Usio Announces Record Full Year 2023 Revenues

Usio, Inc: (Nasdaq: USIO), a leading FinTech company that operates a full stack of integrated, cloud-based electronic payment and embedded financial solutions, today announced financial results for the fourth quarter and year 2023, which ended December 31, 2023.

Louis Hoch, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Usio, said, “For the seventh consecutive year, Usio achieved record revenues, with full year 2023 revenues of $82.6 million, up 19%. In addition, Adjusted EBITDA¹ totaled $2.4 million for the year. Both of these results met the fiscal 2023 Guidance established at the outset of 2023, illustrating our focus throughout the year on delivering on our commitments to our shareholders. Results were achieved on the strength of our 11^th consecutive quarter of quarterly revenue growth primarily attributable to a 21% increase in processing volumes. We ended the year with our strongest ever balance sheet, which provides the resources to support our growth strategy. We believe that fiscal 2024 will be another year of revenue growth and bottom-line improvement. In addition to the momentum created by the recurring revenue of our many long-term clients, I am extremely excited by large opportunities in the pipeline that, when contracted, could change our growth trajectory and establish a broader and deeper base in our markets to help us build shareholder value over the long term.”

Full year revenue growth was led by Prepaid, where revenues were up 105% as total dollars loaded on prepaid cards exceeded $100 million in both the third and fourth quarters. Output Solutions revenues were up 11% in fiscal 2023. In the fourth quarter, Output Solutions added new equipment and technology, significantly expanding capacity, which is expected to power another year of double-digit revenue growth. Card revenues were up 5% for the year. More importantly, we made progress transitioning to a primarily PayFac portfolio, with PayFac revenues up 25% for the year and now comprising a much larger proportion of our credit card business, which should support stronger future growth. And, our ACH business has turned the corner. In the fourth quarter, ACH revenues grew 4%, which enabled us to post full year ACH revenue growth and to build momentum headed into 2024.”

For 2023, total gross profits climbed 27% as gross margins expanded 150 basis points to 22.5% from 21.0% in fiscal 2022. Selling, general and administrative expense were up just 8% in the year while total operating expenses were up just 4%, reflecting continued strong expense control. For the year, the Company generated nearly $1.7 million in interest income as a result of negotiations with financial institutions that improved returns on the company’s various cash accounts. The Company closed the 2023 fiscal year with $7.2 million cash on hand compared to year end cash of $5.7 million and no significant debt at December 31, 2022. The increase in cash was accomplished while $0.6 million was utilized to repurchase shares during the year.

Mr. Hoch concluded, “I am very pleased with the progress achieved across all of our businesses in 2023 and the strong financial position in which it has placed us entering the new year. I am encouraged with the prospects for 2024. Our Card pipeline is extremely robust and we are on the precipice of potentially signing some of the largest PayFac deals in the Company’s history. Output Solutions has significantly expanded their capacity through a major capital improvement program, which we expect will lead to further growth and increased profitability. After its first ever $100 million card load volume quarter in the third quarter, prepaid set a new record for load volume in the fourth quarter, a key indicator of the underlying strength of their business. And, ACH grew in both the fourth quarter and for the full year after a year of tough comparables. Margins were up, costs grew significantly below the rate of revenue, and we added $1.5 million of cash to the balance sheet despite expending $0.6 million on share repurchases as the Company demonstrates its belief in the value of our franchise. Our commitment is to continue to grow the business and to improve bottom line profitability. With seven consecutive years of growth, we are confident we have the products, solutions and strategies that are meeting the needs of a large and rapidly growing market for electronic payments and adjacent services.”

Fiscal 2024 Guidance

The Company continues to expect strong 10-12% growth in revenue in 2024 while also anticipating 70% – 90% growth in Adjusted EBITDA¹ to a range of $4 to $4.5 million and $0.05 to $0.07 EPS. Guidance is conditioned on no appreciable deterioration in economic conditions.

Fourth Quarter 2023 Financial Summary

Revenues were $19.4 million for the fourth quarter, up 4% compared to $18.7 million in the same period last year.

Revenue growth was primarily attributable to a 19% increase in Prepaid revenues as well as growth in our ACH and Credit card businesses, compared to the same period last year.

Gross profits were $4.5 million, down 4% from $4.7 million for the same period last year. Gross margins were 23.2% compared to 25.1% in the same period last year. Gross margins in the quarter primarily reflect a shift in revenue mix, and some decrease in prepaid profitability due to the wind down of a large, one-time government card program.

The Company had an operating loss of $0.8 million, compared to an operating loss of $0.1 million from the same period last year.

Adjusted EBITDA¹ was a positive $0.3 million in the quarter, up approximately $0.4 million on a sequential basis, but down $0.7 million from $1.0 million in the same period a year ago.

For the quarter, the Company generated $871,000 of interest income compared to $11,000 in the year ago quarter.

Net income for the fourth quarter of 2023 was $0.03 million, or $0.00 per share, compared to net loss of $0.15 million or $(0.01) per share for the same period last year.

During the quarter, the Company repurchased 211,000 shares of its stock at an average price of $1.84 for a total cost of $388,000.

Financial Results for Full Year 2023

Revenues for 2023 were $82.6 million, up 19% from $69.4 million for the same period last year, in line with the Company’s guidance for the year.

The Company grew revenue in each of its business segments, with Prepaid registering the strongest growth of $9.6 million, or 105%, driven by the success of our disbursement program partnership, including the significant increase in revenues recognized in a large government card program. Output Solutions revenues were up 11%, attributable primarily to the success of cross-selling efforts and the conversion of pipeline opportunities into programs.

Gross profit for the year ended December 31, 2023 was $18.6 million, up 27% from $14.6 million for the same period in 2022. Gross margins were 22.5% for the year ended December 31, 2023 compared to 21.0% in the same period in 2022, generally reflecting a shift in business mix over the year.

The Company significantly reduced its operating loss for the year by $3.3 million to $1.9 million compared to $5.2 million for fiscal 2022. More importantly, the Company reported a comparable $2.8 million improvement in Adjusted EBITDA¹ to $2.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to a loss of $0.4 million in 2022. Net loss for the year ended December 31, 2023 was $0.5 million or $(0.02) per share compared to a net loss of $5.5 million or $(0.27) per share in the same period last year.

Conference Call and Webcast

Usio, Inc.’s management will host a conference call with a live webcast Wednesday, March 27, 2024 at 4:30 pm Eastern time to provide a business update. To listen to the conference call, interested parties within the U.S. should call +1-844-883-3890. International callers should call + 1-412-317-9246. All callers should ask for the Usio conference call. The conference call will also be available through a live webcast, which can be accessed via the company’s website at www.usio.com/invest.

A replay of the call will be available approximately one hour after the end of the call through April 10, 2024. The replay can be accessed via the Company’s website or by dialing +1-877-344-7529 (U.S.) or +1-412-317-0088 (international). The replay conference playback code is 6591869.

About Usio, Inc.

Usio, Inc. (Nasdaq: USIO), is a leading Fintech that operates a full stack of proprietary, cloud-based integrated payment and embedded financial solutions in a single ecosystem to a wide range of merchants, billers, banks, service bureaus and card issuers. The Company operates credit/debit and ACH payment processing platforms, as well as a turn-key card issuing platform to deliver convenient, world-class payment solutions and services to their clients. The company, through its Usio Output Solutions division offers services relating to electronic bill presentment, document composition, document decomposition and printing and mailing services. The strength of the Company lies in its ability to provide tailored solutions for card issuance, payment acceptance, and bill payments as well as its unique technology in the prepaid sector. Usio is headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, and has a development office in Austin, Texas.

Websites: www.usio.com, www.payfacinabox.com, www.akimbocard.com and www.usiooutput.com. Find us on Facebook® and Twitter.

About Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This press release includes non-GAAP financial measures, EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA margins and adjusted operating cash flows, as defined in Regulation G of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The Company reports its financial results in compliance with GAAP, but believes that also discussing non-GAAP financial measures provides investors with financial measures it uses in the management of its business. The Company defines EBITDA as operating income (loss), before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization of intangibles. The Company defines adjusted EBITDA as EBITDA, as defined above, plus non-cash stock option costs and certain non-recurring items, such as costs related to acquisitions. The Company defines adjusted operating cash flow as net cash provided (used) by operating activities, less changes in prepaid card load obligations, customer deposits, merchant reserves and net operating lease assets and obligations. These adjustments to net cash provided (used) by operating activities are not inclusive of any regular expense items, and only include changes in our assets and liabilities accounts on the balance sheet. These measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies. Management uses EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, and adjusted operating cash flows as indicators of the Company’s operating performance and ability to fund acquisitions, capital expenditures and other investments and, in the absence of refinancing options, to repay debt obligations.

Management believes EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA margins and adjusted operating cash flows are helpful to investors in evaluating the Company’s operating performance because non-cash costs and other items that management believes are not indicative of its results of operations are excluded.

EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA margins and adjusted operating cash flow should be considered in addition to, not as a substitute for, or superior to, financial measures calculated in accordance with GAAP. They are not measurements of our financial performance under GAAP and should not be considered as alternatives to revenue, net income, or cash provided (used) by operating activities, as applicable, or any other performance measures derived in accordance with GAAP and may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other businesses. EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA margins and adjusted operating cash flow have limitations as analytical tools and you should not consider these Non-GAAP measures in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of our operating results as reported under GAAP.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS DISCLAIMER

Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters discussed in this release include forward-looking statements which are covered by safe harbors. Those statements include, but may not be limited to, all statements regarding management’s intent, belief and expectations, such as statements concerning our future and our operating and growth strategy. These forward-looking statements are identified by the use of words such as “believe,” “could,” “should,” “intend,” “look forward,” “anticipate,” “schedule,” and “expect” among others. Forward-looking statements in this press release are subject to certain risks and uncertainties inherent in the Company’s business that could cause actual results to vary, including such risks related to an economic downturn, the realization of opportunities from the IMS acquisition, the management of the Company’s growth, the loss of key resellers, the relationships with the Automated Clearinghouse network, bank sponsors, third-party card processing providers and merchants, the security of our software, hardware and information, the volatility of the stock price, the need to obtain additional financing, risks associated with new legislation, and compliance with complex federal, state and local laws and regulations, and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission including its annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023. One or more of these factors have affected, and in the future, could affect the Company’s businesses and financial results in the future and could cause actual results to differ materially from plans and projections. The Company believes that the assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements included in this release will prove to be accurate. In light of the significant uncertainties inherent in the forward-looking statements included herein, the inclusion of such information should not be regarded as a representation by us or any other person that the objectives and plans will be achieved. All forward-looking statements made in this release are based on information presently available to management. The Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, except as required by law.

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