Pitney Bowes(US:PBI)2020-10-30 16:38Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported a revenue growth of 13% year-over-year, totaling $892 million for the third quarter [15][28] - Adjusted EPS was $0.08, while GAAP EPS was $0.07, reflecting COVID-related costs partially offset by insurance proceeds from a previous malware attack [15][18] - Free cash flow improved to $85 million, with year-to-date cash flow at approximately $186 million [14][15] - Total debt decreased to $2.6 billion, primarily due to the repayment of a $100 million revolving credit facility [17] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Global Ecommerce revenue reached $410 million, marking a 47% increase year-over-year, with domestic parcel volumes more than doubling [20][21] - SendTech revenue was $354 million, a decline of 7% from the previous year, but showed improvement from the second quarter [24][26] - Presort Services revenue was $128 million, a decline of 3% year-over-year, but improved from the second quarter [22][23] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company noted that 45% of consumers now do more than half of their shopping online, nearly three times the pre-pandemic adoption rate [6] - The ecommerce business is on track to generate over $1.5 billion in annual revenue, with year-to-date growth exceeding 30% [7][8] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company has shifted its portfolio towards ecommerce and shipping, which now comprises half of its overall revenue [5][6] - Investments in new facilities and automation are aimed at improving operational efficiency and preparing for peak holiday volumes [9][21] - The company is focused on maintaining a strong balance sheet and liquidity position, having repaid the revolving credit facility [27][28] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the company's resilience and ability to emerge stronger from the pandemic [13][28] - The company is cautious about future guidance due to ongoing uncertainty surrounding COVID-19 [28] - There is optimism regarding continued sequential improvement in global ecommerce revenue and earnings in the fourth quarter [28] Other Important Information - The company announced the departure of CFO Stan Sutula, who will be joining Colgate-Palmolive [30][31] - The company is actively searching for a new CFO and has a strong list of internal and external candidates [33] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you discuss the EBIT losses in the Global Ecommerce business? - Management noted that increased revenue improved unit costs, but warehouse costs remained a challenge due to new facilities and inefficiencies [36][38] Question: What is the context around the other income reported this quarter? - The other income primarily came from insurance proceeds related to a previous malware attack, but the impact of COVID-19 has been more significant [40] Question: How should free cash flow be viewed for the remainder of the year? - Free cash flow for the quarter was strong, and management is confident about maintaining a good position for the full year despite some fluctuations in accounts receivable [50][52] Question: Can you provide insights on revenue trends throughout the quarter? - Revenue trends varied by segment, with Global Ecommerce showing strong growth in July and September, while SendTech improved significantly from previous months [46][48] Question: How does the company view its investment strategy in light of current volume opportunities? - Management indicated that while the overall EBIT opportunity remains consistent, there may be a slight reduction in margins due to increased revenue and efficiency challenges [66][68]