Company Revises Fiscal Year 2008 Guidance Second Quarter 2008
Conference Call Scheduled for July 31
WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 17,
2008--ValueClick, Inc. (Nasdaq: VCLK) today announced preliminary
results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2008. The Company
expects:
-- Revenue between $163 and $164 million compared to the
Company's prior guidance range of $166 to $170 million;
-- Adjusted-EBITDA(1) between $43 and $43.5 million compared to
the Company's prior guidance range of $40 to $42 million; and
-- Diluted net income per common share between $0.17 and $0.18
compared to the Company's prior guidance range of $0.15 to
$0.16.
The macroeconomic environment negatively impacted revenue in the
quarter, primarily in the U.S. comparison shopping and U.S. display
advertising businesses. Lead generation revenue within the Media
segment was essentially flat relative to first quarter 2008 revenue.
Expense management initiatives in the quarter resulted in
profitability above the previously-issued guidance.
"Due to increasing macroeconomic uncertainty, we no longer
anticipate the seasonal strength in ad spending we typically see in
the second half of the year," said Tom Vadnais, chief executive
officer of ValueClick. "As a result, we have lowered our fiscal year
2008 outlook. However, we continue to focus on gross margins and
operating expenses such that we expect to maintain an adjusted-EBITDA
margin for fiscal year 2008 that is consistent with our prior
guidance. The Company currently has $101 million in authorization in
its share repurchase program, and we plan to be actively buying back
stock in the coming weeks."
Business Outlook
The following statements are based on current expectations. These
statements are forward-looking, and actual results may differ
materially. These statements do not include the potential impact of
any mergers, acquisitions or other business combinations that may be
completed after the date of this release. Actual stock-based
compensation expense may differ from these estimates based on the
timing and amount of stock awards granted, the assumptions used in
stock award valuation and other factors. Actual income tax expense may
differ from these estimates based on tax planning, changes in tax
accounting rules and laws, and other factors.
Based on its preliminary second quarter results and outlook for
the remainder of the year, ValueClick is updating its fiscal year 2008
guidance ranges, issued previously on May 6, 2008. The updated fiscal
year 2008 guidance is as follows:
Fiscal Year 2008 Previous Guidance Updated Guidance
----------------------------------- ----------------- ----------------
Revenue $730-$745 million $655-$675
million
----------------------------------- ----------------- ----------------
Adjusted-EBITDA $190-$195 million $172-$176
million
----------------------------------- ----------------- ----------------
Adjusted-EBITDA Margin at Mid-
Point of Guidance Ranges 26.1% 26.2%
----------------------------------- ----------------- ----------------
Diluted net income per common share $0.81-$0.83 $0.69-$0.71
----------------------------------- ----------------- ----------------
Consistent with prior guidance, fiscal year 2008 diluted net
income per common share guidance includes the impact of approximately
$0.15 per diluted common share for stock-based compensation expense
and assumes a 42 percent effective tax rate.
The mid-point of updated fiscal year 2008 revenue guidance
reflects the following year-over-year revenue growth rates per
segment:
Fiscal Year 2008 Revenue by Segment Year-Over-Year
Growth
--------------------------------------------------- ------------------
Affiliate Marketing(2)(excludes Search123) +8%
--------------------------------------------------- ------------------
Comparison Shopping and Search (includes Search123) +19% pro-forma
--------------------------------------------------- ------------------
Technology +18%
--------------------------------------------------- ------------------
Media, Total -18%
Display advertising Low single digit
increase
Lead generation High 20% decrease
--------------------------------------------------- ------------------
ValueClick has yet to finalize its second quarter 2008 results.
All figures included in this release remain subject to the completion
of normal quarter-end procedures. Preliminary diluted net income per
common share for second quarter 2008 assumes an effective tax rate of
42 percent.
Financial Results Call Scheduled for July 31
ValueClick also announced today that it will release the full
details of the finalized second quarter 2008 financial results on
Thursday, July 31 at approximately 4:05 p.m. ET.
On July 31 at 4:30 p.m. ET, chief executive officer Tom Vadnais
and chief financial officer John Pitstick will host a conference call
and Webcast to discuss second quarter results and update investors on
its share repurchase program. Analysts and institutional investors may
obtain the July 31 conference call dial-in information through
StreetEvents (www.streetevents.com) or through ValueClick's Investor
Relations department at (818) 575-4677. The live Webcast of the
conference call will be available on the Investor Relations section of
www.valueclick.com. A replay of the conference call will be available
through July 31 at (888) 203-1112 and (719) 457-0820 (pass code:
1770349). An archive of the Webcast will also be available through
August 7.
About ValueClick
ValueClick, Inc. (Nasdaq: VCLK) is one of the world's largest
integrated online marketing services companies, offering comprehensive
and scalable solutions to deliver cost-effective customer acquisition
for advertisers and transparent revenue streams for publishers.
ValueClick's performance-based solutions allow its customers to reach
their potential through multiple online marketing channels, including
affiliate and search marketing, display advertising, lead generation,
ad serving and related technologies, and comparison shopping.
ValueClick brands include Commission Junction, ValueClick Media,
Mediaplex, Smarter.com, CouponMountain.com, and PriceRunner. For more
information, please visit www.valueclick.com.
This release contains forward-looking statements that involve
risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, the risk that
market demand for on-line advertising in general, and performance
based on-line advertising in particular, will not grow as rapidly as
predicted, and the risk that legislation and governmental regulation
could negatively impact the Company's performance. Actual results may
differ materially from the results predicted, and reported results
should not be considered an indication of future performance.
Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially
from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements are
detailed under "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in filings with the
Securities and Exchange Commission made from time to time by
ValueClick, including, but not limited to: its annual report on Form
10-K filed on February 29, 2008; recent quarterly reports on Form
10-Q; and other current reports on Form 8-K. ValueClick undertakes no
obligation to release publicly any revisions to any forward-looking
statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or
to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
(1) Adjusted-EBITDA is defined as GAAP (Generally Accepted
Accounting Principles) net income before interest, income taxes,
depreciation, amortization, and stock-based compensation.
Adjusted-EBITDA, as defined above, may not be similar to
adjusted-EBITDA measures used by other companies and is not a
measurement under GAAP.
(2) The Company announced on a May 6, 2008 conference call that,
starting with second quarter 2008 financial results, it would
reclassify the Search123 business from the Affiliate Marketing segment
to the Comparison Shopping segment, and rename the Comparison Shopping
segment "Comparison Shopping and Search." Search123 generated
approximately $21 million in revenue in 2007, and updated guidance
anticipates 2008 revenue for Search123 of approximately $17 million.
CONTACT: Gary J. Fuges, CFA
ValueClick, Inc.
1-818-575-4677
SOURCE: ValueClick, Inc.