CHARLOTTE, N.C., April 27, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- LendingTree, Inc. (NASDAQ: TREE), operator of LendingTree.com, the nation's leading online loan marketplace, today announced results for the quarter ended March 31, 2017.

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"LendingTree's record first quarter results were, once again, a testament to our company's ability to achieve our short-term goals, focus on our longer-term strategic priorities, and continue to diversify our business," said Doug Lebda, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "Our success in the first quarter provides a fantastic start to the year and gives us even more confidence in LendingTree's ability to grow despite changing and dynamic consumer credit markets."

Gabe Dalporto, Chief Financial Officer added, "Growth in our mortgage business was particularly impressive, increasing 14% year-over-year while the broader industry contracted 6% according to a survey of industry estimates. As we've previously said it would, lender demand for our services accelerated as industry volumes have tightened up, and the quarter's results prove out this thesis. Our performance in mortgage coupled with sustained growth in our non-mortgage offerings, particularly credit cards and home equity, gives us the confidence to increase our outlook for the year."

First Quarter 2017 Business Highlights


    --  Total loan requests in the quarter of 4.8 million grew 49% compared to
        first quarter 2016
    --  Record revenue from mortgage products of $62.9 million represents an
        increase of 14% over first quarter 2016 primarily driven by growth in
        purchase revenue, although refinance revenue also increased.
    --  Record revenue from non-mortgage products of $69.6 million in the first
        quarter represents an increase of 75% over the first quarter 2016 and
        comprised 53% of total revenue.  Notably, this quarter marks the first
        period where non-mortgage revenue exceeded that of mortgage, evidencing
        the continued momentum of our diversification strategy.
    --  Revenue from our credit card offerings grew to $33.8 million, an
        increase of 269% compared to first quarter 2016, or 37% on a proforma
        basis.
    --  Home equity revenue grew 118% over first quarter 2016 and marked its
        ninth consecutive quarter of sequential growth.
    --  Nearly 4.9 million consumers have now signed up for free credit scores
        and savings alerts through My LendingTree, and revenue contribution from
        MyLendingTree grew 28% in the first quarter compared to the prior year
        period.



                                                                       LendingTree Selected Financial Metrics

                                                                      (In millions, except per share amounts)


                                                                                            Q/Q                                      Y/Y

                                             1Q 2017          4Q 2016                    % Change                    1Q 2016       % Change
                                             -------          -------                    --------                    -------       --------

    Revenue by Product

    Mortgage Products (1)                               $62.9                                             $55.4                14%                        $55.0    14%

    Non-Mortgage Products (2)                     69.6                           45.4                            53%                         39.7            75%

    Total Revenue                                      $132.5                                            $100.8                31%                        $94.7    40%

    Non-Mortgage % of Total                        53%                           45%                                                     42%


    Income Before Income Taxes                           $6.7                                             $13.3              (50)%                        $11.7  (43)%

    Income Tax (Expense) Benefit                         $1.1                                            $(5.3)                                   $(4.8)
                                                         ----                                             -----                                     -----

    Net Income from Continuing Operations                $7.8                                              $8.0               (3)%                         $6.9    13%

    Net Income from Cont. Ops. % of Revenue         6%                            8%                                                      7%


    Net Income per Share from Cont. Ops.

    Basic                                               $0.66                                             $0.68               (3)%                        $0.58    14%

    Diluted                                             $0.58                                             $0.63               (8)%                        $0.54     7%


    Selling and Marketing Expense

    Variable Selling & Marketing Expense (3)            $89.0                                             $64.1                39%                        $60.6    47%

    Non-variable Selling & Marketing               4.3                            4.6                           (7)%                          4.5           (4)%
                                                   ---                            ---                                                         ---

    Selling and Marketing Expense                       $93.3                                             $68.7                36%                        $65.1    43%


    Variable Marketing Margin (4)                       $43.5                                             $36.8                18%                        $34.1    28%

    Variable Marketing Margin % of Revenue         33%                           36%                                                     36%


    Adjusted EBITDA (4)                                 $23.8                                             $18.9                26%                        $15.8    51%

    Adjusted EBITDA % of Revenue (4)               18%                           19%                                                     17%


    Adjusted Net Income (4)                             $11.5                                              $9.8                17%                         $8.6    34%


    Adjusted Net Income per Share (4)                   $0.85                                             $0.77                10%                        $0.67    27%


    (1)              Includes the purchase mortgage and
                     refinance mortgage products.

    (2)              Includes the home equity, reverse
                     mortgage, personal loan, credit card,
                     small business loan, student loan,
                     auto loan, home services, insurance
                     and personal credit products.

    (3)              Defined as the portion of selling and
                     marketing expense attributable to
                     variable costs paid for advertising,
                     direct marketing and related
                     expenses, which excludes overhead,
                     fixed costs and personnel-related
                     expenses.

    (4)              Variable Marketing Margin, Variable
                     Marketing Margin % of Revenue,
                     Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA %of
                     revenue, Adjusted Net Income and
                     Adjusted Net Income per Share are
                     non-GAAP measures.  Note that the
                     definition of Adjusted Net Income has
                     been modified to exclude tax effects
                     of other modifications and earnings
                     or losses associated with new
                     accounting rules around the treatment
                     of excess tax benefits or expenses
                     related to stock-based compensation.
                      Please see "LendingTree's
                      Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures
                     to GAAP" and "LendingTree's
                     Principles of Financial Reporting"
                     below for more information.

First Quarter 2017 Financial Highlights


    --  Record consolidated revenue of $132.5 million represents an increase of
        $37.8 million, or 40%, over revenue in the first quarter 2016.
    --  GAAP net income from continuing operations of $7.8 million, or $0.58 per
        diluted share.  GAAP net income from continuing operations in 1Q 2017
        was impacted by a $8.7 million charge ($5.2 million net of tax) due to
        an increase in the fair value of contingent consideration associated
        with the CompareCards acquisition, reflecting the strong performance of
        that business and the higher probability of earn-out payout.  Partially
        offsetting that charge was the recognition of a $3.8 million excess tax
        benefit related to stock-based compensation under the new accounting
        rules of ASU 2016-09.  This new accounting pronouncement also modifies
        the calculation of diluted share count resulting in increased diluted
        shares outstanding.
    --  Record Variable Marketing Margin of $43.5 million represents an increase
        of $9.4 million, or 28%, over first quarter 2016.
    --  Record Adjusted EBITDA of $23.8 million increased $8.0 million, or 51%,
        over first quarter 2016.
    --  Adjusted Net Income per share of $0.85 represents growth of 27% over
        first quarter 2016.

Note that the definition of Adjusted Net Income per share has been modified to exclude tax effects of other modifications and earnings or losses associated with new accounting rules around the treatment of taxes related to stock-based compensation. Prior period presentation of Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Net Income per share have been revised to reflect the modified definition. Please see "LendingTree's Principles of Financial Reporting" for a further explanation of this modification and "LendingTree's Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures to GAAP" for reconciliation of these measures to Net Income from continuing operations and Net income per diluted share from continuing operations for the trailing five quarters.

Business Outlook - 2017

LendingTree is providing Revenue, Variable Marketing Margin and Adjusted EBITDA guidance for second quarter 2017 and updating full-year 2017 guidance, as follows:

For second quarter 2017:


    --  Revenue is anticipated to be $133 - $137 million, or 41% - 45% over
        second quarter 2016.
    --  Variable Marketing Margin is anticipated to be in the range of $43 - $46
        million.
    --  Adjusted EBITDA is anticipated to be in the range of $23.5 - $25.0
        million, implying year-over-year growth of 41% - 50%.

For full-year 2017:


    --  Revenue is anticipated to be in the range of $535 - $545 million,
        representing growth of 39% - 42% over full-year 2016 and an increase
        from prior guidance of $500 - $520 million.
    --  Variable Marketing Margin is anticipated to be $180 - $185 million
        compared to prior guidance of $175 - $185 million.
    --  Adjusted EBITDA is anticipated to be in the range of $95 - $99 million,
        up 36% - 42% over full-year 2016 and an increase from prior guidance of
        $93 - $97 million.

LendingTree is not able to provide a reconciliation of projected Variable Marketing Margin or Adjusted EBITDA to the most directly comparable expected GAAP results due to the unknown effect, timing and potential significance of the effects of legal matters, contingent consideration and income taxes. These expenses or benefits have in the past, and may in the future, significantly affect GAAP results in a particular period.

Quarterly Conference Call

A conference call to discuss LendingTree's first quarter 2017 financial results will be webcast live today, April 27, 2017 at 9:00 AM Eastern Time (ET). The live audiocast is open to the public and will be available on LendingTree's investor relations website at http://investors.lendingtree.com/. The call may also be accessed toll-free via phone at (877) 606-1416. Callers outside the United States and Canada may dial (707) 287-9313. Following completion of the call, a recorded replay of the webcast will be available on LendingTree's investor relations website until 12:00 PM ET on Thursday, May 4, 2017. To listen to the telephone replay, call toll-free (855) 859-2056 with passcode #8126962. Callers outside the United States and Canada may dial (404) 537-3406 with passcode #8126962.



                                              LENDINGTREE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

                                             CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

                                                          (Unaudited)


                                                                Three Months Ended
                                                                     March 31,

                                                             2017                      2016
                                                             ----                      ----

                                                       (in thousands, except per share
                                                                   amounts)

    Revenue                                                           $132,515                        $94,713

    Costs and expenses:

    Cost of revenue (exclusive of
     depreciation and amortization)
     (1)                                                   3,591                              3,473

    Selling and marketing expense
     (1)                                                  93,251                             65,059

    General and administrative
     expense (1)                                           11,547                              9,259

    Product development (1)                                 3,623                              3,885

    Depreciation                                            1,703                                998

    Amortization of intangibles                             2,609                                 25

    Change in fair value of
     contingent consideration                               8,746                                  -

    Severance                                                 157                                  -

    Litigation settlements and
     contingencies                                            404                                169
    --------------------------

    Total costs and expenses                              125,631                             82,868
    ------------------------                              -------                             ------

    Operating income                                        6,884                             11,845

    Other income (expense), net:

    Interest expense                                        (165)                             (142)
    ----------------                                         ----                               ----

    Income before income taxes                              6,719                             11,703

    Income tax benefit (expense)                            1,079                            (4,798)
    ---------------------------                             -----                             ------

    Net income from continuing
     operations                                             7,798                              6,905

    Loss from discontinued
     operations, net of tax                                 (932)                           (1,203)
    -----------------------                                  ----                             ------

    Net income and comprehensive
     income                                                             $6,866                         $5,702
    ----------------------------                                        ------                         ------


    Weighted average shares outstanding:

    Basic                                                  11,827                             11,931

    Diluted                                                13,477                             12,873

    Income per share from continuing operations:

    Basic                                                                $0.66                          $0.58

    Diluted                                                              $0.58                          $0.54

    Loss per share from discontinued operations:

    Basic                                                              $(0.08)                       $(0.10)

    Diluted                                                            $(0.07)                       $(0.09)

    Net income per share:

    Basic                                                                $0.58                          $0.48

    Diluted                                                              $0.51                          $0.44
    -------                                                              -----                          -----

    (1)  Amounts include non-cash compensation, as
     follows:

    Cost of revenue                                                        $43                            $41

    Selling and marketing expense                             485                                726

    General and administrative
     expense                                                1,219                              1,310

    Product development                                       483                                556


                                                                                                                         LENDINGTREE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

                                                                                                                            CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

                                                                                                                                    (Unaudited)


                                                                                                                                                                                     March 31,                 December 31,
                                                                                                                                                                                           2017                         2016
                                                                                                                                                                                           ----                         ----

                                                                                                                                                                                          (in thousands, except par value and
                                                                                                                                                                                                     share amounts)

    ASSETS:

    Cash and cash equivalents                                                                                                                                                                       $105,442                              $91,131

    Restricted cash and cash equivalents                                                                                                                                                  4,080                                    4,089

    Accounts receivable, net                                                                                                                                                             52,414                                   41,382

    Prepaid and other current assets                                                                                                                                                      4,177                                    4,021

    Total current assets                                                                                                                                                                166,113                                  140,623

    Property and equipment, net                                                                                                                                                          35,205                                   35,462

    Goodwill                                                                                                                                                                             56,457                                   56,457

    Intangible assets, net                                                                                                                                                               68,889                                   71,684

    Deferred income tax assets                                                                                                                                                           18,901                                   14,610

    Other non-current assets                                                                                                                                                                865                                      810

    Non-current assets of discontinued operations                                                                                                                                         3,781                                    3,781

    Total assets                                                                                                                                                                                    $350,211                             $323,427
    ------------                                                                                                                                                                                    --------                             --------


    LIABILITIES:

    Accounts payable, trade                                                                                                                                                                           $4,307                               $5,593

    Accrued expenses and other current liabilities                                                                                                                                       58,264                                   49,403

    Current contingent consideration                                                                                                                                                     19,399                                        -

    Current liabilities of discontinued operations                                                                                                                                       12,255                                   11,711
    ----------------------------------------------                                                                                                                                       ------                                   ------

    Total current liabilities                                                                                                                                                            94,225                                   66,707

    Non-current contingent consideration                                                                                                                                                 12,947                                   23,600

    Other non-current liabilities                                                                                                                                                         1,617                                    1,685

    Total liabilities                                                                                                                                                                   108,789                                   91,992
    -----------------                                                                                                                                                                   -------                                   ------

    SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY:

    Preferred stock $.01 par value; 5,000,000 shares authorized; none issued or outstanding                                                                                                   -                                       -

    Common stock $.01 par value; 50,000,000 shares authorized; 14,067,306 and 13,955,378 shares issued, respectively, and 11,903,561 and 11,791,633 shares outstanding, respectively        141                                      140

    Additional paid-in capital                                                                                                                                                        1,022,432                                1,018,010

    Accumulated deficit                                                                                                                                                               (717,066)                               (722,630)

    Treasury stock 2,163,745 and 2,163,745 shares, respectively                                                                                                                        (64,085)                                (64,085)
    -----------------------------------------------------------                                                                                                                         -------                                  -------

    Total shareholders' equity                                                                                                                                                          241,422                                  231,435
    --------------------------                                                                                                                                                          -------                                  -------

    Total liabilities and shareholders' equity                                                                                                                                                      $350,211                             $323,427
    ------------------------------------------                                                                                                                                                      --------                             --------

LENDINGTREE'S RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP MEASURES TO GAAP

Below is a reconciliation of net income from continuing operations to Variable Marketing Margin and net income from continuing operations % of revenue to Variable Marketing Margin % of revenue. See "LendingTree's Principles of Financial Reporting" for further discussion of the Company's use of these non-GAAP measures.


                                                                                                                                                           Three Months Ended

                                                                                                                                      March 31,    December 31,     March 31,
                                                                                                                                            2017            2016            2016
                                                                                                                                            ----            ----            ----


    Net income from continuing operations                                                                                                                $7,798                                   $8,021                         $6,905
    -------------------------------------                                                                                                                ------                                   ------                         ------

    Net income from continuing operations % of revenue                                                                                        6%                            8%                       7%


    Adjustments to reconcile to Variable Marketing Margin:

    Cost of revenue                                                                                                                        3,591                          3,435                     3,473

    Non-variable selling and marketing expense (1)                                                                                         4,249                          4,593                     4,478

    General and administrative expense                                                                                                    11,547                         10,407                     9,259

    Product development                                                                                                                    3,623                          2,377                     3,885

    Depreciation                                                                                                                           1,703                          1,486                       998

    Amortization of intangibles                                                                                                            2,609                            980                        25

    Change in fair value of contingent consideration                                                                                       8,746                              -                        -

    Severance                                                                                                                                157                             50                         -

    Litigation settlements and contingencies (2)                                                                                             404                             20                       169

    Interest expense, net                                                                                                                    165                            137                       142

    Other income                                                                                                                               -                          (23)                        -

    Income tax (benefit) expense                                                                                                         (1,079)                         5,267                     4,798

    Variable Marketing Margin                                                                                                                           $43,513                                  $36,750                        $34,132
    -------------------------                                                                                                                           -------                                  -------                        -------

    Variable Marketing Margin % of revenue                                                                                                   33%                           36%                      36%


    (1) Defined as the portion of selling and marketing expense not attributable to variable costs paid for advertising, direct marketing and related expenses.  Includes overhead, fixed costs and personnel-related expenses.

    (2) Includes legal fees for certain patent litigation.

Below is a reconciliation of net income from continuing operations to adjusted EBITDA and net income from continuing operations % of revenue to adjusted EBITDA % of revenue. See "LendingTree's Principles of Financial Reporting" for further discussion of the Company's use of these non-GAAP measures.


                                                                              Three Months Ended

                                                           March 31,  December 31,     March 31,
                                                                 2017          2016            2016
                                                                 ----          ----            ----


    Net income from continuing operations                                   $7,798                   $8,021   $6,905
    -------------------------------------                                   ------                   ------   ------

    Net income from continuing operations % of revenue             6%                          8%       7%

    Adjustments to reconcile to Adjusted EBITDA:

    Non-cash compensation                                       2,230                        2,237     2,633

    Loss on disposal of assets                                    273                          253       127

    Acquisition expense                                           549                          459         -

    Change in fair value of contingent consideration            8,746                            -        -

    Severance                                                     157                           50         -

    Litigation settlements and contingencies (1)                  404                           20       169

    Depreciation                                                1,703                        1,486       998

    Amortization of intangibles                                 2,609                          980        25

    Rental depreciation and amortization of intangibles           262                            -        -

    Interest expense, net                                         165                          137       142

    Income tax (benefit) expense                              (1,079)                       5,267     4,798
    ----------------------------                               ------                        -----     -----

    Adjusted EBITDA                                                        $23,817                  $18,910  $15,797
    ---------------                                                        -------                  -------  -------

    Adjusted EBITDA % of revenue                                  18%                         19%      17%


    (1) Includes legal fees for certain patent litigation.

Below is a reconciliation of net income from continuing operations to Adjusted Net Income and net income per diluted share from continuing operations to Adjusted Net Income per share. See "LendingTree's Principles of Financial Reporting" for further discussion of the Company's use of these non-GAAP measures.


                                                                                                                                                               Three Months Ended

                                                                                                                             March 31,   December 31,   September 30,    June 30,    March 31,
                                                                                                                                   2017           2016             2016          2016         2016
                                                                                                                                   ----           ----             ----          ----         ----


    Net income from continuing operations                                                                                                      $7,798                                    $8,021                               $7,280                                $9,002 $6,905
    -------------------------------------                                                                                                      ------                                    ------                               ------                                ------ ------

    Adjustments to reconcile to Adjusted Net Income:

    Non-cash compensation                                                                                                         2,230                          2,237                     2,348                     2,429                   2,633

    Loss on disposal of assets                                                                                                      273                            253                       121                       140                     127

    Acquisition expense                                                                                                             549                            459                       362                       137                       -

    Change in fair value of contingent consideration                                                                              8,746                              -                        -                        -                      -

    Severance                                                                                                                       157                             50                         -                       72                       -

    Litigation settlements and contingencies (1)                                                                                    404                             20                        19                      (79)                    169

    Income tax benefit from adjusted items                                                                                      (4,942)                       (1,216)                  (1,047)                  (1,149)                (1,185)

    Excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation                                                                            (3,762)                             -                        -                        -                      -
                                                                                                                                 ------                            ---                      ---                      ---                    ---

    Adjusted net income (2)                                                                                                                   $11,453                                    $9,824                               $9,083                               $10,552 $8,649
    ----------------------                                                                                                                    -------                                    ------                               ------                               ------- ------


    Net income per diluted share from continuing operations                                                                                     $0.58                                     $0.63                                $0.57                                 $0.71  $0.54
    -------------------------------------------------------                                                                                     -----                                     -----                                -----                                 -----  -----

    Adjustments to reconcile net income from continuing operations to Adjusted Net Income                                          0.27                           0.14                      0.14                      0.12                    0.13

    Adjusted Net Income per share (2)                                                                                                           $0.85                                     $0.77                                $0.71                                 $0.83  $0.67
    --------------------------------                                                                                                            -----                                     -----                                -----                                 -----  -----


    Weighted average diluted shares outstanding                                                                                  13,477                         12,749                    12,742                    12,730                  12,873


    (1) Includes legal fees for certain patent litigation.

    (2) The definition of Adjusted Net Income has been modified as discussed in "LendingTree's Principles of Financial Reporting" below. Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Net Income per share results for prior periods have been revised to reflect the new definition.

LENDINGTREE'S PRINCIPLES OF FINANCIAL REPORTING

LendingTree reports the following non-GAAP measures as supplemental to GAAP:


    --  Variable Marketing Margin
    --  Variable Marketing Margin % of revenue
    --  Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization, as
        adjusted for certain items discussed below ("Adjusted EBITDA")
    --  Adjusted EBITDA % of revenue
    --  Adjusted Net Income
    --  Adjusted Net Income per share

Variable Marketing Margin is a measure of the operating efficiency of the Company's operating model, measuring revenue after subtracting variable marketing costs that directly influence revenue. The Company's operating model is highly sensitive to the amount and efficiency of variable marketing expenditures, and the Company's proprietary systems are able to make rapidly changing decisions concerning the deployment of variable marketing expenditures (primarily but not exclusively online and mobile advertising placement) based on proprietary and sophisticated analytics. Variable Marketing Margin and Variable Marketing Margin % of revenue are primary metrics by which the Company measure the effectiveness of its marketing efforts.

Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA % of revenue are primary metrics by which LendingTree evaluates the operating performance of its businesses, on which its marketing expenditures and internal budgets are based and, in the case of Adjusted EBITDA, by which management and many employees are compensated.

Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Net Income per share supplement GAAP income from continuing operations and GAAP income per diluted share from continuing operations by enabling investors to make period to period comparisons of those components of the nearest comparable GAAP measures that management believes better reflect the underlying financial performance of the Company's business operations during particular financial reporting periods. Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Net Income per share exclude certain amounts, such as non-cash compensation, non-cash asset impairment charges, gain/loss on disposal of assets, severance, litigation settlements, contingencies and legal fees for certain patent litigation, acquisition and disposition income or expenses including with respect to changes in fair value of contingent consideration, one-time items which are recognized and recorded under GAAP in particular periods but which might be viewed as not necessarily coinciding with the underlying business operations for the periods in which they are so recognized and recorded, the effects to income taxes of the aforementioned adjustments and any excess tax benefit or expense associated with stock-based compensation recorded in net income in conjunction with FASB pronouncement ASU 2016-09. LendingTree believes that Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Net Income per share are useful financial indicators that provide a different view of the financial performance of the Company than Adjusted EBITDA (the primary metric by which LendingTree evaluates the operating performance of its businesses) and the GAAP measures of net income from continuing operations and GAAP income (loss) per diluted share from continuing operations.

These non-GAAP measures should be considered in addition to results prepared in accordance with GAAP, but should not be considered a substitute for or superior to GAAP results. LendingTree provides and encourages investors to examine the reconciling adjustments between the GAAP and non-GAAP measures set forth above.

Definition of LendingTree's Non-GAAP Measures

Variable Marketing Margin is defined as revenue less the portion of selling & marketing expense attributable to variable costs paid for advertising, direct marketing and related expenses, which excludes overhead, fixed costs and personnel-related expenses.

EBITDA is defined as net income from continuing operations excluding interest, income taxes, amortization of intangibles and depreciation.

Adjusted EBITDA is defined as EBITDA excluding (1) non-cash compensation expense, (2) non-cash impairment charges, (3) gain/loss on disposal of assets, (4) severance expenses, (5) litigation settlements, contingencies and legal fees for certain patent litigation, (6) acquisitions and dispositions income or expense (including with respect to changes in fair value of contingent consideration), and (7) one-time items.

Adjusted Net Income is defined as net income (loss) from continuing operations excluding (1) non-cash compensation expense, (2) non-cash impairment charges, (3) gain/loss on disposal of assets, (4) severance expenses, (5) litigation settlements, contingencies and legal fees for certain patent litigation, (6) acquisitions and dispositions income or expense (including with respect to changes in fair value of contingent consideration), (7) one-time items, (8) the effects to income taxes of the aforementioned adjustments, and (9) any excess tax benefit or expense associated with stock-based compensation recorded in net income in conjunction with FASB pronouncement ASU 2016-09. The adjustments described in clauses (8) and (9) are being implemented for the first time in the first quarter 2017 and all prior period presentation of Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Net Income per share have been revised to reflect these adjustments. LendingTree believes these additional adjustments are appropriate in order to more adequately reflect core business earnings and separate out volatility associated with taxes on stock-based compensation recorded in net income in conjunction with FASB pronouncement ASU 2016-09.

Adjusted Net Income per share is defined as Adjusted Net Income divided by the adjusted weighted average diluted shares outstanding. In cases where the Company reported GAAP losses from continuing operations, the effects of potentially dilutive securities are excluded from the calculation of net loss per diluted share from continuing operations because their inclusion would have been anti-dilutive. In such instances where the Company reports GAAP net loss from continuing operations but reports positive non-GAAP Adjusted Net Income, the effects of potentially dilutive securities are included in the denominator for calculating Adjusted Net Income per share.

LendingTree endeavors to compensate for the limitations of these non-GAAP measures by also providing the comparable GAAP measures with equal or greater prominence and descriptions of the reconciling items, including quantifying such items, to derive the non-GAAP measures. These non-GAAP measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies.

One-Time Items

Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Net Income are adjusted for one-time items, if applicable. Items are considered one-time in nature if they are non-recurring, infrequent or unusual, and have not occurred in the past two years or are not expected to recur in the next two years, in accordance with SEC rules. For the periods presented in this report, there are no adjustments for one-time items.

Non-Cash Expenses That Are Excluded From LendingTree's Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Net Income

Non-cash compensation expense consists principally of expense associated with the grants of restricted stock, restricted stock units and stock options. These expenses are not paid in cash and LendingTree includes the related shares in its calculations of fully diluted shares outstanding. Upon settlement of restricted stock units, exercise of certain stock options or vesting of restricted stock awards, the awards may be settled on a net basis, with LendingTree remitting the required tax withholding amounts from its current funds.

Amortization of intangibles are non-cash expenses relating primarily to acquisitions. At the time of an acquisition, the intangible assets of the acquired company, such as purchase agreements, technology and customer relationships, are valued and amortized over their estimated lives. Amortization of intangibles are only excluded from Adjusted EBITDA.

Safe Harbor Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995

The matters contained in the discussion above may be considered to be "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Those statements include statements regarding the intent, belief or current expectations or anticipations of LendingTree and members of our management team. Factors currently known to management that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include the following: adverse conditions in the primary and secondary mortgage markets and in the economy, particularly interest rates; default rates on loans, particularly unsecured loans; demand by investors for unsecured personal loans; the effect of such demand on interest rates for personal loans and consumer demand for personal loans; seasonality of results; potential liabilities to secondary market purchasers; changes in the Company's relationships with network lenders, including dependence on certain key network lenders; breaches of network security or the misappropriation or misuse of personal consumer information; failure to provide competitive service; failure to maintain brand recognition; ability to attract and retain consumers in a cost-effective manner; the effects of potential acquisitions of other businesses, including the ability to integrate them successfully with LendingTree's existing operations; accounting rules related to contingent consideration and excess tax benefits or expenses on stock-based compensation that could materially affect earnings in future periods; ability to develop new products and services and enhance existing ones; competition; allegations of failure to comply with existing or changing laws, rules or regulations, or to obtain and maintain required licenses; failure of network lenders or other affiliated parties to comply with regulatory requirements; failure to maintain the integrity of systems and infrastructure; liabilities as a result of privacy regulations; failure to adequately protect intellectual property rights or allegations of infringement of intellectual property rights; and changes in management. These and additional factors to be considered are set forth under "Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2016 and in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. LendingTree undertakes no obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements to reflect changed assumptions, the occurrence of unanticipated events or changes to future operating results or expectations.

About LendingTree, Inc.

LendingTree, Inc. (NASDAQ: TREE) operates the nation's leading online loan marketplace and provides consumers with an array of online tools and information to help them find the best loans for their needs. LendingTree's online marketplace connects consumers with multiple lenders that compete for their business, empowering consumers as they comparison-shop across a full suite of loans and credit-based offerings. Since its inception, LendingTree has facilitated more than 65 million loan requests. LendingTree provides access to its network of over 450 lenders offering home loans, home equity loans/lines of credit, reverse mortgages, personal loans, auto loans, small business loans, credit cards, student loans and more.

LendingTree, Inc. is headquartered in Charlotte, NC and maintains operations solely in the United States. For more information, please visit www.lendingtree.com.

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SOURCE LendingTree, Inc.