Emerald Holding(EEX) - 2025 Q1 - Earnings Call Transcript

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total revenue for Q1 2025 was $147.7 million, up from$ 133.4 million in the prior year, reflecting a year-over-year increase of approximately 10.3% [16] - Organic revenue increased by 5.6% year-over-year to $139.2 million, driven by strong growth in the connections business, which improved by 6.6% [16] - Adjusted EBITDA for Q1 2025 was$ 53.6 million, compared to $39.8 million in the prior year, marking an increase of 34.7% [16] - The adjusted EBITDA margin for the quarter was approximately 36.3% [17] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The connections business showed strong organic revenue growth, contributing significantly to the overall revenue increase [16] - The InsurTech Insights acquisition positively impacted adjusted EBITDA and revenue recognition for the quarter [16][42] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Approximately 10% of total revenue is generated from international exhibitors, with China and Canada each contributing about 2% and Mexico less than 1% [10] - Sales efforts in China and Canada faced pressure, while countries like Turkey, Brazil, and the UAE showed strength in sales growth [8][10] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on portfolio optimization, reducing reliance on slower growth verticals, and enhancing resilience across market cycles [6] - A strategic emphasis on face-to-face engagement aligns with ongoing portfolio optimization efforts, targeting high-growth sectors such as design and construction, food, technology, and luxury travel [12] - The company plans to close the acquisition of This Is Beyond, which aligns with consumer trends for premium experiences [12] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management remains confident in achieving full-year 2025 guidance of$ 450 million to $460 million in revenue and$ 120 million to $125 million in adjusted EBITDA [23] - The company is proactively monitoring external factors, including trade tensions and consumer sentiment, to adapt its strategies accordingly [7][23] Other Important Information - The company had$ 276.8 million in cash as of March 31, 2025, up from $194.8 million at the end of 2024, supporting future acquisitions and investments [19] - A share buyback program was reauthorized with an additional$ 25 million allocated, reflecting management's confidence in the long-term value of the stock [20][21] Q&A Session Summary Question: Update on guidance considering trade war impacts - Management reiterated guidance based on current observations, noting that international revenues from China and Canada are expected to decline, but sales from other countries are increasing [26][28][31] Question: Impact of InsurTech on EBITDA - InsurTech contributed positively to EBITDA in Q1, with revenue recognized from the event held during the quarter [41][42] Question: Seasonality of revenue across quarters - Q1 is expected to contribute about one-third of annual revenue, with Q2 and Q3 being smaller quarters due to the mix of events [48][49] Question: Future expense discipline - The company is focusing on consolidating operations onto a single platform to find efficiencies and is testing AI applications to improve operational effectiveness [55][56]