Climb Global Solutions Reports Second Quarter 2024 Results and Announces Acquisition of Douglas Stewart Software & Services, LLC

Rhea-AI Summary

Climb Global Solutions (NASDAQ:CLMB) reported strong Q2 2024 results with net sales up 13% to $92.1 million and net income more than doubling to $3.4 million. The company also announced the acquisition of Douglas Stewart Software & Services (DSS) for $20.3 million, establishing Climb as a leader in the North America education sector. Key highlights include:

- Adjusted gross billings increased 31% to $359.8 million
- Adjusted EBITDA up 48% to $6.9 million
- Quarterly dividend of $0.17 per share declared
- DSS acquisition expected to be accretive to earnings and Adjusted EBITDA

CEO Dale Foster attributed the growth to deepening vendor relationships, adding new technologies, and successful acquisitions. The DSS acquisition adds 20 new vendor partners and expands Climb's presence in the EdTech channel.

Positive

• Net sales increased 13% to $92.1 million in Q2 2024
• Net income more than doubled to $3.4 million or $0.75 per diluted share
• Adjusted gross billings increased 31% to $359.8 million
• Adjusted EBITDA increased 48% to $6.9 million
• Acquisition of DSS for $20.3 million, expanding presence in education sector
• DSS reported adjusted EBITDA of $5.3 million, up 10% year-over-year
• Strong cash position with $48.4 million in cash and cash equivalents

Negative

• SG&A expenses increased to $13.0 million from $11.6 million in the year-ago period
• Earnings per diluted share negatively impacted by $0.03 in FX compared to prior year quarter

Insights

Financial Analyst

Climb Global Solutions' Q2 2024 results show impressive growth across key financial metrics. Net sales increased 13% to $92.1 million, while net income more than doubled to $3.4 million. The 48% increase in Adjusted EBITDA to $6.9 million indicates improved operational efficiency.

The acquisition of DSS is a strategic move to expand Climb's presence in the education sector. With DSS's 85%+ vendor retention rate and $5.3 million in adjusted EBITDA, this acquisition should be immediately accretive to Climb's earnings. The $20.3 million purchase price seems reasonable given DSS's profitability and growth potential.

Climb's strong balance sheet, with $48.4 million in cash and minimal debt, positions the company well for future growth and potential acquisitions. The increased quarterly dividend of $0.17 per share reflects management's confidence in the company's financial health and future prospects.

Market Research Analyst

The acquisition of DSS marks a significant shift in Climb's market positioning. By entering the North American education sector, Climb is tapping into a lucrative and stable market. The EdTech industry has seen substantial growth, especially post-pandemic, with increased adoption of digital learning tools.

DSS's relationships with over 500 value-added resellers and 250 campus stores provide Climb with an extensive distribution network in the education sector. This move aligns with the trend of IT distributors diversifying into specialized markets to drive growth and improve margins.

The addition of 20 new vendor partners, including industry leaders like Adobe, enhances Climb's product portfolio and could lead to cross-selling opportunities across its existing customer base. The focus on subscription-based software licensing aligns with the industry shift towards recurring revenue models, potentially providing more stable and predictable revenue streams for Climb in the future.

Tech Expert

Climb's acquisition of DSS is a strategic move in the rapidly evolving EdTech landscape. The education sector's increasing reliance on technology, accelerated by remote learning trends, presents significant growth opportunities. DSS's expertise in software distribution for both K-12 and higher education markets positions Climb to capitalize on this trend.

The mention of cloud marketplace initiatives is particularly noteworthy. As educational institutions increasingly adopt cloud-based solutions for scalability and accessibility, Climb's enhanced capabilities in this area could drive substantial growth. The integration of DSS's specialized knowledge with Climb's existing infrastructure could result in innovative EdTech solutions.

The acquisition also brings valuable partnerships with cutting-edge EdTech vendors like Go Guardian and Incident IQ. These relationships could help Climb stay at the forefront of educational technology trends, such as AI-powered learning tools and advanced security solutions for digital classrooms.

Net Sales up 13% to $92.1 Million; Net Income up more than 2x to $3.4 Million or $0.75 per Share; Adjusted EBITDA up 48% to $6.9 Million

Acquisition Establishes Climb as a Leader in the North America Education Sector While Expanding its Product Offerings

Transaction Expected to be Accretive to Earnings per Share and Adjusted EBITDA

EATONTOWN, N.J., Aug. 06, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Climb Global Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ:CLMB) (“Climb”, the “Company”, “we”, or “our”), a value-added global IT channel company providing unique sales and distribution solutions for innovative technology vendors, is reporting results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2024. The Company is also announcing the acquisition of Douglas Stewart Software & Services, LLC (“DSS”), a leading specialist distributor of software to the education market in North America.

Second Quarter 2024 Summary vs. Same Year-Ago Quarter

• Net sales increased 13% to $92.1 million.
• Adjusted gross billings (a non-GAAP financial measure defined below) increased 31% to $359.8 million.
• Net income increased more than 2x to $3.4 million or $0.75 per diluted share.
• Adjusted net income (a non-GAAP financial measure defined below) increased 19% to $3.8 million or $0.83 per diluted share.
• Adjusted EBITDA (a non-GAAP financial measure defined below) increased 48% to $6.9 million.
  

Management Commentary

“Our Q2 results were highlighted by another period of solid growth and improved profitability as we generated a double-digit increase in net sales and material increases in adjusted gross billings, net income and adjusted EBITDA,” said CEO Dale Foster. “This was driven by the continued execution of our core strategy – generating organic growth by deepening relationships with existing vendors, signing new cutting-edge technologies to our line card, and delivering on our acquisition objectives.

“Today, we are also announcing the acquisition of Wisconsin-based IT distributor DSS, adding scale and expertise to our N.A. operations along with 20 new vendor partners including Adobe, Go Guardian and Incident IQ. DSS has delivered consistent growth through a subscription-based software licensing model, built on an 85%+ retention rate for its strategic vendor partners’ offerings. DSS is a proven leader in the EdTech channel and provides services to more than 500 value-added resellers and 250 campus stores across N.A. in both the K-12 and higher education markets. We are pleased to welcome Chuck Hulan and his team to the Climb family and look forward to unlocking synergies and cross-selling opportunities while advancing shared cloud marketplace initiatives as we integrate DSS into our platform in the months ahead.

“As we enter the back half of the year, we have a solid foundation in place to continue driving strong organic growth while further improving operating leverage through the recent implementation of our new ERP. As we move into 2025, we anticipate the increased amortization expense associated with the ERP will be offset through planned operating synergies in our global platform. We will also continue to evaluate M&A opportunities that can enhance our service and solutions, in addition to our geographic footprint. These initiatives along with our robust balance sheet will enable us to deliver on both our organic and inorganic growth objectives in 2024 and beyond.”

Dividend

Subsequent to quarter end, on August 6, 2024, Climb’s Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.17 per share of its common stock payable on August 22, 2024, to shareholders of record on August 16, 2024.

Second Quarter 2024 Financial Results

Net sales in the second quarter of 2024 increased 13% to $92.1 million compared to $81.7 million for the same period in 2023. This reflects organic growth from new and existing vendors, as well as contribution from the Company’s acquisition of DataSolutions Holdings Limited (“DataSolutions”) in October 2023. In addition, adjusted gross billings in the second quarter of 2024 increased 31% to $359.8 million compared to $274.7 million in the year-ago period.

Gross profit in the second quarter of 2024 increased 36% to $18.6 million compared to $13.7 million for the same period in 2023. The increase was driven by organic growth from new and existing vendors in both North America and Europe, as well as contribution from DataSolutions.

Selling, general, and administrative (“SG&A”) expenses in the second quarter of 2024 were $13.0 million compared to $11.6 million in the year-ago period. DataSolutions represented the majority of the increase at $1.3 million. SG&A as a percentage of adjusted gross billings decreased to 3.6% for the second quarter of 2024 compared to 4.2% in the year-ago period.

Net income in the second quarter of 2024 increased more than 2x to $3.4 million or $0.75 per diluted share, compared to $1.4 million or $0.31 per diluted share for the same period in 2023. Adjusted net income increased 19% to $3.8 million or $0.83 per diluted share, compared to $3.2 million or $0.72 per diluted share for the year-ago period. The Company’s earnings per diluted share in the second quarter of 2024 were negatively impacted by $0.03 in FX compared to the prior year quarter.

Adjusted EBITDA in the second quarter of 2024 increased 48% to $6.9 million compared to $4.7 million for the same period in 2023. The increase was primarily driven by organic growth from both new and existing vendors, as well as contribution from the Company’s acquisition of DataSolutions. Effective margin, which is defined as adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of gross profit, increased 310 basis points to 37.3% compared to 34.2% for the same period in 2023.

On June 30, 2024, cash and cash equivalents were $48.4 million compared to $36.3 million on December 31, 2023, while working capital increased by $2.8 million during this period. The increase in cash was primarily attributed to DataSolutions cash balance and the timing of receivable collections and payables. Climb had $1.0 million of outstanding debt on June 30, 2024, with no borrowings outstanding under its $50 million revolving credit facility.

For more information on the non-GAAP financial measures discussed in this press release, please see the section titled, “Non-GAAP Financial Measures,” and the reconciliations of non-GAAP financial measures to their nearest comparable GAAP financial measures at the end of this press release.

Acquisition of Douglas Stewart Software & Services, LLC

Climb closed on the acquisition of DSS on July 31, 2024, for an aggregate purchase price of $20.3 million payable at closing (subject to working capital and other adjustments), plus a potential post-closing earn-out. Climb funded the acquisition of DSS utilizing cash from the Company’s balance sheet.

DSS is a Wisconsin-based, specialist IT distributor focused on SaaS solutions for education customers serving resellers in the North America reseller market and was a separate division of the privately-held Douglas Stewart Company. For the trailing twelve months ended June 30, 2024, DSS reported adjusted EBITDA of approximately $5.3 million, which was up 10% over the same period in the prior year.

Conference Call

The Company will conduct a conference call tomorrow, August 7, 2024, at 8:30 a.m. Eastern time to discuss its results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2024.

Climb management will host the conference call, followed by a question-and-answer period.

Date: Wednesday, August 7, 2024
Time: 8:30 a.m. Eastern time
Toll-free dial-in number: (800) 245-3047
International dial-in number: (203) 518-9765
Conference ID: CLIMB
Webcast: Climb’s Q2 2024 Conference Call

If you have any difficulty registering or connecting with the conference call, please contact Elevate IR at (720) 330-2829.

The conference call will also be available for replay on the investor relations section of the Company’s website at www.climbglobalsolutions.com.

About Climb Global Solutions

Climb Global Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ:CLMB) is a value-added global IT distribution and solutions company specializing in emerging and innovative technologies. Climb operates across the US, Canada and Europe through multiple business units, including Climb Channel Solutions, Grey Matter and Climb Global Services. The Company provides IT distribution and solutions for companies in the Security, Data Management, Connectivity, Storage & HCI, Virtualization & Cloud, and Software & ALM industries.

Additional information can be found by visiting www.climbglobalsolutions.com.

About Douglas Stewart Software & Services, LLC

DSS is a trusted expert in educational technology, spanning back over 37 years. With decades of experience and a commitment to innovation, DSS continues to lead the way in delivering cutting-edge solutions to empower educators and enhance learning experiences. DSS stands at the forefront of education technology distribution in North America.

Operating as a dynamic business unit of the Douglas Stewart Company, where education has been a focus since 1950, DSS works with top-tier Edtech providers to deliver solutions to K-12, Higher Ed, & Non-Profits through 800+ reseller partners. DSS was established in 2021 to cater to the distinct requirements of software subscription licensing (Software as a Service/SaaS) in North America.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Climb Global Solutions uses non-GAAP financial measures, including adjusted gross billings, adjusted net income and adjusted EBITDA, as supplemental measures of the performance of the Company’s business. Use of these financial measures has limitations, and you should not consider them in isolation or use them as substitutes for analysis of Climb’s financial results under generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”). The attached tables provide definitions of these measures and a reconciliation of each non-GAAP financial measure to the most nearly comparable measure under U.S. GAAP.

Forward-Looking Statements

The statements in this release, other than statements of historical fact, are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and are intended to come within the safe harbor protection provided by those sections. These forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties. Many of the forward-looking statements may be identified by words such as ”look forward,” “believes,” “expects,” “intends,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “estimates,” “projects,” “forecasts,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “will,” “confident,” “may,” “can,” “potential,” “possible,” “proposed,” “in process,” “under construction,” “in development,” “opportunity,” “target,” “outlook,” “maintain,” “continue,” “goal,” “aim,” “commit,” or similar expressions, or when we discuss our priorities, strategy, goals, vision, mission, opportunities, projections, intentions or expectations. In this press release, the forward-looking statements relate to, among other things, declaring and reaffirming our strategic goals, future operating results, and the effects and potential benefits of the strategic acquisition on our business. Factors, among others, that could cause actual results and events to differ materially from those described in any forward-looking statements include, without limitation, our ability to recognize the anticipated benefits of the acquisition of Douglas Stewart Software & Services, LLC, the continued acceptance of the Company’s distribution channel by vendors and customers, the timely availability and acceptance of new products, product mix, market conditions, competitive pricing pressures, the successful integration of acquisitions, contribution of key vendor relationships and support programs, inflation, as well as factors that affect the software industry in general. The forward-looking statements contained herein are also subject generally to other risks and uncertainties that are described in the section entitled “Risk Factors” contained in Item 1A. of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, and from time to time in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Company Contact

Drew Clark
Chief Financial Officer
(732) 389-0932
Drew@ClimbGS.com

Investor Relations Contact

Sean Mansouri, CFA
Elevate IR
(720) 330-2829
CLMB@elevate-ir.com

CLIMB GLOBAL SOLUTIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Unaudited)
(Amounts in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
	June 30, 2024				December 31, 2023
ASSETS
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$	48,363			$	36,295
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $626 and $709, respectively		181,010				222,269
Inventory, net		1,608				3,741
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		5,816				6,755
Total current assets		236,797				269,060
Equipment and leasehold improvements, net		10,954				8,850
Goodwill		26,893				27,182
Other intangibles, net		25,182				26,930
Right-of-use assets, net		750				878
Accounts receivable long-term, net		752				797
Other assets		974				1,077
Deferred income tax assets		468				324
Total assets	$	302,770			$	335,098
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	$	214,584			$	249,648
Lease liability, current portion		468				450
Term loan, current portion		550				540
Total current liabilities		215,602				250,638
Lease liability, net of current portion		666				879
Deferred income tax liabilities		5,463				5,554
Term loan, net of current portion		474				752
Non-current liabilities		735				2,505
Total liabilities		222,940				260,328
Stockholders' equity
Common stock, $.01 par value; 10,000,000 shares authorized, 5,284,500 shares issued, and 4,611,527 and 4,573,448 shares outstanding, respectively		53				53
Additional paid-in capital		35,738				34,647
Treasury stock, at cost, 672,973 and 711,052 shares, respectively		(12,462	)			(12,623	)
Retained earnings		57,862				53,215
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(1,361	)			(522	)
Total stockholders' equity		79,830				74,770
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$	302,770			$	335,098

CLIMB GLOBAL SOLUTIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS
(Unaudited)
(Amounts in thousands, except per share data)
	Six months ended							Three months ended
	June 30,							June 30,
		2024				2023			2024				2023
Net Sales	$	184,498			$	166,771		$	92,076			$	81,732
Cost of sales, excluding depreciation and amortization expense		148,921				137,870			73,518				68,039
Gross profit		35,577				28,901			18,558				13,693
Selling, general and administrative expenses		25,496				21,806			12,974				11,567
Depreciation & amortization expense		1,736				1,317			865				604
Acquisition related costs		592				31			469				9
Total selling, general and administrative expenses		27,824				23,154			14,308				12,180
Income from operations		7,753				5,747			4,250				1,513
Interest, net		557				441			354				330
Foreign currency transaction gain (loss)		(246	)			40			(162	)			(4	)
Income before provision for income taxes		8,064				6,228			4,442				1,839
Provision for income taxes		1,903				1,523			1,012				458
Net income	$	6,161			$	4,705		$	3,430			$	1,381
Income per common share - Basic	$	1.35			$	1.05		$	0.75			$	0.31
Income per common share - Diluted	$	1.35			$	1.05		$	0.75			$	0.31
Weighted average common shares outstanding - Basic		4,449				4,381			4,461				4,396
Weighted average common shares outstanding - Diluted		4,449				4,381			4,461				4,396
Dividends paid per common share	$	0.34			$	0.34		$	0.17			$	0.17

Reconciliation of GAAP and Non-GAAP Financial Measures (unaudited)
(Amounts in thousands, except per share data)

 

The table below presents net sales reconciled to Adjusted Gross Billings (Non-GAAP) (1):

	Six months ended								Three months ended
	June 30,				June 30,				June 30,				June 30,
		2024				2023				2024				2023
Net sales	$	184,498			$	166,771			$	92,076			$	81,732
Costs of sales related to sales where the Company is an agent		530,612				414,653				267,765				192,980
Adjusted gross billings (Non-GAAP)	$	715,110			$	581,424			$	359,841			$	274,712

(1) We define adjusted gross billings as net sales in accordance with US GAAP, adjusted for the cost of sales related to sales where the Company is an agent. We provided a reconciliation of adjusted gross billings to net sales, which is the most directly comparable US GAAP measure. We use adjusted gross billings of product and services as a supplemental measure of our performance to gain insight into the volume of business generated by our business, and to analyze the changes to our accounts receivable and accounts payable. Our use of adjusted gross billings of product and services as analytical tools has limitations, and you should not consider them in isolation or as substitutes for analysis of our financial results as reported under US GAAP. In addition, other companies, including companies in our industry, might calculate adjusted gross billings of product and services or similarly titled measures differently, which may reduce their usefulness as comparative measures.

The table below presents net income reconciled to adjusted EBITDA (Non-GAAP) (2):

	Six months ended								Three months ended
	June 30,				June 30,				June 30,				June 30,
		2024				2023				2024				2023
Net income	$	6,161			$	4,705			$	3,430			$	1,381
Provision for income taxes		1,903				1,523				1,012				458
Depreciation and amortization		1,736				1,317				865				604
Interest expense		161				49				60				21
EBITDA		9,961				7,594				5,367				2,464
Share-based compensation		1,906				2,735				1,084				2,206
Acquisition related costs		592				31				469				9
Adjusted EBITDA	$	12,459			$	10,360			$	6,920			$	4,679
	Six months ended								Three months ended
	June 30,				June 30,				June 30,				June 30,
Components of interest, net		2024				2023				2024				2023
Amortization of discount on accounts receivable with extended payment terms	$	(17	)		$	(29	)		$	(11	)		$	(18	)
Interest income		(701	)			(461	)			(403	)			(333	)
Interest expense		161				49				60				21
Interest, net	$	(557	)		$	(441	)		$	(354	)		$	(330	)

(2) We define adjusted EBITDA, as net income, plus provision for income taxes, depreciation, amortization, share-based compensation, interest and acquisition related costs. We define effective margin as adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of gross profit. We provided a reconciliation of adjusted EBITDA to net income, which is the most directly comparable US GAAP measure. We use adjusted EBITDA as a supplemental measure of our performance to gain insight into our businesses profitability when compared to the prior year and our competitors. Adjusted EBITDA is also a component to our financial covenants in our credit facility. Our use of adjusted EBITDA has limitations, and you should not consider it in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of our financial results as reported under US GAAP. In addition, other companies, including companies in our industry, might calculate adjusted EBITDA, or similarly titled measures differently, which may reduce their usefulness as comparative measures.

The table below presents net income reconciled to adjusted net income (Non-GAAP) (3):

	Six months ended								Three months ended
	June 30,				June 30,				June 30,				June 30,
		2024				2023				2024				2023
Net income	$	6,161			$	4,705			$	3,430			$	1,381
Acquisition related costs, net of income taxes		444				23				352				7
One-time CEO stock grant		-				1,796				-				1,796
Adjusted net income	$	6,605			$	6,524			$	3,782			$	3,184
Adjusted net income per common share - diluted	$	1.45			$	1.47			$	0.83			$	0.72

(3) We define adjusted net income as net income excluding acquisition related costs, net of income taxes, and the stock compensation expense recognized for the one-time CEO stock grant. We provided a reconciliation of adjusted net income to net income, which is the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP measure. We use adjusted net income as a supplemental measure of our performance to gain insight into comparison of our businesses profitability when compared to the prior year. Our use of adjusted net income has limitations, and you should not consider it in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of our financial results as reported under U.S. GAAP. In addition, other companies, including companies in our industry, might calculate adjusted net income, or similarly titled measures differently, which may reduce their usefulness as comparative measures.

FAQ

What were Climb Global Solutions' (CLMB) key financial results for Q2 2024?

Climb Global Solutions reported net sales up 13% to $92.1 million, net income more than doubled to $3.4 million or $0.75 per share, and adjusted EBITDA up 48% to $6.9 million for Q2 2024.

What acquisition did Climb Global Solutions (CLMB) announce in August 2024?

Climb Global Solutions announced the acquisition of Douglas Stewart Software & Services (DSS) for $20.3 million, establishing Climb as a leader in the North America education sector.

How much did Climb Global Solutions' (CLMB) adjusted gross billings increase in Q2 2024?

Climb Global Solutions' adjusted gross billings increased 31% to $359.8 million in Q2 2024 compared to the same period in 2023.

What dividend did Climb Global Solutions (CLMB) declare for Q2 2024?

Climb Global Solutions declared a quarterly dividend of $0.17 per share of its common stock, payable on August 22, 2024, to shareholders of record on August 16, 2024.