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 BrandsFitLife 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 StatementsStatements 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: