SI
SEACHANGE INTERNATIONAL INC (SEAC)·Q1 2024 Earnings Summary
Executive Summary
- Revenue was $7.0 million, up 4% year-over-year but down 31% sequentially due to a large one-time licensing event in Q4 that did not repeat; gross margin was 59% versus 73% in Q4 and 48% in the prior-year quarter .
- Service revenue grew 40% year-over-year to $5.5 million (78% of total), highlighting progress in the SaaS/recurring shift; product revenue fell to $1.5 million (22% of total) from $6.2 million in Q4 on normalization after the license event .
- GAAP net loss improved sharply year-over-year to $(0.7) million (EPS $(0.28)), and adjusted EBITDA approached breakeven at $(0.239) million; cash and marketable securities totaled $15.2 million with no debt and positive operating cash flow in Q1 .
- Management reiterated confidence in achieving profitability later in fiscal 2024 and emphasized strengthening connected TV/FAST partnerships (VIDAA, Fox Sports Mexico, Source Digital); SeaChange regained Nasdaq minimum bid price compliance during Q1, though future compliance is not assured .
What Went Well and What Went Wrong
What Went Well
- Service revenues up 40% year-over-year (to $5.5 million), with recurring streams supported by two Tier 1 renewals and new StreamVid launches, reinforcing the SaaS transition .
- Margin expansion year-over-year: gross margin rose to 59% from 48%, driven by higher service mix and cost controls; adjusted EBITDA loss improved by 83% vs. prior year .
- Management tone confident: “We are well positioned for another profitable, debt-free year…we remain confident in our ability to achieve profitability later this fiscal year” — Peter D. Aquino and Mark Szynkowski .
What Went Wrong
- Sequential revenue decline of 31% driven by the absence of the Q4 one-time licensing event; product revenue fell to $1.5 million from $6.2 million in Q4 as mix normalized toward services .
- GAAP loss from operations of $(0.8) million and non-GAAP loss from operations of $(0.303) million reflect ongoing opex burden despite improvements; total non-GAAP opex was $4.5 million in Q1 .
- Sustained listing risk flagged: although minimum bid price compliance was regained in Q1, the company noted it “cannot assure” continued compliance, a potential overhang .
Financial Results
Summary P&L vs Prior Quarters
Revenue Mix
Detailed Revenue Breakout
KPIs and Balance Sheet Snapshot
Guidance Changes
Earnings Call Themes & Trends
Management Commentary
- “With service revenues up 40% year-over-year, our focus on generating recurring revenue streams has proven effective…We are well positioned for another profitable, debt-free year…” — Peter D. Aquino, Chairman & CEO .
- “Operationally, we strengthened existing partnerships with key customers such as VIDAA and Fox Sports Mexico, while also successfully launching two new StreamVid customers…” — Chris Klimmer, President .
- “Our ongoing efforts to reduce operating costs have yielded positive results…we remain confident in our ability to achieve profitability later this fiscal year.” — Mark Szynkowski, CFO .
Q&A Highlights
- Connected TV deal “transformational”: emphasis on positioning SeaChange “in the center of the CTV value chain” and focusing resources to expand services for publishers and platform stakeholders .
- Balance sheet positioned for profitable growth: cash exceeded total liabilities, debt-free, with strong receivables and unbilled balances supporting investment in profitable growth and positive cash flows .
- Engineering capacity and scalability: >100 in-house developers in Warsaw and global delivery teams able to scale quickly to support major programs (e.g., VIDAA) .
- Note: A Q1 2024 earnings call transcript was not located; themes above reflect the most recent available Q4 2023 call.
Estimates Context
- S&P Global consensus for Q1 2024 EPS and Revenue was unavailable for SEAC in our data environment due to missing CIQ mapping; therefore, we cannot present an Actual vs. Consensus comparison for Q1 2024 [SpgiEstimatesError].
- Where available, we default to S&P Global for consensus; in this case, consensus data was not retrievable.
Key Takeaways for Investors
- Revenue mix is intentionally tilting toward services/recurring streams; service revenue rose 40% YoY and comprised 78% of total, supporting more stable margins over time .
- Sequential volatility is high given the outsized impact of one-time license events (Q4), evidenced by a 31% sequential revenue decline as product normalized; monitor product pipeline/licensing cadence .
- Margin trajectory remains constructive year-over-year (gross margin 59% vs 48% prior year) with cost controls; adjusted EBITDA neared breakeven, aligning with management’s FY24 profitability view .
- Balance sheet is a support: $13.8 million cash and $1.4 million marketable securities, no debt, and positive operating cash flow in Q1; this underpins execution through macro uncertainty .
- CTV/FAST tailwinds and partnerships (VIDAA, Fox Sports Mexico, Source Digital) are central to the growth thesis; watch for further customer launches and renewals as catalysts .
- Listing risk moderated but not eliminated: Nasdaq minimum bid price compliance was regained; continue to monitor corporate actions and liquidity backdrop .
- Near-term trading: stock may react to signals on licensing deal timing and additional SaaS wins; medium-term thesis hinges on sustaining high service mix, margin stability, and achieving FY24 profitability per management commentary .