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DealerTrack Holdings, Inc. Reports First Quarter 2012 Financial Results

Published: May 8, 2012

LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y. — DealerTrack Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: TRAK) recently reported financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2012.

GAAP Results for the First Quarter 2012

  • Revenue for the quarter was $91.6 million, as compared to $77.2 million for the first quarter of 2011
  • GAAP net income for the quarter was $17.0 million, as compared to $24.7 million for the first quarter of 2011
  • Diluted GAAP net income per share for the quarter was $0.39, as compared to $0.59 for the first quarter of 2011

GAAP net income for the first quarter of 2012 was positively impacted by $16.1 million (net of tax), or $0.37 per share, from a non-cash gain related to the contribution of Chrome to the Chrome Data Solutions, LP joint venture.  GAAP net income for the first quarter of 2011 was positively impacted by $24.5 million, or $0.58 per share, from a non-cash reduction in the valuation allowance against the company’s net U.S. deferred tax assets.

Non-GAAP Results for the First Quarter 2012

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  • Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter was $19.4 million, as compared to $15.5 million for the first quarter of 2011
  • Adjusted net income for the quarter was $9.4 million, as compared to $7.5 million for the first quarter of 2011
  • Diluted adjusted net income per share for the quarter was $0.22, as compared to $0.18 for the first quarter of 2011

Guidance for 2012 Annual Revenue Performance
DealerTrack raised annual guidance for revenue and non-GAAP earnings to reflect its stronger outlook for the year, and adjusted its expected GAAP earnings to further reflect certain interest expense and costs related to the company’s issuance of $200 million in senior convertible notes in March 2012, as follows:

Expected GAAP Results

  • Revenue for the year is expected to be between $375.0 million and $382.0 million, an increase from prior guidance of between $365.0 to $372.0 million
  • GAAP net income for the year is expected to be between $27.0 million and $30.0 million, a decrease from prior guidance of between $33.0 million and $36.0 million
  • Diluted GAAP net income per share for the year is expected to be between $0.61 and $0.68, a decrease from prior guidance of between $0.75 and $0.81 per share

Expected Non-GAAP Results

  • Adjusted EBITDA for the year is expected to be between $94.0 million and $97.0 million, an increase from prior guidance of between $91.0 and $95.0 million
  • Adjusted net income for the year is expected to be between $46.0 million and $49.0 million, an increase from prior guidance of between $44.0 and $47.0 million
  • Diluted adjusted net income per share for the year is expected to be between $1.04 and $1.11, an increase from prior guidance of between $0.99 and $1.06

The guidance assumes that new car sales by franchised dealers will be approximately 14.2 million units, up from our previous expectation of 13.5 million units, and used car sales by franchised dealers will be approximately 14.0 million units for 2012, an amount unchanged from our previous estimate.  Diluted GAAP net income and adjusted net income per share guidance for the year continue to be based on an estimated 44.3 million diluted weighted average shares outstanding.

Mark F. O’Neil, chairman and chief executive officer of DealerTrack, commented, “We are pleased with our strong performance in the first quarter. Transaction revenue grew at a multiple of growth in car sales as we increased the average transaction revenue per car sold. Our subscription business also performed well, as we saw particularly strong interest in our Inventory solution.” O’Neil further commented, “We are increasing our revenue guidance for 2012, reflecting strong first quarter results and an increase in our 2012 car sales expectations. Continued momentum combined with investments in our future growth make us more confident in our outlook for 2012 and beyond.”

Non-GAAP Financial Measures 

The non-GAAP measures of adjusted EBITDA and adjusted net income disclosures are not presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and are not intended to be used in lieu of GAAP presentations of net income.  Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure that represents GAAP net income (loss) excluding interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization expenses, stock-based compensation, and contra-revenue and may exclude certain items such as:  impairment charges, restructuring charges, impact of acquisition-related activity (including contingent consideration changes, compensation expense, basis difference amortization, and professional service fees), realized gains or losses on sales of securities, gains or losses on sales or disposals of subsidiaries, and certain other non-recurring items.

All stock-based compensation expense is excluded from the calculation of the adjusted EBITDA non-GAAP measure. This may reduce the comparability with prior periods. This non-cash expense was included in presentations prior to fourth quarter 2011.

Adjusted net income is a non-GAAP financial measure that represents GAAP net income (loss) excluding stock-based compensation expense, the amortization of acquired identifiable intangibles, and contra-revenue, and may also exclude certain items such as: impairment charges, restructuring charges, impact of acquisition-related activity (including contingent consideration changes, compensation expense, basis difference amortization, and professional service fees), realized gains or losses on sales of securities, gains or losses on sales or disposals of subsidiaries, adjustments to deferred tax asset valuation allowances, non-cash interest expense and certain other non-recurring items.  These adjustments to net income, which are shown before taxes, are adjusted for their tax impact.

Adjusted EBITDA and adjusted net income are presented because management believes that they provide additional information with respect to the performance of our fundamental business activities and are also frequently used by securities analysts, investors and other interested parties in the evaluation of comparable companies.  Adjusted EBITDA and adjusted net income are also presented because the purchase accounting treatment of acquisitions can have a negative impact on our GAAP results because the depreciation and amortization expenses associated with acquired assets, in particular intangibles which tend to have a relatively short useful life, can be substantial in the first several years following an acquisition. As a result, we monitor our adjusted EBITDA and adjusted net income and other business statistics as a measure of operating performance in addition to net income and the other measures included in our consolidated financial statements.  Management believes the adjusted EBITDA and adjusted net income information is useful to investors for these reasons.  Adjusted EBITDA and adjusted net income are non‑GAAP financial measures and should not be viewed as an alternative to GAAP measures of performance.  Management believes the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure for adjusted EBITDA and adjusted net income is GAAP net income (loss) and has provided a reconciliation of adjusted EBITDA to GAAP net income (loss) and adjusted net income to GAAP net income (loss) in this press release.

About DealerTrack (www.dealertrack.com)

DealerTrack’s intuitive and high-value web-based software solutions and services enhance efficiency and profitability for all major segments of the retail automotive industry, including dealers, lenders, OEMs, third-party retailers, agents and aftermarket providers. DealerTrack, whose solution set for dealers is the industry’s most comprehensive, operates the largest online credit application network in the United States, connecting over 17,000 dealers with more than 1,100 lenders.  DealerTrack’s Dealer Management System (DMS) provides dealers with easy-to-use tools and real-time data access to enhance their efficiency. DealerTrack’s Inventory offerings provide vehicle inventory management and merchandising solutions to help dealers drive higher in-store and online traffic with state-of-the-art, real-time listings, accelerate used-vehicle turn rates, and increase dealer profits. DealerTrack’s Sales and F&I solutions allow dealers to streamline the entire sales process as they structure deals from a single integrated platform.  Its Compliance offering helps dealers meet legal and regulatory requirements, and protect their assets.  DealerTrack also offers additional solutions for the automotive industry, including electronic motor vehicle registration and titling applications, paper title storage, and digital document services. For more information visit: www.dealertrack.com.

Safe Harbor for Forward-Looking and Cautionary Statements

Statements in this press release regarding DealerTrack’s expected 2012 performance based on both GAAP and non-GAAP measures, the long-term outlook for its business, and all other statements in this release other than the recitation of historical facts are forward-looking statements (as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995).  These statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements of DealerTrack to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements.

Factors that might cause such a difference include: economic trends that affect the automotive retail industry or the indirect automotive financing industry including the number of new and used cars sold; credit availability; reductions in auto dealerships; increased competitive pressure from other industry participants, including Open Dealer Exchange, RouteOne, CUDL, Finance Express and AppOne; the impact of some vendors of software products for automotive dealers making it more difficult for DealerTrack’s customers to use DealerTrack’s solutions and services; security breaches, interruptions, failures and/or other errors involving DealerTrack’s systems or networks; the failure or inability to execute any element of DealerTrack’s business strategy, including selling additional products and services to existing and new customers; DealerTrack’s success in implementing an ERP system; the volatility of DealerTrack’s stock price; new regulations or changes to existing regulations; the integration of recent acquisitions and the expected benefits, as well as the integration and expected benefits of any future acquisitions that DealerTrack may pursue; DealerTrack’s success in expanding its customer base and product and service offerings, the impact of recent economic trends, and difficulties and increased costs associated with raising additional capital; the impairment of intangible assets, such as trademarks and goodwill; and other risks listed in DealerTrack’s reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K.  These filings can be found on DealerTrack’s website at www.dealertrack.com and the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Forward-looking statements included herein speak only as of the date hereof and DealerTrack disclaims any obligation to revise or update such statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events or circumstances, except as required by law.

Three-Month Period
DEALERTRACK HOLDINGS, INC.
Consolidated Statements of Operations
(Dollars in thousands, except share and per share data)
(Unaudited)
Three Months Ended
March 31,
2012 2011
Net revenue $             91,617 $             77,191
Cost of revenue 53,696 44,099
Product development 3,544 3,742
Selling, general and administrative 33,032 30,424
      Total operating expenses 90,272 78,265
      Income (loss) from operations 1,345 (1,074)
Interest expense and other income, net (688) 89
Gain on disposal of subsidiary 27,693
      Income (loss) before (provision for) benefit from income taxes, net 28,350 (985)
(Provision for) benefit from income taxes, net (11,389) 25,713
  Net income $             16,961 $             24,728
Basic net income per share $                 0.40 $                 0.61
Diluted net income per share $                 0.39 $                 0.59
Weighted average common stock outstanding (basic) 42,090,947 40,851,659
Weighted average common stock outstanding (diluted) 43,720,166 42,103,811
Adjusted EBITDA – previous presentation (non-GAAP) (a) $             16,089 $             12,678
Adjusted EBITDA margin – previous presentation (non-GAAP) (b) 18% 16%
Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP) (a) $             19,419 $             15,493
Adjusted EBITDA margin (non-GAAP) (b) 21% 20%
Adjusted net income (non-GAAP) (a) $               9,444 $               7,490
Diluted adjusted net income per share (non-GAAP) $                 0.22 $                 0.18
Stock-based compensation expense was classified as follows:
   Cost of revenue $                  635 $                  427
   Product development 214 185
   Selling, general and administrative 2,481 2,330
$               3,330 $               2,942
(a)     See Reconciliation Data.
(b)     Represents adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of net revenue.
DEALERTRACK HOLDINGS, INC.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Dollars in thousands)
(Unaudited)
March 31,
2012
December 31,
2011
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents $          257,544 $             78,709
Investments 80 46
Customer funds 1,477 1,097
Customer funds receivable 20,526 18,695
Accounts receivable, net 39,025 37,588
Deferred tax assets 9,188 9,171
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 23,668 23,011
   Total current assets 351,508 168,317
Property and equipment, net 21,816 21,637
Software and website development costs, net 36,241 37,341
Investments – long-term 132,359 89,000
Intangible assets, net 87,551 96,441
Goodwill 193,423 200,840
Deferred tax assets 33,436 34,421
Other assets – long-term 17,155 12,356
   Total assets $          873,489 $          660,353
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Accounts payable and accrued expenses $             31,368 $             41,194
Customer funds payable 22,003 19,792
Deferred revenue 8,531 9,115
Deferred tax liabilities 3,443 3,443
Capital leases payable 204 255
   Total current liabilities 65,549 73,799
Long-term liabilities 257,826 91,798
   Total liabilities 323,375 165,597
Total stockholders’ equity 550,114 494,756
   Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity $          873,489 $          660,353

 

DEALERTRACK HOLDINGS, INC.
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Dollars in thousands)
(Unaudited)
Three Months Ended
March 31, 
2012 2011
Operating activities:
Net income $            16,961 $             24,728
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
   Depreciation and amortization 11,979 11,745
   Deferred tax provision (benefit) 10,893 (24,670)
   Stock-based compensation expense 3,330 2,942
   Provision for doubtful accounts and sales credits 2,146 1,737
   Earnings from equity method investment, net (163)
   Deferred compensation 38 50
   Stock-based compensation windfall tax benefit (2,943) (1,304)
   Gain on disposal of subsidiary (27,693)
   Amortization of debt issuance costs and debt discount 729
   Change in contingent consideration (250)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions:
Accounts receivable (6,742) (6,420)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 3,059 (3,301)
Other assets — long-term 1,539 809
Accounts payable and accrued expenses (11,441) (11,350)
Deferred rent 48 92
Deferred revenue 527 788
Other liabilities — long-term (1,166) 705
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities 851 (3,449)

 

Three Months Ended
March 31, 
2012 2011
Investing activities:
Capital expenditures (1,695) (3,102)
Capitalized software and website development costs (3,665) (3,359)
Cash contributed for equity method investment (1,750)
Payment for acquisition of businesses, net of acquired cash (128,482)
Net cash used in investing activities (7,110) (134,943)
Financing activities:
Principal payments on capital lease obligations and financing arrangements (349) (159)
Proceeds from the exercise of employee stock options 3,478 2,215
Proceeds from employee stock purchase plan 184 175
Proceeds from the issuance of senior convertible notes 200,000
Payments for debt issuance costs (6,690)
Payments for convertible note hedges (43,940)
Proceeds from the issuance of warrants 29,740
Purchases of treasury stock (657) (437)
Stock-based compensation windfall tax benefit 2,943 1,304
   Net cash provided by financing activities 184,709 3,098
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 178,450 (135,294)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents 385 280
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period 78,709 192,563
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period $          257,544 $             57,549
Supplemental disclosure:
Cash paid for:
   Income taxes $               1,109 $               1,280
   Interest 217 14
Non-cash investing and financing activities:
   Non-cash consideration issued for investment in Chrome Data Solutions 42,301
   Accrued capitalized hardware, software and fixed assets 1,879 3,725
   Capitalized stock-based compensation 31
   Deferred compensation reversal to equity 38 50
   Assets acquired under capital leases and financing arrangements 725
DEALERTRACK HOLDINGS, INC.
Reconciliation of GAAP Net Income to Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA
(Dollars in thousands)
(Unaudited)
Three Months Ended
March 31, 
2012 2011
GAAP net income $              16,961 $              24,728
Interest income (230) (114)
Interest expense – cash 454 32
Interest expense – non-cash 703
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes, net 11,389 (25,713)
Depreciation of property and equipment and amortization of capitalized software and website costs 5,100 4,885
Amortization of acquired identifiable intangibles 6,879 6,860
EBITDA (non-GAAP) 41,256 10,678
   Adjustments:
   Gain on disposal of subsidiary (27,693)
   Acquisition-related and other professional fees 199 330
   Contra-revenue 1,102 943
   Integration and other related costs (including amounts related to stock-based compensation) 652
   Acquisition-related contingent consideration changes and compensation expense 178 75
   Rebranding expense 51
   Amortization of equity method investment basis difference 996
Adjusted EBITDA – previous presentation (non-GAAP) $              16,089 $              12,678
   Stock-based compensation (excluding amounts included in integration and other related costs) 3,330 2,815
Adjusted EBITDA – new presentation (non-GAAP) $              19,419 $              15,493
DEALERTRACK HOLDINGS, INC.
Reconciliation of GAAP Net Income to Non-GAAP Adjusted Net Income
(Dollars in thousands)
(Unaudited)
Three Months Ended
March 31, 
2012 2011
GAAP net income $              16,961 $              24,728
Adjustments:
   Deferred tax asset valuation allowance (non-taxable) (24,548)
   Amortization of acquired identifiable intangibles 6,879 6,860
   Stock-based compensation (excluding integration and other related costs) 3,330 2,815
   Gain on disposal of subsidiary (27,693)
   Contra-revenue 1,102 943
   Integration and other related costs (including amounts related to stock-based compensation) 652
   Interest expense – non-cash (not tax-impacted) 703
   Amortization of equity method investment basis difference 996
   Acquisition-related and other professional fees 199 330
   Acquisition-related contingent consideration changes and compensation expense 178 75
   Amended state tax return impact (non-taxable) 32
   Rebranding expense 51
   Tax impact of adjustments (a) 6,738 (4,397)
   Adjusted net income (non-GAAP) $                 9,444 $                 7,490
(a)   The tax impact of adjustments for the three months ended March 31, 2012, are based on a U.S. statutory tax rate of 37.4%applied to taxable adjustments other than amortization of acquired identifiable intangibles and stock-based compensation expense, which are based on a blended tax rate of 37.3% and 37.0%, respectively. The tax impact of adjustments for the three months ended March 31, 2011, are based on a U.S. statutory tax rate of 38.3% applied to taxable adjustments other than amortization of acquired identifiable intangibles and stock-based compensation expense, which are based on a blended tax rate of 37.6% and 38.0%, respectively.
DEALERTRACK HOLDINGS, INC.
Reconciliation of Forward-looking GAAP Net Income to Forward-looking Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA
(Dollars in millions)
(Unaudited)
Year Ending December 31, 2012
Expected Range
GAAP net income $                   27.0 $                   30.0
Interest, net 10.3 10.3
Income taxes, net 16.3 17.3
Amortization of basis difference from joint venture 4.0 4.0
Depreciation and amortization 23.6 22.6
Amortization of acquired identifiable intangibles 25.8 25.8
EBITDA (non-GAAP) 107.0 110.0
   Adjustments:
      Non-recurring costs (a) 3.0 3.0
      Realized gains (33.2) (33.2)
      Contra-revenue 4.0 4.0
Adjusted EBITDA – previous presentation (non-GAAP) $                   80.8 $                   83.8
   Stock-based compensation (excluding amounts included in integration and other related costs) 13.2 13.2
Adjusted EBITDA – new presentation (non-GAAP) $                   94.0 $                   97.0
(a)  Includes certain professional fees, integration and other related costs and acquisition-related compensation expense.
DEALERTRACK HOLDINGS, INC.
Reconciliation of Forward-looking GAAP Net Income to Forward-looking Non-GAAP Adjusted Net Income
(Dollars in millions)
(Unaudited)
Year Ending December 31, 2012
Expected Range
GAAP net income $                   27.0 $                   30.0
Adjustments:
   Stock-based compensation 13.2 13.2
   Amortization of acquired identifiable intangibles 25.8 25.8
   Amortization of basis difference from joint venture 4.0 4.0
   Non-cash interest expense (not tax-impacted) 7.6 7.6
   Non-recurring costs (a) 3.0 3.0
   Realized gains, net of taxes (19.6) (19.6)
   Contra-revenue 4.0 4.0
   Tax impact of adjustments (b) (19.0) (19.0)
   Adjusted net income (non-GAAP) $                   46.0 $                   49.0
(a)  Includes certain professional fees, integration and other related costs, acquisition-related compensation expense.
(b)  The tax impact of adjustments are based on a blended tax rate of 38% applied to taxable adjustments.
DEALERTRACK HOLDINGS, INC.
Summary of Business Statistics (Unaudited)
Three months ended
Mar 31, Dec 31, Sep 30, Jun 30, Mar 31,
2012 2011 2011 2011 2011
Active U.S. dealers (a) 18,345 17,543 17,629 17,660 17,373
Active U.S. lenders (b) 1,165 1,120 1,103 1,062 1,010
Transactions processed (in thousands) (c) 21,751 18,769 19,772 19,135 16,774
Active U.S. lender to dealer relationships (d) 172,075 164,776 161,400 157,591 152,095
Subscribing dealers (e) 16,143 16,003 15,860 14,488 14,239
(a)      We consider a dealer to be active in our U.S. network as of a date if the dealer completed at least one revenue-generating credit application processing transaction using the U.S. DealerTrack network during the most recently ended calendar month.  The number of active U.S. dealers is based on the number of dealer accounts as communicated by lenders on the DealerTrack network.
(b)     We consider a lender to be active in our U.S. DealerTrack network as of a date if it is accepting credit application data electronically from U.S. dealers in the U.S. DealerTrack network.
(c)      Represents revenue-generating transactions processed in the U.S. DealerTrack, DealerTrack Aftermarket Services, DealerTrack Processing Solutions and DealerTrack Canada networks at the end of a given period.
(d)     Each lender to dealer relationship represents a pair between an active U.S. lender and an active U.S. dealer at the end of a given period.  2011 results are recalculated to reflect an improved methodology of accumulating relationships. As previously reported: December 31, 2011 – 151,126, September 30, 2011 – 150,514, June 30, 2011 – 149,398, March 31, 2011 – 146,660.
(e)     Represents the number of dealerships with one or more active subscriptions on the U.S. DealerTrack or DealerTrack Canada networks at the end of a given period.
DEALERTRACK HOLDINGS, INC.
Summary of Business Statistics (Unaudited)
Three months ended
Mar 31, Dec 31, Sep 30, Jun 30, Mar 31,
2012 2011 2011 2011 2011
Transaction revenue (in thousands) $54,079 $47,541 $50,411 $48,505 $38,435
Subscription revenue (in thousands) $33,231 $38,779 $39,261 $34,716 $33,865
Other revenue (in thousands) $4,307 $4,939 $6,121 $5,830 $4,891
Average transaction price (a) $2.53 $2.58 $2.60 $2.58 $2.35
Transaction revenue per car sold (b) $8.61 $7.17 $6.20 $5.73 $6.71
Average monthly subscription revenue persubscribing dealership (c) $690 $813 $834 $807 $798
Average monthly subscription revenue persubscribing dealership (excluding Chrome & ALG) (d) $690 $690 $684 $649 $641
(a)  Represents the average revenue earned per transaction processed in the U.S. DealerTrack, DealerTrack Aftermarket, DealerTrack Processing Solutions and DealerTrack Canada networks during a given period.  Revenue used in calculation adds back transaction related contra-revenue.
(b)  Represents transaction revenue divided by our estimate of total new and used car sales for the period in the U.S. and Canada. Revenue used in the calculation adds back transaction related contra-revenue.
(c)  Revenue used in the calculation adds back subscription related contra-revenue.
(d)  Excludes subscription revenue from Chrome and ALG.