News

Autoscope Technologies Corporation Announces 2021 Fourth Quarter and Full-Year Financial Results

Minneapolis, Minn., March 22, 2022 -- Autoscope Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ: AATC) today announced results for its fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2021.

Fourth Quarter 2021 Financial Summary

• Fourth quarter royalties were $1.8 million, a decrease of 2 percent from the same period in the prior year.
• Fourth quarter product sales were $1.4 million, an increase of 34 percent from the same period in the prior year.
• Operating expenses totaled $2.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2021, a decrease of 12 percent from the prior year period.  
• Capitalized software costs in the fourth quarter of 2021 were $307,000 compared to no costs in the prior year period.
• Net loss for the fourth quarter of 2021 totaled $201,000 compared to net income of $365,000 for the same period in the prior year.
• Cash balance decreased to $8.2 million, down from $8.5 million at the end of the third quarter of 2021.

2021 Full Year Financial Summary

• 2021 royalties increased to $8.5 million compared to $8.3 million in the prior year.
• 2021 product sales were $4.7 million, a decrease of 2 percent from the prior year.
• 2021 operating expenses of $8.0 million remained the same as in the prior year.  
• Capitalized software costs in 2021 were $485,000 compared to $22,000 in the prior year.
• Income tax expense in 2021 was $905,000 compared to a $462,000 income tax benefit in the prior year. 
• Net income for 2021 totaled $2.3 million, a $1.2 million increase from the prior year.
• The Company received funding of $924,000 under the Paycheck Protection Program in the form of a loan in April 2020, all of which was forgiven in the first quarter of 2021.
• Cash balance decreased to $8.2 million at December 31, 2021, down from $8.6 million at the end of 2020.

Fourth-Quarter Results

The 2021 fourth quarter revenue for Autoscope Technologies Corporation ("ATC," the "Company," "us," "we," or "our"), which includes the results of Image Sensing Systems, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of ATC, was $3.2 million compared to $2.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2020. Revenue from royalties was $1.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2021 compared to $1.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2020, a 2 percent decrease. Product sales were $1.4 million in the 2021 fourth quarter compared to $1.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2020, a 34 percent increase. 

Gross margin for the fourth quarter of 2021 was 72 percent, a 5-percentage point decrease from a gross margin of 77 percent for the same period in 2020.  Product sales gross margin for the fourth quarter of 2021 was 45 percent compared to 46 percent in the prior year period. The decrease in the gross margin percent was primarily the result of a higher portion of revenues being from product sales which have a lower gross margin than royalties. 

The Company had a net loss in the fourth quarter of $(201,000), or $(0.04) per diluted share, compared to net income of $365,000, or $0.07 per diluted share, in the prior year period. The fourth quarter 2021 net income includes operating expenses of $2.1 million, a 12 percent decrease from the fourth quarter of 2020 and income tax expense of $453,000, a 190 percent increase from the fourth quarter of 2020. The decrease in operating expenses is primarily due to the increase in capitalized software development costs compared to the prior year. During the fourth quarter of 2021, the Company capitalized $307,000 internal software development costs compared to capitalizing $22,000 in internal software development costs in the prior year period. Income tax expense was $954,000 higher compared to the prior year due to higher pre-tax income and increased valuation allowances on certain deferred tax assets that the Company does not expect to realize in the future.  

On a non-GAAP basis, excluding the amortization of intangible assets and depreciation for the applicable periods, operating income for the fourth quarter of 2021 was $517,000 compared to $106,000 in the prior year period.

Full Year Results

The Company's 2021 revenue remained constant at $13.2 million compared to the prior year. Gross margin for 2021 was 77 percent compared to 79 percent in 2020. Revenue from royalties increased to $8.5 million in 2021 compared to $8.3 million 2020. 

Product sales decreased to $4.7 million in 2021, a 2 percent decrease from $4.8 million in 2020. The decrease in product sales was the result of project timing and global COVID-19 related challenges. The Company's video product sales and royalties were $8.5 million and $791,000, respectively, in 2021, and RTMS radar product sales were $3.9 million in 2021. Product sales gross margin for 2021 decreased to 45 percent compared to 50 percent in 2020.

The Company’s net income in 2021 was $2.3 million, or $0.43 per diluted share, compared to $1.1 million, or $0.20 per diluted share, in the prior year. The 2021 net income includes operating expenses of $8.0 million, which decreased when compared to 2020 operating expenses of $9.8 million. During 2021, the Company capitalized $485,000 of internal software development costs compared to $22,000 in 2020. Other income of $931,000 was recorded during the first quarter of 2021 when the Company received forgiveness of its Paycheck Protection Program loan principal and accrued interest, and there were no comparable items in 2020.

On a non-GAAP basis, excluding the amortization of intangible assets, depreciation, and restructuring charges for the applicable periods, operating income for 2021 was $3.2 million compared to $1.6 million in the prior year.

During the second quarter of 2020, the Company received funding of $924,000 from the United States Small Business Administration (SBA) in the form of a Paycheck Protection Program ("PPP") loan. The Company applied for forgiveness of the loan because the proceeds were used for payroll related costs, rent, and utilities.  On February 2, 2021, the Company was granted forgiveness for the full amount of the PPP loan by the SBA.  Other income of $931,000 was recorded during the first quarter of 2021 when the Company received forgiveness of the PPP loan principal and accrued interest, and there were no comparable items in 2020.

"We are pleased with the recovery of ISS product sales during the last quarter, which have been hampered by labor shortages in highway construction and supply chain component delays. Video product royalties for the year have increased due to the release of new pedestrian detection capabilities,” said Andrew Berger, CEO of ATC. "We are investing in new products and expect to bring these to market in 2022.  However, we expect labor shortages and supply chain component delays to continue throughout the year and remain focused on controlling operating expenses," concluded Mr. Berger.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures:

We provide certain non-GAAP financial information as supplemental information to financial measures calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles in the United States). This non-GAAP information excludes the impact of amortizing intangible assets and depreciation and may exclude other non-recurring items.  Management believes that this presentation facilitates the comparison of our current operating results to historical operating results. Management uses this non-GAAP information to evaluate short-term and long-term operating trends in our core operations. Non-GAAP information is not prepared in accordance with GAAP and should not be considered a substitute for or an alternative to GAAP financial measures and may not be computed the same as similarly titled measures used by other companies.

About Autoscope Technologies Corporation

Autoscope Technologies Corporation is a global company that creates value through owning and supporting operating subsidiaries and investments, anchored in the fields of technology and engineering. Autoscope Technologies Corporation's main subsidiary, Image Sensing Systems, Inc., is dedicated to helping improve safety and efficiency for cities and highways by developing and delivering above-ground detection technology, applications and solutions. We give Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) professionals more precise and accurate information – including real-time reaction capabilities and in-depth analytics – to make more confident and proactive decisions. We are headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Visit us on the web at autoscope.com.

Safe Harbor Statement:  Statements made in this release concerning the Company’s or management’s intentions, expectations, or predictions about future results or events are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements reflect management’s current expectations or beliefs, and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or events to vary from stated expectations, which variations could be material and adverse. Factors that could produce such a variation include, but are not limited to, the following: the inherent unreliability of earnings, revenue and cash flow predictions due to numerous factors, many of which are beyond the Company’s control; developments in the demand for the Company’s products and services; relationships with the Company’s major customers and suppliers; the mix of and margins on the products we sell; unanticipated delays, costs and expenses inherent in the development and marketing of new products and services; adverse weather conditions in our markets; the impact of governmental laws and regulations; international presence; tariffs and other trade barriers; our success in integrating any acquisitions; potential disruptions to our supply chains (including disruptions caused by geopolitical events, military actions, work stoppages, nature disasters, or international health emergencies, such as the COVID-19 pandemic); and competitive factors. Our forward-looking statements speak only as of the time made, and we assume no obligation to publicly update any such statements. Additional information concerning these and other factors that could cause actual results and events to differ materially from the Company’s current expectations are contained in the Company’s reports and other documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 filed on March 11, 2021.

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