Exhibit 99.1
 
 
 
 
NEWS
 
 
Contacts:
 
 
 
 
 
Analysts/Investors:
Brian J. Radecki - Chief Financial Officer
(301) 664-9132
bradecki@costar.com
 
Media:
Timothy J. Trainor - Communications Director
(301) 280-7695
ttrainor@costar.com
  

CoStar Group, Inc. Announces Third Quarter 2007 Results

Company Reports Quarterly Earnings Upturn Following U.S. Market Expansion;
EBITDA Increased from $4.2 Million to $8.0 Million and
Net Income Increased from $1.2 Million to $3.3 Million Over Prior Quarter


BETHESDA, MD – October 24, 2007 – CoStar Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: CSGP), the number one provider of information services to the commercial real estate industry, today announced that revenues for the third quarter of 2007 were $49.3 million, a 21.6% increase compared to $40.6 million in revenue for the third quarter of 2006. Net income increased 177% from $1.2 million in the second quarter of 2007 to $3.3 million in the third quarter of 2007 as a result of continued core revenue growth and improved operational efficiencies. EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) increased 88% from $4.2 million in the second quarter of 2007 to $8.0 million in the third quarter of 2007.
 
Year 2006-2007 Quarterly Results        
(in millions, except per share data)        
   
2006  
   
2007 
 
   
Q1
   
Q2
   
Q3
   
Q4
   
Q1
   
Q2
   
Q3
 
                                           
Revenues
  $
37.3
    $
38.9
    $
40.6
    $
42.1
    $
44.8
    $
47.8
    $
49.3
 
EBITDA
   
4.7
     
5.3
     
8.8
     
7.2
     
5.0
     
4.2
     
8.0
 
Net income
   
1.9
     
2.3
     
4.7
     
3.5
     
1.8
     
1.2
     
3.3
 
Net income per share - diluted
   
0.10
     
0.12
     
0.25
     
0.18
     
0.09
     
0.06
     
0.17
 
Weighted average outstanding shares - diluted
   
19.3
     
19.3
     
19.1
     
19.2
     
19.2
     
19.3
     
19.5
 
 
 

 
"Our third quarter results reflect the growth in earnings we expect following the investments we made to create value for our customers and stockholders," said Andrew C. Florance, CoStar Group President and CEO.  "As we previously announced, CoStar Group made significant investments over the last four quarters to expand our commercial real estate market coverage in the U.S., to grow the sales force, and to improve product quality. Going forward, we expect revenues to continue to grow over what is now a relatively fixed cost base for our U.S. research operations. As a result, the company believes it is well positioned to generate continued, sustained earnings leverage through the end of 2008."

"The management team at CoStar is focused on aggressively executing our earnings growth strategy," Florance continued.  "We are fully committed to achieving a 30% EBITDA margin in our U.S. operations by the end of 2008."

Revenues for the third quarter of 2007 were up sequentially by 3.2% over second quarter 2007 and up 4.2% during the same period for core U.S. subscription-based services. The top line results were partially offset during the third quarter by lower than expected revenue from non-subscription services, which account for less than 5% of total revenue. International revenues decreased from $5.9 million in the second quarter to $5.8 million in the third quarter of 2007, primarily due to lower consulting fees and the consolidation of duplicative services. International operations contributed approximately 11.8% of total revenue for the third quarter of 2007.

CoStar Group’s rate of renewal for subscription services was approximately 91% during the third quarter of 2007.  The company has reported sequential revenue increases in every quarter since its IPO in 1998.

Net income was $3.3 million, or $0.17 per share, for the third quarter of 2007 compared to net income of $4.7 million, or $0.25 per share, for the third quarter of 2006.  The third quarter 2007 results include non-cash charges for equity compensation of approximately $1.4 million, primarily included in general and administrative expenses, selling and marketing expenses, and cost of revenues. By comparison, non-cash charges for equity compensation were $1.0 million for the third quarter of 2006. The company expects 2007 non-cash equity compensation expense to be approximately $5.8 million.

As of September 30, 2007, CoStar Group had $164.2 million in cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments. The company has no long-term debt.

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Fourth Quarter 2007 Outlook

“We expect a sequential quarterly increase in revenue of 3.0% to 5.0% and fully diluted net income per share of approximately $0.19 to $0.21 for the fourth quarter of 2007," said CoStar Group Chief Financial Officer Brian J. Radecki. "In addition, we expect to continue to leverage and grow earnings from U.S. operations through 2008 as a result of nearly completing earlier reported step-ups in investment activity combined with consistent core revenue growth," said Radecki.

Management will conduct a conference call to discuss earnings results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2007, and the financial outlook for the fourth quarter of 2007 at 11:00 a.m. EDT on Thursday, October 25, 2007.

The audio portion of the conference call will be broadcast live over the Internet at http://www.costar.com/corporate/investor/.  If you would like to join by telephone, please call (888) 688-0419 within the United States or (706) 634-0964 outside the United States.  A telephonic replay of the conference call will be available two hours after the live call concludes through midnight on November 8, 2007.  The replay telephone number is  (800) 642-1687 within the United States or (706) 645-9291 outside the United States.  Refer to Conference ID 20100647. The replay will also be available over the Internet at http://www.costar.com/corporate/investor/ for a period of time following the call.
 
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CoStar Group, Inc.       
 
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations-Unaudited   
 
(in thousands, except per share data)      
 
                         
   
For the Three Months
   
For the Nine Months
 
   
Ended September 30,
   
Ended September 30,
 
   
2007
   
2006
   
2007
   
2006
 
                         
                         
Revenues
  $
49,340
    $
40,571
    $
141,965
    $
116,791
 
Cost of revenues
   
19,551
     
14,005
     
56,695
     
39,537
 
Gross margin
   
29,789
     
26,566
     
85,270
     
77,254
 
                                 
Operating expenses:
                               
  Selling and marketing
   
11,924
     
8,834
     
39,752
     
31,868
 
  Software development
   
3,026
     
2,835
     
9,366
     
8,817
 
  General and administrative
   
9,674
     
7,985
     
26,826
     
23,187
 
  Purchase amortization
   
1,328
     
1,076
     
3,807
     
3,300
 
     
25,952
     
20,730
     
79,751
     
67,172
 
                                 
Income from operations
   
3,837
     
5,836
     
5,519
     
10,082
 
Other income, net
   
2,072
     
1,852
     
5,825
     
4,888
 
Income before income taxes
   
5,909
     
7,688
     
11,344
     
14,970
 
Income tax expense, net
   
2,659
     
2,990
     
5,105
     
6,108
 
Net income
  $
3,250
    $
4,698
    $
6,239
    $
8,862
 
                                 
Net income per share - basic
  $
0.17
    $
0.25
    $
0.33
    $
0.47
 
Net income per share - diluted
  $
0.17
    $
0.25
    $
0.32
    $
0.46
 
                                 
Weighted average outstanding shares - basic
   
19,045
     
18,787
     
18,997
     
18,724
 
Weighted average outstanding shares - diluted
   
19,475
     
19,130
     
19,362
     
19,176
 
                                 
Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures with Net Income
                 
                                 
Net income
  $
3,250
    $
4,698
    $
6,239
    $
8,862
 
Purchase amortization in cost of revenues
   
439
     
264
     
1,387
     
781
 
Purchase amortization in operating expenses
   
1,328
     
1,076
     
3,807
     
3,300
 
Depreciation and other amortization
   
2,349
     
1,609
     
6,513
     
4,542
 
Interest income, net
    (2,072 )     (1,852 )     (5,825 )     (4,888 )
Income tax expense, net
   
2,659
     
2,990
     
5,105
     
6,108
 
EBITDA
  $
7,953
    $
8,785
    $
17,226
    $
18,705
 
                                 
 
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CoStar Group, Inc.      
 
Results of Segments-Unaudited      
 
(in thousands)      
 
                         
   
For the Three Months
   
For the Nine Months
 
   
Ended September 30,
   
Ended September 30,
 
   
2007
   
2006
   
2007
   
2006
 
Revenues
                       
United States
  $
43,503
    $
37,292
    $
125,565
    $
107,556
 
International
   
5,837
     
3,279
     
16,400
     
9,235
 
Total Revenues
  $
49,340
    $
40,571
    $
141,965
    $
116,791
 
                                 
EBITDA
                               
United States
  $
9,407
    $
8,909
    $
21,011
    $
18,666
 
International*
    (1,454 )     (124 )     (3,785 )    
39
 
Total EBITDA
  $
7,953
    $
8,785
    $
17,226
    $
18,705
 
                                 
                                 
* International EBITDA includes a corporate allocation of approximately $450,000 and $252,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively, and $2.2 million and $756,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively.
 
 
5

 
CoStar Group, Inc.    
 
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets   
 
(in thousands)    
 
             
   
September 30,
   
December 31,
 
   
2007
   
2006
 
   
(Unaudited)
       
ASSETS
           
Current assets:
           
  Cash and cash equivalents
  $
43,262
    $
38,159
 
  Short-term investments
   
120,981
     
119,989
 
  Accounts receivable, net
   
10,719
     
9,202
 
  Deferred income taxes
   
7,904
     
7,904
 
  Prepaid and other current assets
   
4,256
     
3,497
 
Total current assets
   
187,122
     
178,751
 
                 
Deferred income taxes
   
494
     
6,973
 
Property and equipment, net
   
21,302
     
18,407
 
Intangible and other assets, net
   
90,485
     
69,669
 
Deposits and other assets
   
2,336
     
1,637
 
Total assets
  $
301,739
    $
275,437
 
                 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
               
Current liabilities:
               
  Accounts payable and accrued expenses
  $
23,276
    $
15,328
 
  Deferred revenue
   
10,594
     
8,817
 
Total current liabilities
   
33,870
     
24,145
 
                 
Deferred income taxes
   
942
     
1,182
 
                 
Stockholders' equity
   
266,927
     
250,110
 
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity
  $
301,739
    $
275,437
 
 
 
                                           
Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures with 2006-2007 Quarterly Results
(in millions) 
   
   2006 
   
2007
 
   
Q1
   
Q2
   
Q3
   
Q4
   
Q1
   
Q2
   
Q3
 
                                           
Net income
  $
1.9
    $
2.3
    $
4.7
    $
3.5
    $
1.8
    $
1.2
    $
3.3
 
Purchase amortization
   
1.4
     
1.4
     
1.3
     
1.3
     
1.6
     
1.8
     
1.8
 
Depreciation and other amortization
   
1.4
     
1.5
     
1.6
     
1.9
     
2.0
     
2.1
     
2.3
 
Interest income, net
    (1.4 )     (1.6 )     (1.8 )     (1.9 )     (1.9 )     (1.9 )     (2.1 )
Income tax expense, net
   
1.4
     
1.7
     
3.0
     
2.4
     
1.5
     
1.0
     
2.7
 
EBITDA
  $
4.7
    $
5.3
    $
8.8
    $
7.2
    $
5.0
    $
4.2
    $
8.0
 
 
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About CoStar Group, Inc.

CoStar Group, Inc. (Nasdaq - CSGP) is the number one provider of information services to commercial real estate professionals in the United States as well as the United Kingdom.  CoStar's suite of services offers customers access via the Internet to the most comprehensive database of commercial real estate information throughout the U.S. as well as in the United Kingdom and France.   Headquartered in Bethesda, MD, the company has approximately 1,300 employees, including the largest professional research organization in the industry.  For more information, visit www.costar.com.
 
 

This news release includes "forward-looking statements" including, without limitation, statements regarding CoStar Group’s expectations, beliefs, intentions or strategies regarding the future. These statements are subject to many risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from these statements. More information about potential factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, those stated in CoStar Group’s filings from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including CoStar Group’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006, under the heading “Risk Factors” and CoStar Group’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2007, under the heading “Risk Factors.”  In addition to these statements, there can be no assurance that earnings growth will continue following the investments made; that revenues will continue to grow over what is now a relatively fixed cost base for our U.S. research operations; that the company is well positioned to generate continued, sustained earnings leverage through the end of 2008; that the company’s management team will be able to successfully execute the company’s earnings growth strategy; that the company will achieve a 30% EBITDA margin in its U.S. operation by the end of 2008; that 2007 non-cash equity compensation expense will be as stated in this press release; that sequential quarterly revenue growth rates for the fourth quarter of 2007 will be as stated in this press release; that fourth quarter 2007 fully diluted net income per share will be as stated in this press release; or that the company will be able to successfully continue to leverage and grow earnings from U.S. operations through 2008 as a result of nearly completing earlier reported step-ups in investment activity combined with consistent core revenue growth.  All forward-looking statements are based on information available to CoStar Group on the date hereof, and CoStar Group assumes no obligation to update such statements.
 
 
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