PASSUR Aerospace (PSSR) Risk Analysis

5 Followers

Public companies are required to disclose risks that can affect the business and impact the stock. These disclosures are known as “Risk Factors”. Companies disclose these risks in their yearly (Form 10-K), quarterly earnings (Form 10-Q), or “foreign private issuer” reports (Form 20-F). Risk factors show the challenges a company faces. Investors can consider the worst-case scenarios before making an investment. TipRanks’ Risk Analysis categorizes risks based on proprietary classification algorithms and machine learning.

PASSUR Aerospace disclosed 13 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. PASSUR Aerospace reported the most risks in the “Tech & Innovation” category.

Risk Overview Q3, 2019

Risk Distribution

31% Tech & Innovation

23% Finance & Corporate

23% Ability to Sell

15% Legal & Regulatory

8% Production

0% Macro & Political

Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy

This chart displays the stock's most recent risk distribution according to category. TipRanks has identified 6 major categories: Finance & corporate, legal & regulatory, macro & political, production, tech & innovation, and ability to sell.

Risk Change Over Time

S&P500 Average

Sector Average

Risks removed

Risks added

Risks changed

PASSUR Aerospace Risk Factors

New Risk (0)

Risk Changed (0)

Risk Removed (0)

No changes from previous report

The chart shows the number of risks a company has disclosed. You can compare this to the sector average or S&P 500 average.

The quarters shown in the chart are according to the calendar year (January to December). Businesses set their own financial calendar, known as a fiscal year. For example, Walmart ends their financial year at the end of January to accommodate the holiday season.

Risk Highlights Q3, 2019

Main Risk Category

Tech & Innovation

With 4 Risks

Tech & Innovation

With 4 Risks

Number of Disclosed Risks

No changes from last report

S&P 500 Average: 32

No changes from last report

S&P 500 Average: 32

Recent Changes

0Risks added

0Risks removed

1Risks changed

Since Oct 2019

0Risks added

0Risks removed

1Risks changed

Since Oct 2019

Number of Risk Changed

From last report

S&P 500 Average: 4

From last report

S&P 500 Average: 4

See the risk highlights of PASSUR Aerospace in the last period.

Risk Word Cloud

The most common phrases about risk factors from the most recent report. Larger texts indicate more widely used phrases.

Risk Factors Full Breakdown - Total Risks 13

Tech & Innovation

Total Risks: 4/13 (31%)Above Sector Average

Trade Secrets2 | 15.4%

Trade Secrets - Risk 1

Defending against intellectual property claims could pose significant legal and professional costs, and if unsuccessful, could adversely affect the Company.

The Company cannot guarantee that its future products, technologies, and software applications will not inadvertently infringe valid patents or other intellectual property rights held by third parties. The Company may be subject to legal proceedings and claims from time to time relating to the intellectual property of others. Investigation of any such claims from third parties, alleging infringement of their intellectual property, with or without merit, can be expensive and could affect development, marketing, selling, or delivery of its products. Defending against intellectual property infringement claims could be time consuming and costly, and, irrespective of whether or not the Company is successful, could disrupt its business. The Company may incur substantial expenses in defending against these third-party claims, regardless of their merit. Successful infringement claims against the Company may result in significant monetary liability and could adversely affect its business, financial condition, operating results, and cash flow.

Trade Secrets - Risk 2

Unauthorized use of the Company's intellectual properties by third parties may damage and/or adversely affect its business.

The Company regards its trademarks, trade secrets, and all other intellectual property as critical to its future success. Unauthorized use of its intellectual property by third parties may damage and/or impair its business. The Company relies on trademarks, trade secrets, patent protection, and contracts, including confidentiality and non-exclusive license agreements with its customers, employees, consultants, strategic partners, and others to protect its intellectual property rights. Despite these precautions, it may be possible for third parties to obtain and use the Company's intellectual property without its prior knowledge and/or authorization. Prosecuting infringers could be time consuming and costly, and, irrespective of whether or not the Company is successful, could disrupt its business. The Company currently owns twenty-seven issued patents and has an additional nine patent applications which are pending with the United States Patent Office, some of which relate to newly developed internet-based software applications. The issued patents expire in various years through 2036. The Company intends to seek additional patents on its products, technological advances, and/or software applications, when appropriate. There can be no assurance that patents will be issued for any of its pending or future patent applications, or that any claims allowed from such applications will be of sufficient scope, or provide adequate protection or any commercial advantage to the Company. Additionally, competitors may be able to design around patents and possibly affect commercial interests. The Company also owns a federal registered trademark in the mark PASSUR for use with both the PASSUR hardware system installation, and the software products which use the data derived from the PASSUR Network and other sources; and allowed federal trademark for the marks Airwayz, NextGen2 and NextGen3, for use with PASSUR Integrated Traffic Management modules and capabilities. The Company believes that the PASSUR, Airwayz, NextGen2 and NextGen3 federal registrations will allow the Company to enforce its rights in the marks in the federal court system. The registrations do not assure that others will be prevented from using similar trademarks in connection with related products and/or services.

Cyber Security1 | 7.7%

Cyber Security - Risk 1

Security breaches could expose the Company to liability and damage its reputation and business.

The Company processes, stores, and transmits large amounts of data and it is critical to its business strategy that its facilities and infrastructure, including those provided by customers and vendors, remain secure and are perceived by the marketplace to be secure. The Company's infrastructure may be vulnerable to physical break-ins, computer viruses, attacks by hackers or nefarious actors or similar disruptive problems. Any physical or electronic break-in or other security breach or compromise of the information handled by the Company or its service providers may jeopardize the security or integrity of information in the Company's computer systems and networks or those of its customers and cause significant interruptions and/or errors in the Company's products and solutions. The systems and processes that the Company has developed that are designed to protect customer information and prevent data loss and other security breaches cannot provide absolute security. In addition, the Company may not successfully implement remediation plans to address all potential exposures. It is possible that the Company may have to expend additional financial and other resources to address such problems. Failure to prevent or mitigate data loss or other security breaches could expose the Company or its customers to a risk of loss or misuse of such information, cause customers to lose confidence in the Company's data protection measures, damage the Company's reputation, adversely affect the Company's operating results or result in litigation or potential liability for the Company. While the Company maintains insurance coverage that may, subject to policy terms and conditions, cover certain aspects of cyber risks, such insurance coverage may be insufficient to cover all of its losses.

Technology1 | 7.7%

Technology - Risk 1

The PASSUR Network could experience disruptions, which could affect the delivery of data.

AT&T hosts and maintains the Company's network infrastructure through an existing frame-relay and Multiprotocol Label Switching ("MPLS") network and the Company's wireless network is hosted and maintained by Sprint. If AT&T or Sprint experiences system failures, or fails to adequately maintain the MPLS and wireless networks, the Company may experience interruption of delivery of data/software services and customers may terminate or elect not to continue to subscribe to these services in the future. The Company's network infrastructure may be vulnerable to computer viruses, break-ins, denial of service attacks, and similar disruptive problems. Computer viruses, break-ins, denial of service attacks, or other problems caused by third parties, could lead to interruptions, delays, or cessation in service to customers. There is currently no existing technology that provides absolute security. Such incidents could deter potential customers and adversely affect existing customer relationships.

Finance & Corporate

Total Risks: 3/13 (23%)Below Sector Average

Accounting & Financial Operations2 | 15.4%

Accounting & Financial Operations - Risk 1

Reliance on the Company's quarterly operating results as an indication of future results is inappropriate due to potentially significant fluctuations.

The Company's future revenues and results of operations may fluctuate significantly due to a combination of factors, including: - delays and/or decreases in the signing and invoicing of new contracts; - the length of time needed to initiate and complete customer contracts; - the introduction and market acceptance of new and enhanced products and services; - the costs associated with providing existing and new products and services; - economic conditions and the impact on the aviation industry of acts of terrorism; and - the potential of future terrorist acts against the aviation industry and the adverse effects of any further terrorist attacks or other international hostilities. Accordingly, quarter-to-quarter comparisons of the Company's results of operations should not be relied upon as an indication of performance.

Accounting & Financial Operations - Risk 2

Changed

The Company incurred losses for the third time in the previous fourteen fiscal years.

The Company had been profitable from fiscal year 2006 through fiscal year 2016. However, for the past three fiscal years, the Company has recorded net losses. For the fiscal year ended October 31, 2019, the Company had a loss before taxes of $3,837,000. The Company's ability to return to profitability will depend upon its ability to generate significant increased revenues through new and existing customer agreements, additional services, and/or products offered to existing and new customers, and control costs associated with business operations. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to execute on these requirements or secure sufficient funding to meet its working capital and liquidity requirements. Although the Company has obtained a commitment from its significant shareholder and Chairman to provide the resources necessary to meet working capital and liquidity requirements through January 27, 2021, as described above, there are no assurances that this commitment will continue to be available to the Company beyond January 27, 2021. The Company may not be able to sustain or increase its profits on a quarterly or annual basis in the future. Also, should the Company's investment in capitalized software development costs become impaired, there could be a negative impact on the Company's profitability.

Debt & Financing1 | 7.7%

Debt & Financing - Risk 1

The Company may be unable to raise additional funds to meet operating capital requirements in the future.

Fiscal year 2019 was the third year since fiscal year 2005 in which the Company did not generate positive income from operations. While the Company's goal is returning to positive income from operations in fiscal year 2020, future liquidity and capital requirements are difficult to predict, as they depend on numerous factors, including the maintenance and growth of existing product lines and service offerings, as well as the ability to develop, provide, and sell new products and services in an industry for which liquidity and resources are already adversely affected. The Company has obtained a commitment from its significant shareholder and Chairman to provide the resources necessary to meet working capital and liquidity requirements through January 27, 2021. There are no assurances that this commitment will continue to be available to the Company beyond January 27, 2021. In recent years, the Company generated sufficient cash to meet its capital requirements. However, in fiscal year 2019 the Company borrowed $2,100,000. In future years, the Company may need to raise additional funds in order to support discretionary expenditures and execute its business plan. These funds, in some cases, may be beyond the scope of the Company's normal operating requirements. In such case, the Company may be required to seek alternate sources of financing (which may not be available on favorable terms or at all) or abandon such activities by: (1) terminating or eliminating certain operating activities; (2) terminating personnel; (3) eliminating marketing activities; and/or (4) eliminating research and development programs. If any of the aforementioned occurs, the Company's ability to expand could become adversely affected.

Ability to Sell

Total Risks: 3/13 (23%)Above Sector Average

Competition1 | 7.7%

Competition - Risk 1

The software business for the aviation industry is highly competitive, and failure to adapt to the changing industry needs could adversely affect our results of operations, business, and financial condition.

The industry in which we compete is marked by rapid and substantial technology change, the steady emergence of new companies and products, as well as evolving industry standards and changing customer needs. We compete with many established companies in the industry we serve, and some of these companies may have substantially greater financial, marketing, and technology resources, larger distribution capabilities, earlier access to potential customers, and greater opportunities to address customers' various information technology requirements. As the aviation industry seeks to be more cost effective, product pricing becomes increasingly important for our customers. As a result, we may experience increased competition from certain low-priced competitors. We continue to develop new products, professional services, and existing product enhancements, but may still be unsuccessful in meeting the needs of our industry in light of other alternatives available in the market. In addition, the pricing of new products, professional services, and existing product enhancements may be above what is required by the marketplace. Our inability to bring new products, professional services, and existing product enhancements to the market in a timely manner, or the failure to achieve industry acceptance, could adversely affect our business, financial condition, operating results, and cash flow.

Demand2 | 15.4%

Demand - Risk 1

The Company's success is dependent on the aviation industry. If the Company does not execute its business plan, or if the market for its services fails to develop due to economic or other factors affecting the aviation industry, the Company's results of operations and financial results could be adversely affected.

The Company's revenues are solely derived from the aviation industry. The Company's future revenues and results of operations are dependent on its continued execution of its subscription-based revenue strategy and development of new software solutions and applications for the aviation industry. Due to economic and other factors affecting the aviation industry, there is no assurance that the Company will be able to continue to report growth in its subscription-based business or sustain its current subscription business. If the Company is unable to sustain and/or increase its levels of revenues, and if it is not successful in reducing costs, its cash requirements may increase and results of operations will be adversely affected. Additionally, the aviation industry has been impacted by budgetary constraints, as well as airline bankruptcies and consolidations, changes in fuel costs, and the continued war on terrorism. The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, caused fundamental and permanent changes in the airline industry, including substantial revenue declines and cost increases, which resulted in industry-wide liquidity issues. Additional terrorist attacks, or fear of such attacks, even if not made directly, would negatively affect the airline industry (through, for example, increased security, insurance, and other costs, and lost revenue due to increased ticket refunds and decreased ticket sales), which would, in turn, negatively affect the Company. The aviation industry is extensively regulated by government agencies, particularly the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board. New air travel regulations have been, and management anticipates will continue to be, implemented that could have a negative impact on airline and airport revenues. Since substantially all of the Company's current revenues are derived from airports, airlines, or related businesses, continued increased regulations of the aviation industry, or a continued downturn in the aviation industry's economic situation, could have a material adverse effect on the Company.

Demand - Risk 2

A limited number of customer contracts accounts for a high percentage of the Company's revenues, and the inability to replace a key customer contract could adversely affect its results of operations, business, and financial condition.

The Company relies on a small number of customer contracts for a large percentage of its revenues and expects that a significant percentage of its revenues will continue to be derived from a limited number of customer contracts. The Company's top five customers accounted for 63% of its revenue in fiscal year 2019. The Company's business plan is to obtain additional customers, but the Company anticipates that near-term revenues and operating results will continue to depend on large contracts from a small number of customers. Additionally, the aviation industry, particularly the airline sector, has experienced bankruptcies and consolidations recently. Bankruptcy filings or consolidations by our existing customers may adversely affect our ability to continue such services and collect payments due to the Company by such customers. As a result of this concentration of our customer base, an inability to replace one or more of these large customer contracts could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, operating results, and cash flow.

Legal & Regulatory

Total Risks: 2/13 (15%)Below Sector Average

Regulation2 | 15.4%

Regulation - Risk 1

The Company may be subject to new government regulations relating to the distribution of flight-tracking data.

The Company currently maintains strict security regulations for its data in order to comply with current government regulations. Due to the continued growing safety needs and concerns of the aviation industry, new government regulations may be implemented. Such new regulations may, in some cases, hinder the Company's ability to provide current and/or additional services.

Regulation - Risk 2

Compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 will require substantial financial and management resources.

Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 requires that the Company evaluate and report on its system of internal controls and, if and when the Company is no longer a "smaller reporting company," will require that the Company have such system of internal controls audited. If the Company fails to maintain the adequacy of its internal controls, the Company could be subject to regulatory scrutiny, civil or criminal penalties and/or stockholder litigation. Any inability to provide reliable financial reports could harm the Company's business. Furthermore, any failure to implement required new or improved controls, or difficulties encountered in the implementation of adequate controls over our financial processes and reporting in the future, could harm the Company's operating results or cause the Company to fail to meet its reporting obligations, which could have a negative effect on the trading price of the Company's securities.

Production

Total Risks: 1/13 (8%)Below Sector Average

Employment / Personnel1 | 7.7%

Employment / Personnel - Risk 1

The Company depends upon certain key personnel and may not be able to retain these employees.

The Company's future performance depends on the continued services of its key sales, technical, and engineering personnel. The Company continues to depend on the efforts of a limited number of key personnel. The employment of any of the Company's key personnel could cease at any time, which could have an adverse effect on our business.

See a full breakdown of risk according to category and subcategory. The list starts with the category with the most risk. Click on subcategories to read relevant extracts from the most recent report.

FAQ

What are “Risk Factors”?

Risk factors are any situations or occurrences that could make investing in a company risky.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) requires that publicly traded companies disclose their most significant risk factors. This is so that potential investors can consider any risks before they make an investment.

They also offer companies protection, as a company can use risk factors as liability protection. This could happen if a company underperforms and investors take legal action as a result.

It is worth noting that smaller companies, that is those with a public float of under $75 million on the last business day, do not have to include risk factors in their 10-K and 10-Q forms, although some may choose to do so.

How do companies disclose their risk factors?

Publicly traded companies initially disclose their risk factors to the SEC through their S-1 filings as part of the IPO process.

Additionally, companies must provide a complete list of risk factors in their Annual Reports (Form 10-K) or (Form 20-F) for “foreign private issuers”.

Quarterly Reports also include a section on risk factors (Form 10-Q) where companies are only required to update any changes since the previous report.

According to the SEC, risk factors should be reported concisely, logically and in “plain English” so investors can understand them.

How can I use TipRanks risk factors in my stock research?

Use the Risk Factors tab to get data about the risk factors of any company in which you are considering investing.

You can easily see the most significant risks a company is facing. Additionally, you can find out which risk factors a company has added, removed or adjusted since its previous disclosure. You can also see how a company’s risk factors compare to others in its sector.

Without reading company reports or participating in conference calls, you would most likely not have access to this sort of information, which is usually not included in press releases or other public announcements.

A simplified analysis of risk factors is unique to TipRanks.

What are all the risk factor categories?

TipRanks has identified 6 major categories of risk factors and a number of subcategories for each. You can see how these categories are broken down in the list below.

1. Financial & Corporate

Accounting & Financial Operations - risks related to accounting loss, value of intangible assets, financial statements, value of intangible assets, financial reporting, estimates, guidance, company profitability, dividends, fluctuating results.
Share Price & Shareholder Rights – risks related to things that impact share prices and the rights of shareholders, including analyst ratings, major shareholder activity, trade volatility, liquidity of shares, anti-takeover provisions, international listing, dual listing.
Debt & Financing – risks related to debt, funding, financing and interest rates, financial investments.
Corporate Activity and Growth – risks related to restructuring, M&As, joint ventures, execution of corporate strategy, strategic alliances.

2. Legal & Regulatory

Litigation and Legal Liabilities – risks related to litigation/ lawsuits against the company.
Regulation – risks related to compliance, GDPR, and new legislation.
Environmental / Social – risks related to environmental regulation and to data privacy.
Taxation & Government Incentives – risks related to taxation and changes in government incentives.

3. Production

Costs – risks related to costs of production including commodity prices, future contracts, inventory.
Supply Chain – risks related to the company’s suppliers.
Manufacturing – risks related to the company’s manufacturing process including product quality and product recalls.
Human Capital – risks related to recruitment, training and retention of key employees, employee relationships & unions labor disputes, pension, and post retirement benefits, medical, health and welfare benefits, employee misconduct, employee litigation.

4. Technology & Innovation

Innovation / R&D – risks related to innovation and new product development.
Technology – risks related to the company’s reliance on technology.
Cyber Security – risks related to securing the company’s digital assets and from cyber attacks.
Trade Secrets & Patents – risks related to the company’s ability to protect its intellectual property and to infringement claims against the company as well as piracy and unlicensed copying.

5. Ability to Sell

Demand – risks related to the demand of the company’s goods and services including seasonality, reliance on key customers.
Competition – risks related to the company’s competition including substitutes.
Sales & Marketing – risks related to sales, marketing, and distribution channels, pricing, and market penetration.
Brand & Reputation – risks related to the company’s brand and reputation.

6. Macro & Political

Economy & Political Environment – risks related to changes in economic and political conditions.
Natural and Human Disruptions – risks related to catastrophes, floods, storms, terror, earthquakes, coronavirus pandemic/COVID-19.
International Operations – risks related to the global nature of the company.
Capital Markets – risks related to exchange rates and trade, cryptocurrency.

Become an Expert with TipRanks Premium

What am I Missing?

Make informed decisions based on Top Analysts' activity

Know what industry insiders are buying

Get actionable alerts from top Wall Street Analysts

Find out before anyone else which stock is going to shoot up

Get powerful stock screeners & detailed portfolio analysis

Subscribe Now See Plans & Pricing