Alliance Entertainment (AENT) - 2025 Q3 - Earnings Call Transcript

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - For Q3 FY2025, net revenue was $213 million, a slight increase from $211.2 million in Q3 FY2024 [14] - Gross profit rose 3.7% year over year to $29.1 million, with gross margin improving to 13.6% from 13.2% [14] - Net income was $1.9 million or $0.04 per share, compared to a net loss of $3.4 million or $0.07 per share in Q3 of last year [15] - Adjusted EBITDA grew 66% year over year to $4.9 million, up from $2.9 million [15] - For the nine-month period, net revenue was $835.7 million, down from $863.5 million last year, primarily due to timing of shipments [16] - Net income increased to $9.3 million or $0.18 per diluted share, up from $2.1 million or $0.04 per share last year, representing a 349% improvement [18] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Exclusive agreements accounted for nearly a quarter of overall revenue, with $250 million generated from these partnerships over the trailing twelve months [20] - Direct-to-consumer fulfillment accounted for an estimated 40% of gross revenue in Q3, up from 33% in the same period last year [24] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported strong performance in high-margin categories, despite a decline in overall revenue [16] - The gaming segment faced challenges due to limited hardware allocation from Microsoft and tough comparisons from the previous year [36] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company focuses on expanding its licensing partnerships and acquiring emerging brands to enhance its position in the collectibles market [12] - The new exclusive license agreement with Paramount Pictures is expected to significantly contribute to revenue and earnings, allowing the company to be the exclusive distributor of Paramount's physical media catalog [21][56] - The company aims to improve its EBITDA margin, targeting a return to closer to 5% by FY2026 [39] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the growth potential driven by new product releases and strategic partnerships, particularly with major franchises [22][56] - The company is optimistic about the impact of the new Nintendo console on sales throughout 2025 [33] - Management highlighted the importance of automation and warehouse optimization in driving cost efficiencies and improving service levels [26][28] Other Important Information - The company has reduced its revolver debt and improved liquidity while maintaining strong supplier relationships [18] - The acquisition of Handmade by Robots is expected to enhance the company's licensing pipeline and position in the collectibles market [29] Q&A Session Summary Question: Do you have a good relationship with Nintendo with the arrival of the upcoming Switch two? - Yes, the company has a significant relationship with Nintendo and is excited about the upcoming hardware and software releases, which are expected to help sales [32] Question: How is Handmade by Robots going? Can you provide an update? - The company is excited about the brand and has plans for new character releases in the second half of 2025, indicating strong progress since the acquisition [34] Question: What do you attribute the decline in gaming revenue to? - The decline is attributed to limited hardware allocation from Microsoft and tough comparisons from the previous year, with expectations for stronger sales with new Nintendo hardware [36] Question: Do you have a long-term target margin range for the business? - The company aims to exceed a 3% EBITDA margin in FY2026, with a focus on improving both gross and net profit margins [39] Question: What type of impact are tariffs having on Alliance's business? - Music and video products are not affected by tariffs, while the company is managing the impact of tariffs on gaming products and Handmade by Robots [41][42] Question: How do you see your financial flexibility evolving over the next few quarters? - The company has made significant improvements in working capital and debt reduction, with availability on its line of credit for potential acquisitions [46] Question: Can you talk about what's driving increased adoption of direct-to-consumer fulfillment? - The growth is driven by the ability of retailers to offer a wider selection of products without holding inventory, benefiting both retailers and consumers [49] Question: Can you tell me more about the Paramount exclusive license agreement? - The agreement allows the company to be the exclusive distributor of Paramount's physical media catalog, which is expected to significantly boost revenue and extend the life of physical DVDs [53][56]