Debt Reduction Continues as Company Sees Increased Bid Activity to Close Out Fiscal 2024

ATLANTA, July 31, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- DLH Holdings Corp. (NASDAQ: DLHC) (“DLH” or the “Company”), a leading provider of science research and development, systems engineering and integration, and digital transformation and cyber security solutions to federal health IT and readiness agencies, today announced financial results for its fiscal third quarter ended June 30, 2024.

Third Quarter Highlights

• Third quarter revenue was $100.7 million in fiscal 2024 versus $102.2 million in fiscal 2023, reflecting growth in our Department of Health and Human Services portfolio offset by small business set-aside contract conversions.

• Earnings were $1.1 million, or $0.08 per diluted share, for the third quarter of fiscal 2024 versus $1.7 million, or $0.12 per diluted share, for the third quarter of fiscal 2023.

• Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization ("EBITDA") were $10.0 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2024 as compared to $11.4 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2023.

• Total debt was $166.5 million as of June 30, 2024 versus $170.8 million as of March 31, 2024.

• Contract backlog was $670.5 million as of June 30, 2024 versus $736.2 million as of March 31, 2024.

Management Discussion
"The third quarter results depict the dynamic nature of our Company, with growth in key markets being offset by some of our contracts transitioning to small businesses, impacting our top line," said Zach Parker, DLH President and Chief Executive Officer. "New business revenue for fiscal 2024 has been delayed due to the government evaluation process. However, strong cash flow has allowed us to reduce debt and lower interest expenses. Our broad capabilities have allowed us to increase the pursuit of new business. Despite the complexity and delays of federal procurement, our robust pipeline of qualified new business continues to offer substantial growth opportunities in our core markets for the future."

Results for the Three Months Ended June 30, 2024
Revenue for the third quarter of fiscal 2024 was $100.7 million versus $102.2 million in fiscal 2023, reflecting growth across the Company's key strategic programs — primarily in public health and IT services — offset by certain contracts converting to small business set-aside contracts.

Income from operations was $5.8 million versus $7.1 million in the fiscal 2023 third quarter and, as a percentage of revenue, the Company reported operating margin of 5.7% in fiscal 2024 versus 7.0% in the prior-year period. We experienced an increase in contract costs as a percent of revenue, primarily driven by the timing of non-labor costs that, by their nature, generate lower margins. The increase does not represent a change in our long term cost of performance expectations, but rather reflects the periodic needs of some of our logistics business. The increase in contracts cost was offset by a decrease in general and administrative expense of $0.9 million from $9.9 million in fiscal 2023 Q3 to $9.0 million in fiscal 2024 Q3.

Interest expense was $4.1 million in the fiscal quarter of 2024 versus $4.9 million in the prior-year period, reflecting lower debt outstanding due to the Company's use of cash flow generation to de-lever the balance sheet. Income before income taxes was $1.6 million for the third quarter this year versus $2.2 million in fiscal 2023, representing 1.6% and 2.1% of revenue, respectively, for each period.

For the three months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, DLH recorded a $0.5 million and $0.5 million provision for income tax expense, respectively. The Company reported net income of approximately $1.1 million, or $0.08 per diluted share, for the third quarter of fiscal 2024 versus $1.7 million, or $0.12 per diluted share, for the third quarter of fiscal 2023. As a percentage of revenue for fiscal 2024 and 2023, net income was 1.1% and 1.7%, respectively.

On a non-GAAP basis, EBITDA for the three months ended June 30, 2024 was approximately $10.0 million versus $11.4 million in the prior-year period, or 10.0% and 11.1% of revenue, respectively and was in range of our expectations.

Key Financial Indicators
During the third quarter of fiscal 2024, DLH generated $4.6 million in operating cash. As of June 30, 2024 the Company had cash of $0.4 million and debt outstanding under its credit facilities of $166.5 million versus cash of $0.2 million and debt outstanding of $179.4 million as of September 30, 2023. The debt reduction of $4.3 million during the third quarter was all voluntary prepayments applied to floating rate debt. We have satisfied all mandatory term amortization payments through March 31, 2025. The Company expects to reduce its total debt balance to between $160.0 million and $157.0 million by the end of fiscal 2024, attibutable to an increase in days sales outstanding ("DSO") of 50 to 53 days.

As of June 30, 2024 total backlog was approximately $670.5 million, including funded backlog of approximately $141.5 million and unfunded backlog of $529.0 million.

Conference Call and Webcast Details
DLH management will discuss third quarter results and provide a general business update, including current competitive conditions and strategies, during a conference call beginning at 10:00 AM Eastern Time tomorrow, August 1, 2024. Interested parties may listen to the conference call by dialing 888-347-5290 or 412-317-5256. Presentation materials will also be posted on the Investor Relations section of the DLH website prior to the commencement of the conference call.

A digital recording of the conference call will be available for replay two hours after the completion of the call and can be accessed on the DLH Investor Relations website or by dialing 877-344-7529 and entering the conference ID 2566648.

About DLH
DLH (NASDAQ: DLHC), a Russell 2000 company, enhances technology, public health, and cyber security readiness missions through science, technology, cyber, and engineering solutions and services. Our experts solve some of the most complex and critical missions faced by federal customers, leveraging digital transformation, artificial intelligence, advanced analytics, cloud-based applications, telehealth systems, and more. With over 3,000 employees dedicated to the idea that “Your Mission is Our Passion,” DLH brings a unique combination of government sector experience, proven methodology, and unwavering commitment to innovative solutions to improve the lives of millions. For more information, visit www.DLHcorp.com.

Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995:
This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements relate to future events or DLH`s future financial performance. Any statements that refer to expectations, projections or other characterizations of future events or circumstances or that are not statements of historical fact (including without limitation statements to the effect that the Company or its management “believes”, “expects”, “anticipates”, “plans”, “intends” and similar expressions) should be considered forward looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or DLH’s actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this release include, among others, statements regarding estimates of future revenues, operating income, earnings and cash flow. These statements reflect our belief and assumptions as to future events that may not prove to be accurate. Our actual results may differ materially from such forward-looking statements made in this release due to a variety of factors, including: the risk that we will not realize the anticipated benefits of acquisitions (including anticipated future financial performance and results); the diversion of management’s attention from normal daily operations of the business and the challenges of managing larger and more widespread operations; the inability to retain employees and customers; contract awards in connection with re-competes for present business and/or competition for new business; our ability to manage our debt obligations; compliance with bank financial and other covenants; changes in client budgetary priorities; government contract procurement (such as bid and award protests, small business set asides, loss of work due to organizational conflicts of interest, etc.) and termination risks; the impact of inflation and higher interest rates; and other risks described in our SEC filings. For a discussion of such risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see “Risk Factors” in the Company’s periodic reports filed with the SEC, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2023, as well as subsequent reports filed thereafter. The forward-looking statements contained herein are not historical facts, but rather are based on current expectations, estimates, assumptions and projections about our industry and business.

Such forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and may become outdated over time. The Company does not assume any responsibility for updating forward-looking statements, except as may be required by law.

CONTACTS:

INVESTOR RELATIONS
Contact: Chris Witty
Phone: 646-438-9385
Email: [email protected]

Non-GAAP Financial Measures
The Company uses EBITDA and EBITDA as a percent of revenue as supplemental non-GAAP measures of performance. We define EBITDA as net income excluding (i) interest expense, (ii) Provision for income tax expense and (iii) depreciation and amortization. EBITDA as a percent of revenue is EBITDA for the measurement period divided by revenue for the same period.

These non-GAAP measures of performance are used by management to conduct and evaluate its business during its review of operating results for the periods presented. Management and the Company's Board utilize these non-GAAP measures to make decisions about the use of the Company's resources, analyze performance between periods, develop internal projections and measure management performance. We believe that these non-GAAP measures are useful to investors in evaluating the Company's ongoing operating and financial results and understanding how such results compare with the Company's historical performance. EBITDA is not a recognized measurement under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, or GAAP, and when analyzing our performance investors should (i) evaluate adjustments in our reconciliation to the nearest GAAP financial measures and (ii) use non-GAAP measures in addition to, and not as an alternative to, measures of our operating results as defined under GAAP.

Reconciliation of GAAP net income to EBITDA, a non-GAAP measure (in thousands):