Comscore Reports Fourth Quarter and Full-Year 2018 Results

Comscore Reports Fourth Quarter and Full-Year 2018 ResultsTV and Cross-Platform Momentum Continues Alongside Reduction in Net Loss and Fourth Straight Quarter of Positive Adjusted EBITDA

RESTON, Va., Feb. 28, 2019 - Comscore, Inc. (NASDAQ: SCOR), a trusted partner for planning, transacting, and evaluating media across platforms, today reported financial results for the fourth quarter and full-year ended December 31, 2018.

Fourth Quarter 2018 Financial Highlights

Total year-over-year revenue growth for the fourth quarter of 6.2% to $109.3 million.

GAAP net loss of $27.2 million, or $(0.46) per share, compared to $71.9 million, or $(1.25) per share in the year-ago quarter.

Adjusted EBITDA of $6.3 million, compared to an adjusted EBITDA loss of $8.1 million in the year-ago quarter.

Full-Year 2018 Financial Highlights

Total year-over-year revenue growth of 3.9% to $419.5 million.

GAAP net loss of $159.3 million, or $(2.76) per share, compared to $281.4 million, or $(4.90) per share for the prior year.

Adjusted EBITDA of $16.4 million, compared to an adjusted EBITDA loss of $18.7 million for the prior year.

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash of $50.2 million, compared to $45.1 million as of December 31, 2017.

"In the fourth quarter, we continued to expand our customer relationships, drive revenue growth, and improve our cost structure while investing in product development, resulting in our fourth straight quarter of positive adjusted EBITDA," said Bryan Wiener, chief executive officer of Comscore. "We continue to benefit from shifts in the media landscape that demand a better solution and currency for measuring media across platforms. 2018 was a meaningful step forward in the transformation of Comscore, and we are now leveraging a stronger foundation to execute into 2019 and beyond."

Fourth Quarter Summary Results

Total revenue in the fourth quarter of 2018 was $109.3 million, up from $102.9 million in the year-ago quarter.

Ratings and Planning revenue increased to $74.8 million in the fourth quarter, compared to $71.6 million in the year-ago quarter. The increase was primarily from TV products due to increases in existing customer contract values as well as approximately $2.8 million related to the delivery of cross-platform products in Europe. The increase was offset by lower revenue in syndicated digital products; however, the rate of decline slowed to 1% on a sequential quarter basis.

Analytics and Optimization revenue increased to $23.9 million in the fourth quarter, compared to $20.8 million in the year-ago quarter. The increase was largely due to Activation products, which experienced significant growth, and delivery of digital customer marketing solutions.

Movies Reporting and Analytics revenue was $10.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2018 and $10.5 million in the year-ago quarter.

GAAP net loss for the fourth quarter of 2018 was $27.2 million, or $(0.46) per share, compared to $71.9 million, or $(1.25) per share reported in the year-ago quarter. The improvement was driven primarily by a reduction of investigation and audit related costs of $26.0 million; continued cost discipline in selling and marketing, research and development, and G&A; and the increase in revenue described above.

For the fourth quarter of 2018, Comscore generated non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA of $6.3 million, compared to a loss of $8.1 million in the year-ago quarter. Adjusted EBITDA excludes stock-based compensation expense; investigation, litigation and audit-related expense; restructuring expense; change in fair value of financing derivatives; and other items as presented in the accompanying tables.

Full-Year Summary Results

Total revenue for the full year 2018 was $419.5 million, up from $403.5 million for the prior year. The full year 2018 results include an additional $1.0 million in revenue as a result of the adoption of the new revenue standard ASC 606.

Ratings and Planning revenue increased to $285.4 million for the full year, compared to $278.1 million in the prior year. The increase was primarily from TV products due to increases in existing customer contract values as well as the establishment of stand-alone selling price over certain distinct performance obligations and the sale of cross platform products in Europe. The increase was offset by lower revenue in our syndicated digital products.

Analytics and Optimization revenue increased to $92.4 million for the full year, compared to $86.8 million in the prior year. Revenue increased due to emerging products, including Activation, which experienced significant growth in the latter part of 2018, but was partially offset by lower revenue from digital custom marketing solutions products.

Movies Reporting and Analytics revenue increased to $41.7 million for the full year, compared to $38.7 million in the prior year. The companys global footprint remained strong throughout the year.

GAAP net loss for the full year 2018 was $159.3 million, or $(2.76) per share, compared to $281.4 million, or $(4.90) per share reported in prior year. The decrease primarily related to lower litigation settlement costs, lower investigation and audit costs, and lower operating expenses, offset by higher interest expense on the companys senior secured convertible notes. The net loss for the full year 2018 included a $1.9 million positive impact as a result of the adoption of ASC 606.

For the full year 2018, Comscore generated non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA of $16.4 million, compared to an adjusted EBITDA loss of $18.7 million in the prior year.

Balance Sheet and Liquidity

As of December 31, 2018, total debt principal, composed of senior secured convertible notes, was $204.0 million. Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash as of December 31, 2018 were $50.2 million, including $6.1 million in restricted cash.

Conference Call Information for Today, Thur

LINK:	https://www.comscore.com/Insights/Press-Releases/2019/2/Comscore-Repor...
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