Cushman & Wakefield(US:CWK)2025-10-30 14:00Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported Q3 revenue of $1.8 billion, an increase of 8%, with organic revenue growth of 9% [6] - Adjusted EBITDA rose 11% to $160 million, and adjusted EBITDA margin expanded by 23 basis points to 9% [6] - Year-to-date adjusted EBITDA margin improved by approximately 70 basis points compared to the previous year [3][12] - Adjusted EPS grew by 26% year-over-year to $0.29 from $0.23 [6] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The leasing business grew by 9% in the quarter, with the Americas leasing growing 11% [7][8] - Capital markets delivered 20% year-over-year growth, with the Americas revenue growing 16% [9][10] - Services revenue in the Americas grew by 6%, while EMEA services grew by 17% [10][11] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - In EMEA, leasing grew 9%, with strong performances in the UK and Spain [9] - APAC leasing revenue declined by 6%, but strong performance in Singapore and Australia helped mitigate losses [9] - Industrial properties built after 2020 recorded 196 million square feet of net absorption, accounting for nearly all industrial net absorption [9] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on organic growth and has raised its 2025 adjusted EPS guidance to 30% to 35% growth [3][14] - Investments are being made in data and AI infrastructure, project management, and retaining top leasing talent [4][3] - The company is building a global capital markets platform and expanding its services offerings [19][28] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in continued growth into 2026, particularly in capital markets [19] - The company anticipates full-year leasing revenue growth towards the high end of the 6% to 8% guidance range [13] - Management noted strong momentum in the business, supported by strategic growth investments and improved operational performance [14] Other Important Information - The company prepaid an additional $100 million in debt, bringing total debt repayment to $500 million over two years [3][13] - The company ended the quarter with net leverage of 3.4x, the lowest since Q4 2022 [12] Q&A Session Summary Question: Insights on Americas capital markets growth and advisor hires - Management indicated they are in the ramp-up stages and anticipate continued growth into 2026, emphasizing the building of a global capital markets platform [18][19] Question: EMEA margins and year-over-year performance - EMEA margins increased by 170 basis points, with management noting that previous quarter benefits from FX and incentive compensation timing did not recur [20][21] Question: Factors supporting stronger services growth in the Americas - Management highlighted strong performance in project management and design and build services, particularly in the UK, Ireland, Netherlands, and Spain [23][24] Question: Capital allocation strategy regarding debt repayment and organic growth - Management stated they are balancing deleveraging with organic growth investments, emphasizing the importance of free cash flow conversion [34][35] Question: Expectations for services business margins and profitability - Management expressed confidence in continued growth and profitability, focusing on moving up the value chain and improving client retention [31][33] Question: Recruiting environment and talent acquisition - Management noted that recruiting has not become more expensive and they are receiving interest from top talent in the capital markets sector [38][40] Question: Cross-selling initiatives within the company - Management is implementing incentives and cultural changes to promote cross-selling across business lines, referred to as "Plus One" [43][44] Question: Positioning to capture benefits from the flight to quality in real estate - Management highlighted a significant increase in larger deals and strong demand for Class A buildings, which aligns with their strengths [48]