Security dealers participating in the 29th annual SDM 100 Report say last year’s financial performance was very similar to 2017’s. In fact, in some ways they found 2018 to be more stable, following a few years in which dealers experienced a lot of turmoil caused by big-name competition, pricing pressure, technology acceleration, and other disruptive forces. In 2018, the 100 largest security companies, as ranked on the 2019 SDM 100, collectively improved their recurring monthly revenue 2 percent and their gross annual revenue 4 percent, compared with 2017. Ninety-one of the 100 companies expanded their RMR.

The news is better than that, however, when one considers that performance varies each year as ranked companies move on or off the report (either because of acquisition or by declining to participate). A comparison of only the companies ranked in both 2018 and 2019 shows that RMR growth was actually 5 percent — this is a better reflection of RMR performance and a more equitable way to measure the success last year of the 100 largest security companies.

The primary objective of the SDM 100 Report is to measure consumer dollars gained by security companies, in order to present an account of the size of the market captured by the 100 largest providers. SDM 100 companies are ranked by their RMR because it is the revenue associated with the contractual agreement between a security company and its subscriber — derived from customer billing for services such as monitoring, contracted service/system maintenance, security-as-a-service and managed/cloud solutions. SDM 100 security dealers mutually tallied $655 million in RMR on December 31, 2018, on 12.6 million subscribers.

In 2018, EMC Security, ranked No. 32, observed “continued expansion of the commercial and integrated market segment, as businesses update systems and expand facilities.” EMC noted that the “residential market customer acquisition costs continue to rise as new competitors enter the market with aggressive marketing and pricing. This resulted in adding fewer monitored customers than in the previous year.” 

EMC’s observation is right on target. Overall (comparing only the companies ranked in both 2018 and 2019), the total number of subscribers declined by 1 percent. However, this slight decline should be noticed along with the fact that residential sales revenue also slipped again last year. SDM 100 security dealers logged $105.7 million in residential sales in 2017, but just $94.8 million in 2018. And dealers lost an average of 9 percent of all their subscribers between 2017 and 2018, a slight improvement over 2017’s 11 percent subscriber loss.  (See chart on page 46 for more details.)

While many of the security dealers in the report stated their residential business is significantly slowing, others continue to be successful and it’s as if the market is forcing a separation of “generalist” security dealers to serve, in the future, either the residential market or the non-residential market — but not both. 

“The residential market was slow, but the commercial market grew to make up for the lack of residential sales,” states No. 47, All Guard Alarm Systems Inc.

“In 2018, we enjoyed a strong market — which led to a record-setting year for ADS Security in terms of both organic and acquisition growth. Our fastest growing segment (organically) continued to be commercial, most notably driven by the sale of video surveillance solutions,” shares ADS Security, No. 15. 

No. 2-ranked Vivint Inc. continues to lead the residential market (absent specific residential growth figures from ADT) with double-digit (17 percent) RMR growth again in 2018 and 1.4 million subscribers.  

“The market continued to be strong as consumers demonstrated increasing enthusiasm for adoption of smart home capability beyond traditional security systems. Approximately 90 percent of new Vivint customers are choosing to add smart home capabilities such as connected locks, lights, thermostats and cameras,” the company describes.

In terms of market drivers and sales opportunities, some dealers saw a reduced need for integration (except among the highest tier of customers), while others found plenty of integration opportunities. But, the clear winner in terms of growth drivers is video — in all its many forms, and in both residential and non-residential applications.

“We saw a very strong interest in video monitoring applications as well people looking to continue taking advantage of emerging CCTV technology,” notes Sonitrol of Sacramento & Orange County, Cybex Security Solutions, ranked No. 39. “The market was very strong.”

According to No. 91-ranked LOUD Security Systems Inc., the influence of apps is present and growing. “We are continuing to see growth on the commercial side of our business; we see increasing interest in card access and cameras that are managed through an app.”

“Clients are pushing for more coverage of their business and better quality of cameras. Video analytics has become a buzzword with many savvy end users expecting more from their systems,” describes Advanced Electronic Solutions, No. 76.

“Commercial market has stayed the same for us: a mixture of burg and fire with the addition of cameras on almost every job. Residential market involves inquiries into a camera on every lead!” underscores Advent Security Corporation, No. 87.

And the cloud can’t be ignored as a growth opportunity, as many of these security dealers seek to transition from a hardware model to a services model, with the potential to propel RMR beyond just the “average” growth they say they are now experiencing.

“The market for us overall was steady and average. The largest increase in growth occurred in the cloud space,” says Koorsen Fire & Security, No. 66.

“Still strong with more opportunities in cloud-based solutions and products. Advances in technology continue to lead the way, allowing for more fully integrated systems. Less growth in traditional hardware-based systems in both commercial and residential markets,” describes American Alarm & Communications, No. 24.

“The market continues to create more opportunities for hosted and managed services, and total security solutions. Artificial intelligence and machine learning in access control and video surveillance continue to improve and become more obvious in use and application,” emphasizes No. 56-ranked Allied Universal Security Systems.

Security dealers are enormously optimistic about the remainder of this year, with 90 percent expecting increased revenue, and 9 percent expecting no change.

“In general, this is a function of a strong economy, and a continued heightened awareness of both security and the desire for deeper intelligence in smart homes and businesses facilities that incorporate automation, access control and an ever-growing demand for video surveillance that can both protect and monitor employees and visitors,” envisages ADS Security.

Charts and Graphs

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SDM 100 RMR Is $655 Million

Based on responses from, or estimates of, 100 companies.

Recurring monthly revenue (RMR) in 2018 for SDM 100 companies is up 2 percent overall. Ninety-one of the 100 companies ranked experienced RMR expansion in 2018. Stand-out companies among the top 20 in RMR growth are: Vivint Inc.,17 percent; CPI Security Systems, 10 percent; ADS Security, 16 percent; Electric Guard Dog, 14 percent; NorthStar Alarm Services, 14 percent; AFA Protective, 11 percent; and Select Security, 28 percent.

Source: 2019 SDM 100, SDM Magazine, May 2019

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Total Annual Revenue: $9.9 Billion

Year when revenue was posted
Based on responses from, or estimates of, 100 companies.

Total annual revenue for the SDM 100 companies rose 4 percent to $9.9 billion in 2018.

Source: 2019 SDM 100, SDM Magazine, May 2019

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Bring on 2019! Dealers Enormously Optimistic

The table above presents aggregate figures for the SDM 100 group of companies, which are ranked by their recurring monthly revenue (RMR) — an industry standard of valuation of a security installation/monitoring business. Most of the SDM 100 companies are privately held. Submitting RMR is required for ranking; other figures are not required but mostly provided. Most companies — but not all — also reported their total annual revenue, number of subscribers, installation revenues, and employees. Therefore, one should exercise caution in using this information to extrapolate industry totals or to benchmark. Note that some figures — such as total annual revenue, subscribers, and residential and non-residential sales revenue — fluctuate from year to year due to both acquisitions and inconsistent reporting by the ranked companies. Every effort is made by SDM to maintain consistency in reporting.

* Total monthly recurring revenue, based on RMR of Dec. 31, 2018. Based on responses or estimates from 100 companies.

! Based on responses from or estimates of 92 companies. Not included: Securitas Electronic Security; SSD Alarm; Post Alarm Systems; Habitec Security; Gillmore Security Systems Inc.; Richmond Alarm Company; Washington Alarm Inc.; PASS Security

** Total annual (2018) revenue from electronic security system sales, installation, service, leasing, monitoring, and sales of subscriber accounts, as reported to or estimated by SDM. Based on responses from or estimates of 100 companies.

!! Based on responses from or estimates of 81 companies. Note: Some companies either did not choose to report this figure or did not have sales/installation revenue to report in one of the categories.

Not included in Residential Sales Revenue are: ADT; Vivint Inc.; Brink’s Home Security; CPI Security Systems; Central Security Group; Securitas Electronic Security; Kastle Systems Int’l; Electric Guard Dog; SafeTouch; SSD Alarm; General Security Inc.; AMP Smart LLC; Star Asset Security; Post Alarm Systems; A-Com Protection Services Inc.; Richmond Alarm Company; Sound Inc.; Trinity Wiring & Security Solutions; Yarnell Security Systems; Fortress Security

Not included in Non-residential Sales Revenue are: ADT; Vivint Inc.; Brink’s Home Security; CPI Security Systems; Central Security Group; Securitas Electronic Security; Kastle Systems Int’l; Electric Guard Dog; SafeTouch; SSD Alarm; General Security Inc.; AMP Smart LLC; Star Asset Security; Post Alarm Systems; A-Com Protection Services Inc.; Richmond Alarm Company; Sound Inc.; Trinity Wiring & Security Solutions; Yarnell Security Systems; Fortress Security

Source: 2019 SDM 100, SDM Magazine, May 2019

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