Omaha, May 14, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FitLife Brands, Inc. ("FitLife" or the "Company") (NASDAQ:FTLF), a provider of innovative and proprietary nutritional supplements and wellness products, today announced financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2024.

Highlights for the first quarter ended March 31, 2024 include:

Total revenue was $16.5 million, an increase of 54% compared to the first quarter of 2023.
Online sales were $10.8 million, representing 65% of total revenue and an increase of 116% compared to the first quarter of 2023.
Gross margin was 44.0% compared to 41.1% during the first quarter of 2023.
Net income for the first quarter of 2024 was $2.2 million compared to $0.2 million during the same period last year.
Basic earnings per share and diluted earnings per share were $0.47 and $0.43, respectively, compared to $0.03 during the first quarter of 2023.
Adjusted EBITDA was $3.6 million, a 62% increase compared to the first quarter of 2023.
The Company ended the quarter with $16.5 million outstanding on its term loans and cash of $3.3 million, or total net debt of $13.2 million.

For the first quarter ended March 31, 2024, total revenue was $16.5 million, an increase of 54% compared to $10.7 million during the same period last year. Online revenue for the quarter was $10.8 million, an increase of 116% compared to the quarter ended March 31, 2023. Online sales for legacy FitLife increased 3% during the quarter compared to the same period last year. Online revenue accounted for 65% and 47% of the Company's total revenue during the quarters ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.

Wholesale revenue for the quarter ended March 31, 2024 was $5.7 million, flat when compared to the same period last year. The Company's recent acquisitions contributed $1.2 million of wholesale revenue during the first quarter of 2024, while Legacy FitLife wholesale revenue was down $1.2 million, or 21%, compared to the same period last year.

Gross margin for the quarter ended March 31, 2024 was 44.0% compared to 41.1% during the same period in the prior year. Excluding the impact of the inventory step-up resulting from the acquisition of Mimi's Rock Corp ("MRC"), gross margin during the quarter ended March 31, 2023 would have been 42.1%.

Net income for the first quarter of 2024 was $2.2 million compared to $0.2 million during the quarter ended March 31, 2023. Basic earnings per share and diluted earnings per share were $0.47 and $0.43 respectively, compared to $0.03 during the first quarter of 2023. Net income during the first quarter of 2023 was adversely impacted by a number of acquisition-related items that did not recur in 2024 including transaction expenses of $1.4 million, amortization of the inventory step-up valuation of $0.1 million, and a loss on a currency hedge of $0.1 million.

Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter ended March 31, 2024 was $3.6 million, an increase of 62% compared to the same period in 2023.

The Company ended the quarter with $16.5 million outstanding on its term loans and cash of $3.3 million, or total net debt of $13.2 million. As previously disclosed, the Company made a voluntary paydown on its term loan of $2.5 million during the first quarter of 2024 in addition to the scheduled amortization payment of $1.1 million.

Dayton Judd, the Company's Chairman and CEO, commented "The Company is off to a solid start in 2024 and there are many bright spots in our business. At MRC, I am encouraged that the Dr. Tobias brand—which represents approximately 90% of the MRC business—returned to growth during the quarter despite advertising spend that was 39% lower than in the first quarter of 2023. And although the skin care brands continue to struggle on the top line, they are more profitable now than they were at the time of the acquisition. In total, MRC is significantly more profitable than when we made the acquisition.

"Our legacy FitLife brands continue to face headwinds in the wholesale channel due to declining foot traffic at our brick-and-mortar retail partners. Although the declines were partially offset by growth in the legacy FitLife online business, the online growth rate we experienced during the first quarter was lower than anticipated. We are encouraged, though, that the growth rate for legacy FitLife online sales was much stronger during April with a 13% year-over-year increase.

"In addition, I am excited about a number of new products that we will be introducing this year across several of our brands. Of note, we recently re-launched the MusclePharm Combat Sport protein bar in April 2024. We believe the MusclePharm brand is our most significant organic growth opportunity. Both online and wholesale revenue for MusclePharm ramped up throughout the quarter, and we hope to continue the momentum. Overall, our first quarter results demonstrate that we are continuing to execute our goal of profitably growing revenue and paying down debt."

The Company will hold an investor conference call on Tuesday, May 14, 2024 at 4:30 pm ET. Investors interested in participating in the live call can dial (833) 492-0064 from the U.S. and provide the conference identification code of 629005. International participants can dial (973) 528-0163 and provide the same code.

About FitLife Brands

FitLife Brands is a developer and marketer of innovative and proprietary nutritional supplements and wellness products for health-conscious consumers. FitLife markets more than 250 different products primarily online, but also through domestic and international GNC® franchise locations as well as through approximately 16,000 additional domestic retail locations. FitLife is headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska. For more information, please visit our website at www.fitlifebrands.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this release that are forward looking involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which may cause the Company's actual results in future periods to be materially different from any future performance that may be suggested in this news release. Such factors may include, but are not limited to, the ability of the Company to continue to grow revenue, and the Company's ability to continue to achieve positive cash flow given the Company's existing and anticipated operating and other costs. Many of these risks and uncertainties are beyond the Company's control. Reference is made to the discussion of risk factors detailed in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission including its reports on Form 10-K and 10-Q. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the dates on which they are made.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The financial presentation below contains certain financial measures defined as "non-GAAP financial measures" by the SEC, including non-GAAP EBITDA and non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA. These measures may be different from non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies. The presentation of this financial information, which is not prepared under any comprehensive set of accounting rules or principles, is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP.

As presented below, non-GAAP EBITDA excludes interest, income taxes, and depreciation and amortization and foreign currency gain/loss. Adjusted non-GAAP EBITDA excludes—in addition to interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization—equity-based compensation, M&A/integration expense, restatement-related expense and non-recurring gains or losses. The Company believes the non-GAAP measures provide useful information to both management and investors by excluding certain expense and other items that may not be indicative of its core operating results and business outlook. The Company believes that the inclusion of non-GAAP measures in the financial presentation below allows investors to compare the Company's financial results with the Company's historical financial results and is an important measure of the Company's comparative financial performance.

FITLIFE BRANDS, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands, except per share data)

	March 31, 2024			December 31, 2023
	(Unaudited)
ASSETS:
CURRENT ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$	2,540		$	1,139
Restricted cash		750			759
Accounts receivable, net of allowance of doubtful accounts of $18 and $17, respectively		2,269			2,046
Inventories, net of allowance for obsolescence of $139 and $162, respectively		8,869			9,091
Sales tax receivable		113			1,019
Prepaid expense and other current assets		451			639
Total current assets		14,992			14,693

Property and equipment, net		121			137
Right of use asset		96			121
Intangibles, net of amortization of $124 and $113, respectively		26,325			26,309
Goodwill		13,340			13,294
Deferred tax asset		612			792
TOTAL ASSETS	$	55,486		$	55,346

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable	$	3,978		$	3,261
Accrued expense and other liabilities		1,397			1,026
Income taxes payable		1,356			892
Product returns		524			571
Term loan – current portion		4,500			4,500
Lease liability - current portion		73			87
Total current liabilities		11,828			10,337

Term loan, net of current portion and unamortized deferred finance costs		11,894			15,509
Long-term lease liability, net of current portion		34			51
Deferred tax liability		2,353			2,413
TOTAL LIABILITIES		26,109			28,310

STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value, 10,000 shares authorized, none outstanding as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023		-			-
Common stock, $0.01 par value, 60,000 shares authorized; 4,598 issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023		46			46
Additional paid-in capital		30,801			30,699
Accumulated deficit		(1,257	)		(3,417	)
Foreign currency translation adjustment		(213	)		(292	)
TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY		29,377			27,036
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY	$	55,486		$	55,346

FITLIFE BRANDS, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2024 AND 2023

(In thousands, except per share data)

(Unaudited)

	Three months ended March 31,
	2024			2023

Revenue	$	16,549		$	10,738
Cost of goods sold		9,262			6,330
Gross profit		7,287			4,408

OPERATING EXPENSE:
Selling, general and administrative		3,736			2,344
Merger and acquisition related expense		134			1,372
Depreciation and amortization		36			19
Total operating expense		3,906			3,735

OPERATING INCOME		3,381			673

OTHER EXPENSE (INCOME)
Interest income		(5	)		(84	)
Interest expense		414			98
Foreign exchange (gain) loss		5			82
Total other expense (income)		414			96

INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAX PROVISION		2,967			577

PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES		807			421

NET INCOME	$	2,160		$	156

NET INCOME PER SHARE
Basic	$	0.47		$	0.03
Diluted	$	0.43		$	0.03
Basic weighted average common shares		4,598			4,483
Diluted weighted average common shares		5,030			4,935

COMPREHENSIVE INCOME:
NET INCOME	$	2,160		$	156
Foreign currency translation adjustment		79			-
Comprehensive income	$	2,239		$	156

FITLIFE BRANDS, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2024 AND 2023

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

	Three months ended March 31,
	2024			2023

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income	$	2,160		$	156
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		36			19
Allowance for doubtful accounts		1			(14	)
Allowance for inventory obsolescence		(23	)		2
Stock compensation expense		102			42
Amortization of deferred financing costs		10			1
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable - trade		(242	)		(917	)
Inventories		218			1,501
Deferred tax asset		180			251
Prepaid expense, other assets and sales tax receivable		1,067			(44	)
Right of use asset		21			16
Accounts payable		727			(1,045	)
Lease liability		(30	)		(16	)
Accrued liabilities, other liabilities and income taxes payable		856			289
Product returns		(47	)		(9	)
Net cash provided by operating activities		5,036			232

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Purchase of property and equipment		(10	)		-
Cash paid for acquisition of Mimi's Rock Corp.		-			(17,099	)
Net cash used in investing activities		(10	)		(17,099	)

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Payments on term loans		(3,625	)		-
Borrowings on term loan		-			12,500
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities		(3,625	)		12,500

Foreign currency impact on cash		(9	)		17

CHANGE IN CASH AND RESTRICTED CASH		1,392			(4,350	)
CASH, BEGINNING OF PERIOD		1,898			13,277
CASH AND RESTRICTED CASH, END OF PERIOD	$	3,290		$	8,927

investor@fitlifebrands.com

FitLife Brands Announces First Quarter 2024 Results