Avantor (AVTR) Q2 2025 Earnings Call August 01, 2025 08:00 AM ET Speaker0Good morning. My name is Emily, and I'll be your conference operator today. At this time, I would like to welcome everyone to Avantor's Second Quarter twenty twenty five Earnings Results Conference Call. I will now turn the call over to Alison Hosack, Senior Vice President of Global Communications. Ms.Hosack, you may begin the conference.Speaker1Good morning and thank you for joining us. Our speakers today are Michael Stubblefield, Pre ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total company revenue increased by 4% to $265 million, with comparable store sales growth of 1.2% and adjusted EBITDA of $87 million [4][20][22] - Adjusted EPS was reported at $0.11, reflecting the strength of the UWC subscription model [20][28] - EBITDA margin decreased by 200 basis points to 32.8%, primarily due to sales deleverage and a challenging year-over-year comparison [27][28] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - UWC subscription sales represented 76% of total sales, with UWC membership growing by approximately 5% year-over-year [20][22] - Retail comparable store sales decreased in low double digits, impacted by unfavorable weather and a tepid consumer environment [4][22][31] - Best Express revenue per member increased by approximately 4% to $29.23, driven by successful price increases [24] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Car wash spending increased roughly 5% in Q2, indicating strong demand in the industry despite a more competitive environment [6][9] - The company noted that competitor new builds are decelerating, which is seen as a positive for the broader industry [20][21] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on operational excellence and has laid a robust foundation for continued growth and market share expansion [9][10] - There is a strategic emphasis on disciplined capital deployment, prioritizing high-performing markets for new store openings [34][56] - The company is optimistic about future growth opportunities, including potential M&A as valuations begin to rationalize [56][59] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management acknowledged the softer top-line trends due to unfavorable weather and consumer spending patterns but remains confident in the long-term strength of the business [4][31] - The company is monitoring evolving consumer dynamics and has slightly revised its full-year guidance to reflect a more cautious outlook on retail consumer behavior [31][34] - Management expressed confidence in the resilience of the subscription model, which provides a reliable revenue base [20][28] Other Important Information - The company added four new Greenfield locations, bringing the total to 522 stores [5] - Significant investments in repairs and maintenance were made to ensure the long-term health of the stores [5][64] - The company is seeing early wins in efforts to stimulate retail traffic and membership sign-ups [6][15] Q&A Session Summary Question: Marketing strategy and balancing spend with current macros - Management emphasized a blend of awareness and promotional campaigns, with encouraging results from recent tests [38][39][41] Question: Competitors' pricing strategies - Management noted that there is a trend towards rationality in competitor pricing, with less aggressive discounting observed [42] Question: Titanium membership sign-ups and retention - Management is optimistic about the stickiness of new titanium sign-ups, despite some expected churn [46][47] Question: Performance of new units - New builds are performing well, though some are taking longer to ramp up due to increased competition and site selection challenges [53][54] Question: M&A opportunities - Management sees M&A as a key growth opportunity, with a focus on quality assets and strategic fit [55][56] Question: Weather impact on Q2 performance - The lack of favorable weather was noted as a contributing factor to softer retail performance in Q2 [81][82] Question: Retail comp expectations for the back half of the year - Management anticipates continued softness in retail comps, particularly among lower-income demographics [89][90]