Adtalem Education (ATGE) - 2026 Q2 - Earnings Call Transcript

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue in Q2 increased by 12.4% to $503.4 million, driven by all three segments, with Walden contributing significantly due to a one-week academic calendar shift [17][26] - Adjusted EBITDA grew to $154.9 million, up 23.9% year-over-year, with an adjusted EBITDA margin of 30.8%, expanding 290 basis points from last year [18][25] - Adjusted net income for the quarter was $87.9 million, a 26.7% increase compared to last year, with adjusted earnings per share rising to $2.43, a 34.3% increase [19][20] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Chamberlain reported revenue of $183.8 million, a 1.6% increase, but total student enrollment declined by 1% [22] - Walden's revenue reached $217.6 million, a 27% increase, with total student enrollment up 13% [23] - The Medical and Veterinary segment generated $102 million in revenue, a 6.9% increase, with adjusted EBITDA increasing by 17.6% [24][25] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total enrollment across the company grew over 6% to 97,000 students, with Walden achieving record total enrollments of 52,400 students [7][11] - Chamberlain's pre-licensure BSN programs have grown for 14 consecutive quarters, while post-licensure programs faced declines [22][10] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on addressing the healthcare workforce crisis by expanding capacity and creating new revenue streams [6][7] - A disciplined, returns-focused approach to capital allocation is being maintained, with $165 million deployed to share repurchases [4][20] - The upcoming Investor Day will outline a multi-year growth framework and capacity expansion plans [7][30] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in achieving full-year revenue guidance of 6%-8.5% growth and raised adjusted EPS guidance to 17%-20% growth [4][27] - The healthcare workforce crisis is intensifying, creating opportunities for the company to expand its role in healthcare education [6][7] - Management noted that application volumes for nursing programs are up, indicating potential future enrollment growth [10][39] Other Important Information - The company repurchased 1.7 million shares at an average price of $95, completing a prior $150 million authorization and announcing a new $750 million authorization [20] - The trailing twelve months operating cash flow generation reached $428 million, up $146 million year-over-year [20] Q&A Session Summary Question: Update on Walden's growth and market share - Management noted balanced growth across programs, particularly in behavioral sciences and nursing, indicating potential market share gains [32] Question: Regulatory changes and partnership with Sallie Mae - Management confirmed ongoing work with Sallie Mae on documentation for a partnership to provide loan dollars, particularly for the medical and veterinary segment [33] Question: Chamberlain's enrollment and marketing effectiveness - Management discussed improvements in application volumes and marketing effectiveness, expressing confidence in a positive enrollment trajectory for the fall cycle [39][40]