Quad Reports First Quarter 2025 Results

Reaffirms Full-Year 2025 Financial Guidance

Repurchased 1.2 Million Quad Shares Year-to-Date

SUSSEX, Wis., April 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Quad/Graphics, Inc. (NYSE:QUAD) ("Quad" or the "Company"), a marketing experience company that solves complex marketing challenges for its clients, today reported results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2025.

Recent Highlights

• Realized Net Sales of $629 million in the first quarter of 2025 compared to $655 million in the first quarter of 2024, representing a 4% decline in Net Sales or a 2% decline in Net Sales on an organic basis excluding the impact of the February 28, 2025, divestiture of the Company's European operations.
• Recognized Net Earnings of $6 million or $0.11 Diluted Earnings Per Share in the first quarter of 2025, compared to a Net Loss of $28 million or $0.60 Diluted Loss Per Share in 2024.
• Achieved Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA of $46 million in the first quarter of 2025, compared to $51 million in 2024.
• Reported $0.20 Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share in the first quarter of 2025, increased from $0.10 per share in the first quarter of 2024.
• Continued to innovate solutions for clients to maximize postal savings and increase consumer response rates, including the April 1, 2025, acquisition of the co-mailing assets of Enru, a third-party co-mail and logistics solutions provider.
• Expanded footprint of Quad's In-Store Connect retail media network with two new regional grocery partners.
• Completed the sale of its European operations for a total potential value of €41 million (approximately $42 million) to Capmont.
• Repurchased 1.2 million shares of Quad Class A common stock in 2025, bringing total repurchases to 7.2 million shares since commencing buybacks in 2022, representing approximately 13% of Quad's March 31, 2022, outstanding shares.
• Declared quarterly dividend of $0.075 per share.
• Reaffirms full-year 2025 financial guidance.

Joel Quadracci, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Quad, said: "Our first quarter results were in-line with our expectations, and we remain on track to achieve our 2025 guidance. We continue to focus on growing our offerings, including strategic investments in innovative solutions and superior talent, while managing for economic uncertainties.

"Our powerful data capability, which is based on our proprietary, household-based data stack, is at the core of our solutions suite and is enabled by technology to help our clients connect the right message with the right audience at the right time, whether in the home, in-store or online. For example, our In-Store Connect retail media network makes it easy for retailers and brands to make consumer connections in brick-and-mortar stores, where the vast majority of retail sales still happen. We continue to build sales momentum for In-Store Connect, particularly among mid-market grocers, and recently added two new grocery clients in the West and Midwest.

"Talent continues to be a strategic differentiator for Quad, and we recently announced that Tim Maleeny, Chief Client Strategy and Integration Officer, will expand his role to include President of Quad Agency Solutions, succeeding Eric Ashworth who is leaving the Company for a new opportunity. Tim is a well-known and respected leader in the advertising and marketing services industry, and his ability to think across agency disciplines and simplify the complexities of marketing in digital and physical media channels will further strengthen Quad's integrated data, media, creative and marketing services business.

"Looking ahead, we remain confident in our vision and the Quad brand, and we will continue to leverage our integrated marketing platform to drive diversified growth; optimize print and marketing efficiencies, including expanding postage savings opportunities, such as the recent acquisition of Enru's co-mailing assets; and create value for our clients, employees and shareholders."

Added Tony Staniak, Chief Financial Officer of Quad: "The current macroeconomic environment is marked by increased uncertainty due to global tariffs. We are closely monitoring the potential impacts of tariffs and recessionary pressures on our clients, which could affect advertising and marketing spend, including print volumes. As we have demonstrated during previous times of macroeconomic disruption, we will remain nimble and adapt to the changing demand environment while maintaining our disciplined approach to how we manage all aspects of our business. We are reaffirming our 2025 guidance and are focused on driving long-term revenue growth by continuing to make strategic investments in innovative offerings. In addition, we remain committed to returning capital to shareholders through our quarterly dividend of $0.075 per share and share repurchases. Year-to-date, we repurchased 1.2 million shares for $6.7 million, and we expect to continue to be opportunistic in terms of future share repurchases."

First Quarter 2025 Financial Results

• Net Sales were $629 million in the first quarter of 2025, a decrease of 4% compared to the same period in 2024. Excluding the divestiture of the Company's European operations, Net Sales declined 2% on an organic basis. The decline in Net Sales was primarily due to lower paper, logistics and agency solutions sales, including the loss of a large grocery client.
• Net Earnings were $6 million in the first quarter of 2025 compared to Net Loss of $28 million in the first quarter of 2024. The improvement was primarily due to lower restructuring, impairment and transaction-related charges, lower depreciation and amortization, lower interest expense, benefits from increased manufacturing productivity and savings from cost reduction initiatives, partially offset by the impact from lower Net Sales, increased investments in innovative offerings to drive future revenue growth, and the divestiture of the Company's European operations.
• Adjusted EBITDA was $46 million in the first quarter of 2025 as compared to $51 million in the same period in 2024. The decrease was primarily due to the impact of lower sales, increased investments in innovative offerings to drive future revenue growth, and the divestiture of the Company's European operations, partially offset by benefits from improved manufacturing productivity and savings from cost reduction initiatives.
• Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share was $0.20 in the first quarter of 2025, as compared to $0.10 in the first quarter of 2024.
• Net Cash Used in Operating Activities was $89 million in the first quarter of 2025, compared to $52 million in the first quarter of 2024. Free Cash Flow was negative $100 million in the first quarter of 2025 compared to negative $70 million in the first quarter of 2024. The decline in Free Cash Flow was primarily due to the timing of working capital, including accelerated purchases of paper in advance of potential tariffs, partially offset by a $7 million decrease in capital expenditures. As a reminder, the Company historically generates most of its Free Cash Flow in the fourth quarter of the year.
• Net Debt was $463 million at March 31, 2025, as compared to $350 million at December 31, 2024 and $544 million at March 31, 2024. Compared to December 31, 2024, Net Debt increased primarily due to the negative $100 million Free Cash Flow in the first quarter of 2025.

Dividend

Quad's next quarterly dividend of $0.075 per share will be payable on June 6, 2025, to shareholders of record as of May 22, 2025.

2025 Guidance

The Company's full-year 2025 financial guidance is unchanged and is as follows:

Conference Call and Webcast Information

Quad will hold a conference call at 8:30 a.m. ET on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, hosted by Joel Quadracci, Chairman, President and CEO of Quad, and Tony Staniak, Chief Financial Officer of Quad. The full earnings release and slide presentation will be concurrently available on the Investors section of Quad's website at http://www.quad.com/investor-relations. As part of the conference call, Quad will conduct a question and answer session.

Participants can pre-register for the webcast by navigating to https://dpregister.com/sreg/10198067/fec5edd3f9. Participants will be given a unique PIN to access the call on April 30. Participants may pre-register at any time, including up to and after the call start time.

Alternatively, participants may dial in on the day of the call as follows:

• U.S. Toll-Free: 1-877-328-5508
• International Toll: 1-412-317-5424

An audio replay of the call will be posted on the Investors section of Quad's website shortly after the conference call ends. In addition, telephone playback will also be available until May 30, 2025, accessible as follows:

• U.S. Toll-Free: 1-877-344-7529
• International Toll: 1-412-317-0088
• Replay Access Code: 9177057

About Quad

Quad (NYSE:QUAD) is a marketing experience, or MX, company that helps brands make direct consumer connections, from household to in-store to online. The company does this through its MX Solutions Suite, a comprehensive range of marketing and print services that seamlessly integrate creative, production and media solutions across online and offline channels. Supported by state-of-the-art technology and data-driven intelligence, Quad simplifies the complexities of marketing by removing friction wherever it occurs along the marketing journey. The company tailors its uniquely flexible, scalable and connected solutions to each clients' objectives, driving cost efficiencies, improving speed-to-market, strengthening marketing effectiveness and delivering value on client investments.

Quad employs approximately 11,000 people in 11 countries and serves approximately 2,100 clients including industry leading blue-chip companies that serve both businesses and consumers in multiple industry verticals, with a particular focus on commerce, including retail, consumer packaged goods, and direct-to-consumer; financial services; and health. Quad is ranked among the largest agency companies in the U.S. by Ad Age, buoyed by its full-service media agency, Rise, and creative agency, Betty. Quad is also one of the largest commercial printers in North America, according to Printing Impressions.

For more information about Quad, including its commitment to operating responsibly, intentional innovation and values-driven culture, visit quad.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Forward-looking statements include statements regarding, among other things, our current expectations about the Company's future results, financial condition, sales, earnings, free cash flow, margins, objectives, goals, strategies, beliefs, intentions, plans, estimates, prospects, projections and outlook of the Company and can generally be identified by the use of words or phrases such as "may," "will," "expect," "intend," "estimate," "anticipate," "plan," "foresee," "project," "believe," "continue" or the negatives of these terms, variations on them and other similar expressions. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results to be materially different from those expressed in or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based largely on the Company's expectations and judgments and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are unforeseeable and beyond our control.

The factors that could cause actual results to materially differ include, among others: the impact of increased business complexity as a result of the Company's transformation to a marketing experience company, including adapting marketing offerings and business processes as required by new markets and technologies, such as artificial intelligence; the impact of decreasing demand for printing services and significant overcapacity in a highly competitive environment creates downward pricing pressures and potential under-utilization of assets; the impact of increases in its operating costs, including the cost and availability of raw materials (such as paper, ink components and other materials), inventory, parts for equipment, labor, fuel and other energy costs and freight rates; the impact of changes in postal rates, service levels or regulations; the impact macroeconomic conditions, including inflation and elevated interest rates, as well as postal rate increases, tariffs, trade restrictions, cost pressures and the price and availability of paper, have had, and may continue to have, on the Company's business, financial condition, cash flows and results of operations (including future uncertain impacts); the inability of the Company to reduce costs and improve operating efficiency rapidly enough to meet market conditions; the impact of a data-breach of sensitive information, ransomware attack or other cyber incident on the Company; the fragility and decline in overall distribution channels; the failure to attract and retain qualified talent across the enterprise; the impact of digital media and similar technological changes, including digital substitution by consumers; the failure of clients to perform under contracts or to renew contracts with clients on favorable terms or at all; the impact of risks associated with the operations outside of the United States ("U.S."), including trade restrictions, currency fluctuations, the global economy, costs incurred or reputational damage suffered due to improper conduct of its employees, contractors or agents, and geopolitical events like war and terrorism; the impact negative publicity could have on our business and brand reputation; the failure to successfully identify, manage, complete and integrate acquisitions, investment opportunities or other significant transactions, as well as the successful identification and execution of strategic divestitures; the impact of significant capital expenditures and investments that may be needed to sustain and grow the Company's platforms, processes, systems, client and product technology, marketing and talent, to remain technologically and economically competitive, and to adapt to future changes, such as artificial intelligence; the impact of the various restrictive covenants in the Company's debt facilities on the Company's ability to operate its business, as well as the uncertain negative impacts macroeconomic conditions may have on the Company's ability to continue to be in compliance with these restrictive covenants; the impact of an other than temporary decline in operating results and enterprise value that could lead to non-cash impairment charges due to the impairment of property, plant and equipment and other intangible assets; the impact of regulatory matters and legislative developments or changes in laws, including changes in cyber-security, privacy and environmental laws; and the impact on the holders of Quad's class A common stock of a limited active market for such shares and the inability to independently elect directors or control decisions due to the voting power of the class B common stock; and the other risk factors identified in the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, which may be amended or supplemented by subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q or other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Except to the extent required by the federal securities laws, the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This press release contains financial measures not prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (referred to as non-GAAP), specifically EBITDA, EBITDA Margin, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA Margin, Free Cash Flow, Net Debt, Debt Leverage Ratio and Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net earnings (loss) excluding interest expense, income tax expense, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) and restructuring, impairment and transaction-related charges, net. EBITDA Margin and Adjusted EBITDA Margin are defined as either EBITDA or Adjusted EBITDA divided by net sales. Free Cash Flow is defined as net cash used in operating activities less purchases of property, plant and equipment. Debt Leverage Ratio is defined as total debt and finance lease obligations less cash and cash equivalents (Net Debt) divided by the last twelve months of Adjusted EBITDA. Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share is defined as earnings (loss) before income taxes excluding restructuring, impairment and transaction-related charges, net, and adjusted for income tax expense at a normalized tax rate, divided by diluted weighted average number of common shares outstanding.

The Company believes that these non-GAAP measures, when presented in conjunction with comparable GAAP measures, provide additional information for evaluating Quad's performance and are important measures by which Quad's management assesses the profitability and liquidity of its business. These non-GAAP measures should be considered in addition to, not as a substitute for or superior to, net earnings (loss) as a measure of operating performance or to cash flows used in operating activities as a measure of liquidity. These non-GAAP measures may be different than non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies. Reconciliations to the GAAP equivalent of these non-GAAP measures are contained in tabular form on the attached unaudited financial statements.

Investor Relations Contact

Don Pontes

Executive Director of Investor Relations

916-532-7074

[email protected]

Media Contact

Claire Ho

Director of Corporate Communications

414-566-2955

[email protected]

 

 

 

 

 

In addition to financial measures prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP), this earnings announcement also contains non-GAAP financial measures, specifically EBITDA, EBITDA Margin, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA Margin, Free Cash Flow, Net Debt, Debt Leverage Ratio and Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share.  The Company believes that these non-GAAP measures, when presented in conjunction with comparable GAAP measures, provide additional information for evaluating Quad's performance and are important measures by which Quad's management assesses the profitability and liquidity of its business.  These non-GAAP measures should be considered in addition to, not as a substitute for or superior to, net earnings (loss) as a measure of operating performance or to cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities as a measure of liquidity.  These non-GAAP measures may be different than non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies.

In addition to financial measures prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP), this earnings announcement also contains non-GAAP financial measures, specifically EBITDA, EBITDA Margin, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA Margin, Free Cash Flow, Net Debt, Debt Leverage Ratio and Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share.  The Company believes that these non-GAAP measures, when presented in conjunction with comparable GAAP measures, provide additional information for evaluating Quad's performance and are important measures by which Quad's management assesses the profitability and liquidity of its business.  These non-GAAP measures should be considered in addition to, not as a substitute for or superior to, net earnings (loss) as a measure of operating performance or to cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities as a measure of liquidity.  These non-GAAP measures may be different than non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies.

In addition to financial measures prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP), this earnings announcement also contains non-GAAP financial measures, specifically EBITDA, EBITDA Margin, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA Margin, Free Cash Flow, Net Debt, Debt Leverage Ratio and Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share.  The Company believes that these non-GAAP measures, when presented in conjunction with comparable GAAP measures, provide additional information for evaluating Quad's performance and are important measures by which Quad's management assesses the profitability and liquidity of its business.  These non-GAAP measures should be considered in addition to, not as a substitute for or superior to, net earnings (loss) as a measure of operating performance or to cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities as a measure of liquidity.  These non-GAAP measures may be different than non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies.

In addition to financial measures prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP), this earnings announcement also contains non-GAAP financial measures, specifically EBITDA, EBITDA Margin, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA Margin, Free Cash Flow, Net Debt, Debt Leverage Ratio and Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share.  The Company believes that these non-GAAP measures, when presented in conjunction with comparable GAAP measures, provide additional information for evaluating Quad's performance and are important measures by which Quad's management assesses the profitability and liquidity of its business.  These non-GAAP measures should be considered in addition to, not as a substitute for or superior to, net earnings (loss) as a measure of operating performance or to cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities as a measure of liquidity.  These non-GAAP measures may be different than non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies.

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SOURCE Quad