Es..here's my clip w.. emphasis...Regarding release
btw....when is the quiet period over?
ztect
marketwatch.newsalert.com
MarketWatch.com, Inc. Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 1998 Financial Results Business Wire - February 10, 1999 17:45
SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 10, 1999--MarketWatch.com, Inc. (Nasdaq: MKTW) today reported revenues of $2.5 million for the fourth quarter of 1998 and $7.0 million for the year ended December 31, 1998.
Revenues increased 41% from the third quarter. Net losses were $4.2 million, or $0.47 per share, for the fourth quarter and $12.4 million, or $1.38 per share, for 1998. A significant portion of the reported losses were attributable to non-cash charges for network advertising and promotion contributed by CBS to the company ($2.1 million in the fourth quarter and $7.1 million for 1998.)
The company also reported significant increases in traffic and users of its cbs.marketwatch.com web site during the quarter. The company recorded 160 million page views in the fourth quarter, an increase of 36 million, or 29% from the third quarter. The number of unique visitors to the company's web sites increased from a monthly average of 1.7 million in the third quarter to 2.3 million in the fourth quarter, an increase of 35%. Reach numbers are calculated by DoubleClick, which serves ads on the company's sites via its DART service.
"We are extremely pleased with our fourth quarter results, which exceeded our expectations," said Larry Kramer, President and CEO of MarketWatch.com. "We continue to see sharp increases in the number of users to the site and the number of pages read, and an even larger percentage increase in our revenue. We believe that this success reflects the quality of our programming and content, our increased marketing activity, CBS' important advertising and branding contributions, the increased use of our journalists on the CBS television and radio networks, and the impact of our ongoing relationships with strategic partners like Data Broadcasting Corp. and Yahoo. During the second half of 1998 we signed several new distribution deals, including one with Intuit, increased our original reporting on the big cap stocks, personal finance, bonds, the Internet and many other areas, and introduced new products, such as our enhanced portfolios."
Kramer also attributed some of the growth to the rapidly growing use of the Internet for stock trading and personal finance. "We believe that the Internet is rapidly becoming the medium of choice for individuals to control their finances. We believe this trend will continue and that we are well positioned as a leading destination for information needed by that audience. With the completion of our IPO last month, we have strengthened our balance sheet and we are now investing the capital to improve our business," he said.
The company recently completed its initial public offering of common stock. The company sold 3,162,500 shares of common stock including underwriter over-allotments which resulted in net proceeds to the company of approximately $50.0 million without deducting offering expenses. Net proceeds of the offering will be used for repayment of debt and general corporate purposes, including marketing activities and working capital.
On a pro-forma basis, assuming the shares sold in the company's initial public offering in January, 1999 were outstanding from January 1, 1998, net losses per share for the quarter and year ending December 31, 1998 were $0.36 and $1.02, respectively.
The Company's CBS.MarketWatnalytic tools.
This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. MarketWatch.com, Inc.'s actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause or contribute to such differences include, among others, the continued increases in the number of companies advertising on the cbs.MarketWatch.com Web site as well as on the Web generally; risks associated with the Company's relationships with CBS (NYSE: CBS) and DBC(NASDAQ:DBCC) described in the Company's Prospectus relating to its initial public offering; the Company's ability to increase users and the time spent on its Web site; the intensely competitive environment for Web advertising sales and for Web-user traffic; the Company's ability to enter into distribution and other strategic relationships with high traffic Web access points; reductions in market prices for Web advertising as a result of competition, changing requirements of advertisers or otherwise; the Company's ability to manage its growth; acceptance of the Company's new services; the increased use of the Web for commerce and the increased number of users engaging in Web commerce through the Company's services; and general economic conditions.
More information about potential factors which could affect the Company's business and financial results is included in the Company's prospectus dated January 15, 1999 under the headings "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations." All forward-looking statements are based on information available to the Company on the date hereof. MarketWatch.com, Inc. assumes no obligation to publicly release the result of any revisions of these forward-looking statements.
MarketWatch.com, Inc. Statement of Operations
Three Months ended Year ended December 31, December 31, 1998 1998 ------------ ------------ Net revenues:
Advertising $ 2,061,000 $ 5,115,000 News to DBC 336,000 1,285,000 Subscription 137,000 627,000 --------------------- ---------------- Total net revenues 2,534,000 7,027,000
Cost of revenues:
Advertising and news 879,000 2,398,000 Subscription 134,000 439,000 --------------------- ---------------- Total cost of revenues 1,013,000 2,837,000 --------------------- ----------------
Gross profit 1,521,000 4,190,000 --------------------- ----------------
Operating expenses: Product development 433,000 1,468,000 General and administrative 1,330,000 3,429,000 Sales and marketing 3,918,000 11,547,000 --------------------- ---------------- Total operating expenses 5,681,000 16,444,000 --------------------- ----------------
Operating loss (4,160,000) (12,254,000) Interest expense (85,000) (159,000) --------------------- ----------------
Net loss $ (4,245,000) $ (12,413,000) ===================== ================
Basic and diluted net loss per share $ (0.47) $ (1.38) ===================== ================
Shares used in the calculation of basic and diluted net loss per share 9,000,000 9,000,000 ===================== ================
MarketWatch.com, Inc. Balance Sheet
Pro Forma December 31, December 31 December 31, 1997 1998 1998 (A) -------------- ------------- --------------
ASSETS Current: Cash $ -- $ 140,000 $ 46,194,000 Accounts receivable, net of allowances for doubtful accounts of $10,000 and $120,000 224,000 1,586,000 1,586,000 Prepaid expenses -- 2,000 2,000 ------------ ------------ ------------ Total current assets 224,000 1,728,000 47,782,000
Other assets -- 11,000 11,000 Deferred offering costs -- 1,816,000 -- Property and equipment, net 13,000 932,000 932,000 ------------ ------------ ------------
Total assets $ 237,000 $ 4,487,000 $ 48,725,000 ============ ============ ============
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY Current: Accounts payable and accrued expenses $ -- $ 1,969,000 $ 1,969,000 Accrued expenses 75,000 1,688,000 1,688,000 Deferred revenue 10,000 14,000 14,000 Advances from DBC -- 3,946,000 -- ------------ ------------ ------------ Total current liabilities 85,000 7,617,000 3,671,000 ------------ ------------ ------------
Stockholders' equity: Preferred stock, $.01 par value; 5,000,000 shares authorized, no shares issued and outstanding -- -- -- Common stock, $.01 par value; 30,000,000 shares authorized; 9,000,000 shares issued and outstanding 90,000 90,000 122,000 Additional paid-in capital 51,925,000 53,366,000 81,518,000 Deferred compensation -- (1,144,000) (1,144,000) Contribution receivable (51,782,000) (42,948,000) (22,948,000) Accumulated deficit (81,000) (12,494,000) (12,494,000) ------------ ------------ ------------
Total stockholders' equity (deficit) 152,000 (3,130,000) 45,054,000 ------------ ------------ ------------
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $ 237,000 $ 4,487,000 $ 48,725,000 ============ ============ ============
(A) The company's initial public offering occurred on January 15, 1999. The company sold 3,162,500 shares of common stock including underwriter over-allotments which resulted in net proceeds to the company of approximately $50 million and total post-offering shares outstanding of 12,162,500. The above pro forma balance sheet assumes the company's initial public offering occurred by December 31, 1998 and the advances from DBC were concurrently repaid with the proceeds. The pro forma statement also reflects a $20 million reduction to the Contribution receivable and additional paid-in capital under the terms of the Stockholders agreement which became effective upon completion of the initial public offering. CONTACT: MarketWatch.com, Inc. J. Peter Bardwick, 415/733-0500 |