Verra Mobility Corporation (NASDAQ:VRRM) Q4 2024 Results Conference Call February 27, 2025 5:00 PM ET Company Participants Mark Zindler - VP, IR David Roberts - CEO Craig Conti - CFO Conference Call Participants Faiza Alwy - Deutsche Bank Nikolai Cremo - UBS Louie DiPalma - William Blair David Koning - Baird Shefali Tamaskar - Morgan Stanley Operator Good day, and thank you for standing by. Welcome to Verra Mobility's Fourth Quarter 2024 Earnings Conference Call. My name is Liz, and I will be your conferenc ...

Group 1: Earnings Performance - Verra Mobility Corp (VRRM) reported quarterly earnings of $0.33 per share, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.30 per share, and up from $0.24 per share a year ago, representing a 10% earnings surprise [1] - The company posted revenues of $221.5 million for the quarter ended December 2024, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.01%, and an increase from year-ago revenues of $211.01 million [2] - Over the last four quarters, Verra Mobility has consistently surpassed consensus EPS estimates four times and topped revenue estimates three times [2] Group 2: Stock Performance and Outlook - Verra Mobility shares have increased approximately 7.2% since the beginning of the year, compared to the S&P 500's gain of 1.3% [3] - The company's earnings outlook is crucial for investors, as it includes current consensus earnings expectations for upcoming quarters and any recent changes to these expectations [4] - The current consensus EPS estimate for the upcoming quarter is $0.31 on revenues of $220.95 million, and for the current fiscal year, it is $1.28 on revenues of $934.31 million [7] Group 3: Industry Context - The Security and Safety Services industry, to which Verra Mobility belongs, is currently ranked in the top 34% 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 impact Verra Mobility's stock performance [5][6]

Revenue and Income - Total revenue increased by $61.9 million, or 7.6%, from $817.3 million in fiscal year 2023 to $879.2 million in fiscal year 2024[201]. - Service revenue increased by $58.1 million, or 7.4%, to $841.7 million for fiscal year 2024 from $783.6 million in fiscal year 2023, representing 95.7% of total revenue[228]. - Government Solutions service revenue rose by $23.9 million to $367.9 million in fiscal year 2024, driven by the expansion of speed and bus lane programs, contributing approximately $17.1 million to the increase[229]. - Product sales increased by $3.8 million year-over-year to $37.5 million in fiscal year 2024, primarily due to an $8.6 million increase in sales to Government Solutions customers[231]. - Net income decreased by $25.6 million, or 44.8%, to $31.4 million in fiscal year 2024 from $57.0 million in fiscal year 2023[227]. - Net income for fiscal year 2024 was $31.4 million, a decrease of $25.6 million compared to $57.0 million in 2023, primarily due to goodwill impairment[244]. Expenses and Costs - Total costs and expenses increased by $114.7 million, or 18.2%, from $628.5 million in fiscal year 2023 to $743.2 million in fiscal year 2024[227]. - Operating expenses increased by $22.6 million, or 8.3%, from $273.3 million in fiscal year 2023 to $295.9 million in fiscal year 2024, with wages expense accounting for a significant portion of the increase[234]. - Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased by $3.5 million to approximately $195.1 million for fiscal year 2024 compared to $198.6 million for fiscal year 2023[235]. Cash Flow and Financing - Cash flows from operating activities were $223.6 million for fiscal year 2024, compared to $206.1 million for fiscal year 2023[201]. - Cash provided by operating activities rose by $17.5 million to $223.6 million in fiscal year 2024, despite a decrease in net income[256]. - Cash used in investing activities was $69.7 million in fiscal year 2024, primarily for purchases in the Government Solutions business[257]. - The company repurchased approximately 7.9 million shares for $200.0 million during fiscal year 2024[201]. - Share repurchases totaled $200.0 million during the year ended December 31, 2024, with all repurchased shares subsequently retired[254]. - The company refinanced its debt in fiscal year 2024, reducing the interest rate by an aggregate of 111.4 basis points[202]. - Interest expense, net decreased by $12.8 million from $86.7 million in fiscal year 2023 to $73.9 million in fiscal year 2024, attributed to voluntary principal prepayments and a reduction in interest rates[237]. - Interest expense for fiscal year 2024 was $73.9 million, a decrease from $86.7 million in 2023[273]. Goodwill and Impairment - A goodwill impairment of $97.1 million was recorded in the Parking Solutions segment during fiscal year 2024[209]. - Goodwill impairment of $97.1 million was recorded in fiscal year 2024 due to the assessment of goodwill impairment in the Parking Solutions segment[236]. - The company recorded a goodwill impairment of $97.1 million in the Parking Solutions segment during fiscal year 2024 due to lower revenue growth and higher customer churn[282]. - The company performed a quantitative impairment test for the Parking Solutions reporting unit, which indicated that its carrying value exceeded the estimated fair value[282]. - The company recorded a $0.2 million impairment related to the write-down of installation and service parts during the year ended December 31, 2024[283]. - The company has four reporting units for assessing potential impairment of goodwill: Commercial Services, Government Solutions North America, Government Solutions International, and Parking Solutions[280]. Tax and Other Income - Other income, net increased to $19.0 million in fiscal year 2024 from $11.1 million in 2023, driven by a $5.6 million tax settlement payment recorded in 2023 and increased volume rebates[242]. - The effective tax rate for fiscal year 2024 was 60.2%, significantly higher than 34.5% in 2023, primarily due to permanent differences related to mark-to-market adjustments[243]. Operational Highlights - TSA Passenger Volume increased approximately 5% in fiscal year 2024 compared to fiscal year 2023, contributing to revenue growth in the Commercial Services segment[212]. - Approximately 70% of all toll roadways in the United States relied on cashless or electronic payment methods in fiscal year 2024[213]. - The company generated service revenue through the operation and maintenance of photo enforcement systems, with revenue drivers including the number of systems installed[216]. - The company executed a one-year contract extension with NYCDOT that expires on December 31, 2025, allowing continued use of its automated enforcement program[207]. Debt and Interest Rate Management - Total principal outstanding on the 2021 Term Loan was $695.6 million as of December 31, 2024, following early repayments of $9.0 million in 2024 and $172.5 million in 2023[262]. - As of December 31, 2024, the company had $74.4 million available for borrowing under its Revolver, net of letters of credit[248]. - The company recorded a $1.7 million loss on extinguishment of debt in fiscal year 2024, compared to a $3.5 million loss in 2023[263]. - As of December 31, 2024, the outstanding balance of the 2021 Term Loan was $695.6 million, with an interest rate of 6.6%[288]. - Each 1% movement in interest rates will result in an approximately $7.0 million change in annual interest expense[289]. - The company has a cancellable interest rate swap agreement to hedge exposure to interest rate fluctuations associated with the 2021 Term Loan[290]. Valuation and Estimation Methods - The company utilizes a discounted cash flow method and market approach to estimate the fair value of its reporting units[281]. - The company reviews historical credit losses and customer payment trends to develop loss rate estimates for receivables[279]. - The company applies judgment in determining the standalone selling price for performance obligations in customer arrangements[276].

Revenue Performance - Full year 2024 revenue was $879.2 million, an increase of 8% compared to $817.3 million for fiscal year 2023[9] - Fourth quarter 2024 revenue was $221.5 million, a 5% increase from $211.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2023[6] - The Government Solutions segment generated total revenue of $103.2 million, a 10% increase compared to $94.0 million in the same period in 2023[9] - The Commercial Services segment generated total revenue of $98.7 million, a 4% increase compared to $94.5 million in the same period in 2023[9] - The Parking Solutions segment generated total revenue of $19.7 million, a 13% decrease compared to $22.5 million in the same period in 2023[9] - Total revenue for the year ended December 31, 2024, reached $879.207 million, compared to $817.310 million in 2023, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 7.6%[42] Financial Losses and Impairments - Net loss for the fourth quarter of 2024 was $(66.7) million, or $(0.41) per share, primarily due to a $97.1 million impairment loss in the Parking Solutions segment[6] - The company reported a net loss of $66.656 million for Q4 2024, compared to a net income of $3.022 million in Q4 2023[42] - Goodwill impairment of $97.076 million was recorded in Q4 2024, impacting overall financial performance[42] - The company reported an accumulated deficit of $269.3 million as of December 31, 2024, compared to $125.9 million in 2023, indicating a significant increase in losses[40] Adjusted Financial Metrics - Adjusted EBITDA for fiscal year 2024 was $401.6 million, compared to $371.5 million for the same period last year, with an adjusted EBITDA margin of 46%[12] - Adjusted EBITDA for Q4 2024 was $101.988 million, with an adjusted EBITDA margin of 46%, compared to $91.280 million and 43% in Q4 2023[48] - Adjusted Net Income for the year ended December 31, 2024, was $206,550,000, compared to $172,513,000 in 2023, reflecting a 19.7% increase[51] - The company emphasizes the importance of non-GAAP financial measures like Adjusted EBITDA and Free Cash Flow for evaluating performance and capital allocation decisions[29] Cash Flow and Liquidity - Free Cash Flow for fiscal year 2024 was $152.8 million, compared to $149.1 million for the same period last year[12] - Cash provided by operating activities for the year ended December 31, 2024, was $223.642 million, an increase from $206.101 million in 2023[46] - Net cash provided by operating activities for Q4 2024 was $40,487,000, compared to $35,730,000 in Q4 2023, representing a 4.8% increase[50] - Free Cash Flow for Q4 2024 was $21,640,000, up from $19,246,000 in Q4 2023, indicating a 12.4% growth[50] - The company reported a net cash decrease of $132.059 million in Q4 2024, ending the period with $81.154 million in cash and cash equivalents[44] Debt and Liabilities - As of December 31, 2024, net debt was $968.0 million and net leverage was 2.4x, compared to $918.3 million and 2.5x as of December 31, 2023[11] - The company has a significant level of indebtedness, with long-term debt net of current portion at $1,034.2 million as of December 31, 2024[40] - Total long-term debt as of December 31, 2024, was $1,034,211,000, slightly down from $1,038,132,000 in 2023[53] - Current liabilities decreased from $214.8 million in 2023 to $199.7 million in 2024, a reduction of about 7.0%[40] Future Guidance and Strategy - 2025 full year guidance includes total revenue of $925 million to $935 million and adjusted EBITDA of $410 million to $420 million[18] - The company has set 2026 revenue and Adjusted EBITDA targets, but actual results may differ due to various risks and uncertainties[23] - The company plans to continue focusing on market expansion and new product development to drive future growth[42] Other Financial Information - The company incurred total costs and expenses of $264.890 million in Q4 2024, up from $187.684 million in Q4 2023[42] - Stock-based compensation for the year ended December 31, 2024, amounted to $22,958,000, compared to $17,476,000 in 2023, marking a 31.5% increase[51] - The annual estimated effective tax rate for 2024 was 30%, consistent with the previous year[52] - The company faced legal accrual/settlement costs of $8,250,000 in Q4 2024, down from $31,500,000 in Q4 2023[51] - The company intends to use its website for disclosing material non-public information and additional financial metrics[25]

Core Insights - Verra Mobility Corporation reported solid financial results for Q4 and full year 2024, driven by strong earnings and cash flow generation, with resilient travel demand supporting growth in Commercial Services and Government Solutions [2][5][6] Financial Highlights - Full year 2024 revenue reached $879.2 million, an 8% increase from $817.3 million in 2023, with service revenue growth of 7% [5][15] - Q4 2024 total revenue was $221.5 million, a 5% increase compared to $211.0 million in Q4 2023, with service revenue growth of 4% [6][15] - Full year net income was $31.4 million, or $0.19 per share, down from $57.0 million, or $0.36 per share in 2023, primarily due to a $97.1 million goodwill impairment in the Parking Solutions segment [5][15] - Adjusted EBITDA for 2024 was $401.6 million, up from $371.5 million in 2023, with an adjusted EBITDA margin of 46% [15][20] Segment Performance - The Commercial Services segment generated $98.7 million in revenue for Q4 2024, a 4% increase from $94.5 million in Q4 2023, with a segment profit margin of 65% [6][15] - The Government Solutions segment reported $103.2 million in revenue for Q4 2024, a 10% increase from $94.0 million in Q4 2023, with a segment profit margin of 34% [6][15] - The Parking Solutions segment experienced a 13% decrease in revenue to $19.7 million in Q4 2024, with a segment profit margin of 14% [6][7] Cash Flow and Liquidity - Net cash provided from operations for the full year 2024 was $223.6 million, an increase from $206.1 million in 2023 [5][15] - Free Cash Flow for 2024 was $152.8 million, compared to $149.1 million in 2023 [15][44] - As of December 31, 2024, cash and cash equivalents were $77.6 million, with net debt at $968.0 million and net leverage at 2.4x [9][15] Share Repurchase Program - In 2024, the company repurchased approximately 1.5 million shares for $35.8 million and authorized an additional $100 million for share repurchases [11][12] 2025 Guidance - For fiscal year 2025, the company expects total revenue between $925 million and $935 million, adjusted EBITDA of $410 million to $420 million, and adjusted EPS of $1.30 to $1.35 [20][15]

Core Points - Verra Mobility Corporation has partnered with Onondaga County, New York, to implement an advanced school bus stop arm safety program aimed at reducing illegal passing of stopped school buses and enhancing student safety [1][4] - The program will equip over 500 school buses with stop arm safety camera technology to document and report vehicles that illegally pass stopped buses, providing critical evidence for law enforcement [2][5] - The initiative is expected to cover six school districts, impacting more than 20,000 students and over 40 schools, with a phased rollout planned for the 2025/2026 school year [3][8] Program Implementation - The program will utilize advanced AI integration and a full-service solution to ensure effective implementation, alongside a public education campaign to raise awareness about the dangers of illegally passing stopped school buses [4][6] - The initiative will have no upfront costs for Onondaga County or the school districts, as it will be funded through citations issued for illegal passing [6] - Verra Mobility's technology has shown a 98% compliance rate among drivers who received violations, with community awareness programs leading to over a 50% reduction in citations [6] Stakeholder Support - Superintendents from participating school districts have expressed strong support for the initiative, emphasizing its importance in enhancing student safety and holding drivers accountable [9][10][12] - The program aims to change driver behavior and ultimately save lives by enforcing traffic laws related to school bus safety [5][10] - Comprehensive training will be provided to district personnel and local law enforcement to maximize the program's effectiveness [7]

Core Points - Verra Mobility Corporation will report its financial results for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2024, after market close on February 27, 2025 [1] - The CEO David Roberts and CFO Craig Conti will host a conference call and live webcast to discuss the financial results at 5:00 p.m. ET on February 27, 2025 [2] - A live webcast will be available on the Company's Investor Relations website, and a replay will also be accessible [3] Company Overview - Verra Mobility Corporation is a leading provider of smart mobility technology solutions, focusing on making transportation safer, smarter, and more connected [4] - The company integrates vehicles, hardware, software, data, and people to provide efficient solutions for customers globally, addressing transportation safety and parking management [4] - Headquartered in Arizona, Verra Mobility operates across North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia [4]

Core Insights - More than half of respondents (51%) would purchase an EV today if upfront cost was not a factor, indicating a strong interest in electric vehicles among consumers [7] - The survey revealed that 47% of participants plan to purchase an EV within the next 5 years, with 21% intending to buy one in the next 1-2 years, suggesting a growing market for EVs [1][2] - Despite concerns about EV adoption rates slowing, the survey indicates steady interest, with 48% of municipal technology leaders expecting EVs to dominate personal vehicles within the next decade [2] Consumer Concerns - The primary concern regarding EV ownership is range anxiety and the availability of charging stations, with 46% of respondents citing charging station availability as their biggest concern [3] - A significant portion of consumers (71%) reported feeling range anxiety, although this has decreased from 79% in the previous year [3] - Awareness of charging infrastructure is low, with 40% of respondents unaware of the nearest charging station to their home [3] Perceptions of EVs - The survey found mixed reactions to the impact of the last year on EV purchasing decisions, with 31% feeling more likely to buy an EV, while 24% felt less likely [4] - Following the 2024 presidential election, only 15% of respondents indicated they would be more likely to purchase an EV in the next four years [4] - Concerns about maintenance costs persist, with 63% of respondents expecting higher maintenance costs for EVs compared to gas-powered vehicles [7] Rental and Ownership Insights - A notable 70% of respondents would consider renting an EV as a way to "try before they buy," highlighting a potential avenue for increasing EV adoption [7] - The survey indicates that 73% of respondents would not know how to charge an EV rental car, pointing to a gap in consumer education regarding EV usage [7]

Core Insights - Verra Mobility Corporation has been recognized as a GovTech 100 Company for 2025, marking the fifth consecutive year it has received this honor, highlighting its leadership in providing smart mobility technology solutions to government agencies [1][2][3] - The GovTech 100 designation is awarded to companies demonstrating growth and innovation in technology solutions for local and state governments, emphasizing their role in enhancing government efficiency and citizen interaction [2][3] - Verra Mobility's executive vice president stated that this recognition reflects the company's commitment to developing innovative technologies that address the evolving needs of government partners, with plans to expand solutions for mobility challenges in 2025 and beyond [2][3] Company Developments - In the previous year, Verra Mobility expanded its operations into new markets such as Florida and California, implementing safety programs related to speed, school zones, and school buses [2] - The company aims to continue this trend in 2025 as more governments recognize the importance of technology in addressing road safety issues [2][3] - Verra Mobility operates globally, providing smart mobility technology solutions that enhance transportation safety and efficiency, while also addressing complex challenges for fleet owners and rental car companies [5] Industry Context - The GovTech 100 list serves as a validation platform for innovation within the state and local government technology market, showcasing a range of companies from startups to publicly traded enterprises [3] - The increasing adoption of exponential technologies and changing behaviors in the market present opportunities for companies like Verra Mobility to partner with local governments in delivering innovative solutions that align with sustainability and urban mobility goals [3]

Core Insights - Verra Mobility Corporation has released data indicating that the Wednesday before Thanksgiving has the highest number of red-light violations over the holiday weekend, while Thanksgiving Day has the most speeding violations in the last two years [1][4]. Traffic Safety Data - Over the 2023 Thanksgiving weekend, there were more than 57,000 red-light violations recorded, with the majority occurring between 12 p.m. and 4 p.m. on Wednesday [3]. - The 2023 holiday weekend saw over 150,000 speeding violations, with the peak occurring between 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day [4]. Driver Behavior Insights - The average number of speeding violations per site has shown a slow downward trend since 2021, despite the overall increase in violations during the holiday period [4]. - Verra Mobility emphasizes the need for drivers to remain alert during the holidays due to increased distractions, which can lead to dangerous driving behaviors [6]. Industry Context - AAA estimates that approximately 49.1 million Americans will travel by car for Thanksgiving, highlighting the significance of road safety during this period [5]. - The National Safety Council projects that 507 lives could be lost on U.S. roads during the holiday, underscoring the critical nature of traffic safety measures [5]. Company Initiatives - Verra Mobility aims to raise awareness about the dangers of distracted and reckless driving, promoting the use of its safety solutions to change dangerous driving behaviors [6]. - The company utilizes advanced technology in its red-light safety camera solutions and speed safety camera programs to detect and capture traffic violations, thereby improving road safety [6].