"Consolidated revenues declined 7% year-over-year in the first quarter despite an estimated 18% decline in total mortgage origination market volumes. Our ability to leverage our platform to improve margins resulted in relatively flat Net Revenue (A) year-over-year. In fact, our U.S. Appraisal segment posted its highest Net Revenue (A) margin on record," said Real Matters Chief Executive Officer Brian Lang.
"Our U.S. Appraisal purchase and refinance revenues outperformed the estimated market decline in the first quarter, and we recorded a 16% year-over-year increase in Adjusted EBITDA (A) . U.S. Title Net Revenue (A) was up 18% year-over-year. We reported a consolidated Adjusted EBITDA (A) loss of $1.1M compared with a loss of $2.9 million in the first quarter of 2023 principally as a result of improved Adjusted EBITDA (A) in our U.S. Appraisal and U.S. Title segments and lower Corporate expenses," added Lang.
"We remain optimistic about our ability to improve our financial performance as the market recovers. Looking ahead, we continue to focus on positioning our business to scale when market conditions improve, continuing to win market share through performance and launching new clients," concluded Lang.
Q1 2024 Highlights
- Consolidated revenues of $35.4 million, down 7% from Q1'23 on lower addressable mortgage origination market volumes in all three segments
- Net Revenue (A) margins hit record high of 27.9% in U.S. Appraisal, up 90 basis points YoY
- Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA (A) loss of $1.1M compared with a loss of $2.9 million in Q1'23
- Net loss of $3.6 million compared with a net loss of $4.6 million in Q1'23
- Launched three new clients
- Sequential market share gains in U.S. Appraisal, U.S. Title and Canada
- Cash and cash equivalents of $45.1 million and no outstanding debt
Financial and Operational Summary
(millions of dollars) | | Quarter ended | | | | |
| | 2024 | | | 2023 | | | 2023 | | | 2023 | | | 2023 | | % Change |
| | Q1 | | | Q4 | | | Q3 | | | Q2 | | | Q1 | | Quarter over Quarter | | Year over Year |
Consolidated | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Revenue | $ | 35.4 | | | $ | 42.2 | | | $ | 46.0 | | | $ | 37.6 | | | $ | 38.2 | | | -16 | % | | -7 | % |
Net Revenue (A) | $ | 9.7 | | | $ | 11.2 | | | $ | 12.1 | | | $ | 9.9 | | | $ | 9.8 | | | -13 | % | | -1 | % |
Adjusted EBITDA (A) | $ | (1.1 | ) | | $ | 0.6 | | | $ | 1.7 | | | $ | (1.7 | ) | | $ | (2.9 | ) | | -280 | % | | 64 | % |
Net (loss) income | $ | (3.6 | ) | | $ | 1.6 | | | $ | (0.6 | ) | | $ | (2.6 | ) | | $ | (4.6 | ) | | -322 | % | | 22 | % |
Net (loss) income per diluted share | $ | (0.05 | ) | | $ | 0.02 | | | $ | (0.01 | ) | | $ | (0.04 | ) | | $ | (0.06 | ) | | -350 | % | | 17 | % |
Adjusted Net (loss) income (A) | $ | (1.2 | ) | | $ | 0.8 | | | $ | 1.0 | | | $ | (1.9 | ) | | $ | (2.1 | ) | | -241 | % | | 43 | % |
Adjusted Net (loss) income (A) per diluted share | $ | (0.02 | ) | | $ | 0.01 | | | $ | 0.01 | | | $ | (0.03 | ) | | $ | (0.03 | ) | | -300 | % | | 33 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
U.S. Appraisal segment | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Revenue | $ | 26.8 | | | $ | 31.2 | | | $ | 33.5 | | | $ | 28.0 | | | $ | 28.3 | | | -14 | % | | -5 | % |
Net Revenue (A) | $ | 7.5 | | | $ | 8.6 | | | $ | 9.2 | | | $ | 7.7 | | | $ | 7.6 | | | -13 | % | | -2 | % |
Net Revenue (A) margin | | 27.9 | % | | | 27.5 | % | | | 27.5 | % | | | 27.6 | % | | | 27.0 | % | | | | |
Adjusted EBITDA (A) | $ | 2.7 | | | $ | 3.9 | | | $ | 4.8 | | | $ | 3.1 | | | $ | 2.3 | | | -32 | % | | 16 | % |
Adjusted EBITDA (A) margin | | 35.8 | % | | | 46.0 | % | | | 52.0 | % | | | 40.6 | % | | | 30.4 | % | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
U.S. Title segment | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Revenue | $ | 2.0 | | | $ | 2.3 | | | $ | 2.6 | | | $ | 2.2 | | | $ | 2.4 | | | -13 | % | | -14 | % |
Net Revenue (A) | $ | 1.0 | | | | 1.0 | | | $ | 1.2 | | | | 0.8 | | | $ | 0.8 | | | -8 | % | | 18 | % |
Net Revenue (A) margin | | 47.3 | % | | | 45.0 | % | | | 45.2 | % | | | 36.8 | % | | | 34.7 | % | | | | |
Adjusted EBITDA (A) | $ | (1.6 | ) | | $ | (1.6 | ) | | $ | (1.6 | ) | | $ | (2.3 | ) | | $ | (2.9 | ) | | -2 | % | | 44 | % |
Adjusted EBITDA (A) margin | | -167.9 | % | | | -150.4 | % | | | -133.6 | % | | | -279.3 | % | | | -353.4 | % | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Canadian segment | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Revenue | $ | 6.6 | | | $ | 8.7 | | | $ | 9.9 | | | $ | 7.4 | | | $ | 7.5 | | | -24 | % | | -12 | % |
Net Revenue (A) | $ | 1.2 | | | $ | 1.6 | | | $ | 1.7 | | | $ | 1.4 | | | $ | 1.4 | | | -20 | % | | -8 | % |
Net Revenue (A) margin | | 18.8 | % | | | 17.9 | % | | | 17.6 | % | | | 18.7 | % | | | 17.9 | % | | | | |
Adjusted EBITDA (A) | $ | 0.7 | | | $ | 1.2 | | | $ | 1.3 | | | $ | 1.0 | | | $ | 0.9 | | | -38 | % | | -19 | % |
Adjusted EBITDA (A) margin | | 56.8 | % | | | 72.9 | % | | | 73.7 | % | | | 69.8 | % | | | 64.2 | % | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Corporate segment | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Adjusted EBITDA (A) | $ | (2.9 | ) | | $ | (2.9 | ) | | $ | (2.8 | ) | | $ | (3.5 | ) | | $ | (3.2 | ) | | 2 | % | | 9 | % |
Conference Call and Webcast
A conference call to review the results will take place at 10:00 a.m. (ET) on Thursday, February 1, 2024, hosted by Chief Executive Officer Brian Lang and Chief Financial Officer Rodrigo Pinto. An accompanying slide presentation will be posted to the Investor section of our website shortly before the call.
To access the call:
- Participant Local (Toronto): (416) 764-8624
- Participant Toll Free Dial-In Number: (888) 259-6580
- Conference ID: 41413358
To listen to the live webcast of the call:
The webcast will be archived and a transcript of the call will be available in the Investor section of our website following the call.
(A) Non-GAAP Measures
The non-GAAP measures used in this news release, including Net Revenue, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Net Income do not have a standardized meaning prescribed by International Financial Reporting Standards and are therefore unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers. These non-GAAP measures are more fully defined and discussed in the Company's MD&A for the three months ended December 31, 2023 under the heading "Non-GAAP measures", which is incorporated by reference in this Press Release and available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca .
Real Matters financial results for the three months ended December 31, 2023 are included in the unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements and the accompanying MD&A, each of which are available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca . In addition, supplemental information is available on our website at www.realmatters.com .
Net Revenue represents the difference between revenues and transaction costs. Net Revenue margin is calculated as Net Revenue divided by Revenues. The reconciling items between net income or loss and Net Revenue were as follows:
| | | | | | | | | Quarter ended |
| | | Q1 2024 | | | Q4 2023 | | | Q3 2023 | | | Q2 2023 | | | Q1 2023 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net (loss) income | | $ | (3.6 | ) | | $ | 1.6 | | | $ | (0.6 | ) | | $ | (2.6 | ) | | $ | (4.6 | ) |
Operating expenses | | | 11.6 | | | | 10.9 | | | | 10.7 | | | | 11.9 | | | | 13.2 | |
Amortization | | | 0.8 | | | | 0.9 | | | | 1.0 | | | | 1.0 | | | | 1.0 | |
Restructuring expenses | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 0.4 | | | | 1.3 | |
Interest expense | | | 0.1 | | | | 0.1 | | | | 0.1 | | | | 0.1 | | | | 0.1 | |
Interest income | | | (0.4 | ) | | | (0.3 | ) | | | (0.2 | ) | | | (0.2 | ) | | | (0.1 | ) |
Net foreign exchange loss (gain) | | | 2.0 | | | | (1.8 | ) | | | 1.8 | | | | 0.1 | | | | 1.0 | |
Gain on fair value of derivatives | | | (0.2 | ) | | | (0.1 | ) | | | (0.5 | ) | | | (0.3 | ) | | | - | |
Income tax recovery | | | (0.6 | ) | | | (0.1 | ) | | | (0.2 | ) | | | (0.5 | ) | | | (2.1 | ) |
Net Revenue | | $ | 9.7 | | | $ | 11.2 | | | $ | 12.1 | | | $ | 9.9 | | | $ | 9.8 | |
Adjusted EBITDA represents net income or loss before stock-based compensation expense, amortization, restructuring expenses, interest expense, interest income, net foreign exchange gain or loss, gain or loss on fair value of derivatives and income tax expense or recovery. Adjusted EBITDA margin is calculated as Adjusted EBITDA divided by Net Revenue. The reconciling items between net income or loss and Adjusted EBITDA were as follows:
| | | | | | | | | Quarter ended |
| | | Q1 2024 | | | Q4 2023 | | | Q3 2023 | | | Q2 2023 | | | Q1 2023 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net (loss) income | | $ | (3.6 | ) | | $ | 1.6 | | | $ | (0.6 | ) | | $ | (2.6 | ) | | $ | (4.6 | ) |
Stock-based compensation expense | | | 0.8 | | | | 0.3 | | | | 0.3 | | | | 0.3 | | | | 0.5 | |
Amortization | | | 0.8 | | | | 0.9 | | | | 1.0 | | | | 1.0 | | | | 1.0 | |
Restructuring expenses | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 0.4 | | | | 1.3 | |
Interest expense | | | 0.1 | | | | 0.1 | | | | 0.1 | | | | 0.1 | | | | 0.1 | |
Interest income | | | (0.4 | ) | | | (0.3 | ) | | | (0.2 | ) | | | (0.2 | ) | | | (0.1 | ) |
Net foreign exchange loss (gain) | | | 2.0 | | | | (1.8 | ) | | | 1.8 | | | | 0.1 | | | | 1.0 | |
Gain on fair value of derivatives | | | (0.2 | ) | | | (0.1 | ) | | | (0.5 | ) | | | (0.3 | ) | | | - | |
Income tax recovery | | | (0.6 | ) | | | (0.1 | ) | | | (0.2 | ) | | | (0.5 | ) | | | (2.1 | ) |
Adjusted EBITDA | | $ | (1.1 | ) | | $ | 0.6 | | | $ | 1.7 | | | $ | (1.7 | ) | | $ | (2.9 | ) |
The reconciling items between net income or loss and Adjusted Net Income or Loss were as follows:
| | | | | | | | | Quarter ended |
| | | Q1 2024 | | | Q4 2023 | | | Q3 2023 | | | Q2 2023 | | | Q1 2023 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net (loss) income | | $ | (3.6 | ) | | $ | 1.6 | | | $ | (0.6 | ) | | $ | (2.6 | ) | | $ | (4.6 | ) |
Stock-based compensation expense | | | 0.8 | | | | 0.3 | | | | 0.3 | | | | 0.3 | | | | 0.5 | |
Amortization of intangibles | | | 0.4 | | | | 0.4 | | | | 0.4 | | | | 0.4 | | | | 0.4 | |
Restructuring expenses | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 0.4 | | | | 1.3 | |
Net foreign exchange loss (gain) | | | 2.0 | | | | (1.8 | ) | | | 1.8 | | | | 0.1 | | | | 1.0 | |
Gain on fair value of derivatives | | | (0.2 | ) | | | (0.1 | ) | | | (0.5 | ) | | | (0.3 | ) | | | - | |
Related tax effects | | | (0.6 | ) | | | 0.4 | | | | (0.4 | ) | | | (0.2 | ) | | | (0.7 | ) |
Adjusted Net (Loss) Income | | $ | (1.2 | ) | | $ | 0.8 | | | $ | 1.0 | | | $ | (1.9 | ) | | $ | (2.1 | ) |
Forward-Looking Information
This Press Release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Words such as "could", "forecast", "target", "may", "will", "would", "expect", "anticipate", "estimate", "intend", "plan", "seek", "believe", "likely" and "predict" and variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking information, although not all forward-looking information contains these identifying words.
The forward-looking information in this Press Release includes statements which reflect the current expectations of management with respect to our business and the industry in which we operate and is based on management's experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors that management believes appropriate and reasonable in the circumstances. The forward-looking information reflects management's beliefs based on information currently available to management, including information obtained from third party sources, and should not be read as a guarantee of the occurrence or timing of any future events, performance or results.
The forward-looking information in this Press Release is subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that are difficult to predict and that could cause actual results to differ materially from historical results or results anticipated by the forward-looking information. A comprehensive discussion of the factors which could cause results or events to differ from current expectations can be found in the "Risk Factors" section of our Annual Information Form for the year ended September 30, 2023, which is available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca .
Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking information, which reflect our expectations only as of the date of this Press Release. Except as required by law, we do not undertake to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
About Real Matters
Real Matters is a leading network management services provider for the mortgage lending and insurance industries. Real Matters' platform combines its proprietary technology and network management capabilities with tens of thousands of independent qualified field professionals to create an efficient marketplace for the provision of mortgage lending and insurance industry services. Our clients include top 100 mortgage lenders in the U.S. and some of the largest banks and insurance companies in Canada. We are a leading independent provider of residential real estate appraisals to the mortgage market and a leading independent provider of title services in the U.S. Headquartered in Markham (ON), Real Matters has principal offices in Buffalo (NY) and Middletown (RI). Real Matters is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol REAL. For more information, visit www.realmatters.com .
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240201199915/en/
For more information:
Lyne Beauregard
Vice President, Investor Relations and Corporate Communications
Real Matters
lbeauregard@realmatters.com
416.994.5930
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