Strategic Education, Inc. Reports Fourth Quarter 2018 Results; Strong Enrollment Growth at Both Strayer University and Capella University

Strategic Education, Inc. (SEI) (NASDAQ: STRA) today announced financial results for the period ended December 31, 2018.

Karl McDonnell, Chief Executive Officer of SEI said, “We are very pleased with the organization’s strong results in 2018, which were achieved while closing our merger and integrating corporate functions. Our particularly strong fourth quarter results position us well for 2019 as we leverage our new scale and capabilities to continue to deliver near-term growth, and long-term economic mobility for our students and learners.”

STRATEGIC EDUCATION, INC. CONSOLIDATED RESULTS

[Note: Strategic Education, Inc.’s financial results for any periods ended prior to August 1, 2018 do not include the financial results of Capella Education Company, and are therefore not directly comparable.]

Three Months Ended December 31

• Revenue increased 104.0% to $242.1 million compared to $118.7 million for the same period in 2017. Revenue in 2018 includes the impact of a purchase accounting adjustment of $2.5 million to reflect Capella University deferred revenue at fair value. Adjusted revenue, which is a non-GAAP financial measure and excludes the aforementioned deferred revenue adjustment, increased 106.1% to $244.6 million compared to $118.7 million for the same period in 2017. For more details on non-GAAP financial measures, refer to the information in the Non-GAAP Financial Measures section of this press release.
• Income from operations was $18.9 million compared to $11.7 million for the same period in 2017. Income from operations in 2018 includes the impact of the aforementioned deferred revenue adjustment, $15.4 million of amortization expense related to assets acquired in the merger with Capella Education Company, $8.0 million in costs associated with the merger with Capella Education Company, a $0.3 million charge resulting from the impairment of intangible assets associated with The New York Code + Design Academy, and a $0.3 million charge to the Company’s reserve for leases on facilities no longer in use. Income from operations in 2017 included $8.5 million in costs associated with the merger with Capella Education Company. Adjusted income from operations was $45.4 million in 2018 compared to $20.2 million for the same period in 2017. The adjusted operating income margin was 18.6% compared to 17.0% for the same period in 2017.
• Net income, which includes the adjustments described above and certain tax benefits, including the effects of the new lower federal income tax rate, was $22.5 million in 2018 compared to a net loss of $6.5 million in 2017. Adjusted net income was $34.4 million compared to adjusted net income of $12.3 million for the same period in 2017.
• Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) was $44.3 million in 2018 compared to $16.7 million in 2017. Adjusted EBITDA was $59.2 million compared to $28.6 million for the same period in 2017.
• Diluted earnings per share was $1.02 compared to a loss per share of $0.61 for the same period in 2017. Adjusted diluted earnings per share increased to $1.56 from $1.09 for the same period in 2017. Diluted weighted average shares outstanding increased to 22,033,000 from 11,273,000 for the same period in 2017, due primarily to new shares issued to facilitate the merger with Capella Education Company.

Year Ended December 31

• Revenue increased 39.4% to $634.2 million compared to $454.9 million in 2017. Revenue in 2018 includes the impact of a purchase accounting adjustment of $28.7 million to reflect Capella University deferred revenue at fair value. Adjusted revenue, which is a non-GAAP financial measure and excludes the aforementioned deferred revenue adjustment, increased 45.7% to $662.9 million compared to $454.9 million in 2017. For more details on non-GAAP financial measures, refer to the information in the Non-GAAP Financial Measures section of this press release.
• The Company reported a loss from operations of $22.7 million, compared to income of $52.2 million in 2017. Loss from operations in 2018 includes the impact of the aforementioned deferred revenue adjustment, $25.7 million of amortization expense related to assets acquired in the merger with Capella Education Company, $45.7 million in costs associated with the merger with Capella Education Company, $19.6 million in charges resulting from the impairment of goodwill and intangible assets associated with The New York Code + Design Academy, and a $0.3 million charge to increase the Company’s reserve for leases on facilities no longer in use. Income from operations in 2017 included $11.9 million in costs associated with the merger with Capella Education Company, a $7.8 million benefit associated with the reduction to the value of contingent consideration related to the Company’s acquisition of The New York Code + Design Academy, and a $0.3 million charge to increase the Company’s reserve for leases on facilities no longer in use. Adjusted income from operations was $97.4 million in 2018 compared to $56.6 million in 2017. The adjusted operating income margin was 14.7% compared to 12.4% in 2017.
• Net loss, which includes the adjustments described above and certain tax benefits, including the effects of the new lower federal income tax rate, was $15.7 million in 2018 compared to net income of $20.6 million in 2017. Adjusted net income was $75.1 million compared to adjusted net income of $34.9 million in 2017.
• Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) was $31.8 million in 2018 compared to $70.9 million in 2017. Adjusted EBITDA was $139.7 million compared to $88.7 million in 2017.
• Loss per share was $1.03 compared to diluted earnings per share of $1.84 in 2017. Adjusted diluted earnings per share increased to $4.75 from $3.11 in 2017. Diluted weighted average shares outstanding increased to 15,801,000 from 11,199,000 in 2017.

Strayer University Segment Highlights

• The Strayer University segment is comprised of Strayer University, including its programs offered through the Jack Welch Management Institute.
• For the fourth quarter, student enrollment at Strayer University increased 8.9% to 52,447 compared to 48,144 for the same period in 2017. New student enrollment for the period increased 9.2% and continuing student enrollment for the period increased 8.9%. Full-year 2018 student enrollment at Strayer University increased 8.1% and new student enrollment increased 8.7% compared to 2017.
• Revenue increased 8.5% to $127.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2018 compared to $117.5 million for the same period in 2017, driven primarily by higher fourth quarter enrollment.
• Income from operations increased to $24.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2018 from $21.7 million for the same period in 2017. The operating income margin was 18.8%, compared to 18.5% for the same period in 2017.
• Strayer University opened its third and fourth new campuses for 2018 in El Paso, Texas and Decatur, Alabama for a total of four new campuses opened in 2018. The University is planning to open six to eight additional new campuses in 2019.

Capella University Segment Highlights

• The Capella University segment consists solely of Capella University.
• For the fourth quarter, student enrollment at Capella University increased 2.4% to 38,409 compared to 37,517 for the same period in 2017. New student enrollment for the period increased 10.6% and continuing student enrollment for the period increased 1.0%. Full-year 2018 student enrollment at Capella University increased 0.7% and new student enrollment increased 10.0% compared to 2017.
• FlexPath continued to be a significant driver of new and total enrollment growth in the fourth quarter of 2018, and is now 28% of Capella University’s bachelor’s and master’s degrees total enrollment.
• Revenue was $111.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2018 and reflects higher enrollment and a slight increase in revenue-per-learner. Revenue in the fourth quarter of 2018 includes the impact of a purchase accounting adjustment of $2.5 million to reflect deferred revenue at fair value in connection with the merger. Excluding this purchase accounting adjustment, Capella University revenue was $113.7 million.
• Income from operations was $20.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2018, which includes the impact from the aforementioned deferred revenue adjustment. Adjusted income from operations was $23.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2018, and the adjusted operating income margin was 20.4%.
• The Company is currently planning to open Capella University learner support centers, pending regulatory approval, in Orlando, Florida and Atlanta, Georgia in the first half of 2019.

Non-Degree Programs Segment Highlights

• The non-degree programs segment includes Hackbright Academy, DevMountain, The New York Code + Design Academy, and Sophia.
• For the fourth quarter, revenue increased to $3.5 million from $1.3 million for the same period in 2017, primarily due to the inclusion of revenue from DevMountain, Hackbright Academy, and Sophia.
• Loss from operations was $1.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2018 compared to a loss of $1.6 million in the same period in 2017.

BALANCE SHEET AND CASH FLOW

At December 31, 2018, Strategic Education, Inc. had cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities of $386.5 million, and no debt. Cash provided by operations in 2018 was $46.9 million compared to cash provided by operations of $56.2 million in 2017. The decrease in cash flow from operations was primarily due to cash payments of costs related to the merger with Capella Education Company. Capital expenditures for 2018 were $27.5 million compared to $18.1 million in 2017. Capital expenditures for 2019 are expected to be between $40 million and $45 million.

For the fourth quarter of 2018, consolidated bad debt expense as a percentage of revenue was 6.1% of reported and adjusted revenue, compared to 5.8% for the same period in 2017.

COMMON STOCK CASH DIVIDEND

SEI announced today that it declared a regular, quarterly cash dividend of $0.50 per share of common stock. This dividend will be paid on March 18, 2019 to shareholders of record as of March 4, 2019.

CONFERENCE CALL WITH MANAGEMENT

SEI will host a conference call to discuss its fourth quarter 2018 earnings results at 10:00 a.m. (ET) today. To participate in the live call, investors should dial (877) 303-9047 ten minutes prior to the start time. In addition, the call will be available via webcast. To access the live webcast of the conference call, please go to www.strategiceducation.com in the Investor Relations section 15 minutes prior to the start time of the call to register. Following the call, the webcast will be archived and available at www.strategiceducation.com in the Investor Relations section.

About SEI

Strategic Education, Inc. (NASDAQ: STRA) (www.strategiceducation.com) is dedicated to enabling economic mobility with education. We serve working adult students through a range of educational opportunities that include: Strayer University and Capella University (separate institutions that are each regionally accredited), which collectively offer flexible and affordable associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs; a Top-25 Princeton Review-ranked online MBA program through the Jack Welch Management Institute at Strayer University; self-paced courses for college credit through Sophia; customized degrees for corporations through Degrees@Work; and non-degree web and mobile application development courses through DevMountain, Generation Code, Hackbright Academy, and The New York Code + Design Academy. These programs help our students prepare for success in today’s jobs and find a path to bettering their lives.

Forward-Looking Statements

This communication contains certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements may be identified by the use of words such as “expect,” “estimate,” “assume,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “may,” “will,” “forecast,” “outlook,” “plan,” “project,” “potential” and other similar words, and include all statements that are not historical facts, including with respect to, among other things, the future financial performance of SEI; SEI’s plans, strategies and prospects; and future events and expectations. The statements are based on SEI’s current expectations and are subject to a number of assumptions, uncertainties and risks, including but not limited to:

• SEI’s continued compliance with Title IV of the Higher Education Act, and the regulations thereunder, as well as regional accreditation standards and state regulatory requirements;
• rulemaking by the Department of Education and increased focus by the U.S. Congress on for-profit education institutions;
• the pace of growth of student enrollment;
• competitive factors;
• risks associated with the opening of new campuses;
• risks associated with the offering of new educational programs and adapting to other changes;
• risks relating to the timing of regulatory approvals;
• SEI’s ability to implement its growth strategy;
• the risk that the benefits of the merger with Capella Education Company, including expected synergies, may not be fully realized or may take longer to realize than expected;
• the risk that the combined company may experience difficulty integrating employees or operations;
• risks associated with the ability of SEI’s students to finance their education in a timely manner;
• general economic and market conditions; and
• additional factors described in SEI’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K.

Many of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions are beyond SEI’s ability to control or predict. Because of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Furthermore, these forward-looking statements speak only as of the information currently available to SEI on the date they are made, and SEI undertakes no obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements, except as required by law. Actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

In our press release and schedules, and on the related conference call, we report certain financial measures that are not required by, or presented in accordance with, accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP"). We discuss management's reasons for reporting these non-GAAP measures below, and the press release schedules that follow reconcile the most directly comparable GAAP measure to each non-GAAP measure that we reference. Although management evaluates and presents these non-GAAP measures for the reasons described below, please be aware that these non-GAAP measures have limitations and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for revenue, income from operations, net income, earnings per share or any other comparable financial measure prescribed by GAAP. In addition, we may calculate and/or present these non-GAAP financial measures differently than measures with the same or similar names that other companies report, and as a result, the non-GAAP measures we report may not be comparable to those reported by others.

Management uses certain non-GAAP measures to evaluate financial performance because those non-GAAP measures allow for period-over-period comparisons of its ongoing operations before the impact of certain items described below. These measures are Adjusted Revenue, Adjusted Income from Operations, Adjusted Operating Margin, Adjusted Net Income, Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization (EBITDA), Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share (EPS). We define Adjusted Revenue, Adjusted Income from Operations, Adjusted Operating Margin, Adjusted Net Income, and Adjusted Diluted EPS to exclude (1) a purchase accounting adjustment to record Capella University deferred revenue at fair value as a result of the Company's merger with Capella Education Company, (2) amortization expense related to intangible assets associated with the Company’s merger with Capella Education Company, (3) transaction and integration costs associated with the Company’s merger with Capella Education Company, (4) fair value adjustments to the value of contingent consideration, impairment charges for intangible assets related to the Company's acquisition of The New York Code + Design Academy, and adjustments to reserves for leases on facilities no longer in use, and (5) discrete tax adjustments utilizing adjusted annual effective income tax rates of 27.1% and 39.5% for the fourth quarter of 2018 and 2017, respectively, and 25.6% and 38.8% for the 2018 and 2017 year-to-date periods. We define EBITDA as net income before provision (benefit) for income taxes, other income, depreciation and amortization, and from this amount in arriving at Adjusted EBITDA we also exclude the amounts in (1), (3), and (4) above, and stock-based compensation expense. These non-GAAP measures are reconciled to the most directly comparable GAAP measures in the sections that follow. Non-GAAP measures should not be viewed as substitutes for GAAP measures.

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