UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549


FORM 10-Q

QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2006

Commission File Number 000-25779

 

THESTREET.COM, INC.


(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Delaware

 

 

06-1515824

 

 


 

 


 

 

(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)

 

 

(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)

 


 

14 Wall Street

New York, New York 10005


(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

 

(212) 321-5000


(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

          Indicate by a check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes x No o

          Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of ‘accelerated filer and large accelerated filer’ in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

 

 

 

 

Large accelerated filer o

Accelerated filer x

Non-accelerated filer o


 

          Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes o No x


          Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock as of the latest practicable date.

 

 

 

 

 

(Number of Shares Outstanding

(Title of Class)

 

as of August 4, 2006)


 


Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share

 

27,330,302



TheStreet.com, Inc.
Form 10-Q

For the Three Months Ended June 30, 2006

 

 

 

 

Part I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

1

Item 1.

 

Interim Consolidated Financial Statements

1

 

 

Consolidated Balance Sheets

1

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Operations

2

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

3

 

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

4

Item 2.

 

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

9

Item 3.

 

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

21

Item 4.

 

Controls and Procedures

21

 

PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

23

Item 1.

 

Legal Proceedings

23

Item 1A.

 

Risk Factors

24

Item 2.

 

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

24

Item 3.

 

Defaults Upon Senior Securities

25

Item 4.

 

Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

25

Item 5.

 

Other Information

25

Item 6.

 

Exhibits

26

SIGNATURES

27

ii


Part I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Interim Consolidated Financial Statements.

THESTREET.COM, INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

June 30, 2006

 

December 31, 2005

 

 

 


 


 

 

 

(unaudited)

 

(Note 1)

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

44,753,313

 

$

32,414,539

 

Restricted cash

 

 

600,000

 

 

300,000

 

Short-term investments

 

 

 

 

500,000

 

Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $159,093 as of June 30, 2006 and $131,840 as of December 31, 2005

 

 

3,449,265

 

 

3,195,178

 

Other receivables

 

 

55,380

 

 

185,856

 

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

 

1,485,821

 

 

1,101,570

 

Current assets of discontinued operations

 

 

3,200

 

 

3,200

 

 

 



 



 

Total current assets

 

 

50,346,979

 

 

37,700,343

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization of $13,880,596 as of June 30, 2006 and $13,494,175 as of December 31, 2005

 

 

2,151,994

 

 

1,987,207

 

Other assets

 

 

144,456

 

 

133,623

 

Goodwill

 

 

1,990,312

 

 

1,990,312

 

Other intangibles, net

 

 

493,333

 

 

493,333

 

Restricted cash

 

 

500,000

 

 

800,000

 

 

 



 



 

Total assets

 

$

55,627,074

 

$

43,104,818

 

 

 



 



 

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable

 

$

1,184,332

 

$

1,135,318

 

Accrued expenses

 

 

4,468,612

 

 

4,142,233

 

Deferred revenue

 

 

13,199,796

 

 

9,928,254

 

Current portion of note payable

 

 

74,434

 

 

102,931

 

Other current liabilities

 

 

49,917

 

 

52,775

 

Current liabilities of discontinued operations

 

 

248,496

 

 

279,930

 

 

 



 



 

Total current liabilities

 

 

19,225,587

 

 

15,641,441

 

Note payable

 

 

 

 

22,146

 

 

 



 



 

Total liabilities

 

 

19,225,587

 

 

15,663,587

 

 

 



 



 

Stockholders’ Equity:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Preferred stock; $0.01 par value; 10,000,000 shares authorized; none issued and outstanding

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock; $0.01 par value; 100,000,000 shares authorized; 32,970,302 shares issued and 27,218,302 shares outstanding as of June 30, 2006, and 31,220,123 shares issued and 25,535,105 shares outstanding as of December 31, 2005

 

 

329,703

 

 

312,201

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

 

192,837,300

 

 

189,167,895

 

Treasury stock at cost; 5,752,000 shares as of June 30, 2006 and 5,685,018 shares as of December 31, 2005

 

 

(9,033,471

)

 

(8,502,310

)

Accumulated deficit

 

 

(147,732,045

)

 

(153,536,555

)

 

 



 



 

Total stockholders’ equity

 

 

36,401,487

 

 

27,441,231

 

 

 



 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

 

$

55,627,074

 

$

43,104,818

 

 

 



 



 

The accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements are an integral part of these financial statements

1


THESTREET.COM, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the Three Months Ended
June 30,

 

For the Six Months Ended
June 30,

 

 

 


 


 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

2006

 

2005

 

 

 


 


 


 


 

 

 

(unaudited)

 

(unaudited)

 

Net revenue:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Subscription

 

$

8,406,870

 

$

5,340,410

 

$

16,034,909

 

$

10,767,690

 

Advertising

 

 

3,707,461

 

 

2,101,015

 

 

6,950,210

 

 

4,207,289

 

Other

 

 

281,886

 

 

309,371

 

 

558,203

 

 

581,003

 

 

 



 



 



 



 

Total net revenue

 

 

12,396,217

 

 

7,750,796

 

 

23,543,322

 

 

15,555,982

 

 

 



 



 



 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating expense:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of services

 

 

4,531,717

 

 

2,817,405

 

 

8,678,629

 

 

5,718,089

 

Sales and marketing

 

 

2,323,577

 

 

1,798,311

 

 

4,470,492

 

 

3,786,662

 

General and administrative

 

 

2,566,544

 

 

1,515,501

 

 

4,938,394

 

 

3,462,344

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

216,891

 

 

147,287

 

 

403,879

 

 

289,648

 

 

 



 



 



 



 

Total operating expense

 

 

9,638,729

 

 

6,278,504

 

 

18,491,394

 

 

13,256,743

 

 

 



 



 



 



 

Operating income

 

 

2,757,488

 

 

1,472,292

 

 

5,051,928

 

 

2,299,239

 

Net interest income

 

 

518,663

 

 

180,079

 

 

858,719

 

 

334,205

 

 

 



 



 



 



 

Income from continuing operations before income taxes

 

 

3,276,151

 

 

1,652,371

 

 

5,910,647

 

 

2,633,444

 

Provision for income taxes

 

 

65,862

 

 

 

 

118,460

 

 

 

 

 



 



 



 



 

Income from continuing operations

 

 

3,210,289

 

 

1,652,371

 

 

5,792,187

 

 

2,633,444

 

 

 



 



 



 



 

Discontinued operations:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loss from discontinued operations

 

 

 

 

(1,539,232

)

 

 

 

(3,374,783

)

Income (loss) on disposal of discontinued operations

 

 

17,840

 

 

(2,383,352

)

 

12,323

 

 

(2,383,352

)

 

 



 



 



 



 

Income (loss) from discontinued operations

 

 

17,840

 

 

(3,922,584

)

 

12,323

 

 

(5,758,135

)

 

 



 



 



 



 

Net income (loss)

 

$

3,228,129

 

$

(2,270,213

)

$

5,804,510

 

$

(3,124,691

)

 

 



 



 



 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic net income (loss) per share

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations

 

$

0.12

 

$

0.07

 

$

0.22

 

$

0.11

 

 

 



 



 



 



 

Loss from discontinued operations

 

 

 

 

(0.06

)

 

 

 

(0.14

)

Income (loss) on disposal of discontinued operations

 

 

0.00

 

 

(0.10

)

 

0.00

 

 

(0.10

)

 

 



 



 



 



 

Income (loss) from discontinued operations

 

 

0.00

 

 

(0.16

)

 

0.00

 

 

(0.24

)

 

 



 



 



 



 

Net income (loss)

 

$

0.12

 

$

(0.09

)

$

0.22

 

$

(0.13

)

 

 



 



 



 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted net income (loss) per share

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations

 

$

0.12

 

$

0.06

 

$

0.21

 

$

0.10

 

 

 



 



 



 



 

Loss from discontinued operations

 

 

 

 

(0.06

)

 

 

 

(0.13

)

Income (loss) on disposal of discontinued operations

 

 

0.00

 

 

(0.09

)

 

0.00

 

 

(0.09

)

 

 



 



 



 



 

Income (loss) from discontinued operations

 

 

0.00

 

 

(0.15

)

 

0.00

 

 

(0.22

)

 

 



 



 



 



 

Net income (loss)

 

$

0.12

 

$

(0.09

)

$

0.21

 

$

(0.12

)

 

 



 



 



 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average basic shares outstanding

 

 

27,010,258

 

 

24,745,565

 

 

26,537,726

 

 

24,730,059

 

 

 



 



 



 



 

Weighted average diluted shares outstanding

 

 

27,807,459

 

 

25,902,515

 

 

27,068,719

 

 

26,164,136

 

 

 



 



 



 



 

The accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements are an integral part of these financial statements

2


THESTREET.COM, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the Six Months Ended June 30,

 

 

 


 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

 

 


 


 

 

 

(unaudited)

 

Cash Flows from Operating Activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

 

$

5,804,510

 

$

(3,124,691

)

(Income) loss from discontinued operations

 

 

(12,323

)

 

5,758,135

 

 

 



 



 

Income from continuing operations

 

 

5,792,187

 

 

2,633,444

 

Adjustments to reconcile income from continuing operations to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-cash compensation expense

 

 

821,316

 

 

 

Provision for doubtful accounts

 

 

27,500

 

 

20,000

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

403,879

 

 

289,648

 

Deferred rent

 

 

46,835

 

 

30,842

 

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts receivable

 

 

(281,587

)

 

(669,341

)

Other receivables

 

 

130,476

 

 

(106,580

)

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

 

(384,251

)

 

(436,140

)

Other assets

 

 

1,000

 

 

(100

)

Accounts payable

 

 

49,014

 

 

307,568

 

Accrued expenses

 

 

326,379

 

 

(1,735,617

)

Deferred revenue

 

 

3,271,542

 

 

1,823,640

 

Other current liabilities

 

 

(288

)

 

(56,532

)

 

 



 



 

Net cash provided by continuing operations

 

 

10,204,002

 

 

2,100,832

 

Net cash used in discontinued operations

 

 

(19,111

)

 

(4,439,898

)

 

 



 



 

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

 

 

10,184,891

 

 

(2,339,066

)

 

 



 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash Flows from Investing Activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sale of short-term investments

 

 

500,000

 

 

 

Capital expenditures

 

 

(629,904

)

 

(240,104

)

 

 



 



 

Net cash used in investing activities

 

 

(129,904

)

 

(240,104

)

 

 



 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash Flows from Financing Activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proceeds from the exercise of stock options

 

 

4,216,978

 

 

99,729

 

Dividends paid

 

 

(1,351,387

)

 

 

Repayment of note payable

 

 

(50,643

)

 

(47,327

)

Purchase of treasury stock

 

 

(531,161

)

 

 

 

 



 



 

Net cash provided by financing activities

 

 

2,283,787

 

 

52,402

 

 

 



 



 

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

 

 

12,338,774

 

 

(2,526,768

)

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

 

 

32,414,539

 

 

29,779,235

 

 

 



 



 

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

 

$

44,753,313

 

$

27,252,467

 

 

 



 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash payments made for interest

 

$

12,946

 

$

14,055

 

 

 



 



 

The accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements are an integral part of these financial statements

3


TheStreet.com, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

1. DESCRIPTION OF THE BUSINESS AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION

Business

          TheStreet.com, Inc., together with its wholly-owned subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”), is a leading multimedia creator of business and investment content, which it makes available through online publications, content syndication and audio and video programming. The Company receives revenue from subscription sales, advertising and sponsorship sales, as well as syndication and radio programming.

Basis of Presentation

          The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements of the Company have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial information and with the instructions to Exchange Act Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and notes required by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. Operating results for the three-month and six-month periods ended June 30, 2006 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2006.

          The consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2005 has been derived from the audited financial statements at that date but does not include all of the information and notes required by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements.

          In June 2005, the Company committed to a plan to discontinue the operations of its wholly owned subsidiary, Independent Research Group LLC, which operated the Company’s securities research and brokerage segment. Accordingly, the operating results relating to this segment have been segregated from continuing operations and reported as a separate line item on the consolidated statements of operations and cash flows. See Note 6 to these Consolidated Financial Statements.

          For further information, refer to the financial statements and accompanying notes included in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on March 16, 2006.

2. STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

          As of October 1, 2005, the Company elected early adoption of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 123(R), “Share Based Payment: An Amendment of FASB Statements 123 and 95.” This statement requires that the cost resulting from all share-based payment transactions be recognized in the financial statements based upon estimated fair values. SFAS No. 123(R) supersedes the Company’s previous accounting under Accounting Principles Board No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees” (“APB 25”). In March 2005, the Securities and Exchange Commission issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 107 (“SAB 107”) relating to SFAS No. 123(R). The Company has applied the provisions of SAB 107 in its adoption of SFAS No. 123(R).

          The Company adopted SFAS No. 123(R) using the modified prospective transition method. The accompanying consolidated statements of operations for the three-month and six-month periods ended June 30, 2006 reflect the impact of SFAS No. 123(R). In accordance with the modified prospective transition method, prior periods have not been restated to reflect, and do not include, the impact of SFAS No. 123(R). Stock-based compensation expense recognized under SFAS No. 123(R) for the three-month and six-month periods ended June

4


30, 2006 was $472,351 and $821,316, respectively. As of June 30, 2006, there was approximately $2.7 million of unrecognized stock-based compensation expense remaining to be recognized over a weighted-average period of three years.

          SFAS No. 123(R) requires companies to estimate the fair value of share-based payment awards on the date of grant. The value of stock options granted to employees and directors is estimated using an option-pricing model. The value of each restricted stock unit, which the Company issued for the first time during the three month period ended March 31, 2006, is equal to the closing price per share of the Company’s common stock on the trading day immediately prior to the date of grant. The value of the portion of the award that is ultimately expected to vest is recognized as expense over the requisite service periods. Prior to the adoption of SFAS No. 123(R), the Company accounted for stock-based awards to employees and directors using the intrinsic value method in accordance with APB 25 as allowed under Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation.” Under the intrinsic value method, no stock-based compensation expense had been recognized, as the exercise price of the Company’s stock options granted to employees and directors equaled the fair market value of the underlying stock at the date of grant.

          Stock-based compensation expense recognized in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three-month and six-month periods ended June 30, 2006 includes compensation expense for all share-based payment awards granted prior to, but not yet vested as of January 1, 2006, based upon the grant date fair value estimated in accordance with the pro forma provision of SFAS No. 123, and compensation expense for the share-based payment awards granted subsequent to January 1, 2006, based upon the grant date fair value estimated in accordance with the provisions of SFAS No. 123(R). The Company recognizes compensation expense for stock option awards on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period of the award. As stock-based compensation expense recognized in the three-month and six-month periods ended June 30, 2006 is based upon awards ultimately expected to vest, it has been reduced for estimated forfeitures. SFAS No. 123(R) requires forfeitures to be estimated at the time of grant and revised, if necessary, in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ from those estimates.

          On November 10, 2005, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued FASB Staff Position No. FAS 123(R)-3 “Transition Election Related to Accounting for Tax Effects of Share-Based Payment Awards.” The Company has elected to adopt the alternative transition method provided in the FASB Staff Position for calculating the tax effects of stock-based compensation pursuant to SFAS No. 123(R). The alternative transition method includes simplified methods to establish the beginning balance of the additional paid-in capital pool (“APIC pool”) related to the tax effects of employee stock-based compensation, and to determine the subsequent impact on the APIC pool and cash flows of the tax effects of employee stock-based compensation awards that are outstanding upon adoption of SFAS 123(R).

          Had compensation for the Company’s outstanding stock options granted to employees and directors been determined consistent with the provisions of SFAS No. 123, the effect on the Company’s net loss and basic and diluted net loss per share for the three-month and six-month periods ended June 30, 2005 would have been as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the Three
Months Ended
June 30, 2005

 

For the Six
Months Ended
June 30, 2005

 

 

 


 


 

Net loss, as reported

 

$

(2,270,213

)

$

(3,124,691

)

Add: non-cash compensation, proforma

 

 

(439,731

)

 

(888,405

)

 

 



 



 

Net loss, proforma

 

$

(2,709,944

)

$

(4,013,096

)

 

 



 



 

Basic net loss per share, as reported

 

$

(0.09

)

$

(0.13

)

 

 



 



 

Diluted net loss per share, as reported

 

$

(0.09

)

$

(0.12

)

 

 



 



 

Basic net loss per share, pro forma

 

$

(0.11

)

$

(0.16

)

 

 



 



 

Diluted net loss per share, pro forma

 

$

(0.10

)

$

(0.15

)

 

 



 



 

5


          A summary of the activity of the Stock Option Plan is as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     

 

 

Options

 

Weighted
Average
Exercise Price

 

Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value ($000)

 

 

 


 


 


 

Options outstanding January 1, 2006

 

 

3,969,149

 

$

2.925

 

$
39,275

 

Granted

 

 

351,500

 

 

5.034

 

 
2,736

 

Exercised

 

 

(1,216,650

)

 

2.549

 

 
12,496

 

Cancelled

 

 

(102,344

)

 

4.085

 

 
894

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

Options outstanding March 31, 2006

 

 

3,001,655

 

 

3.285

 

 
28,621

 

Granted

 

 

157,500

 

 

9.537

 

 
517

 

Exercised

 

 

(533,529

)

 

2.091

 

 
5,725

 

Cancelled

 

 

(1,001

)

 

4.057

 

 
9

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

Options outstanding June 30, 2006

 

 

2,624,625

 

 

3.903

 

 
23,404

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

Exercisable at June 30, 2006    
1,469,969
2.935
14,531
 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

A summary of the status of the Company's unvested options as of June 30, 2006, and changes in the six-month period then ended, is as follows:

Unvested Options
Options
   
Weighted Average
Grant Date Fair
Value
 


   
 
Unvested at January 1, 2006  
1,424,176
   
$
2.02
 
Granted  
509,000
   
4.23
 
Vested  
(675,176
)  
2.01
Cancelled  
(103,344
)  
2.01
   

   
 
Unvested at June 30, 2006  
1,154,656
   
3.00
 
   
 
   
 

 

3. STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Treasury Stock

          In December 2000 the Company’s Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to $10 million worth of the Company’s common stock, from time to time, in private purchases or in the open market. In February 2004, the Company’s Board of Directors approved the resumption of the stock repurchase program under new price and volume parameters, leaving unchanged the maximum amount available for repurchase under the program. During the six-month period ended June 30, 2006, the Company did not purchase any shares of common stock under the program. Since inception of the program, the Company has purchased a total of 5,453,416 shares of common stock at an aggregate cost of $7,321,122. In addition, pursuant to the terms of the Company’s Amended and Restated 1998 Stock Incentive Plan and certain additional stock option exercise procedures adopted by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors, in connection with the exercise of stock options by certain of the Company’s executive officers in November 2005 and February 2006, the Company withheld 231,602 and 66,982 shares, respectively, issuable upon the exercise of stock options, in lieu of payment of the exercise price and the minimum amount of applicable withholding taxes then due. These shares have been recorded as treasury stock.

Stock Options

          Under the terms of the Company’s 1998 Stock Incentive Plan (the “Stock Option Plan”), 8,900,000 shares of common stock of the Company had been reserved for incentive stock options, nonqualified stock options (incentive and nonqualified stock options are collectively referred to as “Options”), restricted stock, or any combination thereof. Awards (which can include awards of deferred stock (also referred to as restricted stock units, or RSU’s) as well as restricted stock and Options) may be granted to such directors, employees and consultants of the Company as the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors shall in its discretion select. Only employees of the Company are eligible to receive grants of incentive stock options. Options generally vest over a three year period and have terms of 5 years. In connection with awards under the Stock Option Plan, the Company recorded $472,351 and $821,316 of non-cash compensation for the three-month and six-month periods ended June 30, 2006.

          For the three-month and six-month periods ended June 30, 2006, 157,500 and 379,500 options, respectively, and zero and 129,500 restricted stock units, respectively, were granted to employees of the Company. Additionally, for the three-month and six-month periods ended June 30, 2006, 533,529 and 1,750,179 stock options, respectively, were exercised yielding approximately $1.1 million and $4.2 million, respectively, to the Company.

6


Common Stock Dividends

          On June 30, 2006, the Company paid a quarterly cash dividend of $0.025 per share on its common stock, to shareholders of record at the close of business on June 15, 2006. This dividend totaled approximately $0.7 million. On March 31, 2006, the Company paid a quarterly cash dividend of $0.025 per share on its common stock, to shareholders of record at the close of business on March 10, 2006. This dividend totaled approximately $0.7 million and was the first dividend ever paid by the Company.

4. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

          On December 5, 2001, a class action lawsuit alleging violations of the federal securities laws was filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York naming as defendants TheStreet.com, Inc., certain of its former officers and directors and James J. Cramer, a current director, and certain underwriters of the Company’s initial public offering (The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., Chase H&Q, Thomas Weisel Partners LLC, FleetBoston Robertson Stephens, and Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner & Smith, Inc.). Plaintiffs allege that the underwriters of TheStreet.com, Inc.’s initial public offering violated the securities laws by failing to disclose certain alleged compensation arrangements (such as undisclosed commissions or stock stabilization practices) in the offering’s registration statement. The plaintiffs seek damages and statutory compensation against each defendant in an amount to be determined at trial, plus pre-judgment interest thereon, together with costs and expenses, including attorneys’ fees. Similar suits were filed against over 300 other issuers that had initial public offerings between 1998 and December 2001, and they have all been consolidated into a single action. Pursuant to a Court Order dated October 9, 2002, each of the individual defendants to the action, including Mr. Cramer, has been dismissed without prejudice. On June 8, 2004, the Company and its individual defendants (together with the Company’s insurance carriers) entered into a settlement with the plaintiffs. The settlement is subject to approval by the court overseeing the litigation.

          Although the lawsuit against the Company is an independent cause of action vis-a-vis the lawsuits pending against other issuers in the consolidated proceeding, and no issuer is liable for any wrongdoing allegedly committed by any other issuer, the proposed settlement between the plaintiffs and the issuers is being done on a collective basis. Generally, under the terms of the settlement, in exchange for the delivery by the insurers of the Company and the other defendants of an undertaking guaranteeing that the plaintiffs will recover, in the aggregate, $1 billion from the underwriters, and the assignment to the plaintiffs by the issuers of their interests in claims against the underwriters for excess compensation in connection with their IPOs, the plaintiffs will release the non-bankrupt issuers from all claims against them (the bankrupt issuers will receive a covenant not to sue) and their individual defendants. The costs and expenses of the settlement are expected to be borne by the Company’s insurers.

          Pursuant to an Opinion and Order dated February 15, 2005, the settlement was preliminarily approved by the court, subject to certain minor modifications. Such modifications have been made and were approved by the Court pursuant to an Order dated August 31, 2005. Notice of the settlement was distributed to all settlement class members beginning on November 15, 2005. The settlement fairness hearing was held on April 24, 2006. A decision from the court on whether the settlement is fair to the class members is expected in the near future. In the event the settlement does not receive final approval and the Company remains a defendant or any of its former individual defendants is again named as a defendant in the lawsuit, any unfavorable outcome of this litigation could have an adverse impact on the Company’s business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

5. NET INCOME (LOSS) PER SHARE OF COMMON STOCK

          The Company presents both basic and diluted income or loss per share from continuing operations and discontinued operations and from loss on disposal of discontinued operations in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. The Company computes net income or loss per share in accordance with SFAS No. 128, “Earnings Per Share.” Under the provisions of SFAS No. 128, basic net income or loss per common share (“Basic EPS”) is computed by dividing net income or loss by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding.

7


Diluted net income or loss per common share (“Diluted EPS”) is computed by dividing net income or loss by the weighted average number of common shares and dilutive common share equivalents then outstanding. The total common stock equivalents included in the calculation of dilutive earnings per share amounted to 797,201 and 530,993 for the three- and six-month periods ended June 30, 2006, respectively. The total number of shares that were excluded from the diluted earnings per share calculation was 75,000 in each of the three- and six-month periods ended June 30, 2006.

6. DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS

          In June 2005, the Company committed to a plan to discontinue the operations of the Company’s securities research and brokerage segment. Accordingly, the operating results relating to this segment have been segregated from continuing operations and reported as a separate line item in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.

          For the three-month and six-month periods ended June 30, 2006 and 2005, net revenue and net loss from discontinued operations were as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the Three Months Ended
June 30,

 

For the Six Months Ended
June 30,

 

 

 


 


 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

2006

 

2005

 

 

 


 


 


 


 

Net revenue

 

$

 

$

1,131,512

 

$

 

$

2,268,036

 

 

 



 



 



 



 

Loss from discontinued operations

 

$

 

$

(1,539,232

)

$

 

$

(3,374,783

)

Income (loss) on disposal of discontinued operations

 

 

17,840

 

 

(2,383,352

)

 

12,323

 

 

(2,383,352

)

 

 



 



 



 



 

Income (loss) from discontinued operations

 

$

17,840

 

$

(3,922,584

)

$

12,323

 

$

(5,758,135

)

 

 



 



 



 



 

          In accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, in June 2005, the Company recorded a provision to accrue for additional future costs to be incurred to complete the liquidation process. The Company believes that any remaining costs associated with these discontinued operations have been adequately provided for by this provision. For the three-month and six-month periods ended June 30, 2006, the Company recorded a gain on disposal of discontinued operations of $17,840 and $12,323, respectively, which primarily represents reductions to previously estimated shutdown costs, offset by additional legal fees incurred in connection with the liquidation process.

          The fair market values of the remaining assets and liabilities of the discontinued operation are as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

June 30,
2006

 

December 31,
2005

 

 

 


 


 

Current assets

 

$

3,200

 

$

3,200

 

Current liabilities

 

$

248,496

 

$

279,930

 

          As of June 30, 2006, current assets consists of a rent security deposit, and current liabilities consists of accrued shutdown costs.

          The following table displays the activity and balances of the provision for additional future shutdown costs:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 Qtr 2006 Activity

 

 

 

2 Qtr 2006 Activity

 

 

 

 

 

Initial

 

Year 2005

 

Balance

 


 

Balance

 


 

Balance

 

 

 

Charge

 

Activity

 

12/31/05

 

Deductions

 

Adjustments

 

3/31/06

 

Deductions

 

Adjustments

 

6/30/06

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net asset write-off

 

$

666,546

 

$

(666,546

)

$

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

Severance payments

 

 

1,134,323

 

 

(905,566

)

 

228,757

 

 

710

 

 

 

 

229,467

 

 

(5,478

)

 

 

 

223,989

 

Extinguishment of lease and other obligations

 

 

582,483

 

 

(531,310

)

 

51,173

 

 

(10,665

)

 

5,517

 

 

46,025

 

 

(3,678

)

 

(17,840

)

 

24,507

 

 

 




























 

 

$

2,383,352

 

$

(2,103,422

)

$

279,930

 

$

(9,955

)

$

5,517

 

$

275,492

 

$

(9,156

)

$

(17,840

)

$

248,496

 

 

 




























8


7. BUSINESS CONCENTRATIONS AND CREDIT RISK

          Financial instruments that subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, and accounts receivable. The Company maintains all of its cash and cash equivalents in five financial institutions and performs periodic evaluations of the relative credit standing of these institutions. The Company’s customers are primarily concentrated in the United States. The Company performs ongoing credit evaluations, generally does not require collateral, and establishes an allowance for doubtful accounts based upon factors surrounding the credit risk of customers, historical trends and other information. To date, actual losses have been within management’s expectations.

8. RECLASSIFICATIONS

          The accompanying consolidated statements of operations for the three-month and six-month periods and the statement of cash flows for the six month-period ended June 30, 2006 have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation.

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

          Statements contained in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q relating to plans, strategies, objectives, economic performance and trends and other statements that are not descriptions of historical facts may be forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). Forward-looking information is inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors, which include, but are not limited to, the factors set forth under the heading “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this quarterly report, and in other documents filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time, including, without limitation, the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005. Forward-looking statements may be identified by terms such as “may”, “will”, “should”, “could”, “expects”, “plans”, “intends”, “anticipates”, “believes”, “estimates”, “predicts”, “forecasts”, “potential”, or “continue” or similar terms or the negative of these terms. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, the Company cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. The Company has no obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

          The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the Company’s unaudited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto.

Overview

History

          TheStreet.com, Inc. (collectively, with its wholly-owned subsidiaries, the “Company”) was organized in June 1996 as a Delaware limited liability company and converted to a Delaware C-corporation in May 1998. The Company creates business and investment content, which it makes available through online publications, content syndication and audio and video programming. The Company receives revenue from subscriptions, advertising and sponsorship sales, syndication and radio programming.

          Current State of the Company

          The Company’s total net revenue for the three- and six-month periods ended June 30, 2006 totaled approximately $12.4 million and $23.5 million, respectively, an increase of approximately 60% and 51%,

9


respectively, when compared to approximately $7.8 million and $15.6 million for the respective prior periods. The Company’s income from continuing operations for the three- and six-month periods ended June 30, 2006 totaled approximately $3.2 million and $5.8 million, respectively, an increase of approximately 94% and 120%, respectively, when compared to approximately $1.7 million and $2.6 million, respectively, for the three- and six-month periods ended June 30, 2005.

          Subscription Revenue. Subscription revenue, the largest component of net revenue, totaled approximately $8.4 million and $16.0 million, respectively, for the three- and six-month periods ended June 30, 2006, an increase of approximately 57% and 49%, respectively, when compared to approximately $5.3 million and $10.8 million for the respective prior periods. These increases are attributable primarily to an increase of 38% in the average number of subscribers to the Company’s services during the six months ended June 30, 2006 as compared to the six months ended June 30, 2005. We believe this growth is due largely to our success in (i) signing and implementing agreements with large, high-traffic portal companies to direct users to our Web sites, (ii) promoting our brands, products and services through television and radio programs hosted by contributor James J. Cramer, and (iii) publishing proprietary, paid content on our free, flagship Web site to help generate interest in our subscription-based services. We believe that continued strong trading volume and stock market performance also contributed to our subscription growth when compared to the prior year period. Towards the end of the second quarter, seasonality and modestly weaker market conditions contributed to a 9% sequential decline in the value of subscription orders booked during the quarter, when compared to the quarterly period ended March 31, 2006. However, when compared to the quarterly period ended March 31, 2005, the value of subscription orders booked during the quarter increased by 39%.

          In both the six months ended June 30, 2006 and 2005, the Company expended approximately $0.6 million on its direct response marketing program. The Company plans in the remainder of 2006 to make refinements in the types of online marketing and subscription distribution arrangements it pursues, in order to obtain the best return-on-investment. Because a majority of the Company’s online advertising and subscription distribution arrangements are done on a performance basis, rather than on a fixed-fee basis, increases in subscriptions that result from these efforts will necessarily cause our marketing expense to increase. Accordingly, we expect the Company’s sales and marketing expenditures for the remainder of 2006 to increase from 2005 levels. Because the Company’s online advertising contracts generally have the short terms and early cancellation provisions typical of the industry, the Company is able to adjust its expenditures on a weekly or monthly basis, depending on the return-on-investment of the campaigns.

          Advertising Revenue. Advertising revenue increased by approximately 76% and 65%, respectively, for the three- and six-month periods ended June 30, 2006, to approximately $3.7 million and $7.0 million, respectively, as compared to approximately $2.1 million and $4.2 million for the respective prior periods. These increases are attributable primarily to strong growth in the number of unique visitors to the Company’s Web sites and the addition of content to the Company’s free, flagship Web site, both of which helped to increase the number of page views generated by the Company’s Web sites. The continued strength of the online advertising market also contributed to the increases. These factors in turn led to an increase in the number of advertisers choosing to place their advertisements in the Company’s publications.

          In January 2006, the Company introduced web logs, or “blogs” to its subscription-based RealMoney Web site. The Company plans to continue to add content (including video, audio, blogs, and non-financial content) to its free, flagship Web site in an effort to increase page views and attract more advertisers from outside the financial industry, and expand its advertising sales staff to take advantage of the current positive trends in the online advertising market. We also anticipate that, due to these trends, the proportion of the Company’s total revenue that comes from advertising is likely to increase in the remainder of 2006.

          Expenses. Over the periods, total compensation, revenue sharing costs, fees paid to non-employee content providers and credit card processing fees increased, while legal fees decreased. As a result, for the three- and six-month periods ended June 30, 2006, total operating expenses increased by approximately 54% and 39%, respectively, to approximately $9.6 million and $18.5 million, respectively, as compared to approximately $6.3 and

10


$13.3 million for the respective prior periods.

          The Company believes that its current cash and cash equivalents will be sufficient to meet its anticipated cash needs for at least the next 12 months. See “—Liquidity and Capital Resources.”

Recent Events

          On August 7, 2006, the Company acquired certain assets of Weiss Ratings, Inc. (“Ratings”). Ratings uses proprietary quantitative computer models to produce independent financial evaluations and ratings of thousands of stocks, mutual funds and financial institutions, including insurance companies, health plan providers, banks and savings and loans.

Critical Accounting Estimates

General

          The Company’s discussion and analysis of its financial condition and results of operations are based upon its consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. The preparation of these financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions, specifically for the allowance for doubtful accounts receivable, the useful lives of fixed assets, the valuation of goodwill and intangible assets, as well as accrued expense estimates that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expense during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

          The Company believes the following critical accounting estimates affect the preparation of its consolidated financial statements.

Revenue Recognition

          The Company generates its revenue primarily from subscriptions and advertising.

          Subscription revenue represents fees paid by customers for access to particular services for the term of the subscription. Subscriptions are generally charged to customers’ credit cards or are charged directly to companies that subscribe to the service. These are generally billed in advance on a monthly or annual basis. The Company calculates net subscription revenue by deducting actual refunds from cancelled subscriptions and chargebacks of disputed credit card charges from gross revenue. Net subscription revenue is recognized ratably over the subscription periods. Deferred revenue relates to subscription fees for which amounts have been collected but for which revenue has not been recognized.

          Advertising revenue is derived from the sale of Internet sponsorship arrangements and from the delivery of banner and email advertisements on the Company’s Web sites, and is recognized ratably over the period the advertising is displayed, provided that no significant Company obligations remain and collection of the resulting receivable is reasonably assured. Although infrequent, Company obligations could include guarantees of a minimum number of times that users of the Company’s web sites “click-through” to the advertiser’s Web site, or take additional specified action, such as opening an account. In such cases, revenue is recognized as the guaranteed “click-throughs” or other relevant delivery criteria are fulfilled.

          Other revenue consists primarily of revenue related to the Company’s nationally syndicated daily radio program, “RealMoney with Jim Cramer,” and revenue from the online syndication of the Company’s content. Revenue for the radio program is recognized ratably as the program is broadcast. Syndication revenue is recognized ratably over the period the service is provided to the syndication partner.

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

          The Company maintains an allowance for doubtful accounts for estimated losses resulting from the inability of its advertisers to make required payments and for paid subscriptions that are cancelled and refunded or charged back by the subscriber. A considerable amount of judgment is required in assessing the ultimate realization of these receivables, including the current credit-worthiness of each customer. Although results of prior estimates have been in line with management’s expectations, should the financial condition of the Company’s advertisers and subscribers

11


deteriorate, resulting in an impairment of their ability to make payments, additional allowances might be required. If a major customer’s credit-worthiness deteriorates, or if actual defaults are higher than our historical experience, or if other circumstances arise, our estimates of the recoverability of amounts due to us could be overstated, and additional allowances could be required, which could have an adverse impact on the Company’s revenue.

Property and Equipment

          Property and equipment are stated at cost, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization. Property and equipment are depreciated on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the assets (three years for computer equipment, including capitalized software and web site development costs, and five years for furniture and fixtures). Leasehold improvements are amortized on a straight-line basis over the shorter of the respective lease term or the estimated useful life of the asset. If the useful lives of the assets materially differ from the estimates herein, additional costs could be incurred which could have an adverse impact on the Company’s expenses.

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

          In July 2001, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets.” SFAS No. 142 requires companies to stop amortizing goodwill and certain other intangible assets with indefinite useful lives. Instead, goodwill and other intangible assets deemed to have an indefinite useful life will be subject to an annual review for impairment. Separable intangible assets that are not deemed to have indefinite useful lives will continue to be amortized over their useful lives (but with no maximum life).

          Upon the adoption of SFAS No. 142 in the first quarter of 2002, the Company stopped the amortization of goodwill and certain other intangible assets with indefinite useful lives, and completed the required transitional fair value impairment test on its goodwill and certain other intangible assets, the results of which had no impact on the Company’s financial statements. The Company’s goodwill is tested for impairment between annual tests if an event occurs or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit below its carrying amount. Based upon annual impairment tests as of September 30, 2005, 2004 and 2003, no impairment was indicated for the Company’s goodwill and intangible assets with indefinite lives.

Business Concentrations and Credit Risk

          Financial instruments that subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash and accounts receivable. The Company maintains all of its cash and cash equivalents in four financial institutions and performs periodic evaluations of the relative credit standing of these institutions. The Company’s customers are primarily concentrated in the United States. The Company performs ongoing credit evaluations, generally does not require collateral, and establishes an allowance for doubtful accounts based upon factors surrounding the credit risk of customers, historical trends and other information. To date, actual losses have been within management’s expectations.

Stock Based Compensation

          As of October 1, 2005, the Company elected early adoption of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 123(R), “Share Based Payment: An Amendment of FASB Statements 123 and 95.” This statement requires that the cost resulting from all share-based payment transactions be recognized in the financial statements based upon estimated fair values. Prior to adoption of SFAS No. 123(R), the Company accounted for stock-based compensation expense on a pro forma basis in accordance with Accounting Principles Board No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees” (“APB 25”). In March 2005, the Securities and Exchange Commission issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 107 (“SAB 107”) relating to SFAS No. 123(R). The Company has applied the provisions of SAB 107 in its adoption of SFAS No. 123(R).

12


          The Company adopted SFAS No. 123(R) using the modified prospective transition method. The accompanying consolidated statements of operations for the three- and six-month periods ended June 30, 2006 reflects the impact of SFAS No. 123(R). In accordance with the modified prospective transition method, prior periods have not been restated to reflect, and do not include, the impact of SFAS No. 123(R). Stock-based compensation expense recognized under SFAS No. 123(R) for the three- and six-month periods ended June 30, 2006 was $472,351 and $821,316, respectively.

          Upon adoption of SFAS No. 123 (R), the Company continued its practice of estimating the value of employee stock options on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. This determination is affected by the Company’s stock price as well as assumptions regarding expected volatility, risk-free interest rate, and expected dividends. The weighted-average estimated value of employee stock options granted during the three- and six-month periods ended June 30, 2006 was $3.44 and $2.96 per share, respectively, using the Black-Scholes model with the following weighted-average assumptions:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three Months Ended
March 31, 2006

 

Three Months Ended
June 30, 2006

 

 

 




 

Expected volatility

 

 

 

42.11

%

 

 

 

45.23

%

 

 

Risk-free interest rate

 

 

 

4.29

%

 

 

 

4.98

%

 

 

Expected dividends

 

 

 

1.25

%

 

 

 

1.05

%

 

          In determining the expected volatility assumption for the three months ended June 30, 2006, the Company used an historical analysis of the volatility of the Company’s share price for the preceding two years, based on management’s assessment that recent historical volatility is representative of future stock price trends.

          The risk-free interest rate assumption is based upon observed interest rates appropriate for the term of the Company’s employee stock options. The dividend yield assumption is based on the history and expectation of future dividend payouts.

          As stock-based compensation expense recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three- and six-month periods ended June 30, 2006 is based on awards that are ultimately expected to vest, it has been reduced for expected forfeitures. SFAS No. 123(R) requires forfeitures to be estimated at the time of grant and revised, if necessary, in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ from those estimates. Forfeitures were estimated based on historical experience.

          If factors change and the Company employs different assumptions in the application of SFAS No. 123(R) in future periods, the compensation expense that the Company records under SFAS No. 123(R) may differ significantly from what it has recorded in the current period.

Income Taxes

          The Company accounts for its income taxes in accordance with SFAS No. 109, “Accounting for Income Taxes.” Under SFAS No. 109, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets or liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in the period that the tax change occurs. SFAS No. 109 also requires that deferred tax assets be reduced by a valuation allowance if it is more likely than not that some or all of the deferred tax asset will not be realized.

13


Results of Operations

          Through June 2005 the Company operated its business in two segments. During that period, certain functions necessary to operate the Company’s securities research and brokerage segment, including administrative, financial, legal and technology functions, were handled by the Company’s electronic publishing operations – currently the sole operating segment. Expenses related to the performance of these functions were allocated to the discontinued segment based upon a services agreement. Through April 2005, costs were allocated pro rata, based upon the average number of personnel employed by IRG Research each month as a percentage of the average of the total number of personnel employed each month by the Company as a whole. During May and June 2005, shared costs were allocated based on the Company’s annual budget. In June 2005, the operations of the Company’s securities research and brokerage segment were discontinued, and no further allocations have been made. Costs allocated to the discontinued segment for the three- and six-month periods ended June 30, 2006 totaled $663,241 and $1,251,083, respectively.

Comparison of Three Months Ended June 30, 2006 and June 30, 2005

          Net Revenue

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the Three Months Ended
June 30,

 

Change

 

 

 


 


 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

Amount

 

Percent

 

 

 


 


 


 


 

Net revenue:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Subscription

 

$

8,406,870

 

$

5,340,410

 

$

3,066,460

 

 

57

%

Advertising

 

 

3,707,461

 

 

2,101,015

 

 

1,606,446

 

 

76

%

Other

 

 

281,886

 

 

309,371

 

 

(27,485

)

 

-9

%

 

 



 



 



 

 

 

 

Total net revenue

 

$

12,396,217

 

$

7,750,796

 

$

4,645,421

 

 

60

%

 

 



 



 



 

 

 

 

          Subscription. Subscription revenue is derived from annual and monthly subscriptions.

          The increase in subscription revenue is primarily the result of a 46% increase in the average number of subscribers to the Company’s services during the three months ended June 30, 2006 as compared to the three months ended June 30, 2005. We believe this growth is due largely to our success in (i) signing and implementing agreements with large, high-traffic portal companies to direct users to our Web sites, (ii) promoting our brands, products and services through television and radio programs hosted by contributor James J. Cramer, and (iii) publishing proprietary, paid content on our free, flagship Web site to help generate interest in our subscription-based services. We believe that continued strong trading volume and stock market performance also contributed to our subscription revenue growth. Since subscription revenue is recognized ratably over the subscription period, the increased subscriber totals have also resulted in an increase of 45% in the June 30, 2006 deferred revenue balance when compared to June 30, 2005. For the three months ended June 30, 2006, approximately 65% of the Company’s net subscription revenue was derived from annual subscriptions, as compared to approximately 70% for the three months ended June 30, 2005.

          The Company calculates net subscription revenue by deducting refunds from cancelled subscriptions and chargebacks of disputed credit card charges from gross revenue. Refunds and chargebacks totaled less than 1% of gross subscription revenue during each of the three month periods ended June 30, 2006 and June 30, 2005.

          Advertising. Advertising revenue is derived from Internet sponsorship arrangements, and from the delivery of banner and email advertisements on the Company’s Web sites.

          The increase in advertising revenue is primarily the result of continued improvements in the online advertising market, the successful overall performance of advertising campaigns delivered by the Company and by an increase in

14


the number of unique visitors to the Company’s Web sites and the addition of content to the Company’s free, flagship Web site, both of which helped to increase the number of page views generated by the Company’s Web sites. These factors in turn led to an increase in the number of advertisers choosing to place their advertisements in the Company’s publications. During the three months ended June 30, 2006, the Company achieved a 101% increase in revenue generating page views, when compared to the three months ended June 30, 2005.

          The number of advertisers for the three months ended June 30, 2006 was 70 as compared to 53 for the three months ended June 30, 2005. The Company’s top five advertisers accounted for approximately 40% of its total advertising revenue for the three months ended June 30, 2006, as compared to approximately 38% for the three months ended June 30, 2005. For the three months ended June 30, 2006, one advertiser accounted for approximately 18% of total advertising revenue. For the three months ended June 30, 2005, one advertiser accounted for approximately 11.6% of total advertising revenue.

          Other. Other revenue consists primarily of revenue related to the Company’s nationally syndicated daily radio program, “RealMoney with Jim Cramer” and syndication revenue. The decrease in other revenue is primarily the result of reduced radio program revenue.

          Operating Expense

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the Three Months Ended
June 30,

 

Change

 

 

 


 


 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

Amount

 

Percent

 

 

 


 


 


 


 

Operating expense:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of services

 

$

4,531,717

 

$

2,817,405

 

$

1,714,312

 

 

61

%

Sales and marketing

 

 

2,323,577

 

 

1,798,311

 

 

525,266

 

 

29

%

General and administrative

 

 

2,566,544

 

 

1,515,501

 

 

1,051,043

 

 

69

%

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

216,891

 

 

147,287

 

 

69,604

 

 

47

%

 

 



 



 



 

 

 

 

Total operating expense

 

$

9,638,729

 

$

6,278,504

 

$

3,360,225

 

 

54

%

 

 



 



 



 

 

 

 

          Operating expenses from continuing operations reported above for the three-month period ended June 30, 2005 do not include expenses that were previously allocated to the Company’s securities research and brokerage segment. Such expenses are reported below under discontinued operations. While some of the expenses that were previously allocated to the securities research and brokerage segment have been eliminated or reduced as a result of the discontinuation of operations of IRG Research in June 2005, the remaining portion of these expenses will continue to be incurred by the Company in its continuing operations.

          Cost of services. Cost of services expense includes compensation and benefits for the Company’s editorial and technology staffs, as well as fees paid to non-employee content providers, expenses for contract programmers and developers, communication lines and other technology costs.

          The increase in cost of services expense during the period was primarily the result of higher compensation and related costs resulting from an increase in the average headcount, higher incentive compensation related to improved operating performance, and non-cash compensation related to the expensing of awards under the Company’s stock incentive plan. These increases combined with higher revenue sharing costs, fees paid to non-employee content providers, computer maintenance and recruiting fees, the sum of which totals $1,559,377. The increased expense also reflects the allocation in the three months ended June 30, 2005 of cost of services expenses totaling $258,429 to the Company’s securities research and brokerage segment. Due to the discontinuation of this segment, no such allocation was made in the three months ended June 30, 2006.

15


          Sales and marketing. Sales and marketing expense consists primarily of advertising and promotion, promotional materials, content distribution fees, and compensation expense for the direct sales force and customer service departments.

          The increase in sales and marketing expense is primarily the result of higher compensation and related costs (primarily advertising commission payments related to increased advertising revenue), increased credit card fees related to the higher subscription revenue and deferred revenue balance, combined with higher promotion, advertisement serving and recruiting expenses, the sum of which totals $459,007. The increased expense also reflects the allocation in the three months ended June 30, 2005 of sales and marketing expenses totaling $6,019 to the Company’s securities research and brokerage segment. Due to the discontinuation of this segment, no such allocation was made in the three months ended June 30, 2006.

          General and administrative. General and administrative expense consists primarily of compensation for general management, finance and administrative personnel, occupancy costs, professional fees, equipment rental and other office expenses.

          The increase in general and administrative expense is primarily the result of higher compensation and related costs resulting from increased incentive compensation related to improved operating performance, higher salary expense due to an increase in the average headcount, and non-cash compensation related to the expensing of awards under the Company’s stock incentive plan, the sum of which totals $852,729. The increased expense also reflects the allocation in the three months ended June 30, 2005 of general and administrative expenses totaling $361,490 to the Company’s securities research and brokerage segment. Due to the discontinuation of this segment, no such allocation was not made in the three months ended June 30, 2006.

          Depreciation and amortization. The increase in depreciation and amortization expense primarily reflects increased capital expenditures. Additionally, expenses totaling $35,240 were allocated to the Company’s securities research and brokerage segment in the three months ended June 30, 2005. Due to the discontinuation of this segment, no such allocation was not made in the three months ended June 30, 2006.

          Net Interest Income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the Three Months Ended
June 30,

 

Change

 

 

 


 


 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

Amount

 

Percent

 

 

 


 


 


 


 

Net interest income

 

$

518,663

 

$

180,079

 

$

338,584

 

 

188

%

 

 



 



 



 

 

 

 

          The increase in net interest income is primarily the result of increased cash balances and higher interest rates.

          Discontinued Operations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the Three Months Ended
June 30,

 

Change

 

 

 


 


 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

Amount

 

Percent

 

 

 


 


 


 


 

Loss from discontinued operations

 

$

 

$

(1,539,232

)

$

1,539,232

 

100%

 

Income (loss) on disposal of discontinued operations

 

 

17,840

 

 

(2,383,352

)

 

2,401,192

 

N/A

 

 

 



 



 



 

 

 

 

Income (loss) from discontinued operations

 

$

17,840

 

$

(3,922,584

)

$

3,940,424

 

N/A

 

 

 



 



 



 

 

 

 

16


          In June 2005, the Company committed to a plan to discontinue the operations of the Company’s securities research and brokerage segment. Accordingly, the operating results relating to this segment have been segregated from continuing operations and reported as a separate line item on the consolidated statements of operations.

          For the three months ended June 30, 2006, gain on disposal of discontinued operations represents reductions to previously estimated shutdown costs, partially offset by additional legal fees incurred in connection with the liquidation process.

          The fair market values of the remaining assets and liabilities of the discontinued operation are as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

June 30,

 

December 31,

 

 

 




 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

 

 


 


 

Current assets

 

$

3,200

 

$

3,200

 

Current liabilities

 

$

248,496

 

$

279,930

 

          As of June 30, 2006, current assets of discontinued operations consists of a rent security deposit, and current liabilities of discontinued operations consists primarily of accrued shutdown costs.

Comparison of Six Months Ended June 30, 2006 and June 30, 2005

          Net Revenue

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the Six Months Ended
June 30,

 

Change

 

 

 


 


 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

Amount

 

Percent

 

 

 


 


 


 


 

Net revenue:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Subscription

 

$

16,034,909

 

$

10,767,690

 

$

5,267,219

 

 

49

%

Advertising

 

 

6,950,210

 

 

4,207,289

 

 

2,742,921

 

 

65

%

Other

 

 

558,203

 

 

581,003

 

 

(22,800

)

 

-4

%

 

 



 



 



 

 

 

 

Total net revenue

 

$

23,543,322

 

$

15,555,982

 

$

7,987,340

 

 

51

%

 

 



 



 



 

 

 

 

          Subscription. The increase in subscription revenue is primarily the result of a 38% increase in the average number of subscribers to the Company’s services during the six months ended June 30, 2006 as compared to the six months ended June 30, 2005. We believe this growth is due largely to our success in (i) signing and implementing agreements with large, high-traffic portal companies to direct users to our Web sites, (ii) promoting our brands, products and services through television and radio programs hosted by contributor James J. Cramer, and (iii) publishing proprietary, paid content on our free, flagship Web site to help generate interest in our subscription-based services. We believe that continued strong trading volume and stock market performance also contributed to our subscription revenue growth. Since subscription revenue is recognized ratably over the subscription period, the increased subscriber totals have also resulted in an increase of 45% in the June 30, 2006 deferred revenue balance when compared to June 30, 2005. For the six months ended June 30, 2006, approximately 65% of the Company’s net subscription revenue was derived from annual subscriptions, as compared to approximately 69% for the six months ended June 30, 2005.

          The Company calculates net subscription revenue by deducting refunds from cancelled subscriptions and chargebacks of disputed credit card charges from gross revenue. Refunds and chargebacks totaled less than 1% of gross subscription revenue during each of the six month periods ended June 30, 2006 and June 30, 2005.

          Advertising. The increase in advertising revenue is primarily the result of continued improvements in the online advertising market, the successful overall performance of advertising campaigns delivered by the Company and by an increase in the number of unique visitors to the Company’s Web sites and the addition of content to the

17


Company’s free, flagship Web site, both of which helped to increase the number of page views generated by the Company’s Web sites. These factors in turn led to an increase in the number of advertisers choosing to place their advertisements in the Company’s publications. During the six months ended June 30, 2006, the Company achieved a 110% increase in revenue generating page views, when compared to the six months ended June 30, 2005.

          The number of advertisers for the six months ended June 30, 2006 was 93 as compared to 67 for the six months ended June 30, 2005. The Company’s top five advertisers accounted for approximately 41% of its total advertising revenue for the six months ended June 30, 2006, as compared to approximately 38% for the six months ended June 30, 2005. For the six months ended June 30, 2006, one advertiser accounted for approximately 20.1% of total advertising revenue. For the six months ended June 30, 2005, one advertiser accounted for approximately 10.2% of total advertising revenue.

          Other. The decrease in other revenue is primarily the result of reduced radio program revenue.

          Operating Expense

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the Six Months Ended
June 30,

 

Change

 

 

 


 


 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

Amount

 

Percent

 

 

 


 


 


 


 

Operating expense:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of services

 

$

8,678,629

 

$

5,718,089

 

$

2,960,540

 

52

%

 

Sales and marketing

 

 

4,470,492

 

 

3,786,662

 

 

683,830

 

18

%

 

General and administrative

 

 

4,938,394

 

 

3,462,344

 

 

1,476,050

 

43

%

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

403,879

 

 

289,648

 

 

114,231

 

39

%

 

 

 



 



 



 

 

 

 

Total operating expense

 

$

18,491,394

 

$

13,256,743

 

$

5,234,651

 

39

%

 

 

 



 



 



 

 

 

 

          Operating expenses from continuing operations reported above for the six-month period ended June 30, 2005 do not include expenses that were previously allocated to the Company’s securities research and brokerage segment. Such expenses are reported below under discontinued operations. While some of the expenses that were previously allocated to the securities research and brokerage segment have been eliminated or reduced as a result of the discontinuation of operations of IRG Research, which occurred in June 2005, the remaining portion of these expenses will continue to be incurred by the Company in its continuing operations.

          Cost of services. The increase in cost of services expense during the period was primarily the result of higher compensation and related costs resulting from an increase in the average headcount, higher incentive compensation related to improved operating performance, and non-cash compensation related to the expensing of awards under the Company’s stock incentive plan, combined with higher revenue sharing costs, fees paid to non-employee content providers, hosting, computer maintenance and recruiting fees, the sum of which totals $2,887,743. The increased expense also reflects the allocation in the six months ended June 30, 2005 of cost of services expenses totaling $507,262 to the Company’s securities research and brokerage segment. Due to the discontinuation of this segment, no such allocation was made in the six months ended June 30, 2006.

          Sales and marketing. The increase in sales and marketing expense is primarily the result of higher commissions due to increased advertising and subscription revenue, increased credit card fees related to the higher subscription revenue and deferred revenue balance, combined with higher advertisement serving, promotion and recruiting expenses, the sum of which totals $816,349, partially offset by reduced compensation due to a lower average headcount totaling $189,775. The increased expense also reflects the allocation in the six months ended June 30, 2005 of sales and marketing expenses totaling $11,009 to the Company’s securities research and brokerage segment. Due to the discontinuation of this segment, no such allocation was made in the three months ended June 30, 2006.

18


          General and administrative. The increase in general and administrative expense is primarily the result of higher compensation and related costs resulting from increased incentive compensation related to improved operating performance, higher salary expense due to an increase in the average headcount, and non-cash compensation related to the expensing of awards under the Company’s stock incentive plan, the sum of which totals $1,414,230. These increased expenses were partially offset by reduced legal fees totaling $274,138 due to the absence of the fees related to the consideration of possible strategic alternatives that were incurred during the six months ended June 30, 2005. The increased expense also reflects the allocation in the six months ended June 30, 2005 of general and administrative expenses totaling $667,185 to the Company’s securities research and brokerage segment. Due to the discontinuation of this segment, no such allocation was made in the three months ended June 30, 2006.

          Depreciation and amortization. The increase in depreciation and amortization expense primarily reflects increased capital expenditures. Additionally, expenses totaling $62,250 were allocated to the Company’s securities research and brokerage segment in the six months ended June 30, 2005. Due to the discontinuation of this segment, no such allocation was not made in the three months ended June 30, 2006.

          Net Interest Income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the Six Months Ended
June 30,

 

Change

 

 

 


 


 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

Amount

 

Percent

 

 

 


 


 


 


 

Net interest income

 

$

858,719

 

$

334,205

 

$

524,514

 

157

%

 

 

 



 



 



 

 

 

 

          The increase in net interest income is primarily the result of increased cash balances and higher interest rates.

          Discontinued Operations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the six Months Ended
June 30,

 

Change

 

 

 

 


 


 

 

 

2006

 

 

2005

 

Amount

 

Percent

 

 

 


 


 


 


 

Loss from discontinued operations

 

$

 

$

(3,374,783

)

$

3,374,783

 

100

%

 

Income (loss) on disposal of discontinued operations

 

 

12,323

 

 

(2,383,352

)

 

2,395,675

 

N/A

 

 

 

 



 



 



 

 

 

 

Income (loss) from discontinued operations

 

$

12,323

 

$

(5,758,135

)

$

5,770,458

 

N/A

 

 

 

 



 



 



 

 

 

 

          In June 2005, the Company committed to a plan to discontinue the operations of the Company’s securities research and brokerage segment. Accordingly, the operating results relating to this segment have been segregated from continuing operations and reported as a separate line item on the consolidated statements of operations.

          For the six months ended June 30, 2006, gain on disposal of discontinued operations represents reductions to previously estimated shutdown costs, partially offset by additional legal fees incurred in connection with the liquidation process.

          The fair market values of the remaining assets and liabilities of the discontinued operation are as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

June 30,

 

December 31,

 

 

 


 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

 

 


 


 

Current assets

 

$

3,200

 

$

3,200

 

Current liabilities

 

$

248,496

 

$

279,930

 

19


          As of June 30, 2006, current assets of discontinued operations consists of a rent security deposit, and current liabilities of discontinued operations consists primarily of accrued shutdown costs.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

          The Company invests in money market funds and other short-term, investment grade instruments that are highly liquid, of high-quality, and can have maturities of up to two years, with the intent that such funds can easily be made available for operating purposes. As of June 30, 2006, the Company’s cash and cash equivalents and current and non-current restricted cash amounted to $45,853,313, representing 82% of total assets.

          Cash generated from operations was sufficient to cover expenses during the six months ended June 30, 2006. Net cash provided by operating activities totaled $10,184,891 for the six months ended June 30, 2006, as compared to net cash used in operating activities totaling $2,339,066 for the six months ended June 30, 2005. The increase in net cash provided by operating activities was primarily the result of the following:

 

 

 

 

Improved operating results from continuing operations;

 

 

 

 

Lower incentive compensation payments during the three months ended March 31, 2006 related to the 2005 fiscal year, as compared to payments made during the three months ended March 31, 2005 related to the 2004 fiscal year;

 

 

 

 

Reduced expenditures due to the shutdown of IRG Research’s operations;

 

 

 

 

Increased cash from strong sales of subscription services leading to an increase in the growth of deferred revenue; and

 

 

 

 

Increased noncash expenditures.

          Net cash provided by operating activities of $10,184,891 for the six months ended June 30, 2006 was primarily the result of the Company’s net income of $5,804,510 combined with an increase in deferred revenue (resulting from strong subscription sales), non cash expenses and an increase in accrued expenses, the sum of which totals $4,897,451. This total was partially offset by an increase in prepaid expenses (primarily related to the timing of the renewal of the Company’s directors and officers insurance) and an increase in accounts receivable (primarily the result of increased billings caused by higher advertising revenue), the sum of which totals $665,838.

          Net cash used in investing activities of $129,904 for the six months ended June 30, 2006 was the result of capital expenditures partially offset by the sale of a short-term investment. Capital expenditures generally consisted of purchases of computer software and hardware, and telephone equipment.

          Net cash provided by financing activities of $2,283,787 for the six months ended June 30, 2006 consisted of the proceeds from the exercise of stock options, totaling $4,216,978, partially offset by cash dividends paid, the purchase of treasury stock and a decrease in note payable, the sum of which totals $1,933,191.

          The Company has a total of $1,100,000 of cash invested in certificates of deposit and money market investments which serves as collateral for outstanding letters of credit and is therefore restricted. The letters of credit serve as security deposits for operating leases. Of this amount, the Company anticipates that $600,000 will become unrestricted within the next 12 months and is therefore classified as a current asset on the Consolidated Balance Sheet. The Company anticipates that the remaining $500,000 of restricted cash will become unrestricted in November 2009.

          The Company believes that its current cash and cash equivalents will be sufficient to meet its anticipated cash needs for at least the next 12 months. The Company is committed to cash expenditures in an aggregate amount of approximately $4.2 million through June 30, 2007, in respect of the contractual obligations set forth below under “Commitments and Contingencies.” Additionally, the Company’s Board of Directors declared both a first and second quarter cash dividend in the amount of $0.025 per share of common stock, which resulted in a cash

20


expenditure of approximately $0.7 million and $1.3 million in the three- and six-month periods ended June 30, 2006, respectively. The Company intends, although there can be no assurance, to pay regular quarterly cash dividends in the future.

Commitments and Contingencies

          The Company is committed under operating leases, principally for office space, furniture and fixtures, and equipment. Certain leases are subject to rent reviews and require payment of expenses under escalation clauses. Rent and equipment rental expenses decreased to $404,585 for the three month period ended June 30, 2006, as compared to $431,500 for the three month period ended June 30, 2005. Rent and equipment rental expenses increased to $807,279 for the six month period ended June 30, 2006, as compared to $769,158 for the six month period ended June 30, 2005. The changes in rent and equipment rental expenses reflect the allocation to the Company’s discontinued securities research and brokerage segment of expenses totaling $33,307 and $64,410 in the three- and six-month periods ended June 30, 2005. Such allocation was not made in the three- and six-month periods ended June 30, 2006. The change in rent and equipment rental expense is also the result of the timing and amount of retroactive operating expense escalation charges. Additionally, the Company has employment agreements with certain of its employees and outside contributors, whose future minimum payments are dependent on the future fulfillment of their services thereunder. As of June 30, 2006, total future minimum cash payments are as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Payments Due by Period

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

Less Than

 

 

 

 

 

After

 

Contractual obligations:

 

Total

 

1 Year

 

1 – 3 Years

 

4 – 5 Years

 

5 Years

 


 


 


 


 


 


 

Operating leases

 

$

3,512,422

 

$

1,258,856

 

$

1,899,619

 

$

353,947

 

$

 

Employment agreements

 

 

2,574,875

 

 

1,866,875

 

 

708,000

 

 

 

 

 

Outside contributor agreements

 

 

262,719

 

 

262,719

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Note payable

 

 

74,434

 

 

74,434

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 















 

Total contractual cash obligations

 

$

6,424,450

 

$

3,462,884

 

$

2,607,619

 

$

353,947

 

$

 

 

 



 



 



 



 



 

          Four additional agreements were signed subsequent to June 30, 2006 that guarantee payments of $727,479 and $819,671 within the next year and within the one to three year period, respectively, and are dependent on the future fulfillment of the services thereunder.

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.

          The Company believes that its market risk exposures are immaterial, as the Company does not have instruments for trading purposes, and reasonable possible near-term changes in market rates or prices are not expected to result in material near-term losses in earnings, material changes in fair values or cash flows for all instruments.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures.

          A control system, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the control system’s objectives will be met. The design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs. Further, because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that misstatements due to error or fraud will not occur or that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within the company have been detected. These inherent limitations include the realities that judgments in decision-making can be faulty and that breakdowns can occur because of simple error or mistake. Controls can also be circumvented by the individual acts of some persons, by collusion of two or more people, or by management override of the controls. The design of any system of controls is based in part on certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions. Projections of any evaluation of controls effectiveness to future periods are subject to risks. Over time,

21


controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions or deterioration in the degree of compliance with policies or procedures.

          The Company carried out, under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including its Chief Executive Officer and Controller, who performed the functions associated with the position of Chief Financial Officer during the quarterly period covered by this report, an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) as of the end of the quarterly period covered by this report. Based upon that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Controller concluded that, as of June 30, 2006, the design and operation of these disclosure controls and procedures were effective. During the quarterly period covered by this report, there have been no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

22


PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings.

          On December 5, 2001, a class action lawsuit alleging violations of the federal securities laws was filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York naming as defendants TheStreet.com, Inc., certain of its former officers and directors and James J. Cramer, a current director, and certain underwriters of the Company’s initial public offering (The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., Chase H&Q, Thomas Weisel Partners LLC, FleetBoston Robertson Stephens, and Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner & Smith, Inc.). Plaintiffs allege that the underwriters of TheStreet.com, Inc.’s initial public offering violated the securities laws by failing to disclose certain alleged compensation arrangements (such as undisclosed commissions or stock stabilization practices) in the offering’s registration statement. The plaintiffs seek damages and statutory compensation against each defendant in an amount to be determined at trial, plus pre-judgment interest thereon, together with costs and expenses, including attorneys’ fees. Similar suits were filed against over 300 other issuers that had initial public offerings between 1998 and December 2001, and they have all been consolidated into a single action. Pursuant to a Court Order dated October 9, 2002, each of the individual defendants to the action, including Mr. Cramer, has been dismissed without prejudice. On June 8, 2004, the Company and its individual defendants (together with the Company’s insurance carriers) entered into a settlement with the plaintiffs. The settlement is subject to approval by the court overseeing the litigation.

          Although the lawsuit against us is an independent cause of action vis-à-vis the lawsuits pending against other issuers in the consolidated proceeding, and no issuer is liable for any wrongdoing allegedly committed by any other issuer, the proposed settlement between the plaintiffs and the issuers is being done on a collective basis. Generally, under the terms of the settlement, in exchange for the delivery by our insurers and those of the other defendants of an undertaking guaranteeing that the plaintiffs will recover, in the aggregate, at least $1 billion from the underwriters, and the assignment to the plaintiffs by the issuers of their interests in claims against the underwriters for excess compensation in connection with their IPOs, the plaintiffs will release the non-bankrupt issuers from all claims against them (the bankrupt issuers will receive a covenant not to sue) and their individual defendants. The costs and expenses of the settlement are expected to be borne by the Company’s insurers.

          Pursuant to an Opinion and Order dated February 15, 2005, the settlement was preliminarily approved by the court, subject to certain minor modifications. Such modifications have been made and were approved by the Court pursuant to an Order dated August 31, 2005. Notice of the settlement was distributed to all settlement class members beginning on November 15, 2005. The settlement fairness hearing was held on April 24, 2006. A decision from the court on whether the settlement is fair to the class members is expected in the near future. In the event the settlement does not receive final approval and the Company remains a defendant or any of its former individual defendants is again named as a defendant in the lawsuit, any unfavorable outcome of this litigation could have an adverse impact on the Company’s business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

          In the ordinary course of our business, we are from time to time subject to various other legal proceedings. We do not believe that any such other legal proceedings, individually or in the aggregate, will have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

23


Item 1A. Risk Factors.

          In addition to the other information set forth in this report, you should carefully consider the factors discussed in Part I, “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005, which could materially affect our business, financial condition or future results. The risks described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K are not the only risks facing our Company. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial also may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and/or operating results.

We May Have Difficulty Increasing Our Advertising Revenue, a Significant Portion of Which Is Concentrated Among Our Top Advertisers

          Our ability to increase our advertising revenue depends on a variety of factors, including general market conditions, seasonal fluctuations in financial news consumption and overall online usage, our ability to increase our unique visitors and page view inventory, and our ability to win our share of advertisers’ total advertising budgets from other Web sites, television, radio and print media. While we have recently experienced increases in our online advertising revenue, there can be no assurance that such increases will continue. If our advertising revenue decreases because of the foregoing, our business, results of operations and financial condition could be materially adversely affected.

          In the second quarter of 2006, our top five advertisers accounted for approximately 40% of our total advertising revenue, as compared to approximately 46% for the first quarter of 2006 and approximately 38% for the second quarter of 2005. Furthermore, although we have had success attracting advertisers from outside the financial services industry, such as advertisers of automotive and luxury goods, a large proportion of our top advertisers are concentrated in financial services, particularly in the online brokerage business. If these industries were to weaken significantly or to consolidate, or if other factors caused us to lose a number of our top advertisers, our business, results of operations and financial condition could be materially adversely affected. As is typical in the advertising industry, our advertising contracts have short notice cancellation provisions.

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.

          The following table presents information related to repurchases of its common stock made by the Company during the three months ended June 30, 2006.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Period

 

(a) Total
Number
of Shares
(or Units)
Purchased

 

(b)
Average
Price
Paid per
Share (or
Unit)

 

(c) Total Number
of Shares (or
Units) Purchased
as Part of Publicly
Announced Plans
or Programs

 

(d) Maximum Number
(or Approximate Dollar
Value) of Shares (or
Units) that May Yet Be
Purchased Under the
Plans or Programs *

 


 


 


 


 


 

April 1 – 30, 2006

 

 

 

$

 

 

 

$

2,678,878

 

May 1 – 31, 2006

 

 

 

$

 

 

 

$

2,678,878

 

June 1 – 30, 2006

 

 

 

$

 

 

 

$

2,678,878

 

 

 



 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

Total

 

 

 

$

 

 

 

$

2,678,878

 

 

 



 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

24


* In December 2000, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to $10 million worth of the Company’s common stock, from time to time, in private purchases or in the open market. In February 2004, the Company’s Board approved the resumption of this program under new price and volume parameters, leaving unchanged the maximum amount available for repurchase under the program. The program does not have a specified expiration date. See Note 3 to Consolidated Financial Statements.

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities.

          Not applicable.

Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.

          The following matters were submitted to a vote at the annual meeting of stockholders of the Company, held on May 24, 2006, and the results of the voting were as follows:

 

 

 

 

The election of James J. Cramer (votes for: 23,477,829; withheld: 895,409), and Martin Peretz (votes for: 23,465,776; withheld: 907,462) as Class I directors of the Company, to serve until the annual meeting in 2009 or until their successors are elected and qualified; and

 

 

 

 

The ratification of the appointment of Marcum & Kliegman LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2006 (votes for: 24,256,644; votes against: 10,922; abstain: 105,672).

Item 5. Other Information.

          Not applicable.

25


Item 6. Exhibits.

          The following exhibits are filed herewith or are incorporated by reference to exhibits previously filed with the Commission:

 

 

 

Exhibit
Number

 

Description


 


*3.1

 

Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation

**3.2

 

Amended and Restated Bylaws

*4.1

 

Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of December 21, 1998, among TheStreet.com and the stockholders named therein

*4.2

 

TheStreet.com Rights Agreement

†4.3

 

Amendment No. 1, dated as of August 7, 2000, to Rights Agreement

††4.4

 

Specimen Certificate for TheStreet.com’s common stock

10.1

 

Employment Agreement, dated July 5, 2006, between Eric Ashman and TheStreet.com, Inc.   ²

 

 

 

31.1

 

Rule 13a-14(a) Certification of CEO

31.2

 

Rule 13a-14(a) Certification of Chief Financial Officer

32.1

 

Section 1350 Certification of CEO

32.2

 

Section 1350 Certification of Chief Financial Officer


 

 

 

*

 

Incorporated by reference to Exhibits to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed February 23, 1999 (File No. 333-72799).

**

 

Incorporated by reference to Exhibits to the Company’s 1999 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed March 30, 2000.

 

Incorporated by reference to Exhibits to the Company’s 2000 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed April 2, 2001.

††

 

Incorporated by reference to Exhibits to Amendment 3 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed April 19, 1999.

 

 

 

²

 

Indicates compensatory plan or arrangement.

26


SIGNATURES

          Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

 

 

 

 

THESTREET.COM, INC.

 

 

 

 

Date: August 9, 2006

By:

/s/ Thomas J. Clarke, Jr.

 

 


 

 

 

Thomas J. Clarke, Jr.

 

 

 

Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

 

Date: August 9, 2006

By:

/s/ Eric Ashman

 

 


 

 

 

Eric Ashman

 

 

 

Chief Financial Officer

27


EXHIBIT INDEX

 

 

 

Exhibit
Number

 

Description


 


 

 

 

*3.1

 

Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation

**3.2

 

Amended and Restated Bylaws

*4.1

 

Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of December 21, 1998, among TheStreet.com and the stockholders named therein

*4.2

 

TheStreet.com Rights Agreement

†4.3

 

Amendment No. 1, dated as of August 7, 2000, to Rights Agreement

††4.4

 

Specimen Certificate for TheStreet.com’s common stock

10.1

 

Employment Agreement, dated July 5, 2006, between Eric Ashman and TheStreet.com, Inc.   ²

 

 

 

31.1

 

Rule 13a-14(a) Certification of CEO

31.2

 

Rule 13a-14(a) Certification of Chief Financial Officer

32.1

 

Section 1350 Certification of CEO

32.2

 

Section 1350 Certification of Chief Financial Officer


 

 

 

*

 

Incorporated by reference to Exhibits to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed February 23, 1999 (File No. 333-72799).

**

 

Incorporated by reference to Exhibits to the Company’s 1999 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed March 30, 2000.

 

Incorporated by reference to Exhibits to the Company’s 2000 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed April 2, 2001.

††

 

Incorporated by reference to Exhibits to Amendment 3 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed April 19, 1999.

²

 

Indicates compensatory plan or arrangement.

28