NEW YORK, May 9, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

- Total revenue remained flat in the first quarter

- Transactions revenue increased 18.0% in the first quarter

- First quarter GAAP net income per diluted share was $0.01

- Conference Call Tuesday, May 9, 2017 at 4:30 p.m. ET, Dial-In (877) 201-0168 (ID# 6892945)

XO Group Inc. (the "Company") (NYSE: XOXO), (xogroupinc.com), today reported financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2017.

Total revenue for the first quarter of 2017 was $35.8 million, flat as compared to the same period in the prior year. Net income for the quarter was $0.3 million or $0.01 per diluted share compared to diluted earnings per share of $0.12 in the same period in the prior year. The Company's balance sheet at March 31, 2017 reflects cash and cash equivalents of $103.0 million compared to $105.7 million at December 31, 2016. The Company repurchased and retired shares of its common stock for an aggregate price of $5.1 million during the quarter as part of the Company's previously announced repurchase program.

"This quarter, we further improved the performance of our products, grew our transaction business, and began to strengthen our local sales and service operation to capitalize on the increased usage of our local vendor marketplace. We are excited for the significant opportunity ahead," said Mike Steib, Chief Executive Officer.

Long-Term Financial Targets

The Company's long-term financial targets are double digit revenue growth rates and gross margins of approximately 90-95%, yielding adjusted EBITDA margins of 20%.


                                                                 XO GROUP INC.

                                                CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

                                               (Amounts in Thousands, Except for Per Share Data)

                                                                  (Unaudited)


                                                                                                 Three Months Ended March 31,

                                                                                                        2017                    2016
                                                                                                        ----                    ----

    Net revenue:

    National online advertising                                                                                  $8,928              $8,658

    Local online advertising                                                                          18,435                  18,179
                                                                                                      ------                  ------

       Total online advertising                                                                       27,363                  26,837

    Transactions                                                                                       4,962                   4,204

    Publishing and other                                                                               3,435                   4,628
                                                                                                       -----                   -----

    Total net revenue                                                                                 35,760                  35,669

    Cost of revenue:

    Online advertising                                                                                   931                     616

    Publishing and other                                                                                 978                   1,110
                                                                                                         ---                   -----

    Total cost of revenue                                                                              1,909                   1,726

    Gross profit                                                                                      33,851                  33,943

    Operating expenses:

    Product and content development                                                                   11,741                  10,845

    Sales and marketing                                                                               13,501                  11,561

    General and administrative                                                                         7,301                   6,349

    Depreciation and amortization                                                                      1,658                   1,594
                                                                                                       -----                   -----

    Total operating expenses                                                                          34,201                  30,349

    (Loss) / Income from operations                                                                    (350)                  3,594

    Loss in equity interests                                                                           (117)                  (144)

    Interest and other income / (expense), net                                                            93                     (1)
                                                                                                         ---                     ---

    (Loss) / Income before income taxes                                                                (374)                  3,449

    Income tax (benefit) / expense                                                                     (686)                    424
                                                                                                        ----                     ---

    Net income                                                                                                     $312              $3,025
                                                                                                                   ====              ======


    Net income per share:

    Basic and Diluted                                                                                             $0.01               $0.12
                                                                                                                  =====               =====

    Weighted average number of shares
    used in calculating net earnings per
    share:

    Basic                                                                                             25,352                  25,263

    Dilutive effect of:

    Restricted stock                                                                                     370                     322

    Options                                                                                               35                      14
                                                                                                         ===                     ===

    Diluted                                                                                           25,757                  25,599
                                                                                                      ======                  ======



                                                                                           XO GROUP INC.

                                                                               CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

                                                                         (Amounts in Thousands, Except for Per Share Data)

                                                                                            (Unaudited)


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

    ASSETS

    Current assets:

    Cash and cash equivalents                                                                                                             $103,012                    $105,703

    Accounts receivable, net                                                                                                       18,284                      20,182

    Prepaid expenses and other current assets                                                                                       6,609                       5,247
                                                                                                                                    -----                       -----

    Total current assets                                                                                                          127,905                     131,132

    Long-term restricted cash                                                                                                       1,181                       1,181

    Property and equipment, net                                                                                                    11,828                      12,130

    Intangibles assets, net                                                                                                         3,946                       4,154

    Goodwill                                                                                                                       48,678                      48,678

    Deferred tax assets, net                                                                                                       10,086                       9,918

    Investments                                                                                                                     2,568                       2,685

    Other assets                                                                                                                      415                         308
                                                                                                                                      ---                         ---

    Total assets                                                                                                                          $206,607                    $210,186
                                                                                                                                          ========                    ========

    LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

    Current liabilities:

      Accrued compensation and employee benefits                                                                                            $3,944                      $6,164

    Accounts payable and accrued expenses                                                                                           7,763                       7,515

    Deferred revenue                                                                                                               19,091                      16,752
                                                                                                                                   ------                      ------

    Total current liabilities                                                                                                      30,798                      30,431

    Deferred rent                                                                                                                   3,603                       3,720

    Other liabilities                                                                                                               1,488                       1,485
                                                                                                                                    -----                       -----

    Total liabilities                                                                                                              35,889                      35,636

    Commitments and contingencies

    Stockholders' equity:

    Preferred stock, $0.001 par value; 5,000,000 shares authorized and 0                                                                -                          -
    shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2017 and December 31,
    2016, respectively

    Common stock, $0.01 par value; 100,000,000 shares authorized and                                                                  262                         264
    26,153,288 and 26,304,925 shares issued and outstanding at March 31,
    2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively

    Additional paid-in-capital                                                                                                    178,659                     178,959

    Accumulated deficit                                                                                                           (8,203)                    (4,673)
                                                                                                                                   ------                      ------

    Total stockholders' equity                                                                                                    170,718                     174,550
                                                                                                                                  -------                     -------

    Total liabilities and stockholders' equity                                                                                            $206,607                    $210,186
                                                                                                                                          ========                    ========



                                                                                    XO GROUP INC.

                                                                            NON-GAAP RECONCILIATION TABLE

                                                                  For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2017 and 2016

                                                                      (In Thousands, Except for Per Share Data)

                                                                                     (Unaudited)


                                                                    Three Months Ended March 31,

                                                                               2017                                                                        2016

                                      As Reported         Adjustments                          Non GAAP                  As Reported           Adjustments               Non GAAP


    Net revenue                                   $35,760                              $                    -                          $35,760                               $35,669            $       -  $35,669

    Cost of revenue                         1,909                    -                                  1,909                    1,726                      -                   1,726

    Operating expenses

    Product and content development        11,741                    -                                 11,741                   10,845                      -                  10,845

    Sales and marketing                    13,501                    -                                 13,501                   11,561                      -                  11,561

    General and administrative              7,301                    -                                  7,301                    6,349                      -                   6,349

    Depreciation and amortization           1,658                    -                                  1,658                    1,594                      -                   1,594
                                            -----                  ---                                  -----                    -----                    ---                   -----

    Total operating expenses               34,201                    -                                 34,201                   30,349                      -                  30,349


    (Loss) / Income from operations         (350)                   -                                  (350)                   3,594                      -                   3,594


    Interest and other income /                93                    -                                     93                      (1)                     -                     (1)
    (expense), net

    Loss in equity interests                (117)                   -                                  (117)                   (144)                     -                   (144)

    Income tax (benefit) / expense          (686)                   -                                  (686)                     424                    956    (a)             1,380
                                             ----                  ---                                   ----                      ---                    ---    ---             -----

    Net income                                       $312                              $                    -                             $312                                $3,025               $(956)   $2,069

    Net income per share - diluted                  $0.01                              $                    -                            $0.01                                 $0.12              $(0.04)    $0.08

    Weighted average number of shares      25,757                                                      25,757                   25,599                                         25,599
    outstanding - diluted

                                                                    Three Months Ended March 31,

                                                                               2017                                                                        2016

                                      As Reported         Adjustments                          Non GAAP                  As Reported           Adjustments               Non GAAP

    (Loss) / Income from operations                $(350)                             $                    -                           $(350)                               $3,594            $       -   $3,594

    Depreciation and amortization           1,658                    -                                  1,658                    1,594                      -                   1,594

    Stock-based compensation                1,874                    -                                  1,874                    1,656                      -                   1,656
                                            -----                  ---                                  -----                    -----                    ---                   -----

    Adjusted EBITDA                                $3,182                              $                    -                           $3,182                                $6,844            $       -   $6,844


                                                                    Free Cash Flow Reconciliation


                                                                    Three Months Ended March 31,

                                                                               2017                                                                        2016

    Net cash provided by operating                                                                                $5,036                                                               $5,543
    activities

    Less: capital expenditures                                                                       (1,212)                                                      (722)
                                                                                                      ------                                                        ----

    Free cash flow                                                                                                $3,824                                                               $4,821




    (a)                   Adjusted income tax expense
                          was calculated using an
                          effective tax rate of 40%
                          for the three months ended
                          March 31, 2016. The
                          effective tax rate excludes
                          discrete items, including a
                          one-time benefit
                          associated with the
                          resolution of an uncertain
                          tax position for a former
                          subsidiary.



                                           XO GROUP INC.

                                SUPPLEMENTAL DATA TABLES (UNAUDITED)

                                            (Unaudited)



    TheKnot.com Local Online                                         Q1 2017        Q1 2016
    Advertising Metrics
    -------------------                                                                       ---

    Vendor Count(a)                                                          23,458         24,356

    Retention Rate(a)                                                         72.0%         71.0%
                                                                               ----           ----

    Avg. Revenue/Vendor(a)                                                   $2,832         $2,696
    ----------------------                                                   ------         ------

    Vendor Count at Quarter End                                              24,168         24,326
    ---------------------------                                              ------         ------



    (a)                 Calculated on a trailing
                        twelve-month basis.

Stock Based Compensation
The Company included total stock-based compensation expense related to all its stock awards in various operating expense categories for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, as follows:



                                    Three Months Ended March 31,

                                       2017                    2016
                                       ----                    ----

                                       (Amounts in Thousands)

    Product and content development               $497                $405

    Sales and marketing                 433                     411

    General and administrative          944                     840
                                        ---                     ---

    Total stock-based compensation              $1,874              $1,656

Conference Call and Replay Information

XO Group Inc. will host a conference call with investors at 4:30 p.m. ET on Tuesday, May 9, 2017, to discuss its first quarter 2017 financial results. Participants should dial (877) 201-0168 and use Conference ID# 6892945 at least 10 minutes before the call is scheduled to begin. Participants can also access the live broadcast over the internet on the Investor Relations section of the Company's website, accessible at http://ir.xogroupinc.com. To access the webcast, participants should visit XO Group's website at least 15 minutes prior to the conference call in order to download or install any necessary audio software.

A replay of the webcast will also be archived on the Company's website approximately two hours after the conference call ends.

About XO Group Inc.

XO Group Inc.'s (NYSE: XOXO; xogroupinc.com) mission is to help people navigate and truly enjoy life's biggest moments together. Our multi-platform brands guide couples through transformative life stages - from getting married with The Knot, to moving in together with The Nest, to having a baby with The Bump, and helping bring important celebrations to life with entertainment vendors from GigMasters. The Company is publicly listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: XOXO) and is headquartered in New York City.

Forward Looking Statements

This release may contain projections or other forward-looking statements regarding future events or our future financial performance or estimates regarding third parties. These statements are only estimates or predictions and reflect our current beliefs and expectations. Actual events or results may differ materially from those contained in the estimates, projections or forward-looking statements. It is routine for internal projections and expectations to change as the quarter progresses, and therefore it should be clearly understood that the internal projections and beliefs upon which we base our expectations may change prior to the end of the quarter. Although these expectations may change, we will not necessarily inform you if they do. Our policy is to provide expectations not more than once per quarter, and not to update that information until the next quarter. Some of the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained herein include, without limitation, (i) our operating results may fluctuate, are difficult to predict and could fall below expectations, (ii) our transactions business is dependent on third party participants, whose lack of performance could adversely affect our results of operations, (iii) our ongoing investment in new businesses and new products, services, and technologies is inherently risky, and could disrupt our ongoing business and/or fail to generate the results we are expecting, (iv) we may be unable to develop solutions that generate revenue from advertising and other services delivered to mobile phones and wireless devices, (v) our businesses could be negatively affected by changes in Internet search engine algorithms, (vi) intense competition in our markets may adversely affect revenue and results of operations, (vii) we may be subject to legal liability associated with providing online services or content, (viii) fraudulent or unlawful activities on our marketplace could harm our business and consumer confidence in our marketplace, (ix) we are subject to payments-related risks, (x) we cannot assure you that our publications will be profitable, and (xi) other factors detailed in documents we file from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements in this release are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This press release includes information about certain financial measures that are not prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP" or "U.S. GAAP"), including adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income, adjusted net income per diluted share and free cash flow. These non-GAAP measures have important limitations as analytical tools and should not be considered in isolation or as substitutes for an analysis of our results as reported under U.S. GAAP. Our use of these terms may vary from the use of similarly-titled measures by others in our industry due to the potential inconsistencies in the method of calculation and differences due to items subject to interpretation.

Management defines its non-GAAP financial measures as follows:


    --  Adjusted EBITDA represents GAAP income from operations adjusted to
        exclude, if applicable: (1) depreciation and amortization, (2)
        stock-based compensation expense, (3) asset impairment charges, and (4)
        other items affecting comparability during the period.

    --  Adjusted net income represents GAAP net income, adjusted for items that
        impact comparability for incremental or unusual costs incurred in the
        current period, which may include: (1) asset impairment charges, (2)
        executive separation and other severance charges, (3) non-recurring
        foreign taxes, interest and penalties and (4) costs related to exit
        activities.

    --  Adjusted net income per diluted share represents adjusted net income (as
        defined above), divided by the diluted weighted-average number of shares
        outstanding for the period.

    --  Free cash flow represents GAAP net cash provided by operations, less
        capital expenditures.

Management believes that these non-GAAP financial measures, when viewed with our results under U.S. GAAP and the accompanying reconciliations, provide useful information about our period-over-period growth and provide additional information that is useful for evaluating our operating performance. However, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income, adjusted net income per diluted share and free cash flow are not measures of financial performance under U.S. GAAP and, accordingly, should not be considered substitutes for or superior to net income and net income per diluted share and net cash provided by operating activities as indicators of operating performance.

A reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP financial measures is included in this press release.

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/xo-group-reports-first-quarter-2017-financial-results-300454582.html

SOURCE XO Group Inc.