IBEX(US:IBEX)2025-11-06 22:30Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported a revenue growth of 16.5%, reaching $151.2 million compared to $129.7 million in the prior year quarter [12] - Adjusted EPS increased by 74% to $0.90 from $0.52 in the prior year quarter [17] - Free cash flow reached a record of $8 million, up from $4.1 million in the prior year quarter [19] - Adjusted EBITDA increased by 24.9% to $19.5 million, representing 12.9% of revenue, compared to 12.0% in the prior year [16] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue growth was driven by retail and e-commerce (25%), health tech (19.5%), and travel, transportation, and logistics (15.4%), while telecommunications declined by 22.5% [13] - The fintech vertical grew 3.4%, marking a positive trajectory after previous declines [13] - Higher-margin offshore revenues grew by 20%, while near-shore locations grew by 7% and onshore regions grew by 21% [13] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company achieved organic revenue growth of 13% over the last 12 months, totaling $580 million [6] - The highest-margin digital and omnichannel services grew by 25%, now accounting for 82% of total revenue [14] - Client diversification improved, with the largest client accounting for 10% of revenue, and top 5, top 10, and top 25 client concentrations representing 37%, 55%, and 79% of overall revenue, respectively [17] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on leveraging AI capabilities to enhance operational efficiency and client experiences, positioning itself as a leader in the CX space [5][28] - Continued investment in higher-margin delivery locations and services is expected to drive future growth and margin expansion [21] - The company raised its revenue guidance for FY 2026 to a range of $605 million-$620 million, up from $590 million-$610 million [21] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the company's position for FY 2026 and beyond, citing strong financial results and a healthy balance sheet [21] - The impact of AI is seen as a competitive advantage, with expectations for it to become a significant revenue driver by FY 2027 [28][29] - The company remains optimistic about its growth trajectory, supported by a strong pipeline of new clients and existing client retention rates exceeding 98% [9] Other Important Information - The company reported a significant improvement in days sales outstanding (DSOs), decreasing to 71 days from 75 days a year ago [19] - Capital expenditures for the quarter were $7.6 million, or 5.1% of revenue, reflecting investments in offshore regions [19] - The employee Net Promoter Score reached an all-time high of 77, indicating strong employee engagement [9] Q&A Session Summary Question: Insights on AI's impact on the industry and the company - Management noted that AI has been a positive catalyst for the company, with significant investments made to leverage AI for operational efficiency and customer experiences [26][28] - The company is ahead of competitors in AI deployment, which is expected to enhance growth and margin expansion in the future [28][29] Question: Clarification on gross margins and investment impacts - Management acknowledged that gross margins were slightly down in Q1 due to investments in AI and training revenue deferrals, but long-term projections remain positive [31][33]