TAMPA, FL / ACCESSWIRE / July 9, 2024 / Upexi, Inc. (NASDAQ:UPXI) (the "Company" or "Upexi"), a multi-faceted Amazon and Direct-to-Consumer ("DTC") brand owner and innovator in aggregation, today reported its financial results for the fiscal third quarter 2024 ending March 31, 2024.
Allan Marshall, CEO of Upexi, commented, "Our year-over-year quarterly financial results include management's decision to discontinue sales of certain products. Subsequent to the quarter, we made continued progress on our restructuring, which is estimated to provide us with sufficient working capital to fund our operations while reducing our debt to a minimal level. We anticipate the restructuring efforts to result in a leaner more scalable business with an improved balance sheet. Current market conditions and the lack of a healthy lending market has made these difficult decisions necessary. The alternative of a highly dilutive equity raise was a non-starter for management and hard decisions were made to give shareholders the best opportunity for future success. This reset will allow management to focus on opportunities for profitable growth without the debt issue hampering success. We will provide our shareholders with an updated outlook on our operations and detailed financial goals as we complete the final stages as quickly as possible."
Financial Results for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2024:
Revenues decreased 34% to $14.4 million compared to $21.9 million in the same period the prior year. The revenue decline was primarily the result of lower recommerce revenue through both Amazon channels and wholesale. Management also decided to discontinue sales of electronic products in its Amazon channels after analyzing the high rate of returned products, lower margins after thirty to sixty days and the low liquidation value of Amazon returns. Branded Product sales increased slightly with increases in pet care products, children's toy products and other branded products that are not heavily reliant on the Amazon sales channel. Management is in the process of restructuring the Company to have more consistent sales from both product sales revenue and adding service revenue.
Cost of revenue decreased 19% to $11.6 million compared with cost of revenue of $14.3 million in the same period last year. The cost of revenue decline was primarily related to the lower recommerce revenue. Gross profit decreased by approximately $1.7 million compared to the same period the prior year due to significant write-offs of inventory that were obsolete or unsellable. These products that were written off were primarily related to the recommerce business with many of them being Amazon returns or bulk products that could no longer be sold.
Sales and marketing expenses decreased 32% compared with the same period in the prior year. The decrease in sales and marketing expenses was primarily related to management's efforts to refine sales strategies to focus on long-term recurring sales growth through subscription revenue and sales channel expansion. Management will continue to manage the sales and marketing expenses on branded product sales and expects the overall sales and marketing revenue to decrease and improve profitability.
General and administrative expenses decreased 8% compared with the same period in the prior year. With the consolidation of facilities and ongoing adjustments for the sale of VitaMedica, Infusionz and Interactive Offers, management has managed the general and administrative costs and will continue to implement strategies to decrease the percentage of general and administrative costs when compared to total sales.
Other operating expenses decreased 37% compared with the same period in the prior year. These expenses are primarily non-cash expenses and have decreased based on the decreased amortization of stock compensation and offset by increases in depreciation.
During the three months ended March 31, 2024, the Company had other expense of $661,878 compared to expense of $152,360 during the same period in the prior year. The increase is primarily related to the interest on debt. Management is working to eliminate this high interest debt as it restructures the Company.
The Company had a net loss of $4.1 million compared with a loss of $1.7 million in the same period in the prior year. The increase in net income loss is related to the decrease in sales, the non-cash write off of $1.7 million in inventory and the costs associated with the distribution network until it was consolidated in June of 2024. Management expects additional administrative expenses related to the consolidation of the distribution network through June of 2024 and will then be able to recognize the improvements in fiscal year 2025.
Subsequent Events:
Subsequent to March 31, 2024, the Company entered into a new lease agreement reducing annualized operating expenses, an agreement to sell its warehouse for approximately $1.4 million after repayment of the mortgage and transaction expenses, and sale of a wholly owned subsidiary. While as of March 31, 2024, the Company had cash of $498,287, based on the progress the Company has made on its restructuring, it is estimated that the Company will have sufficient working capital to fund its operations over the twelve months following the date of the issuance of these condensed consolidated financial statements and meet all debt obligations.
About Upexi, Inc.:
Upexi is a multi-faceted brand owner with established brands in the health, wellness, pet, beauty, and other growing markets. We operate in emerging industries with high growth trends and look to drive organic growth of our current brands. We focus on direct to consumer and Amazon brands that are scalable and have anticipated, high industry growth trends. Our goal is to continue to accumulate consumer data and build out a significant customer database across all industries we sell into. The growth of our current database has been key to the year-over-year gains in sales and profits. To drive additional growth, we have and will continue to acquire profitable Amazon and eCommerce businesses that can scale quickly and reduce costs through corporate synergies.
FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS:
This news release contains "forward-looking statements" as that term is defined in Section 27A of the United States Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Statements in this press release which are not purely historical are forward-looking statements and include any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations, or intentions regarding the future. Actual results could differ from those projected in any forward-looking statements due to numerous factors. Such factors include, among others, the inherent uncertainties associated with business strategy, potential acquisitions, revenue guidance, product development, integration, and synergies of acquiring companies and personnel. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release, and we assume no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those projected in the forward- looking statements. Although we believe that the beliefs, plans, expectations, and intentions contained in this press release are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions will prove to be accurate. Investors should consult all the information set forth herein and should also refer to the risk factors disclosure outlined in our annual report on Form 10-K and other periodic reports filed from time-to-time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
