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Ziff Davis (NasdaqGS:ZD) 2025 Conference Transcript
2025-11-19 16:02
Summary of Ziff Davis Conference Call Company Overview - Ziff Davis is a digital media and internet company with a portfolio of content and ad-supported brands, subscription-supported software brands, and subscription-supported data businesses [4][5] - The company has a history of growth through systematic acquisitions over the past 15 years [4] Financial Performance and Strategic Initiatives - Approximately 60% of Ziff Davis's revenue comes from advertising, with the remainder from subscriptions and licensing [4] - The company is currently exploring value-creating opportunities, including potential divestitures, due to a perceived disconnect between its market valuation and intrinsic value [5][8] - Ziff Davis is trading at roughly three to four times EBITDA, despite having strong growth and margins [7][8] Segment Performance - **Health and Wellness**: This is the largest segment, showing a 13% top-line growth in Q3 and 18% adjusted EBITDA growth. The segment benefits from a robust pharma market and digital commercialization trends [11][12] - **Connectivity**: The Ookla business, which includes Speedtest, is undergoing a reset with new leadership and is expected to return to growth, projecting a low double-digit growth rate for the upcoming year [13][14] - **Cybersecurity and MarTech**: The cybersecurity segment, including Viper and IPVanish, is returning to growth, although it has taken longer than expected [15] - **Tech and Shopping**: This segment experienced a decline in Q3, primarily due to winding down a part of the business, but is expected to stabilize [15][16] - **Gaming and Entertainment**: This segment is characterized by volatility due to game release cycles but remains a strong brand with IGN Entertainment [17] AI and Market Trends - Ziff Davis generates about one-third of its revenue from web traffic, with search-related revenue accounting for mid-teens percentage of total revenue [23] - The company is observing increased search volume driven by AI, but also significant volatility in search rankings, which impacts traditional publishers [24][25] - Ziff Davis is focused on maintaining trust in content quality amidst the rise of AI-generated content [26] Product Development and Innovation - Ziff Davis is integrating AI into its products, such as the Lose It app, which uses visual technology for food logging, enhancing user engagement and retention [28][29] - The company is developing AI-based insight and ad platforms, leveraging audience signals for market research and ad targeting [30][34] Capital Allocation and M&A Strategy - Ziff Davis prioritizes M&A, having closed seven deals in the current year, while also investing heavily in stock buybacks [41][42] - The company is selective in M&A to ensure cash flow generation aligns with risk-reward profiles [41] - Recent investments in connectivity products aim to expand market presence and address customer needs [43][45] Conclusion - Ziff Davis is actively exploring ways to unlock value within its portfolio while maintaining a focus on growth through both organic and inorganic means. The company is optimistic about its segments, particularly health and wellness, and is strategically investing in AI and product development to enhance its market position [38][39][40]
Inseego Strengthens Board of Directors with Experienced Operational Leaders in Carrier, AI, and SaaS
Globenewswire· 2025-11-03 13:00
Core Insights - Inseego Corp. has appointed Nabil Bukhari and Stephen Bye to its Board of Directors, enhancing its leadership in 5G mobile broadband and fixed wireless access solutions [1][2] - The new board members bring extensive experience in wireless networking, SaaS, and AI, which aligns with Inseego's strategy for growth and market expansion [1][2] Group 1: Board Member Profiles - Nabil Bukhari is currently the President of AI Platforms and CTO at Extreme Networks, focusing on AI integration in networking products and has a strong background in SaaS and cloud-based solutions [2][3] - Stephen Bye is the CEO of Ookla and has a history of helping carriers evolve their strategies, with leadership roles at DISH, C Spire, Sprint, and AT&T, providing him with a unique perspective on connectivity monetization [3][4] Group 2: Strategic Focus - Inseego aims to capitalize on the expanding Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) market, with a strong emphasis on technology leadership as 5G Advanced and 6G developments approach [5] - The company has increased its board size from six to eight members to support its strategic growth priorities and leverage the expertise of the new directors [5]
j2 Global(ZD) - 2025 Q2 - Earnings Call Transcript
2025-08-07 13:30
Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Q2 2025 revenues were $352.2 million, reflecting growth of nearly 10% compared to $320.8 million in the prior year period [23] - Adjusted EBITDA for Q2 2025 was $107.7 million, up nearly 12% from $96.3 million in the prior year [23] - Adjusted diluted EPS increased to $1.24 from $1.18 in 2024, reflecting growth of more than 5% [23] - Adjusted EBITDA margin for the quarter was 30.6% [23] - Free cash flow for Q2 2025 was $26.9 million, 7.5% higher than the prior year period [32] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Four of the five reportable segments grew in revenues in Q2 2025, with the Digital Media segment growing nearly 13% [8] - Tech and Shopping's revenues grew over 11%, with adjusted EBITDA growth of over 5% [9] - Gaming and Entertainment revenues grew nearly 8%, with adjusted EBITDA growth of almost 24% [10] - Health and Wellness revenues increased nearly 16%, with adjusted EBITDA up 11% [11] - Connectivity revenues were up over 14%, with adjusted EBITDA growth of over 12% [13] - Cybersecurity and Martech segment's revenue declined less than 1% but posted over 5% adjusted EBITDA growth [15] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Advertising and performance marketing revenues grew 15.5% year over year, while subscription and licensing revenues grew by 5% [25] - Other revenues declined by $2.2 million year over year, primarily due to a decline in the contribution from the Hungable Games publishing business [26] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is committed to repurchasing shares and has completed five tuck-in acquisitions in the first half of the year [7] - The focus remains on identifying and integrating durable high-quality assets while maintaining a disciplined approach to capital allocation [20] - The company aims for double-digit total revenue growth, with expectations of mid-30s adjusted EBITDA margins in the long term [51] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about the Cybersecurity and Martech segment returning to growth in Q3 [8] - The company anticipates at least mid-single-digit revenue growth for both Q3 and Q4 2025, with Q4 potentially being stronger than Q3 [31] - Health and Wellness and Connectivity businesses are expected to be the largest contributors to second-half growth [31] Other Important Information - The company has a healthy balance sheet with $457 million in cash and cash equivalents and $140 million in long-term investments [27] - The company has repurchased nearly 1.4 million shares since the beginning of Q2 2025, totaling over $170 million since June 30, 2024 [29] Q&A Session Summary Question: What are you hoping to communicate to the market regarding intrinsic value versus current public market valuation? - Management hopes investors will assess each of the five segments, noting that four segments collectively grew 13% and that there are differing levels of growth and margin profiles [36][38] Question: Can you update us on trends in the ad market? - The ad business grew a little over 15%, with health and wellness being very strong and gaming up mid-teens [44][50] Question: Can you unpack the incremental EBITDA margin and any factors affecting it? - Management indicated that there are no specific changes in cost structure affecting margins, and advised looking at performance over multiple quarters for a clearer picture [55][60] Question: What are the trends in health and wellness advertising participation? - The increase in advertiser participation is attributed to expanding beyond pharma to include more health and wellness brands [80][82]
Ziff Davis (ZD) FY Conference Transcript
2025-05-14 21:20
Summary of Ziff Davis (ZD) FY Conference Call - May 14, 2025 Company Overview - Ziff Davis has built a portfolio through systematic acquisitions and growth in digital media and internet businesses, focusing on value creation across five vertical categories [4][14] - The company aims for organic growth and growth through acquisitions, with a diversified business model including advertising, subscription, and licensing revenue [4] Financial Performance - Reported a revenue growth of 5% in the quarter, with the Digital Media segment growing 9% [5] - Reaffirmed guidance for mid-single-digit growth across revenue, EBITDA, and EPS for the year [5] - Strong M&A activity expected to continue, with a healthy balance sheet [6] Advertising and Market Trends - Advertising revenues increased by 12% in Q1, with strong performance across tech, shopping, health, and gaming categories [7][11] - Health and wellness sector driven by a strong FDA drug pipeline, while gaming benefits from upcoming console releases [8][9] - Concerns about tariffs affecting the tech and shopping categories, but no immediate signs of impact observed [10][11] Segment Analysis Technology and Shopping - The CNET Group and RetailMeNot segment grew 14% in revenue and 44% in adjusted EBITDA, driven by organic growth and margin expansion [21] - B2B businesses have been a drag on growth but are now profitable [22] Gaming and Entertainment - IGN Entertainment segment grew mid-single digits, with strong advertising growth but some challenges in subscription offerings [26][28] - Anticipated growth from new gaming IP and streaming platforms [30] Health and Wellness - Everyday Health Group showed mid to high single-digit revenue growth and double-digit EBITDA growth, benefiting from a favorable pharma advertising environment [32][34] Connectivity - Ookla segment maintained flat revenue despite a 25% decline in wireless access point sales industry-wide, with expectations for growth as Wi-Fi 7 is introduced [41][42] Cybersecurity and Martech - This segment declined due to tough year-over-year comparisons, but there is optimism for sequential growth throughout the year [44][46] AI and Intellectual Property - Ziff Davis filed a lawsuit against OpenAI for unauthorized use of its content, emphasizing the need for compensation for IP usage [47][49] - 35% of the company's revenues are web traffic-based, with 40% of that from search, indicating a diversified revenue model [51][52] M&A Strategy - The company is focused on tuck-in acquisitions that are synergistic with existing businesses, with a robust pipeline across all segments [63][64] - Historical targets include 20% cash-on-cash returns and maintaining a gross debt to EBITDA ratio of three times [66] Market Outlook - The company is optimistic about returning to organic growth and a consistent M&A cadence, with all segments positioned for potential growth [76][78] - The management believes that the current market valuation does not reflect the company's performance and potential [68][70] Conclusion - Ziff Davis is positioned for growth across its diversified portfolio, with strong financial performance and a proactive approach to M&A and market challenges [80][81]
j2 Global(ZD) - 2024 Q4 - Earnings Call Transcript
2025-02-25 18:43
Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In Q4 2024, total revenue was $412.8 million, reflecting a growth of 5.9% compared to $389.9 million in Q4 2023 [30] - Adjusted EBITDA for Q4 2024 was $171.8 million, a 2.5% increase from $167.6 million in the prior year [30] - Adjusted diluted EPS for Q4 2024 was $2.58, representing a 10.7% increase compared to Q4 2023 [31] - For the fiscal year 2024, total revenue increased by 2.8% to $1,401.7 million, and adjusted EBITDA grew by 2.3% to $493.5 million [32] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The Tech & Shopping segment returned to nearly 10% growth in 2024 after a decline of 25% over the previous two years [16] - Gaming & Entertainment has been a mid-single-digit grower for several years, with good growth expected to continue [17] - Health & Wellness and Connectivity segments experienced slow to nominal growth in 2024, but are expected to return to robust growth rates [18] - Advertising and performance marketing revenue grew by 10.6% in Q4 2024, while subscription and licensing revenue grew approximately 1% [37][39] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported a net advertising revenue retention rate of approximately 92% for Q4 2024, a significant improvement from the previous year [38] - The average quarterly revenue per advertiser exceeded $135,000 in Q4 2024, significantly higher than the comparable Q4 2023 metric [38] - Total subscription and licensing customers increased to 3.65 million, with an average quarterly revenue per customer of $40.44 [40] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is transitioning from two to five reportable segments to provide greater transparency into business performance [11] - The new segments include Technology & Shopping, Gaming & Entertainment, Health & Wellness, and Connectivity, with a focus on profitability and growth [12][13] - The company plans to maintain an active capital allocation strategy, with a focus on M&A opportunities and stock repurchases [45][81] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism for 2025, expecting revenue growth to accelerate from 2.8% in 2024 to a midpoint of 5% [11] - The company anticipates improved performance in Tech & Shopping and Health & Wellness segments, alongside continued growth in Gaming & Entertainment and Connectivity [47] - Management acknowledged macroeconomic factors but noted a benign environment in 2024, with expectations for stability in 2025 [70] Other Important Information - The company reported a free cash flow of over $283 million for 2024, with Q4 2024 free cash flow nearly doubling compared to Q4 2023 [55] - The company has significant leverage capacity, with gross leverage at 1.8 times trailing twelve months adjusted EBITDA [41] Q&A Session Summary Question: Insights on the macro environment and advertising growth - Management noted a strong Q4 for advertising growth, with expectations for mid-single-digit growth in 2025, despite planned reductions in B2B revenue [60][64] Question: Capital allocation and M&A focus - Management confirmed an active M&A pipeline and a focus on leveraging cash and borrowing capacity for potential acquisitions [73][81] Question: Health & Wellness business outlook - Management expressed confidence in the Health & Wellness segment, anticipating a return to historic growth rates in 2025 despite current challenges [100][105] Question: Updates on licensing and AI impacts - Management emphasized the importance of fair licensing agreements and noted that AI overviews have not significantly impacted click-through rates [89][91]