Paragon Care (PGC) H2 2025 Earnings Call August 26, 2025 08:00 PM ET Company ParticipantsCarmen Riley - CEOMarcus Crowe - CFOStewart Oldfield - PrincipalConference Call ParticipantsTom Godfrey - Senior Analyst - HealthcareJames Tracey - Senior Research AnalystCarmen RileyGood morning, everybody. My name is Carmen Riley. I'm Chief Executive Officer of Paragon Care. I've been in the company for about fifteen years. Prior to taking over the role on the July 1, I was Chief Operating Officer, and obviously, I'm ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - For the second quarter of 2025, total revenue was $935 million, exceeding the midpoint of guidance by approximately $35 million, driven by $25 million in higher recurring revenue and $8 million from favorable foreign exchange [9][10] - Adjusted EBITDA margin was 16.7%, outperforming guidance by about 180 basis points, primarily due to a favorable mix of higher recurring revenue and higher margin equipment [10][11] - Adjusted EPS for the second quarter was $1.49, with GAAP EPS at $0.07 [11] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - JBT segment revenue increased by 13% year over year, with adjusted EBITDA of $82 million and an adjusted EBITDA margin of 18%, up 220 basis points from the prior year [11] - Morell segment revenue was $480 million, with adjusted EBITDA of $75 million, representing a margin of 15.5%, attributed to integration synergies and favorable revenue mix [12] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Combined orders totaled $938 million, including $22 million from favorable year-over-year foreign exchange translation [5] - EMEA was the strongest region, while North America was relatively soft; Latin America showed strength, and Asia Pacific remained choppy [6] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on capitalizing on the expanded portfolio of offerings and cross-selling opportunities resulting from the integration of JBT and Morell [7][20] - The strategy includes optimizing product flow and increasing efficiency through fully integrated systems, which enhances customer value [17][19] - The company aims to achieve mid-teen margins in both fish and meat businesses by 2027 through project selectivity and improved service quality [22] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the demand environment, noting healthy orders despite macroeconomic challenges [5] - The company is reestablishing full-year earnings guidance due to expectations for backlog conversion and synergy savings [7][13] - Management highlighted the importance of mitigating tariff impacts through negotiations and sourcing adjustments [10][57] Other Important Information - The company ended the quarter with a backlog of $1.4 billion, providing significant support for revenue conversion in the latter half of the year [6][13] - Free cash flow for the year was $106 million, with $88 million generated in the second quarter, supporting balance sheet deleveraging [12] Q&A Session Summary Question: Insights on poultry investments and customer conversations - Management noted good visibility into the front half of 2026, with poultry companies making significant investments in automation and efficiency [28][29] Question: Margin performance at Morell - Management indicated a 400 basis point improvement in margins, driven by integration synergies, restructuring efforts, and a favorable mix of recurring revenue [41][44] Question: Impact of tariffs on orders - Management acknowledged some episodic delays in orders due to tariffs but emphasized that the impact is not systemic [63][80] Question: Pricing strategies and backlog - Management confirmed ongoing negotiations regarding backlog pricing and the ability to implement price increases on parts and equipment [88][91] Question: Future guidance and margin expectations - Management expects a sequential decline in margins for Q3 due to tariff impacts and a shift in revenue mix, but anticipates a rebound in Q4 [49][54]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company generated revenue of $1,269 million in Q1 2025, an increase of 4% compared to the previous year [21] - Adjusted EBITDA was $417 million, reflecting a 23% increase, with an adjusted EBITDA margin of 33%, up from 28% in the prior year [21] - The UFC segment reported revenue of $360 million, a 15% increase, and adjusted EBITDA of $227 million, a 17% increase, with an adjusted EBITDA margin of 63%, up from 62% [22] - The WWE segment generated revenue of $392 million, a 24% increase, and adjusted EBITDA of $194 million, a 38% increase, with an adjusted EBITDA margin of 50%, up from 44% [25] - The IMG segment reported revenue of $476 million, a decrease of 13%, and adjusted EBITDA of $74 million, a decrease of 10% [29] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - UFC's Live Events and Hospitality revenue increased by 66% to $59 million, driven by higher site fee revenue and ticket sales [23] - WWE's Live Events and Hospitality revenue increased by 52% to $76 million, primarily due to increased ticket sales [25] - Partnerships and marketing revenue for UFC increased by 32% to $64 million, while WWE's partnerships and marketing revenue surged by 86% to $26 million [23][27] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - UFC set new records for live events, including the highest grossing Fight Night in company history in London and the highest grossing indoor arena event in Australia [6] - WWE's WrestleMania 41 became the most successful event ever, breaking records in gate, premium hospitality, viewership, sponsorship, merchandise, and social engagement [10] - WWE's international footprint on Netflix expanded, with significant engagement increases in markets like Mexico, the UK, Australia, and Brazil [9] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on integrating newly acquired assets IMG, On Location, and PBR to drive top-line growth and cost synergies [5] - A strategic partnership with Meta aims to enhance UFC content through innovative experiences [7] - The company is committed to a robust capital return program while maintaining a strong balance sheet and exploring new opportunities in boxing [36] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted no signs of a slowdown in consumer behavior, with strong performance expected to continue across live events and partnerships [20] - The company raised its full-year guidance, targeting revenue of $4,490 million to $4,560 million and adjusted EBITDA of $1,490 million to $1,530 million [38] - Management expressed cautious optimism regarding the UFC media rights negotiations, emphasizing a flexible approach to maximize long-term brand growth [65] Other Important Information - The company generated $136 million of free cash flow in Q1 2025, with a free cash flow conversion rate of 32% [32] - The company ended the quarter with $2,776 million in debt and $471 million in cash and cash equivalents [35] - The company plans to commence a $2,000 million share repurchase program in the second or third quarter of 2025, subject to market conditions [35] Q&A Session Summary Question: Update on UFC rights renewal and free cash flow for 2025 - Management is in discussions with various third parties regarding UFC rights, with ESPN still included in the mix [48] - Free cash flow conversion rate is expected to be over 60%, excluding nonrecurring amounts [50] Question: Economics of the Canelo announcement and boxing strategy - The new boxing organization plans to host an average of 12 fights per year, with separate media rights deals and global partnerships [58] Question: Outperformance in UFC and WWE - Outperformance in Q1 was driven by strong live event and global partnership performance, with confidence in continued momentum [72] Question: Capital returns and share repurchase program - The share repurchase program will be market-driven and opportunistic, with a focus on maintaining cash reserves [78] Question: Growth modeling for the IMG segment - The company intends to provide more transparency and KPIs for the IMG segment, anticipating growth in both revenue and margins [84]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Net sales increased by 31% to $1.7 billion, driven by favorable pricing and the full quarter impact of the S&P EMEA acquisition [12][13] - Adjusted EBITDA rose by 38% to $338 million, with an adjusted EBITDA margin improvement of 170 basis points to 16.6% [13][18] - Adjusted earnings per share increased by 23% to $1.30, primarily due to strong productivity and favorable price-cost performance [12][13] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Consumer Packaging segment saw a remarkable 127% growth in adjusted EBITDA, attributed to the EVOSYS acquisition and strong volume mix [6][14] - Industrial Packaging segment experienced a 6% increase in adjusted EBITDA, despite a low single-digit decline in volume [15][18] - All Other business reported sales of $85 million and adjusted EBITDA of $14 million, affected by the divestiture of Protective Solutions [16] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - North American metal packaging business achieved a 10% organic volume mix improvement, with strong growth in aerosols and food cans [10][36] - EMEA metal packaging adjusted EBITDA increased by approximately 23%, driven by productivity savings and a favorable price-cost environment [10][14] - Industrial sales decreased by 6% to $558 million, impacted by lower volumes and unfavorable currency translation [15] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on fewer, bigger businesses, enhancing its core sustainable packaging platforms and reinvesting in higher return opportunities [11][12] - Integration of the Ebiosis acquisition is underway, with expectations of achieving $40 million in synergy savings by 2025 [9][20] - The company aims to increase long-term profitability and return capital to shareholders, reaffirming its commitment to dividend payments [24][25] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in navigating economic uncertainties, highlighting the resilience of the consumer packaging business during economic stress [22][23] - The company anticipates continued strength in legacy businesses and expects adjusted EPS to be in the range of $6 to $6.20 for the full year [18][26] - Management noted that the integration of the metal packaging business is progressing well, with strong customer interest in global capabilities [56][57] Other Important Information - The company has reduced its net leverage to just under four times net debt to adjusted EBITDA, using proceeds from the TFP sale to significantly reduce debt [17][70] - Operating cash flow is projected to be between $800 million to $900 million, with free cash flow expected between $450 million to $550 million [19][26] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you provide more detail on volume performance by region and segment? - Management indicated mid-single-digit growth globally in the consumer segment, with North America slightly up and Europe down [31][32] Question: Are there any changes in purchasing behavior or supply chain issues? - Management noted minimal changes in purchasing behavior, with some stagnation due to a major customer's acquisition [43][44] Question: What are the opportunities in managing the global network? - Management is evaluating the best locations for production across their global platform to optimize costs and market share [48][49] Question: What is the outlook for the ThermoSafe business? - Management is preparing for a resolution on the ThermoSafe situation by the end of the year, with positive performance noted [65] Question: What is the current status of net adjusted debt post the TFP pay down? - Management confirmed net adjusted debt is expected to be under four times by year-end, with a target of 3 to 3.3 times by the end of 2026 [69][70]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The overall performance for the first quarter showed a revenue increase of 70% from $494 million to $838 million, primarily due to the acquisition of Markham [13] - Adjusted EBITDA doubled from $119 million to $238 million, reflecting strong margin and scale attributes [14] - Adjusted diluted EPS increased approximately 40% from $1.63 to $2.29 per share [15] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The Financial Services segment's revenue was $714 million, up $341 million or approximately 92%, with adjusted EBITDA doubling to $230 million [16] - The Benefits and Insurance segment delivered revenue of $113 million, up $5 million or approximately 4%, with adjusted EBITDA increasing by 10% to $30 million [17] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Non-recurring services now represent approximately 23% of total revenue, with anticipated softness due to economic conditions [19] - The government healthcare consulting business showed strong revenue growth and a robust pipeline of new projects [8] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on integrating technology systems post-acquisition to enhance operational improvements and streamline processes [23] - There is an ongoing evaluation of M&A opportunities to build geographic presence and strengthen service lines [25] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - The management acknowledged the challenging economic environment but expressed confidence in the business model's resilience [6] - The company maintained its adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EPS guidance, while widening revenue guidance to $2.8 billion to $2.95 billion due to uncertainties [19] Other Important Information - The company expects approximately $60 million in payments related to prior acquisitions in 2025, with $30 million already paid in Q1 [19] - Total debt at the end of the quarter was approximately $1.5 billion, with a leverage ratio of about four times [18] Q&A Session Summary Question: Concerns about capital markets and revenue guidance - Management indicated that capital markets are a significant concern, with reliance on deal flow affecting revenue [37][40] Question: Outlook for government healthcare consulting - Management expects continued strong performance in government healthcare consulting, with a positive outlook for the remainder of the year [42] Question: Breakdown of integration costs - Management provided insights into integration costs, estimating $75 million for 2025, with significant IT-related costs extending into 2026 [44] Question: Conditions for revised revenue guidance - Management clarified that the revised revenue guidance reflects a pragmatic assessment of current economic conditions and historical performance during similar downturns [49][51] Question: Operational adjustments to maintain earnings guidance - Management highlighted various levers to protect earnings, including adjustments in compensation and discretionary spending [58][60] Question: Capital allocation priorities - Management emphasized a focus on reducing leverage while remaining opportunistic for strategic acquisitions and share repurchases [64][65] Question: Client conflicts and their impact on guidance - Management acknowledged client conflicts as expected during the integration process, with most impacts now behind them [70][72]