Daily Journal Corp: Form 10-Q for the period ended Dec 31, 2024

Results of Operations

The Company continues to operate as two different businesses: (1) The Traditional Business, being the business of newspaper publishing and related services that the Company had before 1999 when it purchased a software development company, and (2) Journal Technologies, Inc., which supplies case management software systems and related products to courts, prosecutor and public defender offices, probation departments and other justice agencies, including administrative law organizations, city and county governments and bar associations. These organizations use the Journal Technologies family of products to help manage cases and information electronically, to interface with other critical justice partners and to extend electronic services to the public, including e-filing and a website to pay traffic citations and fees online. These products are licensed or subscribed to in approximately 32 states and internationally.

Reportable Segments

The Company’s Traditional Business is one reportable segment and the other is Journal Technologies which includes Journal Technologies, Inc. and Journal Technologies (Canada) Inc. All inter-segment transactions were eliminated. Additional detail about each reportable segment and its income and expenses is set forth below:

Overall Financial Results

For the three months ended December 31

Consolidated Financial Comparison

Consolidated revenues were $17,704,000 and $15,993,000 for the three months ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. This increase of $1,711,000 (11%) was primarily from increases in (i) Journal Technologies’ license and maintenance fees of $968,000, and other public service fees of $1,242,000, partially offset by decreased consulting fees of $703,000, and (ii) the Traditional Business’ advertising revenues of $192,000 and advertising service fees and other of $27,000.

Approximately 77% of the Company’s revenues during the three months ended December 31, 2024 were derived from Journal Technologies. In addition, the Company’s revenues during the three months ended December 31, 2024, were primarily from the United States, with approximately $1,605,000 (9%) from foreign countries. Almost all of Journal Technologies’ revenues are from governmental agencies.

Consolidated operating expenses increased by $1,592,000 (10%) to $16,962,000 from $15,370,000. Total salaries and employee benefits increased by $689,000 (6%) to $12,036,000 from $11,347,000 primarily due to the annual salary adjustments and the hiring of additional staff members to strengthen operational efficiencies, conduct product development and address technical debt, and bolster teams working on the Company’s installation projects. Outside services increased by $143,000 (9%) to $1,810,000 from $1,667,000 mainly because of additional contractor services and increased third-party hosting fees which were billed to clients. Equipment and maintenance and software went up by $226,000 (60%) to $602,000 from $376,000 primarily because of purchases of additional equipment for new hires. Accounting and legal fees increased by $64,000 (25%) to $320,000 from $256,000 primarily resulting from increased legal fees. Other general and administrative expenses increased by $163,000 (20%) to $995,000 from $832,000 mainly because there were increased business travel expenses, the purchase of directors and officers insurance and additional accruals for the directors’ stipends.

The Company’s non-operating income, net of expenses, decreased by $964,000 (6%) to $14,153,000 from $15,117,000 in the prior fiscal year period primarily because of the recording of net unrealized gains on marketable securities of $13,413,000 as compared with $14,690,000 in the prior fiscal year period. There was also a decrease in dividends and interest income of $385,000 (25%) to $1,184,000 from $1,569,000.

During the three months ended December 31, 2024, the Company’s consolidated pretax income was $14,895,000, as compared to $15,740,000 in the prior fiscal year period. There was consolidated net income of $10,895,000 ($7.91 per share) for the three months ended December 31, 2024, as compared with $12,615,000 ($9.16 per share) in the prior fiscal year period.

At December 31, 2024, the aggregate fair market value of the Company’s marketable securities was $372,104,000. These securities had approximately $233,010,000 of net unrealized gains before taxes of $60,810,000. Most of the unrealized gains were in the common stocks of three U.S. financial institutions and one foreign manufacturer.

Taxes

For the three months ended December, 2024, the Company recorded an income tax provision of $4,000,000 on the pretax income of $14,895,000. The income tax provision consisted of tax provisions of $3,500,000 on the unrealized gains on marketable securities, $15,000 on income from foreign operations, $275,000 on income from US operations and dividend income, $10,000 for the dividends received deduction and other permanent book and tax differences, and $200,000 for the effect of a change in state apportionment on the beginning of the year’s deferred tax liability. Consequently, the overall effective tax rate for the three months ended December 31, 2024 was 26.9%, after including the taxes on the unrealized gains on marketable securities.

For the three months ended December 31, 2023, the Company recorded an income tax provision of $3,125,000 on the pretax income of $15,740,000. The income tax provision consisted of tax provisions of $3,765,000 on the unrealized gains on marketable securities, $30,000 on income from foreign operations, and $270,000 on income from US operations and dividend income, partially offset by a tax benefit of $120,000 for the dividends received deduction and other permanent book and tax differences, and a tax benefit of $820,000 for the effect of a change in state apportionment on the beginning of the year’s deferred tax liability. Consequently, the overall effective tax rate for the three months ended December 31, 2023 was 19.9%, after including the taxes on the unrealized gains on marketable securities.

The Company files consolidated federal income tax returns in the United States and with various state jurisdictions and is no longer subject to examinations for fiscal years before fiscal 2022 with regard to federal income taxes and fiscal 2021 for state income taxes.

The Traditional Business

The Traditional Business’ pretax income remained relatively unchanged. This decrease was primarily resulted from increased merchant discount fees, additional promotional expenses and postage, partially offset by increased revenues.

During the three months ended December 31, 2024, the Traditional Business had total operating revenues of $4,091,000, as compared with $3,887,000 in the prior fiscal year period. Advertising revenues increased by $192,000 (9%) to $2,279,000 from $2,087,000, primarily resulting from increased commercial advertising revenues of $63,000, legal notice advertising revenues of $60,000, and trustee sale notice advertising revenues of $76,000, partially offset by decreased government notice advertising revenues of $7,000.

Trustee sale notices are very much dependent on the number of California and Arizona foreclosures for which public notice advertising is required by law. The number of foreclosure notices published by the Company decreased slightly by 1% during the three months ended December 31, 2024 as compared to the prior fiscal year period. The Company’s smaller newspapers, those other than the Los Angeles and San Francisco Daily Journals (“The Daily Journals”), accounted for about 85% of the total public notice advertising revenues during the three-month period ended December 3l, 2024. Public notice advertising revenues and related advertising and other service fees, including trustee sales legal advertising revenues, constituted about 13% of the Company's total operating revenues for the three months ended December 31, 2024 and 14% for the three months ended December 31, 2023.

The Daily Journals accounted for about 94% of the Traditional Business’ total circulation revenues, which decreased by $15,000 (1%) to $1,080,000 from $1,095,000. The court rule and judicial profile services generated about 4% of the total circulation revenues, with the other newspapers and services accounting for the balance. Advertising service fees and other are Traditional Business segment revenues, which include primarily (i) agency commissions received from outside newspapers in which the advertising is placed, and (ii) fees generated when filing notices with government agencies.

The Traditional Business segment operating expenses, excluding the adjustments to the long-term supplemental compensation accrual, decreased by $30,000 (1%) to $3,990,000 from $4,020,000.

Journal Technologies

During the three months ended December 31, 2024, Journal Technologies’ business segment pretax income increased by $120,000 (36%) to $456,000 from $336,000 in the prior fiscal year period primarily resulted from increased operating revenues of $1,507,000, which were partially offset by increased operating expenses of $1,387,000.

Revenues increased by $1,507,000 (12%) to $13,613,000 from $12,106,000 in the prior fiscal year period. Licensing and maintenance fees increased by $968,000 (15%) to $7,525,000 from $6,557,000. Consulting fees decreased by $703,000 (21%) to $2,599,000 from $3,302,000 mainly due to fewer completed service obligations. Other public service fees increased by $1,242,000 (55%) to $3,489,000 from $2,247,000 primarily because of increased e-filing fee revenues.

Deferred consulting fees primarily represent advances from customers of Journal Technologies for installation services that are recognized upon the completion of service obligations. Deferred revenues on license and maintenance contracts represent prepayments of annual license and maintenance fees and are recognized ratably over the maintenance periods.

Operating expenses increased by $1,387,000 (12%) to $13,157,000 from $11,770,000 primarily because of (i) increased personnel costs because of annual salary adjustments, (ii) additional contractor services and the hiring of additional staff members to strengthen operational efficiencies, conduct product development and address technical debt, and bolster teams working on the Company’s installation projects, and (iii) increased third-party hosting fees which were billed to clients.

Journal Technologies continues to update and upgrade its software products, which includes work deemed necessary by management to strengthen and update aspects like user experience, documentation, and ease of ongoing customer upgrades (which the Company believes should correspondingly reduce costs for Journal Technologies over the longer term). These costs are expensed as incurred and will impact earnings at least through the foreseeable future.

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Although the World Health Organization has declared an end to the COVID-19 emergency, enduring changes in society and the ability to perform project work resulting from efforts to contain the COVID-19 pandemic may have continuing effects on the Company’s business and margins until projects from this era are completed and invoiced. For example, for Journal Technologies, although we were able to complete many existing projects remotely, we were delayed in finishing certain implementations and trainings because of our inability to work with clients in-person. Given that we are typically paid for implementation services upon “go-live” of a system, recognition of those revenues has been delayed and in some cases costs have increased. This can also create a risk of contract cancellations for in-progress projects.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

During the three months ended December 31, 2024, the Company’s cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, and marketable security positions increased by $15,577,000 after the recording of net pretax unrealized gains on marketable securities of $13,413,000.

The investments in marketable securities, which had an adjusted cost basis of approximately $139,094,000 and a market value of about $372,104,000 at December 31, 2024, generated approximately $1,184,000 in dividends and interest income during the three months ended December 31, 2024. These securities had approximately $233,010,000 of net unrealized gains before estimated taxes of $60,810,000 which will become due only when we sell securities in which there is unrealized appreciation. The balance on the Company’s margin loan secured by the securities portfolio was $27,500,000 at both December 31, 2024 and September 30, 2024.

Cash flows from operating activities increased by $3,367,000 during the three months ended December 31, 2024, as compared to the prior fiscal year period, primarily due to (i) decreases in the Company’s accounts receivable of $649,000, (ii) increases in accounts payable of $1,062,000, accrued liabilities which included non-qualified deferred compensation, of $1,202,000, income tax payable of $1,069,000 and deferred income tax payable of $1,086,000. This was partially offset by decreases in deferred revenues of $1,416,000 and net income of $443,000, after excluding the decreases in unrealized gains on marketable securities of $1,277,000.

As of December 31, 2024, the Company had working capital of $370,616,000, including the liabilities for deferred subscriptions, deferred consulting fees and deferred maintenance agreements and others of $20,361,000.

The Company believes that it will be able to fund its operations for the foreseeable future through its cash flows from operations and its current working capital and expects that any such cash flows will be invested in its businesses. The Company may or may not have the ability to borrow additional amounts against its marketable securities and, among other possibilities, it may be required to consider selling additional securities to generate cash if needed to fund ongoing operations. The amount available for borrowing is based on the market value of the Company’s investment portfolio and fluctuates depending on the value of the underlying securities. In addition, the Company could be subject to margin calls should the balance of the investment decrease significantly.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

The Company’s financial statements and accompanying notes are prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Preparing financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses. These estimates and assumptions are affected by management’s application of accounting policies. Management believes that revenue recognition, accounting for software costs, fair value measurement and disclosures, and income taxes are critical accounting policies and estimates.

The Company’s critical accounting policies are detailed in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2024. The above discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the unaudited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in this report.

Disclosure Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Certain statements contained in this document, including but not limited to those in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” are “forward-looking” statements that involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual future events or results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. Words such as “expects,” “intends,” “anticipates,” “should,” “believes,” “will,” “plans,” “estimates,” “may,” variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. We disclaim any intention or obligation to revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future developments, or otherwise. There are many factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. These factors include, among others: risks associated with software development and implementation efforts, and disruptive new technologies like artificial intelligence; Journal Technologies’ reliance on professional services engagements with justice agencies; material changes in the costs of postage and paper; additional possible changes in the law, particularly changes limiting or eliminating the requirements for public notice advertising; possible loss of the adjudicated status of the Company’s newspapers and their legal authority to publish public notice advertising; a decline in subscriber revenues; possible security breaches of the Company’s software or websites; changes in accounting guidance; material weaknesses in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting; and declines in the market prices of the securities owned by the Company. In addition, such statements could be affected by general industry and market conditions, general economic conditions (particularly in California) and other factors. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to have been correct. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements are discussed in this Form 10-Q, including in conjunction with the forward-looking statements themselves. Additional information concerning factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements is contained from time to time in documents filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2024.

In light of the material weaknesses in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting discussed in the Company’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2024, management concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were not effective as of December 31, 2024. There were no material changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting or in other factors reasonably likely to affect its internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended December 31, 2024, although the Company has begun a process intended to remediate these material weaknesses in its internal control over financial reporting.