ACV Auctions(ACVA) - 2025 Q1 - Earnings Call Transcript

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Q1 revenue reached $183 million, representing a 25% year-over-year growth, with adjusted EBITDA of$ 14 million exceeding the high end of guidance [6][22][27] - Organic revenue growth was approximately 20% year-over-year, with adjusted EBITDA margin improving by 500 basis points [22][24] - Non-GAAP net income was above the high end of guidance, with margin increasing approximately 300 basis points year-over-year [22][24] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Auction and assurance revenue accounted for 58% of total revenue, growing 28% year-over-year, driven by 19% unit growth and an average revenue per unit (ARPU) of $500, which grew 8% [24] - Marketplace services revenue comprised 37% of total revenue, growing 24% year-over-year, reflecting record revenue for ACV Transport and ACV Capital [24] - SaaS and data services products made up 5% of total revenue, with a growth of 5% year-over-year [24] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The dealer wholesale market grew in the low single digits, with ACV selling 208,000 vehicles, a 19% year-over-year increase despite soft market conditions in February [6][22] - The overall used car supply is expected to be at a trough year, impacting market dynamics [42] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company focuses on three pillars for long-term shareholder value: growth, innovation, and scale [7][31] - ACV is leveraging AI across its product offerings to enhance pricing guidance and improve dealer experiences [8][16] - The company aims to expand its total addressable market (TAM) and competitive moat through innovative product roadmaps and value-added services [5][12] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in executing a profitable growth strategy to create significant long-term shareholder value, despite evolving macroeconomic conditions [5][31] - The company anticipates revenue growth to exceed non-GAAP operating expense growth by approximately 500 basis points [28] Other Important Information - The company ended Q1 with$ 342 million in cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities, alongside $167 million of debt [26] - For Q2, the company expects revenue in the range of$ 193 million to $198 million, reflecting a year-over-year growth of 20% to 23% [27] Q&A Session Summary Question: Customer pushback on fee increases due to tariffs - Management reported very little pushback from customers regarding recent fee increases, emphasizing a fair pricing strategy [34][36] Question: Growth avenues under tariff conditions - Management highlighted ongoing growth and market share gains, with value-added solutions helping to differentiate ACV from competitors [38][41] Question: Dealers' needs and focus shifts due to tariffs - Management noted that franchise dealers are increasingly seeking more inventory and showing interest in new products, rather than being significantly impacted by tariffs [49][50] Question: Penetration and impact of new tools like price guarantee and Viper - The price guarantee tool is seeing strong interest, with an average of 10 bidders per car, while Viper is in beta testing with high demand anticipated [55][64] Question: ACV Capital's growth and risk management - ACV Capital grew revenue by 33% year-over-year, with improved risk management capabilities leading to a 50% reduction in bad debt expense [74][75] Question: Impact of tariffs on fleet owners and wholesale listings - Management indicated that while tariffs may affect new vehicle pricing, the current supply primarily comes from dealers, minimizing potential impacts on ACV's business model [78][80] Question: Competitive dynamics in the market - Management noted no significant changes in competitive dynamics, asserting that ACV continues to execute well and take market share [90][92] Question: Leveraging data for dealer decision-making - Management described how dealers are increasingly using ACV's tools to make informed decisions on pricing and inventory management, enhancing operational efficiency [95][100] Question: Year-to-date performance of the dealer wholesale market - Management reported that the dealer wholesale market is up low single digits year-to-date, with expectations for a flattish performance throughout the year [104][106]