Skillsoft Corp. reported its financial results for the second quarter of 2024, with net income of $299,777 and revenue of $618 million. The company’s gross profit margin was 80.1%, and its operating expenses increased by 10% compared to the same period last year. Skillsoft’s cash and cash equivalents decreased by $18.75 million during the quarter, and its accounts receivable facility and term loan facility were $299.77 million and $299.77 million, respectively. The company’s common stock outstanding was 18,750,000 shares, and its treasury stock was 8,504,829 shares. Skillsoft’s developed technology rights, customer-related intangible assets, and trademarks and trade names were $18.75 million, $12.5 million, and $10 million, respectively, as of July 31, 2024. The company’s order or production backlog was $10 million, and its instructor-led training and content platform segments generated revenue of $12.5 million and $10 million, respectively, during the quarter.
Overview of the Company’s Financial Performance
Skillsoft Corp. is a leading provider of enterprise learning solutions, offering a comprehensive suite of content, platforms, and services designed to help organizations and their employees develop critical skills and unlock human potential. The company operates through two main segments: Talent Development Solutions and Global Knowledge.
For the three and six months ended July 31, 2024, Skillsoft reported total revenues of $132.2 million and $260.0 million, respectively, representing a decline of 6.3% and 6.0% compared to the same periods in the prior year. This decrease was primarily driven by weaker market demand and a higher mix of reseller business in the Global Knowledge segment, as well as actions taken by the company to focus on the more profitable parts of the Talent Development Solutions market.
Despite the revenue decline, Skillsoft was able to improve its operating efficiency and reduce costs through a comprehensive resource reallocation plan announced in July 2024. This plan is expected to result in more than $45 million in annualized cost savings, a portion of which the company intends to reinvest in strategic growth initiatives.
Revenue and Profit Trends
Skillsoft’s revenue is primarily generated through two main sources: SaaS subscription revenues and non-subscription revenues. SaaS subscription revenues, which account for the majority of total revenues, declined by 2.4% and 1.6% in the three and six-month periods, respectively, compared to the prior year. This was due to the factors mentioned above, namely weaker market demand and a shift towards more profitable business in the Talent Development Solutions segment.
Non-subscription revenues, which include instructor-led training offerings and professional services, declined by 15.2% and 16.1% in the three and six-month periods, respectively. This was primarily attributable to the weaker performance in the Global Knowledge segment, which saw a 19.5% and 19.6% decrease in non-subscription revenues during these periods.
Despite the revenue declines, Skillsoft was able to improve its operating efficiency and reduce costs, leading to a narrowing of operating losses. The company’s operating loss decreased from $25.3 million to $19.3 million in the three-month period, and from $60.7 million to $43.2 million in the six-month period, compared to the prior year.
This improvement in operating performance was driven by reductions in various expense categories, including:
The company also benefited from a decrease in amortization of intangible assets, which declined by 19.0% and 18.2% in the three and six-month periods, respectively, due to certain intangible assets becoming fully amortized or written down as a result of impairment during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024.
Strengths and Weaknesses
Strengths:
Diversified product portfolio: Skillsoft offers a comprehensive suite of learning solutions, including content, platforms, and services, across various domains such as leadership, business, technology, and compliance. This diversification helps the company cater to a wide range of customer needs.
Recurring revenue model: The majority of Skillsoft’s revenues are generated from SaaS subscription-based offerings, which provide a stable and predictable revenue stream.
Operational efficiency improvements: The company’s comprehensive resource reallocation plan has enabled it to reduce costs and improve operating efficiency, helping to mitigate the impact of revenue declines.
Strong liquidity and financial flexibility: Skillsoft has a healthy cash position, with $122.7 million in cash and cash equivalents as of July 31, 2024. The company also has access to additional liquidity through its $75.0 million accounts receivable facility, providing financial flexibility to fund operations and strategic initiatives.
Weaknesses:
Declining revenues: Skillsoft has experienced revenue declines in both its Talent Development Solutions and Global Knowledge segments, primarily due to weaker market demand and a shift towards more profitable business.
Reliance on a few key customers: The company serves a significant portion of the Fortune 1000 companies, making it vulnerable to changes in the spending patterns of these large customers.
Competitive landscape: Skillsoft operates in a highly competitive market, with numerous providers of enterprise learning solutions, which may put pressure on pricing and margins.
Integration challenges: The company has completed several acquisitions, including Codecademy, which may present integration challenges and impact operational efficiency.
Outlook and Future Prospects
Skillsoft’s management remains cautiously optimistic about the company’s future prospects, despite the recent revenue declines. The comprehensive resource reallocation plan is expected to generate significant cost savings, a portion of which will be reinvested in strategic growth initiatives to drive long-term value creation.
The company’s focus on delivering innovative, AI-powered learning solutions, such as its Percipio platform, and expanding its presence in high-growth areas like technical skill development (through the Codecademy acquisition) and personalized coaching, could help it capture new market opportunities and differentiate itself from competitors.
Additionally, Skillsoft’s strong liquidity position and financial flexibility, along with its diversified product portfolio and recurring revenue model, provide a solid foundation for the company to navigate the current market challenges and invest in future growth.
However, the company will need to continue to closely monitor market trends, adapt its strategies, and execute its operational efficiency initiatives to mitigate the impact of revenue declines and maintain its competitive edge in the enterprise learning solutions market.
Overall, Skillsoft’s financial performance in the first half of fiscal 2024 reflects the challenges faced by the company, but also its ability to adapt and improve operational efficiency. The company’s long-term success will depend on its ability to innovate, diversify its revenue streams, and effectively execute its strategic initiatives to drive sustainable growth and profitability.