Franklin Covey Reports First Quarter Fiscal 2025 Financial Results

Rhea-AI Summary

Franklin Covey (NYSE: FC) reported Q1 fiscal 2025 results with revenue growing 1% to $69.1 million compared to $68.4 million in Q1 2024. The Education Division showed strong performance with 11% growth to $16.5 million, while Enterprise Division revenue slightly decreased to $51.6 million.

Net income decreased to $1.2 million ($0.09 per diluted share) from $4.9 million ($0.36 per diluted share) in Q1 2024. Adjusted EBITDA was $7.7 million, down from $11.0 million last year. The company maintains strong liquidity with $53.3 million in cash and no drawdowns on its $62.5 million credit facility.

The company affirmed its fiscal 2025 guidance, expecting revenue between $295-305 million and Adjusted EBITDA of $40-44 million in constant currency, factoring in $16 million of planned investments in sales and marketing initiatives.

Positive

• Education Division revenue grew 11% to $16.5 million
• Total subscription and subscription services revenue increased 2% to $55.8 million
• Deferred subscription revenue increased 10% to $95.7 million
• Strong liquidity position with $115 million available
• Operating cash flows remained robust at $14.1 million

Negative

• Net income decreased 76% to $1.2 million from $4.9 million
• Operating income declined 72% to $1.5 million from $5.3 million
• Enterprise Division revenue decreased to $51.6 million from $52.4 million
• Operating expenses increased by $4.3 million
• Adjusted EBITDA declined to $7.7 million from $11.0 million

Insights

Financial Analyst

The Q1 FY2025 results reveal a complex financial picture for Franklin Covey. Revenue grew modestly by 1% to $69.1 million, with the Education Division showing strong 11% growth while Enterprise Division remained flat. The 66% decline in operating income to $1.5 million and reduced EPS from $0.36 to $0.09 reflect significant strategic investments.

Key metrics demonstrate underlying strength: deferred subscription revenue increased 10% to $95.7 million and 55% of AAP contracts are multi-year, indicating strong client retention. The robust liquidity position of $115 million provides ample runway for strategic initiatives.

The $16 million investment in sales restructuring represents a calculated short-term profit sacrifice for long-term growth potential. The transition to a dual-focused sales structure (client expansion and new client acquisition) could drive accelerated growth, though execution risks remain.

Market Research Analyst

The market's response to Franklin Covey's strategic pivot deserves careful analysis. The company's subscription-based transformation and investment in sales infrastructure positions it well in the corporate training and development market, estimated at $357.7 billion globally.

The 11% growth in Education Division highlights strong demand for leadership development in educational institutions. The new state initiative secured in Q1 suggests potential for similar opportunities in other regions. The flat Enterprise Division performance during restructuring is a tactical pause rather than a concerning trend.

The maintained FY2025 guidance of $295-305 million revenue and $40-44 million Adjusted EBITDA demonstrates management's confidence in the new sales strategy. The focus on penetrating existing accounts while separately targeting new clients aligns with proven B2B growth strategies.

Consolidated First Quarter Revenue Increases to $69.1 Million compared with $68.4 Million in the First Quarter of Fiscal 2024

Education Division First Quarter Revenue Increases 11% to $16.5 Million compared with $14.9 Million in the Prior Year

New North America Sales Force Structure Now in Place with Sales Hiring Activities Ahead of Plan

Liquidity Remains Strong at over $115 Million, with $53.3 Million of Cash and No Drawdowns on the Company’s $62.5 Million Credit Facility

Company Affirms Guidance for Fiscal 2025

SALT LAKE CITY--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Franklin Covey Co. (NYSE: FC), a leader in organizational performance improvement that creates, and on a subscription basis, distributes world-class content, training, processes, and tools that organizations and individuals use to achieve systemic changes in human behavior to transform their results, today announced financial results for the first quarter of fiscal 2025, which ended on November 30, 2024.

Financial Highlights

The Company’s consolidated revenue for the quarter ended November 30, 2024 grew 1% to $69.1 million compared with $68.4 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2024. Rolling four-quarter revenue for the period ended November 30, 2024 increased 3% to $287.9 million compared with $279.6 million for the comparable period ended November 30, 2023. The Company’s financial performance for the first quarter of fiscal 2025 included the following:

• Enterprise Division revenues for the first quarter of fiscal 2025 were $51.6 million compared with $52.4 million in fiscal 2024. The decrease was primarily due to decreased revenue through the Company’s offices in China and Japan and by decreased international licensee revenues as North America segment sales were essentially flat for the quarter. North America segment sales were essentially in-line with the Company’s expectations as the Company transitions its sales force in North America to a more focused structure that is expected to accelerate sales growth in future periods. All Access Pass (AAP) subscription plus subscription services revenue was $41.0 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2025 compared with $41.6 million in the prior year.
• Education Division revenues in the first quarter increased 11% to $16.5 million compared with $14.9 million in the first quarter of the prior year. First quarter revenue growth was primarily due to increased sales of classroom and training materials, due in part to a new initiative with a state that began in the first quarter of 2025, increased coaching and consulting revenue, and increased membership subscription revenues resulting from new schools which started The Leader in Me during fiscal 2024. Delivery of training and coaching days remained strong during the first quarter of fiscal 2025, as the Education Division delivered approximately 100 more training and coaching days than the prior year.
• Total Company subscription and subscription services revenues reached $55.8 million, a 2% increase over $54.8 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2024. For the first quarter of fiscal 2025, subscriptions invoiced equaled the first quarter of the prior year at $24.7 million.
• The Company’s operating expenses for the quarter ended November 30, 2024, increased $4.3 million compared with the prior year, which was primarily due to a $3.0 million increase in selling, general, and administrative (SG&A) expenses and a $1.4 million increase in restructuring expenses. The increase in SG&A expenses was primarily due to increased associate costs related to new personnel, including new sales and sales support personnel hired in connection with the restructuring of the North America sales force, compensation increases, and benefits costs; and from advertising and promotional costs primarily related to the launch of the Company’s refreshed The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People offering, which was released during the first quarter. Restructuring costs were for severance related to the execution of sales and sales management restructuring initiatives that began in fiscal 2024.
• Operating income for the quarter ended November 30, 2024 was $1.5 million compared with $5.3 million in fiscal 2024, and reflected the factors noted above. Net income for the first quarter of fiscal 2025 was $1.2 million, or $0.09 per diluted share, compared with $4.9 million, or $0.36 per diluted share, in the first quarter of the prior year.
• Adjusted EBITDA for the first quarter of fiscal 2025 was in-line with expectations at $7.7 million compared with $11.0 million in the prior year. In constant currency, Adjusted EBITDA was $8.1 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2025. Adjusted EBITDA for the rolling four quarters ended November 30, 2024 increased to $52.0 million compared with $47.6 million for the comparable period ended November 30, 2023.
• Deferred subscription revenue at November 30, 2024 increased 10% to $95.7 million compared with $87.2 million at November 30, 2023. Unbilled deferred subscription revenue at November 30, 2024, was $73.0 million compared with $82.5 million at November 30, 2023. At November 30, 2024, 55% of the Company’s AAP contracts in North America were for at least two years, compared with 54% at November 30, 2023, and the percentage of contracted amounts represented by multi-year contracts at November 30, 2024 was equal to the prior year at 60%.
• Cash flows from operating activities for the first quarter of fiscal 2025 remained strong and totaled $14.1 million compared with $17.4 million in fiscal 2024. Free Cash Flow for the first quarter totaled $11.4 million compared with $13.7 million in the prior year. The decrease in cash flows during the first quarter of fiscal 2025 was due to lower operating income than in the prior year resulting primarily from the growth investments associated with the realignment of the North America sales force in the Enterprise Division.
• The Company purchased 145,768 shares of its common stock for $6.0 million during the first quarter of fiscal 2025. These shares were withheld to cover statutory income taxes on stock-based compensation awards that vested and were issued during the first quarter.

Paul Walker, President and Chief Executive Officer, said, “Our first quarter revenue grew 1% to $69.1 million compared with $68.4 million in last year’s first quarter. This result reflects strong growth in our Education Division where revenue grew 11% while sales were flat in the Enterprise Division, which was in-line with our expectations when we began the transition of our sales force to a more focused and powerful go-to-market model in North America. First quarter Adjusted EBITDA was $7.7 million, or $8.1 million in constant currency, which was also in-line with our expectations for the quarter. This result compares with $11.0 million of Adjusted EBITDA in fiscal 2024 and includes the first quarter impact of $16 million of expected growth investments in fiscal 2025 to transform our sales structure and accelerate sales growth in North America.”

Walker continued, “In our earnings call held in November, we shared that we were pleased to have substantially achieved the three big strategic initiatives we began in previous years. These initiatives included 1) the transition of our business model to a subscription-based model; 2) significant prior and ongoing investment in technology to enable our solutions to be delivered seamlessly across all modalities and in more than 25 languages worldwide; and 3) significant prior and ongoing investment to ensure that our content, offerings, and solutions represent the gold standard in our market. Now that these initiatives are substantially in place, we are now positioned to leverage these strategic achievements by accelerating our go-to-market efforts to capture an even greater share of our total addressable market.”

Walker concluded, “The two key areas of focus and investment in our go-to-market efforts are: First, to achieve significant ongoing increases in client penetration, which is the sole focus of a large number of our client partners, and provide them with the additional client support resources necessary to achieve this expansion within our existing clients; and second, to make winning a significantly increased number of new clients the only focus of a separate, specially trained group of client partners. Our target was to begin the second quarter of fiscal 2025 fully transitioned into the new sales structure and we are pleased to report that we hit that target. Today in our Enterprise North America segment every salesperson is either focused fully on client expansion or on winning new clients. We expect the impact of these go-to-market initiatives to result in a significant increase in our sustainable revenue growth rate to consistently achieve double-digit growth and to also generate accelerated levels of Adjusted EBITDA and cash flows in the future.”

Fiscal 2025 Guidance Affirmed

Based on fiscal 2025 financial results and the expected success of investments in its sales and marketing efforts, the Company affirms its expected fiscal 2025 revenue to be in the range of $295 million to $305 million in constant currency. The Company expects revenue to increase even though a significant amount of the invoiced sales from these initiatives will be recorded as deferred subscription revenue and recognized over the lives of the underlying contracts. Consistent with previous disclosure, the Company believes strategic investments in projects and initiatives, which are expected to result in long-term revenue growth and value creation, are effective and well thought out uses of the Company’s capital. Considering the impact of $16 million of expected investments in additional sales, sales support, and marketing personnel, combined with anticipated increases in revenue, the Company currently anticipates Adjusted EBITDA for fiscal 2025 to be in the range of $40 million to $44 million in constant currency. As revenue growth from these initiatives accelerates, the impact of these additional expenses is expected to be more than offset and growth in Adjusted EBITDA and cash flows are expected to pick up and then increase significantly in future years.

Earnings Conference Call

On Wednesday, January 8, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern (3:00 p.m. Mountain) Franklin Covey will host a conference call to review its first quarter fiscal 2025 financial results. Interested persons may access a live audio webcast at https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/gk9ap76y or may participate via telephone by registering at https://register-conf.media-server.com/register/BI388e927ba68843d696247ac1d22afb0f (this is an updated link required by the vendor). Once registered, participants will have the option of 1) dialing into the call from their phone (via a personalized PIN); or 2) clicking the “Call Me” option to receive an automated call directly to their phone. For either option, registration will be required to access the call. A replay of the conference call webcast will be archived on the Company’s website for at least 30 days.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 including those statements related to the Company’s future results and profitability and other goals relating to the growth and operations of the Company. Forward-looking statements are based upon management’s current expectations and are subject to various risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to: general macroeconomic conditions; renewals of subscription contracts; the impact of strategic projects and initiatives on future financial results; growth in and client demand for add-on services; market acceptance of new products or services, including new AAP portal upgrades and content launches; the ability to achieve sustainable double-digit revenue growth in future periods; impacts from geopolitical conflicts; inflation; and other factors identified and discussed in the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and other periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Many of these conditions are beyond the Company’s control or influence, any one of which may cause future results to differ materially from the Company’s current expectations, and there can be no assurance that the Company’s actual future performance will meet management’s expectations. These forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations and the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances subsequent to this press release.

Non-GAAP Financial Information

This earnings release includes the concepts of Adjusted EBITDA, Free Cash Flow, and “constant currency” which are non-GAAP measures. The Company defines Adjusted EBITDA as net income excluding the impact of interest, income taxes, intangible asset amortization, depreciation, stock-based compensation expense, and certain other infrequently occurring items such as restructuring costs. Free Cash Flow is defined as GAAP calculated cash flows from operating activities less capitalized expenditures for purchases of property and equipment, curriculum development, and content or license rights. Constant currency is a non-GAAP financial measure that removes the impact of fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates and is calculated by translating the current period’s financial results at the same average exchange rates in effect during the prior year and then comparing this amount to the prior year. The Company references these non-GAAP financial measures in its decision-making because they provide supplemental information that facilitates consistent internal comparisons to the historical operating performance of prior periods and the Company believes they provide investors with greater transparency to evaluate operational activities and financial results. Refer to the attached tables for the reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measure, Adjusted EBITDA, to consolidated net income, a related GAAP financial measure, and for the calculation of Free Cash Flow.

The Company is unable to provide a reconciliation of the above forward-looking estimate of non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA to GAAP measures because certain information needed to make a reasonable forward-looking estimate is difficult to obtain and dependent on future events which may be uncertain, or out of the Company’s control, including the amount of AAP contracts invoiced, the number of AAP contracts that are renewed, necessary costs to deliver the Company’s offerings, such as unanticipated curriculum development costs, and other potential variables. Accordingly, a reconciliation is not available without unreasonable effort.

About Franklin Covey Co.

Franklin Covey Co. (NYSE: FC) is a global leadership company with directly owned and licensee partner offices providing professional services in 150 countries and territories around the world. The Company transforms organizations by partnering with its clients to build leaders, teams, and cultures that achieve breakthrough results through collective action, which leads to a more engaging work experience for their people. Available through the Franklin Covey All Access Pass, the Company’s best-in-class content and solutions, experts, technology, and metrics seamlessly integrate to ensure lasting behavioral change at scale. Solutions are available in multiple delivery modalities in more than 20 languages.

This approach to leadership and organizational change has been tested and refined by working with tens of thousands of teams and organizations over the past 30 years. Clients have included organizations in the Fortune 100, Fortune 500, and thousands of small- and mid-sized businesses, numerous governmental entities, and educational institutions. To learn more, visit www.franklincovey.com, and enjoy exclusive content from Franklin Covey’s social media channels at: LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

FRANKLIN COVEY CO.
Condensed Consolidated Income Statements
(in thousands, except per-share amounts, and unaudited)
		Quarter Ended
		November 30,				November 30,
			2024				2023
Net revenue		$	69,086			$	68,399
Cost of revenue			16,375				16,122
Gross profit			52,711				52,277
Selling, general, and administrative			47,204				44,205
Restructuring costs			1,984				581
Depreciation			950				1,091
Amortization			1,098				1,071
Income from operations			1,475				5,329
Interest income (expense), net			112				(53	)
Income before income taxes			1,587				5,276
Income tax provision			(406	)			(425	)
Net income		$	1,181			$	4,851
Net income per share:
Basic		$	0.09			$	0.37
Diluted			0.09				0.36
Weighted average common shares:
Basic			13,092				13,244
Diluted			13,271				13,636
Other data:
Adjusted EBITDA(1)		$	7,674			$	10,969

(1)	Adjusted EBITDA (earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation, amortization, stock-based compensation, and certain other items) is a non-GAAP financial measure that the Company believes is useful to investors in evaluating its results. For a reconciliation of this non-GAAP measure to a comparable GAAP measure, refer to the Reconciliation of Net Income to Adjusted EBITDA as shown below.

FRANKLIN COVEY CO.
Reconciliation of Net Income to Adjusted EBITDA
(in thousands and unaudited)
				Quarter Ended
				November 30,				November 30,
					2024				2023
Reconciliation of net income to Adjusted EBITDA:
	Net income			$	1,181			$	4,851
	Adjustments:
		Interest (income) expense, net			(112	)			53
		Income tax provision			406				425
		Amortization			1,098				1,071
		Depreciation			950				1,091
		Stock-based compensation			2,167				2,897
		Restructuring costs			1,984				581
		Adjusted EBITDA		$	7,674			$	10,969
		Adjusted EBITDA margin			11.1	%			16.0	%
FRANKLIN COVEY CO.
Additional Financial Information
(in thousands and unaudited)
				Quarter Ended
				November 30,				November 30,
					2024				2023
Revenue by Division/Segment:
	Enterprise Division:
		North America		$	40,137			$	40,293
		International direct offices			8,239				8,730
		International licensees			3,203				3,423
					51,579				52,446
	Education Division				16,464				14,891
	Corporate and other				1,043				1,062
	Consolidated			$	69,086			$	68,399
Gross Profit by Division/Segment:
	Enterprise Division:
		North America		$	32,821			$	32,764
		International direct offices			6,113				6,613
		International licensees			2,864				3,081
					41,798				42,458
	Education Division				10,410				9,475
	Corporate and other				503				344
	Consolidated			$	52,711			$	52,277
Adjusted EBITDA by Division/Segment:
	Enterprise Division:
		North America		$	8,744			$	10,441
		International direct offices			(224	)			1,158
		International licensees			1,644				1,916
					10,164				13,515
	Education Division				266				110
	Corporate and other				(2,756	)			(2,656	)
	Consolidated			$	7,674			$	10,969

FRANKLIN COVEY CO.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(in thousands and unaudited)
		November 30,				August 31,
			2024				2024
Assets
Current assets:
	Cash and cash equivalents	$	53,294			$	48,663
	Accounts receivable, less allowance for
	credit losses of $2,141 and $3,015		61,419				86,002
	Inventories		3,828				4,002
	Prepaid expenses and other current assets		20,247				21,586
	Total current assets		138,788				160,253
Property and equipment, net			8,733				8,736
Intangible assets, net			37,163				37,766
Goodwill			31,220				31,220
Deferred income tax assets			834				870
Other long-term assets			23,168				22,694
		$	239,906			$	261,539
Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
Current liabilities:
	Current portion of notes payable	$	835			$	835
	Current portion of financing obligation		2,166				3,112
	Accounts payable		5,961				7,862
	Deferred subscription revenue		88,868				101,218
	Customer deposits		21,815				16,972
	Accrued liabilities		23,893				32,454
	Total current liabilities		143,538				162,453
Notes payable, less current portion			789				775
Financing obligation, less current portion			1,312				1,312
Other liabilities			10,707				10,732
Deferred income tax liabilities			2,913				3,132
	Total liabilities		159,259				178,404
Shareholders' equity:
	Common stock		1,353				1,353
	Additional paid-in capital		227,273				231,813
	Retained earnings		124,385				123,204
	Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(970	)			(768	)
	Treasury stock at cost, 13,867 and 14,084 shares		(271,394	)			(272,467	)
	Total shareholders' equity		80,647				83,135
		$	239,906			$	261,539

FRANKLIN COVEY CO.
Condensed Consolidated Free Cash Flow
(in thousands and unaudited)
	Quarter Ended
		November 30,				November 30,
		2024				2023
		(unaudited)
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net income	$	1,181			$	4,851
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash
provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		2,048				2,162
Amortization of capitalized curriculum costs		1,033				691
Stock-based compensation		2,167				2,897
Deferred income taxes		(216	)			(1,048	)
Amortization of right-of-use operating lease assets		162				199
Changes in working capital		7,770				7,686
Net cash provided by operating activities		14,145				17,438
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Purchases of property and equipment		(998	)			(1,072	)
Curriculum development costs		(1,432	)			(2,668	)
Reacquisition of license rights		(324	)			-
Net cash used for investing activities		(2,754	)			(3,740	)
Free Cash Flow	$	11,391			$	13,698

 

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Investor Contact:

Franklin Covey

Boyd Roberts

801-817-5127

investor.relations@franklincovey.com

Media Contact:

Franklin Covey

Debra Lund

801-817-6440

Debra.Lund@franklincovey.com

Source: Franklin Covey Co.

FAQ

What was Franklin Covey's (FC) revenue growth in Q1 2025?

Franklin Covey reported a 1% revenue growth to $69.1 million in Q1 2025 compared to $68.4 million in Q1 2024.

How much did FC's Education Division grow in Q1 2025?

The Education Division grew 11% to $16.5 million compared to $14.9 million in Q1 2024.

What is Franklin Covey's (FC) revenue guidance for fiscal 2025?

FC affirmed its fiscal 2025 revenue guidance to be between $295 million to $305 million in constant currency.

How much cash does Franklin Covey (FC) have as of Q1 2025?

FC reported $53.3 million in cash and no drawdowns on its $62.5 million credit facility, totaling over $115 million in liquidity.

What was FC's earnings per share (EPS) in Q1 2025?

FC reported earnings of $0.09 per diluted share in Q1 2025, down from $0.36 per diluted share in Q1 2024.