While the mortgage meltdown inflicts pain on companies like Countrywide Financial
Late last week, Dolan reported its fiscal second-quarter results. Revenues came in at $37.1 million, up 33% over the past year. Net loss came in at $21.9 million, or $2.34 per share, compared to $8.4 million, or $0.90 per share. A charge of $26.3 million on its redeemable preferred stock had a significant impact on the net loss. However, the adjusted EBITDA was $10.1 million, which was a 33.2% increase from the same period a year ago.
Dolan Media operates more than 60 publications and 53 websites for the legal profession. The company also has a mortgage default processing platform, which is focused on Michigan and Indiana.
Since the early 1990s, Dolan has completed 38 acquisitions. In other words, the company knows how to spot opportunities and integrate them within its growing organization. And as a public company, Dolan has even more resources for its deal making.
But the savviest deals have been for Dolan's foreclosure processing segment. The company has built a solid technology platform and has acquired the operations of several law firms. In fact, the mortgage segment saw its revenues soar 85.5% in Q2.
The foreclosure business also has connections with other parts of Dolan. For example, a foreclosure filing must have a public notice, which Dolan can certainly handle through its myriad publications. Furthermore, the company has extensive relationships with law firms, which are increasingly outsourcing foreclosure processing because of the spike in activity.
All in all, Dolan is a well-thought-out business. It has diverse revenue sources, and its content offerings are essential for customers. And with the foreclosure wave expected to continue for several years, it looks like Dolan should sustain its steady growth rate.
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