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Where You Should Put Your Money in a Bear Market

Benzinga

After more than a decade of astronomical growth, the stock market has steadily declined since early 2022. On June 13, the S&P 500 plunged into a bear market, closing by slightly less than 4%, representing a 21% drop from Jan. 3 high. Technology and Blue-chip stocks got hit as severely, with the NASDAQ plunging 4.7% and Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) shedding roughly 3%. Red-hot inflation, volatile market, recession fears, and global uncertainties driven by the Ukrainian war have further exacerbated the situation. Consequently, despite a considerable rebound, investors’ pessimism persists. Naturally, it’s okay to grow uneasy during a market downturn, especially if you’re a newbie or an average investor. However, you need to understand that bear markets are inevitable and not uncommon. In fact, despite the market or economic downturn that characterizes a bear market, it can present an excellent opportunity to earn returns if you have the right portfolio mix. Benzinga looks at where you should put your money in a bear market and how these investments will support your financial goals. Where to Put Your Money in a Bear Market The best approach to mitigate or manage a persistent bear market run is to invest in stocks with relatively low volatility and a long history of dividend growth. Most of these stocks are found in defensive sectors, including healthcare, consumer staples, utilities, defense, and some real estate equities. Furthermore, short-term debt securities, cash and money markets, and precious metals offer a stable and less volatile investment alternative for a bear market. A look at a few stocks to consider during a bear run. CVS Health Corp (CVS: NYSE) Coca-Cola Co (KO: NYSE) General Dynamics Corp (GD: NYSE) Real Income Corp (O: NYSE) T-Mobile US (TMUS: NASDAQ). CVS Health Corp (CVS: NYSE) Market Cap: $125.47B Current Price: $95.49 Yield: 2.31% Beta: 0.76% Traditionally whenever the stock market is in a tale spin, the healthcare sector offers a haven for investors. As a defensive healthcare stock, CVS Health possesses a unique profile that makes it outstanding compared to other healthcare stocks. While most recognize it as a retail pharmacy chain, its services go deeper and encompass pharmacy benefit management and health insurance provision. This multi-faceted business model and robust clinical responsibility signify an excellent prospect for long-term growth. Additionally, this stock offers relatively low volatility with a 0.76% Beta. For the year-to-date average through July, shares were off 7.55%, which still beats the S&P 500 by roughly 6% points. This resilience makes CVS Health a significant bear market stock. Tips: Beta is a key volatility metric measuring how a stock trades relative to S&P 500. Generally, low-beta stocks lag in a bull run and hold up better in a bear run. Coca-Cola Co (KO: NYSE) Market Cap: 278.18B Current Price: $63.74 Yield: 2.77% Beta: 0.64 Coca-Cola Co (KO: NYSE) remains a formidable giant in the defensive consumer discretionary sector. Its blue-chip pedigree, 61 years of dividend growth, and bullishness are unmatched by any other stock in this sector. Aside from being an S&P 500 dividend aristocrat, it is also a vital member of the Dow Jones Industrial Average — this further reinforces its giant blue-chips status. At 9.23%, it is the fourth largest holding for the Berkshire Hathaway equity portfolio. Warren Buffet has been a shareholder since 1988. Its low-beta stock has been instrumental in preventing a downward spiral as the stock market declines. Furthermore, it gained 7.48% in the year-to-date average through July, beating the S&P 500 by about 21%. Despite its drop during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, its rebound has been impressive enough to fend off inflationary-induced bear markets. General Dynamics Corp (GD: NYSE) Market Cap: 62.95B Current Price: $227.98 Yield: 2.22% Beta: 0.84 As the 4th largest defense contractor in the United States, General Dynamics (GD: NYSE) is worth considering as a bear market stock. Its core selling point is its dependable dividends and relatively low volatility. Furthermore, its strong long-term growth potential and high share prices are vital factors. The company’s defensive market characteristics have been well-documented this year. For instance, despite the market decline, the share gained 8.91% in the year-to-date average through July. During the same period, the S&P 500 dropped 13.34%. That is, it beats the S&P 500 by 22.25% points. With over 31 years of consecutive dividend raises and a long-term focus on growth through sales increases and share buy-back, it only makes sense for shareholders to trust this stock during a bear run. Realty Income Corp (O: NYSE) Market Cap:$44.51B Current Price: $72.80 Yield:4.08% Beta: 0.93 With a massive 10,000 properties, Realty Income (O: NYSE) holds the most extensive net lease portfolio. However, what’s significant about Realty Income is that all its free-standing single-tenant properties are subject to the triple net lease (NNN). A substantial risk at the individual level, considering there’s only one tenant. Nevertheless, the risk potential becomes insignificant when spread over an extensive portfolio. Most rent (up to 80%) comes from retail properties, while the remaining comes from mainly industrial assets and warehouses. Over the years, the company has expanded to include the United Kingdom and Spain while diversifying its portfolio mix. As far as dividend goes, this company is dependable, having maintained an annual raise for 25 consecutive years. This dividend is often collected monthly like a paycheck. This company’s shares don’t go on sale very often, so when you come across it, endeavor to grab it as it’s one of the best REIT stocks for a bear market. T-Mobile US Inc (TMUS: NASDAQ) Market Cap:$179.34B Current Price: $143.35 Yield: N/A Beta: 0.83 Most telecommunications stocks are inherently defensive. T-Mobile is, however, outstanding, thanks to its incredible price upside. Its 2020 merger with Sprint helps the company establish itself as a telecommunications giant enabling it to become more innovative. For instance, Sprint’s trove of mid-band spectrum brought to the company facilitated the building of its next-gen 5G network. This gives T-Mobile a competitive advantage over AT&T and Verizon. Furthermore, the company innovates its approach to service plans, as reflected in subscriber acquisition. T-MUS averaged 22.74% year-to-date through July compared to -13.34 for the S&P 500, a 36.08% difference. In fact, if the company’s recent past is a viable indicator, T-Mobile stands as one of the best bear stocks. Besides defensive stocks, other alternative investment sources you can leverage to earn return during a bear run are: Cash and Money Market As an average investor, after a few months of bear run, it might be a good idea to offload your equity-heavy portfolio so it doesn’t financially bleed further. The cash or money market is one of the best places to set aside funds from your equity sell-off. Cash accounts (bank or credit union savings accounts) present little to no risk since they’re not tied to the stock market. A money market account offered as a deposit through the bank or mutual funds is also a great holding place. Both provide an avenue to earn interest without worrying about fluctuations and make for flexibility. For instance, once you feel comfortable with the market situation, you can easily pull out the money and reinvest it. Short-term Debt Short-term securities like the U.S. Treasuries or government bonds have an inverse relationship with the market. So during a fall in stock prices, their prices rise. During a bear run, trading strategies among investors shift towards safety, creating a higher volume of the U.S. Treasuries held by investors. This causes a price increase that stabilizes investors’ portfolios. Therefore, investing your trade equity in short-term securities makes sense. However, not all bonds are created equal during a bear run, so avoid high-end corporate bonds and go for short-duration debts. Precious Metals Unlike currency that can drop in value due to federal government monetary policy like printing more money, precious metals ( gold, silver, and many more) retain their inherent value during a bear market since they have a finite supply. They can therefore serve as a hedge against inflation in the market. You can gain exposure to this asset class through physical ownership or invest in an ETF like iShares Silver Trust ETF (SLV: NYSE Arca) containing these metals. What is a Bear Market? A bear market occurs when a broad market index or stock price drops by 20% or more after hitting a recent high. It is usually characterized by a prolonged drop in investment prices due to investors’ pessimism and low confidence in the market. The term “bear market” commonly refers to the overall negative performance of the S&P 500 — regarded as the benchmark indicator of the entire stock market. Nevertheless, the term can be used for any stock index ( NASDAQ Composite, Dow Jones Industrial Average, FTSE 100 Index, and many more) or individual stocks with a drop of at least 20% from their recent high. For instance, during the dot-com bubble, the NASDAQ fell by over 75% from a high of about 581% and plunged into a bear market. The stock market can hit a bear run for various reasons — widespread investor speculations, a weak or slowing economy, geopolitical crisis, irresponsible lending, pandemics, war, over-leveraged investing, oil price movements, and many more. For instance, the 2020 bear market resulted from the global COVID-19 pandemics. While the bear market is tricky to anticipate or manage, the tell-tale signs are always there for intelligent investors to discern. It often starts with a regular stock market dip, followed by a correction, then perhaps premature bargain-hunting. When the trend becomes apparent to an average investor, stock prices have already tumbled, making it tricky to manage or mitigate. Although unavoidable, bear markets are short-lived, the average duration is roughly 344 days with a loss threshold of 32.1% compared to 1605 days and 152.6% gain for bull markets. Always remember that, although a bull market can run for a long duration, they don’t last forever. So while relishing your gain during a bull run, always tighten your belt and prepare if the market direction changes to a bear run. Tips: For clarity, a bear market is not the same as a stock market correction. Although often used interchangeably, both define the different magnitude of negative market performance. While a market correction involves at least a 10% drop in stock prices or broad market index, a bear market occurs at the 20% threshold. A market correction is upgraded to a bear market once it reaches or exceeds this threshold. How to Invest in a Bear Market Let your Money match your Investment Goals. Before investing, you need to define the purpose of your investment. A college education? A retirement? And many more. Answering these questions will help you structure your portfolio to match your goal. For instance, the down payments for your dream home, money needed in the short term, and cash you can’t afford to lose are better invested in relatively stable assets like certificates of deposit (CDs), money market funds, and treasuries. A mix of CDs and investment-grade bonds can serve mid-term goals (4-5 years), while the money you don’t need for a long duration (longer than five years ) can be put into volatile assets like stocks. Rebalance and Reassess your portfolio The bear market presents an excellent opportunity to reassess your portfolio. For instance, if you’re holding a lot of growth or small-to-mid-cap stocks, it might be time to let go of some of them. The reason is that growth or small-to-mid-caps businesses lack the financial muscle to survive a red-hot inflationary induced bear market. Nevertheless, the idea is not to sell off immediately, as a bear run can present viable opportunities for such stocks. So reassess the situation at your discretion. You can increase your bond holdings in the short run since it guarantees stability while keeping an eye on value vs. growth stock for the long run. Resist the Urge to Sell off all your Equity For some investors, especially newbies, once a bear run becomes evident, they tend to sell off everything and move all positions to cash. While this is a great way to protect your money, it’s been proven over time to be counterproductive in the long run. This approach makes little difference in a low-inflation or low-interest environment. Considering the bear market’s short-lived nature, you may lose more money as cash during a high but short inflation period. So regardless of how dismal the market may looks, hold on for at least a few months or less. Diversify your Portfolio Every bear market has a segment that’s hit the hardest. While such a segment can’t be predicted ahead of time, you can prepare beforehand or even prevent it by diversifying across asset classes and within the equity market. Diversification implies that your portfolio has a wide variety of investment-grade bonds encompassing corporate, Treasuries, municipal, and possibly foreign issues. Additionally, these bonds should have different maturity from short-term to mid-term. That way, you’ll always have bond maturing and providing reinvestment or upkeep money at any time. Your long-term investment should encompass a broad array of domestic stocks. These include big and small stocks, fast-growing and dividend-paying stocks, and international stocks. Furthermore, it should also include REITs and commodities. These stock mixes offer exposure to asset classes moving at different times and speeds. Stay the Course Investment is a long-term game, so your action during the market decline will largely determine your overall performance over time. The most reasonable approach to a bear run is to wait it out. It can be challenging, with the news headline blaring all day and friends and families selling off. However, your little patience may be rewarded over time. You mustn’t tamper with your investment if you’re in a retirement account like 401(k) or IRA. Else you’ll regret it when the market rebounds. Seek a Reliable Professional Professionals can clarify your assets mix or how to react to a sudden downturn. So, seek professional guidance if you’re not confident of your approach to structuring your portfolio or tend to respond brashly to a bear run. Great financial professionals can help overhaul your portfolio and mix it up to withstand the most market-crashing downturn. Get Help from an Advisor The market uncertainties that characterize a bear market mean that finding a dependable investment to put your money in can be challenging. However, with the Benzinga guide, you can easily find and choose an investment portfolio that guarantees maximum returns without hassles. Frequently Asked Questions Where do you put your money in a market crash? Various stocks perform well during a bear run. They’re considered defensive stocks and profitable investment assets during a bear run. Nevertheless, you can also leverage short-term debt like Treasuries and money market funds. Should you hold through a bear market? Bear markets last only a short time, so it makes sense to hold through a bear market, especially as this will enable you to jump in and earn returns once the market rebounds. Nevertheless, this may depend on the specific stock type and how deep the market falls. Contact Details Benzinga +1 877-440-9464 info@benzinga.com Company Website http://www.benzinga.com

August 05, 2022 10:44 AM Eastern Daylight Time

How Fellow Investors Are Dealing With the Bear Market

Benzinga

The Dow Jones Industrial Average index has dropped less than 20% since its all-time high. The technical definition of a bear market is prices dropping 20% or more. Theoretically, it may not be a bear market, but some companies have lost more than 70% of their market value. Some investors believe that the best time to start investing in stocks is during a crash. Falling prices may be a good opportunity to buy the dip in a bull run, but it’s a catastrophic strategy when the price has reversed. Some investors get caught in the hype of rising prices, failing to realize that bear markets follow rallies. Macroeconomic factors such as inflation, a cooled-off housing market and geopolitical tensions hint that a stock market crash could be imminent. Several major corporations have lost 70% of their market value, making investors jittery about further losses. While panic-stricken investors scramble to save what’s left of their portfolios, you can deploy several strategies to protect your financial portfolio to minimize losses and potentially profit from a market crash. How Are Investors Handling the Bear Market? A bear market may take years to reach the bottom. That gives investors wanting to buy at the lowest prices sufficient time to prepare. But investors already in the market are seeking defensive strategies. Several options are available to investors navigating a bear market to the most favorable outcome. Rebalance Your Portfolio An effective diversified portfolio consists of several asset classes. It’s known as an all-weather portfolio because it offsets asset price declines in one market with the profits in another market. Investors should build a portfolio that consists of stocks, commodities, precious metals and bonds. But further measures can be taken during market crashes to alleviate the blow. If your investments are solely in stocks, you can sell the poorly performing stocks and opt for a defensive stock sector such as utilities and healthcare, which usually perform well during bear markets. Government bonds have proven to provide returns during recessions. And gold’s value has historically risen against a falling U.S. dollar. Some experts consider the ideal portfolio weight to be 40% long-term bonds, 15% intermediate bonds, 30% equities, 7.5% gold and another 7.5% in diversified commodities. Sell Your Holdings The technical definition of a bear market is security prices dropping 20% or more. The market has revealed that it can drop further than that and form a v-bottom, then rally to new highs. But risk-averse investors may not be able to handle volatility, so the best option might be to sell. Selling your assets can be the right strategy if you’re unknowledgeable about alternative investments. Having cash when prices have plummeted puts you in an advantageous position. It enables you to buy assets at what some investors call discounted prices. However, timing the market can be challenging as prices can always fall lower. Short Assets Investors can make money in financial markets when prices rise and fall. Shorting stocks is a trading strategy enabling investors to open a sell position because they expect prices to fall. It requires opening an account with a day-trading broker that provides margin trading so that you can borrow money. This strategy is more suitable for experienced traders as it requires a technical and fundamental analysis to determine if the market is bearish. When shorting stocks, you borrow shares of a stock that you believe its value will decrease. You sell borrowed shares to buyers willing to pay the market price. But you must return the borrowed shares, so you ideally buy them at lower prices. If your buy position is priced lower than the short position, the difference is your profit. Short selling is considered a high-risk practice. Dollar Cost Averaging Knowing when to get out of the market or how to diversify a portfolio is challenging even for fund managers. If you don’t want to sell any of your assets but want to minimize risk, dollar cost averaging may be a sound defensive strategy when prices are falling. Dollar cost averaging entails investing a fixed dollar amount regularly, irrespective of the price. This strategy helps you to buy securities at various prices. The key advantage is that you are aiming to buy more shares at low prices and fewer shares at high prices. It may help lower your average cost per share, reduce the impact of volatility on your portfolio and instill in you the habit of consistent investing. Best Investments for a Bear Market Certain assets have proven to be a hedge against recessions. They’ve offered downside protection by limiting losses. Bonds: Stock investors expecting a slump in the market may opt for bonds. Bond prices tend to move in the opposite direction of stocks. Investors should have a mixture of long-term and short-term bonds to offset equity losses. Gold: Precious metals such as gold and silver have often advanced during economic hardships. Gold’s value usually increases during inflation and when the stock market plummets. A dollar’s value can drop to zero, but gold will probably always have a value. Utility and healthcare stocks: Regardless of economic conditions, individuals require energy and healthcare. Companies providing those resources are less likely to experience drastic decreases in revenue. Some investors are apprehensive about risking large amounts during bear markets, so they opt for minimal investments in the best penny stocks. Is Copy Trading a Good Idea? Copy trading enables traders to gain insight into how professional traders analyze markets. It provides confirmation for traders uncertain about a particular position. Beginners benefit the most from copy trading as it enables them to emulate the trades of professionals and potentially profit without needing skills or time to analyze markets. They can even do it while they’re mobile via investment apps. Compare the Best Brokers for a Bear Market Ensure your investing strategies are effective in a bear market by using a reliable broker. Benzinga has compared the best online brokers to help you minimize losses and reduce risk. Investors interested in capitalizing on currency volatility can check out Benzinga’s forex broker comparison. Frequently Asked Questions What should investors do in a bear market? Investing in a bear market requires investors to protect themselves by diversifying their portfolios, practicing dollar cost averaging and investing in hedge instruments such as bonds, gold and defense sector stocks — utilities and health care. Is the U.S. in a bear market? The Dow Jones Industrial Average index has dropped less than 20% since its all-time high. The technical definition of a bear market is prices dropping 20% or more. Theoretically, it may not be a bear market, but some companies have lost more than 70% of their market value. Some investors believe that the best time to start investing in stocks is during a crash. Contact Details Benzinga +1 877-440-9464 info@benzinga.com Company Website http://www.benzinga.com

August 05, 2022 09:30 AM Eastern Daylight Time

The Top 4 Credit Cards for Everyone’s Wallet

Benzinga

Finding the best credit cards for your lifestyle isn’t always easy. Fortunately, these four make a great place to start. Secured Credit Card A secured credit card is a type of credit card backed by a cash deposit. The deposit acts as collateral to protect the lender if you default and don’t make repayments. Secured credit cards are simple: After you deposit cash, the lender issues a credit line often equal to your security deposit. Then, you use the card and pay it off like any other card. When you close the account or graduate to an unsecured card, you receive your deposit back. Secured credit cards make great options for credit card beginners and anyone with a poor or no credit history. Because the issuer reports the card to credit bureaus, secured cards can boost your score quickly. As you try to improve your credit, the cash-backed credit limit helps to build responsible credit habits. Cashback Card Cashback credit cards offer cash rewards on everyday purchases. Most rewards take the form of dollars or points and operate on a percentage basis. (For instance, earning 2% cashback or 2x points on every dollar spent.) You can usually redeem your rewards for a check, bank transfer, or credit statement. Cashback cards come in three main flavors: Flat-rate cards offer the same cash back on every purchase (usually 1-2%), making them ideal if you want cashback without complicated reward programs. Bonus category or tiered cards offer “tiers” of rewards depending on where or what you buy. (For example, 2% on dining out, 3% on groceries, etc.) You may prefer a tiered card if you tend to shop at specific retailers. Rotating rewards cards change their bonus categories quarterly or yearly. You may like rotating rewards cards if you’re highly organized and want to earn more cashback on seasonal purchases. Cashback cards make it easy to earn money on the money you’d spend anyway – helping you “save” through shopping. Gas Card Gas stations may issue gas credit cards that offer discounts, rewards and perks for filling up. Many, like those offered by Shell or ExxonMobil, offer 5-10 cents off per gallon. Gas cards tend to operate more like store cards in that you can only use them at particular stations or brands. Gas station credit cards can help you earn cashback on gas while curbing your credit use. Due to their limited acceptance, you can also use them to establish or rebuild your credit without worrying that you’ll overspend. Travel Points Card Travel points cards make some of the best rewards cards for frequent travelers. As the name suggests, they help you earn travel-specific rewards and discounts. Depending on the card, you may receive points or miles on every dollar spent that can help you score free or discounted: Airline tickets Airport lounge stays Hotel stays Car rentals Meals Or upgrades For many people, travel rewards cards make it easy to save up for that much-needed vacation. Some travel points cards also offer redemption options for non-travel expenses, though your points may not go as far. How Do Credit Cards Help You Achieve Your Financial Goals? Your credit cards can work for or against your financial goals. It all depends on how you manage your spending. Build Your Credit Score You can use credit cards (especially secured cards) to build your credit score and responsible credit habits at the same time. In time, you may qualify for better interest rates or larger loans, such as a car or home loan. Boost Your Savings with Everyday Spending Rewards cards make it easy to earn cashback and travel points on everyday purchases. The key is finding cards that align with your spending habits and advance your financial goals. You can use the cash or points saved to cover your holiday shopping, save for your future, enjoy a free vacation, or reduce your grocery bill. And if you pay off your bill monthly, you’ll enjoy all these perks without paying interest or fees. Safeguard Against Fraud Most credit cards now offer built-in fraud protection, too. Aside from letting you off the hook for fraudulent purchases, they may also provide identity theft protection. Defending your financial status from scammers helps you stay on track with your financial goals. Track Spending More Easily Credit cards also make it easier to tally up your monthly budget. When you pay for purchases with cards, it’s difficult to keep track of all your receipts. But with a credit card, you can use the online or mobile app to break down your spending by category, simplifying the budgeting process. Compare the best credit cards for you Finding the best credit card can be a hassle – but not with Benzinga. We make it easy to shop and compare credit cards that fit your lifestyle. Frequently Asked Questions What type of credit card is most widely accepted? Visa and Mastercard tie for the most widely-accepted credit card by global merchant acceptance at 52.9 million apiece. Discover comes in second with 44 million merchants. What is the best option for credit cards? The best credit card is the one that meets your needs. For instance, while cashback cards can help your savings goals, secured credit cards make it easy to control spending and build credit. Contact Details Benzinga +1 877-440-9464 info@benzinga.com Company Website http://www.benzinga.com

August 05, 2022 09:17 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Shining a Light on One of the Fastest-Growing Companies in Solar Energy Space On the OTCQB

SinglePoint Inc.

Governments worldwide are finally injecting serious funding into renewable energy, and consumer demand is seemingly shifting toward sustainable and healthier solutions. Now, an industry of hundreds of smaller, local players could see intense competition over the next few years. That’s why SinglePoint Inc. (OTCQB: SING) says it has been leveraging an aggressive acquisition and partnership strategy to build a nationwide renewable energy network. This pairs with their goal of providing healthy living solutions with a current focus on solar energy and air purification. With a large-scale network and a synergistic portfolio of products and services that offer tons of opportunities for cross-selling, SinglePoint reports that it is increasing rapidly and ready for the competition. SinglePoint’s Gamble On A Sustainable Future Could Pay Off Big This Year While the Company has not achieved profitability yet, it’s been using capital raised from stockholders and other sources to fund an acquisition and partnership strategy that is starting to yield results. The Company has acquired five subsidiaries, including Energy Wyze, BOX Pure Air, Direct Solar America, Ecodaptive, and Boston Solar. In addition, the Company is in the process of closing the Frontline Power Solutions acquisition. SinglePoint achieved $1.5 million in revenue reported in the first quarter of this year. That represents a 650% growth over the $239,000 in revenue it reported in the first quarter of 2021. That’s just the start of what SinglePoint described as a breakout year for the Company. BOX Pure Air, for example, accounted for nearly all of the Company’s first-quarter revenue, and it’s expected to generate $10 million to $12 million for SinglePoint by the end of 2022. As an approved supplier of air purifiers under the U.S. Department of Education’s Emergency Assistance to Non-Public Schools (EANS) program, BOX Pure Air received a $5 million award, with deliveries slated to start in the third quarter. Launched in 2021 with an initial budget of $2.75 billion, EANS is meant to help eligible non-public schools around the country fund health and safety upgrades. Ranging from improving indoor air quality to providing personal protective equipment (PPE) and everything in between. In addition to the anticipated BOX Pure Air revenue, SinglePoint is targeting another $25 million from The Boston Solar Co. this year, a recent acquisition with a multimillion-dollar backlog of solar and energy storage projects. While the Company is still pursuing acquisitions, SinglePoint has also reported planning to use the projected revenue from 2022 to invest in its subsidiaries to grow that revenue further and leverage the existing synergies. In June, for example, SinglePoint added Ecodaptive Inc. to its portfolio through the Boston Solar acquisition. The Clean Energy Company is developing the SunRAYS Energy Program in Massachusetts to empower traditionally underserved communities to benefit from solar energy without the upfront investment it usually requires. Twenty-two states have policies to incentivize community solar programs. More than half of U.S. households cannot invest in solar because of a lack of financing, insufficient roof space, or limited sunlight to make individual solar systems viable. For those households, programs that spread the cost and share the benefits will make going solar a feasible and realistic option. Capitalizing on national and consumer interest in community renewable energy programs, SunRAYS will use a roof-lease structure. That means homeowners won’t need to pay upfront installation costs. As an additional bonus, the homeowners will get paid through lease agreements to install solar on their rooftops. Along with regional energy providers like Eversource Energy (NYSE: ES) and National Grid plc (NYSE: NGG), the pilot program is a pioneer in solving some distribution problems holding renewable energy markets back. By installing the solar panels on the rooftops in the communities where that power will get used, fewer high-voltage interconnections and power transmitters are needed to move that energy from its source to its end user. Singlepoint Inc is a bright light in the solar space as one of the fastest growing publicly traded solar companies in the U.S. Based on their incredible journey over the last two years; it will be interesting to see what happens next. Under the leadership of CEO Wil Ralston and his team, this Company is said to have executed superbly on its business plan. A business plan the Company looks to continue for the foreseeable future. About SinglePoint Inc (OTCQB:SING) SinglePoint Inc.(www.singlepoint.com) is a renewable energy and sustainable lifestyle company focused on providing environmentally friendly energy efficiencies and healthy living solutions. SinglePoint is initially focused on building the largest network of renewable energy solutions and modernizing the traditional solar and energy storage model. The Company is also actively exploring future growth opportunities in air purification, electric vehicle charging, solar as a subscription service, and additional energy efficiencies and appliances that enhance sustainability and a healthier life. For more information, visit the Company's website (www.singlepoint.com) and connect on social media for the latest updates. This post contains sponsored advertising content. This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be investing advice. Contact Details SinglePoint Inc. TraDigital IR Investors@SinglePoint.com TraDigital IR Rick Lutz rick@tradigitalir.com Company Website http://www.tradigitalir.com

August 05, 2022 08:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

This Is How Often You Should Change Your Insurance Plans

Benzinga

As you move through life, your wants, needs and long-term goals will change with your lifestyle. Often, that means your insurance requirements evolve, too. Knowing when to change insurance carriers or plans ensures your coverage stays in line with your busy life. Here are a few important considerations when you need to shop for insurance. How Often Should You Change Your Insurance Plans? As a general rule, it’s wise to review your insurance plans: Every 6-12 months or once per coverage period Anytime your insurer hikes premium costs or slashes benefits When you experience a major event that impacts your coverage needs, like: Moving to a new house or region Making a major purchase (vehicles, fine jewelry) A birth or death in the immediate family Any of these reasons is enough to change insurance plans or carriers. Updating your coverage to match your needs (and your budget) ensures you protect the people and possessions you value most. But while cash is king, getting a good deal isn’t everything – the content of your policy matters, too. Sometimes, it’s worth paying a little more for your peace of mind. Benzinga explores a few potential reasons to change insurance carriers. You Can Find Cheaper Rates Elsewhere Regularly shopping for insurance helps you sniff out the carriers that offer better rates or discounts. Compare offers from at least three to five companies to ensure you’re getting the best deal on coverage. You’ve Recently Moved You may need to change insurance carriers when you move, especially if the move impacts your rates or coverage. Not all insurers operate in all regions – and even if yours does, your rates may rise based on location. For instance, you may pay higher auto insurance premiums in more populated areas. You Experience a Qualifying Event or Lifestyle Change Generally, you should reevaluate your coverage anytime you experience a “qualifying event” or major milestone like: Getting married or divorced Adding your teenager to your auto insurance Having or adopting a baby Retirement Whether you need more coverage, less coverage or a more affordable policy, consider such events an opportunity to evaluate and change insurance plans or carriers to fit your new lifestyle. Your Insurance Carrier Changes its Terms Maybe it’s not you who changes but your insurer. Carriers periodically update their geographic policies, prices, coverage offerings and accepted service providers. While the company may suggest alternatives, there’s no guarantee a replacement will suit your needs. You might as well take that opportunity to shop for insurance on your own. Your Provider Stops Accepting Insurance Health insurance is particularly finicky, with providers, insurers and in-network hospitals in flux. Maybe your doctor stops accepting Medicare insurance – or your Medicare plan stops paying for your doctor. Either way, you’ll have to switch insurance plans, doctors or both. Poor Customer Service or Claims Experiences When you’re paying your premiums, your insurance company is happy to take your money. But when you actually need to make a claim, you may find that it is reluctant to pay out. If you have to go through a major hassle to make a claim, receive your funds or just get a call back, it’s time to reconsider your carrier. Which Insurance Plans Should Change Regularly? You should review and compare insurance at least once a year, regardless of the type of policy. But some plans may need to change more – or less – frequently. Homeowners Shopping for homeowner’s insurance at least once a year ensures you don’t miss a better deal elsewhere. You may also change insurance carriers when your rates increase or you move to a new city. Making expensive renovations or purchases that require enhanced coverage also provides opportunities to change insurance plans. Auto Car insurance policies may not last a full year; some offer six-month plans. Either way, it’s wise to re-shop your auto insurance before every renewal, as car insurance rates famously fluctuate on a dime. Time, location, your driving history and even accidents that aren’t your fault can impact your individual premiums. Health Health insurance is a bit unique because many insurers limit plan switches or sign-ups to their annual open enrollment period. However, special exceptions exist for “qualifying life events” like marriage and divorce, having children, losing work coverage or moving to a new zip code. Life Life insurance pays out when the policyholder dies. Because it’s designed to pay for end-of-life expenses, lost income and housing costs, it’s crucial to buy enough coverage to secure your family’s future. On top of your annual evaluation, consider whether other life events impact your coverage needs, like: Your age and relationship status Having a baby Buying a home You might need to switch if your rates rise or you need higher coverage amounts. You may also want to switch to a different type of policy, such as moving from whole to permanent life insurance). Business Business insurance is a must for business owners to cover property damage, liability and business interruption costs. Because business needs are change, you may need to shop for insurance more than once a year. For instance, when you hire more employees, move to a new office or release new products, it’s probably time to increase your coverage or change insurance carriers. Compare Insurance Companies If you’re ready to shop for insurance plans, Benzinga has the insights you need to make an informed decision, from pet insurance to vision insurance. Frequently Asked Questions How frequently can you change car insurance? You can change car insurance as often as you need. You may have to pay a cancellation fee if you leave your current carrier in the middle of a policy. When should you switch insurance companies? You should consider switching insurance companies at least once a year to ensure you’re getting the best rates and coverage. You should actually make the switch when you can get better value elsewhere. Contact Details Benzinga +1 877-440-9464 info@benzinga.com Company Website http://www.benzinga.com

August 04, 2022 02:58 PM Eastern Daylight Time

How This Leader in Real Estate Tokenization Can Help Close the Home Ownership Gap with Blockchain

Benzinga

Check out RealT’s geographical listings here, and click here to get started. Purchasing a home has often been regarded as a hallmark of individual success. According to research firm YouGov, 74% of Americans say they place the highest priority on owning a home, ranking it above having a successful career, owning an automobile and — surprisingly — retiring. Providing a perfect roadmap to discontent are the harsh realities obstructing the millennial’s path toward this goal. According to a 2019 study, nearly 70% of millennials say they cannot afford a house because of rising prices. This dream-shattering reality is explained — or perhaps, compounded — by the findings that housing prices have increased by 120% since 1965 and the generational wealth gap has significantly expanded over the last couple of years. While one could understand millennials fuming over their real estate troubles, blockchain enthusiasts would be quick to counter this response. Specifically, for those engaged in the tokenization of real estate assets, like RealT, a convenient solution to their woes may be just around the corner. Like many other industries, blockchain has sparked ideas for innovating the real estate market through the concept of tokenization. Tokenization allows many investors to own small parcels of large investment properties through the purchase of digital tokens that are tied to these properties. According to a study by Hamburg Commercial Bank ( HCOB ), 13 American companies — including Citigroup Inc. (NYSE: C) and JPMorgan Chase & Co (NYSE: JPM) — have already begun doing so. RealT is among those real estate tokenization pioneers providing hope for millennial homeownership — albeit in a way they might not have expected. Tokenized Real Estate With RealT According to metrics provided to Benzinga, RealT is a leader in real estate tokenization. As of June 31, RealT tells Benzinga it has reached $49 million in sales, more than 210 tokenized properties and over 920 units in areas like Detroit, Chicago and Cleveland. Compared to other operators in tokenized assets, RealT boasts a large cohort of investors who act incredibly quickly. In fact, RealT tells Benzinga that over 9,820 investors from 135 countries have used RealT to purchase tokenized real estate. Given RealT’s extreme accessibility and the power of crowdsourcing, the average time of sale for a $1 million property listed on RealT is reportedly just six minutes! These incredible numbers reflect the excitement surrounding tokenized real estate as the future of property ownership. Throughout this sector, and within the decentralized finance (DeFi) sphere, the RealT brand has achieved worldwide notoriety, energizing and attracting an online community of 57,000 members. In less than three years, RealT has achieved the following milestones: Q3 2019: The first worldwide standardized tokenization platform Q4 2019: World’s first integration of security tokens on a decentralized exchange Q4 2020: Multichain with the launch on Gnosis Chain (then xDai) Q1 2021: Launch of the "re-investment" property Q4 2021: Launch of payments with Request Network Q1 2022: Launch of RMM, the world’s first real estate token-lending platform, through a partnership with Commutatio Holdings Ltd, a British Virgin Islands holding company established to operate RMM. RealT’s achievements with tokenized assets have reportedly made it the second-largest protocol on the Gnosis Chain, and the 133rd most important protocol in DeFi, according to the Defi Lama. Since the launch of the RealToken platform in February of last year, token owners have risen from 59 holders to 5,180, an increase of roughly 8,680%. Ready to start investing in popular properties around the U.S.? Check out RealT’s geographical listings here, and click here to get started. This post contains sponsored advertising content. This content is for informational purposes only and not intended to be investing advice. Contact Details Benzinga +1 877-440-9464 info@benzinga.com Company Website http://www.benzinga.com

August 04, 2022 12:23 PM Eastern Daylight Time

Society Pass Inc (Nasdaq: SOPA) Reports Stellar 2Q 2022 and 1H 2022 Financial Results, Recognises 5,669% Year on Year Revenue Growth from 2Q 2021 and 5,360% Year on Year Revenue Growth from 1H 2021

Society Pass Incorporated

Summary Points: Second quarter 2022 unaudited revenues grew 5,669% year on year (from $7,783 for second quarter ended 30 June 2021 to $445,090 for second quarter ended 30 June 2022). 1st half 2022 unaudited revenues grew 5,360% year on year (from $17,289 for 1st half ended 30 June 2021 to $944,152 for 1st half ended 30 June 2022). With cash on hand of $28.0 million on 30 June 2022, SoPa is well capitalised for roll out of Society Pass loyalty platform and continuing acquisitions of Southeast Asia (“SEA”) companies in lifestyle, food & beverage, digital media, and travel verticals for the rest of 2022. Since inception, SoPa has onboarded 2.1 million registered consumers and over 6,700 registered merchants/brands onto its ever-expanding platform. SoPa launched the beta version of its Society Pass loyalty platform in 2Q 2022, which drives customer acquisition and retention for merchants across SEA. Society Pass Inc. (NASDAQ: SOPA) (“SoPa”), SEA’s leading loyalty and ecommerce ecosystem, today announced that unaudited second quarter 2022 revenues grew 5,669% year on year (from $7,783 for second quarter ended 30 June 2021 to $445,090 for second quarter ended 30 June 2022). Unaudited first half 2022 revenues grew 5,360% year on year (from $17,289 for 1st half ended 30 June 2021 to $944,152 for 1st half ended 30 June 2022). Reporting cash on hand of $28.0 million on 30 June 2022, SoPa is well capitalised for roll out of the Society Pass loyalty platform and continuing acquisitions of Southeast Asia (“SEA”) companies in lifestyle, food & beverage, digital media, and travel verticals for the rest of 2022. Since inception, SoPa has amassed over 2.1 million registered consumers and over 6,700 registered merchants/brands onto its ever-expanding next generation digital ecosystem. Society Pass expects to file its 2Q 2022 Form 10-Q with the Securities and Exchange Commission later this month. During the second quarter 2022, the Company completed the acquisition of Singapore-based Gorilla Networks onto the SoPa platform, opened the Manila office, and launched the beta version of its Society Pass loyalty points platform. Remarking on Society Pass’ stellar 2Q 2022 financial performance, Society Pass Founder, Chairman and CEO, Dennis Nguyen, explains, “Our continuing robust year-on-year sales expansion substantiates our acquisitions focused operating model. Nine months after relaunch back onto the Vietnam market, Leflair continues to generate strong revenues, whilst our food and beverage (“F&B”) Pushkart and Handycart brands are establishing solid footholds in their respective markets. The acquisition of Gorilla Networks allows us to incorporate Gorilla’s blockchain and Web3 capabilities onto the SoPa ecosystem and enable the new meta-economy for all our portfolio companies. We are poised to achieve new highs in 3Q 2022 as we integrate our next generation loyalty platform onto the rest of our ecosystem as well as opportunistically acquire market leading companies in the lifestyle, F&B, travel, and digital advertising verticals.” About Society Pass As a loyalty and data marketing ecosystem in Singapore, Vietnam, Philippines, and Thailand and with offices located in Singapore, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Manila, Angeles and Bangkok, SoPa is an acquisition-focused e-commerce holding company operating 7 interconnected verticals (loyalty, merchant software, lifestyle, F&B, telecoms, digital media, and travel), which seamlessly connects millions of consumers and thousands of merchants across multiple product and service categories throughout SEA. SoPa’s business model focuses on analysing user data through its Society Pass loyalty platform and circulation of its universal loyalty points or Society Points. The Society Pass loyalty platform drives customer acquisition and retention for merchants. Since its inception, SoPa has amassed over 2.1 million registered consumers and over 6,700 registered merchants/brands onto its platform. It has invested 2+ years building proprietary IT architecture with cutting edge components to effectively scale and support its consumers, merchants, and acquisitions. Society Pass leverages technology to tailor a more personalised experience for customers in the purchase journey and to transform the entire retail value chain in Southeast Asia. SoPa operates #HOTTAB Biz and #HOTTAB POS – a Vietnam-based POS, CRM and analytics technology solutions provider for small and medium-sized enterprises, Leflair.com, Vietnam’s leading lifestyle e-commerce platform, Pushkart.ph, a popular grocery delivery company in Philippines, Handycart.vn, a leading online restaurant delivery service based in Vietnam, Gorilla Networks, a Singapore-based, web3-enabled mobile blockchain network operator, Thoughtful Media Group, a Bangkok-based, a social commerce-focused, premium digital video multi-platform network, and Mangan, the leading local restaurant delivery service in Philippines. For more information, please check out: http://thesocietypass.com/. Media Contacts: PRecious Communications sopa@preciouscomms.com As a loyalty and data marketing ecosystem, Society Pass operates multiple e-commerce platforms across its key markets in SEA. Its business model focuses on analysing user data through the expected launch of its Society Pass loyalty platform and circulation of its universal loyalty points, which seamlessly connects consumers and merchants across multiple product and service categories to foster organic loyalty. Since its inception, SoPa has amassed over 1.6 million registered consumers and over 5,500 registered merchants/brands on its platform. It has invested 2+ years building proprietary IT architecture with cutting edge components to effectively scale and support its consumers, merchants, and acquisitions.Society Pass provides merchants with #HOTTAB Biz and #HOTTAB POS – a specialized POS technology solution, a comprehensive system for payment, loyal customer management, user profile analytics, and convenient financial support packages for small and medium-sized enterprises.In addition, SoPa operates Leflair.com, Vietnam’s leading lifestyle e-commerce platform, Pushkart.ph, a popular grocery delivery company in Philippines, Handycart.vn, a leading online restaurant delivery service based in Hanoi, Vietnam, and Gorilla Networks, a Singapore-based, blockchain/web3-enabled mobile virtual network operator.For more information, please check out: http://thesocietypass.com/. This post contains sponsored advertising content. This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be investing advice. Contact Details TJ Paige +1 877-440-9464 tj@benzinga.com Company Website https://thesocietypass.com

August 04, 2022 12:04 PM Eastern Daylight Time

VTS Named to 2022 Fortune Best Workplaces in New York™ List by Great Place to Work® For Second Year in a Row

VTS

VTS – the commercial real estate industry’s (CRE) leading leasing, marketing, asset management, and tenant experience platform – today announced that Great Place to Work and Fortune have honored the company as one of this year’s Best Small and Medium Workplaces in New York for the second year in a row, coming in at 23rd place. Earning a spot on this prestigious list means that VTS is one of the best companies to work for that is headquartered in New York. This year’s Best Workplaces in New York award is based on employee feedback collected through America’s largest ongoing annual workforce study of over 1 million employee survey responses and data from companies representing more than 6.1 million U.S. employees. In that survey, 92% of VTS’ employees said VTS is a great place to work. This number is 35% higher than the average U.S. company. “VTS is incredibly proud to be honored by Fortune as one of this year’s Best Workplaces in New York for the second year in a row,” said VTS CEO Nick Romito. “The success of our company is grounded in our commitment to put our employees first and to create a work environment that enables professional growth and serves as a space that fosters creativity, inclusiveness, and transparency. We look forward to continuing to be a best-in-class workplace in the years to come.” The Best Workplaces in New York list is highly competitive. Great Place to Work, the global authority on workplace culture, selected the list using rigorous analytics and confidential employee feedback. Companies were only considered if they are a Great Place to Work-Certified™ organization and headquartered in the New York metropolitan statistical area. Great Place to Work is the only company culture award in America that selects winners based on how fairly employees are treated. Companies are assessed on how well they are creating a great employee experience that cuts across race, gender, age, disability status, or any aspect of who employees are or what their role is. “As employee demands and expectations have dramatically changed over the past year, these companies have risen to the occasion—and it’s not been easy,” says Kim Peters, executive vice president of global recognition, research & strategic partnerships at Great Place to Work. “Their hard work and dedication to listen to and care for the well-being of every employee, and support them in a way that’s meaningful to all, is the standard all organizations will be held to.” In addition to being honored as a Best Workplace in New York in 2022 and 2021, VTS has also been recognized as one of Fortune’s Best Workplaces for Millennials and named to Built In’s Best Places to Work 2021, the Forbes Cloud 100, and Glassdoor’s Highest Rated Cloud Companies List. VTS continues to experience rapid growth and is actively hiring throughout the organization. Visit vts.com/careers to learn more. About VTS VTS is the commercial real estate industry's leading technology platform that transforms how strategic decisions are made and executed across the asset lifecycle. In 2013, VTS revolutionized the commercial real estate industry's leasing operations with what is now VTS Lease. Today, the VTS Platform is the largest first-party data source in the industry and delivers data insights and solutions for everyone in commercial real estate to fuel their investment and asset strategy, leasing and marketing automation, property operations, and tenant experience. With the VTS Platform, consisting of VTS Lease, VTS Rise, VTS Data, and VTS Market, every business stakeholder in commercial real estate is given the real-time market information and executional capabilities to do their job with unparalleled speed and intelligence. VTS is the global leader with more than 60% of Class A office space in the U.S., and 12 billion square feet of office, retail, and industrial space is managed through our platform globally. VTS' user base includes over 45,000 CRE professionals and industry-leading customers such as Blackstone, Brookfield Properties, LaSalle Investment Management, Hines, BXP, Oxford Properties, JLL, and CBRE. To learn more about VTS, and to see our open roles, visit www.vts.com. About the Best Workplaces in New York ™ Great Place to Work selected the Best Workplaces in New York by gathering and analyzing confidential survey responses from its study of thousands of companies representing more than 6.1 million U.S. employees at Great Place to Work-Certified™ organizations. Companies must be headquartered in the state of New York to be eligible. Company rankings are derived from 60 employee experience questions within the Great Place to Work Trust Index ™ survey. Read the full methodology. To get on this list next year, start here. About Great Place to Work® Great Place to Work is the global authority on workplace culture. Since 1992, it has surveyed more than 100 million employees worldwide and used those deep insights to define what makes a great workplace: trust. Its employee survey platform empowers leaders with the feedback, real-time reporting and insights they need to make data-driven people decisions. Everything it does is driven by the mission to build a better world by helping every organization become a great place to work For All™. Learn more at greatplacetowork.com and on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Contact Details Marino PR Elise Szwajkowski +1 212-402-3495 eszwajkowski@marinopr.com Company Website https://www.vts.com/

August 04, 2022 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

CSG Systems International Reports Second Quarter 2022 Results

CSG

Signed One of the Largest Telecom Wins in CSG History with New Latin American Customer Successfully Migrated ~75% of New Charter Subscribers Through Q2 2022 Returned $55 Million to Shareholders via Share Repurchases & Dividends in H1 2022 CSG (NASDAQ: CSGS) today reported results for the quarter ended June 30, 2022. Financial Results: Second quarter 2022 financial results: Total revenue was $262.2 million and total non-GAAP adjusted revenue was $243.5 million. GAAP operating income was $7.3 million, or 2.8% of total revenue, and non-GAAP operating income was $36.7 million, or 15.1% of non-GAAP adjusted revenue. GAAP earnings per diluted share (EPS) was $0.17 and non-GAAP EPS was $0.84. Cash flows used in operations were ($7.7) million, with a non-GAAP free cash flow deficit of ( $17.0) million. Shareholder Returns: CSG declared its quarterly cash dividend of $0.265 per share of common stock, or a total of approximately $9 million, to shareholders. During the second quarter of 2022, CSG repurchased under its stock repurchase program, approximately 360,000 shares of its common stock for approximately $22 million. “With the backdrop of a turbulent macro-economic environment, Team CSG grew first half sales bookings more than 10% year-over-year, won several exciting new customer deals, and successfully migrated approximately 75% of the new Charter subscribers, paving the way for 3.6% year-over-year growth in both revenue and non-GAAP EPS in the first half,” said Brian Shepherd, President and Chief Executive Officer of CSG. “We also encountered challenges that eroded non-GAAP adjusted operating margin more than 1% point and impacted our cash flow in the quarter which CSG leadership is already addressing with a meaningful margin improvement initiative begun in Q2 to ensure we have strong CSG-like profitability in Q3, Q4, and beyond.” Financial Overview (unaudited) (in thousands, except per share amounts and percentages): For additional information and reconciliations regarding CSG’s use of non-GAAP financial measures, please refer to the attached Exhibit 2 and the Investor Relations section of CSG’s website at csgi.com. Results of Operations GAAP Results: Total revenue for the second quarter of 2022 was $262.2 million, a 2.8% increase when compared to revenue of $255.1 million for the second quarter of 2021. Over half of this increase is due to the revenue generated from the businesses CSG acquired in 2021, with the remaining amount attributed to the continued organic growth of CSG’s revenue management solutions. GAAP operating income for the second quarter of 2022 was $7.3 million, or 2.8% of total revenue, compared to $32.2 million, or 12.6% of total revenue, for the second quarter of 2021. The decrease in operating income can be primarily attributed to the $17 million increase in restructuring and reorganization charges. The second quarter of 2022 restructuring and reorganization charges related primarily to real estate restructurings as CSG continues to rationalize its real estate footprint to reflect a flexible work approach, and impairments related to the dissolution of CSG’s controlling interest in MobileCard, as the investment was not meeting its projected targets. GAAP EPS for the second quarter of 2022 was $0.17, as compared to $0.60 for the second quarter of 2021. The decrease in GAAP EPS can be mainly attributed to the factors discussed above. Non-GAAP Results: Non-GAAP adjusted revenue for the second quarter of 2022 was $243.5 million, a 2.1% increase when compared to non-GAAP adjusted revenue of $238.5 million for the second quarter of 2021. The increase in non-GAAP adjusted revenue between periods is due to the factors discussed above. Non-GAAP operating income for the second quarter of 2022 was $36.7 million, or 15.1% of total non-GAAP adjusted revenue, compared to $39.8 million, or 16.7% of total non-GAAP adjusted revenue for the second quarter of 2021. The decreases in operating income and operating income margin can be mainly attributed to the businesses acquired in 2021, as those businesses are operating at a lower operating margin level than CSG’s organic business and require time to realize the expected synergies, increased staffing related to recently closed large deals and upcoming projects, inflationary and supply chain pressures, and increased travel expenses. Non-GAAP EPS for the second quarter of 2022 was $0.84 compared to $0.82 for the second quarter of 2021. Balance Sheet and Cash Flows Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments as of June 30, 2022 were $135.0 million compared to $187.6 million as of March 31, 2022 and $233.7 million as of December 31, 2021. CSG had net cash flows from operations for the second quarters ended June 30, 2022 and 2021 of ($7.7) million and $44.5 million, respectively, and had non-GAAP free cash flow of ($17.0) million and $37.5 million, respectively. Cash flows for the second quarter of 2022 were negatively impacted by unfavorable changes in working capital. Summary of Financial Guidance CSG is updating its financial guidance for the full year 2022, as follows: For additional information and reconciliations regarding CSG’s use of non-GAAP financial measures, please refer to the attached Exhibit 2 and the Investor Relations section of CSG’s website at csgi.com. Conference Call CSG will host a conference call on Wednesday, August 3, 2022 at 5:00 p.m. ET to discuss CSG’s second quarter 2022 earnings results. The call will be conducted live and archived on the Internet. A link to the conference call is available at http://ir.csgi.com. In addition, to reach the conference by phone, call 1-888-412-4131 and use the passcode 2327393. Additional Information For information about CSG, please visit CSG’s web site at csgi.com. Additional information can be found in the Investor Relations section of the website. About CSG CSG is a leader in innovative customer engagement, revenue management and payments solutions that make ordinary customer experiences extraordinary. Our cloud-first architecture and customer-obsessed mindset help companies around the world launch new digital services, expand into new markets, and create dynamic experiences that capture new customers and build brand loyalty. For 40 years, CSG’s technologies and people have helped some of the world’s most recognizable brands solve their toughest business challenges and evolve to meet the demands of today’s digital economy with future-ready solutions that drive exceptional customer experiences. With 5,000 employees in over 20 countries, CSG is the trusted technology provider for leading global brands in telecommunications, retail, financial services, and healthcare. Our solutions deliver real world outcomes to more than 900 customers in over 120 countries. To learn more, visit us at csgi.com and connect with us on LinkedIn and Twitter. Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements as defined under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, that are based on assumptions about a number of important factors and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from what appears in this news release. Some of these key factors include, but are not limited to the following items: CSG derives approximately forty percent of its revenue from its two largest customers; Fluctuations in credit market conditions, general global economic and political conditions, and foreign currency exchange rates; CSG’s ability to maintain a reliable, secure computing environment; Continued market acceptance of CSG’s products and services; CSG’s ability to continuously develop and enhance products in a timely, cost-effective, technically advanced and competitive manner; CSG’s ability to deliver its solutions in a timely fashion within budget, particularly large and complex software implementations; CSG’s dependency on the global telecommunications industry, and in particular, the North American telecommunications industry; CSG’s ability to meet its financial expectations; Increasing competition in CSG’s market from companies of greater size and with broader presence; CSG’s ability to successfully integrate and manage acquired businesses or assets to achieve expected strategic, operating and financial goals; CSG’s ability to protect its intellectual property rights; CSG’s ability to conduct business in the international marketplace; CSG’s ability to comply with applicable U.S. and International laws and regulations; and CSG’s business may be disrupted, and its results of operations and cash flows adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. This list is not exhaustive, and readers are encouraged to review the additional risks and important factors described in CSG’s reports on Forms 10-K and 10-Q and other filings made with the SEC. For more information, contact: John Rea, Investor Relations (210) 687-4409 E-mail: john.rea@csgi.com CSG SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL, INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS-UNAUDITED (in thousands) CSG SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL, INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME-UNAUDITED (in thousands, except per share amounts) CSG SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL, INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS-UNAUDITED (in thousands) EXHIBIT 1 CSG SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL, INC. SUPPLEMENTAL REVENUE ANALYSIS Revenue by Significant Customers: 10% or more of Revenue Revenue by Vertical Revenue by Geography EXHIBIT 2 CSG SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL, INC. DISCLOSURES FOR NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Limitations To supplement its condensed consolidated financial statements presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), CSG uses non-GAAP adjusted revenue, non-GAAP operating income, non-GAAP adjusted operating margin percentage, non-GAAP EPS, non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA, and non-GAAP free cash flow. CSG believes that these non-GAAP financial measures, when reviewed in conjunction with its GAAP financial measures, provide investors with greater transparency to the information used by CSG’s management in its financial and operational decision making. CSG uses these non-GAAP financial measures for the following purposes: Certain internal financial planning, reporting, and analysis; Forecasting and budgeting; Certain management compensation incentives; and Communications with CSG’s Board of Directors, stockholders, financial analysts, and investors. These non-GAAP financial measures are provided with the intent of providing investors with the following information: A more complete understanding of CSG’s underlying operational results, trends, and cash generating capabilities; Consistency and comparability with CSG’s historical financial results; and Comparability to similar companies, many of which present similar non-GAAP financial measures to investors. Non-GAAP financial measures are not measures of performance under GAAP, and therefore should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for GAAP financial information. Limitations with the use of non-GAAP financial measures include the following items: Non-GAAP financial measures are not based on any comprehensive set of accounting rules or principles; The way in which CSG calculates non-GAAP financial measures may differ from the way in which other companies calculate similar non-GAAP financial measures; Non-GAAP financial measures do not include all items of income and expense that affect CSG’s operations and that are required by GAAP to be included in financial statements; Certain adjustments to CSG’s non-GAAP financial measures result in the exclusion of items that are recurring and will be reflected in CSG’s financial statements in future periods; and Certain charges excluded from CSG’s non-GAAP financial measures are cash expenses, and therefore do impact CSG’s cash position. CSG compensates for these limitations by relying primarily on its GAAP results and using non-GAAP financial measures as a supplement only. Additionally, CSG provides specific information regarding the treatment of GAAP amounts considered in preparing the non-GAAP financial measures and reconciles each n on-GAAP financial measure to the most directly comparable GAAP measure. Non-GAAP Financial Measures: Basis of Presentation The table below outlines the exclusions from CSG’s non-GAAP financial measures: CSG believes that excluding certain items in calculating its non-GAAP financial measures provides meaningful supplemental information regarding CSG’s performance and these items are excluded for the following reasons: Transaction fees are primarily comprised of interchange and other payment-related fees paid, in conjunction with the delivery of service to customers under CSG’s payment services contracts, to third-party payment processors and financial institutions by CSG. Because CSG controls the integrated service provided under its payment services customer contracts, these transaction fees are presented gross, and not netted against revenue; however, other payments companies who do not provide and/or control an integrated service present their revenue net of transaction fees. The exclusion of these fees in calculating CSG’s non-GAAP adjusted revenue provides management and investors an additional means to use to compare CSG’s current revenue with historical and future periods, as well as with other payments companies. Restructuring and reorganization charges are expenses that result from cost reduction initiatives and/or significant changes to CSG’s business, to include such things as involuntary employee terminations, changes in management structure, divestitures of businesses, facility consolidations and abandonments, and fundamental reorganizations impacting operational focus and direction. These charges are not considered reflective of CSG’s recurring business operating results. The exclusion of these items in calculating CSG’s non-GAAP financial measures allows management and investors an additional means to compare CSG’s current financial results with historical and future periods. Executive transition costs include expenses incurred related to a departure of a CSG executive officer under the terms of the related separation agreement. These types of costs are not considered reflective of CSG’s recurring business operating results. The exclusion of these costs in calculating CSG’s non-GAAP financial measures allows management and investors an additional means to compare CSG’s current financial results with historical and future periods. Acquisition-related expenses include amortization of acquired intangible assets, earn-out compensation, and transaction-related costs. Transaction-related costs, which typically include expenses related to legal, accounting, and other professional services, are direct and incremental expenses related to business acquisitions, and thus, are not considered reflective of CSG’s recurring business operating results. The total amount of acquisition-related expenses can vary significantly between periods based on the number and size of acquisition activities, previously acquired intangible assets becoming fully amortized, and ultimate realization of earn-out compensation. In addition, the timing of these expenses may not directly correlate with underlying performance of the CSG’s operations. Therefore, the exclusion of acquisition-related expenses in calculating CSG’s non-GAAP financial measures allows management and investors an additional means to compare CSG’s current financial results with historical and future periods. Stock-based compensation results from CSG’s issuance of equity awards to its employees under incentive compensation programs. The amount of this incentive compensation in any period is not generally linked to the level of performance by employees or CSG. The exclusion of these expenses in calculating CSG’s non-GAAP financial measures allows management and investors an additional means to evaluate the non-cash expense related to compensation included in CSG’s results of operations, and therefore, the exclusion of this item allows investors to further evaluate the cash generating capabilities of CSG’s business. The convertible notes OID is the result of allocating a portion of the principal balance of the debt at issuance to the equity component of the instrument, as required under current accounting rules. This OID is then amortized to interest expense over the life of the respective convertible debt instrument. The interest expense related to the amortization of the OID is a non-cash expense, and therefore, the exclusion of this item allows investors to further evaluate the cash interest costs of CSG’s convertible notes for cash flow, liquidity, and debt service purposes. Gains and losses related to the extinguishment/conversion of debt can be as a result of the refinancing of CSG’s credit agreement and/or repurchase, conversion, or settlement of CSG’s convertible notes. These activities, to include any derivative activity related to debt conversions, are not considered reflective of CSG’s recurring business operating results. Any resulting gain or loss is generally non-cash income or expense, and therefore, the exclusion of these items allows investors to further evaluate the cash impact of these activities for cash flow and liquidity purposes. In addition, the exclusion of these gains and losses in calculating CSG’s non-GAAP EPS allows management and investors an additional means to compare CSG’s current operating results with historical and future periods. Gains or losses related to the acquisition or disposition of certain of CSG’s business activities are not considered reflective of CSG’s recurring business operating results. Any resulting gain or loss is generally non-cash income or expense, and therefore, the exclusion of these items allows investors to further evaluate the cash impact of these activities for cash flow and liquidity purposes. In addition, the exclusion of these gains and losses in calculating CSG’s non-GAAP EPS allows management and investors an additional means to compare CSG’s current operating results with historical and future periods. Unusual items within CSG’s quarterly and/or annual income tax expense can occur from such things as income tax accounting timing matters, income taxes related to unusual events, or as a result of different treatment of certain items for book accounting and income tax purposes. Consideration of such items in calculating CSG’s non-GAAP financial measures allows management and investors an additional means to compare CSG’s current financial results with historical and future periods. CSG also reports non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA and non-GAAP free cash flow. Management believes non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA is a useful measure to investors in evaluating CSG’s operating performance, debt servicing capabilities, and enterprise valuation. CSG defines non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA as income before interest, income taxes, depreciation, amortization, stock-based compensation, foreign currency transaction adjustments, acquisition-related expenses, and unusual items, such as restructuring and reorganization charges, executive transition costs, gains and losses related to the extinguishment of debt, and gains and losses on acquisitions or dispositions, as discussed above. Additionally, management uses non-GAAP free cash flow, among other measures, to assess its financial performance and cash generating capabilities, and believes that it is useful to investors because it shows CSG’s cash available to service debt, make strategic acquisitions and investments, repurchase its common stock, pay cash dividends, and fund ongoing operations. CSG defines non-GAAP free cash flow as net cash flows from operating activities less the purchases of software, property and equipment. Non-GAAP Financial Measures Non-GAAP Adjusted Revenue: The reconciliations of GAAP revenue to non-GAAP adjusted revenue for the indicated periods are as follows (in thousands): Non-GAAP Operating Income: The reconciliations of GAAP operating income to non-GAAP operating income for the indicated periods are as follows (in thousands, except percentages): (1) Restructuring and reorganization charges include stock-based compensation, which is not included in the stock-based compensation line in the tables above and following, and depreciation, which has not been recorded to the depreciation line item on the Income Statement. Non-GAAP EPS: The reconciliations of GAAP EPS to non-GAAP EPS for the indicated periods are as follows (in thousands, except per share amounts): (2) For the second quarter and six months ended June 30, 2022 the GAAP effective income tax rates were approximately 26% and 17%, respectively, and the non-GAAP effective income tax rates were 27.5%, for both periods. For the second quarter and six months ended June 30, 2021 the GAAP effective income tax rates were approximately 30% and 28%, respectively, and the non-GAAP effective income tax rates were 27%, for both periods. (3) The outstanding diluted shares for the second quarter and six months ended June 30, 2022 were 31.5 million and 31.7 million, respectively, and for the second quarter and six months ended June 30, 2021 were 32.0 million and 32.1 million, respectively. Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA: CSG’s calculation of non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA and the reconciliation of CSG’s non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA measure to GAAP net income is provided below for the indicated periods (in thousands, except percentages): (4) Interest expense includes amortization of deferred financing costs as provided in Note 5 below. (5) Amortization on the statement of cash flows is made up of the following items for the indicated periods (in thousands): Non-GAAP Free Cash Flow: CSG’s calculation of non-GAAP free cash flow and the reconciliation of CSG’s non-GAAP free cash flow measure to cash flows from operating activities are provided below for the indicated periods (in thousands): Non-GAAP Financial Measures – 2022 Financial Guidance Non-GAAP Adjusted Revenue: The reconciliation of GAAP revenue to non-GAAP adjusted revenue, as included in CSG’s 2022 full year financial guidance, is as follows: Non-GAAP Operating Income: The reconciliation of GAAP operating income to non-GAAP operating income, as included in CSG’s 2022 full year financial guidance, is as follows (in thousands, except percentages): Non-GAAP EPS: The reconciliation of GAAP EPS to non-GAAP EPS as included in CSG’s 2022 full year financial guidance is as follows (in thousands, except per share amounts): (6) For 2022, the estimated effective income tax rate for GAAP and non-GAAP purposes is expected to be approximately 26% and 27%, respectively. (7) The weighted-average diluted shares outstanding are expected to be approximately 31.6 million. Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA: CSG’s calculation of non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA and the reconciliation of CSG’s non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA measure to GAAP net income is provided below for CSG’s 2022 full year financial guidance (in thousands, except percentages): Non-GAAP Free Cash Flow: CSG’s calculation of non-GAAP free cash flow and the reconciliation of CSG’s non-GAAP free cash flow measure to cash flows from operating activities is provided below for the indicated period (in thousands): Contact Details CSG John Rea +1 210-687-4409 tammy.hovey@csgi.com Company Website https://www.csgi.com

August 03, 2022 02:01 PM Mountain Daylight Time