Where Food Comes From, Inc. Reports 2024 Fourth Quarter and Full Year Financial Results

Rhea-AI Summary

Where Food Comes From (WFCF) reported its Q4 and full-year 2024 results. Full-year revenue increased 2% to $25.7 million, with verification and certification services up 6% to $20.6 million. Net income slightly decreased to $2.1 million ($0.40 per diluted share) from $2.2 million in 2023.

Q4 total revenue remained flat at $6.7 million, while net income increased to $961,000 ($0.18 per diluted share) from $776,000, boosted by a $345,000 gain in bitcoin holdings. The company continued its shareholder value return program, repurchasing 273,057 shares in 2024 for $3.3 million.

Despite challenges from cyclical herd contraction affecting the beef business, growth in CARE Certified and Upcycled programs offset the impact. The company's SG&A expenses increased by $530,000 to support marketing initiatives and technical talent acquisition.

Positive

• Revenue growth of 2% to $25.7M in FY2024
• Verification services revenue increased 6% to $20.6M
• Q4 net income up 24% to $961,000
• Bitcoin investment gain of $345,000
• Strong share buyback program with 273,057 shares repurchased in 2024
• Stable gross margins year over year

Negative

• Full-year net income declined to $2.1M from $2.2M
• SG&A expenses increased by $530,000
• Product revenue decreased 5% to $3.8M
• Professional services revenue down 19% to $1.4M
• Cash and equivalents decreased to $2.0M from $2.6M

Insights

Financial Analyst

The 2024 financial results reveal a company successfully navigating sector headwinds through strategic diversification. Despite the cyclical contraction in their beef business, WFCF demonstrated remarkable adaptability by growing their CARE Certified and Upcycled programs, resulting in a 6% increase in verification services revenue to $20.6M.

The $530,000 increase in SG&A expenses, while impacting short-term profitability, represents strategic investments in marketing, technology platform enhancement, and talent retention. These investments position the company for long-term growth and competitive advantage in the expanding food verification market.

The company's capital allocation strategy deserves particular attention. While maintaining strong operational cash flow of $2.7M, WFCF has executed an aggressive share repurchase program, reducing outstanding shares by approximately 1.2 million over the past five years. The average buyback price of $10.92 per share demonstrates disciplined capital deployment.

However, the $345,000 gain from bitcoin holdings, while beneficial to the bottom line, introduces an element of volatility that seems misaligned with the company's core business model. This speculative position, though profitable, may warrant closer scrutiny from risk-management perspective.

The stable gross margins amid revenue mix shifts indicate strong pricing power and operational efficiency. The expansion into poultry, organic, dairy, and CPG markets represents a strategic pivot that reduces dependency on the cyclical beef sector while capitalizing on growing consumer demand for food verification services.

Fourth Quarter Highlights – 2024 vs. 2023

• Verification and certification revenue: $5.4M vs. $5.5M

• Product sales: $922,000 vs. $871,000

• Total revenue flat at $6.7M

• Net income: $961,000 vs. $776,000

• Diluted EPS: $0.18 vs. $0.14

• Stock buybacks: 57,018 shares
  

Full Year Highlights – 2024 vs. 2023

• Verification and certification revenue: $20.6M vs. $19.4M

• Product sales: $3.8M vs. $4.0

• Total revenue: $25.7M vs. $25.1M

• Net income: $2.1M vs. $2.2M

• Diluted EPS: $0.40 vs. $0.39

• Cash generated from operations: $2.7M vs. $2.8M

• Cash & cash equivalents: $2.0 million vs. $2.6 million at 2023 year-end

• Stock buybacks and private repurchases: 273,057 shares

• Total buybacks since plan inception plus private purchases: 1,191,636 shares at purchase price of $13.0 million, or approximately $10.92 per share

• Total value returned to stockholders via buybacks, private purchases and a special dividend over past 21 quarters: $13.9M
  

CASTLE ROCK, Colo., Feb. 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Where Food Comes From, Inc. (WFCF) (Nasdaq: WFCF), the most trusted resource for independent, third-party verification of food production practices in North America, today announced financial results for its fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2024.

“In spite of cyclical herd contraction that significantly impacted our beef business throughout the year, we grew revenue by 2% to $25.7 million in 2024 and delivered solid net income of $2.1 million, or $0.40 per share,” said John Saunders, chairman and CEO. “Lower volumes for beef source and age verifications and related hardware sales were more than offset by growth of our CARE Certified and Upcycled programs and growing demand for other verification services in the areas of poultry, organic, dairy, and CPG. Our gross margins remained stable year over year, but profitability was impacted by a $530,000 increase in SG&A to support stepped-up marketing initiatives, retain key personnel and add technical talent to continue enhancing our technology platform, and expand our verification portfolio. Net income also benefitted from a $345,000 gain in fair market value of our $178,000 investment in bitcoin. Our average purchase price was $25,400 per unit compared to the December 31, 2024, closing price of $93,400.

“In 2024 we continued to return value to shareholders, taking another 273,057 shares out of the float through buybacks and private purchases at a cost of $3.3 million,” Saunders added. “Since we began our stock buyback program in the fourth quarter of 2019, we have returned $13.9 million in value to shareholders through a combination of buybacks, private purchases and a special dividend. During that time, we reduced the float by approximately 1.2 million shares, with 73% of that total coming over the last three years. We expect to continue taking advantage of solid cash flows to further reduce our float, while at the same time invest in new programs and services designed to strengthen our beef business and accelerate the growth of other service offerings.”

Fourth Quarter Results – 2024 vs. 2023
Total revenue in the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2024, was flat at $6.7 million.

• Verification and certification services revenue was down 2% at $5.4 million vs. $5.5 million.
• Product revenue increased 6% to $922,000 from $871,000.
• Professional services revenue was $360,000 vs. $391,000.
  

Gross profit in the fourth quarter declined 7% to $2.8 million from $3.0 million.

Selling, general and administrative expense decreased slightly to $2.0 million from $2.1 million.

Net income increased to $961,000, or $0.18 per diluted share, from $776,000, or $0.14 per diluted share, due to a $345,000 gain in the fair market value of bitcoin holdings.

The Company bought back 57,018 shares of its common stock in the fourth quarter.

Full Year Results – 2024 vs. 2023
Total revenue for the full year increased 2% to $25.7 million from $25.1 million in the same period last year.

• Verification and certification services were up 6% to $20.6 million from $19.4 million.
• Product revenue decreased 5% to $3.8 million from $4.0 million.
• Professional services revenue was down 19% to $1.4 million from $1.7 million.
  

Gross profit for the full year was up slightly to $10.6 million from $10.5 million.

SG&A expense increased to $8.4 million from $7.8 million due primarily to higher marketing, personnel and travel expenses.

Net income for the year was down slightly at $2.1 million, or $0.40 per diluted share, vs. net income of $2.2 million, or $0.39 per diluted share, in 2023.

The Company generated $2.7 million in cash from operations in 2024 vs. $2.8 million in 2024.

For the full year, including stock buybacks and private transactions, the Company repurchased a total of 273,057 shares of its stock for $3,269,755, or $11.97 per share.

The Company will conduct a conference call today at 10:00 a.m. Mountain Time.

Call-in numbers for the conference call:
Domestic Toll Free: 1-877-407-8289
International: 1-201-689-8341
Conference Code: 13751753

Phone replay:
A telephone replay of the conference call will be available through March 6, 2025, as follows:
Domestic Toll Free: 1-877-660-6853
International: 1-201-612-7415
Conference Code: 13751753

About Where Food Comes From, Inc.
Where Food Comes From, Inc. is America’s trusted resource for third party verification of food production practices. Through proprietary technology and patented business processes, the Company estimates that it supports more than 17,500 farmers, ranchers, vineyards, wineries, processors, retailers, distributors, trade associations, consumer brands and restaurants with a wide variety of value-added services. Through its IMI Global, Validus Verification Services, SureHarvest, WFCF Organic, and Postelsia units, Where Food Comes From solutions are used to verify food claims, optimize production practices and enable food supply chains with analytics and data driven insights. In addition, the Company’s Where Food Comes From® retail and restaurant labeling program uses web-based customer education tools to connect consumers to the sources of the food they purchase, increasing meaningful consumer engagement for our clients. 

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT
This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, based on current expectations, estimates and projections that are subject to risk. Forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain, and actual events could differ materially from the Company’s predictions. Important factors that could cause actual events to vary from predictions include those discussed in our SEC filings. Specifically, statements in this news release about industry leadership, expectations to continue buying back stock, enhance our technology platform, expand our services, strengthen the beef business and accelerate growth, and demand for, and impact and efficacy of, the Company’s products and services on the marketplace are forward-looking statements that are subject to a variety of factors, including availability of capital, personnel and other resources; competition; governmental regulation of the agricultural industry; the market for beef and other commodities; and other factors. Financial results for 2024 and the Company’s pace of stock buybacks are not necessarily indicative of future results. Readers should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. The Company assumes no obligation to update its forward-looking statements to reflect new information or developments. For a more extensive discussion of the Company’s business, please refer to the Company’s SEC filings at www.sec.gov.

Company Contacts:

John Saunders
Chief Executive Officer
303-895-3002

Jay Pfeiffer
Director Investor Relations
303-880-9000
jpfeiffer@wherefoodcomesfrom.com

Where Food Comes From, Inc.
Statements of Income
			Three months ended December 31,								Year ended December 31,
(Amounts in thousands, except per share amounts)				2024				2023				2024				2023
Revenues:			(Unaudited)				(Unaudited)				(Audited)				(Audited)
	Verification and certification service revenue		$	5,380			$	5,469			$	20,552			$	19,413
	Product sales			922				871				3,803				4,001
	Professional services			360				391				1,391				1,721
		Total revenues		6,662				6,731				25,746				25,135
Costs of revenues:
	Costs of verification and certification services			3,018				2,931				11,849				10,986
	Costs of products			569				468				2,313				2,272
	Costs of professional services			274				325				1,022				1,355
		Total costs of revenues		3,861				3,724				15,184				14,613
	Gross profit			2,801				3,007				10,562				10,522
Selling, general and administrative expenses				2,046				2,084				8,355				7,825
Income from operations				755				923				2,207				2,697
Other income/(expense):
	Dividend income from Progressive Beef			250				170				400				320
	Interest income			6				20				35				52
	Gain on sale of assets			-				2				1				7
	Gain on FMV of bitcoin			345				-				345				-
	Loss on foreign currency exchange			(1	)			(1	)			(5	)			(7	)
	Other income/(expense), net			-				(3	)			-				1
	Interest expense			(1	)			(2	)			(4	)			(5	)
Income before income taxes				1,354				1,109				2,979				3,065
Income tax expense				393				333				859				913
	Net income		$	961			$	776			$	2,120			$	2,152
Per share - net income:
	Basic		$	0.18			$	0.14			$	0.40			$	0.39
	Diluted		$	0.18			$	0.14			$	0.40			$	0.39
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:
	Basic			5,264				5,539				5,318				5,485
	Diluted			5,281				5,597				5,334				5,548

Where Food Comes From, Inc.
Balance Sheets (Audited)
			December 31,				December 31,
(Amounts in thousands, except per share amounts)				2024				2023
Assets
Current assets:
	Cash and cash equivalents		$	2,012			$	2,641
	Accounts receivable, net of allowance			1,826				2,128
	Inventory			1,002				1,109
	Prepaid expenses and other current assets			705				335
		Total current assets		5,545				6,213
Property and equipment, net				737				844
Right-of-use assets, net				2,067				2,296
Equity investments				1,191				1,191
Intangible and other assets, net				1,810				2,187
Digital assets				654				116
Goodwill, net				2,946				2,946
Deferred tax assets, net				356				493
Total assets			$	15,306			$	16,286
Liabilities and Equity
Current liabilities:
	Accounts payable		$	468			$	567
	Accrued expenses and other current liabilities			611				615
	Deferred revenue			1,748				1,485
	Current portion of finance lease obligations			15				14
	Current portion of operating lease obligations			337				298
		Total current liabilities		3,179				2,979
Finance lease obligations, net of current portion				25				41
Operating lease obligation, net of current portion				2,169				2,447
Total liabilities				5,373				5,467
Commitments and contingencies
Equity:
	Common stock			7				7
	Additional paid-in-capital			11,381				12,290
	Treasury stock			(13,462	)			(11,219	)
	Retained earnings			12,007				9,741
Total equity				9,933				10,819
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity			$	15,306			$	16,286

FAQ

What was WFCF's revenue growth in 2024?

WFCF reported a 2% revenue growth in 2024, reaching $25.7 million compared to $25.1 million in 2023.

How many shares did WFCF repurchase in 2024?

WFCF repurchased 273,057 shares in 2024 at a total cost of $3.3 million, averaging $11.97 per share.

What was WFCF's Q4 2024 earnings per share?

WFCF reported Q4 2024 diluted earnings per share of $0.18, up from $0.14 in Q4 2023.

How did WFCF's bitcoin investment perform in 2024?

WFCF recorded a $345,000 gain on its bitcoin investment, with an average purchase price of $25,400 per unit compared to the December 31, 2024 closing price of $93,400.

What impacted WFCF's profitability in 2024?

WFCF's profitability was impacted by a $530,000 increase in SG&A expenses for marketing initiatives, personnel retention, and technical talent acquisition.