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Abacus Life Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2023 Results

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Abacus Life, Inc. reported strong financial results for the fourth quarter and full year 2023, with total revenue growing 25% year-over-year to $23.6 million in Q4 and $79.6 million for the full year. Originations capital deployment increased by 92% to $68.3 million in Q4 and by 46% to $218.9 million for the full year. The company also authorized a $15 million stock repurchase program and completed a public bond offering to reduce debt and lower interest rates. Despite a GAAP net loss in Q4 due to non-cash expenses, the company remains optimistic about sustained growth and value creation for stockholders.
Positive
  • Total revenue for Q4 2023 grew 25% year-over-year to $23.6 million.
  • Originations capital deployment increased by 92% year-over-year to $68.3 million in Q4 2023.
  • Full year 2023 total revenues were $79.6 million, a 14% increase from the prior year.
  • GAAP net loss in Q4 was $6.2 million, primarily due to non-cash expenses.
  • Adjusted net income for full year 2023 was $29.4 million.
  • Abacus authorized a $15 million stock repurchase program and completed a public bond offering to reduce debt and lower interest rates.
  • The company launched ABL Tech and raised an additional $25 million via 9.875% Notes in 2024.
  • As of December 31, 2023, the company had cash and cash equivalents of $25.6 million.
Negative
  • GAAP net loss in Q4 2023 was $6.2 million.
  • Operating expenses for Q4 2023 were significantly higher compared to the prior year.
  • Adjusted EBITDA margin decreased to 46.7% in Q4 2023 from 52.4% in the prior-year period.

Insights

The reported increase in total revenue and originations capital deployment by Abacus Life indicates a significant expansion in their core business activities. The growth in revenue, particularly from active management and direct policy sales to third parties, suggests a robust demand for their specialty insurance products. However, the observed decrease in net income from the previous year raises questions about the sustainability of profit margins and the efficiency of the company's cost management strategies. The authorization of a $15 million stock repurchase program reflects confidence in the company's valuation, signaling to the market a potential undervaluation of the stock, while the successful public bond offering and reduction in interest payments by 275 basis points demonstrate a proactive approach to capital structure optimization.

From an investor's perspective, the adjusted EBITDA margin contraction from 50.0% to 49.4% year-over-year could be a point of concern, indicating potential pressure on operational efficiency. Nonetheless, the strong ROIC and ROE figures suggest that the company is still generating value from its investments and equity, which is a positive sign for long-term growth. The increase in operating expenses, primarily due to non-cash employee stock compensation, indicates an investment in human capital, which could yield future productivity gains but may also dilute shareholder value in the short term.

Abacus Life's strategic move to launch ABL Tech, a technology subdivision, aligns with the broader industry trend of leveraging innovative technology to create efficiencies and new revenue streams. The additional capital raised through 9.875% Notes provides the company with more liquidity to pursue its strategic initiatives. The growth in policy originations by 30% and the 46% increase in originations capital deployment year-over-year reflect an aggressive growth strategy that is resonating with the market.

Investors should note the company's agility in adapting to market conditions and expanding its service offerings. However, the significant increase in operating expenses and the GAAP net loss reported for the fourth quarter may raise concerns about the company's ability to manage costs in line with revenue growth. The stock repurchase program and its impact on the share price should be monitored closely, as it could indicate management's confidence in the company's future prospects and potentially lead to increased investor confidence.

Abacus Life's performance in the life insurance policy buying market is indicative of the growing interest in life settlements as an alternative asset class. The increase in originations capital deployment suggests that Abacus is actively purchasing more policies, which could be a response to a higher volume of life insurance policyholders seeking to liquidate their policies in the current economic climate. The decrease in total revenue from the portfolio servicing segment could be attributed to a strategic shift towards more lucrative segments or a reflection of market dynamics within the life settlement industry.

It is important to examine the long-term debt levels in relation to the company's ability to generate cash flow to service this debt, especially in light of the new public bond offering. The reduction in interest rate payments indicates a strong financial management strategy. However, stakeholders should assess the impact of the non-cash expenses and one-time charges on the company's reported GAAP net loss to understand the underlying operational performance.

- Fourth Quarter 2023 Total Revenue Grew 25% Year-over-Year to $23.6 Million -

- Increased Originations Capital Deployment by 92% Year-over-Year to $68.3 Million -

- Increased Originations Capital Deployment for Full Year 2023 by 46% to $218.9 Million -

ORLANDO, Fla., March 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Abacus Life, Inc. (“Abacus” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: ABL), a leading buyer of life insurance policies and vertically integrated alternative asset manager specializing in specialty insurance products, today reported results for the quarter and full year ended December 31, 2023.

“We delivered another solid performance in the fourth quarter and throughout 2023, as we continued to leverage our expert team, wealth of data and innovative technology to execute on our multiple strategic growth initiatives,” said Jay Jackson, Chief Executive Officer of Abacus. “In addition to our strong results, we authorized a $15 million stock repurchase program, which we have continued utilizing in the new year to strong effect, and successfully completed our public bond offering, retiring existing debt and reducing the interest rate we pay by approximately 275 basis points. We’ve hit the ground running thus far in 2024 as well, officially launching our technology subdivision ABL Tech and raising an additional $25 million via our 9.875% Notes. We are well positioned to sustain our growth, to create innovative solutions for the pension fund and financial services industries through our wealth of technology and data, and ultimately to deliver long-term value to our stockholders.”

Full Year 2023 Results (on a Proforma Basis)

  • Full year 2023 total revenues were $79.6 million, an increase of 14% from the prior year, primarily driven by higher active management revenue, increased capital deployed and more policies sold directly to third parties.
    • Total revenue from the portfolio servicing segment for the full year 2023 was $1.0 million, compared to $1.5 million in the prior year.
  • Originations capital deployment for the full year 2023 was $218.9 million, an increase of 46% from the prior year; number of policy originations grew 30% to 633.
  • GAAP net income attributable to shareholders for the full year 2023 was $8.5 million, compared to $31.3 million in the prior year.
  • Adjusted net income for the full year 2023 was $29.4 million, compared to $32.4 million in the prior year.
  • Adjusted EBITDA for the full year 2023 increased 13% to $39.3 million, compared to $34.8 million in the prior year. Adjusted EBITDA margin (a non-GAAP measure) for the full year 2023 was 49.4%, compared to 50.0% in the prior year.
  • Return on invested capital (ROIC) (a non-GAAP measure defined below) for the full year 2023 was 21%.
  • Return on equity (ROE) (a non-GAAP measure defined below) for the full year 2023 was 18%.

Fourth Quarter 2023 Highlights (on a Proforma Basis)

  • Total revenue for the fourth quarter of 2023 grew 25% to $23.6 million, compared to $18.8 million in the prior-year period. The increase in the fourth quarter was primarily driven by higher active management revenue, increased capital deployed and more policies sold directly to third parties.
    • Total revenue from portfolio servicing segment for the fourth quarter of 2023 was $0.2 million, compared to $0.1 million in the prior-year period.
  • Originations capital deployment for the fourth quarter of 2023 increased 92% to $68.3 million, compared to $35.5 million in the prior-year period; number of policy originations for the fourth quarter of 2023 grew 79% to 208, compared to 116 in the prior-year period.
  • GAAP net loss attributable to shareholders for the fourth quarter of 2023 was $6.2 million, compared to GAAP net income attributable to shareholders of $10.1 million in the prior-year period, primarily driven by a non-cash expense related to employee stock compensation of $6.2 million, loss on fair value of warrant liability of $3.3 million, a one-time charge of $3.1 million related to debt extinguishment, and public company expenses incurred in the fourth quarter of 2023 that were not recorded in the prior-year period.
  • Adjusted net income for the fourth quarter of 2023 was $5.9 million, compared to $11.0 million in the prior-year period.
  • Adjusted EBITDA for the fourth quarter of 2023 was $11.0 million, compared to $11.1 million in the prior-year period. Adjusted EBITDA margin (a non-GAAP measure) for the fourth quarter of 2023 was 46.7%, compared to 52.4% in the prior-year period.
  • Annualized return on invested capital (ROIC) (a non-GAAP measure defined below) for the fourth quarter of 2023 was 17%.
  • Annualized Return on equity (ROE) (a non-GAAP measure defined below) for the fourth quarter of 2023 was 18%.
  • Total operating expenses for the fourth quarter of 2023 were $20.0 million, compared to $4.4 million in the prior-year period. Operating expenses for the fourth quarter of 2023 included $6.2 million in non-cash employee stock compensation, which was not recorded in the prior-year period.

Liquidity and Capital

As of December 31, 2023, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $25.6 million, balance sheet policy assets of $124.0 million and outstanding long-term debt of $89.1 million.

From the commencement of the Company’s $15 million stock repurchase program previously announced on December 12, 2023 (the “Repurchase Program”) through March 19, 2024, Abacus has repurchased 725,166 shares of its common stock at an average price of $11.20 on the open market at a total cost of approximately $8.1 million. As of March 19, 2024, the Company has $6.9 million of availability under the Repurchase Program, which expires on June 10, 2025, unless sooner suspended or discontinued.

Webcast and Conference Call

A webcast and conference call to discuss the Company’s results will be held today beginning at 5:00 p.m. (Eastern Time). A live webcast of the conference call will be available on Abacus’ investor relations website at ir.abacuslife.com. The dial-in number for the conference call is (877) 407-9716 (toll-free) or (201) 493-6779 (international). Please dial the number 10 minutes prior to the scheduled start time.

A webcast replay of the call will be available at ir.abacuslife.com for one year following the call.

Non-GAAP Financial Information

Adjusted Net Income, a non-GAAP measure, is defined as net income (loss) attributable to Abacus adjusted for non-controlling interest income, amortization, change in fair value of warrants and non-cash stock-based compensation and the related tax effect of those adjustments. Management believes that Adjusted Net Income is an appropriate measure of operating performance because it eliminates the impact of expenses that do not relate to business performance. A reconciliation of Adjusted Net Income to Net income attributable to Abacus, the most directly comparable GAAP measure, appears below.

Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP measure, is defined as net income (loss) attributable to Abacus adjusted for depreciation expense, amortization, interest expense, income tax and other non-cash and certain non-recurring items that in our judgement significantly impact the period-over-period assessment of performance and operating results that do not directly relate to business performance within Abacus’ control. A reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to Net income attributable to Abacus Life, the most directly comparable GAAP measure, appears below.

Adjusted EBITDA margin, a non-GAAP measure, is defined as Adjusted EBITDA divided by Total revenues. A reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA margin to Net income margin, the most directly comparable GAAP measure, appears below.

Annualized return on invested capital (ROIC), a non-GAAP measure, is defined as Adjusted net income for the quarter divided by the result of Total Assets less Intangible assets, net, Goodwill and Current Liabilities multiplied by four. ROIC is not a measure of financial performance under GAAP. We believe ROIC should be considered in addition to, not as a substitute for, operating income or loss, net income or loss, cash flows provided by or used in operating, investing and financing activities or other income statement or cash flow statement line items reported in accordance with GAAP.

Annualized return on equity (ROE), a non-GAAP measure, is defined as [Adjusted net income divided by total shareholder equity multiplied by four. ROE is not a measure of financial performance under GAAP. We believe ROE should be considered in addition to, not as a substitute for, operating income or loss, net income or loss, cash flows provided by or used in operating, investing and financing activities or other income statement or cash flow statement line items reported in accordance with GAAP. The below table presents our calculation of ROE.

Forward-Looking Statements

All statements in this press release (and oral statements made regarding the subjects of this press release) other than historical facts are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements rely on a number of assumptions concerning future events and are subject to a number of uncertainties and factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such statements, many of which are outside the control of Abacus. Forward-looking information includes but is not limited to statements regarding: Abacus’s financial and operational outlook; Abacus’s operational and financial strategies, including planned growth initiatives and the benefits thereof, Abacus’s ability to successfully effect those strategies, and the expected results therefrom. These forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words “believe,” “project,” “estimate,” “expect,” ‎‎”intend,” “anticipate,” “goals,” “prospects,” “will,” “would,” “will continue,” “will likely result,” and similar expressions (including the negative versions of such words or expressions).

While Abacus believes that the assumptions concerning future events are reasonable, it cautions that there are inherent difficulties in predicting certain important factors that could impact the future performance or results of its business. The factors that could cause results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: the ‎fact that Abacus’s loss reserves are bases on estimates and may be inadequate to cover ‎its actual losses; the failure to properly price Abacus’s insurance policies; the ‎geographic concentration of Abacus’s business; the cyclical nature of Abacus’s industry; the ‎impact of regulation on Abacus’s business; the effects of competition on Abacus’s business; the failure of ‎Abacus’s relationships with independent agencies; the failure to meet Abacus’s investment ‎objectives; the inability to raise capital on favorable terms or at all; the ‎effects of acts of terrorism; and the effectiveness of Abacus’s control environment, including the identification of control deficiencies.

These forward-looking statements are also affected by the risk factors, forward-looking statements and challenges and uncertainties set forth in documents filed by Abacus with ‎the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time, including the Annual ‎Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and subsequent ‎periodic reports. These filings identify and address other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Abacus cautions you not to place undue reliance on the ‎forward-looking statements contained in this press release. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and Abacus assumes no obligation and, except as required by law, does not intend to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Abacus does not give any assurance that it will achieve its expectations.

About Abacus

Abacus is a leading vertically integrated alternative asset manager and market maker, specializing in longevity and actuarial technology. The company is democratizing the life insurance space through three groundbreaking new channels: ABL Tech, ABL Wealth, and ABL Longevity Funds. Since 2004, Abacus has purchased life insurance policies from consumers seeking liquidity and has actively managed those policies over time (via trading, holding, and/or servicing). With over $5BN in face value of policies purchased, we have helped thousands of clients maximize the value of life insurance. Abacus Life is the only public life settlement company, trading on the Nasdaq Exchange under the ticker symbol ABL.

Over the past 20 years, the company has built an institutionalized origination and portfolio management process that is supported by a 100+ person team, long-term relationships with 78 institutional partners and 30,000 financial advisors, and the ability to operate in 49 states. The Company complies with HIPAA and privacy laws to maintain and protect confidentiality of financial, health, and medical information. Abacus is also proud to be a BBB Accredited Business with an A+ rating.

www.Abacuslife.com

Contact:
Abacus Life Investor Relations
investors@abacuslife.com

Abacus Life Public Relations
press@abacuslife.com


ABACUS LIFE, INC. Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
 
 December 31, December 31,
 2023  2022
ASSETS    
CURRENT ASSETS:    
Cash and cash equivalents$25,588,668  $30,052,823 
Equity securities, at fair value 2,252,891   0 
Accounts receivable 2,149,111   10,448 
Accounts receivable, related party 79,509   198,364 
Due from affiliates 1,007,528   2,904,646 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 699,127   116,646 
Total current assets 31,776,834   33,282,927 
Property and equipment, net 400,720   18,617 
Intangible assets, net 29,623,130    
Goodwill 140,287,000    
Operating right-of-use assets 1,893,659   77011 
Life settlement policies, at cost 1,697,178   8,716,111 
Life settlement policies, at fair value 122,296,559   13809352 
Available-for-sale securities, at fair value 1,105,935   1,000,000 
Other investments, at cost 1,650,000   1,300,000 
Other assets 998,945    
Equity securities, at fair value 96,107   890,829 
TOTAL ASSETS$331,826,067  $59,094,847 
     
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT)    
CURRENT LIABILITIES:    
Current portion of long-term debt$13,029,632    
Accrued expenses 4,354,225  $ 
Accounts payable -   40,014 
Operating lease liability, current 118,058   48,127 
Due to affiliates 5,236   263,785 
Due to owners 1,159,712    
Contract liabilities - deposits on pending settlements 507,000    
Accrued transaction costs    908,256 
Other current liabilities 3,400,734   42,227 
Income taxes payable 751,734    
Total current liabilities 23,326,331   1,302,409 
     
Long-term debt- Related party 37,653,869    
Long-term debt 89,137,013   28,249,653 
Operating lease liability, noncurrent 1,796,727   29,268 
Deferred tax liability 9,199,091   1,363,820 
Warrant liability 6,642,960    
TOTAL LIABILITIES 167,755,991   30,945,150 
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES    
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT)    
Class A common stock, $0.0001 par value; 200,000,000 authorized shares; 63,388,823 and 50,369,350 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively 6,339   5,037 
Treasury Stock (1,283,062) —  
Additional paid-in capital 199,826,278   704,963 
Retained earnings (34,726,135)  25,487,323 
Accumulated other comprehensive income 108,373   1,052,836 
Non-controlling interest 138,283   899,538 
Total shareholders' equity (deficit) 164,070,076   28,149,697 
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT)$331,826,067  $59,094,847 
     


ABACUS LIFE, INC. Proforma Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations
  
       Full Year 
     YTD Sept 2023Q4 2023 2023  2022  
REVENUES:        
Portfolio servicing revenue        
 Related party service revenue   $711,975 $66,703 $778,678 $818,299  
 Portfolio servicing    102,651  120,845  223,496  652,673  
 Total Portfolio servicing revenue    814,626  187,548  1,002,174  1,470,972  
Active management revenue        
 Investment Income from life insurance policies held using investment method    18,473,597  (492,610) 17,980,987  37,828,829  
 Change in fair value of life insurance policies (policies held using fair value method)    28,242,105  21,766,926  50,009,031  5,263,751  
 Total Active management revenue    46,715,702  21,274,316  67,990,018  43,092,580  
          
Originations revenue        
 Related Party origination revenue    3,391,814  240,455  3,632,269  18,146,493  
 Originations    5,018,438  1,943,228  6,961,666  7,056,970  
 Total Origination revenue    8,410,252  2,183,683  10,593,935  25,203,463  
 Total Revenues   55,940,580  23,645,547  79,586,127  69,767,015  
          
COST OF REVENUES (excluding depreciation and amortization stated below)        
 Related party cost of revenue    6,566,335  91,475  6,657,810  11,631,129  
 Cost of revenue    7,604,875  1,520,994  9,125,869  11,325,000  
 Total Cost of revenue    14,171,210  1,612,469  15,783,679  22,956,129  
          
Gross Profit    41,769,370  22,033,078  63,802,448  46,810,886  
          
OPERATING EXPENSES:        
 Sales and marketing    3,116,999  1,788,748  4,905,747  2,596,140  
 General, administrative and other    15,961,962  15,369,189  31,331,151  9,971,247  
 (Gain) loss on change in fair value of debt    309,865  2,046,193  2,356,058  90,719  
 Unrealized loss (gain) on investments    (491,356) (877,755) (1,369,111) 1,045,623  
 Depreciation and amortization expense    1,702,591  1,712,934  3,415,525  18,588  
 Total Operating expenses    20,600,061  20,039,309  40,639,370  13,722,317  
          
 Operating Income   $21,169,309 $1,993,769 $23,163,078 $33,088,569  
          
 OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE)        
 Change in fair value of warrant liability    (943,400) (3,260,960) (4,204,360) -  
 Interest (expense)    (3,632,420) (6,246,126) (9,878,546) (51,615) 
 Interest income    73,200  523,481  596,681  3,672  
 Other income (expense)    (1,565) (144,879) (146,444) (346,740) 
 Total other income (expense)    (4,504,185) (9,128,484) (13,632,669) (394,683) 
          
 Net income before provision for income taxes    16,665,124  (7,134,715) 9,530,409  32,693,886  
 Income tax expense    2,240,708  (769,885) 1,470,823  656,904  
          
 NET INCOME    14,424,416  (6,364,830) 8,059,586  32,036,982  
          
 LESS: NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO NONCONTROLLING INTEREST    (339,692) (142,447) (482,139) 704,699  
          
 NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO SHAREHOLDERS   $14,764,108 $(6,222,383)$8,541,725 $31,332,283  
          


ABACUS LIFE, INC. Proforma Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted EPS
 
  Full Year
   2023  2022 
Net income attributable to Abacus Life, Inc. $9,516,626   $31,682,275 
Net income attributable to non-controlling interests  (482,139)   704,699 
Amortization expense  3,364,167     
Stock compensation expense  10,768,024     
Change in fair value of warrant liability  4,204,360     
Tax impact of items listed above  2,069,993    
Adjusted Net Income $29,441,031   $32,386,974 
      
Weighted-average shares of Class A common stock outstanding  56,951,414    50,369,350 
Earnings Per Share $0.17   $0.63 
Adjusted Earnings Per Share $0.52   $0.64 
      


ABACUS LIFE, INC. Proforma Adjusted EBITDA
 
 Full Year
 2023 2022
Net Income excluding non-controlling interests $9,034,487   $32,386,974 
Depreciation and Amortization  3,409,928    4,282 
Interest expense  9,866,821    42,798 
Interest income  (594,764)   (1,474)
Income tax expense  1,468,535    889,943 
Stock compensation  10,768,024     
Other (Income) / Expenses  146,443    347,013 
Change in fair value of warrant liability  4,204,360     
Change in fair value of debt  2,356,058    90,719 
Unrealized loss / (gain) on investments  (1,369,112)   1,045,623 
Adjusted EBITDA $39,290,780   $34,805,878 
      
Proforma Revenue $79,586,127   $69,767,015 
      
Proforma Adjusted EBITDA Margin  49.37%   49.89%
Proforma Net Income Margin  36.99%   46.42%
      


ABACUS LIFE, INC. Return on Invested Capital (ROIC)
 
  For the Period Ended
  
  December 31, 2023
  
Total Assets $331,826,067  
Less:   
Intangible assets, net  (29,623,130) 
Goodwill  (140,287,000) 
Current Liabilities  (23,326,331) 
Total Invested Capital $138,589,606  
    
    
Adjusted Net income $ 29,441,031  
Adjusted Annualized ROIC  21% 
    


ABACUS LIFE, INC. Return on Equity (ROE)
    
Return on Equity   
  For the Period Ended
  
  December 31, 2023
  
Total Shareholder Equity $164,070,076  
    
    
Proforma Adjusted Net income $ 29,441,031  
Adjusted Annualized ROE  18% 



FAQ

What was the total revenue growth in the fourth quarter of 2023?

Total revenue for the fourth quarter of 2023 grew 25% to $23.6 million.

How much did the originations capital deployment increase by in the fourth quarter of 2023?

Originations capital deployment for the fourth quarter of 2023 increased by 92% to $68.3 million.

What were the full year 2023 total revenues for Abacus Life, Inc.?

Full year 2023 total revenues were $79.6 million, a 14% increase from the prior year.

What was the GAAP net loss in the fourth quarter of 2023?

GAAP net loss attributable to shareholders for the fourth quarter of 2023 was $6.2 million.

How much was the adjusted net income for full year 2023?

Adjusted net income for the full year 2023 was $29.4 million.

What did Abacus Life, Inc. do to reduce debt and lower interest rates?

Abacus authorized a $15 million stock repurchase program and completed a public bond offering to reduce debt and lower interest rates.

What new subdivision did the company launch in 2024?

The company launched ABL Tech in 2024.

How much cash and cash equivalents did the company have as of December 31, 2023?

As of December 31, 2023, the company had cash and cash equivalents of $25.6 million.

Abacus Life, Inc.

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