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Service Properties Trust(SVC) - 2025 Q1 - Earnings Call Transcript
2025-05-07 15:02
Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Normalized FFO for Q1 2025 was $10.8 million or $0.07 per share, down from $0.13 per share in the prior year quarter [24] - Adjusted EBITDAre increased slightly year over year to $115.8 million [24] - Comparable hotel RevPAR grew by 2.6% year over year, with GOP and adjusted hotel EBITDA declining year over year primarily due to renovations and increased costs [6][10] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Comparable hotel RevPAR growth was supported by occupancy and ADR gains, with full-service hotels reporting a 1.9% increase in RevPAR [10] - Select service portfolio saw exceptional growth with RevPAR up 10.6% year over year, driven by occupancy growth [11] - Extended stay portfolio's RevPAR was flat due to a decline in occupancy, impacted by renovation activities [11] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The lodging portfolio experienced a softening in RevPAR as the quarter progressed, influenced by reduced government and international travel [8] - Group revenue pace increased by 6.5% year over year, indicating strong demand despite overall market challenges [35] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company plans to sell 123 hotels in 2025 with estimated proceeds of $1.1 billion to strengthen the balance sheet and reinvest in growth opportunities [9][14] - A strategic shift towards increasing net lease exposure is anticipated, with a target of 54% net lease properties and 46% lodging assets [16] - The company aims to optimize its portfolio through asset sales and reinvestment in high-potential hotels [12] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted ongoing macroeconomic uncertainties but expressed confidence in the portfolio optimization initiatives and durable cash flows from net lease assets [16] - The company expects challenges in the travel and lodging industries to affect key segments like government and leisure travel [27] - Future performance is anticipated to improve as renovations complete and group revenue continues to grow [35] Other Important Information - The company is under contract to sell four hotels from a previously launched portfolio, with expected proceeds of $26.5 million [13] - The net lease portfolio remains nearly 98% leased, with a weighted average lease term of eight years, providing steady cash flow [18] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you walk us through the RevPAR trends in the quarter? - Management indicated that RevPAR started strong in January but decelerated towards March, with preliminary April numbers showing a decrease of 1% year over year [32][33] Question: What is the impact of international and government business on demand? - Approximately 30% of the portfolio is in top markets affected by international travel, with a modest decrease in government business noted [34][35] Question: How confident is the company in completing hotel sales at the expected price? - Management expressed confidence due to a robust selection process and strong buyer interest, with transactions expected to occur in phases [36][38] Question: Will the company continue to have hotel exposure in the future? - Management confirmed that while the focus is shifting towards net lease properties, hotel exposure will remain part of the strategy [41][43] Question: What caused the shift in timing for hotel dispositions? - The shift was attributed to the diligence process associated with larger portfolios, rather than broader market concerns [61][62] Question: How is the CapEx program being managed in light of potential tariff impacts? - The company is monitoring costs and sourcing strategies to mitigate potential impacts from tariffs on capital expenditures [64][66] Question: What types of properties were acquired in the net lease segment? - The company acquired a car wash and a casual dining concept, with plans for further acquisitions in casual dining and QSR [76][78]
Service Properties Trust(SVC) - 2025 Q1 - Earnings Call Transcript
2025-05-07 15:00
Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported normalized FFO of $10.8 million or $0.07 per share, down from $0.13 per share in the prior year quarter [21] - Adjusted EBITDAre increased slightly year over year to $115.8 million [21] - Interest expense increased by $10.1 million compared to the prior year [21] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Comparable hotel RevPAR grew by 2.6% year over year, with GOP and adjusted hotel EBITDA declining due to renovations and increased costs [5][9] - Full service hotels reported a 1.9% increase in RevPAR, while select service portfolio saw a 10.6% increase [9][10] - Extended stay portfolio's RevPAR was flat, impacted by renovations [10] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The lodging portfolio experienced a slowdown in RevPAR growth as the quarter progressed, influenced by reduced government and international travel [6][30] - Group revenue pace increased by 6.5% year over year, indicating strong demand despite overall market challenges [33] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company plans to sell 123 hotels in 2025, with estimated proceeds of $1.1 billion to strengthen the balance sheet and reinvest in growth opportunities [7][13] - A strategic shift towards increasing net lease exposure is anticipated, with a target of 54% net lease and 46% lodging assets post-disposition [14] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted ongoing macroeconomic uncertainties but expressed confidence in portfolio optimization initiatives and durable cash flows from net lease assets [14] - The company expects RevPAR for Q2 to be between $99 and $102, with adjusted hotel EBITDA projected at $69 million to $74 million [25] Other Important Information - The company is focused on capital expenditures of approximately $250 million for the year, with $120 million to $140 million allocated for maintenance capital [27] - The company has recognized an impairment on 16 hotels, with expectations of a gain on sale for the remaining hotels in the portfolio [68][70] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you walk us through the RevPAR trends in the quarter? - Management indicated that RevPAR started strong in January but showed deceleration by March, with preliminary April numbers showing a decrease of 1% year over year [30][31] Question: What is the impact of international and government business on demand? - Approximately 30% of the portfolio is in top markets, with a modest decrease in government contracts noted [32][33] Question: How confident is the company in completing hotel sales at the expected price? - Management expressed confidence due to a robust selection process and active diligence with buyers [34][36] Question: Will the company continue to have hotel exposure in the future? - The company plans to maintain hotel exposure while increasing net lease properties, expecting performance progress on both sides [40][41] Question: What caused the shift in timing for hotel dispositions? - The shift was attributed to the diligence process associated with larger portfolios rather than broader market concerns [59][60] Question: How is the CapEx program being managed in light of potential tariff impacts? - The company is monitoring tariffs and has locked in pricing for many projects, with contingencies in place to manage costs [62][63] Question: What types of properties were acquired in the net lease segment? - The company acquired a car wash and a casual dining concept, with plans for further acquisitions in QSR and casual dining [76][78] Question: What is the outlook for the Sonesta brand in relation to the hotel portfolio? - The plan is for the hotels being sold to retain the Sonesta franchise agreements [84]
Barrick Reports Solid Q1 Results and Progress on Strategic Growth Objectives
Globenewswire· 2025-05-07 10:00
Core Insights - Barrick Mining Corporation reported strong financial results for Q1 2025, with significant increases in net earnings and cash flow, reflecting progress on its long-term strategy and growth projects [1][2][4] Financial Performance - Net earnings per share rose 59% year-on-year to $0.27, while adjusted net earnings per share increased by 84% to $0.35 [2] - Operating cash flow reached $1.2 billion, up 59% compared to Q1 2024, and free cash flow improved to $375 million, contributing to a 5% reduction in net debt [2][20] - The Board declared a quarterly dividend of $0.10 per share and repurchased $143 million of shares, demonstrating a commitment to shareholder returns [2][18][19] Production and Costs - Gold production totaled 758,000 ounces, at the top end of guidance, with copper production increasing to 44,000 tonnes [3][17] - The average realized gold price for the quarter was $2,898 per ounce, a 40% increase from the previous year, supporting stronger margins [3][17] - Cost of sales for gold was reported at $1,629 per ounce, with all-in sustaining costs at $1,775 per ounce [17] Growth Projects - Barrick advanced key growth projects, including Reko Diq and Lumwana, with engineering partners appointed and long-lead items secured [4][63] - The company aims to organically grow gold-equivalent ounces by 30% by the end of the decade, supported by ongoing projects and exploration efforts [4][71] Exploration and Discoveries - Barrick's exploration teams are actively drilling across high-potential targets in the Americas, Africa, and Asia, with a new discovery in the Reko Diq mining license [5][56] - The company continues to focus on Canada for exploration, leveraging its geological expertise to identify new world-class deposits [55][60] Strategic Focus - Barrick's strategy emphasizes long-term, internally funded growth rather than short-term mergers and acquisitions, positioning the company for sustainable value creation [7][69] - The company is transitioning to a broader focus on copper alongside its gold operations, as indicated by the name change to Barrick Mining Corporation [8][27][29] Sustainability and Community Engagement - Barrick is committed to responsible mining practices, with significant investments in community resettlement and environmental sustainability initiatives [49][54] - The company has made strides in reducing its environmental footprint through innovative recovery processes at its operations [42][46]
COMM Stock Surges 378.2% in a Year: Is it Still Worth Buying?
ZACKS· 2025-05-06 19:10
Core Insights - CommScope Holdings Company, Inc. (COMM) has experienced a significant stock price increase of 378.2% over the past year, outperforming the Communication Infrastructure industry growth of 29.2% and the S&P 500's growth of 9% [1][12] - The company has also outperformed competitors such as Corning Incorporated (GLW) and Amphenol Corporation (APH), which saw stock increases of 34.4% and 27.6%, respectively [2] Company Strategy - CommScope is focused on portfolio optimization and product innovation, aiming to enhance transparency, reduce manufacturing costs, and improve working capital for better profitability [3] - The company has divested its Outdoor Wireless Networks segment and Distributed Antenna Systems business unit, as well as the Home Networks business, to improve liquidity and concentrate on core products [3] - Investment in capacity expansion and efforts to grow its Enterprise business in underpenetrated metropolitan areas are driving growth [4] Product Development - CommScope is expanding its portfolio in various verticals, including fiber optic connectivity, Wi-Fi 7, DOCSIS 4.0, and small cell wireless solutions [4] - The launch of the Propel XFrame, a floor-mounted fiber frame solution, aims to streamline management of high-density data centers [4] Market Position - The company has a comprehensive portfolio and a global salesforce, allowing it to serve a broad customer base across 100 countries, with no single customer accounting for more than 10% of total revenues [5] Competitive Landscape - CommScope faces intense competition in its markets, particularly from companies like Harmonic, ATX Networks, Cisco, Corning, Amphenol, Belden, and Clearfield, which is impacting margins [6] - Corning's innovative products for generative AI applications and Amphenol's high-speed interconnect solutions are gaining traction, posing a challenge for CommScope [6] Financial Outlook - Earnings estimates for 2025 have increased by 9.88% to $0.89, while estimates for 2026 have risen by 4.39% to $1.19, indicating positive sentiment regarding the stock's growth potential [10] - The trend of estimate revisions shows a general upward movement, reflecting growing investor confidence [10] Challenges - The success of 5G technology requires substantial investments in infrastructure, which may erode short-term profitability despite long-term benefits [8] - Sino-U.S. trade tensions are also identified as a significant headwind for the company [12]
Fresenius Medical Care starts 2025 with strong organic revenue and income growth
Prnewswire· 2025-05-06 11:00
Core Insights - Fresenius Medical Care reported strong operational and financial progress in Q1 2025, confirming its financial outlook for the full year [1][21] - The company achieved organic revenue growth in both segments, with Care Enablement expanding its operating income margin for the first time [1][6] - The FME25 transformation program delivered significant savings, contributing to improved earnings and margin growth [3][7] Financial Performance - Q1 2025 revenue increased by 3% year-on-year to EUR 4,881 million, with organic growth of 5% [2][6] - Operating income rose by 35% to EUR 331 million, with a margin of 6.8%, while net income more than doubled to EUR 151 million [2][17] - Basic earnings per share (EPS) increased by 113% to EUR 0.52, with EPS excluding special items rising by 31% to EUR 0.84 [2][17] Segment Performance - Care Delivery revenue increased by 2% to EUR 3,857 million, while Care Enablement revenue grew by 5% to EUR 1,367 million [8][11] - In the U.S., Care Delivery revenue rose by 6% to EUR 3,302 million, driven by a growing value-based care business [9] - International Care Delivery revenue declined by 19% to EUR 555 million, impacted by closed operations and a decrease in dialysis days [10] Cost Management and Savings - The FME25 program generated EUR 68 million in sustainable savings, with a target of EUR 180 million additional annual savings by year-end 2025 [3][7] - Special items related to portfolio optimization amounted to negative EUR 24 million in Q1 2025 [4][30] - Operating income excluding special items increased by 13% to EUR 457 million, resulting in a margin of 9.4% [13][30] Cash Flow and Leverage - Operating cash flow improved by 28% to EUR 163 million, with a margin of 3.3% [18] - Free cash flow increased to EUR 21 million, and total net debt was reduced to EUR 9,753 million, improving the net leverage ratio to 2.8x [19][19] Outlook - The company expects positive revenue growth in 2025, projecting operating income excluding special items to grow by a high-teens to high-twenties percent rate compared to the prior year [21][22]
AvalonBay Communities(AVB) - 2025 Q1 - Earnings Call Transcript
2025-05-01 17:00
Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported a strong core FFO growth of 4.8% in Q1 compared to the previous year, exceeding prior Q1 guidance by $0.03 [11][12] - The company reaffirmed its full-year 2025 outlook, which includes sequential internal and external growth in the second half of the year [11][12] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company has 19 projects currently under construction with a total capital cost of $3 billion, which are match funded and expected to drive outsized earnings growth as they lease up [19][20] - The company is projecting a drop in deliveries in established regions to 80 basis points of existing stock in 2026, equating to just 45,000 units, which is the lowest level of new deliveries seen in 20 years [10][11] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - 47% of the company's portfolio is in established regions on the East Coast, 40% on the West Coast, and 12% in expansion regions, with a significant rotation of capital to suburban areas [9][10] - The company noted that rental affordability has improved in established regions due to solid income growth, resulting in rent-to-income ratios below pre-COVID levels [10][11] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on reshaping its portfolio to optimize future returns and is well-positioned to execute strategic initiatives across various macroeconomic scenarios [6][8] - The company aims to increase its allocation to expansion regions to 25% of its portfolio, primarily through trading older assets from established regions [33][34] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the company's strong balance sheet and liquidity position, which supports planned development starts and the ability to respond to market challenges [26][28] - The company is closely monitoring job market uncertainties but has not seen significant impacts on leasing velocity or pricing in key markets [15][56] Other Important Information - The company raised $890 million of equity at an average gross price of $226 per share, which is expected to be deployed into accretive development [8][26] - The company has renewed and increased its unsecured credit facility to $2.5 billion, enhancing liquidity and access to cost-effective capital [27][28] Q&A Session Summary Question: Effective rent growth has been lower than last year; what is the reason? - Management indicated that the lower rent growth is due to a combination of factors, including a stronger focus on occupancy and differences in year-over-year comparisons [30][32] Question: Will economic or policy changes affect the plan to grow expansion markets? - Management stated that the movement towards the 25% target in expansion regions is primarily through trading and is somewhat agnostic to capital market conditions [33][34] Question: What factors are monitored for development starts? - Management mentioned that each project is evaluated individually based on costs, NOI, and market conditions, with a focus on profitability [38][40] Question: What is the outlook for renewal rates and rent growth? - Management expects renewal rates to strengthen in the second half of the year, with current renewal offers in the low to mid 5% range [61][85] Question: What is driving the strong performance in Northern California? - Management highlighted return-to-office mandates, job growth, and limited supply as key factors driving performance in Northern California [98][100]
AvalonBay Communities(AVB) - 2025 Q1 - Earnings Call Transcript
2025-05-01 17:00
Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported a strong core FFO growth of 4.8% in Q1 compared to the previous year, exceeding prior Q1 guidance by $0.03 [12][14] - The company reaffirmed its full year 2025 outlook, which includes sequential internal and external growth in the second half of the year [12][13] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company has 19 projects currently under construction with a total capital cost of $3 billion, which are match funded to lock in favorable spreads [19][20] - The company is projecting a drop in deliveries in established regions to 80 basis points of existing stock in 2026, equating to just 45,000 units across all markets [11][10] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - 47% of the portfolio is in established regions on the East Coast, 40% on the West Coast, and 12% in expansion regions, with a significant rotation of capital to suburban areas [10][11] - The company noted that rental affordability has improved in established regions due to solid income growth, resulting in rent-to-income ratios below pre-COVID levels [11][12] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on reshaping its portfolio to optimize future returns and is well-positioned to deliver superior earnings growth due to its strong balance sheet and liquidity [8][9] - The company aims to achieve a 100 to 150 basis points spread between development yields and both cost of capital and underlying market cap rates [9][20] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the company's ability to navigate macroeconomic uncertainties and highlighted the importance of being nimble in operations and capital allocation [9][27] - The company is closely monitoring job market uncertainties but has not seen significant impacts on leasing velocity or pricing in key markets [16][57] Other Important Information - The company raised $890 million of equity on a forward basis at an average gross price of $226 per share, which is expected to be deployed into accretive development [9][25] - The company has a strong financial position with $2.8 billion of liquidity, supporting planned development starts and potential investments [25][27] Q&A Session Summary Question: Effective rent growth has been lower than last year; what is the reason? - Management indicated that the lower rent growth is due to a combination of factors, including a focus on occupancy and differences in year-over-year comparisons [29][30] Question: Will economic or policy changes affect the plan to grow expansion markets? - Management stated that movement towards the 25% target in expansion regions is primarily through trading and will depend on the transaction market's activity [32][34] Question: What factors are monitored for development starts? - Management highlighted that each project is evaluated individually based on costs, NOI, and market conditions, with a focus on profitability [37][40] Question: How does the company view renewal processes in different regions? - Management noted that strategies vary by region, with more flexible renewal parameters in markets facing economic challenges [42][44] Question: What is the expected FFO headwind in 2025 versus 2024? - Management explained that lower occupancies in 2025 compared to 2024 would result in a headwind for development NOI, with expectations for a tailwind in 2026 [48][54] Question: What is driving the strong performance in Northern California? - Management attributed the strong performance to return-to-office mandates, job growth, and limited supply in the San Francisco area [99][100]
Ashland(ASH) - 2025 Q2 - Earnings Call Presentation
2025-05-01 14:23
Q2 FY25 Performance - Sales decreased by 17% to $479 million compared to Q2 FY24, but decreased by 5% compared to Q2 FY24 reset[10, 19] - Adjusted EBITDA decreased by 14% to $108 million compared to Q2 FY24, but decreased by 4% to $113 million compared to Q2 FY24 reset[10, 19] - Adjusted EBITDA margin increased by 60 bps to 22.5% compared to Q2 FY24, and increased by 30 bps to 22.2% compared to Q2 FY24 reset[10, 19] - Adjusted EPS decreased by 22% to $0.99 compared to Q2 FY24[10] Business Unit Performance (Sales Change vs Prior Year) - Life Sciences sales decreased by 23% to $172 million, but decreased by 4% to $180 million compared to Q2 FY24 reset[14, 20] - Personal Care sales decreased by 14% to $146 million, but decreased by 5% to $154 million compared to Q2 FY24 reset[14, 27] - Specialty Additives sales decreased by 15% to $134 million, but decreased by 9% to $147 million compared to Q2 FY24 reset[14, 30] - Intermediates sales decreased by 8% to $37 million[23] Strategic Priorities and Outlook - The company is executing initiatives to deliver approximately $90 million in savings through FY27[34, 35] - The company anticipates a $3 to $5 million headwind in 2H from tariffs, and $5 to $7 million annually[44] - FY25 sales outlook is revised to $1.825 - $1.9 billion, and adjusted EBITDA outlook is $400 - $420 million[49]
Ventas(VTR) - 2025 Q1 - Earnings Call Transcript
2025-05-01 14:00
Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported normalized FFO of 84¢ per share, representing nearly 8% year-over-year growth [28] - Total same store cash NOI grew by 7%, led by SHOP increasing approximately 14% [29] - The company expects 7% normalized FFO per share growth for 2025 [6][11] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Senior Housing Operating Portfolio (SHOP) delivered 84¢ of normalized FFO per share in Q1, an increase of approximately 8% [7] - SHOP's same store cash NOI growth was 13.6%, with revenue growth of 7.4% driven by occupancy and rate increases [15] - Outpatient medical and research business reported same store cash NOI growth of 1.3% year-over-year [29] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The 80+ population is experiencing its highest growth, with an increase of about half a million people this year and 900,000 annually between 2027 and 2030 [8] - The number of new senior housing units started in Q1 2025 was the lowest on record at only 1,287 units [8] - The company is positioned in markets with over a thousand basis points of expected net absorption in the coming years [9] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on delivering superior multiyear growth through internal and external expansion in senior housing [5] - The investment strategy has been increased from $1 billion to $1.5 billion for the year, reflecting a growing pipeline of opportunities [31][26] - The company aims to enhance its portfolio composition through acquisitions, dispositions, and operational improvements [19] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management acknowledges a high degree of macroeconomic uncertainty but believes senior housing remains a top asset class within real estate [87] - The company expects strong demand and occupancy growth, particularly during the key selling season [88] - Management is optimistic about the extended multiyear NOI growth opportunity in senior housing due to favorable demand and supply dynamics [11][88] Other Important Information - The company has improved its credit profile, with a net debt to EBITDA of 5.7 times, representing a 30 basis point improvement from the previous year [32] - The liquidity position is robust, with available liquidity of $3.6 billion as of April 2025 [33] - The company has completed over 250 community redevelopment projects in the past two and a half years [21] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you provide more details on the dynamics of occupancy and margin expansion? - Management indicated that reaching higher occupancy levels leads to significant margin expansion, with around 50% incremental margin from 80% to 90% occupancy [39] Question: How is the Canadian portfolio performing at high occupancy? - The Canadian portfolio continues to deliver strong NOI growth even at high occupancy levels, demonstrating that occupancy is not the only driver of growth [42] Question: What is the impact of the recent investments on cost per bed? - The cost per bed has increased due to acquiring newer communities in better markets, but the company is still buying below replacement costs [56][60] Question: How are the Brookdale assets expected to perform during the transition? - The Brookdale communities transitioning to new operators are outperforming those remaining in the lease model, and management is optimistic about their future performance [66][71] Question: What are the expectations for pricing power in the upcoming months? - Management expects pricing power to remain strong, with good rent increases anticipated during the key selling season [80] Question: How does the company view the potential changes in NIH funding? - Management believes that any potential changes in NIH funding would have a manageable impact on the research budget due to the strong financial position of their university tenants [113]
Emerald Holding(EEX) - 2025 Q1 - Earnings Call Transcript
2025-05-01 13:32
Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total revenue for the first quarter was $147.7 million, up from $133.4 million in the prior year, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 10.1% [16] - Organic revenue increased by 5.6% year-over-year to $139.2 million, driven by strong growth in the connections business, which improved by 6.6% [16] - Adjusted EBITDA for the first quarter was $53.6 million, compared to $39.8 million in the prior year, marking an increase of 34.7% [16][17] - Adjusted EBITDA margin for the quarter was approximately 36.3% [17] - Free cash flow generated was $10.8 million, up from $3.8 million in the prior year [17] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The connections business showed strong organic revenue growth, contributing to the overall increase in total revenue [16] - The acquisition of InsurTech Insights positively impacted adjusted EBITDA and revenue recognition for the quarter [16][42] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company has sold over 90% of its full-year revenue target from international exhibitors, with notable strength from Turkey, Brazil, and the UAE, despite pressures from China and Canada [9][10] - Approximately 10% of total revenue is generated from international exhibitors, with China and Canada each contributing about 2% [10] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on portfolio optimization, reducing reliance on slower growth verticals, and enhancing resilience across market cycles [6][12] - A strategic focus on face-to-face engagement aligns with ongoing portfolio optimization efforts, positioning the company for stable performance across cycles [12] - The company received regulatory approval for the acquisition of This Is Beyond, which is expected to complement its portfolio and align with consumer trends [12][13] - The M&A strategy is centered on expanding into high-growth sectors while diversifying the portfolio to drive long-term shareholder value [14] Management Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management remains confident in achieving full-year 2025 guidance of $450 million to $460 million in revenue and $120 million to $125 million in adjusted EBITDA [24] - The company is proactively monitoring external factors, including trade tensions and consumer sentiment, to adapt to market dynamics [8][24] - Management emphasized the importance of face-to-face events in the current economic environment, highlighting their role in decision-making and commerce [11] Other Important Information - The company has a strong balance sheet with $276.8 million in cash as of March 31, 2025, and total liquidity of $386.8 million [19][20] - The Board approved a quarterly dividend of $0.15 per share and reauthorized a share buyback program with an additional $25 million allocated [21][20] Q&A Session Summary Question: Update on international attendance and guidance - Management reiterated guidance based on current observations, noting declines in international attendance from China and Canada, but increased sales from other countries [27][32] Question: Impact of InsurTech on EBITDA and future events - InsurTech contributed to EBITDA in the first quarter, with two more events scheduled for June and the fourth quarter [41][43] Question: Seasonal differences in revenue across quarters - The first quarter is expected to contribute about one-third of the annual revenue, with Q2 and Q3 being smaller quarters [49] Question: Expense discipline and efficiency improvements - The company is focusing on consolidating operations onto a single platform and utilizing AI to enhance efficiency [54][56]