Clarivate (NYSE:CLVT) Q3 2025 Earnings Call October 29, 2025 09:00 AM ET Company ParticipantsMatti Tov - CEOGreg Parrish - VP in Equity ResearchShlomo Rosenbaum - Managing DirectorMark Donohue - Head of Investor RelationsWill Qi - Equity Research Senior AssociateJonathan Collins - EVP and CFOConference Call ParticipantsGeorge Tong - Business Services Senior Research AnalystSurinder Thind - Equity Research AnalystScott Wurtzel - VP and Equity Research AnalystManav Patnaik - Research AnalystOperatorThank you ...

Clarivate (NYSE:CLVT) Q3 2025 Earnings Call October 29, 2025 09:00 AM ET Speaker5Thank you for standing by. At this time, I would like to welcome everyone to today's Clarivate Q3 2025 earnings conference call. All lines have been placed on mute to prevent any background noise. After the speaker's remarks, there will be a question and answer session. If you'd like to ask a question during this time, simply press star followed by the number one on your telephone keypad. Once again, star one. If you'd like to ...

Clarivate (CLVT) FY Conference Summary Company Overview - **Company**: Clarivate (CLVT) - **Industry**: Information services, workflow solutions, particularly in university, pharmaceutical, and legal sectors Key Points and Arguments Divestiture Plans - Clarivate is evaluating options to sell its IP business segment and expects to communicate the outcome by year-end results in February [3][5] - Maroon Murad will join as president of the IP segment effective September 8, indicating a commitment to innovation and growth in this area [4] Value Creation Plan (VCP) - The VCP launched in 2024 is on track, with measurable progress across key initiatives [7] - Annual Contract Value (ACV) and renewal rates are increasing, with 88% of revenue now from subscription and recurring sources, up from 80% last year [8][12] - Major operational changes in the sales organization have been completed, enhancing customer engagement and retention [9][10] Financial Metrics - Organic recurring revenue mix is currently at 88%, expected to stabilize at 84% for the full year due to disposals [12][14] - The company aims for mid-single-digit organic growth in the long term, with expectations of returning to a 3-4% growth rate in the A and G segment [29][68] AI Integration and Innovation - Clarivate has launched 10 AI-powered products and is aggressively introducing new AI capabilities across its segments [10][11] - The company has established an AI innovation center of excellence, with 4,800 academic institutions currently using its AI solutions [52][58] - AI is seen as a significant growth driver, particularly in the IP business, as more inventions seek patent protection [39][41] Segment Performance - **A and G Segment**: 93% of the A and G business is recurring with a 96% renewal rate. The introduction of subscription-based products is expected to drive growth [20][21][23] - **IP Business**: Experienced 1.5% growth in the first half of the year, with expectations of mid-single-digit growth in the long term [36][38] - **Life Sciences and Healthcare (LS and H)**: Stability in R&D spending and improved renewal rates for the Cortella suite of products. New product launches are anticipated to drive growth [47][50] Capital Allocation Strategy - Clarivate expects to generate mid-$300 million in free cash flow, focusing on share repurchases and debt repayment rather than M&A in the near term [65][66] - The company aims to reduce leverage over time while capitalizing on attractive stock value [66][67] Long-term Growth Outlook - Clarivate anticipates organic growth rates to align with industry growth rates, with a focus on increasing the proportion of subscription revenue [68][70] Additional Important Insights - The company is optimistic about growth opportunities in both developed and developing markets, fueled by continuous innovation and AI advancements [27][28][30] - Clarivate's strategic focus on enhancing its product offerings and customer engagement is expected to yield positive results in the coming years [11][19][50]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Q2 2025 revenue was $682 million, with core sales increasing by 5.6% year-over-year, aided by customer buying ahead of expected price increases [8][16] - Adjusted EBITDA margin was 12.4%, up 240 basis points from the previous year, supported by G&A productivity improvements [9][16] - Adjusted EPS for Q2 was $0.26, an increase of $0.15 compared to the same quarter last year [16][18] - Free cash flow for Q2 was $76 million, down from the previous year due to higher working capital [26] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Equipment and consumables revenue grew approximately 7%, while specialty products increased just shy of 5% [9][22] - Specialty Products and Technology segment saw core revenue growth of 7.2%, with adjusted operating margin improving to 13.5% [22] - Equipment and Consumables segment reported a 7.3% increase in core sales, with diagnostics showing mid-single-digit growth in North America [24] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Double-digit growth was observed in Latin America, Indo-Pacific, and Middle East and Africa regions [14] - The dental market remains stable, with no significant improvement or deterioration expected in the second half of 2025 [28][32] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on a value creation plan that includes accessing untapped growth in core markets, new product innovation, and strategic acquisitions [11][12] - Plans to expand manufacturing in China to support local demand, with a new site in Suzhou [14][15] - Continued investment in R&D, with a 14% increase in the first half of 2025, leading to several new product launches [13] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted that macroeconomic conditions have improved slightly, with low unemployment and rising consumer confidence [36][39] - The company anticipates a stable dental market and expects to offset tariff impacts through supply chain actions and cost reductions [29][30] - Future guidance was updated to reflect core revenue growth of 3% to 4% and adjusted EPS of $1.5 to $1.15 [10][27] Other Important Information - The company repurchased $82 million worth of shares in Q2, continuing a $250 million two-year repurchase authorization [27] - The adjusted tax rate for the year is now forecasted at 33%, improved due to strong U.S. profits [30] Q&A Session Summary Question: Was the strength seen across the portfolio surprising? - Management noted that Q2 macro conditions were incrementally better than Q1, with strong growth in orthodontics and consumables [36][38] Question: What drove the outsized growth in brackets and wires? - Increased investment in sales and marketing and a potential shift from clear aligners to brackets and wires contributed to growth [42] Question: How is the China market performing ahead of VBP? - The brackets and wires business in China was down 20-30% year-over-year in the first half, but robust growth is expected in Q4 post-VBP [51] Question: What is the outlook for Spark's profitability? - The company expects Spark to turn EBIT positive in the second half of 2025, with consistent unit cost reductions [59] Question: How are dental practices responding to price increases? - Price increases have been modest and well-received, with a delay in equipment purchases noted across the market [90][91] Question: What is the impact of tariffs on margins? - Tariff costs in Q2 diluted margins by approximately 60 basis points, with expectations of $15 million to $20 million in tariff costs in the second half [80]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported Q2 revenue of $621 million, bringing the first half total to $1.2 billion, with a net loss of $72 million, an improvement attributed to the absence of a non-cash impairment charge from the previous year [22][23] - Adjusted diluted EPS was $0.18, with operating cash flow of $116 million in the quarter [23][27] - Free cash flow for Q2 was $50 million, totaling $161 million for the first half of the year [27][28] - The mix of organic recurring revenue to total revenue for the first half improved to 88%, an increase of 800 basis points compared to the previous year [21] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The A and G business achieved 2% organic ACV and subscription revenue growth, with a 96% renewal rate [8][11] - The IP segment returned to organic growth in patent annuities, with recurring revenue rising by about 1.5% in the first half of 2025 [13][14] - Life Science and Healthcare segment saw a return to organic ACV growth, supported by a long-term multimillion-dollar agreement with a top pharmaceutical company [18][19] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company noted a market-wide surge in AI innovation, which is expected to drive growth in the patent renewal business [14][15] - The U.S. dollar weakened against foreign currencies, providing a favorable foreign exchange translation impact on revenue [26][34] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on a value creation plan (VCP) launched in 2024, emphasizing AI-led product innovation, improved sales execution, and operational efficiency [6][8] - A shift away from transactional sales towards subscription models is expected to enhance recurring revenue growth [10][11] - The company is undertaking a strategic review to assess alternatives across the business, with results expected to be communicated in February 2026 [19][20] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the renewal rates and the resilience of their products amid funding pressures in the U.S. market [54] - The company anticipates continued organic growth in the second half of the year, driven by improvements in the A and G and Life Sciences segments [36][37] - Management highlighted the importance of their products being mission-critical for universities, which supports renewal confidence [54] Other Important Information - The company has launched 10 AI-powered products since the launch of the VCP plan [9] - A new sales incentive plan has been initiated to refocus on subscription and recurring revenue, contributing to improved sales momentum [58][60] Q&A Session Summary Question: IP business rebound and AI opportunities - Management noted that the rebound in the IP annuity market is expected to benefit from increased patent filings related to AI, particularly in Asia and China [40][41][42] Question: Potential changes in U.S. patent filing fee structure - Management indicated that they are well-positioned to adapt to any changes in the IP ecosystem due to their long-standing presence and collaboration with patent offices and law firms [46][47][48] Question: University funding cuts and renewal outlook - Management reported strong renewal rates and emphasized the critical nature of their products for universities, which supports confidence in future renewals [53][54] Question: Sales momentum and subscription focus - Management expressed optimism about the sales momentum driven by the new sales incentive plan, focusing on subscription and recurring revenue [58][60] Question: Life Sciences and Healthcare market dynamics - Management highlighted stable R&D spending and improvements in the subscription business within Life Sciences and Healthcare, attributing this to investments in the Cortellis suite of products [64][66] Question: Delays in disposals - Management explained that one disposal is taking longer due to customer requests for more time to transition to alternative offerings [69][71]