Spark Networks, Inc. (AMEX: LOV) today reported financial results for the second quarter and six months ended June 30, 2008.
Spark Networks overall subscriber base is diminishing while profitability is up. Spark lost close to 30,000 paying subscribers, mostly from General Market Networks. I’d like to know which sites are categorized as General Market Networks and Other Affinity Networks.
I’ve bolded some of the key highlights from
“Our overall strategy continues to be to strengthen our position in the affinity-based segment of the subscription-driven dating market,” stated Adam Berger, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Spark Networks, Inc. “Over the past five quarters, we’ve been focused on increasing stockholder value and return by growing our Other Affinity Networks segment, maximizing the yield from our Jewish Networks, optimizing our marketing spend, adding an advertising revenue stream, reducing overhead, and prudently allocating capital.”
“This strategy has translated into increased profitability and cash flow in the second quarter. Adjusted EBITDA(1), excluding currency translation adjustments, was $4.4 million or a 29% margin. Cash flow was $4.2 million, a 19% increase over the same period last year, and a 43% sequential increase.”
Second Quarter 2008 Financial Highlights
Revenue for the second quarter of 2008 was $15.0 million, a 10% decrease compared to $16.6 million in the second quarter of 2007, and flat compared to the prior quarter. Revenue for the six months was $30.0 million, a 10% decrease compared to $33.4 million for the same period last year.
Contribution(2) for the second quarter of 2008 was $11.0 million, a 2% decrease compared to $11.2 million for the second quarter of 2007, and flat compared to the prior quarter. Contribution for the six months was $21.9 million, a 3% increase compared to $21.2 million for the same period last year.
Operating expenses for the second quarter of 2008 were $8.0 million, a 15% decrease compared to $9.5 million for the second quarter of 2007, and a 5% decrease compared to $8.5 million for the prior quarter. Second quarter 2007 operating expenses include approximately $687,000 of charges related to our Scheme of Arrangement. Operating expenses for the six months were $16.5 million, a 22% decrease compared to $21.2 million for the same period last year. Operating expenses for the six months ending June 30, 2007 include $1.1 million of charges related to the Company’s Scheme of Arrangement.
Net income for the second quarter of 2008 was $1.6 million, or $0.07 per share, compared to $1.9 million, or $0.06 per share for the second quarter of 2007, and $1.6 million or $0.06 per share in the prior quarter. Net income for the six months was $3.2 million, or $0.13 per share, compared to $534,000, or $0.02 per share, for the same period last year.
Adjusted EBITDA for the second quarter of 2008, excluding currency translation adjustments and Scheme of Arrangement costs, was $4.4 million, compared to $4.5 million for the second quarter of 2007, and $4.0 million in the prior quarter. Adjusted EBITDA, excluding currency translation adjustments, for the six months was $8.4 million, compared to $7.5 million during the same period last year.
Average paying subscribers(3) in the second quarter of 2008 were 190,455, a 13% decrease compared to 219,196 for the second quarter of 2007, and a 1% decrease compared to 192,652 in the prior quarter. Average paying subscribers for the six months were 191,554, a 14% decrease compared to 223,664 for the same period last year.
Segment Reporting(4)
Second quarter 2008 revenue for Jewish Networks was $8.6 million, a 5% increase compared to $8.2 million for the second quarter of 2007, and flat compared to the prior quarter. Jewish Networks revenue for the six months was $17.3 million, a 4% increase compared to $16.6 million for the same period last year.
Second quarter 2008 revenue for General Market Networks was $2.2 million, a 49% decrease compared to $4.3 million for the second quarter of 2007, and a 16% decrease compared to $2.6 million in the prior quarter. General Market Networks revenue for the six months was $4.8 million, a 49% decrease compared to $9.3 million for the same period last year.
Second quarter 2008 revenue for Other Affinity Networks was $3.4 million, a 6% increase compared to $3.2 million for the second quarter of 2007, and a 2% increase compared to the prior quarter. Other Affinity Networks revenue for the six months was $6.8 million, a 5% increase compared to $6.4 million for the same period last year.
Second quarter 2008 revenue for Offline & Other Businesses was $765,000, a 14% decrease compared to $886,000 for the second quarter of 2007, and an 80% increase compared to $426,000 in the prior quarter. Offline & Other Businesses revenue for the six months was $1.2 million, a 7% increase compared to $1.1 million for the same period last year.
Average paying subscribers for Jewish Networks were 91,598 during the second quarter of 2008, a 2% decrease compared to 93,408 for the second quarter of 2007, and a 1% decrease compared to 92,719 in the prior quarter. Average paying subscribers for the six months were 92,159, a 3% decrease compared to 94,687 for the same period last year.
Average paying subscribers for General Market Networks were 33,573 during the second quarter of 2008, a 45% decrease compared to 61,529 for the second quarter of 2007, and a 10% decrease compared to 37,435 in the prior quarter. Average paying subscribers for the six months were 35,504, a 47% decrease compared to 66,985 for the same period last year.
Average paying subscribers for Other Affinity Networks were 63,309 during the second quarter of 2008, a 1% increase compared to 62,450 for the second quarter of 2007, and a 5% increase compared to 60,133 in the prior quarter. Average paying subscribers for the six months were 61,721, a 2% increase compared to 60,781 for the same period last year.
In 2006 the company had 244,000 paying subscribers. Back in January 2008 I talked about a New York Times Article stating that Spark Neworks was putting itself up for sale.
