Semler Scientific, Inc. (SMLR) CEO Douglas Murphy-Chutorian on Q1 2022 Results - Earnings Call Transcript

Semler Scientific, Inc. (NASDAQ:SMLR) Q1 2022 Earnings Conference Call May 2, 2022 10:30 AM ET

Company Participants

Douglas Murphy-Chutorian - CEO

Dennis Rosenberg - Chief Marketing Officer

Andrew Weinstein - SVP, Finance and Accounting

Conference Call Participants

Brooks O’Neil - Lake Street Capital Markets LLC

Marc Wiesenberger - B. Riley Securities, Inc.

Operator

Good day, and welcome to the Semler Scientific First Quarter 2022 Financial Results Conference Call. All participants will be in listen-only mode. [Operator Instructions] After today’s presentation, there will be an opportunity to ask questions. [Operator Instructions] Please note this event is being recorded.

Before we begin, Semler Scientific would like to remind you that this conference call may contain forward-looking statements. Such statements can be identified by words such as may, will, expect, anticipate, intend, estimate, or words with similar meanings, and such statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause Semler Scientific’s actual results to differ materially from those discussed here. These risks include continued uncertainty due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and more recently the Russian invasion of Ukraine, risks associated with Semler Scientific’s extension of QuantaFlo additional cardiovascular diseases and it's distribution of Insulin Insights as well as other risks associated with Semler Scientific’s business.

Please note that these forward-looking statements reflect Semler Scientific’s opinion only as of the date of this presentation and it undertakes no obligation to revise or publicly release the results of any revision to these forward-looking statements in light of new information or future events. Please refer to Semler Scientific’s SEC filings for a more detailed description of the risk factors that may affect Semler Scientific’s results and these forward-looking statements.

Now, I would like to introduce Doug Murphy-Chutorian, CEO of Semler Scientific.

Douglas Murphy-Chutorian

Good afternoon, everyone and thank you for joining us for our first quarter 2022 results call. I’d like to introduce you to Dennis Rosenberg, our Chief Marketing Officer, who will begin the call for us today. Dennis?

Dennis Rosenberg

Thanks, Doug. We're pleased to report that during the first quarter of 2022, the company's financial performance rebounded in the home testing market with higher volume of sequential revenues, which grew 67% compared to the fourth order of 2021. This was consistent with our expectations regarding the pattern of seasonality in this market and our thoughts about timing of orders by large insurance plans to our health risk assessment customers.

Comparing results for the quarter ended March 31, 2022 to the corresponding period of 2021, the highlights are as follows. Revenues were higher by 6% increasing to $14 million. Net income was lower by 31% decreasing to $3.4 million. Cash at the end of the quarter was $38.4 million increasing by $11.9 million. We believe that the relatively slower growth in the period-to-period quarterly comparison was due at least in part to the COVID 19 pandemic and more specifically the highly contagious Omicron variant, which peaked in most parts of the United States in 2022 to date.

Our staff and many of our customers and prospects experience the higher than normal rate of employee absence due to illness, which can have a slowing effect on our sales cycle.

That being said, there were two significant milestones that we achieved so far this year that I would like to outline for you. Previously, we've described to you how some customers took years to study QuantaFlo before deciding to use it. We have noted that we funnel all the testing data through our servers and provided back to our customers in a confidential manner who in turn kept the data privately within their own organizations. Therefore few knew how powerful and clinically important the data actually were.

Now a large customer has published the data underscoring, why they use QuantaFlo. We refer to this as the Nevada Paper, the big picture. The Nevada Paper quantifies risk of peripheral arterial disease, or PAD on death and other adverse outcomes. The Nevada Paper justifies screening asymptomatic patients in a Medicare advantage population using QuantaFlo, thus supporting why CMS pays extra so that these patients can be properly cared for. When the message permeates the medical community, we believe new customers might be attracted to use QuantaFlo.

The second accomplishment through our internal development efforts, QuantaFlo can now be used as an aid to identify patients who would benefit from further evaluation for another underlying cardiovascular disease. While we are not disclosing this specific disease yet, we believe this extension of QuantaFlo may make it even more valuable to assist the medical com unity in the future, including Medicare advantage providers. We intend to sell this extension to our existing customer base and others as an upgrade to our software as a service business model.

Other key points regarding this extension are, the unserved clinical problem may be as important as PAD. A peer reviewed publication of clinical data has been submitted and is under review. A medical aid performs the test in a primary care setting, similar to how one uses PAD for PAD and the technology is protected by trade secrets.

Now Andy Weinstein, our Senior Vice President of Finance and Accounting will describe our financial performance in more detail. Andy?

Andrew Weinstein

Thanks, Dennis. Please refer to financial results described in the press release that was distributed at market close today. For the quarter ended March 31, 2022, compared to the corresponding period of 2021, revenue was $14 million, an increase of $800,000 or 6% from $13.2 million. Operate expenses, which includes cost of revenue with $10.1 million an increase of $2.1 million or 41% from $7.2 million.

Net income was $3.4 million, a decrease of $1.5 million or 31% from $4.9 million. That income per share was $0.50 per basic share and $0.41 per diluted share, which compares to $0.73 per basic share and $0.60 per diluted share during the same period last year. For the quarter ended March 31, 2022, basic share count was $6,777,950 and the diluted share count was 8,116,456.

Analyzing the expense categories in earnings for the first quarter of 2022, as the percentage of quarterly revenue, our cost of revenue was 7% of quarterly revenue. Engineering and product development expense was 8% of quarterly revenue. Sales and marketing expense was 33%, general and administrative expenses were 24% of quarterly revenue and net income was 24% of quarterly revenue. As of March 31, 2022 Semler had cashed $38.4 million, which represents an increase of $11.9 million compared to $26.5 million at March 31, 2021.

Our stockholder's equity is $49.4 million as March 31,2022. On March 14 of this year, we announced the stock repurchase program of up to $20 million. We established this program because we are positive about the future for Semler. We expect to file our quarterly report on Form10-Q or around May 06, 2022 and this will include our cash flow statement and more discussion on our cash liquidity, as well as the purchases pursuant to our stock repurchase program.

In the first quarter of 2022, our two largest customers comprised 35.4% and 31.7% of revenues respectively. In the first quarter of 2022, compared to the correspondent period of 2021, our sixth fee software license revenues were approximately $7.9 million, an increase of $700,000 or 10%. Variable fee software license revenues were approximately $5.8 million and increased $200,000 or 3%. Equipment and other sales were $300,000 in both periods.

We believe a new pattern emerged during 2021 in the home testing market with higher volume of testing seen earlier in the year with the fee for test revenue. We believe this is due to a COVID 19 related timing change in the behavior of insurance plans when ordering QuantaFlo testing from our health risk assessment customers. However, this newly observed pattern may or may not continue in 2022 or in future years.

Semler is given and financial guidance for the first time in its history. Because this is the initial guidance, we have not decided yet how often or when to update or what will we will be -- what we'll listen to [ph] in the future. That being said, we believe the second quarter revenue will range from $14.2 million to $15.2 million and operating expenses, which includes cost and revenue will range from $10 million to $10.5 million. We believe the annual revenue in 2022 will range from $58 million to $60 million and operating expenses, which includes cost and revenue will range from $44 million to $46 million.

Now I will ask Dennis to continue the discussion and provide concluded remarks. Dennis?

Dennis Rosenberg

Our R&D and business development goals are to continue to upgrade the existing product and data services to commercialize other internally developed services and products and to in license or distribute new services and products, which we believe can provide enhanced value to our customers.

Also, we plan to share the Nevada Paper results with our established and prospective customers, details of which are as follows. In February, 2022, an independently conducted peer-reviewed study was reported that used QuantaFlo for prospectively screening for undetected and asymptomatic PAD in a Medicare advantage population with three-year follow-up.

In this study, 13,971 patients were tested and 31.6% were found to have PAD. In positive PAD patients versus negative patients, there was an increased risk of 60% to 70% for all caused mortality or morbidity at one year and a 40% to 50% increased risk of all caused mortality or morbidity at three years. The author included that a positive screening result of previously undetected, lower extremity PAD was independently associated with short-term and long term increased risks for mortality and major adverse cardiovascular events, MACE in individuals aged 65 years and older living in a large metropolitan area.

Furthermore, they added, a positive PAD screen with QuantaFlo flow has the potential for PAD risk management at the population level. Semler Scientific believes that this study supports the use of QuantaFlo and highlights the benefits that the product brings to our customers and the patients they care for. Thus, it may drive further adoption of QuantaFlo by existing and new customers.

Overall, we believe annual revenue will continue to grow in 2022 because of increased numbers of installations of our product, more usage of our product and recurring revenue from the licensing businesses. Also, we have signed up several smaller customers for Insulin Insights, the new product that we are distributing. Insulin Insights is a software program that a healthcare provider can use to optimize outpatient insulin dosing of diabetic patients.

If all goes well with the beta launch, we plan to market it to our established base of customers. We began invoicing for initial sales of product licensing to some of our customers in Q1 2022.

Our goals continue to be, to make new additions to our customer base, expand orders from existing customers, introduce additional products to our customers and further establish our QuantaFlo product as a standard of care in the industry. In 2022, Semler Scientific expects continued profitability and generation of cash from operating activities.

At the end of first quarter 2022, headcount was 122 employees compared to 124 employees at the end of fourth quarter 2021. Operating expenses are expected to increase from current levels due to wage inflation pressure in the employment market and our continuing desire to build infrastructure to support new business opportunities.

We believe that the market for vascular disease testing is larger than our current market penetration. So there is room for continued growth. We continue to invest in R&D with the goals of providing innovative products that enhance value to our customers now, and in the future.

The beginning of 2022 portends a record year for our company in terms of revenues and cash position. There were two significant milestones we achieved so far this year that I outlined for you earlier on this call. Number one, the Nevada Paper, which may further drive adoption of QuantaFlo by existing and new customers and two, the enhanced value proposition of QuantaFlo for our current customers for another cardiovascular disease. Accordingly, we are optimistic for our future.

Thank you for your interest in the company and your continuing support. Now operator, please open the lines. Doug, Andrew, and I will be happy to address your questions.

Question-and-Answer Session

Operator

[Operator instructions] Our first question comes from Brooks O’Neil with Lake Street Capital Markets. Please go ahead.

Brooks O’Neil

Hi guys. Thanks a lot for taking my questions. I have to confess upfront that I was distracted a little bit during some of the prepared remarks. So if I ask something that you've already spoken about, Doug and Dennis, I apologize.

I'm curious obviously the big thing that happened or one of the big things that happened last year seemed to be the accelerated order pattern relative to your fee for test business and I see that growth did occur in Q1 this year, but the growth rate is more modest. And I'm curious how you would characterize what you see in your markets and from your customers as it relates to the possibility that accelerated order patterns were maintained this year or are going back towards more normal patterns now that COVID seems to be in retreat.

Dennis Rosenberg

I think the seasonality that we saw last year is so far expected or is what we've seen in the first quarter, whether it continues for the year, we have to see about that. As far as the general HRA market, there's movement in market share between companies. So it's sometimes hard to keep track of exactly which way the market is going, but we're seeing growth with all of our customers and we are seeing new customers come on board.

So that is a continuing trend on both the HRA variable fee side and the fixed license side. We're seeing growth in both arenas. So I think that's what we're expecting to see for the year. I think the rates, you heard our guidance so that's what we're looking for.

Brooks O’Neil

Okay, Dennis, that's very helpful. So would you characterize obviously the very significant percentage of revenue from your two largest customers, then I assume your fee per test customers also quite significant for you. Would you help us to get a sense for your estimate of the penetration you've achieved in the core PAD testing market, and whether you still see significant long-term upside for Semler in your core business?

Dennis Rosenberg

We do indeed see additional penetration opportunities. We think the publication of the Nevada Paper will be impactful in the market in terms of bringing even more people along. We think that the penetration level in terms of the number of people who should be tested according to guidelines, clinical guidelines that have been published by the American Heart and others is still low. Our penetration has a lot of opportunity for the future. The question is the timing of the adoption of our large customers and that's something we'll just have to wait and see.

Brooks O’Neil

Sure. That makes total sense to me, Dennis. Let me just ask one other question, obviously expense levels not so much the margin on your business, but maybe the operating expense spending to prepare for growth in the business appears to me to be elevated this year. And would you -- would you guess that underlying economics of business will require you to continue elevated spending to grow the business? Or do you think at some point you can leverage your fixed infrastructure and return to some of the, kind of the basic margin metrics that you achieved historically?

Andrew Weinstein

I'll take that. This is Andy. I do think there will be some more, hi, how are you? I do think there will be some more spending, but, our headcount has gone up and we are preparing for a very bright future. And that's why we're keeping the headcount up. So you're right. I do think there's a point it may flatten out, but we're looking to be prepared for all the good things are happening in the company, and we want to make sure that we have the infrastructure in place.

So those increased expenses you see are mostly related to headcount, not only in wages and bonus payroll tax and employee benefits. And then there was also one of the reasons of elevated expenses was in the first quarter of last year, there were payroll tax credits of the Cares Act that we were able to take advantage of which we obviously weren't able to take advantage of in Q1 of 2022.

Brooks O’Neil

Okay. That's helpful. And then let me just ask you I guess one other question, historically I think one of the things that has always appealed to me about Semler, and one of the things that I think appealed to investors beyond me -- about Semler has been the unique dynamic of largely going direct payers and leveraging making a simpler, if you will. I know it's not simple to deal with some of these large payers, but a more direct sale, I guess I would call it that doesn't require you to try to convince individual doctors or doctor groups to use your product.

As you evaluate both this most, the newest product you were talking about ramping today, and other products you're making an effort to develop, do you still see that direct channel as viable and attractive and available to you as you grow the company over the next year or two or three,

Dennis Rosenberg

We do. We see that market as being very viable. It's one of the match points that we wanted to make sure any products we bring in are part of as well, and we also see an expansion in that kind of leveraged approach to the market as we expand from not only the large payers, but also to delegated medical groups and on to other types of organizations that are making a mark will be making a future mark in primary care up to including the large retail players and others. So, we think it's viable this leveraged approach to the market, and we think it has the opportunity to continue to grow.

Brooks O’Neil

Great. Perfect. Thank you very much. And I'll drive in the queue.

Dennis Rosenberg

Thank you, Brooks. Thank you.

Operator

The next question comes from Marc Wiesenberger with B. Riley Securities, Inc. Please go ahead.

Marc Wiesenberger

Thanks. Good afternoon. Appreciate you taking my questions. If you could talk about the data from the Nevada Paper and specifically how that has maybe helped evolve some of your conversations with existing or new customers and kind of any specifics there would be helpful.

Dennis Rosenberg

Sure. Well, the publication of the data is still fairly new, just a month or two. So it'll take time for this to disseminate out into the marketplace, but that's going to be a focus of our sales and marketing activities through this year and on into future years. This is a large and important study independently conducted that really underscores quite dramatically the benefits of PAD testing with QuantaFlo.

So we think it's going to have an impact in the market. It's still early as they say, it's only a month or two too old, but it certainly will be part of all the conversations we are having with customers and prospects going forward.

Marc Wiesenberger

Okay, fair enough. Based on the guide, it actually looks like the second half of the year is going to be stronger than the first half, which seems a little different than obviously the recent comment we've heard previously about seasonality. So wondering if you could unpack that a little bit, and then you talked about some billing for Insulin Insights. I'm wondering should, how much of that is baked into the full year guide?

Douglas Murphy-Chutorian

So maybe Andy, you can cover the guidance question specific, but in terms of Insulin Insights, we would anticipate not a material amount of revenue from this year, although that could pick up. We just have to see the progress of the beta launch and the adoption by customers and these things. So, we're just going to have to see as the year progresses. It's, why we have a range in there in terms of the guidance and then Andy, you may want to cover what Marc was asking as far as the specifics of the year.

Andrew Weinstein

Yeah. We do see it, we do see increases. We think that both fee for test on license fee revenue will continue to increase during the year. So it is baked that there will continue to be increases. We don't see anything slowing down and we could see quarters, the future quarters being better than the first quarter, or as good as the first quarter. And I think on both sides of the business, things are going to increase. Also, I do agree with Dennis that there is not a lot baked in for the new products. Hopefully we will, but that is again why we have the range.

Marc Wiesenberger

Okay. And it looks like this might be the best or pretty close to the best gross margin for the company. If you could talk about those dynamics and how sustainable is this level moving throughout the year?

Andrew Weinstein

We don't anticipate pressure in terms of that for the year. We'll have to see how things, but we feel as though that's a pretty solid number.

Marc Wiesenberger

Okay. When we're thinking about the new application for QuantaFlo, how should we think about the target patient population relative to that for QuantaFlo being used for PAD?

Douglas Murphy-Chutorian

Well, as we said in the text, this may be as important or more important a market ultimately. Obviously this will be a lot easier to discuss in detail once we're talking more specifically about the application for this, which should be an upcoming quarters, but we do believe, this is a significant market and can definitely play a role in expanding the value proposition for QuantaFlo. So we're enthusiastic about what the future holds for this. It should be a major market as long as things pan out as we expect.

Marc Wiesenberger

Okay. Looking at the share count from the 10-K that was filed at the end of February, and then the count that was in the release today, it actually doesn't look like you bought back any shares since the buyback was announced. Just want to confirm that and then maybe understand how you view deploying the capital for that purpose?

Dennis Rosenberg

And do you want to take that or Doug.

Andrew Weinstein

Yeah, you are correct that there was not -- there was not significant repurchases that will be addressed in the Form 10 Q when we filed that a little bit later this week, but your assumption is accurate.

Marc Wiesenberger

Okay. And just, maybe just talk about the thought process on how you're going to look to deploy that considering you said that you kind of thought shares were depressed and it's a pretty bright outlook. It would seem like maybe it's an opportune time to deploy that.

Douglas Murphy-Chutorian

We haven't made any decisions about that yet. But we try to make the shareholders decisions in the shareholders’ interest.

Marc Wiesenberger

Understood. Okay. Thank you very much. Appreciate it.

Operator

This concludes our question-and-answer session. I would like to turn the conference back over to Dennis Rosenberg for any closing remarks.

Dennis Rosenberg

Thank you for joining us and we look forward to updating you soon on our continued progress.

Operator

The conference has now concluded. Thank you for attending today's presentation. You may now disconnect.