(All first quarter fiscal year 2021 compares to first quarter fiscal year 2020)

  • Net loss narrowed to ($0.9 million) or ($0.04) per share, improving from ($2.1 million) or ($0.11) per share
  • Adjusted Net Income* and Adjusted EPS* of $0.1 million and $0.00 per share versus ($1.4 million) and ($0.08) per share
  • EBITDA* improved to break even – $0.0 million versus ($1.0 million); Adjusted EBITDA* improved to $1.3 million versus ($0.1 million)
  • Enrollments increased 22% to a quarterly record of 2,351 students; Bookings increased 34% to $36.1 million
  • Raises full year fiscal 2021 revenue guidance to meet or exceed 35% growth, or $66 million

NEW YORK, Sept. 14, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Aspen Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: ASPU) (“AGI”), an education technology holding company, today announced financial results for its first quarter fiscal year 2021 ended July 31, 2020, highlighted by revenue of $15.2 million, a sequential increase of 8% and an increase of 46% year-over-year.

First Quarter Fiscal Year 2021 Summary Results
(Note that the Company is now providing Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted EPS, Non-GAAP financial measures, for fiscal year 2021)2

 Fiscal Year Quarter Comparison
$ in millions, except per share data
(rounding differences may occur)		Q1 FY’21Q1 FY’20% Better/ (Worse)
Revenue$15.2 $10.4 46%
GAAP Gross Profit1$9.0 $5.8 56%
GAAP Gross Margin (%) 59% 56%300 bps 
Operating Income (Loss)$(0.4)$(1.6)78%
Net Income (Loss)$(0.9)$(2.1)55%
Earnings (Loss) per Share$(0.04)$(0.11)64%
Adjusted Net Income (Loss)2$0.1 $(1.4)NM 
Adjusted Earnings (Loss) per Share2 $0.00 $(0.08)NM 
Cash Used in Operations$(0.6)$(1.7)62%
EBITDA2$0.0 $(1.0)NM 
Adjusted EBITDA2$1.3 $(0.1)NM 
         

1 GAAP gross profit calculation includes marketing and promotional costs, instructional costs & services and amortization expense.
2 See reconciliations of GAAP to Non-GAAP financial measures under “Non-GAAP–Financial Measures” below.

Michael Mathews, Chairman & CEO of Aspen Group, commented, “Aspen’s team delivered another quarter of record financial and enrollment results. In our seasonally weakest quarter, revenue growth accelerated 46% year-over-year, a material step-up from the prior quarter’s increase of 38%. The quarter's revenue acceleration was bolstered by the record quarterly enrollments in our USU MSN-FNP and Aspen University Pre-licensure BSN programs, our highest LTV degrees. The Company delivered these record enrollment results while increasing its marketing spend by only $50K sequentially. As a result, marketing spend dropped to 18% of revenue, which lifted GAAP gross profit to $9.0 million for a 56% improvement over Q1 2020. Operating expenses grew by 29%, reflecting the staffing increase in our enrollment center to support our FY’2021 annual enrollment goals across all our business units. Despite the increase in G&A, operating margin expanded and net loss narrowed by 55%. Our performance this quarter demonstrates the scale in our business and confirms that the Company is on the path to profitability.”

Mr. Mathews continued, “Finally, as we announced earlier today, Aspen Group is now debt free following the auto conversion of its $10 million secured Convertible Notes, eliminating $700,000 of interest per annum. Moreover, given the improving operating performance of the company, elimination of the debt, and current cash, restricted cash and cash equivalents of approximately $19 million, we don’t intend to utilize our existing undrawn $5 million revolving credit facility.”

First Quarter Fiscal Year 2021 Financial and Operational Results versus First Quarter Fiscal Year 2020:

The table below shows, on a year-over-year basis, first quarter fiscal year 2021 Bookings increased 34% to $36.1 million, delivering a Company-wide average revenue per enrollment (ARPU) increase of 10% to $15,344.

First Quarter Bookings1 and Average Revenue Per Enrollment (ARPU)2
 Q1 FY’20 EnrollmentsQ1 FY’20 BookingsQ1 FY’21 EnrollmentsQ1 FY’21 BookingsPercent Change
Total Bookings & ARPU
Aspen University1,415$17,691,1501,779$25,880,40046%
USU514$9,159,480572$10,193,04011%
Total1,929$26,850,6302,351$36,073,44034%
ARPU $13,919 $15,34410%
         

1Bookings are defined by multiplying LTV by new student enrollments for each operating unit.
2Average Revenue Per Enrollment (ARPU) is defined by dividing total Bookings by total enrollments.

Revenues increased 46% to $15.2 million for Q1 2021 as compared to $10.4 million for the prior year period. USU accounted for 29% and AU’s Pre-Licensure BSN program accounted for 18% of overall Company revenues. As a result of the acceleration of revenue growth to 46% in the first quarter of fiscal year 2021, the Company now expects annual revenue growth to meet or exceed 35% or $66 million for the full fiscal year 2021.

GAAP gross profit increased by 56% to $9.0 million or 59% gross margin for Q1 2021 versus $5.8 million or 56% gross margin in Q1 2020. AU gross margin represented 59% of AU revenues for Q1 2021, and USU gross margin represented 64% of USU revenues for Q1 2021. AU instructional costs and services represented 19% of AU revenues for Q1 2021, while USU instructional costs and services represented 22% of USU revenues for Q1 2021. AU marketing and promotional costs represented 18% of AU revenues for Q1 2021, while USU marketing and promotional costs represented 14% of USU revenues for Q1 2021.

Net loss was $(0.9 million) or net loss per share of ($0.04) for the first quarter of fiscal year 2021 versus ($2.1 million) or ($0.11) for the prior year period. For the first quarter of fiscal year 2021, AU generated $2.3 million of net income, and USU generated $1.0 million of net income. AGI corporate incurred a net loss of ($4.3 million) for the first quarter of fiscal year 2021.

Adjusted Net Income (Loss), a non-GAAP financial measure, was $0.1 million for the first quarter of fiscal year 2021 as compared to Adjusted Net Loss of ($1.4 million) in the prior year period. Adjusted Earnings (Loss) Per Share, a non-GAAP financial measure, was $0.00 for the first quarter of fiscal year 2021 as compared to Adjusted Loss per Share of ($0.08) in the prior year period.

EBITDA, a non-GAAP financial measure, was breakeven, $0.0 million or 0% margin, for the first quarter of fiscal year 2021 as compared to EBITDA of ($1.0 million) or a (9%) margin in the prior year period. Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP financial measure, improved to $1.3 million or a 9% margin for the first quarter of fiscal year 2021 as compared to Adjusted EBITDA of ($0.1 million) or a (1%) margin in prior year period.

AU generated EBITDA of $2.8 million or 26% margin and Adjusted EBITDA of $3.2 million or 29% margin for the first quarter of fiscal year 2021. Note that Aspen’s Pre-Licensure BSN program accounted for $1.0 million of the $2.8 million EBITDA generated at AU, operating at an EBITDA margin of 37% — remaining the highest margin unit of the Company. USU generated EBITDA of $1.0 million or a 23% margin and $1.1 million of Adjusted EBITDA or a 25% margin in the first quarter of fiscal year 2021. AGI corporate generated an EBITDA of ($3.8 million) and Adjusted EBITDA of ($3.0 million) in the first quarter of fiscal year 2021.

Liquidity

For the quarter ended July 31, 2020, the Company reported cash and cash equivalents of $15.9 million and restricted cash of $3.1 million. The Company used cash of ($0.6 million) in operations in the first quarter of fiscal year 2021, as compared to using ($1.7 million) in same period last year, an improvement of 62% year-over-year.

With the automatic conversion of the Company’s $10 million of Convertible Notes (discussed above), Aspen Group has no outstanding indebtedness.

Conference Call:

Aspen Group, Inc. will host a conference call to discuss its first quarter fiscal year 2021 results and business outlook on Monday, September 14, 2020, at 4:30 p.m. (ET). Aspen Group, Inc. will issue a press release reporting results after the market closes on that day. The conference call can be accessed by dialing toll-free (844) 452-6823 (U.S.) or (731) 256-5216 (International), passcode 8489959. Subsequent to the call, a transcript of the audiocast will be available from the Company’s website at www.aspu.com. There will also be a seven day dial-in replay which can be accessed by dialing toll-free (855) 859-2056 (U.S.) or (404) 537-3406 (International), passcode 8489959.

*Non-GAAP – Financial Measures:

This press release includes both financial measures in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, or GAAP, as well as non-GAAP financial measures. Generally, a non-GAAP financial measure is a numerical measure of a company’s performance, financial position or cash flows that either excludes or includes amounts that are not normally included or excluded in the most directly comparable measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP. Non-GAAP financial measures should be viewed as supplemental to, and should not be considered as alternatives to net income (loss), operating income (loss), and cash flow from operating activities, liquidity or any other financial measures. They may not be indicative of the historical operating results of AGI nor are they intended to be predictive of potential future results. Investors should not consider non-GAAP financial measures in isolation or as substitutes for performance measures calculated in accordance with GAAP.

Our management uses and relies on Adjusted Net Income (Loss), Adjusted Earnings (Loss) Per Share, EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA, which are non-GAAP financial measures. We believe that management, analysts and shareholders benefit from referring to the following non-GAAP financial measures to evaluate and assess our core operating results from period-to-period after removing the impact of items that affect comparability. Our management recognizes that the non-GAAP financial measures have inherent limitations because of the excluded items described below.

We have included a reconciliation of our non-GAAP financial measures to the most comparable financial measures calculated in accordance with GAAP. We believe that providing the non-GAAP financial measures, together with the reconciliation to GAAP, helps investors make comparisons between AGI and other companies. In making any comparisons to other companies, investors need to be aware that companies use different non-GAAP measures to evaluate their financial performance.

Investors should pay close attention to the specific definition being used and to the reconciliation between such measure and the corresponding GAAP measure provided by each company under applicable SEC rules.

AGI defines Adjusted Net Income (Loss) as net earnings (loss) from operations adding back non-recurring charges and stock-based compensation expense as reflected in the table below.  Included are $543,384 of non-recurring charges for the first quarter of fiscal year 2021, compared to $132,949 in the first quarter of fiscal year 2020. The non-recurring charges for Q1 fiscal 2021 include $123,947 of interest expense, which arose from the acceleration of amortization arising from the exercise of warrants issued to a lender.

The following table presents a reconciliation of net loss and earnings (loss) per share to Adjusted Net Income (Loss) and Adjusted Earnings (Loss) Per Share:

 Three Months Ended July 31,
 2020 2019
Earnings (loss) per share$(0.04) $(0.11)
Weighted average number of common stock outstanding**22,094,409  18,733,317 
Net loss$(943,196) $(2,075,282)
Add back:   
Non-recurring charges543,384  132,949 
Stock-based compensation487,110  498,417 
Adjusted Net Income (Loss)$87,298  $(1,443,916)
    
Adjusted Earnings (Loss) per Share$0.00  $(0.08)
        

**Same share count used for GAAP and non-GAAP financial measures.

AGI defines Adjusted EBITDA as earnings (or loss) from operations before the items in the table below. Included are $419,437 of non-recurring charges for the first quarter of fiscal year 2021, compared to $132,949 in the first quarter of fiscal year 2020. An additional non-recurring item in Q1 2021 of $123,947 is included in interest expense, net, which arose from the acceleration of amortization arising from the exercise of warrants issued to a lender. Adjusted EBITDA is an important measure of our operating performance because it allows management, analysts and investors to evaluate and assess our core operating results from period-to-period after removing the impact of items that affect comparability.

The following table presents a reconciliation of net loss to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA:

 Three Months Ended July 31,
 2020 2019
Net loss$(943,196) $(2,075,282)
Interest expense, net455,223  420,067 
Taxes(1,900) 90,277 
Depreciation and amortization490,624  606,574 
EBITDA 751  (958,364)
Bad debt expense400,000  240,899 
Non-recurring charges, excluding non-recurring interest expense of $123,947419,437  132,949 
Stock-based compensation487,110  498,417 
Adjusted EBITDA $1,307,298  $(86,099)
        

Definitions

Bookings – is defined by multiplying LTV by new student enrollments for each operating unit.

Lifetime Value ("LTV") – is calculated as the weighted average total amount of tuition and fees paid by every new student that enrolls in the Company’s universities, after giving effect to attrition.

Average Revenue per Enrollment ("ARPU") – is defined by dividing total bookings by total enrollments.

Marketing Efficiency Ratio ("MER") – is defined as revenue per enrollment divided by cost per enrollment.

EBITDA Margin – is defined as EBITDA divided by revenues. We believe EBITDA margin is useful for management, analysts and investors as this measure allows a more meaningful comparison between our performance and that of our competitors. EBITDA margin has certain limitations in that it does not take into account the impact to our consolidated statement of operations of certain expenses.

Adjusted EBITDA Margin – is defined as Adjusted EBITDA divided by revenues. We believe Adjusted EBITDA margin is useful for management, analysts and investors as this measure allows a more meaningful comparison between our performance and that of our competitors. Adjusted EBITDA margin has certain limitations in that it does not take into account the impact to our consolidated statement of operations of certain expenses.

NM – Not meaningful.

Subsequent to the call, a transcript of the audiocast will be available from the Company’s website at ir.aspen.edu.

For additional information on the financial statements and performance, please refer to the Aspen Group, Inc. Form 10-Q for the first quarter of fiscal year 2021 and Q1 2021 Financial Results Presentation published on our website.

Forward-Looking Statements:

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 including the Company being on a path  to profitability, expected fiscal 2021 revenue, our estimates as to Lifetime Value and the future impact of bookings. The words “believe,” “may,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “should,” “plan,” “could,” “target,” “potential,” “is likely,” “will,” “expect” and similar expressions, as they relate to us, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. We have based these forward-looking statements largely on our current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that we believe may affect our financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ from those in the forward-looking statements include the continued demand of nursing students for the new programs, student attrition, national and local economic factors including the substantial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the economy, and the competitive impact from the trend of major non-profit universities using online education and consolidation among our competitors. Other risks are included in our filings with the SEC including our Form 10-K for the year ended April 30, 2020, and prospectus supplement dated August 31, 2020. Any forward-looking statement made by us herein speaks only as of the date on which it is made. Factors or events that could cause our actual results to differ may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all of them. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by law.

About Aspen Group, Inc.:

Aspen Group, Inc. is an education technology holding company that leverages its infrastructure and expertise to allow its two universities, Aspen University and United States University, to deliver on the vision of making college affordable again.

Investor Relations Contact:

Kim Rogers
Managing Director
Hayden IR
385-831-7337 
Kim@HaydenIR.com

ASPEN GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

 July 31, 2020 April 30, 2020
 (Unaudited)  
Assets   
Current assets:   
Cash and cash equivalents$15,899,293  $14,350,554 
Restricted cash3,060,269  3,556,211 
Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $2,156,645 and $1,758,920, respectively14,662,231  14,326,791 
Prepaid expenses993,541  941,671 
Other receivables—  23,097 
Other current assets113,123  173,090 
Total current assets34,728,457  33,371,414 
    
Property and equipment:   
Computer equipment and hardware690,114  649,927 
Furniture and fixtures1,007,099  1,007,099 
Leasehold improvements892,279  867,024 
Instructional equipment301,842  301,842 
Software6,792,594  6,162,770 
 9,683,928  8,988,662 
Less accumulated depreciation(3,314,448) (2,841,019)
Total property and equipment, net6,369,480  6,147,643 
Goodwill5,011,432  5,011,432 
Intangible assets, net7,900,000  7,900,000 
Courseware, net102,560  111,457 
Accounts receivable - net of allowance of $625,963 and $625,963, respectively45,329  45,329 
Long term contractual accounts receivable8,713,018  6,701,136 
Debt issue cost, net43,056  182,418 
Operating lease right of use asset, net7,264,584  6,412,851 
Deposits and other assets150,406  355,831 
    
Total assets$70,328,322  $66,239,511 

(Continued)

ASPEN GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (CONTINUED)

 July 31, 2020 April 30, 2020
 (Unaudited)  
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity   
Current liabilities:   
Accounts payable$1,764,714  $1,505,859 
Accrued expenses1,127,992  537,413 
Deferred revenue4,766,853  3,712,994 
Due to students1,891,502  2,371,844 
Operating lease obligations, current portion1,542,754  1,683,252 
Other current liabilities288,033  545,711 
Total current liabilities11,381,848  10,357,073 
    
Convertible notes, net of discount of $1,409,828 and $1,550,854, respectively8,590,172  8,449,146 
Operating lease obligations, less current portion6,677,566  5,685,335 
Total liabilities26,649,586  24,491,554 
    
Commitments and contingencies   
    
Stockholders’ equity:   
Preferred stock, $0.001 par value; 1,000,000 shares authorized,   
0 issued and 0 outstanding at July 31, 2020 and April 30, 2020—  — 
Common stock, $0.001 par value; 40,000,000 shares authorized   
22,377,744 issued and 22,361,077 outstanding at July 31, 2020   
21,770,520 issued and 21,753,853 outstanding at April 30, 202022,378  21,771 
Additional paid-in capital92,378,584  89,505,216 
Treasury stock (16,667 shares)(70,000) (70,000)
Accumulated deficit(48,652,226) (47,709,030)
Total stockholders’ equity43,678,736  41,747,957 
    
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity$70,328,322  $66,239,511 
        

ASPEN GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Unaudited)

 Three Months Ended July 31,
 2020 2019
Revenues$15,165,562  $10,357,982 
    
Operating expenses:   
Cost of revenues (exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below)5,847,523  4,353,058 
General and administrative8,793,756  6,796,251 
Bad debt expense400,000  240,899 
Depreciation and amortization490,624  606,574 
Total operating expenses15,531,903  11,996,782 
    
Operating loss(366,341) (1,638,800)
    
Other income (expense):   
Other (expense) income, net(123,298) 22,802 
Interest expense(455,457) (423,689)
Total other expense, net(578,755) (400,887)
    
Loss before income taxes(945,096) (2,039,687)
    
Income tax (benefit) expense(1,900) 35,595 
    
Net loss$(943,196) $(2,075,282)
    
Net loss per share - basic and diluted$(0.04) $(0.11)
    
Weighted average number of common stock outstanding - basic and diluted22,094,409  18,733,317 
      

ASPEN GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Three Months Ended July 31, 2020 and 2019
(Unaudited)

 Common Stock Additional
Paid-In
Capital		 Treasury
Stock		 Accumulated
Deficit		 Total
Stockholders’
Equity
 Shares Amount    
Balance at April 30, 202021,770,520  $21,771  $89,505,216   $(70,000)  $(47,709,030)  $41,747,957  
Stock-based compensation—  —  487,110   —   —   487,110  
Common stock issued for stock options exercised for cash415,175  415  1,269,567   —   —   1,269,982  
Common stock issued for warrants exercised for cash192,049  192  1,081,600   —   —   1,081,792  
Modification charge for warrants exercised—  —  25,966   —   —   25,966  
Amortization of warrant based cost—  —  9,125   —   —   9,125  
Net loss—  —  —   —   (943,196)  (943,196) 
Balance at July 31, 202022,377,744  $22,378  $92,378,584   $(70,000)  $(48,652,226)  $43,678,736  
            
 Common Stock Additional
Paid-In
Capital		 Treasury
Stock		 Accumulated
Deficit		 Total
Stockholders’
Equity
 Shares Amount    
Balance at April 30, 201918,665,551  $18,666  $68,562,727   $(70,000)  $(42,049,965)  $26,461,428  
Stock-based compensation—  —  498,417   —   —   498,417  
Common stock issued for cashless stock options exercised101,894  102  (102)  —   —   —  
Common stock issued for stock options exercised for cash21,876  22  45,168   —   —   45,190  
Common stock issued for cashless warrant exercise19,403  19  (19)  —   —   —  
Amortization of warrant based cost—  —  9,440   —   —   9,440  
Amortization of restricted stock issued for service—  —  30,597   —   —   30,597  
Restricted Stock Issued for Services, subject to vesting104,803  105  (105)  —   —   —  
Cumulative effect of Adoption of ASC 842—  —  —   —   (136,745)  (136,745) 
Net loss—  —  —   —   (2,075,282)  (2,075,282) 
Balance at July 31, 201918,913,527  $18,914  $69,146,123   $(70,000)  $(44,261,992)  $24,833,045  
            

ASPEN GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited)

 Three Months Ended July 31,
 2020 2019
Cash flows from operating activities:   
Net loss$(943,196) $(2,075,282)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:   
Bad debt expense400,000  240,899 
Depreciation and amortization490,624  606,574 
Stock-based compensation487,110  498,417 
Warrants issued for services9,125  9,440 
Loss on asset disposition—  20,240 
Amortization of debt discounts141,026  65,702 
Amortization of debt issue costs139,362  29,662 
Modification charge for warrants exercised(25,966) — 
Non-cash payments to investor relations firm—  30,597 
Other adjustments, net10,587  — 
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:   
Accounts receivable(2,747,322) (1,535,420)
Prepaid expenses(51,870) (136,022)
Other receivables23,097  710 
Other current assets59,966  — 
Deposits and other assets205,425  67,032 
Accounts payable258,855  (110,890)
Accrued expenses590,579  (73,663)
Lease liabilities, net of right of use assets—  26,993 
Due to students(480,342) 417,131 
Deferred revenue1,053,859  224,172 
Other current liabilities(257,678) 8,625 
Net cash used in operating activities(636,759) (1,685,083)
Cash flows from investing activities:   
Purchases of courseware and accreditation(3,050) (2,275)
Purchases of property and equipment(659,168) (629,983)
Net cash used in investing activities(662,218) (632,258)
Cash flows from financing activities:   
Proceeds from stock options exercised and warrants exercised2,351,774  45,190 
Net cash provided by financing activities2,351,774  45,190 

(Continued)

ASPEN GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (CONTINUED)
(Unaudited)

 Three Months Ended July 31,
 2020 2019
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents$1,052,797  $(2,272,151)
Cash, restricted cash, and cash equivalents at beginning of period17,906,765  9,967,752 
Cash, restricted cash, and cash equivalents at end of period$18,959,562  $7,695,601 
    
Supplemental disclosure cash flow information   
Cash paid for interest$199,178  $324,861 
Cash paid for income taxes$—  $— 
    
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing and financing activities   
Common stock issued for services$—  $178,447 
Right-of-use lease asset offset against operating lease obligations$851,733  $8,196,106 
        

The following table provides a reconciliation of cash and restricted cash reported within the unaudited consolidated balance sheets that sum to the same such amounts shown in the unaudited consolidated statements of cash flows:

 July 31, 2020 July 31, 2019
Cash and cash equivalents$15,899,293  $7,243,580 
Restricted cash3,060,269  452,021 
Total cash and restricted cash$18,959,562  $7,695,601 
        

AGI Logo.jpg

Source: Aspen Group Inc.

2020 GlobeNewswire, Inc., source Press Releases