Bright Horizons Family Solutions Reports Financial Results for Third Quarter of 2024

Rhea-AI Summary

Bright Horizons Family Solutions reported strong Q3 2024 financial results with revenue increasing 11% to $719 million. Income from operations rose 34% to $89 million, while net income grew 37% to $55 million. The company achieved diluted earnings per share of $0.94, up 36% year-over-year.

The growth was driven by enrollment gains and tuition increases in centers, plus increased utilization of back-up care services. Full Service segment revenue grew 9%, while Back-Up Care segment delivered 18% revenue growth. The company operated 1,028 early education and child care centers with capacity to serve approximately 115,000 children as of September 30, 2024.

Positive

• Revenue increased 11% to $719 million
• Net income grew 37% to $55 million
• Income from operations increased 34% to $89 million
• Back-Up Care segment revenue grew 18%
• Full Service segment revenue increased 9%
• Operating cash flow improved to $216.8 million from $161.0 million YoY

Negative

• Decrease of $9 million in pandemic-related government support
• Higher effective tax rate impacting net income
• Increased overhead costs for expanded service delivery

Insights

Financial Analyst

The Q3 results demonstrate robust financial performance with significant growth across key metrics. Revenue increased 11% to $719 million, while net income jumped 37% to $54.9 million. The standout performance came from two core segments: Full Service showing 9% revenue growth through enrollment gains and Back-Up Care delivering exceptional 18% revenue growth.

Operating leverage improved substantially, with income from operations increasing 34% to $89.4 million. The balance sheet remains healthy with $109.9 million in cash and $389.8 million available credit. Strong cash flow generation of $216.8 million from operations shows improved operational efficiency. The raised guidance for FY2024 with expected revenue of $2.675 billion and adjusted EPS of $3.37-$3.42 indicates management's confidence in sustained growth momentum.

NEWTON, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Bright Horizons Family Solutions^® Inc. (NYSE: BFAM), a leading provider of high-quality early education and child care, family care solutions, and workforce education services designed to support working families and client employees across life and career stages, today announced financial results for the third quarter of 2024 and updated financial guidance for 2024.

Third Quarter 2024 Highlights (compared to Third Quarter 2023):

• Revenue of $719 million (increase of 11%)
• Income from operations of $89 million (increase of 34%)
• Net income of $55 million and diluted earnings per common share of $0.94 (increases of 37% and 36%, respectively)

Non-GAAP financial measures

• Adjusted EBITDA* of $121 million (increase of 20%)
• Adjusted income from operations* of $89 million (increase of 34%)
• Adjusted net income* of $65 million and diluted adjusted earnings per common share* of $1.11 (increases of 27% and 26%, respectively)

“I am pleased to report solid financial results for the third quarter,” said Stephen Kramer, Chief Executive Officer. “Total revenue increased 11% with 26% adjusted EPS growth. Enrollment levels continued to expand year-over-year with 9% revenue growth in our Full Service segment, while our Back-Up Care segment delivered another exceptional quarter with stronger-than-expected use driving 18% revenue growth.”

“I am also proud of our employees working and living in the areas hit hard by Hurricanes Helene and Milton,” Kramer continued. “Not only have they been able to support each other through this difficult time, but they have also been able to provide our clients and the families we serve with critical child care services in Florida, Georgia and North Carolina, allowing employers and their employees to provide the services their communities desperately need.”

Third Quarter 2024 Results

Revenue increased by $73.3 million, or 11%, in the third quarter of 2024 from the third quarter of 2023, due to enrollment gains and tuition price increases at our centers, as well as increased utilization of back-up care services.

Income from operations was $89.4 million for the third quarter of 2024 compared to $66.8 million for the third quarter of 2023, an increase of 34%. The increase in income from operations is primarily related to incremental gross profit contributions resulting from higher utilization of services in our back-up care segment, as well as enrollment growth and improving operating leverage in our full service center-based child care segment. These contributions were partially offset by a decrease of approximately $9 million in funding received from pandemic-related government support programs and incremental overhead costs to support expanded service delivery. Net income was $54.9 million for the third quarter of 2024 compared to $40.0 million for the third quarter of 2023, an increase of 37%, due to the increase in income from operations noted above, partially offset by a higher effective tax rate. Diluted earnings per common share was $0.94 for the third quarter of 2024 compared to $0.69 for the third quarter of 2023.

In the third quarter of 2024, adjusted EBITDA* increased by $19.8 million, or 20%, to $121.0 million, and adjusted income from operations* increased by $22.6 million, or 34%, to $89.4 million from the third quarter of 2023, due to increased contributions from both the back-up care segment and full service center-based child care segment. Adjusted net income* increased by $13.8 million, or 27%, to $64.9 million, as a result of the increase in adjusted income from operations and a lower tax rate. Diluted adjusted earnings per common share* was $1.11 for the third quarter of 2024 compared to $0.88 for the third quarter of 2023.

As of September 30, 2024, the Company operated 1,028 early education and child care centers with the capacity to serve approximately 115,000 children.

*Adjusted EBITDA, adjusted income from operations, adjusted net income and diluted adjusted earnings per common share are financial measures that are not calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”), which are commonly referred to as “non-GAAP financial measures.” Adjusted EBITDA represents EBITDA (which is net income, as determined in accordance with GAAP, before interest expense, income tax expense, depreciation, and amortization) adjusted to exclude stock-based compensation expense and non-recurring costs, such as value-added tax expense related to prior periods and at times, other non-recurring costs, such as transaction costs and impairment costs. Adjusted income from operations represents income from operations, as determined in accordance with GAAP, adjusted to exclude non-recurring costs, such as value-added tax expense related to prior periods and at times, other non-recurring costs, such as transaction costs and impairment costs. Adjusted net income represents net income, as determined in accordance with GAAP, adjusted to exclude amortization, stock-based compensation expense, and non-recurring costs, such as value-added tax expense related to prior periods, interest on deferred consideration, and the income tax provision (benefit) thereon, and at times, other non-recurring costs, such as transaction costs and impairment costs. Diluted adjusted earnings per common share is calculated using adjusted net income. These non-GAAP financial measures are more fully described and are reconciled from the respective measures determined under GAAP in “Presentation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” and the attached table “Bright Horizons Family Solutions Inc. Non-GAAP Reconciliations,” respectively.

Balance Sheet and Liquidity

At September 30, 2024, the Company had $109.9 million of cash and cash equivalents and $389.8 million available for borrowing under our revolving credit facility. In the nine months ended September 30, 2024, we generated $216.8 million of cash from operations, compared to $161.0 million for the same period in 2023, and made net investments totaling $92.7 million, compared to $92.0 million for the same period in the prior year. Additionally, during the nine months ended September 30, 2024, the Company paid deferred and contingent consideration related to acquisitions, including $106.5 million related to its 2022 acquisition of Only About Children, a child care operator in Australia.

2024 Outlook

Based on current trends and expectations, we currently expect fiscal year 2024 revenue to be approximately $2.675 billion and diluted adjusted earnings per common share to be in the range of $3.37 to $3.42. The Company will provide additional information on its outlook during its earnings conference call.

Conference Call

Bright Horizons Family Solutions will host an investor conference call today at 5:00 pm ET to discuss the results for the third quarter of 2024, as well as the Company’s updated business outlook, strategy and operating expectations. Interested parties are invited to listen to the conference call by dialing 1-877-407-9039, or for international callers, 1-201-689-8470, and asking for the Bright Horizons Family Solutions conference call moderated by Chief Executive Officer Stephen Kramer. Replays of the entire call will be available through November 18, 2024 at 1-844-512-2921, or for international callers, at 1-412-317-6671, conference ID #13744697. A link to the audio webcast of the conference call and a copy of this press release are also available through the Investor Relations section of the Company’s web site, www.brighthorizons.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes 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 Company’s actual results may vary significantly from the results anticipated in these forward-looking statements, which can generally be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including the terms “believes,” “expects,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “seeks,” “projects,” “approximately,” “intends,” “plans,” “estimates” or “anticipates,” or, in each case, their negatives or other variations or comparable terminology. These forward-looking statements include all matters that are not historical facts, including statements regarding the Company’s intentions, beliefs or current expectations concerning, among other things, our results of operations, financial condition, liquidity, operating expectations, execution and delivery of our services and solutions, business trends, our future growth opportunities, enrollment levels, back-up care use, long-term growth strategy, estimated effective tax rate, tax expense, our future business and financial performance, and our 2024 financial guidance. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that may or may not occur in the future. The Company believes that these risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, changes in the demand for child care, dependent care and other workplace solutions, including variations in enrollment trends and lower than expected demand from employer sponsor clients as well as variations in workforce demographics and work environments; the constrained labor market for teachers and staff and ability to hire and retain talent, including the impact of increased compensation and labor costs; the availability or lack of government support and impact of government child care benefit programs; our ability to respond to changing client and customer needs; the possibility that acquisitions may disrupt our operations and expose us to additional risk; our ability to pass on our increased costs; our indebtedness and the terms of such indebtedness; our ability to withstand seasonal fluctuations in the demand for our services; our ability to implement our growth strategies successfully; changes in general economic, political, business and financial market conditions, including the impact of inflation and interest rate fluctuations; fluctuations in currency exchange rates; the effects of a cyber-attack, data breach or other security incident on our information technology system or software or those of our third party vendors; changes in tax rates or policies; impacts to our brand or reputation; and other risks and uncertainties more fully described in the “Risk Factors” section of our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on February 27, 2024, and other factors disclosed from time to time in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the time of this release and we do not undertake to publicly update or revise them, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

Presentation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

In addition to the results provided in accordance with GAAP throughout this press release, the Company has provided certain non-GAAP financial measures that present operating results on a basis adjusted for certain items. The Company uses these non-GAAP financial measures as key performance indicators for the purpose of evaluating performance internally, and in connection with determining incentive compensation for Company management, including executive officers. Adjusted EBITDA is also used in connection with the determination of certain ratio requirements under our credit agreement. We believe that these non-GAAP financial measures provide investors with useful information with respect to our historical operations. These non-GAAP financial measures are not intended to replace, and should not be considered superior to, the presentation of our financial results in accordance with GAAP. The use of the terms adjusted EBITDA, adjusted income from operations, adjusted net income and diluted adjusted earnings per common share may differ from similar measures reported by other companies and may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures.

With respect to our outlook for diluted adjusted earnings per common share, we do not provide the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure or corresponding reconciliation to such GAAP financial measure on a forward-looking basis. We are unable to predict with reasonable certainty and without unreasonable effort certain items such as the timing and amount of net excess income tax benefits, future impairments, transaction costs, and other non-recurring costs, as well as gains or losses from the early retirement of debt and the outcome from legal proceedings. These items are uncertain, depend on various factors outside our management’s control, and could significantly impact, either individually or in the aggregate, our future period earnings per common share as calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP.

For more information regarding adjusted EBITDA, adjusted income from operations, adjusted net income and diluted adjusted earnings per common share, refer to the reconciliation of GAAP financial measures to the non-GAAP financial measures in the attached table “Bright Horizons Family Solutions Inc. Non-GAAP Reconciliations.”

About Bright Horizons Family Solutions Inc.

Bright Horizons^® is a leading global provider of high-quality early education and child care, back-up care, and workforce education services. For more than 35 years, we have partnered with employers to support workforces by providing services that help working families and employees thrive personally and professionally. Bright Horizons operates more than 1,000 early education and child care centers in the United States, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Australia and India, and serves more than 1,450 of the world’s leading employers. Bright Horizons’ early education and child care centers, back-up child and elder care, and workforce education programs help employees succeed at each life and career stage. For more information, go to www.brighthorizons.com.

BRIGHT HORIZONS FAMILY SOLUTIONS INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (In thousands, except share data) (Unaudited)
	Three Months Ended September 30,
		2024			%				2023			%
Revenue	$	719,099			100.0	%		$	645,787			100.0	%
Cost of services		537,564			74.8	%			488,142			75.6	%
Gross profit		181,535			25.2	%			157,645			24.4	%
Selling, general and administrative expenses		89,499			12.4	%			83,253			12.9	%
Amortization of intangible assets		2,640			0.4	%			7,568			1.2	%
Income from operations		89,396			12.4	%			66,824			10.3	%
Interest expense — net		(11,613	)		(1.6	)%			(12,222	)		(1.8	)%
Income before income tax		77,783			10.8	%			54,602			8.5	%
Income tax expense		(22,878	)		(3.2	)%			(14,623	)		(2.3	)%
Net income	$	54,905			7.6	%		$	39,979			6.2	%
Earnings per common share:
Common stock — basic	$	0.95						$	0.69
Common stock — diluted	$	0.94						$	0.69
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Common stock — basic		58,062,009							57,765,332
Common stock — diluted		58,701,618							58,045,137

BRIGHT HORIZONS FAMILY SOLUTIONS INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (In thousands, except share data) (Unaudited)
	Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2024			%				2023			%
Revenue	$	2,011,867			100.0	%		$	1,802,609			100.0	%
Cost of services		1,532,792			76.2	%			1,386,787			76.9	%
Gross profit		479,075			23.8	%			415,822			23.1	%
Selling, general and administrative expenses		264,544			13.1	%			247,923			13.8	%
Amortization of intangible assets		16,139			0.8	%			24,898			1.4	%
Income from operations		198,392			9.9	%			143,001			7.9	%
Interest expense — net		(37,307	)		(1.9	)%			(37,357	)		(2.0	)%
Income before income tax		161,085			8.0	%			105,644			5.9	%
Income tax expense		(50,017	)		(2.5	)%			(36,945	)		(2.1	)%
Net income	$	111,068			5.5	%		$	68,699			3.8	%
Earnings per common share:
Common stock — basic	$	1.92						$	1.19
Common stock — diluted	$	1.90						$	1.18
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Common stock — basic		57,970,587							57,692,254
Common stock — diluted		58,483,404							57,886,823

BRIGHT HORIZONS FAMILY SOLUTIONS INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (In thousands) (Unaudited)
	September 30, 2024			December 31, 2023
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	109,933		$	71,568
Accounts receivable — net		231,535			281,710
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		62,548			93,621
Total current assets		404,016			446,899
Fixed assets — net		597,202			579,296
Goodwill		1,827,935			1,786,405
Other intangible assets — net		203,046			216,576
Operating lease right-of-use assets		773,613			774,703
Other assets		109,001			92,265
Total assets	$	3,914,813		$	3,896,144
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Current portion of long-term debt	$	26,000		$	18,500
Accounts payable and accrued expenses		278,659			259,077
Current portion of operating lease liabilities		104,664			100,387
Deferred revenue		222,213			272,891
Other current liabilities		35,358			148,578
Total current liabilities		666,894			799,433
Long-term debt — net		925,653			944,264
Operating lease liabilities		787,095			796,701
Other long-term liabilities		112,733			109,915
Deferred income taxes		23,247			33,155
Total liabilities		2,515,622			2,683,468
Total stockholders’ equity		1,399,191			1,212,676
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	3,914,813		$	3,896,144

BRIGHT HORIZONS FAMILY SOLUTIONS INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (In thousands) (Unaudited)
	Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2024				2023
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income	$	111,068			$	68,699
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		75,601				82,732
Stock-based compensation expense		24,607				21,154
Deferred income taxes		(6,844	)			(3,688	)
Non-cash interest and other — net		10,464				8,867
Changes in assets and liabilities		1,917				(16,793	)
Net cash provided by operating activities		216,813				160,971
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Purchases of fixed assets — net		(65,254	)			(60,225	)
Purchases of debt securities and other investments		(43,049	)			(9,463	)
Proceeds from the maturity of debt securities and sale of other investments		23,908				15,451
Payments and settlements for acquisitions — net of cash acquired		(8,267	)			(37,772	)
Net cash used in investing activities		(92,662	)			(92,009	)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Revolving credit facility — net		—				(54,600	)
Principal payments of long-term debt		(12,000	)			(12,000	)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock upon exercise of options		24,808				8,764
Taxes paid related to the net share settlement of stock options and restricted stock		(4,758	)			(2,396	)
Payments of deferred and contingent consideration for acquisitions		(103,872	)			(225	)
Net cash used in financing activities		(95,822	)			(60,457	)
Effect of exchange rates on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash		1,307				(1,280	)
Net increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash		29,636				7,225
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash — beginning of period		89,451				51,894
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash — end of period	$	119,087			$	59,119

BRIGHT HORIZONS FAMILY SOLUTIONS INC. SEGMENT INFORMATION (In thousands) (Unaudited)
	Full service center-based child care				Back-up care				Educational advisory services				Total
Three Months Ended September 30, 2024
Revenue	$	486,567			$	201,783			$	30,749			$	719,099
Income from operations		12,465				70,487				6,444				89,396
Adjusted income from operations		12,465				70,487				6,444				89,396
As a percentage of revenue		3	%			35	%			21	%			12	%
Three Months Ended September 30, 2023
Revenue	$	444,747			$	171,423			$	29,617			$	645,787
Income from operations		6,990				52,257				7,577				66,824
Adjusted income from operations		6,990				52,257				7,577				66,824
As a percentage of revenue		2	%			30	%			26	%			10	%

	Full service center-based child care				Back-up care				Educational advisory services				Total
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2024
Revenue	$	1,477,284			$	452,945			$	81,638			$	2,011,867
Income from operations		66,553				118,063				13,776				198,392
Adjusted income from operations		66,553				118,063				13,776				198,392
As a percentage of revenue		5	%			26	%			17	%			10	%
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2023
Revenue	$	1,333,469			$	389,391			$	79,749			$	1,802,609
Income from operations		28,493				97,500				17,008				143,001
Adjusted income from operations (1)		30,237				101,796				17,008				149,041
As a percentage of revenue		2	%			26	%			21	%			8	%

(1)

For the nine months ended September 30, 2023, adjusted income from operations represents income from operations excluding value-added-tax expense of $6.0 million related to prior periods, of which $4.3 million was associated with the back-up care segment and $1.7 million was associated with the full service center-based child care segment.

BRIGHT HORIZONS FAMILY SOLUTIONS INC. NON-GAAP RECONCILIATIONS (In thousands, except share data) (Unaudited)
	Three Months Ended September 30,								Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2024				2023				2024				2023
Net income	$	54,905			$	39,979			$	111,068			$	68,699
Interest expense — net		11,613				12,222				37,307				37,357
Income tax expense		22,878				14,623				50,017				36,945
Depreciation		19,862				18,935				59,462				57,834
Amortization of intangible assets (a)		2,640				7,568				16,139				24,898
EBITDA		111,898				93,327				273,993				225,733
As a percentage of revenue		16	%			14	%			14	%			13	%
Additional adjustments:
Stock-based compensation expense (b)		9,091				7,841				24,607				21,154
Other costs (c)		—				—				—				6,040
Total adjustments		9,091				7,841				24,607				27,194
Adjusted EBITDA	$	120,989			$	101,168			$	298,600			$	252,927
As a percentage of revenue		17	%			16	%			15	%			14	%
Income from operations	$	89,396			$	66,824			$	198,392			$	143,001
Other costs (c)		—				—				—				6,040
Adjusted income from operations	$	89,396			$	66,824			$	198,392			$	149,041
As a percentage of revenue		12	%			10	%			10	%			8	%
Net income	$	54,905			$	39,979			$	111,068			$	68,699
Income tax expense		22,878				14,623				50,017				36,945
Income before income tax		77,783				54,602				161,085				105,644
Amortization of intangible assets (a)		2,640				7,568				16,139				24,898
Stock-based compensation expense (b)		9,091				7,841				24,607				21,154
Other costs (c)		—				—				—				6,040
Interest on deferred consideration (d)		—				1,487				—				4,412
Adjusted income before income tax		89,514				71,498				201,831				162,148
Adjusted income tax expense (e)		(24,613	)			(20,377	)			(56,008	)			(45,913	)
Adjusted net income	$	64,901			$	51,121			$	145,823			$	116,235
As a percentage of revenue		9	%			8	%			7	%			6	%
Weighted average common shares outstanding — diluted		58,701,618				58,045,137				58,483,404				57,886,823
Diluted adjusted earnings per common share	$	1.11			$	0.88			$	2.49			$	2.01

(a)		Amortization of intangible assets represents amortization expense, including amortization expense of $0.1 million and $5.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, and of $8.4 million and $15.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, associated with intangible assets recorded in connection with our going private transaction in May 2008.
(b)		Stock-based compensation expense represents non-cash stock-based compensation expense in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718, Compensation-Stock Compensation.
(c)		Other costs in the nine months ended September 30, 2023 consist of value-added tax expense of $6.0 million related to prior periods, of which $4.3 million was associated with the back-up care segment and $1.7 million was associated with the full service center-based child care segment.
(d)		Interest on deferred consideration represents the imputed interest on the deferred consideration issued in connection with the July 1, 2022 acquisition of Only About Children, a child care operator in Australia. The deferred consideration was paid in January 2024.
(e)		Adjusted income tax expense represents income tax expense calculated on adjusted income before income tax at an effective tax rate of approximately 28% and 29% for the three months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, and at an effective tax rate of approximately 28% for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023. The jurisdictional mix of the expected adjusted income before income tax for the full year will affect the estimated effective tax rate for the year.

 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241104128047/en/

Investors:

Elizabeth Boland

Chief Financial Officer - Bright Horizons

eboland@brighthorizons.com

617-673-8125



Michael Flanagan

Vice President - Investor Relations - Bright Horizons

michael.flanagan@brighthorizons.com

617-673-8720



Media:

Ilene Serpa

Vice President - Communications - Bright Horizons

iserpa@brighthorizons.com

617-673-8044

Source: Bright Horizons Family Solutions

FAQ

What was Bright Horizons (BFAM) revenue in Q3 2024?

Bright Horizons reported revenue of $719 million in Q3 2024, representing an 11% increase from Q3 2023.

How much did Bright Horizons (BFAM) earn per share in Q3 2024?

Bright Horizons earned $0.94 per diluted share in Q3 2024, up 36% from $0.69 in Q3 2023.

What is Bright Horizons (BFAM) revenue guidance for full year 2024?

Bright Horizons expects fiscal year 2024 revenue to be approximately $2.675 billion.

How many childcare centers does Bright Horizons (BFAM) operate as of Q3 2024?

As of September 30, 2024, Bright Horizons operated 1,028 early education and child care centers with capacity to serve approximately 115,000 children.