Grand Canyon Education, Inc. Reports Second Quarter 2024 Results

For the three months ended June 30, 2024:

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Service revenue for the three months ended June 30, 2024 was $227.5 million, an increase of $16.9 million, or 8.0%, as compared to service revenue of $210.6 million for the three months ended June 30, 2023. The increase year over year in service revenue was primarily due to an increase in GCU enrollments to 102,676 at June 30, 2024, an increase of 7.0% over enrollments at June 30, 2023, an increase in university partner enrollments at our off-campus classroom and laboratory sites to 4,377 at June 30, 2024, an increase of 12.1% over enrollments at June 30, 2023, which includes 746 and 350 GCU students at June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, and an increase in revenue per student year over year. The increase in revenue per student between years is primarily due to the service revenue impact of the increased room, board and other ancillary revenues at GCU in the second quarter of 2024 as compared to the prior year period. In addition, service revenue per student for Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (“ABSN”) students at off-campus classroom and laboratory sites generates a significantly higher revenue per student than we earn under our agreement with GCU, as these agreements generally provide us with a higher revenue share percentage, the partners have higher tuition rates than GCU and the majority of their students take more credits on average per semester. The increase in revenue per student in the three months ended June 30, 2024 was lessened somewhat by the timing of the Spring semester for the ground traditional campus. The Spring semester started one day earlier in 2024 than in 2023, which had the effect of shifting $2.1 million in service revenue from the second quarter of 2024 to the first quarter of 2024 in comparison to the prior year. In addition, contract modifications for some of our university partners in which the revenue share percentage was reduced in exchange for us no longer reimbursing the partner for certain faculty costs and the termination of one university partner contract at the end of the Spring 2024 semester had the effect of reducing revenue per student.

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Partner enrollments totaled 106,307 at June 30, 2024 as compared to 99,526 at June 30, 2023. University partner enrollments at our off-campus classroom and laboratory sites were 4,377, an increase of 12.1% over enrollments at June 30, 2023, which includes 746 and 350 GCU students at June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. We opened five new off-campus classroom and laboratory sites in the year ended December 31, 2023 and four sites in the three months ended June 30, 2024, increasing the total number of these sites to 43 at June 30, 2024. Enrollments for GCU ground students were 7,397 at June 30, 2024 up from 7,327 at June 30, 2023. GCU online enrollments were 95,279 at June 30, 2024, up from 88,645 at June 30, 2023, an increase of 7.5% between years. GCU enrollment declines between March 31 and June 30 of each year as ground enrollment at GCU at June 30 of each year only includes traditional-aged students taking summer school classes, which is a small percentage of GCU’s traditional-aged student body. The Spring semester for GCU’s traditional-aged student body ends near the end of April each year.

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Operating income for the three months ended June 30, 2024 was $42.7 million, an increase of $7.3 million as compared to $35.4 million for the same period in 2023. The operating margin for the three months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023 was 18.8% and 16.8%, respectively. The second quarter operating margin was negatively impacted on a year over year basis by the timing difference between years in the start of the Spring semester for GCU’s ground traditional campus and $1.1 million in severance costs recorded in the quarter related to an executive that resigned effective June 30, 2024.

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Income tax expense for the three months ended June 30, 2024 was $12.0 million, an increase of $2.9 million, or 32.0%, as compared to income tax expense of $9.1 million for the three months ended June 30, 2023. Our effective tax rate was 25.5% during the second quarter of 2024 compared to 23.8% during the second quarter of 2023. The effective tax rate increased year over year due to higher state income taxes.

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Net income increased 20.4% to $34.9 million for the second quarter of 2024, compared to $29.0 million for the same period in 2023. As adjusted net income was $37.3 million and $30.6 million for the second quarters of 2024 and 2023, respectively.

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Diluted net income per share was $1.19 and $0.96 for the second quarters of 2024 and 2023, respectively. As adjusted diluted net income per share was $1.27 and $1.01 for the second quarters of 2024 and 2023, respectively.

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Adjusted EBITDA increased 22.6% to $58.5 million for the second quarter of 2024, compared to $47.7 million for the same period in 2023.

For the six months ended June 30, 2024:

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Service revenue for the six months ended June 30, 2024 was $502.1 million, an increase of $41.4 million, or 9.0%, as compared to service revenue of $460.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2023. The increase year over year in service revenue was primarily due to an increase in GCU enrollments to 102,676 at June 30, 2024, an increase of 7.0% over enrollments at June 30, 2023, an increase in university partner enrollments at our off-campus classroom and laboratory sites to 4,377 at June 30, 2024, an increase of 12.1% over enrollments at June 30, 2023, which includes 746 and 350 GCU students at June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, and an increase in revenue per student year over year. The increase in revenue per student between years is primarily due to the service revenue impact of the increased room, board and other ancillary revenues at GCU in the six months ended June 30, 2024 as compared to the prior year period. In addition, service revenue per student for ABSN students at off-campus classroom and laboratory sites generates a significantly higher revenue per student than we earn under our agreement with GCU, as these agreements generally provide us with a higher revenue share percentage, the partners have higher tuition rates than GCU and the majority of their students take more credits on average per semester. The additional day for leap year in 2024 added additional service revenue of $1.5 million as compared to the prior year. Contract modifications for some of our university partners in which the revenue share percentage was reduced in exchange for us no longer reimbursing the partner for certain faculty costs and the termination of one university partner contract at the end of the Spring 2024 semester had the effect of reducing revenue per student.

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Operating income for the six months ended June 30, 2024 was $127.2 million, an increase of $17.3 million as compared to $109.9 million for the same period in 2023. The operating margin for the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023 was 25.3% and 23.9%, respectively. The six months ended June 30, 2024 operating margin was positively impacted on a year over year basis by an extra day in 2024 for leap year and was negatively impacted by $1.1 million recorded in the second quarter related to an executive that resigned effective June 30, 2024.

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Income tax expense for the six months ended June 30, 2024 was $32.1 million, an increase of $6.0 million, or 23.2%, as compared to income tax expense of $26.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2023. Our effective tax rate was 23.8% during the six months ended June 30, 2024 compared to 22.8% during the six months ended June 30, 2023. Although the effective tax rate was favorably impacted in the six months ended June 30, 2024 by excess tax benefits of $1.5 million as compared to $0.9 million in the six months ended June 30, 2023, the effective tax rate increased year over year due to higher state income taxes.

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Net income increased 16.2% to $102.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2024, compared to $88.5 million for the same period in 2023. As adjusted net income was $107.0 million and $91.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively.

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Diluted net income per share was $3.48 and $2.91 for the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. As adjusted diluted net income per share was $3.62 and $3.02 for the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively.

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Adjusted EBITDA increased 16.9% to $157.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2024, compared to $134.4 million for the same period in 2023.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Our liquidity position, as measured by cash and cash equivalents and investments increased by $97.3 million between December 31, 2023 and June 30, 2024, which was largely attributable to cash flows from operations for the six months ended June 30, 2024 exceeding share repurchases, changes in our investment balances and capital expenditures during the six months ended June 30, 2024. Our unrestricted cash and cash equivalents and investments were $341.8 million and $244.5 million at June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively.

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Grand Canyon Education, Inc. Reports Second Quarter 2024 Results and Full Year Outlook 2024

2024 Outlook

Q3 2024:

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Service revenue of between $238.0 million and $240.5 million;

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Operating margin of between 19.7% and 20.4%;

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Effective tax rate of 20.8%;

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Diluted EPS of between $1.37 and $1.43; and

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29.1 million diluted shares.

The diluted EPS guidance includes non-cash amortization of intangible assets net of taxes of $1.7 million, which equates to a $0.06 impact on diluted EPS. Thus, as adjusted, Non-GAAP diluted income per share of between $1.43 and $1.49.

Q4 2024:

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Service revenue of between $286.5 million and $291.5 million;

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Operating margin of between 34.7% and 35.7%;

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Effective tax rate of 21.7%;

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Diluted EPS of between $2.78 and $2.91; and

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28.9 million diluted shares.

The diluted EPS guidance includes non-cash amortization of intangible assets net of taxes of $1.6 million, which equates to a $0.06 impact on diluted EPS. Thus, as adjusted, Non-GAAP diluted income per share of between $2.84 and $2.97.

Full Year 2024:

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Service revenue of between $1,026.6 million and $1,034.1 million;

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Operating margin of between 26.7% and 27.2%;

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Effective tax rate of 22.4%;

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Diluted EPS between $7.63 and $7.81; and

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29.3 million diluted shares.

The diluted EPS guidance includes non-cash amortization of intangible assets net of taxes of $6.6 million and $0.9 million of severance costs, which equates to a $0.26 impact on diluted EPS. Thus, as adjusted, Non-GAAP diluted income per share of between $7.88 and $8.07.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains “forward-looking statements” which include information relating to future events, future financial performance, strategies expectations, competitive environment, regulation, and availability of resources. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements regarding: proposed new programs; whether regulatory, economic, or business developments or other matters may or may not have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations, or liquidity; projections, predictions, expectations, estimates, and forecasts as to our business, financial and operating results, and future economic performance; and management’s goals and objectives and other similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts. Words such as “may,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “predicts,” “potential,” “continue,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates” and similar expressions, the negative of these expressions, as well as statements in future tense, identify forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements should not be read as a guarantee of future performance or results and will not necessarily be accurate indications of the times at, or by, which such performance or results will be achieved. Forward-looking statements are based on information available at the time those statements are made or management’s good faith belief as of that time with respect to future events and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual performance or results to differ materially from those expressed in or suggested by the forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause our actual performance or results to differ materially from those expressed in or suggested by the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: legal and regulatory actions taken against our university partners that impact their businesses and that directly or indirectly reduce the service revenue we can earn under our master services agreements; the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance that could give rise to the termination of any of the key university partner agreements; our ability to properly manage risks and challenges associated with strategic initiatives, including potential acquisitions or divestitures of, or investments in, new businesses, acquisitions of new properties and new university partners, and expansion of

Grand Canyon Education, Inc. Reports Second Quarter 2024 Results

GRAND CANYON EDUCATION, INC.

Consolidated Income Statements

(Unaudited)


	Three Months Ended				Six Months Ended
	June 30,				June 30,
	2024		2023		2024		2023
(In thousands, except per share data)
Service revenue	$	227,463	$	210,577	$	502,138	$	460,702
Costs and expenses:
Technology and academic services		41,001		38,957		80,126		76,469
Counseling services and support		78,107		72,392		160,991		145,741
Marketing and communication		52,895		50,806		108,248		103,700
General and administrative		10,636		10,875		21,366		20,663
Amortization of intangible assets		2,105		2,105		4,210		4,210
Total costs and expenses		184,744		175,135		374,941		350,783
Operating income		42,719		35,442		127,197		109,919
Interest expense		(2)		(7)		(4)		(26)
Investment interest and other		4,112		2,590		7,841		4,743
Income before income taxes		46,829		38,025		135,034		114,636
Income tax expense		11,951		9,052		32,146		26,099
Net income	$	34,878	$	28,973	$	102,888	$	88,537
Earnings per share:
Basic income per share	$	1.19	$	0.96	$	3.50	$	2.92
Diluted income per share	$	1.19	$	0.96	$	3.48	$	2.91
Basic weighted average shares outstanding		29,285		30,183		29,372		30,321
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding		29,415		30,287		29,527		30,462

Grand Canyon Education, Inc. Reports Second Quarter 2024 Results

GRAND CANYON EDUCATION, INC.

Consolidated Balance Sheets


	As of June 30,		As of December 31,
(In thousands, except par value)	2024		2023
ASSETS:		(Unaudited)
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$	241,317	$	146,475
Investments		100,498		98,031
Accounts receivable, net		29,454		78,811
Income taxes receivable		5,504		1,316
Other current assets		13,052		12,889
Total current assets		389,825		337,522
Property and equipment, net		173,827		169,699
Right-of-use assets		101,893		92,454
Amortizable intangible assets, net		164,171		168,381
Goodwill		160,766		160,766
Other assets		2,209		1,641
Total assets	$	992,691	$	930,463
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY:
Current liabilities
Accounts payable	$	22,466	$	17,676
Accrued compensation and benefits		33,776		31,358
Accrued liabilities		31,935		26,725
Income taxes payable		94		10,250
Deferred revenue		7,216		—
Current portion of lease liability		11,980		11,024
Total current liabilities		107,467		97,033
Deferred income taxes, noncurrent		26,992		26,749
Other long-term liabilities		1,538		410
Lease liability, less current portion		97,499		88,257
Total liabilities		233,496		212,449
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders’ equity
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value, 10,000 shares authorized; 0 shares issued and outstanding at June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023		—		—
Common stock, $0.01 par value, 100,000 shares authorized; 54,090 and 53,970 shares issued and 29,549 and 29,953 shares outstanding at June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively		541		540
Treasury stock, at cost, 24,541 and 24,017 shares of common stock at June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively		(1,918,810)		(1,849,693)
Additional paid-in capital		329,990		322,512
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(126)		(57)
Retained earnings		2,347,600		2,244,712
Total stockholders’ equity		759,195		718,014
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	992,691	$	930,463

Grand Canyon Education, Inc. Reports Second Quarter 2024 Results

GRAND CANYON EDUCATION, INC.

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(Unaudited)


	Six Months Ended
	June 30,
(In thousands)	2024		2023

Cash flows provided by operating activities:
Net income	$	102,888	$	88,537
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Share-based compensation		7,479		6,622
Depreciation and amortization		13,581		10,939
Amortization of intangible assets		4,210		4,210
Deferred income taxes		266		1,160
Other, including fixed asset disposals		(457)		842
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable from university partners		49,357		52,731
Other assets		(749)		(1,332)
Right-of-use assets and lease liabilities		759		787
Accounts payable		4,986		2,323
Accrued liabilities		8,334		(460)
Income taxes receivable/payable		(14,344)		(18,341)
Deferred revenue		7,216		9,110
Net cash provided by operating activities		183,526		157,128
Cash flows used in investing activities:
Capital expenditures		(17,933)		(17,599)
Additions of amortizable content		(170)		(488)
Purchases of investments		(48,594)		(73,807)
Proceeds from sale or maturity of investments		46,708		43,837
Net cash used in investing activities		(19,989)		(48,057)
Cash flows used in financing activities:
Repurchase of common shares and shares withheld in lieu of income taxes		(68,695)		(86,555)
Net cash used in financing activities		(68,695)		(86,555)
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash		94,842		22,516
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period		146,475		120,409
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period	$	241,317	$	142,925
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information
Cash paid for interest	$	4	$	26
Cash paid for income taxes	$	44,220	$	42,460
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing and financing activities
Purchases of property and equipment included in accounts payable	$	1,713	$	1,644
ROU Asset and Liability recognition	$	9,439	$	3,727
Excise tax on treasury stock repurchases	$	422	$	641

Grand Canyon Education, Inc. Reports Second Quarter 2024 Results

GRAND CANYON EDUCATION, INC.

Adjusted EBITDA (Non-GAAP Financial Measure)

Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net income plus interest expense, less interest income and other gain (loss) recognized on investments, plus income tax expense, and plus depreciation and amortization (EBITDA), as adjusted for (i) contributions to private Arizona school tuition organizations in lieu of the payment of state income taxes; (ii) share-based compensation, and (iii) unusual charges or gains, such as litigation and regulatory reserves, impairment charges and asset write-offs, severance costs, and exit or lease termination costs. We present Adjusted EBITDA because we consider it to be an important supplemental measure of our operating performance. We also make certain compensation decisions based, in part, on our operating performance, as measured by Adjusted EBITDA. All of the adjustments made in our calculation of Adjusted EBITDA are adjustments to items that management does not consider to be reflective of our core operating performance. Management considers our core operating performance to be that which can be affected by our managers in any particular period through their management of the resources that affect our underlying revenue and profit generating operations during that period and does not consider the items for which we make adjustments (as listed above) to be reflective of our core performance.

We believe Adjusted EBITDA allows us to compare our current operating results with corresponding historical periods and with the operational performance of other companies in our industry because it does not give effect to potential differences caused by variations in capital structures (affecting relative interest expense, including the impact of write-offs of deferred financing costs when companies refinance their indebtedness), tax positions (such as the impact on periods or companies of changes in effective tax rates or net operating losses), the book amortization of intangibles (affecting relative amortization expense), and other items that we do not consider reflective of underlying operating performance. We also present Adjusted EBITDA because we believe it is frequently used by securities analysts, investors, and other interested parties as a measure of performance.

In evaluating Adjusted EBITDA, investors should be aware that in the future we may incur expenses similar to the adjustments described above. Our presentation of Adjusted EBITDA should not be construed as an inference that our future results will be unaffected by expenses that are unusual, non-routine, or non-recurring. Adjusted EBITDA has limitations as an analytical tool in that, among other things it does not reflect:

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cash expenditures for capital expenditures or contractual commitments;

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changes in, or cash requirements for, our working capital requirements;

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interest expense, or the cash required to replace assets that are being depreciated or amortized; and

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the impact on our reported results of earnings or charges resulting from the items for which we make adjustments to our EBITDA, as described above and set forth in the table below.

In addition, other companies, including other companies in our industry, may calculate these measures differently than we do, limiting the usefulness of Adjusted EBITDA as a comparative measure. Because of these limitations, Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered as a substitute for net income, operating income, or any other performance measure derived in accordance with and reported under GAAP, or as an alternative to cash flow from operating activities or as a measure of our liquidity. We compensate for these limitations by relying primarily on our GAAP results and only use Adjusted EBITDA as a supplemental performance measure.

The following table provides a reconciliation of net income to Adjusted EBITDA, which is a non-GAAP measure for the periods indicated:


	Three Months Ended				Six Months Ended
	June 30,				June 30,
	2024		2023		2024		2023

	(Unaudited, in thousands)					(Unaudited, in thousands)
Net income	$	34,878	$	28,973	$	102,888	$	88,537
Plus: interest expense		2		7		4		26
Less: investment interest and other		(4,112)		(2,590)		(7,841)		(4,743)
Plus: income tax expense		11,951		9,052		32,146		26,099
Plus: amortization of intangible assets		2,105		2,105		4,210		4,210
Plus: depreciation and amortization		6,928		5,402		13,581		10,939
EBITDA		51,752		42,949		144,988		125,068
Plus: loss on fixed asset disposal		44		54		44		135
Plus: litigation and regulatory reserves		1,601		1,474		3,471		2,547
Plus: severance costs		1,133		—		1,133		—
Plus: share-based compensation		3,996		3,253		7,479		6,622
Adjusted EBITDA	$	58,526	$	47,730	$	157,115	$	134,372

Non-GAAP Net Income and Non-GAAP Diluted Income Per Share

The Company believes the presentation of non-GAAP net income and non-GAAP diluted income per share information that excludes amortization of intangible assets, loss on disposal of fixed assets and severance costs allows investors to develop a more meaningful understanding of the Company’s performance over time. Accordingly, for the six-months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, the table below provides reconciliations of these non-GAAP items to GAAP net income and GAAP diluted income per share, respectively:


		Three Months Ended					Six Months Ended
		June 30,					June 30,
		2024		2023		2024		2023

	(Unaudited, in thousands except per share data)
GAAP Net income		$	34,878	$	28,973	$	102,888	$	88,537
Amortization of intangible assets			2,105		2,105		4,210		4,210
Loss on disposal of fixed assets			44		54		44		135
Severance costs			1,133		—		1,133		—
Income tax effects of adjustments(1)			(837)		(515)		(1,282)		(989)
As Adjusted, Non-GAAP Net income		$	37,323	$	30,617	$	106,993	$	91,893

GAAP Diluted income per share		$	1.19	$	0.96	$	3.48	$	2.91
Amortization of intangible assets (2)			0.05		0.05		0.11		0.11
Loss on disposal of fixed assets (3)			0.00		0.00		0.00		0.00
Severance costs (4)			0.03		—		0.03		—
As Adjusted, Non-GAAP Diluted income per share		$	1.27	$	1.01	$	3.62	$	3.02

(1)

The income tax effects of adjustments are based on the effective income tax rate applicable to adjusted (non-GAAP) results.

(2)

The amortization of acquired intangible assets per diluted share is net of an income tax benefit of $0.02 for both of the three months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, and net of an income tax benefit of $0.03 for both of the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023.

(3)

The loss on disposal of fixed assets per diluted share is net of an income tax benefit of nil for both of the three months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, and net of an income tax benefit of nil for both of the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023.

(4)

The severance costs per diluted share is net of an income tax benefit of $0.01 for the three months ended June 30, 2024 and net of an income tax benefit of $0.01 for the six months ended June 30, 2024.