EATONTOWN, N.J., May 01, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Climb Global Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ:CLMB) ("Climb", the "Company", "we", or "our"), a value-added global IT channel company providing unique sales and distribution solutions for innovative technology vendors, is reporting results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2024.

First Quarter 2024 Summary vs. Same Year-Ago Quarter

Net sales increased 9% to $92.4 million.
Adjusted gross billings (a non-GAAP financial measure defined below) increased 16% to $355.3 million.
Net income was $2.7 million or $0.60 per diluted share compared to $3.3 million or $0.74 per diluted share.
Adjusted EBITDA (a non-GAAP financial measure defined below) was $5.5 million compared to $5.7 million.

Management Commentary

"We made progress on our core initiatives in the first quarter as we generated double-digit organic growth in North America, benefited from the addition of DataSolutions in EMEA, and strengthened our line card by deepening existing partnerships and signing marquee vendors in both regions," said CEO Dale Foster. "However, during the quarter we experienced softer volumes across select key vendors, primarily related to the timing of their respective sales cycles. This includes a key vendor from our acquisition of DataSolutions in October 2023. Although this adversely affected our bottom line in Q1, we expect to return to growth with these vendors in the back half of the year.

"We have a solid foundation in place to continue driving organic growth with current vendors while adding new, cutting-edge technologies to our line card. We expect to uncover additional cost synergies and cross-selling opportunities as we further integrate DataSolutions into our operating platform. Our ERP implementation is on track to go live this summer, which will enable us to drive operating efficiencies throughout our global operations. We plan to remain active with M&A as we evaluate accretive targets that can enhance our offerings, as well as expand our presence in both North America and overseas. We believe these initiatives will enable us to grow adjusted EBITDA at a rate that exceeds our increase in adjusted gross billings."

Dividend

Subsequent to quarter end, on April 29, 2024, Climb's Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.17 per share of its common stock payable on May 17, 2024, to shareholders of record on May 13, 2024.

First Quarter 2024 Financial Results

Net sales in the first quarter of 2024 increased 9% to $92.4 million compared to $85.0 million for the same period in 2023. This reflects organic growth from new and existing vendors, as well as contribution from the Company's acquisition of DataSolutions Holdings Limited ("DataSolutions") in October 2023. In addition, adjusted gross billings in the first quarter of 2024 increased 16% to $355.3 million compared to $306.7 million in the year-ago period.

Gross profit in the first quarter of 2024 increased 12% to $17.0 million compared to $15.2 million for the same period in 2023. The increase was driven by organic growth from new and existing vendors in both North America and Europe, as well as contribution from DataSolutions.

Selling, general, and administrative ("SG&A") expenses in the first quarter of 2024 were $12.5 million compared to $10.2 million in the year-ago period. DataSolutions represented $1.1M of the increase. SG&A as a percentage of adjusted gross billings was 3.5% for the first quarter of 2024 compared to 3.3% in the year-ago period.

Net income in the first quarter of 2024 was $2.7 million or $0.60 per diluted share, compared to $3.3 million or $0.74 per diluted share for the same period in 2023. The Company's earnings per diluted share in the first quarter of 2024 was negatively impacted by $0.01 in FX and $0.04 in acquisition fees.

Adjusted EBITDA in the first quarter of 2024 was $5.5 million compared to $5.7 million for the same period in 2023. The decrease was primarily driven by increased SG&A expenses related to DataSolutions and key vendor sales cycles. Effective margin, which is defined as adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of gross profit, was 32.5% compared to 37.4% for the same period in 2023.

On March 31, 2024, cash and cash equivalents were $43.6 million compared to $36.3 million on December 31, 2023, while working capital remained flat during this period. The increase in cash was primarily attributed to the timing of receivable collections and payables. Climb had $1.2 million of outstanding debt on March 31, 2024, with no borrowings outstanding under its $50 million revolving credit facility.

For more information on the non-GAAP financial measures discussed in this press release, please see the section titled, "Non-GAAP Financial Measures," and the reconciliations of non-GAAP financial measures to their nearest comparable GAAP financial measures at the end of this press release.

Conference Call

The Company will conduct a conference call tomorrow, May 2, 2024, at 8:30 a.m. Eastern time to discuss its results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2024.

Climb management will host the conference call, followed by a question-and-answer period.

Date: Thursday, May 2, 2024

Time: 8:30 a.m. Eastern time

Toll-free dial-in number: (877) 407-9716

International dial-in number: (201) 493-6779

Conference ID: 13745690

Webcast: Climb's Q1 2024 Conference Call

If you have any difficulty registering or connecting with the conference call, please contact Elevate IR at (720) 330-2829.

The conference call will also be available for replay on the investor relations section of the Company's website at www.climbglobalsolutions.com.

About Climb Global Solutions

Climb Global Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ:CLMB) is a value-added global IT distribution and solutions company specializing in emerging and innovative technologies. Climb operates across the US, Canada and Europe through multiple business units, including Climb Channel Solutions, Grey Matter and Climb Global Services. The Company provides IT distribution and solutions for companies in the Security, Data Management, Connectivity, Storage & HCI, Virtualization & Cloud, and Software & ALM industries.

Additional information can be found by visiting www.climbglobalsolutions.com.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Climb Global Solutions uses non-GAAP financial measures, including adjusted gross billings, adjusted net income and adjusted EBITDA, as supplemental measures of the performance of the Company's business. Use of these financial measures has limitations, and you should not consider them in isolation or use them as substitutes for analysis of Climb's financial results under generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America ("U.S. GAAP"). The attached tables provide definitions of these measures and a reconciliation of each non-GAAP financial measure to the most nearly comparable measure under U.S. GAAP.

Forward-Looking Statements

The statements in this release, other than statements of historical fact, are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and are intended to come within the safe harbor protection provided by those sections. These forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties. In this press release, many of the forward-looking statements may be identified by words such as "look forward," "believes," "expects," "intends," "anticipates," "plans," "estimates," "projects," "forecasts," "should," "could," "would," "will," "confident," "may," "can," "potential," "possible," "proposed," "in process," "under construction," "in development," "opportunity," "target," "outlook," "maintain," "continue," "goal," "aim," "commit," or similar expressions, or when we discuss our priorities, strategy, goals, vision, mission, opportunities, projections, intentions or expectations. Factors, among others, that could cause actual results and events to differ materially from those described in any forward-looking statements include, without limitation, our ability to recognize the anticipated benefits of the acquisition of DataSolutions, the continued acceptance of the Company's distribution channel by vendors and customers, the timely availability and acceptance of new products, product mix, market conditions, competitive pricing pressures, the successful integration of acquisitions, contribution of key vendor relationships and support programs, inflation, as well as factors that affect the software industry in general. The forward-looking statements contained herein are also subject generally to other risks and uncertainties that are described in the section entitled "Risk Factors" contained in Item 1A. of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, and from time to time in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Company Contact

Drew Clark

Chief Financial Officer

(732) 389-0932

Drew@ClimbGS.com

Investor Relations Contact

Sean Mansouri, CFA

Elevate IR

(720) 330-2829

CLMB@elevate-ir.com


CLIMB GLOBAL SOLUTIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
	(Unaudited)
(Amounts in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

		March 31, 2024			December 31, 2023

ASSETS

Current assets
	Cash and cash equivalents	$	43,572		$	36,295
	Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $744 and $709, respectively		180,587			222,269
	Inventory, net		1,865			3,741
	Prepaid expenses and other current assets		6,619			6,755
Total current assets			232,643			269,060

Equipment and leasehold improvements, net			9,890			8,850
Goodwill			26,906			27,182
Other intangibles, net			25,920			26,930
Right-of-use assets, net			848			878
Accounts receivable long-term, net			752			797
Other assets			974			1,077
Deferred income tax assets			389			324

Total assets		$	298,322		$	335,098

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

Current liabilities
	Accounts payable and accrued expenses	$	213,221		$	249,648
	Lease liability, current portion		495			450
	Term loan, current portion		545			540
Total current liabilities			214,261			250,638

	Lease liability, net of current portion		771			879
	Deferred income tax liabilities		5,492			5,554
	Term loan, net of current portion		614			752
	Non-current liabilities		735			2,505

Total liabilities			221,873			260,328


Stockholders' equity
	Common stock, $.01 par value; 10,000,000 shares authorized, 5,284,500 shares
	issued, and 4,585,131 and 4,573,448 shares outstanding , respectively		53			53
	Additional paid-in capital		35,170			34,647
	Treasury stock, at cost, 699,369 and 711,052 shares, respectively		(12,724	)		(12,623	)
	Retained earnings		55,190			53,215
	Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(1,240	)		(522	)
Total stockholders' equity			76,449			74,770
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity		$	298,322		$	335,098

CLIMB GLOBAL SOLUTIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS
(Unaudited)
(Amounts in thousands, except per share data)

		Three months ended
		March 31,
			2024			2023

Net Sales		$	92,422		$	85,040

Cost of sales, excluding depreciation and amortization expense			75,402			69,831

Gross profit			17,020			15,209


Selling, general and administrative expenses			12,523			10,241
Depreciation & amortization expense			871			713
Acquisition related costs			123			22
Total selling, general and administrative expenses			13,517			10,976

Income from operations			3,503			4,233

Interest, net			203			112
Foreign currency transaction gain (loss)			(85	)		44
Income before provision for income taxes			3,621			4,389
Provision for income taxes			890			1,065

Net income		$	2,731		$	3,324

Income per common share - Basic		$	0.60		$	0.74
Income per common share - Diluted		$	0.60		$	0.74

Weighted average common shares outstanding - Basic			4,438			4,366
Weighted average common shares outstanding - Diluted			4,438			4,366

Dividends paid per common share		$	0.17		$	0.17


Reconciliation of GAAP and Non-GAAP Financial Measures (unaudited)
(Amounts in thousands, except per share data)

	The table below presents net sales reconciled to Adjusted Gross Billings (Non-GAAP) (1):

		Three months ended
		March 31,			March 31,
			2024			2023
	Net sales	$	92,422		$	85,040
	Costs of sales related to sales where the Company is an agent		262,847			221,672
	Adjusted gross billings (Non-GAAP)	$	355,269		$	306,712

(1) We define adjusted gross billings as net sales in accordance with US GAAP, adjusted for the cost of sales related to sales where the Company is an agent. We provided a reconciliation of adjusted gross billings to net sales, which is the most directly comparable US GAAP measure. We use adjusted gross billings of product and services as a supplemental measure of our performance to gain insight into the volume of business generated by our business, and to analyze the changes to our accounts receivable and accounts payable. Our use of adjusted gross billings of product and services as analytical tools has limitations, and you should not consider them in isolation or as substitutes for analysis of our financial results as reported under US GAAP. In addition, other companies, including companies in our industry, might calculate adjusted gross billings of product and services or similarly titled measures differently, which may reduce their usefulness as comparative measures.

	The table below presents net income reconciled to adjusted EBITDA (Non-GAAP) (2):

		Three months ended
		March 31,			March 31,
			2024			2023

Net income		$	2,731		$	3,324
	Provision for income taxes		890			1,065
	Depreciation and amortization		871			713
	Interest expense		101			28
EBITDA			4,593			5,130
	Share-based compensation		822			529
	Acquisition related costs		123			22
Adjusted EBITDA		$	5,538		$	5,681


		Three months ended
		March 31,			March 31,
Components of interest, net			2024			2023

	Amortization of discount on accounts receivable with extended payment terms	$	(6	)	$	(11	)
	Interest income		(298	)		(129	)
	Interest expense		101			28
Interest, net		$	(203	)	$	(112	)

(2) We define adjusted EBITDA, as net income, plus provision for income taxes, depreciation, amortization, share-based compensation, interest and acquisition related costs. We define effective margin as adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of gross profit. We provided a reconciliation of adjusted EBITDA to net income, which is the most directly comparable US GAAP measure. We use adjusted EBITDA as a supplemental measure of our performance to gain insight into our businesses profitability when compared to the prior year and our competitors. Adjusted EBITDA is also a component to our financial covenants in our credit facility. Our use of adjusted EBITDA has limitations, and you should not consider it in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of our financial results as reported under US GAAP. In addition, other companies, including companies in our industry, might calculate adjusted EBITDA, or similarly titled measures differently, which may reduce their usefulness as comparative measures.

Climb Global Solutions Reports First Quarter 2024 Results