PRESS RELEASE

WASHINGTON, July 26, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CoStar Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:CSGP), the leading provider of commercial real estate information, analytics and online marketplaces, announced today that revenue for the quarter ended June 30, 2017 was $237 million, an increase of 15% over revenue of $207 million in the second quarter of 2016. Company-wide net bookings were a record $37 million in the second quarter of 2017.

“We had an exceptional first half of 2017 and I am very pleased that our investments in sales, marketing, technology and research have resulted in acceleration in top-line growth and extremely strong momentum in bookings,” said Andrew C. Florance, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of CoStar Group. “Our newly minted Global Research Center in Richmond has grown to over 600 professionals driving our research productivity to new heights. Our increased research proactivity with the broker and owner community is delivering higher quality data and analytics, making CoStar’s outstanding services even better. There is no doubt that stronger research is a significant factor in our bookings and revenue growth in the first half of 2017.”

Florance continued, “CoStar Suite had its best sales quarter ever, with bookings up 23%, while revenue increased 13% year-over-year. We achieved accelerated revenue growth in our Commercial Property and Land marketplaces, which grew 17% year-over-year fueled by robust sales of LoopNet Premium Lister and our new tiered advertising sales to owners. Apartments.com revenue also grew an impressive 24% year-over-year and delivered very strong sales bookings in the quarter.”

 

Year 2016-2017 Quarterly Results - Unaudited
(in millions, except per share data)
	2016														2017
	Q1			Q2				Q3			Q4				Q1			Q2
Revenues	$	200		$		207		$	213		$	218			$	227		$	237
Net income	17			16				23			30				22			22
Net income per share - diluted	0.52			0.48				0.72			0.91				0.68			0.68
Weighted average outstanding shares - diluted	32.4			32.4				32.4			32.5				32.6			32.7
EBITDA	48			46				58			64				55			44
Adjusted EBITDA	58			56				67			75				64			54
Non-GAAP net income	31			29				36			42				34			28
Non-GAAP net income per share - diluted	0.95			0.91				1.11			1.29				1.05			0.86

 

Net income for the second quarter of 2017 increased to $22 million or $0.68 per diluted share compared to net income of $16 million in the second quarter of 2016. EBITDA in the second quarter of 2017 was $44 million.

Non-GAAP net income (defined below) for the quarter ended June 30, 2017 was $28 million or $0.86 per diluted share. Adjusted EBITDA (which excludes stock-based compensation and other items as defined below) was $54 million for the second quarter of 2017.

As of June 30, 2017, the Company had approximately $575 million in cash, cash equivalents and long term investments, while short and long-term debt outstanding, net of debt issuance costs, totaled approximately $305 million.

2017 Outlook
“We exceeded our second quarter top and bottom line estimates, and we are raising our full year 2017 revenue and earnings guidance,” stated Scott Wheeler, Chief Financial Officer of CoStar Group.

The Company expects revenue to be in a range of approximately $954 million to $960 million for the full year of 2017, increasing the midpoint by $7 million from the prior outlook. For the third quarter of 2017, the Company expects revenue of approximately $243 million to $245 million.

For the full year of 2017, the Company expects non-GAAP net income per diluted share (defined below) in a range of approximately $4.42 to $4.52. For the third quarter of 2017, the Company expects non-GAAP net income per diluted share of approximately $1.09 to $1.15.

The preceding forward-looking statements reflect CoStar Group’s expectations as of July 26, 2017, including forward-looking non-GAAP financial measures on a consolidated basis. We are not able to forecast with certainty whether or when certain events, such as acquisition-related costs, the exact amounts or timing of investments, transitions, restructurings, settlements or impairments will occur in any given quarter. Given the risk factors, uncertainties and assumptions discussed above, actual results may differ materially. Other than in publicly available statements, the Company does not intend to update its forward-looking statements until its next quarterly results announcement.

Reconciliation of EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, non-GAAP net income and non-GAAP net income per diluted share and all of the disclosed non-GAAP financial measures to their GAAP basis results are shown in detail below, along with definitions for those terms. A reconciliation of forward-looking non-GAAP guidance to the most directly comparable GAAP measure, net income, can be found within the tables included in this release.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures
For information regarding the purpose for which management uses the non-GAAP financial measures disclosed in this release and why management believes they provide useful information to investors regarding the Company’s financial condition and results of operations, please refer to the Company’s latest periodic report.

EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure that represents GAAP net income attributable to CoStar Group before (i) interest income (expense), (ii) provision for income taxes, and (iii) depreciation and amortization.

Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure that represents EBITDA before (i) stock-based compensation expense, (ii) acquisition and integration related costs, (iii) restructuring charges and related costs, and (iv) settlements and impairments incurred outside the Company’s normal business operations.

Non-GAAP net income is a non-GAAP financial measure that represents GAAP net income attributable to CoStar Group before (i) amortization of acquired intangible assets, (ii) stock-based compensation expense, (iii) acquisition and integration related costs, (iv) purchase accounting adjustments, (v) restructuring charges and related costs, and (vi) settlements and impairments. From this figure, we then subtract an assumed provision for income taxes to arrive at non-GAAP net income. The company assumes a 38% tax rate in order to approximate our long-term effective corporate tax rate.

Non-GAAP net income per diluted share (also referred to as non-GAAP EPS) is a non-GAAP financial measure that represents non-GAAP net income divided by the number of diluted shares outstanding for the period. For periods with GAAP net losses and non-GAAP net income, the weighted-average outstanding shares used to calculate non-GAAP net income per share includes potentially dilutive securities that were excluded from the calculation of GAAP net income per share as the effect was anti-dilutive.

Earnings Conference Call
Management will conduct a conference call at 11:00 AM EDT on Thursday, July 27, 2017 to discuss earnings results for the second quarter of 2017 and the Company’s outlook. The audio portion of the conference call will be broadcast live over the Internet at www.costargroup.com/investors/events. To join the conference call by telephone, please dial (877) 260-8896 (from the United States and Canada) or (612) 332-0632 (from all other countries) and refer to conference code 426643. An audio recording of the conference call will be available for replay approximately one hour after the call's completion and will remain available for a period of time following the call. To access the recorded conference call, please dial (800) 475-6701 (from the U.S. and Canada) or (320) 365-3844 (from all other countries) using access code 426643. The webcast replay will also be available in the Investors section of CoStar Group's website for a period of time following the call.

 

CoStar Group, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations - Unaudited
(in thousands, except per share data)
		Three Months Ended June 30,								Six Months Ended June 30,
		2017				2016				2017				2016
Revenues		$	237,153			$	206,869			$	463,706			$	406,608
Cost of revenues		55,273				42,679				106,619				85,579
Gross margin		181,880				164,190				357,087				321,029
Operating expenses:
Selling and marketing		91,726				80,468				168,128				155,672
Software development		23,144				19,547				45,518				37,182
General and administrative		34,557				30,227				68,552				57,703
Customer base amortization		4,570				5,829				9,344				12,052
		153,997				136,071				291,542				262,609
Income from operations		27,883				28,119				65,545				58,420
Interest and other income		605				159				1,034				243
Interest and other expense		(2,693		)		(2,455		)		(5,379		)		(4,964		)
Income before income taxes		25,795				25,823				61,200				53,699
Income tax expense		3,611				10,247				16,886				21,402
Net income		$	22,184			$	15,576			$	44,314			$	32,297
Net income per share - basic		$	0.68			$	0.48			$	1.37			$	1.01
Net income per share - diluted		$	0.68			$	0.48			$	1.36			$	1.00
Weighted average outstanding shares - basic		32,406				32,186				32,341				32,135
Weighted average outstanding shares - diluted		32,739				32,448				32,651				32,415

 

CoStar Group, Inc.
Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures - Unaudited
(in thousands, except per share data)
Reconciliation of Net Income to Non-GAAP Net Income
		Three Months Ended June 30,								Six Months Ended June 30,
		2017				2016				2017				2016
Net income		$	22,184			$	15,576			$	44,314			$	32,297
Income tax expense		3,611				10,247				16,886				21,402
Income before income taxes		25,795				25,823				61,200				53,699
Amortization of acquired intangible assets		9,340				11,516				20,233				23,435
Stock-based compensation expense		10,103				9,339				19,460				17,670
Acquisition and integration related costs		411				811				772				2,258
Settlements and impairments		—				—				(760		)		—
Non-GAAP income before income taxes		45,649				47,489				100,905				97,062
Assumed rate for income tax expense *		38		%		38		%		38		%		38		%
Assumed provision for income tax expense		(17,347		)		(18,046		)		(38,344		)		(36,884		)
Non-GAAP net income		$	28,302			$	29,443			$	62,561			$	60,178
Net income per share - diluted		$	0.68			$	0.48			$	1.36			$	1.01
Non-GAAP net income per share - diluted		$	0.86			$	0.91			$	1.92			$	1.86
Weighted average outstanding shares - basic		32,406				32,186				32,341				32,135
Weighted average outstanding shares - diluted		32,739				32,448				32,651				32,415
* A 38% tax rate is assumed, which approximates our long-term effective corporate tax rate, excluding the impact of a discrete item related to excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation.
Reconciliation of Net Income to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA
		Three Months Ended June 30,								Six Months Ended June 30,
		2017				2016				2017				2016
Net income		$	22,184			$	15,576			$	44,314			$	32,297
Amortization of acquired intangible assets in cost of revenues		4,770				5,687				10,889				11,383
Amortization of acquired intangible assets in operating expenses		4,570				5,829				9,344				12,052
Depreciation and other amortization		6,520				5,924				12,925				11,526
Interest and other income		(605		)		(159		)		(1,034		)		(243		)
Interest and other expense		2,693				2,455				5,379				4,964
Income tax expense		3,611				10,247				16,886				21,402
EBITDA		$	43,743			$	45,559			$	98,703			$	93,381
Stock-based compensation expense		10,103				9,339				19,460				17,670
Acquisition and integration related costs		411				811				772				2,258
Settlements and impairments		—				—				(760		)		—
Adjusted EBITDA		$	54,257			$	55,709			$	118,175			$	113,309

 

CoStar Group, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(in thousands)
		June 30, 2017				December 31, 2016
		(Unaudited)
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents		$	564,638			$	567,223
Accounts receivable, net		51,512				48,537
Income tax receivable		—				129
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		19,837				11,602
Total current assets		635,987				627,491
Long-term investments		9,952				9,952
Deferred income taxes, net		7,834				7,273
Property and equipment, net		85,779				87,568
Goodwill		1,280,271				1,254,866
Intangible assets, net		198,097				195,965
Deposits and other assets		2,099				1,948
Total assets		$	2,220,019			$	2,185,063
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other current liabilities		$	85,789			$	83,916
Current portion of long-term debt		21,945				31,866
Deferred revenue		43,167				39,164
Total current liabilities		150,901				154,946
Long-term debt, less current portion		282,881				306,473
Deferred gain on sale of building		17,454				18,715
Deferred rent		31,077				31,589
Deferred income taxes, net		20,218				18,386
Income taxes payable		753				741
Stockholders' equity		1,716,735				1,654,213
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity		$	2,220,019			$	2,185,063

 

CoStar Group, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - Unaudited
(in thousands, unaudited)
	Six Months Ended June 30,
	2017				2016
Operating activities:
Net income	$	44,314			$	32,297
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	33,158				34,961
Amortization of debt issuance costs	1,487				1,610
Stock-based compensation expense	19,460				17,670
Deferred income tax expense, net	3,434				3,474
Provision for losses on accounts receivable	2,349				5,108
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:
Accounts receivable	(5,177		)		(10,868		)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	(7,887		)		(2,616		)
Deposits and other assets	(103		)		482
Accounts payable and other liabilities	605				4,956
Deferred revenue	3,723				(380		)
Net cash provided by operating activities	95,363				86,694
Investing activities:
Proceeds from sale and settlement of investments	—				4,700
Purchases of property and equipment and other assets	(12,674		)		(7,394		)
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(45,068		)		(10,795		)
Net cash used in investing activities	(57,742		)		(13,489		)
Financing activities:
Payments of long-term debt	(35,000		)		(20,000		)
Repurchase of restricted stock to satisfy tax withholding obligations	(13,456		)		(13,967		)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options and employee stock purchase plan	7,683				3,837
Net cash used in financing activities	(40,773		)		(30,130		)
Effect of foreign currency exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents	567				(742		)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(2,585		)		42,333
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of period	567,223				421,818
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of period	$	564,638			$	464,151

 

CoStar Group, Inc.
Results of Segments - Unaudited
(in thousands)
	Three Months Ended June 30,								Six Months Ended June 30,
	2017				2016				2017				2016
Revenues
North America	$	229,826			$	199,859			$	449,167			$	393,120
International
External customers	7,327				7,010				14,539				13,488
Intersegment revenues *	11				10				22				21
Total International revenues	7,338				7,020				14,561				13,509
Intersegment eliminations	(11		)		(10		)		(22		)		(21		)
Total revenues	$	237,153			$	206,869			$	463,706			$	406,608
EBITDA
North America	$	43,364			$	45,127			$	97,797			$	91,991
International	379				432				906				1,390
Total EBITDA	$	43,743			$	45,559			$	98,703			$	93,381
*Intersegment revenues recorded were attributable to services performed for the Company's wholly owned subsidiary, CoStar Portfolio Strategy by Grecam S.A.S. (“Grecam”), a wholly owned subsidiary of CoStar Limited, the Company’s wholly owned U.K. holding company. Intersegment revenues are recorded at an amount the Company believes approximates fair value. North America EBITDA includes a corresponding cost for the services performed by Grecam for CoStar Portfolio Strategy.

 

CoStar Group, Inc.
Revenues by Services - Unaudited
(in thousands)
		Three Months Ended June 30,								Six Months Ended June 30,
		2017				2016				2017				2016
Information and analytics
CoStar Suite		$	113,794			$	101,074			$	223,773			$	198,708
Information services		18,312				19,425				36,648				38,850
Online marketplaces
Multifamily		68,076				54,860				132,067				107,098
Commercial property and land		36,971				31,510				71,218				61,952
Total revenues		$	237,153			$	206,869			$	463,706			$	406,608

 

CoStar Group, Inc. Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures with 2016-2017 Quarterly Results - Unaudited
(in millions, except per share data)
Reconciliation of Net Income to Non-GAAP Net Income
		2016													2017
		Q1			Q2			Q3			Q4				Q1			Q2
Net income		$	16.7		$	15.6		$	23.2		$	29.6			$	22.1		$	22.2
Income tax expense		11.2			10.2			14.2			16.0				13.3			3.6
Income before income taxes		27.9			25.8			37.4			45.5				35.4			25.8
Amortization of acquired intangible assets		11.9			11.5			11.3			10.8				10.9			9.3
Stock-based compensation expense		8.3			9.3			9.3			9.4				9.4			10.1
Acquisition and integration related costs		1.5			0.8			—			—				0.4			0.4
Restructuring and related costs		—			—			0.1			1.8				—			—
Settlements and impairments		—			—			—			—				(0.8		)	—
Non-GAAP income before income taxes		49.6			47.5			58.1			67.5				55.3			45.6
Assumed rate for income tax expense *		38		%	38		%	38		%	38		%		38		%	38		%
Assumed provision for income tax expense		(18.9		)	(18.0		)	(22.1		)	(25.6		)		(21.0		)	(17.3		)
Non-GAAP net income		$	30.7		$	29.4		$	36.0		$	41.8			$	34.3		$	28.3
Non-GAAP net income per share - diluted		$	0.95		$	0.91		$	1.11		$	1.29			$	1.05		$	0.86
Weighted average outstanding shares - basic		32.1			32.2			32.2			32.2				32.3			32.4
Weighted average outstanding shares - diluted		32.4			32.4			32.4			32.5				32.6			32.7
* A 38% tax rate is assumed, which approximates our long-term effective corporate tax rate, excluding the impact of a discrete item related to excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation.
Reconciliation of Net Income to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA
		2016													2017
		Q1			Q2			Q3			Q4				Q1			Q2
Net income		$	16.7		$	15.6		$	23.2		$	29.6			$	22.1		$	22.2
Amortization of acquired intangible assets		11.9			11.5			11.3			10.8				10.9			9.3
Depreciation and other amortization		5.6			5.9			6.8			6.3				6.4			6.5
Interest and other income		(0.1		)	(0.2		)	(0.3		)	(1.2		)		(0.4		)	(0.6		)
Interest and other expense		2.5			2.5			2.5			2.6				2.7			2.7
Income tax expense		11.2			10.2			14.2			15.9				13.3			3.6
EBITDA		$	47.8		$	45.6		$	57.7		$	64.0			$	55.0		$	43.7
Stock-based compensation expense		8.3			9.3			9.3			9.4				9.4			10.1
Acquisition and integration related costs		1.5			0.8			—			—				0.4			0.4
Restructuring and related costs		—			—			0.1			1.8				—			—
Settlements and impairments		—			—			—			—				(0.8		)	—
Adjusted EBITDA		$	57.6		$	55.7		$	67.1		$	75.2			$	63.9		$	54.3

 

CoStar Group, Inc.
Reconciliation of Forward-Looking Guidance - Unaudited
(in thousands, except per share data)
Reconciliation of Forward-Looking Guidance, Net Income to Non-GAAP Net Income
	Guidance Range								Guidance Range
	For the Three Months								For the Twelve Months
	Ended September 30, 2017								Ended December 31, 2017
	Low				High				Low				High
Net income	$	24,000			$	27,000			$	99,000			$	105,000
Income tax expense	12,500				14,300				54,000				56,000
Income before income taxes	36,500				41,300				153,000				161,000
Amortization of acquired intangible assets	8,400				8,300				36,000				36,000
Stock-based compensation expense	11,000				10,000				42,000				40,000
Acquisition and integration related costs	2,000				1,000				3,000				2,000
Restructuring and related costs	—				—				—				—
Settlements and impairments	—				—				(800		)		(800		)
Non-GAAP income before income taxes	57,900				60,600				233,200				238,200
Assumed rate for income tax expense*	38		%		38		%		38		%		38		%
Assumed provision for income tax expense	(22,000		)		(23,000		)		(88,600		)		(90,500		)
Non-GAAP net income	$	35,900			$	37,600			$	144,600			$	147,700
Net income per share - diluted	$	0.73			$	0.82			$	3.03			$	3.21
Non-GAAP net income per share - diluted	$	1.09			$	1.15			$	4.42			$	4.52
Weighted average outstanding shares - diluted	32,800				32,800				32,700				32,700
* A 38% tax rate is assumed, which approximates our long-term effective corporate tax rate, excluding the impact of a discrete item related to excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation.
Reconciliation of Forward-Looking Guidance, Net Income to Adjusted EBITDA
	Guidance Range								Guidance Range
	For the Three Months								For the Twelve Months
	Ended September 30, 2017								Ended December 31, 2017
	Low				High				Low				High
Net income	$	24,000			$	27,000			$	99,000			$	105,000
Amortization of acquired intangible assets	8,400				8,300				36,000				36,000
Depreciation and other amortization	6,800				6,800				27,500				27,500
Interest and other expense, net	2,600				2,600				9,600				9,600
Income tax expense	12,500				14,300				54,000				56,000
Stock-based compensation expense	11,000				10,000				42,000				40,000
Acquisition and integration related costs	2,000				1,000				3,000				2,000
Restructuring and related costs	—				—				—				—
Settlements and impairments	—				—				(800		)		(800		)
Adjusted EBITDA	$	67,300			$	70,000			$	270,300			$	275,300

 

About CoStar Group, Inc.

CoStar Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:CSGP) is the leading provider of commercial real estate information, analytics and online marketplaces. Founded in 1987, CoStar conducts expansive, ongoing research to produce and maintain the largest and most comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. Our suite of online services enables clients to analyze, interpret and gain unmatched insight on commercial property values, market conditions and current availabilities. LoopNet is the most heavily trafficked commercial real estate marketplace online with over 5 million monthly unique visitors per month. Apartments.com, ApartmentFinder.com, ApartmentHomeLiving.com, Westside Rentals and Apartamentos.com form the premier online apartment resource for renters seeking great apartment homes and provide property managers and owners a proven platform for marketing their properties. Through an exclusive partnership with Move, a subsidiary of News Corporation, Apartments.com is the exclusive provider of apartment community listings across Move’s family of websites, which include realtor.com®, doorsteps.com and move.com. CoStar Group’s websites attracted an average of over 37 million unique monthly visitors in aggregate in the second quarter of 2017. Headquartered in Washington, DC, CoStar maintains offices throughout the U.S. and in Europe and Canada with a staff of over 3,500 worldwide, including the industry’s largest professional research organization. For more information, visit www.costargroup.com.

CONTACT: Scott Wheeler, Chief Financial Officer, (202) 336-6920, swheeler@costar.com; Richard Simonelli, Vice President, Investor Relations, (202) 346-6394, rsimonelli@costar.com

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This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements about CoStar Group's financial expectations, the Company's plans, objectives, expectations and intentions and other statements including words such as “hope,” "anticipate," "may," "believe," "expect," "intend," "will," "should," "plan," "estimate," "predict," "continue" and "potential" or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. Such statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of management of CoStar Group and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from the results anticipated in the forward-looking statements. The following factors, among others, could cause or contribute to such differences: the risk that the trends stated or implied by this release cannot or will not be sustained at the current pace, including trends related to sales, bookings, top-line growth, revenue, earnings, and research productivity; the risk that the Company is unable to sustain current revenue and earnings growth rates or increase them; the risk that revenues for the third quarter and full year 2017 will not be as stated in this press release; the risk that net income for the third quarter and full year 2017 will not be as stated in this press release; the risk that non-GAAP net income and non-GAAP net income per diluted share for the third quarter and full year 2017 will not be as stated in this press release; the risk that adjusted EBITDA for the third quarter and full year 2017 will not be as stated in this press release; and the risk that costs actually incurred in connection with the Xceligent litigation differ from estimates included within the Company’s forecast, which differences may be material. Additional factors that could cause results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements can be found in CoStar’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016, and CoStar’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2017, each of which is filed with the SEC, including in the “Risk Factors” section of those filings, and the Company’s other filings with the SEC available at the SEC’s website (www.sec.gov). CoStar assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.