Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue increased by 38.5% to $19.4 million, driven by a 31.6% rise in new student starts to 1,117 and a 37.7% increase in ending student population to 3,495, marking an all-time high [6][16] - Adjusted EBITDA rose 9.6% to $3.1 million, with a margin of 15.9%, reflecting strategic investments and non-recurring charges [8][10] - Net income increased by 4.6% to $2.2 million, with diluted EPS at $0.16 compared to $0.21 last year, impacted by an increase in diluted shares from 9.8 million to 13.9 million following the IPO [8][17] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Educational services expense rose to 53.2% of revenue from 51.4%, reflecting enhancements in programs and new hires [11][17] - General and administrative expenses increased to 31.5% of revenue from 28.3%, primarily due to audit, legal, and compliance costs [11][18] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The healthcare sector continues to experience chronic shortages, with over 200,000 nursing openings annually through 2031, indicating strong demand for skilled professionals [13][22] - Graduate placement rates remain above industry standards, with graduates placed within six months, showcasing the effectiveness of the company's programs [15][22] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on four strategic priorities: continuing enrollment momentum, curriculum expansion, operational innovation, and compliance as a competitive advantage [20][21] - The company is pursuing both organic growth and potential M&A opportunities, with a strong acquisition pipeline and plans for multi-campus acquisitions [25][28] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the company's ability to thrive despite regulatory challenges, emphasizing the critical need for job-ready graduates in the healthcare sector [22][29] - The company anticipates sequential margin improvement as investments mature and revenue scales, supported by strong policy tailwinds [22][29] Other Important Information - The company recorded a $178,000 reserve for accounts receivable, consistent with expectations, and enhanced its collections process [9][10] - The effective tax rate improved to 26.5% from 28%, benefiting from stock option exercises [10][17] Q&A Session Summary Question: About the four new programs and their capacity - Management indicated that the new programs started in the second quarter, with capacity for 20-24 students per program, but no contributions were realized in Q1 [24] Question: Acquisition pipeline status - The acquisition pipeline remains strong, with several opportunities elevated to the board level, focusing on both in-state and out-of-state acquisitions [25] Question: Capacity constraints and student population handling - Current campuses can handle 700-800 students each, with considerations for lease renewals and expansions based on increasing capacity needs [26] Question: Placement connections with healthcare facilities - The company is actively reaching out to local facilities and has partnerships with hospitals that hire graduates from their programs [27] Question: Placement of students outside the state or U.S. - The company has limited experience placing students outside the U.S., with some crossing into Canada, and primarily places students within California [27]
Legacy Education Inc.(LGCY) - 2026 Q1 - Earnings Call Transcript