fee monthly basis in which the client receives access to a fixed number of transmittals per month. The Company records the revenue on the fixed-fee monthly e-mail services on a pro rata basis over the term of the agreement.
Internet advertising on the Companys Web sites is delivered, and revenue is earned, on a page-view basis, as this term is defined above. Advertising insertion orders are obtained from clients and advertisements are delivered in a set rotation on
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www.stockhouse.com, www.stockhouse.ca, and others. At the end of certain specified period, usually monthly, the client is given a page-view delivery report and billed according to the number of page-views delivered.
All sources of revenue are recorded pursuant to SAB 104 Revenue Recognition, when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, delivery of services has occurred, the fee is fixed or determinable and collectibility is reasonably assured. Pursuant to EITF 00-21 Revenue Arrangements with Multiple Deliverables, when the services are provided in a multiple elements arrangement, revenue is allocated to each respective deliverable based on its relative fair value and recognized when the criteria under SAB 104 have been met.
Payments received in advance of services provided, including deposits, are recorded as deferred revenue.
Cost of Revenues
Cost of revenues is recorded if the cost relates directly to the services the Company sells or to its revenue-generating Web sites such as StockHouse, Smallcapcenter, and InvestorMarketPlace. Cost of revenues consists of subscription fees for access to data feeds of financial and business databases, Internet bandwidth, and direct advertising purchases. Data feeds are a key component of many of the Companys Financial Software and Content Systems services, as well as a key input into the Companys revenue-generating Web sites. Bandwidth is consumed by the Companys revenue-generating Web sites, by its Financial Software and Content Systems services, by its IntegrateIR service, and by its e-mail mailing services.
Allowance for Doubtful
Accounts
The Company evaluates accounts receivables and makes judgments as to the collectibility of each account. In general, accounts over 90 days overdue are allowed for fully, with certain exceptions where prior special arrangements are agreed to with the customer. In some cases an allowance is made before 90 days if the Company has a reasonable belief that the collection of the account is doubtful.
Property and Equipment
The Company evaluates, on a periodic basis, its property and equipment, to determine whether any events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the asset may not be recoverable. The Company bases its evaluation on certain impairment indicators, such as the nature of the assets, the future economic benefit of the assets, any historical or future profitability measurements, as well as other external market conditions or factors that may be present. If these impairment indicators are present or other factors exist that indicate that the carrying amount of the asset may not be recoverable, the Company then uses an estimate of the undiscounted value of expected future operating cash flows to determine whether the asset is recoverable and measure the amount of any impairment as the difference between the carrying amount of the asset and its estimated fair value. The fair value is estimated using valuation techniques such as market prices for similar assets or discounted future operating cash flows.
Amortization of property and equipment is on a straight-line basis over the assets estimated useful life.
Stock Based Compensation
During the first quarter of 2006, the Company implemented the following new critical accounting policy related to its stock-based compensation. Beginning on January 1, 2006, the Company began accounting for stock options under the provisions of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123 (revised 2004), Share-Based Payment (FAS 123(R)), which requires the recognition of the fair value of stock-based compensation. Under the fair value recognition provisions for FAS 123(R), stock-based compensation cost is estimated at the grant date based on the fair value of the awards expected to vest and recognized as expense ratably over the requisite service period of the award. The Company has used the Black-Scholes valuation model to estimate fair value of its stock-based awards which requires various judgmental assumptions including estimating stock price volatility and expected life. The computation of expected volatility is based on a combination of historical and market-based implied volatility. In addition, the Company considers many factors when estimating expected life, including types of awards and historical experience. If any of the assumptions used in the Black-Scholes valuation model change significantly, stock-based compensation expense may differ materially in the future from that recorded in the current period.
The Company adopted FAS 123(R) using the modified-prospective method which requires the application of the accounting standard as of January 1, 2006. The Companys consolidated financial statements as of and for the first quarter of 2006 reflect the impact of FAS 123(R). In accordance with the modified-prospective method, the consolidated financial statements for prior periods have not been restated to reflect, and do not include, the impact of FAS 123(R).
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Contingencies
From time to time, the Company is subject to proceedings, lawsuits and other claims related to labor and other matters. The Company is required to assess the likelihood of any adverse judgments or outcomes to these contingencies as well as potential ranges of probable losses and establish reserves accordingly. The Company uses professional judgment, legal advice, and estimates in the assessment of outcomes of contingencies. The amounts of reserve required, if any, may change in future periods due to new developments in each matter or changes in approach to a matter such as a change in settlement strategy.
The Company is currently involved in litigation with a customer to collect amounts owing pursuant to a contract entered into in September 2000. The defendant provided a C$100,000 deposit and contracted the Company to provide certain lead generation services. The Company delivered the requested services throughout October and November 2000, however, the defendant defaulted on all additional payments. The Company is suing the defendant for the C$351,800 balance owing, plus interest and costs. The defendant has filed a statement of defense and counterclaim to recover the C$100,000 deposit. As of December 31, 2004, no further action had been taken by either party and no court date has been set. Although management currently believes the outcome of the litigation will be in the Companys favor, it has not elected to aggressively pursue the litigation at this time. The Company has made no provision for the counterclaim in the financial statements and any settlement or final award will be reflected in the statement of operations as the litigation is resolved.
The Company has been named as a defendant in a lawsuit in Saskatchewan Court of Queens Bench by plaintiffs Black Strap Hospitality, Harold Lane and Derek Neis. The plaintiffs have brought the action seeking damages for defamation in the amount of C$100,000 plus pre-judgment interest. The alleged defamation was caused by certain members of our Bull Boards investment discussion forum on www.stockhouse.com/ca. The Company has responded to the action by providing, under court order, information on the Bull Boards members specified in the court order. The Company expects to be released from this litigation without incurring significant expense.
The Company is currently involved in litigation with a vendor to recover approximately C$471,000 in unused advertising credits which were prepaid in 1999. The case is currently pending final resolution and there is considerable uncertainty as to what value, if any, will be derived if the Company wins the lawsuit. No provision has been made for recovery of these credits in the financial statements in any year.
In addition, the Company is subject to various other legal matters in the ordinary course of business. It is not possible at this time to predict with any certainty the outcome of such litigation. Management believes that the ultimate resolution of these matters would not have a material effect on the Companys financial position or results of operations.
Item 3. Controls and
Procedures
As required by Rule 13a-15 under the Exchange Act, as of the end of the period covered by this report, being March 31, 2006, we have carried out an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our company's disclosure controls and procedures. This evaluation was carried out under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our chief executive officer and chief financial officer. Based upon that evaluation, our chief executive officer and chief financial officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective as of the end of the period covered by this report. There have been no changes in our internal controls over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by this report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect our internal controls over financial reporting.
Disclosure controls and procedures are controls and other procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our company's reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission's rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our reports filed under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to management, including our president and chief executive officer as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Part II. OTHER
INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal
Proceedings
The Company is currently involved in litigation with a customer to collect amounts owing pursuant to a contract entered into in September 2000. The defendant provided a C$100,000 deposit and contracted the Company to provide certain lead generation services. The Company delivered the requested services throughout October and November 2000, however, the defendant defaulted
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on all additional payments. The Company is suing the defendant for the C$351,800 balance owing, plus interest and costs. The defendant has filed a statement of defense and counterclaim to recover the C$100,000 deposit. As of December 31, 2004, no further action had been taken by either party and no court date has been set. Although management currently believes the outcome of the litigation will be in the Companys favor, it has not elected to aggressively pursue the litigation at this time. The Company has made no provision for the counterclaim in the financial statements and any settlement or final award will be reflected in the statement of operations as the litigation is resolved.
The Company has been named as a defendant in a lawsuit in Saskatchewan Court of Queens Bench by plaintiffs Black Strap Hospitality, Harold Lane and Derek Neis. The plaintiffs have brought the action seeking damages for defamation in the amount of C$100,000 plus pre-judgment interest. The alleged defamation was caused by certain members of our Bull Boards investment discussion forum on www.stockhouse.com/ca. The Company has responded to the action by providing, under court order, information on the Bull Boards members specified in the court order. The Company expects to be released from this litigation without incurring significant expense.
The Company is currently involved in litigation with a vendor to recover approximately C$471,000 in unused advertising credits which were prepaid in 1999. The case is currently pending final resolution and there is considerable uncertainty as to what value, if any, will be derived if the Company wins the lawsuit. No provision has been made for recovery of these credits in the financial statements in any year.
In addition, the Company is subject to various other legal matters in the ordinary course of business. It is not possible at this time to predict with any certainty the outcome of such litigation. Management believes that the ultimate resolution of these matters would not have a material effect on the Companys financial position or results of operations.
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
No unregistered securities were issued during the period covered by this report. There were no changes to any class of our securities.
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior
Securities
None
Item 4. Submission of Matters to a
Vote of Security Holders
None
Item 5. Other Information
None
Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form
8-K
1. Reports on Form 8-K
(incorporated by reference only)
February 20, 2006 Mr. Doug Keast resigns as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer effective March 15, 2006
On March 29, 2006 we announced the appointed of Ms. Susan Lovell as our Chief Financial Officer and Secretary.
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31. | 302 Certification |
31.1 | Section 302 CEO Certification under Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. * |
31.2 | Section 302 CFO Certification under Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. * |
32. | 906 Certification |
32.1 | Section 906 CEO & CFO Certification under Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 * * Filed herewith. |
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Exchange Act, the registrant caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
STOCKGROUP INFORMATION SYSTEMS INC. | |
(Registrant)
|
|
Date: May 10th, 2006 | By: /s/ Marcus New |
--------------------------------------------- | |
Marcus New, Chief Executive Officer | |
By: /s/ Susan Lovell | |
--------------------------------------------- | |
Susan Lovell, Chief Financial Officer |
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