Equifax (EFX) Q2 2025 Earnings Call July 22, 2025 08:30 AM ET Speaker0Greetings. Welcome to the Second Quarter twenty twenty five Earnings Conference Call for Equifax. At this time, all participants are in a listen only mode. A question and answer session will follow the formal presentation. Please note this conference is being recorded.I'll now turn the conference over to Trevor Burns, Senior Vice President, Head of Corporate Investor Relations. Thank you. You may now begin.Speaker1Thanks, and good morning ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported first quarter sales of $559 million, an increase of 8% year-over-year and 10% on a constant currency basis [12][14] - Adjusted EBITDA margins improved by 160 basis points, reaching 17.7%, with adjusted earnings per share increasing by 62% to $0.81 [14][15] - Adjusted gross margins rose to 61.7%, an increase of 300 basis points year-over-year, driven by favorable segment and product mix [13][14] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The recon business experienced a comparable growth of 13%, with U.S. recon growing by 11%, including 12% growth in U.S. extremities and 10% growth in hips and knees [7][13] - The PNR segment achieved 8% comparable growth, with adjusted EBITDA margins improving by 50 basis points year-over-year [10][14] - The company anticipates high single-digit growth in recon and low single-digit growth in PNR for the year [15] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Internationally, the company grew by 14%, indicating strong performance in resilient markets [9] - The U.S. market showed a healthy start, with expectations for at least normal growth throughout the year [30][36] - The company noted a slight downward trend in the recon price environment, although new products are helping to offset this [88] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on mitigating tariff impacts and enhancing supply chain resilience, with plans to transition at least 50% of tariff exposure by mid-2026 [19][66] - New product launches are expected to drive growth, with several key innovations scheduled for release throughout the year [9][59] - The management emphasized the importance of maintaining operational momentum and strategic goals despite external challenges [20][77] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the company's ability to navigate the current economic environment, citing the resilience of the markets served [73][74] - The company remains committed to achieving annual margin expansion goals, despite potential delays due to tariffs [76][78] - Management highlighted a strong foundation and operational momentum, indicating optimism for continued growth [12][20] Other Important Information - The company is transitioning leadership, with Damian McDonald set to take over as CEO [102] - The company expects to maintain positive free cash flow in 2025, despite challenges from tariffs [15][49] Q&A Session Summary Question: What mitigating actions are most significant for long-term supply availability? - Management indicated that moving sourcing out of China is the most significant opportunity to mitigate tariff exposure [24] Question: How is the ARG launch performing and what are the market trends? - The ARG launch is progressing well, contributing positively to extremities growth, with a healthy start to the year overall [28][30] Question: How does U.S. performance compare across segments? - U.S. bracing performed strongly, while recon met expectations, with a good start to the year overall [36][39] Question: What is the outlook for gross margins? - Management noted that gross margin improvements are sustainable, driven by positive business mix and new product contributions [40][41] Question: How is the company addressing cash flow and CapEx? - The company expects to see improvements in free cash flow throughout the year, with elevated CapEx levels due to growth investments [62][66] Question: What is the pricing environment like? - The pricing environment remains flat in PNR, with a slight downward trend in recon prices, but new products are helping to mitigate impacts [88] Question: How durable is the international growth? - International growth is strong, with effective cross-selling strategies contributing to above-market performance [90][92]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In Q1 2025, net sales were $135.7 million, a slight decrease from $136.8 million in Q1 2024, while diluted earnings per share increased from $0.40 to $0.46 [9][10] - Gross margin improved from 21.5% to 22% due to favorable leveraging of fixed costs despite $800,000 of deferred revenue related to sales promotions [9][10] - Cash and short-term investments totaled $108 million, with a current ratio of 4.6:1 and no debt [10] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - New product sales accounted for $40.7 million, or 31.6% of net firearm sales for the quarter, indicating strong demand for recently launched products [14] - The company maintained flat sales in a declining market, showcasing resilience against industry headwinds [13] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Retail firearm unit sales declined 9.6% year-over-year, with revenue down 11.5%, while adjusted NICS checks decreased by 4.2% [12][13] - Despite overall market challenges, the company reported strong demand for specific products, including the RXM pistol and Ruger American Generation two rifles [13][14] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company plans to increase capital expenditures to exceed $30 million in 2025, focusing on new product introductions and expanding manufacturing capabilities [10][15] - A flexible manufacturing model is being utilized to adjust production based on demand while maintaining quality and cost efficiency [14] - The company aims to leverage collaborations with other industry players to enhance brand presence and product offerings [15] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management acknowledged challenges in the firearms market but expressed confidence in the company's ability to navigate these issues through innovation and operational efficiency [18] - The leadership team is focused on investing in culture, people, and organizational efficiency to maximize shareholder value [18][42] Other Important Information - The company returned $7 million to shareholders through dividends and stock repurchases, maintaining a variable dividend strategy [11] - The leadership transition is seen as an opportunity to reinforce the company's commitment to quality and innovation [5][17] Q&A Session Summary Question: Thoughts on increased capital expenditures and new product launches - Management confirmed plans for a more aggressive pace of new product introductions, aligning capital investments with production capacity [20][22] Question: Impact of RXM product launch on average selling price (ASP) - The RXM launch positively impacted ASP, with expectations for further improvements as production ramps up [31][32] Question: Concerns about margin pressure from tariffs and inflation - Management indicated minimal immediate impact from tariffs due to domestic sourcing and proactive raw material management [34][35] Question: Confidence in expanding capacity amid market uncertainty - The company is confident in its product roadmap and sees opportunities to gain market share despite a challenging environment [36][38]