SurgePays Announces First Quarter 2024 Financial Results

Rhea-AI Summary

SurgePays (Nasdaq: SURG) reported its Q1 2024 financial results, noting revenues of $31.4 million. This reflects a dip from last year as the company shifted focus from its Lead Generation subsidiary, which contributed $3.2 million in Q1 2023. Despite this, their MVNO wireless revenue saw a slight increase to $28.9 million from $28.7 million the previous year.

The company recorded a net income of $1.2 million, inclusive of $2 million in non-cash stock charges. SurgePays holds a substantial cash balance of over $42 million. The company is also strategizing to mitigate risks related to potential lapses in Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) funding, aiming to grow its non-ACP businesses through its nationwide network.

CEO Brian Cox highlighted the company's preparedness to adapt regardless of ACP funding outcomes, citing strong congressional support for the program. SurgePays will discuss these results in a webcast at 5 p.m. ET on May 13, 2024.

Positive

• Q1 2024 revenue of $31.4 million.
• MVNO wireless revenue increased to $28.9 million from $28.7 million in Q1 2023.
• Net income of $1.2 million, including $2 million in non-cash stock charges.
• Holding over $42 million in cash.
• Strategic plan in place to grow non-ACP business.

Negative

• Loss of $3.2 million revenue from Lead Generation subsidiary.
• Uncertainty surrounding ACP funding.

Insights

Financial Analyst

The first quarter financial results of SurgePays indicate mixed outcomes. The revenue of $31.4 million shows a marginal increase compared to the previous year's first-quarter revenue of $28.7 million. This growth, although slight, is noteworthy given the strategic shift away from non-core business areas, such as the Lead Generation subsidiary LogicsIQ, which contributed $3.2 million in 2023. The focus on profitable and scalable verticals is potentially a smart long-term strategy. However, the loss of LogicsIQ revenues could impact the short-term revenue growth.

Net income of $1.2 million is a positive indicator, despite non-cash stock charges of $2 million. This profitability metric, when considered alongside the operational cash balance of over $42 million, suggests that SurgePays is well-positioned financially to weather potential uncertainties. Investors should note the company's emphasis on expanding its non-ACP businesses, indicating a proactive approach to revenue diversification. This could be beneficial if ACP funding faces delays or is not approved.

A key point to consider is the potential regulatory risk associated with the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). The company's reliance on this program introduces a level of uncertainty. However, the management's plan to leverage their existing ACP customer base to grow their prepaid wireless segment under LinkUp Mobile could provide a safety net.

Market Research Analyst

From a market perspective, SurgePays' strategy to target the underbanked and underserved via convenience stores is intriguing. This segment represents a significant market opportunity, particularly as traditional banking and telecom services often overlook these demographics. The company's confidence in capturing additional market share, regardless of ACP funding, hinges on its distribution strategy and existing relationships with ACP customers.

The company's mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) revenue increase from $28.7 million to $28.9 million despite the ACP enrollment pause, suggests robust demand and a resilient customer base. This highlights the company's effective market positioning and potential for scalable growth.

However, investors should remain cautious about external factors affecting the ACP funding and the broader economic environment's impact on consumer spending within the underbanked segment. SurgePays' ability to execute its strategic plan amid these uncertainties will be important in determining its long-term market success.

Tech Expert

The technological advancements and strategic hires mentioned by SurgePays are vital to their growth strategy. By focusing on innovative solutions within the telecom and financial technology sectors for underserved communities, the company is setting itself apart from competitors. The emphasis on a product-agnostic delivery system, which uses convenience stores as distribution points, is a novel approach that could enhance reach and scalability.

The success of LinkUp Mobile will depend largely on the robustness and user-friendliness of its technology. Given the complexities involved in switching from ACP-subsidized services to a prepaid wireless model, ensuring a seamless customer transition will be key. Investors should watch for updates on technology deployments and user adoption metrics to gauge the effectiveness of these initiatives.

BARTLETT, Tenn., May 13, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SurgePays, Inc. (Nasdaq: SURG) (“SurgePays” or the “Company”), a technology and telecom company focused on the underbanked and underserved, today announced its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2024.

Management Commentary

Chairman and CEO Brian Cox commented on the quarter’s results, “The first quarter of 2024 was highlighted by continued execution on our growth strategy and solid profitability. With a substantial cash balance of over $42 million and a full product suite, we believe we are well-positioned to become one of the country's largest distributors of prepaid wireless and underbanked financial technology services. The uncertainty surrounding ACP funding sparked a refreshing sense of urgency to grow our business. We believe our strategic hires, new technology, cash in the bank, and other corporate initiatives have put us in a great position.

“First quarter revenues of $31.4 million were impacted by operational changes by management last year to shift our focus away from our non-core business Lead Generation subsidiary LogicsIQ. This effectively eliminated the $3.2 million of revenue that LogicsIQ contributed in 2023; however, it allowed our team to be completely focused on verticals aligned with our profitable and scalable business model. Despite the quarterly loss in Lead Generation revenue, we believe our new focus will benefit the Company in the long term. Most shareholders know there was a mandated pause in new ACP enrollments on February 7. Even with the pause in new enrollments, our Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO wireless) revenue increased from $28.7 million in the first quarter of 2023 to $28.9 million in the first quarter of 2024. Net income was $1.2 million, which included $2 million in non-cash stock charges.

“Regarding the Affordable Connectivity Program, or ACP, there are currently several proposals in Congress to fund the program. Several members of Congress on both sides of the line have expressed support for the program, including but not limited to Senator Kaine, who said ‘Access to high-speed internet is a necessity. I was proud that we took steps to make internet more affordable for millions of families as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law,’ and Senator Padilla who said, ‘We must fully fund this program to ensure millions of families can afford to get connected at home.’ Senator JD Vance stated ‘That’s why I’m doing all that I can to ensure the ACP has the funding it needs. I’m proud to introduce this amendment with Senator Luján because it reflects a bipartisan consensus of the Senate. I look forward to getting this done.’  We hope that based on the strong support from Congress on both sides, this essential program, which assists more than 20 million households, will continue to be funded. While we hope ACP funding passes, we aren't waiting for approval and have created a plan to expand revenue in our non-ACP businesses.

“Our team has put together a comprehensive strategic plan that we are confident will enable us to grow our SurgePays nationwide network, which is a product-agnostic delivery system to the underbanked and underserved utilizing convenience stores as the points of distribution. If the ACP is funded, we will be in a fantastic situation immediately. If the ACP is not funded, in the next 12 months, we will look to grow revenue to levels not just to replace the ACP revenue but exceed it with the rollout and scaling of our prepaid wireless company, LinkUp Mobile. Keep in mind that if ACP is not funded, millions will be looking for a new prepaid wireless company to replace their subsidized service. We believe our relationship with our existing ACP base and access to those utilizing other ACP companies will give us the upper hand in converting these folks into LinkUp Mobile customers. In any scenario, we believe we have the team, the products, and the distribution to be extremely successful regardless of how the ACP funding situation plays out.”

First Quarter 2024 Results Conference Call

SurgePays management will host a webcast at 5 p.m. ET / 2 p.m. PT to discuss these results.

The live webcast of the call can be accessed at 1Q24 Webcast Link, as well as on the company’s investor relations website at ir.surgepays.com.

Telephone access to the call will be available at 877-407-0784 (in the U.S.) or by dialing 201-689-8560 (outside U.S.).

A telephone replay will be available approximately one hour following completion of the call through May 27, 2024. To access the replay, please dial 844-512-2921 (in the U.S.) or 412-317-6671 (outside U.S.). Enter Access ID#: 13746599.

About SurgePays, Inc.

SurgePays, Inc. is a technology and telecom company focused on the underbanked and underserved communities. SurgePays' technology-layered platform empowers clerks at over 8,000 convenience stores to provide a suite of prepaid wireless and financial products to underbanked customers. SurgePays prepaid wireless companies provide services to over 250,000 low-income subscribers nationwide. The company ranks as the 345th fastest-growing tech company in North America according to the 2023 Deloitte Technology Fast 500. Please visit SurgePays.com for more information.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes express or implied statements that are not historical facts and are considered forward-looking within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act. Forward-looking statements involve substantial risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements generally relate to future events or our future financial or operating performance and may contain projections of our future results of operations or of our financial information or state other forward-looking information. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by the following words: “may,” “will,” “could,” “would,” “should,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “project,” “potential,” “continue,” “ongoing,” “attempting,” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words.

Although we believe that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements such as regarding our market potential along with the statements under the heading Business Outlook are reasonable, these statements relate to future events or our future operational or financial performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements including but not limited to, our plans to expand our prepaid wireless company, the funding of the ACP program by the US government for the periods after April 2024, which at this time has not been funded. Furthermore, actual results may differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements and will be affected by a variety of risks and factors that are beyond our control, including, without limitation, the assumption that the ACP will be funded after April 2024, statements about our future financial performance, including our revenue, cash flows, costs of revenue and operating expenses; our anticipated growth; and our predictions about our industry. The forward-looking statements contained in this release are also subject to other risks and uncertainties, including those more fully described in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), including in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023. The forward-looking statements in this press release speak only as of the date on which the statements are made. We undertake no obligation to update, and expressly disclaim the obligation to update, any forward-looking statements made in this press release to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release or to reflect new information or the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by law.

Investor Relations
Brian M. Prenoveau, CFA
MZ Group – MZ North America
SURG@mzgroup.us 
561 489 5315

SurgePays, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Balance Sheets
	March 31, 2024				December 31, 2023
	(Unaudited)
Assets
Current Assets
Cash	$	42,945,078			$	14,622,060
Accounts receivable - net		8,271,878				9,536,074
Inventory		7,343,739				9,046,594
Prepaids and other		499,908				161,933
Total Current Assets		59,060,603				33,366,661
Property and equipment - net		291,458				361,841
Other Assets
Note receivable		176,851				176,851
Intangibles - net		1,963,093				2,126,470
Internal use software development costs - net		483,717				539,424
Goodwill		4,166,782				1,666,782
Investment in CenterCom		480,562				464,409
Operating lease - right of use asset - net		420,107				387,869
Deferred income taxes - net		2,542,000				2,835,000
Total Other Assets		10,233,112				8,196,805
Total Assets	$	69,585,173			$	41,925,307
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
Current Liabilities
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	$	6,506,061			$	6,439,120
Accounts payable and accrued expenses - related party		564,389				1,048,224
Accrued income taxes payable		700,000				570,000
Deferred revenue		-				20,000
Operating lease liability		94,244				43,137
Note payable - related party		1,567,254				4,584,563
Total Current Liabilities		9,431,948				12,705,044
Long Term Liabilities
Note payable - related party		3,147,879				-
Notes payable - SBA government		477,403				460,523
Operating lease liability		342,444				356,276
Total Long-Term Liabilities		3,967,726				816,799
Total Liabilities		13,399,674				13,521,843
Stockholders’ Equity
Common stock, $0.001 par value, 500,000,000 shares authorized 19,431,549 and 14,403,261 shares issued and outstanding, respectively		19,435				14,404
Additional paid-in capital		69,985,592				43,421,019
Accumulated deficit		(13,961,608	)			(15,186,203	)
Stockholders’ equity		56,043,419				28,249,220
Non-controlling interest		142,080				154,244
Total Stockholders’ Equity		56,185,499				28,403,464
Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity	$	69,585,173			$	41,925,307

SurgePays, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Operations
(Unaudited)
	For the Three Months Ended March 31,
	2024				2023
Revenues	$	31,429,135			$	34,776,443
Costs and expenses
Cost of revenues		23,246,468				27,081,960
General and administrative expenses		6,430,806				2,989,421
Total costs and expenses		29,677,274				30,071,381
Income from operations		1,751,861				4,705,062
Other income (expense)
Interest expense		(132,583	)			(192,326	)
Gain on investment in CenterCom		16,153				33,029
Total other income (expense) - net		(116,430	)			(159,297	)
Net income before provision for income taxes		1,635,431				4,545,765
Provision for income tax benefit (expense)	$	(423,000	)			-
Net income including non-controlling interest		1,635,431				4,545,765
Non-controlling interest		(12,164	)			(576	)
Net income available to common stockholders	$	1,224,595			$	4,546,341
Earnings per share - attributable to common stockholders
Basic	$	0.07			$	0.32
Diluted	$	0.07			$	0.31
Weighted average number of shares outstanding - attributable to common stockholders
Basic		17,693,283				14,131,276
Diluted		18,678,136				14,535,222

SurgePays, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Unaudited)
	For the Three Months Ended March 31,
	2024				2023
Operating activities
Net income (loss) - including non-controlling interest	$	1,212,431			$	4,545,765
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operations:
Depreciation and amortization		233,760				233,758
Amortization of right-of-use assets		23,363				10,687
Amortization of internal use software development costs		55,707				32,265
Stock issued for services		411,740				307,458
Recognition of stock based compensation - unvested shares - related parties		1,497,417				-
Recognition of share based compensation - options - related party		6,196				9,294
Interest expense adjustment - SBA loans		19,750				-
Right-of-use asset lease payment adjustment true up		(46,338	)			-
Gain on equity method investment - CenterCom		(16,153	)			(33,029	)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities
(Increase) decrease in
Accounts receivable		1,264,196				(429,187	)
Inventory		1,702,855				(4,335,727	)
Prepaids and other		(337,975	)			(58,428	)
Deferred income taxes - net		-				-
Increase (decrease) in
Accounts payable and accrued expenses		(2,433,059	)			1,418,337
Accounts payable and accrued expenses - related party		15,156				(1,322,773	)
Accrued income taxes payable		130,000	)			-
Installment sale liability - net		-				2,026,713
Deferred revenue		(20,000	)			470,211
Operating lease liability		28,012				(9,548	)
Net cash provided by operating activities		4,040,058				2,865,796
Investing activities
Capitalized internal use software development costs		-				(157,044	)
Net cash used in investing activities		-				(157,044	)
Financing activities
Proceeds from stock issued for cash		17,249,994				-
Proceeds from exercise of common stock warrants		8,799,257				-
Cash paid as direct offering costs		(1,395,000	)
Repayments of loans - related party		(368,421	)			(467,385	)
Repayments on notes payable		-				(410,468	)
Repayments on notes payable - SBA government		(2,870	)			(4,468	)
Net cash provided (used in) by financing activities		24,282,960				(882,321	)
Net increase in cash		28,323,018				1,826,431
Cash - beginning of period		14,622,060				7,035,654
Cash - end of period	$	42,945,078			$	8,862,085
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information
Cash paid for interest	$	129,003			$	100,074
Cash paid for income tax	$	-			$	-
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing and financing activities
Reclassification of accrued interest - related party to note payable - related party	$	498,991			$	-
Exercise of warrants - cashless	$	41			$	-
Right-of-use asset obtained in exchange for new operating lease liability	$	98,638			$	-
Goodwill (ClearLine Mobile, Inc.)	$	2,500,000			$	-

FAQ

What were SurgePays' Q1 2024 revenues?

SurgePays reported Q1 2024 revenues of $31.4 million.

How did SurgePays' MVNO wireless revenue perform in Q1 2024?

SurgePays' MVNO wireless revenue increased to $28.9 million in Q1 2024 from $28.7 million in Q1 2023.

What was SurgePays' net income for Q1 2024?

SurgePays recorded a net income of $1.2 million for Q1 2024.

What is SurgePays' cash balance as of Q1 2024?

SurgePays holds over $42 million in cash as of Q1 2024.

How is SurgePays addressing the uncertainty surrounding ACP funding?

SurgePays is expanding its non-ACP businesses and implementing a strategic plan to grow its nationwide network, which would mitigate risks if ACP funding is not secured.

What impact did the shift from the Lead Generation subsidiary have on SurgePays' Q1 2024 revenue?

The shift away from the Lead Generation subsidiary resulted in a loss of $3.2 million in revenue for SurgePays in Q1 2024.