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 Where Food Comes From Q1 Profit Falls Amid Beef Market Headwinds
 ZACKSยท 2025-05-13 15:00
 Core Insights - Shares of Where Food Comes From, Inc. (WFCF) have decreased by 13.5% since the Q1 2025 earnings report, contrasting with a 0.5% rise in the S&P 500 index during the same period [1] - The stock has seen a 19.1% decline over the past month, while the S&P 500 increased by 4.4% [1]   Earnings & Revenue Performance - For Q1 2025, WFCF reported total revenues of $5.27 million, a 5.5% decline from $5.58 million in Q1 2024 [2] - The revenue drop was primarily due to a $252,000 decrease in verification and certification services, which account for about half of the company's revenue mix [2] - Net income fell to $31,000 (1 cent per diluted share) from $178,000 (3 cents per diluted share) year-over-year [2] - Gross profit was $2.2 million compared to $2.3 million last year, with a stable gross margin of 41.6% [2]   Other Key Business Metrics - Product sales and professional services remained relatively flat year-over-year at $702,000 and $389,000, respectively [5] - Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses were unchanged at $2.05 million, reflecting tight cost controls [5] - Operating income decreased to $142,000 from $261,000 due to lower revenues and a $76,000 non-cash loss on digital assets related to Bitcoin [5]   Cash Flow and Share Repurchase - Cash flow from operations totaled $632,000 for the quarter, down from $700,000 in the prior year [6] - The company repurchased 31,345 shares of common stock at a cost of $383,000, continuing a capital return strategy that has exceeded 1.2 million shares since inception [6]   Management Commentary - CEO John Saunders noted that the first quarter was challenging due to cyclical herd reductions and prolonged drought conditions affecting core beef verification revenues [7] - Tariffs on U.S. beef exports to China and avian influenza outbreaks also constrained poultry and dairy verification activities [7]   Factors Influencing Revenue - Revenue contraction in the beef segment was linked to industry-wide herd shrinkage and trade disruptions, particularly the halt of beef exports to China [9] - High-mortality avian flu outbreaks impacted poultry verification services, although biosecurity consulting helped mitigate some effects [9]   Digital Asset Impact - The company recorded a $76,000 unrealized loss on Bitcoin holdings, significantly contributing to the year-over-year decline in net income [10]   Guidance and Future Prospects - Ongoing diversification is seen as a buffer against sector-specific volatility, with strong momentum in the Upcycled Certified program, which grew certifications by 70% in 2024 and an additional 10% in Q1 2025 [11] - WFCF's fee-based labeling initiative gained traction with two major food retailers, potentially expanding to over 100 locations this year [12]   Organizational Developments - The company completed an internal reorganization in January 2025, integrating professional consulting services under its core Verification and Certification segment to improve efficiency [13] - In April 2025, WFCF canceled 1,237,700 treasury shares, reallocating $13.8 million from treasury stock to additional paid-in capital and retained earnings [13]