Dun & Bradstreet (DNB) appears an attractive pick, as it has been recently upgraded to a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). This upgrade primarily reflects an upward trend in earnings estimates, which is one of the most powerful forces impacting stock prices.The sole determinant of the Zacks rating is a company's changing earnings picture. The Zacks Consensus Estimate -- the consensus of EPS estimates from the sell-side analysts covering the stock -- for the current and following years is tracked by the system.Since a ch ...

The proven Zacks Rank system focuses on earnings estimates and estimate revisions to find winning stocks. Nevertheless, we know that our readers all have their own perspectives, so we are always looking at the latest trends in value, growth, and momentum to find strong picks.Of these, perhaps no stock market trend is more popular than value investing, which is a strategy that has proven to be successful in all sorts of market environments. Value investors rely on traditional forms of analysis on key valuati ...

PHILADELPHIA, May 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kaskela Law LLC announces that it is investigating the fairness of the recently announced proposed buyout of Dun & Bradstreet Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: DNB) (“DNB”) shareholders. Click here for additional information: https://kaskelalaw.com/case/dun-bradstreet/ On March 24, 2025, DNB announced that it had agreed to be acquired by private equity firm Clearlake Capital Group, L.P. at a price of $9.15 per share in cash. Following the closing of the proposed transactio ...

First Quarter 2025 Financial Results May 1, 2025 Commercial in Confidence Disclaimer This presentation contains statements that are not purely historical but are forward-looking statements, including statements regarding expectations, hopes, intentions or strategies regarding the future. Forward-looking statements are based on Dun & Bradstreet's management's beliefs, as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, them. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as "a ...

Core Insights - Dun & Bradstreet reported revenue of $579.8 million for Q1 2025, a year-over-year increase of 2.7%, with an EPS of $0.21 compared to $0.20 a year ago, slightly missing the revenue estimate by 0.02% but exceeding EPS expectations by 5% [1][2]. Revenue Breakdown - North America revenue was $398 million, exceeding the average estimate of $397.23 million, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 3% [4]. - International revenue reached $181.80 million, slightly below the average estimate of $183.19 million, with a year-over-year change of 2.2% [4]. - Sales & Marketing revenue internationally was $59 million, surpassing the average estimate of $57.94 million, marking a 1.9% year-over-year increase [4]. - North America Sales & Marketing revenue was $181.40 million, below the average estimate of $182.89 million, with a year-over-year change of 1.6% [4]. - International Finance & Risk revenue was $122.80 million, compared to the average estimate of $125.25 million, showing a year-over-year increase of 2.3% [4]. - North America Finance & Risk revenue was $216.60 million, exceeding the average estimate of $214.33 million, with a year-over-year increase of 4.1% [4]. - Total Sales & Marketing revenue was $240.40 million, slightly below the average estimate of $241.55 million, reflecting a year-over-year change of 1.7% [4]. - Total Finance & Risk revenue was $339.40 million, exceeding the average estimate of $338.39 million, with a year-over-year increase of 3.4% [4]. Stock Performance - Dun & Bradstreet's shares returned -0.2% over the past month, outperforming the Zacks S&P 500 composite's -0.7% change, and currently holds a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold), indicating potential performance in line with the broader market [3].

Company Performance - Dun & Bradstreet reported quarterly earnings of $0.21 per share, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.20 per share, and showing a year-over-year increase from $0.20 per share [1] - The company posted revenues of $579.8 million for the quarter ended March 2025, slightly missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.02%, but up from $564.5 million a year ago [2] - Over the last four quarters, Dun & Bradstreet has surpassed consensus EPS estimates only once and has topped consensus revenue estimates just once [2] Stock Movement and Outlook - Dun & Bradstreet shares have declined approximately 28% since the beginning of the year, compared to a decline of 5.3% for the S&P 500 [3] - The sustainability of the stock's price movement will largely depend on management's commentary during the earnings call [3] - The current consensus EPS estimate for the upcoming quarter is $0.24 on revenues of $595.09 million, and for the current fiscal year, it is $1.04 on revenues of $2.46 billion [7] Industry Context - The Business - Information Services industry, to which Dun & Bradstreet belongs, is currently ranked in the top 30% of over 250 Zacks industries, indicating a favorable outlook [8] - Empirical research suggests a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions, which can be tracked by investors [5] - The current estimate revisions trend for Dun & Bradstreet is mixed, resulting in a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold), suggesting the stock is expected to perform in line with the market in the near future [6]

Acquisition - The company entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by Clearlake Capital Group, L.P. for approximately $7.7 billion, with an equity value of $4.1 billion, expected to close in Q3 2025[146][147]. Client Base and Revenue Sources - As of December 31, 2024, the company had a global client base of approximately 215,000, serving various industries including financial services, technology, and government[143]. - The company generated approximately 30% of its revenues from non-U.S. markets, making it susceptible to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates[153]. - The company’s revenue is primarily generated through subscription-based contracts, providing data and analytics services to clients[157]. Financial Performance - Total revenue for Q1 2025 was $579.8 million, an increase of $15.3 million or 2.7% compared to $564.5 million in Q1 2024[177]. - Adjusted EBITDA for Q1 2025 was $210.9 million, up from $201.3 million in Q1 2024, reflecting a margin of 36.4% compared to 35.7%[175]. - Adjusted net income for Q1 2025 was $90.9 million, compared to $85.0 million in Q1 2024, resulting in adjusted net earnings per diluted share of $0.21 versus $0.20[175]. - Operating income for Q1 2025 was $35.3 million, an increase from $16.6 million in Q1 2024[174]. - Net income attributable to Dun & Bradstreet Holdings, Inc. for Q1 2025 was a loss of $15.8 million, improving from a loss of $23.2 million in Q1 2024[176]. - The company reported a net income margin of (2.7)% for Q1 2025, compared to (4.1)% in Q1 2024[174]. - The increase in total revenue was attributed to growth in the underlying business and positive foreign exchange impacts, with a 3.6% increase before the effect of foreign exchange[177]. Cost Management and Expenses - Interest expense for Q1 2025 was $52.9 million, significantly reduced from $85.3 million in Q1 2024[174]. - Restructuring charges for Q1 2025 were $2.9 million, down from $3.4 million in Q1 2024[174]. - Interest expense decreased by $32.4 million to $52.9 million, primarily due to the write-off of debt issuance costs in the prior year[197]. Regional Performance - North America revenue increased by $11.4 million, or 2.9%, with Finance & Risk segment growing by $8.5 million (4.1%) and Sales & Marketing by $2.9 million (1.6%) compared to the prior year[179][180][181]. - International revenue increased by $3.9 million, or 2.2%, with Finance & Risk segment growing by $2.8 million (2.3%) and Sales & Marketing by $1.1 million (1.9%) compared to the prior year[182][183][184]. Cash Flow and Liquidity - Cash and cash equivalents as of March 31, 2025, totaled $241.3 million, with $207.4 million held by foreign operations, including $74.9 million from China and India subsidiaries[207]. - Net cash provided by operating activities decreased by $22.0 million to $136.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025, primarily due to higher income tax payments[209][210]. - The company reported a decrease in net cash used in financing activities by $31.1 million, primarily due to lower term loan repayments and higher net proceeds from borrowings on the Revolving Facility[213]. Debt and Taxation - Total debt as of March 31, 2025, was $3,547.6 million, with $3,516.6 million classified as long-term debt[215]. - The effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2025, was (2.7)%, compared to 66.0% for the same period in 2024, mainly due to an uncertain tax position benefit from an audit settlement[200]. Future Outlook and Risks - Future capital requirements will depend on various unpredictable factors, including potential acquisitions and market conditions, with the company actively managing interest rate risks through swaps[206][218]. - The company expects operating cash requirements in 2025 to be primarily related to interest payments, contractual obligations, and tax liabilities, with a potential $31 million impact from a 100 basis point change in interest rates[211]. - The company is exposed to risks from geopolitical conflicts, including the ongoing Russian-Ukraine war, which may impact global economic growth and client spending[154][155]. Operational Efficiency - The company reported strong operating leverage and high client retention due to its proprietary data and analytics solutions, contributing to significant free cash flow[144]. - The company’s Finance & Risk solutions are critical for clients in decision-making processes, particularly in extending business loans and trade credit[141]. - The company’s Sales & Marketing solutions help clients optimize their sales strategies, enhancing efficiency in advertising campaigns[160]. Shareholder Returns - The company has authorized a stock repurchase program allowing for the repurchase of up to 10 million shares, with 961,360 shares repurchased for $9.3 million at an average price of $9.71 per share since inception[152].

Revenue Growth - Dun & Bradstreet reported a 3.6% organic revenue growth for Q1 2025, with adjusted net earnings increasing by 6.9%[3] - Revenue for Q1 2025 was $579.8 million, an increase of 2.3% compared to $564.5 million in Q1 2024[31] - Total revenue for Q1 2025 was $579.8 million, an increase from $564.5 million in Q1 2024, representing a growth of 2.0%[39] - International revenue was $579.8 million, an increase of 2.7%, with adjusted EBITDA of $210.9 million, up 4.8% compared to the prior year[7] - Finance and Risk revenue grew by 4.1% to $216.6 million, while Sales and Marketing revenue increased by 1.6% to $181.4 million[8] Financial Performance - The company reported a GAAP net loss of $15.8 million for Q1 2025, an improvement from a net loss of $23.2 million in the prior year[7] - Net loss attributable to Dun & Bradstreet Holdings, Inc. was $15.8 million in Q1 2025, compared to a net loss of $23.2 million in Q1 2024, a reduction of 31.8%[31] - Adjusted net income for Q1 2025 was $90.9 million, up from $85.0 million in Q1 2024, indicating a growth of 4.6%[40] - Adjusted net earnings per diluted share increased to $0.21 in Q1 2025 from $0.20 in Q1 2024[40] Cash and Debt Management - As of March 31, 2025, Dun & Bradstreet had cash and cash equivalents of $241.3 million and total debt of $3,547.6 million[11] - Cash and cash equivalents increased to $241.3 million as of March 31, 2025, compared to $205.9 million at the end of 2024[34] - Total liabilities decreased to $5,434.5 million as of March 31, 2025, from $5,441.3 million at the end of 2024[33] - Interest expense decreased significantly to $52.9 million in Q1 2025 from $85.3 million in Q1 2024, a reduction of 38.0%[31] Operating Metrics - Operating income improved to $35.3 million in Q1 2025 from $16.6 million in Q1 2024, representing a 112.6% increase[31] - Adjusted EBITDA for Q1 2025 was $210.9 million, up from $201.3 million in Q1 2024, reflecting a margin increase to 36.4% from 35.7%[36] - The adjusted EBITDA margin for North America was 41.8%, while the international adjusted EBITDA margin was 36.4%[5][10] - Total operating costs for Q1 2025 were $411.1 million, compared to $396.4 million in Q1 2024, marking an increase of 3.7%[39] Shareholder Actions - Since the inception of the Stock Repurchase Program, 961,360 shares have been repurchased for $9.3 million, with no activity during Q1 2025[12] - The company will not declare or pay any dividends as part of the agreement with Clearlake[13] Future Guidance - The company has suspended forward-looking guidance due to a proposed transaction with Clearlake Capital Group[14] Other Financial Metrics - Deferred revenue increased to $660.7 million as of March 31, 2025, compared to $555.9 million at the end of 2024, indicating growth in future revenue recognition[33] - The weighted average number of shares outstanding (diluted) increased to 438.0 million in Q1 2025 from 435.7 million in Q1 2024[40] - The company incurred restructuring charges of $2.9 million in Q1 2025, slightly down from $3.4 million in Q1 2024[40] - Incremental amortization of intangible assets was $102.5 million in Q1 2025, down from $110.8 million in Q1 2024[40]

Core Viewpoint - Wohl & Fruchter LLP is investigating the fairness of the proposed sale of Dun & Bradstreet Holdings, Inc. (DNB) to Clearlake Capital for $9.15 per share, which is below the price targets set by multiple Wall Street analysts and significantly lower than DNB's 52-week high of $12.95 per share, indicating a potentially opportunistic deal [1][3]. Group 1 - The sale price of $9.15 per share is below the price targets of at least seven Wall Street analysts, suggesting concerns about the fairness of the offer [1][3]. - The proposed sale price is significantly lower than DNB's 52-week high of $12.95 per share, raising questions about the motivations behind the deal [1][3]. - Wohl & Fruchter LLP is examining whether the DNB Board of Directors acted in the best interests of shareholders and if all material information regarding the transaction has been disclosed [4]. Group 2 - Analysts have set various price targets for DNB, with the highest being $17.00 per share from Deutsche Bank, followed by targets of $15.00, $14.00, $12.00, $11.00, and $10.00 from other firms [5]. - The investigation aims to determine if the agreed sale price is fair to DNB shareholders [4]. - Wohl & Fruchter LLP has a history of representing investors in litigation related to corporate misconduct, recovering significant damages for investors [4].

Group 1 - Monteverde & Associates PC has recovered millions for shareholders and is recognized as a Top 50 Firm in the 2024 ISS Securities Class Action Services Report [1] - The firm is investigating Dun & Bradstreet Holdings, Inc. regarding its proposed merger with Clearlake Capital Group, L.P. [1] - Under the merger agreement, Dun & Bradstreet shareholders will receive $9.15 in cash for each share of common stock [1] Group 2 - Monteverde & Associates PC is a national class action securities firm with a successful track record in trial and appellate courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court [2] - The firm operates from the Empire State Building in New York City [2] - The firm encourages shareholders with concerns to contact them for additional information [3]