UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
| QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 | |||||
For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2025
or
| TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 | |||||
For the transition period from to
Commission File Number 001-34806
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) | |||||||
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
(414 ) 566-6000
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Title of each class | Trading Symbol(s) | Name of each exchange on which registered | ||||||
par value $0.025 per share | ||||||||
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
| Large accelerated filer | ☐ | ☒ | ||||||||||||
| Non-accelerated filer | ☐ | Smaller reporting company | ||||||||||||
| Emerging growth company | ||||||||||||||
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes ☐ No ☒
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock as of the latest practicable date.
| Class | Outstanding as of April 25, 2025 | |||||||
| Class A Common Stock | ||||||||
| Class B Common Stock | ||||||||
| Class C Common Stock | ||||||||
QUAD/GRAPHICS, INC.
FORM 10-Q INDEX
For the Quarter Ended March 31, 2025
| Page No. | |||||||||||
2
PART I — FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1. Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
QUAD/GRAPHICS, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(in millions, except per share data)
(UNAUDITED)
| Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||
| 2025 | 2024 | ||||||||||
| Net sales | |||||||||||
| Products | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Services | |||||||||||
| Total net sales | |||||||||||
| Cost of sales | |||||||||||
| Products | |||||||||||
| Services | |||||||||||
| Total cost of sales | |||||||||||
| Operating expenses | |||||||||||
| Selling, general and administrative expenses | |||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | |||||||||||
| Restructuring, impairment and transaction-related charges, net | |||||||||||
| Total operating expenses | |||||||||||
| Operating income (loss) | ( | ||||||||||
| Interest expense | |||||||||||
| Net pension expense (income) | ( | ||||||||||
| Earnings (loss) before income taxes | ( | ||||||||||
| Income tax expense | |||||||||||
| Net earnings (loss) | $ | $ | ( | ||||||||
| Earnings (loss) per share | |||||||||||
| Basic | $ | $ | ( | ||||||||
| Diluted | $ | $ | ( | ||||||||
| Weighted average number of common shares outstanding | |||||||||||
| Basic | |||||||||||
| Diluted | |||||||||||
See accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited).
3
QUAD/GRAPHICS, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
(in millions)
(UNAUDITED)
| Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||
| 2025 | 2024 | ||||||||||
| Net earnings (loss) | $ | $ | ( | ||||||||
| Other comprehensive income | |||||||||||
| Translation adjustments | ( | ||||||||||
| Interest rate derivatives adjustments | ( | ||||||||||
| Pension benefit plan adjustments | |||||||||||
| Other comprehensive income, before tax | |||||||||||
| Income tax impact related to items of other comprehensive income | ( | ||||||||||
| Other comprehensive income, net of tax | |||||||||||
| Comprehensive income (loss) | $ | $ | ( | ||||||||
See accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited).
4
QUAD/GRAPHICS, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in millions)
| (UNAUDITED) March 31, 2025 | December 31, 2024 | ||||||||||
| ASSETS | |||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | $ | |||||||||
Receivables, less allowances for credit losses of $ | |||||||||||
| Inventories | |||||||||||
| Prepaid expenses and other current assets | |||||||||||
| Total current assets | |||||||||||
| Property, plant and equipment—net | |||||||||||
| Operating lease right-of-use assets—net | |||||||||||
| Goodwill | |||||||||||
| Other intangible assets—net | |||||||||||
| Other long-term assets | |||||||||||
| Total assets | $ | $ | |||||||||
| LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY | |||||||||||
| Accounts payable | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Other current liabilities | |||||||||||
| Short-term debt and current portion of long-term debt | |||||||||||
| Current portion of finance lease obligations | |||||||||||
| Current portion of operating lease obligations | |||||||||||
| Total current liabilities | |||||||||||
| Long-term debt | |||||||||||
| Finance lease obligations | |||||||||||
| Operating lease obligations | |||||||||||
| Deferred income taxes | |||||||||||
| Other long-term liabilities | |||||||||||
| Total liabilities | |||||||||||
| Commitments and contingencies (Note 7) | |||||||||||
| Shareholders’ equity | |||||||||||
| Preferred stock | |||||||||||
| Common stock, Class A | |||||||||||
| Common stock, Class B | |||||||||||
| Common stock, Class C | |||||||||||
| Additional paid-in capital | |||||||||||
| Treasury stock, at cost | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Accumulated deficit | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Accumulated other comprehensive loss | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Total shareholders’ equity | |||||||||||
| Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity | $ | $ | |||||||||
See accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited).
5
QUAD/GRAPHICS, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in millions)
(UNAUDITED)
| Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||
| 2025 | 2024 | ||||||||||
| OPERATING ACTIVITIES | |||||||||||
| Net earnings (loss) | $ | $ | ( | ||||||||
| Adjustments to reconcile net earnings (loss) to net cash used in operating activities: | |||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | |||||||||||
| Impairment charges | |||||||||||
| Amortization of debt issuance costs and original issue discount | |||||||||||
| Stock-based compensation | |||||||||||
| Loss on the sale of a business | |||||||||||
| Gain on the sale or disposal of property, plant and equipment, net | ( | ||||||||||
| Deferred income taxes | |||||||||||
| Changes in operating assets and liabilities - net of divestitures | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Net cash used in operating activities | ( | ( | |||||||||
| INVESTING ACTIVITIES | |||||||||||
| Purchases of property, plant and equipment | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Cost investment in unconsolidated entities | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Proceeds from the sale of property, plant and equipment | |||||||||||
| Other investing activities | ( | ||||||||||
| Net cash used in investing activities | ( | ( | |||||||||
| FINANCING ACTIVITIES | |||||||||||
| Payments of current and long-term debt | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Payments of finance lease obligations | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Borrowings on revolving credit facilities | |||||||||||
| Payments on revolving credit facilities | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt | |||||||||||
| Purchases of treasury stock | ( | ||||||||||
| Equity awards redeemed to pay employees’ tax obligations | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Payment of cash dividends | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Other financing activities | ( | ||||||||||
| Net cash provided by financing activities | |||||||||||
| Effect of exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents, including cash classified as held for sale | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Less: net decrease in cash classified as held for sale | ( | ||||||||||
| Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period | |||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents at end of period | $ | $ | |||||||||
See accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited).
6
QUAD/GRAPHICS, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
(in millions)
(UNAUDITED)
Condensed Consolidated Statement of Shareholders’ Equity For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2025
| Common Stock | Additional Paid-in Capital | Treasury Stock | Accumulated Deficit | Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss | Quad’s Shareholders’ Equity | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shares | Amount | Shares | Amount | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at December 31, 2024 | $ | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net earnings | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Foreign currency translation adjustments | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest rate derivatives adjustments, net of tax | — | — | — | — | — | — | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pension benefit plan liability adjustments, net of tax | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cash dividends declared ($ | — | — | — | — | — | ( | — | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stock-based compensation | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Purchases of treasury stock | — | — | — | ( | ( | — | — | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Issuance of share-based awards, net of other activity | — | — | ( | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Equity awards redeemed to pay employees’ tax obligations | — | — | — | ( | ( | — | — | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at March 31, 2025 | $ | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Condensed Consolidated Statement of Shareholders’ Equity For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2024
| Common Stock | Additional Paid-in Capital | Treasury Stock | Accumulated Deficit | Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss | Quad’s Shareholders’ Equity | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shares | Amount | Shares | Amount | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at December 31, 2023 | $ | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net loss | — | — | — | — | — | ( | — | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Foreign currency translation adjustments | — | — | — | — | — | — | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest rate derivatives adjustments, net of tax | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pension benefit plan liability adjustments, net of tax | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cash dividends declared ($ | — | — | — | — | — | ( | — | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stock-based compensation | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Conversion of class B shares | ( | — | ( | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Issuance of share-based awards, net of other activity | — | — | ( | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Equity awards redeemed to pay employees’ tax obligations | — | — | — | ( | ( | — | — | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at March 31, 2024 | $ | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
See accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited).
7
QUAD/GRAPHICS, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2025
(In millions, except share and per share data and unless otherwise indicated)
Note 1. Basis of Presentation
The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for Quad/Graphics, Inc. and its subsidiaries (the “Company” or “Quad”) have been prepared by the Company pursuant to the rules and regulations for interim financial information of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) have been omitted pursuant to such SEC rules and regulations. These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated annual financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2024, and notes thereto included in the Company’s latest Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 21, 2025.
The Company is subject to seasonality in its quarterly results as net sales and operating income are higher in the second half of the calendar year as compared to the first half of the calendar year. The fourth quarter is typically the highest seasonal quarter for cash flows from operating activities and Free Cash Flow due to the reduction of working capital requirements that reach peak levels during the third quarter. Seasonality is driven by increased catalogs and retail inserts primarily due to back-to-school and holiday-related advertising and promotions. The Company expects seasonality impacts to continue in future years.
The financial information contained herein reflects all adjustments, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair presentation of the Company’s results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024. All of these adjustments are of a normal recurring nature, except as otherwise noted. All intercompany transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The results of operations and accounts of businesses acquired or divested are included in the consolidated financial statements from the date of acquisition or until the date of divestiture. These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include estimates and assumptions of management that affect the amounts reported in the condensed consolidated financial statements. Actual results could differ from these estimates.
8
QUAD/GRAPHICS, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2025
(In millions, except share and per share data and unless otherwise indicated)
Note 2. Revenue Recognition
Revenue Disaggregation
The following tables provide information about disaggregated revenue by the Company’s operating segments and major products and services offerings for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024:
| United States Print and Related Services | International | Total | |||||||||||||||
| Three Months Ended March 31, 2025 | |||||||||||||||||
| Catalog, publications, retail inserts and directories | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
| Direct mail and other printed products | |||||||||||||||||
| Other | |||||||||||||||||
| Total products | |||||||||||||||||
| Logistics services | |||||||||||||||||
| Marketing services and medical services | |||||||||||||||||
| Total services | |||||||||||||||||
| Total net sales | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
| Three Months Ended March 31, 2024 | |||||||||||||||||
| Catalog, publications, retail inserts and directories | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
| Direct mail and other printed products | |||||||||||||||||
| Other | |||||||||||||||||
| Total products | |||||||||||||||||
| Logistics services | |||||||||||||||||
| Marketing services and medical services | |||||||||||||||||
| Total services | |||||||||||||||||
| Total net sales | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
Nature of Products and Services
The Company recognizes its products and services revenue based on when the transfer of control passes to the client or when the service is completed and accepted by the client.
The products offering is predominantly comprised of the Company’s print operations which includes retail inserts, publications, catalogs, special interest publications, journals, direct mail, directories, in-store marketing and promotion, packaging, custom print products, other commercial and specialty printed products and global paper procurement.
The Company considers its logistic operations as services, which include the delivery of printed material. The services offering also includes revenues related to the Company’s marketing services operations, which include data and analytics, technology solutions, media services, creative and content solutions, managed services and execution in non-print channels (e.g., digital and broadcast), as well as medical services.
9
QUAD/GRAPHICS, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2025
(In millions, except share and per share data and unless otherwise indicated)
Costs to Obtain Contracts
In accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 606 — Revenue from Contracts with Customers, the Company defers certain contract acquisition costs paid to the client at contract inception. Costs to obtain contracts with a duration of less than one year are expensed as incurred. For all contract costs with contracts over one year, the Company amortizes the costs to obtain contracts on a straight-line basis over the estimated life of the contract and reviews quarterly for impairment. Activity impacting costs to obtain contracts for the three months ended March 31, 2025, was as follows:
| Costs to Obtain Contracts | |||||
| Balance at December 31, 2024 | $ | ||||
| Amortization of costs to obtain contracts | ( | ||||
| Balance at March 31, 2025 | $ | ||||
Note 3. Restructuring, Impairment and Transaction-Related Charges, Net
The Company recorded restructuring, impairment and transaction-related charges, net for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024, as follows:
| Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||
| 2025 | 2024 | ||||||||||
| Employee termination charges | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Impairment charges | |||||||||||
| Transaction-related charges | |||||||||||
| Integration costs | |||||||||||
| Other restructuring charges | |||||||||||
| Total | $ | $ | |||||||||
The net costs related to these activities have been recorded in the condensed consolidated statements of operations as restructuring, impairment and transaction-related charges, net. See Note 16, “Segment Information,” for restructuring, impairment and transaction-related charges, net by segment.
Restructuring Charges
The Company has a restructuring program related to eliminating excess manufacturing capacity and properly aligning its cost structure. The Company classifies the following charges as restructuring:
•Employee termination charges are incurred when the Company reduces its workforce through facility consolidations and separation programs.
•Integration costs are incurred primarily for the integration of acquired companies.
10
QUAD/GRAPHICS, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2025
(In millions, except share and per share data and unless otherwise indicated)
•Other restructuring charges consisted of the following during the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024:
| Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||
| 2025 | 2024 | ||||||||||
| Vacant facility carrying costs and lease exit charges | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Equipment and infrastructure removal costs | |||||||||||
| Loss on the sale of a business | |||||||||||
| Other restructuring activities | |||||||||||
| Other restructuring charges | $ | $ | |||||||||
The restructuring charges recorded were based on plans that have been committed to by management and were, in part, based upon management’s best estimates of future events. Changes to the estimates may require future restructuring charges and adjustments to the restructuring liabilities. The Company expects to incur additional restructuring charges related to these and other initiatives.
Impairment Charges
The Company recognized impairment charges of $0.3 million during the three months ended March 31, 2025, which consisted of machinery and equipment no longer being utilized in production as a result of facility consolidations, as well as other capacity reduction activities.
The Company recognized impairment charges of $12.6 million during the three months ended March 31, 2024, which consisted of $10.8 million for certain property, plant and equipment no longer being utilized in production as a result of facility consolidations, as well as other capacity reduction activities, and $1.8 million for operating lease right-of-use assets.
The fair values of the impaired assets were determined by the Company to be Level 3 under the fair value hierarchy (see Note 10, “Financial Instruments and Fair Value Measurements,” for the definition of Level 3 inputs) and were estimated based on broker quotes, internal expertise related to current marketplace conditions and estimated future discounted cash flows. These assets were adjusted to their estimated fair values at the time of impairment. If estimated fair values subsequently decline, the carrying values of the assets are adjusted accordingly.
Transaction-Related Charges
The Company incurs transaction-related charges primarily consisting of professional service fees related to business acquisition and divestiture activities, including charges related to the sale of the European operations. Transaction-related charges of $2.6 million and $0.5 million were recorded during the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively.
Restructuring Reserves
Activity impacting the Company’s restructuring reserves for the three months ended March 31, 2025, was as follows:
| Employee Termination Charges | Impairment Charges | Transaction-Related Charges | Integration Costs | Other Restructuring Charges | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at December 31, 2024 | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Expense (income), net | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cash payments, net | ( | ( | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Non-cash adjustments/reclassifications | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at March 31, 2025 | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
11
QUAD/GRAPHICS, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2025
(In millions, except share and per share data and unless otherwise indicated)
The Company’s restructuring reserves at March 31, 2025, included a short-term and a long-term component. The short-term portion included $6.7 million in other current liabilities and $1.5 million in accounts payable in the condensed consolidated balance sheets as the Company expects these reserves to be settled within the next twelve months. The long-term portion of $6.4 million is included in other long-term liabilities in the condensed consolidated balance sheets.
Note 4. Strategic Divestiture
Sale of European Operations
On February 28, 2025, the Company sold its European operations, which primarily consisted of all employees and facilities for Quad/Graphics Europe print and ink manufacturing headquartered in Wyszkow, Poland; the Peppermint agency in Warsaw, Poland; and Quad Point of Sale (including Marin’s International SAS), which has locations throughout Europe.
The total sales price of $24.1 million consisted of a note receivable for $19.5 million, of which $4.3 million is recorded in receivables and $15.2 million is recorded in other long-term assets in the condensed consolidated balance sheet as of March 31, 2025, and retention of $4.6 million of cash classified as assets held for sale as of the sale date. In addition, debt and finance lease obligations of $7.4 million were assumed by the buyer and there are contingent considerations of $10.0 million based upon the European business achieving certain financial metrics. A pre-tax loss of $0.5 million is included in restructuring, impairment and transaction-related charges, net in the condensed consolidated statement of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2025.
Note 5. Receivables
Prior to granting credit, the Company evaluates each client in an underwriting process, taking into consideration the prospective client’s financial condition, past payment experience, credit bureau information and other financial and qualitative factors that may affect the client’s ability to pay. Specific credit reviews and standard industry credit scoring models are used in performing this evaluation. Clients’ financial condition is continuously monitored as part of the normal course of business. Some of the Company’s clients are highly leveraged or otherwise subject to their own operating and regulatory risks.
Specific client provisions are made when a review of significant outstanding amounts, utilizing information about client creditworthiness, as well as current and future economic trends based on reasonable forecasts, indicates that collection is doubtful. The Company also records a general provision based on the overall risk profile of the receivables and through the assessment of reasonable economic forecasts. The risk profile is assessed on a quarterly basis using various methods, including external resources and credit scoring models. Accounts that are deemed uncollectible are written off when all reasonable collection efforts have been exhausted.
The Company has recorded credit loss expense of $1.4 million and $0.1 million during the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively, which is included in selling, general and administrative expenses in the condensed consolidated statements of operations.
Activity impacting the allowance for credit losses for the three months ended March 31, 2025, was as follows:
| Allowance for Credit Losses | |||||
| Balance at December 31, 2024 | $ | ||||
| Provisions | |||||
| Write-offs | ( | ||||
| Balance at March 31, 2025 | $ | ||||
12
QUAD/GRAPHICS, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2025
(In millions, except share and per share data and unless otherwise indicated)
Note 6. Inventories
The components of inventories at March 31, 2025, and December 31, 2024, were as follows:
| March 31, 2025 | December 31, 2024 | ||||||||||
| Raw materials and manufacturing supplies | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Work in process | |||||||||||
| Finished goods | |||||||||||
| Total | $ | $ | |||||||||
Note 7. Commitments and Contingencies
Litigation
The Company is named as a defendant in various lawsuits in which claims are asserted against the Company in the normal course of business. The liabilities, if any, which ultimately result from such lawsuits are not expected by management to have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements of the Company.
Environmental Reserves
The Company is subject to various laws, regulations and government policies relating to health and safety, to the generation, storage, transportation, and disposal of hazardous substances, and to environmental protection in general. The Company provides for expenses associated with environmental remediation obligations when such amounts are probable and can be reasonably estimated. Such reserves are adjusted as new information develops or as circumstances change. The environmental reserves are not discounted. The Company believes it is in compliance with such laws, regulations and government policies in all material respects. Furthermore, the Company does not anticipate that maintaining compliance with such environmental statutes will have a material impact upon the Company’s consolidated financial position.
Note 8. Debt
Senior Secured Credit Facility
The Company completed the eighth amendment to its Senior Secured Credit Facility on January 4, 2024, which added an additional $25.0 million principal value to the Term Loan A. On January 31, 2024, the Company used liquidity available under its revolving credit facility and available cash on hand to fund the repayment on maturity of $87.7 million aggregate principal amount, outstanding at the time, of its Term Loan A. Additionally, due to a portion of the revolving credit facility maturing on January 31, 2024, the total capacity under the revolving credit facility was reduced to $342.5 million as of this date.
The Company completed the ninth amendment to its Senior Secured Credit Facility (the “Ninth Amendment”) on October 18, 2024. The Senior Secured Credit Facility was amended to: (1) reduce the aggregate amount of the existing revolving credit facility from $342.5 million to $324.6 million, and extend the maturity of a portion of the revolving credit facility such that $17.7 million under the revolving credit facility will be due on the existing maturity date of November 2, 2026 (the “Existing Maturity Date”) and $306.9 million under the revolving credit facility will be due on October 18, 2029 (the “Extended Maturity Date”); (2) extend the maturity of a portion of the existing Term Loan A such that $8.7 million of such term loan facility will be due on the Existing Maturity Date and $193.2 million will be due on the Extended Maturity Date; (3) make certain adjustments to pricing, including an increase of 0.50 % to the interest rate margin applicable to the loans maturing on the Extended Maturity Date; and (4) modify certain financial and operational covenants, including the Senior Secured Leverage Ratio (net indebtedness to consolidated EBITDA) shall not exceed 3.00 to 1.00 for any fiscal quarter ending on or after September 30, 2024, as well as the Total Leverage Ratio (consolidated total indebtedness to consolidated EBITDA) shall not exceed 3.50 to 1.00 for any fiscal quarter ending on or after September 30, 2024.
13
QUAD/GRAPHICS, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2025
(In millions, except share and per share data and unless otherwise indicated)
Note 9. Income Taxes
The Company records income tax expense on an interim basis. The estimated annual effective income tax rate is adjusted quarterly. For the three months ended March 31, 2025, the estimated annual effective income tax rate differs from the statutory tax rate primarily due to net decreases in valuation allowance reserves.
For the three months ended March 31, 2024, the Company used an actual effective income tax rate for the year-to-date period to record its income tax expense. The actual effective income tax rate differs from the statutory tax rate primarily due to net increases in valuation allowance reserves, non-deductible expenses and global intangible low taxed income from foreign controlled corporations.
The Company currently has various open tax audits in multiple jurisdictions. From time to time, the Company will receive tax assessments as part of the process. Based on the information available as of March 31, 2025, the Company has recorded its best estimate of the potential settlements of these audits. Actual results could differ from the estimated amounts.
The Company’s liability for unrecognized tax benefits as of March 31, 2025, was $9.1 million, an increase of $0.2 million from $8.9 million as of December 31, 2024. The Company anticipates a $1.8 million decrease to its liability for unrecognized tax benefits within the next twelve months due to the resolution of income tax audits or statute expirations, of which $0.2 million would impact the Company’s effective tax rate.
Note 10. Financial Instruments and Fair Value Measurements
Certain assets and liabilities are required to be recorded at fair value on a recurring basis, while other assets and liabilities are recorded at fair value on a nonrecurring basis, generally as a result of acquisitions or impairment charges. Fair value is determined based on the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants. GAAP also classifies the inputs used to measure fair value into the following hierarchy:
Level 1: Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
Level 2: Quoted prices in active markets for similar assets or liabilities, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, or inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability.
Level 3: Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability. There were no
Interest Rate Swap
The Company currently holds one active interest rate swap contract. The purpose of entering into the contract was to reduce the variability of cash flows from interest payments related to a portion of Quad’s variable rate debt.
14
QUAD/GRAPHICS, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2025
(In millions, except share and per share data and unless otherwise indicated)
Active Interest Rate Swap
The active interest rate swap is designated as a cash flow hedge as it effectively converts the notional value of the Company’s variable rate debt based on one-month term Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”) to a fixed rate, including a spread on underlying debt, and a monthly reset in the variable interest rate. The key terms of the active interest rate swap is as follows:
| April 23, 2024 Interest Rate Swap | |||||
| Effective date | April 30, 2024 | ||||
| Termination date | March 31, 2027 | ||||
| Term | |||||
| Notional amount | $ | ||||
| Fixed swap rate | |||||
The Company classifies interest rate swaps as Level 2 because the inputs into the valuation model are observable or can be derived or corroborated utilizing observable market data at commonly quoted intervals. The fair value of the active interest rate swap classified as Level 2 as of March 31, 2025, and December 31, 2024, was as follows:
| Balance Sheet Location | March 31, 2025 | December 31, 2024 | |||||||||||||||
| Interest rate swap liabilities | Other long-term liabilities | $ | ( | $ | ( | ||||||||||||
The active interest rate swap was highly effective as of March 31, 2025. No amount of ineffectiveness has been recorded into earnings related to the active interest rate swap. The cash flows associated with the active interest rate swap have been recognized as an adjustment to interest expense in the condensed consolidated statements of operations, and t he changes in the fair value of the active interest rate swap has been included in other comprehensive income in the condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss):
| Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||
| 2025 | 2024 | ||||||||||
| Cash Flow Impacts | |||||||||||
| Loss recognized in other comprehensive income | |||||||||||
Terminated Interest Rate Swap
The Company held a $130.0 million interest rate swap, effective on March 29, 2019, that terminated on March 28, 2024. The terminated interest rate swap was previously designated as a cash flow hedge as it effectively converted the notional value of the Company’s variable rate debt based on one-month London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) to a fixed rate, including a spread on underlying debt, and a monthly reset in the variable interest rate. However, the Company amended its Senior Secured Credit Facility during the second quarter of 2020, which added a 0.75 % LIBOR floor to the Company’s variable rate debt, changing the critical terms of the hedged instrument. Due to this change in critical terms, the Company had elected to de-designate the swap as a cash flow hedge, resulting in future changes in fair value being recognized in interest expense. The balance of the accumulated other comprehensive loss attributable to the interest rate swap as of June 30, 2020 was then amortized to interest expense on a straight-line basis over the remaining life of the swap contract. Due to the Company’s transition from LIBOR to SOFR during the first quarter of 2023, the interest rate swap’s fixed swap rate was amended to be based on one-month term SOFR.
Prior to the Company’s de-designation of the terminated interest rate swap as a cash flow hedge, the interest rate swap was considered highly effective, with no amount of ineffectiveness recorded into earnings. The change in the fair value of the interest rate swap was recorded as an adjustment to interest expense in the condensed consolidated statements of operations.
15
QUAD/GRAPHICS, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2025
(In millions, except share and per share data and unless otherwise indicated)
The cash flows associated with the terminated interest rate swap have been recognized as an adjustment to interest expense in the condensed consolidated statements of operations:
| Three Months Ended March 31, 2024 | |||||
| Cash Flow Impacts | |||||
| Net interest received | $ | ( | |||
| Impacts with Terminated Swap as Nonhedging Instrument | |||||
| Loss recognized in interest expense excluded from hedge effectiveness assessments | |||||
| Amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive loss to interest expense | |||||
| Net interest expense | ( | ||||
| Total impact of terminated swap to interest expense | $ | ||||
Interest Rate Collars
The Company has entered into two interest rate collar contracts, both effective February 1, 2023. The purpose of entering into the contracts was to reduce the variability of cash flows from interest payments related to a portion of Quad’s variable rate debt. The interest rate collars are designated as cash flow hedges as they effectively convert the notional value of the Company’s variable rate debt based on one-month term SOFR to a fixed rate if that month’s interest rate is outside of the collars’ floor and ceiling rates, including a spread on underlying debt, and a monthly reset in the variable interest rate. The key terms of the interest rate collars are as follows:
| December 12, 2022 Interest Rate Collar | December 14, 2022 Interest Rate Collar | ||||||||||
| Effective date | February 1, 2023 | February 1, 2023 | |||||||||
| Termination date | October 30, 2026 | October 31, 2025 | |||||||||
| Term | |||||||||||
| Notional amount | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Floor Rate | |||||||||||
| Ceiling Rate | |||||||||||
The Company classifies interest rate collars as Level 2 because the inputs into the valuation model are observable or can be derived or corroborated utilizing observable market data at commonly quoted intervals. The fair value of the interest rate collars classified as Level 2 as of March 31, 2025, and December 31, 2024, were as follows:
| Balance Sheet Location | March 31, 2025 | December 31, 2024 | |||||||||||||||
| Interest rate collar assets | Prepaid expenses and other current assets | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
The interest rate collars were highly effective as of March 31, 2025. No amount of ineffectiveness has been recorded into earnings related to these cash flow hedges. The cash flows associated with the interest rate collars have been recognized as an adjustment to interest expense in the condensed consolidated statements of operations, and t he changes in the fair value of the interest rate collars have been included in other comprehensive income in the condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss):
| Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||
| 2025 | 2024 | ||||||||||
| Net interest received | $ | $ | ( | ||||||||
| (Gain) loss recognized in other comprehensive income | $ | $ | ( | ||||||||
16
QUAD/GRAPHICS, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2025
(In millions, except share and per share data and unless otherwise indicated)
Foreign Exchange Contracts
The Company has operations in countries that have transactions outside their functional currencies and periodically enters into foreign exchange contracts. These contracts are used to hedge the net exposures of changes in foreign currency exchange rates and are designated as either cash flow hedges or fair value hedges. Gains or losses on net foreign currency hedges are intended to offset losses or gains on the underlying net exposures in an effort to reduce the earnings volatility resulting from fluctuating foreign currency exchange rates. As of March 31, 2025, there were no open foreign currency exchange contracts designated as cash flow hedges.
Natural Gas Forward Contracts
The Company periodically enters into natural gas forward purchase contracts to hedge against increases in commodity costs. The Company’s commodity contracts qualified for the exception related to normal purchases and sales during the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024, as the Company takes delivery in the normal course of business.
Debt
The Company measures fair value on its debt instruments using interest rates available to the Company for borrowings with similar terms and maturities and is categorized as Level 2. Based upon the interest rates available to the Company for borrowings with similar terms and maturities, the fair value of the Company’s total debt was approximately $0.5 billion and $0.4 billion at March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, respectively.
Other Estimated Fair Value Measurements
In addition to assets and liabilities that are recorded at fair value on a recurring basis, the Company is required to record certain assets and liabilities at fair value on a nonrecurring basis, generally as a result of acquisitions or the remeasurement of assets that may result in impairment charges, which are categorized as Level 3. See Note 3, “Restructuring, Impairment and Transaction-Related Charges, Net,” for further discussion on fair value remeasurements. See Note 3, “Restructuring, Impairment and Transaction-Related Charges, Net” and Note 4, “Strategic Divestiture,” for impairment charges recorded as a result of the remeasurement of certain long-lived assets.
The Company records the fair value of its forward contracts and pension plan assets on a recurring basis. The fair value of cash and cash equivalents, receivables, inventories, accounts payable and other current liabilities approximate their carrying values as of March 31, 2025, and December 31, 2024.
Note 11. Employee Retirement Plans
Pension Plans
The Company assumed various funded and unfunded frozen pension plans for a portion of its full-time employees in the United States as part of the acquisition of World Color Press Inc. (“World Color Press”) in 2010. Benefits are generally based upon years of service and compensation. These plans are funded in conformity with the applicable government regulations. The Company funds at least the minimum amount required for all qualified plans using actuarial cost methods and assumptions acceptable under government regulations.
17
QUAD/GRAPHICS, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2025
(In millions, except share and per share data and unless otherwise indicated)
The components of net pension (expense) income for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024, were as follows:
| Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||
| 2025 | 2024 | ||||||||||
| Interest cost | $ | ( | $ | ( | |||||||
| Expected return on plan assets | |||||||||||
| Net periodic pension (expense) income | ( | ||||||||||
| Amortization of actuarial loss | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Net pension (expense) income | $ | ( | $ | ||||||||
The Company made $0.1 million in benefit payments to its non-qualified defined benefit pension plans and made no contributions to its qualified defined benefit plans during the three months ended March 31, 2025.
Multiemployer Pension Plans (“MEPPs”)
The Company has withdrawn from all significant MEPPs and replaced this union sponsored “promise to pay in the future” defined benefit plan with a Company sponsored “pay as you go” defined contribution plan. As a result of the decision to withdraw and the significant underfunding of each MEPP, the Company is required to pay a withdrawal liability based on information provided by each plan’s trustee to fund its pro rata share of the underfunding as of the plan year the full withdrawal was completed. The withdrawal liabilities have been fully paid for all MEPPs except for one, the Graphic Communications International Union - Employer Retirement Fund (“GCIU”).
The Company has reserved $21.0 million for the GCIU withdrawal liability as of March 31, 2025, of which $18.7 million was recorded in other long-term liabilities and $2.3 million was recorded in other current liabilities in the condensed consolidated balance sheets. The Company is scheduled to make payments to the GCIU until April 2032. The Company made payments totaling $1.0 million and $1.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively.
Note 12. Earnings (Loss) Per Share
Basic earnings (loss) per share is computed as net earnings (loss) divided by the basic weighted average common shares outstanding. The calculation of diluted earnings (loss) per share includes the effect of any dilutive equity incentive instruments. The Company uses the treasury stock method to calculate the effect of outstanding dilutive equity incentive instruments, which requires the Company to compute total proceeds as the sum of the amount the employee must pay upon exercise of the award and the amount of unearned stock-based compensation costs attributable to future services.
Equity incentive instruments for which the total employee proceeds from exercise exceed the average fair value of the same equity incentive instrument over the period have an anti-dilutive effect on earnings per share during periods with net earnings, and accordingly, the Company excludes them from the calculation. Anti-dilutive equity instruments excluded from the computation of diluted net earnings per share were 0.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025. Due to the net loss incurred during the three months ended March 31, 2024, the assumed exercise of all equity incentive instruments was anti-dilutive and therefore, not included in the diluted loss per share calculation.
18
QUAD/GRAPHICS, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2025
(In millions, except share and per share data and unless otherwise indicated)
Reconciliations of the numerator and the denominator of the basic and diluted per share computations for the Company’s common stock for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024, are summarized as follows:
| Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||
| 2025 | 2024 | ||||||||||
| Numerator | |||||||||||
| Net earnings (loss) | $ | $ | ( | ||||||||
| Denominator | |||||||||||
| Basic weighted average number of common shares outstanding for all classes of common stock | |||||||||||
| Plus: effect of dilutive equity incentive instruments | |||||||||||
| Diluted weighted average number of common shares outstanding for all classes of common stock | |||||||||||
| Earnings (loss) per share | |||||||||||
| Basic | $ | $ | ( | ||||||||
| Diluted | $ | $ | ( | ||||||||
| Cash dividends paid per common share for all classes of common stock | $ | $ | |||||||||
Note 13. Equity Incentive Programs
Equity Incentive Compensation Expense
Equity incentive compensation expense was recorded primarily in selling, general and administrative expenses in the condensed consolidated statements of operations. The total compensation expense recognized related to all equity incentive programs for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024, was as follows:
| Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||
| 2025 | 2024 | ||||||||||
| Restricted Stock (“RS”) and Restricted Stock Units (“RSU”) equity awards expense | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Total equity incentive compensation expense | $ | $ | |||||||||
Total future compensation expense related to all equity incentive programs granted as of March 31, 2025, was estimated to be $11.1 million, which consists entirely of expense for RS and RSU awards. Estimated future compensation expense is $4.5 million for the remainder of 2025, $4.2 million for 2026, $2.1 million for 2027 and $0.3 million for 2028.
19
QUAD/GRAPHICS, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2025
(In millions, except share and per share data and unless otherwise indicated)
Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units
The following table is a summary of RS and RSU award activity for the three months ended March 31, 2025:
| Restricted Stock | Restricted Stock Units | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shares | Weighted- Average Grant Date Fair Value Per Share | Weighted- Average Remaining Contractual Term (years) | Units | Weighted- Average Grant Date Fair Value Per Unit | Weighted- Average Remaining Contractual Term (years) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nonvested at December 31, 2024 | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Granted | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Vested | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Forfeited | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nonvested at March 31, 2025 | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Deferred Stock Units
The following table is a summary of deferred stock units award activity for the three months ended March 31, 2025:
| Deferred Stock Units | |||||||||||
| Units | Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value Per Unit | ||||||||||
| Outstanding at December 31, 2024 | $ | ||||||||||
| Dividend equivalents granted | |||||||||||
| Settled | ( | ||||||||||
| Outstanding at March 31, 2025 | $ | ||||||||||
Note 14. Shareholders’ Equity
The Company has three classes of common stock as follows (share data in millions):
| Issued Common Stock | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Authorized Shares | Outstanding | Treasury | Total Issued Shares | ||||||||||||||||||||
Class A stock ($ | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| March 31, 2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| December 31, 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Class B stock ($ | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| March 31, 2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| December 31, 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Class C stock ($ | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| March 31, 2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| December 31, 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
20
QUAD/GRAPHICS, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2025
(In millions, except share and per share data and unless otherwise indicated)
In accordance with the Articles of Incorporation, each class A common share has one vote per share and each class B and class C common share has ten three classes of common stock.
The Company also has 0.5 0.01 none
On July 30, 2018, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized a share repurchase program of up to $100.0 million of the Company’s outstanding class A common stock. There were no share repurchases during the three months ended March 31, 2024, and the following repurchases occurred during the three months ended March 31, 2025:
| 2025 | |||||
| Shares of Class A common stock | |||||
| Weighted average price per share | $ | ||||
| Total repurchases during the period (in millions) | $ | ||||
As of March 31, 2025, there were $74.2 million of authorized repurchases remaining under the program.
In March 2024, 294,875 shares of class B common stock were converted to class A common stock, and the class B common shares were canceled and returned to the status of authorized but unissued shares.
In accordance with the Articles of Incorporation, dividends are paid equally for all three classes of common stock. The Company’s Board of Directors suspended the Company’s quarterly dividends beginning in the second quarter of 2020. On February 15, 2024, the Board of Directors reinstated the Company’s quarterly dividends.
The dividend activity related to the then outstanding shares for the three months ended March 31, 2025, is as follows:
| Declaration Date | Record Date | Payment Date | Dividend Amount per Share | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Q1 Dividend | February 12, 2025 | February 28, 2025 | March 14, 2025 | $ | |||||||||||||||||||
21
QUAD/GRAPHICS, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2025
(In millions, except share and per share data and unless otherwise indicated)
Note 15. Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
The changes in accumulated other comprehensive loss by component, net of tax, for the three months ended March 31, 2025, were as follows:
| Translation Adjustments | Interest Rate Derivatives Adjustments | Pension Benefit Plan Adjustments | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at December 31, 2024 | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ( | |||||||||||||||
| Other comprehensive income before reclassifications | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss to net earnings | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net other comprehensive income | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at March 31, 2025 | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ( | |||||||||||||||
The changes in accumulated other comprehensive loss by component, net of tax, for the three months ended March 31, 2024, were as follows:
| Translation Adjustments | Interest Rate Derivatives Adjustments | Pension Benefit Plan Adjustments | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at December 31, 2023 | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ( | |||||||||||||||
| Other comprehensive income before reclassifications | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss to net loss | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net other comprehensive income | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at March 31, 2024 | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ( | |||||||||||||||
The details of the reclassifications from accumulated other comprehensive loss to net earnings (loss) for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024, were as follows:
| Details of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss Components | Three Months Ended March 31, | Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations Presentation | ||||||||||||||||||
| 2025 | 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Amortization of amounts accumulated for interest rate swap de-designated as a cash flow hedge | $ | $ | Interest expense | |||||||||||||||||
| Impact of income taxes | ( | Income tax expense | ||||||||||||||||||
| Amortization of amounts accumulated for interest rate swap de-designated as a cash flow hedge, net of tax | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||
| Amortization of pension and other postretirement benefit plan adjustments | $ | $ | Net pension expense (income) | |||||||||||||||||
| Impact of income taxes | ( | ( | Income tax expense | |||||||||||||||||
| Amortization of pension and other postretirement benefit plan adjustments, net of tax | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||
| Total reclassifications for the period | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||
| Impact of income taxes | ( | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total reclassifications for the period, net of tax | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||
22
QUAD/GRAPHICS, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2025
(In millions, except share and per share data and unless otherwise indicated)
Note 16. Segment Information
The Company adopted the interim provisions of Accounting Standards Update 2023-07 “Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures” (“ASU 2023-07”) during the three months ended March 31, 2025. Intercompany transactions, including sales between the Company’s operating and reportable segments, have been eliminated in consolidation. The Company’s operating and reportable segments, including their product and service offerings, and a “Corporate” category are as follows:
•United States Print and Related Services
•International
•Corporate
United States Print and Related Services
The United States Print and Related Services segment is predominantly comprised of the Company’s United States printing operations, managed as one integrated platform, and marketing and other complementary services. The printing operations include print execution and logistics for retail inserts, catalogs, long-run publications, special interest publications, journals, direct mail, directories, in-store marketing and promotion, packaging, custom print products, as well as other commercial and specialty printed products, along with global paper procurement and the manufacture of ink. Marketing and other complementary services include data intelligence and analytics, technology solutions, media planning, placement and optimization, creative strategy and content creation, as well as execution in non-print channels (e.g., digital and broadcast). This segment also includes medical services.
International
The International segment consists of the Company’s printing operations in Latin America, including operations in Colombia, Mexico and Peru, as well operations in Europe, including operations in England, France, Germany and Poland, until the European operations were sold on February 28, 2025. This segment provides printed products and marketing and other complementary services consistent with the United States Print and Related Services segment.
Corporate
Corporate consists of unallocated general and administrative activities and associated expenses including, in part, executive, legal and finance, as well as certain expenses and income from frozen employee retirement plans, such as pension benefit plans.
23
QUAD/GRAPHICS, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2025
(In millions, except share and per share data and unless otherwise indicated)
The following tables provide segment information for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024, except for as noted otherwise:
| United States Print and Related Services | International | Corporate | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Three Months Ended March 31, 2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net sales | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Products | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||
| Services | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total net sales | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Less (1): | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cost of sales | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||
| Selling, general and administrative expenses | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Restructuring, impairment and transaction-related charges, net | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operating income (loss) | $ | $ | $ | ( | $ | ||||||||||||||||||
| Capital expenditures by segment | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total assets by segment | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||
(1)The significant expense categories and amounts align with the segment-level information regularly provided to the chief operating decision maker (the “CODM”).
| United States Print and Related Services | International | Corporate | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Three Months Ended March 31, 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net sales | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Products | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||
| Services | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total net sales | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Less (1): | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cost of sales | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||
| Selling, general and administrative expenses | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Restructuring, impairment and transaction-related charges, net | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operating income (loss) | $ | ( | $ | $ | ( | $ | ( | ||||||||||||||||
| Capital expenditures by segment | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total assets by segment | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| March 31, 2024 | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||
| December 31, 2024 | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||
______________________________
(1)The significant expense categories and amounts align with the segment-level information regularly provided to the CODM.
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QUAD/GRAPHICS, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2025
(In millions, except share and per share data and unless otherwise indicated)
Restructuring, impairment and transaction-related charges, net for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024, are further described in Note 3, “Restructuring, Impairment and Transaction-Related Charges, Net.”
A reconciliation of operating income (loss) to earnings (loss) before income taxes as reported in the condensed consolidated statements of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024, was as follows:
| Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||
| 2025 | 2024 | ||||||||||
| Operating income (loss) | $ | $ | ( | ||||||||
| Less: interest expense | |||||||||||
| Less: net pension expense (income) | ( | ||||||||||
| Earnings (loss) before income taxes | $ | $ | ( | ||||||||
Note 17. New Accounting Pronouncements
In December 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update 2023-09 “Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures” (“ASU 2023-09”), which establishes new income tax disclosures to consistently categorize and provide greater disaggregation of information in the rate reconciliation, including dollar value and percentage impacts of each component of the reconciliation, as well as further disaggregates income taxes paid. This guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. The Company is evaluating the impact of the adoption of the 2023-09 on the consolidated financial statements.
Note 18. Subsequent Events
Acquisition of Enru Co-mail Assets
On April 1, 2025, the Company completed the acquisition of the co-mailing assets of Enru, a third-party co-mail and logistics solutions provider, for $16.3 million cash paid at closing, another $2.0 million to be paid later in 2025 and a potential earn-out target of $16.0 million total paid over a maximum of five years , if certain financial metrics are achieved post-integration. The acquisition includes co-mail related manufacturing equipment, technology and client relationships. Logistics services remain with Enru.
Declaration of Quarterly Dividend
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ITEM 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
The following discussion of the financial condition and results of operations of Quad should be read together with (1) the condensed consolidated financial statements for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024, including the notes thereto, included in Item 1, “Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited),” of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q; and (2) the audited consolidated annual financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2024, and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the SEC on February 21, 2025.
Management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations is provided as a supplement to the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes to help provide an understanding of the Company’s financial condition, the changes in the Company’s financial condition and the Company’s results of operations. This discussion and analysis is organized as follows:
•Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.
•Overview. This section includes a general description of the Company’s business and segments, an overview of key performance metrics the Company’s management measures and utilizes to evaluate business performance, and an overview of trends affecting the Company, including management’s actions related to the trends.
•Results of Operations. This section contains an analysis of the Company’s results of operations by comparing the results for the three months ended March 31, 2025, to the three months ended March 31, 2024. The comparability of the Company’s results of operations between periods was impacted by the divestiture of the Company's European operations, which were sold on February 28, 2025. The results of operations of the divested operations are included in the Company’s condensed consolidated results until the date of disposition. Forward-looking statements providing a general description of recent and projected industry and Company developments that are important to understanding the Company’s results of operations are included in this section. This section also provides a discussion of EBITDA and EBITDA margin, financial measures that the Company uses to assess the performance of its business that are not prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”).
•Liquidity and Capital Resources. This section provides an analysis of the Company’s capitalization, cash flows and a discussion of outstanding debt and commitments. Forward-looking statements important to understanding the Company’s financial condition are included in this section. This section also provides a discussion of Free Cash Flow and Debt Leverage Ratio, non-GAAP financial measures that the Company uses to assess liquidity and capital allocation and deployment.
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Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
To the extent any statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contain information that is not historical, these statements are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements relate to, among other things, the objectives, goals, strategies, beliefs, intentions, plans, estimates, prospects, projections and outlook of the Company, and can generally be identified by the use of words such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “intend,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “foresee,” “believe” or “continue” or the negatives of these terms, variations on them and other similar expressions. In addition, any statements that refer to expectations, projections or other characterizations of future events or circumstances are forward-looking statements.
These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond the control of the Company. These risks, uncertainties and other factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by those forward-looking statements. Among risks, uncertainties and other factors that may impact Quad are those described in Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” of the Company’s 2024 Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the SEC on February 21, 2025, as such may be amended or supplemented in Part II, Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” of the Company’s subsequently filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q (including this report), and the following:
•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;
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•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.
Quad cautions that the foregoing list of risks, uncertainties and other factors is not exhaustive, and you should carefully consider the other factors detailed from time to time in Quad’s filings with the SEC and other uncertainties and potential events when reviewing the Company’s forward-looking statements.
Because forward-looking statements are subject to assumptions and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such statements, which speak only as of the date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Except to the extent required by the federal securities laws, Quad undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
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Overview
Business Overview
Quad is a marketing experience, or MX, company that simplifies the complexities of marketing, removing friction from wherever it occurs along the marketing journey. Its results-driven approach enables stronger marketing operations that lead to real, repeatable success for its clients. The Company does this through its MX Solutions Suite, which is flexible, scalable and connected. Quad tailors its solutions to each client’s objectives, driving cost efficiencies, improving speed to market, strengthening marketing effectiveness, and delivering value on their 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 across multiple industry verticals, with a particular focus on commerce, including retail, consumer packaged goods and direct to-consumer; financial services; and health.
Quad’s MX Solutions Suite provides a comprehensive range of marketing and print services, seamlessly integrating creative, production and media solutions across online and offline channels. Powered by advanced intelligence and technology, this suite empowers brands to connect with their target audiences across households, in-store and online.
MX: Intelligence
Quad’s MX: Intelligence solutions unlock strategic insights for its clients to help them make smarter marketing decisions. The Company’s audience analytics and segmentation services leverage Quad’s proprietary, household-based data stack — representative of more than 250 million consumers — to create models driven by behavior-based “passions” of current customers and optimize prospecting for new ones so clients can reach their ideal audiences. The Company believes these passions to be a true differentiator among the industry as they are based on reliable, resilient data that is proprietary to Quad. The Company offers a full suite of testing services, which can gauge the effectiveness of media across channels. In-market media testing empowers clients to incrementally improve their media planning and placement strategy, and increase their return on investment. Quad also provides pre-market creative research and testing services through its Accelerated Marketing Insights offering, which comprises a variety of virtual and experiential testing environments, including insights gleaned from neuroscience and expert panelists. This comprehensive offering delivers reliable, data-driven intelligence in a fraction of the time traditional methods require, and at a lower cost, in support of packaging, in-store, direct marketing and related solution services. Through this methodology, brands can optimize the messaging, creative treatment and design format for their marketing before it goes live to enhance audience engagement, improve product performance, and minimize costly market corrections.
MX: Creative
Quad’s creative offering addresses every step of the creative process, from ideation to execution. These services are powered by the Company’s strategists, creative and art directors, photographers, videographers, premedia specialists, graphic designers, animation experts and copywriters. Quad’s brand strategy and design services include brand positioning, design strategy, naming and brand mark design, visual identity creation, retail environment support, packaging design and brand roll-out execution. Through in-depth strategic brand research, the Company takes time to truly understand each client’s unique brand voice and positioning. It then applies these findings to craft compelling creative campaigns that solve the brand’s real-time problems and lead to desired consumer actions. Quad’s global platform and advanced technology support always-on premedia and adaptive design capabilities for creative and digital execution, image and color management, and prepress/premedia tasks. The Company also has an international network of 17 studios to help brands create unique and ownable content through photography, motion, computer generated imagery (CGI), automated 3D scanning and audio recording for activation across every channel in the marketing mix. This full-service offering is housed under Betty, Quad’s creative agency.
MX: Production
Quad offers a wide range of production capabilities for deploying content to offline (i.e., physical) and online channels – a major point of differentiation among the Company’s competitive set. Quad’s print operations feature the latest in automation and technology complemented by skilled manufacturing professionals. The Company can produce large-scale print products, such as magazines, retail inserts and directories, as well as targeted print products, such as catalogs, direct mail, in-store signage and displays, and high-end packaging.
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Quad also has vertically integrated print and non-print capabilities that help improve the quality, cost and availability of key inputs in the printing and distribution processes. For example, the Company has its own prepress/premedia services, paper procurement, ink manufacturing (through its subsidiary Chemical Research/Technology), and logistics and transportation services (through its in-house Quad Transportation Services division and Duplainville Transport trucking division), which it leverages to lower costs and enhance customer service for its clients while providing Quad with substantial control over critical links in the overall print supply chain.
Quad complements its production capabilities through its Managed Services offering. Applying its deep industry knowledge, expansive network and substantial purchasing power, Quad helps clients manage their operations the way it runs its own – with diligence, efficiency and highly competitive costs.
MX: Media
Quad provides data-led, strategic media planning and placement services that support all traditional and digital touchpoints to foster direct consumer connections in-home, in-store and online. The Company activates on a complete suite of full-funnel brand and performance marketing solutions. Quad leverages more than $3.0 billion in the marketplace, enabling the Company to provide cost-efficient and effective options across all channels. Media services are supported by Quad’s proprietary, household-based data stack and Connections Planning, a comprehensive approach to connecting clients with consumers through deep exploration of audience behavior. This generates an experiential plan to help clients identify channels for most effectively reaching consumers with targeted messages in the moments they are most receptive and likely to engage across paid, owned and earned touchpoints to drive business outcomes. The Company’s offering includes advanced analytics and campaign measurement solutions like media mix and tactical media effectiveness models to gauge how all media across the marketing funnel are performing, providing data-backed guidance on how to incrementally optimize media spend. This full-service offering is housed under Rise, Quad’s media agency.
MX: Tech
The Company’s client-facing technology solutions help brands connect marketing strategy, global content creation, analytics and optimized media performance across offline and online channels. Quad applies a people-process-technology approach that first analyzes a client’s current-state workflow and performance, then creates tailored solutions to centralize assets, optimize processes and accelerate speed to market. For instance, the Company’s ContentX planning and content management platform empowers clients to strategize, plan and manage campaigns, and personalize at scale across any channel. Quad’s Publishing Solutions platform optimizes magazine planning and streamlines print operations management by connecting sales, editorial and production departments for straightforward editions to complex regional and demographic versions. The Company’s At-Home Connect solution automates direct mail personalization, printing, mail sorting and in-home delivery, which simplifies and expedites marketers’ ability to create deeper, more direct connections with consumers. These automations can be triggered by activities and events such as loyalty anniversaries and lifestyle preferences, or opportunities such as winning back lapsed customers, converting abandoned shopping carts, or upselling or cross-selling items. Through its In-Store Connect retail media solution, Quad elevates the shopping experience in physical stores by helping brands deliver engaging messages and targeted promotions right at the shelf – a critical moment in the purchasing decision.
Financial Objectives
Quad follows a disciplined approach to maintaining and enhancing financial strength to create shareholder value. This strategy is centered on the Company’s ability to drive profitable growth and maximize net earnings, Free Cash Flow, and operating margins; maintain consistent financial policies to ensure a strong balance sheet, liquidity level and access to capital; and retain the financial flexibility needed to strategically allocate and deploy capital as circumstances change. The priorities for capital allocation and deployment are balanced according to prevailing circumstances and what the Company thinks is best for shareholder value creation at any point in time. These priorities currently include increasing growth investments as an MX company to fuel net sales growth, maintaining low debt leverage to ensure long-term financial strength, and increasing return of capital to shareholders through dividends and share buybacks.
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Quad applies holistic continuous improvement and lean enterprise methodologies to further streamline its processes and maximize operating margins. These same methodologies are applied to its selling, general and administrative functions. The Company continually works to lower its cost structure by consolidating manufacturing operations into its most efficient facilities, as well as realizing purchasing, mailing and logistics synergies by centralizing and consolidating print manufacturing volumes, and eliminating redundancies in its administrative and corporate operations. Quad believes that its focused efforts to be a high-quality, low-cost producer generates increased Free Cash Flow and allows the Company to maintain a strong balance sheet through debt reduction. The Company’s disciplined financial approach and strong, trusted banking relationships allows it to maintain sufficient liquidity and to reduce refinancing risk, such as with Quad’s successful 2024 refinancing of its Term Loan A and Revolving Credit Agreement. The Company had total liquidity of $209.2 million as of March 31, 2025, which consisted of up to $201.1 million of unused capacity under its revolving credit agreement, which was net of $25.6 million of issued letters of credit, and cash and cash equivalents of $8.1 million. This is the most restrictive liquidity measure currently applicable under the credit agreement.
Segments
The Company’s operating and reportable segments are aligned with how the chief operating decision-maker of the Company currently manages the business. The Company’s operating and reportable segments, including their product and service offerings, and a “Corporate” category, are summarized below.
•The United States Print and Related Services segment is predominantly comprised of the Company’s United States printing operations, managed as one integrated platform, and marketing and other complementary services. The printing operations include print execution and logistics for retail inserts, catalogs, long-run publications, special interest publications, journals, direct mail, directories, in-store marketing and promotion, packaging, custom print products, as well as other commercial and specialty printed products, along with global paper procurement and the manufacture of ink. Marketing and other complementary services include data intelligence and analytics, technology solutions, media planning, placement and optimization, creative strategy and content creation, as well as execution in non-print channels (e.g., digital and broadcast). This segment also includes medical services. The United States Print and Related Services segment accounted for approximately 88% of the Company’s consolidated net sales during the three months ended March 31, 2025.
•The International segment consists of the Company’s printing operations in Latin America, including operations in Colombia, Mexico and Peru, as well as operations in Europe, including operations in England, France, Germany and Poland, until the European operations were sold on February 28, 2025. This segment provides printed products and marketing and other complementary services consistent with the United States Print and Related Services segment. The International segment accounted for approximately 12% of the Company’s consolidated net sales during the three months ended March 31, 2025.
•Corporate consists of unallocated general and administrative activities and associated expenses including, in part, executive, legal and finance, as well as certain expenses and income from frozen employee retirement plans, such as pension benefit plans.
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Key Performance Metrics Overview
The Company’s management believes the ability to generate net sales growth, profit increases and positive cash flow, while maintaining the appropriate level of debt, are key indicators of the successful execution of the Company’s business strategy and will increase shareholder value. The Company uses period-over-period net sales growth, EBITDA, EBITDA margin, net cash provided by (used in) operating activities, Free Cash Flow and Debt Leverage Ratio as metrics to measure operating performance, financial condition and liquidity. EBITDA, EBITDA margin, Free Cash Flow and Debt Leverage Ratio are non-GAAP financial measures (see the definitions of EBITDA, EBITDA margin and the reconciliation of net loss to EBITDA in the “Results of Operations” section below, and see the definitions of Free Cash Flow and Debt Leverage Ratio, the reconciliation of net cash provided by (used in) operating activities to Free Cash Flow, and the calculation of Debt Leverage Ratio in the “Liquidity and Capital Resources” section below).
Net sales growth. The Company uses period-over-period net sales growth as a key performance metric. The Company’s management assesses net sales growth based on the ability to generate increased net sales through increased sales to existing clients, sales to new clients, sales of new or expanded solutions to existing and new clients and opportunities to expand sales through strategic investments, including acquisitions.
EBITDA and EBITDA margin. The Company uses EBITDA and EBITDA margin as metrics to assess operating performance. The Company’s management assesses EBITDA and EBITDA margin based on the ability to increase revenues while controlling variable expense growth.
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities. The Company uses net cash provided by (used in) operating activities as a metric to assess liquidity. The Company’s management assesses net cash provided by (used in) operating activities based on the ability to meet recurring cash obligations while increasing available cash to fund debt service requirements, capital expenditures, cash restructuring requirements related to cost reduction activities, World Color Press single employer pension plan contributions, World Color Press MEPPs withdrawal liabilities, acquisitions and other investments in future growth, shareholder dividends and share repurchases. Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities can be significantly impacted by the timing of non-recurring or infrequent receipts or expenditures.
Free Cash Flow. The Company uses Free Cash Flow as a metric to assess liquidity and capital deployment. The Company’s management assesses Free Cash Flow as a measure to quantify cash available for strengthening the balance sheet (debt and pension liability reduction), for strategic capital allocation and deployment through investments in the business (acquisitions and strategic investments) and for returning capital to the shareholders (dividends and share repurchases). The Company’s priorities for capital allocation and deployment will change as circumstances dictate for the business, and Free Cash Flow can be significantly impacted by the Company’s restructuring activities and other unusual items.
Debt Leverage Ratio. The Company uses the Debt Leverage Ratio as a metric to assess liquidity and the flexibility of its balance sheet. Consistent with other liquidity metrics, the Company monitors the Debt Leverage Ratio as a measure to determine the appropriate level of debt the Company believes is optimal to operate its business, and accordingly, to quantify debt capacity available for strengthening the balance sheet (debt and pension liability reduction), for strategic capital allocation and deployment through investments in the business (capital expenditures, acquisitions and strategic investments), and for returning capital to the shareholders (dividends and share repurchases). The Company’s priorities for capital allocation and deployment will change as circumstances dictate for the business, and the Debt Leverage Ratio can be significantly impacted by the amount and timing of large expenditures requiring debt financing, as well as changes in profitability.
The Company remains disciplined with its debt leverage. The Company’s consolidated debt and finance lease obligations increased by $91.8 million during the three months ended March 31, 2025, primarily due to the following: (1) $89.0 million in cash used in operating activities from seasonality; (2) $11.3 million in purchases of property, plant and equipment; (3) $6.9 million in purchases of equity awards redeemed to pay employees’ tax obligations and treasury stock; and (4) the $3.5 million payment in cash dividends, partially offset by a $21.1 million reduction in cash and cash equivalents.
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Overview of Trends Affecting Quad
As consumer media consumption habits change, advertising and marketing services providers face increased demand to offer end-to-end marketing services, from strategy and creative through execution. As new marketing channels emerge, these providers must expand their capabilities to create effective multichannel campaigns for their clients, and providers face increased client demand to offer integrated, end-to-end marketing services (i.e., from strategy and creative through execution). These trends greatly influence Quad’s ongoing efforts to help brands reduce the complexities of working with multiple agency partners and vendors, increase marketing process efficiency and maximize marketing effectiveness.
Competition in the commercial printing industry remains highly fragmented, and the Company believes that there are indicators of heightened competitive pressures. The commercial printing industry has moved toward a demand for shorter print runs, faster product turnaround and increased production efficiencies of products with lower page counts and increased complexity. This — combined with increases in postage and paper costs as well as marketers’ increasing use of online marketing and communication channels — has led to excess manufacturing capacity.
The Company believes that a disciplined approach for capital management and a strong balance sheet are critical to be able to invest in profitable growth opportunities and technological advances, thereby providing the highest return for shareholders. Management balances the use of cash between deleveraging the Company’s balance sheet (through reduction in debt and pension obligations), compelling investment opportunities (through capital expenditures, acquisitions and strategic investments) and returns to shareholders (through dividends and share repurchases).
The Company continues to make progress on integrating and streamlining all aspects of its business, thereby lowering its cost structure by consolidating its manufacturing platform into its most efficient facilities, as well as realizing purchasing, mailing and logistics efficiencies by centralizing and consolidating print manufacturing volumes and eliminating redundancies in its administrative and corporate operations. The Company has continued to evolve its manufacturing platform, equipping facilities to be product-line agnostic, which enables the Company to maximize equipment utilization. Quad believes that the large plant size of its key printing facilities allows the Company to drive savings in certain product lines (such as publications and catalogs) due to economies of scale and from investments in automation and technology. The Company continues to focus on proactively aligning its cost structure to the realities of the top-line pressures it faces in the printing industry through Lean Manufacturing and sustainable continuous improvement programs. The Company believes it will continue to drive productivity improvements and sustainable cost reduction initiatives into the future through an engaged workforce and ongoing adoption of the latest manufacturing automation and technology. Through this strategy, the Company believes it can maintain the strongest, most efficient print manufacturing platform to remain a high-quality, low-cost producer.
Integrated distribution with the United States Postal Service (“USPS”) is an important component of the Company’s business. Any material change in the current service levels provided by the postal service could impact the demand that clients have for print services. In September 2024, the USPS held a pre-filing conference to further reduce service standards. These changes required an advisory opinion from the Postal Regulatory Commission (“PRC”), which was issued in January 2025, urging the USPS to reconsider its plan. However, the USPS is still expected to implement the changes in 2025, regardless of the advisory opinion issued. In addition to the reduced service standards, the USPS has also issued reduced service performance targets for 2025. Almost all letters and flats targets were reduced, some as much as 15% lower than 2024 targets (i.e. First Class Letters three to five day on time performance target was reduced from 90% down to 80%).
The USPS continues to experience financial problems. The passing of the Postal Service Reform Act of 2022, signed in April 2022, gave the USPS considerable financial relief as well as significant other relief over the next ten years. While the legislative postal reform helps considerably, without decreased operational cost structures, increased efficiencies or increased volumes and revenues, these losses are expected to continue into the future. As a result of these financial difficulties, the USPS has continued to adjust its postal rates and service levels. The USPS did not implement a Market Dominant product price increase for January 2025. However, the available rate authority will roll forward to July 2025. The USPS has confirmed it intends to continue with twice a year price increases for 2026 and 2027. With postage increases that continue to exceed the Consumer Price Index (“CPI”), clients will continue to reduce mail volumes and explore the use of alternative methods for delivering a larger portion of their products, such as continued diversion to the internet, digital and mobile channels and other alternative media channels, in order to ensure that they stay within their expected postage budgets.
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Federal statute requires the PRC to conduct reviews of the overall rate-making structure for the USPS to ensure funding stability. As a result of those reviews, the PRC authorized a five year rate-making structure that provides the USPS with additional pricing flexibility over the CPI cap, which has resulted in a substantially altered rate structure for mailers. The revised rate authority that is effective as a result of the rules issued by the PRC includes a higher overall rate cap on the USPS’ ability to increase rates from year to year. The USPS has used these additional rate authorities to implement twice a year increases. This will continue to lead to price spikes for mailers and may also reduce the incentive for the USPS to continue to take out costs and instead continue to rely on postage to cover the costs of an outdated postal service that does not reflect the industry’s ability or willingness to pay. Given the significant amount of concern that has been expressed by the mailing industry, in April 2024, the PRC opened a proceeding to start the next rate system review, which is still underway. The Company believes the continued use of all available rate authority by the USPS will continue to increase the potential volume declines as rate predictability with respect to cost is no longer known for mailers.
The Company has invested significantly in its mail preparation and distribution capabilities to mitigate the impact of increases in postage costs, and to help clients successfully navigate the ever-changing postal environment. Through its data analytics, unique software to merge mail streams on a large scale, advanced finishing capabilities and technology, and in-house transportation and logistics operations, the Company manages the mail preparation and distribution of most of its clients’ products to maximize efficiency, to enable on-time and consistent delivery and to partially reduce these costs.
The Company continues to face several other industry challenges that have been, and are expected to continue to, adversely impact the Company’s results of operation. The Company is closely monitoring the potential impacts of tariffs and recessionary pressures on its clients businesses that could impact their marketing spend, including print volumes. The Company continues to operate in an elevated interest rate environment, which is expected to continue through 2025. Additionally, the price and availability of paper has been, and may continue to be, adversely affected by paper mills’ permanent or temporary closures; paper mills’ access to raw materials, conversion to produce other types of paper, and ability to transport paper produced; and tariffs and trade restrictions. Postal rate increases, along with the previously described industry challenges, have led to reduced demand for printed products and has caused clients to move more aggressively into other delivery methods, such as the many digital and mobile options now available to consumers. These challenges have, as needed, driven the Company to institute several cost saving measures through its restructuring program, including plant closures and headcount reductions. Through these cost saving measures and proceeds from asset sales, the Company has been able to maintain focus on its transformation into an MX company, with flexibility to invest into the growing business, as well as continuing to be advantageous in its efforts to return capital to shareholders and reduce debt. The Company is also dependent on its production personnel to print the Company’s products in a cost-effective and efficient manner that allows the Company to obtain new clients and to drive sales from existing clients. The Company is unable to predict the full future impact these challenges will have on its business, financial condition, cash flows and results of operations, but expects them to continue through 2025.
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Results of Operations for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2025, Compared to the Three Months Ended March 31, 2024
Summary Results
The Company’s operating income (loss), operating margin, net earnings (loss) (computed using a 25% normalized tax rate for all items subject to tax) and diluted earnings (loss) per share for the three months ended March 31, 2025, changed from the three months ended March 31, 2024, as follows (dollars in millions, except margin and per share data):
| Operating Income (Loss) | Operating Margin | Net Earnings (Loss) | Diluted Earnings (Loss) Per Share | ||||||||||||||||||||
| For the three months ended March 31, 2024 | $ | (10.7) | (1.6) | % | $ | (28.1) | $ | (0.60) | |||||||||||||||
Restructuring, impairment and transaction-related charges, net (1) | 25.9 | 4.0 | % | 19.4 | 0.42 | ||||||||||||||||||
Other operating income elements (2) | 4.4 | 0.7 | % | 3.3 | 0.05 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Operating Income | 19.6 | 3.1 | % | (5.4) | (0.13) | ||||||||||||||||||
Interest expense (3) | N/A | N/A | 2.1 | 0.06 | |||||||||||||||||||
Net pension (expense) income (4) | N/A | N/A | (0.4) | (0.01) | |||||||||||||||||||
Income taxes (5) | N/A | N/A | 9.5 | 0.19 | |||||||||||||||||||
| For the three months ended March 31, 2025 | $ | 19.6 | 3.1 | % | $ | 5.8 | $ | 0.11 | |||||||||||||||
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(1)Restructuring, impairment and transaction-related charges, net decreased $25.9 million ($19.4 million, net of tax), to $6.6 million during the three months ended March 31, 2025, and included the following:
a.A $13.0 million decrease in employee termination charges from $13.7 million during the three months ended March 31, 2024, to $0.7 million during the three months ended March 31, 2025;
b.A $12.3 million decrease in impairment charges from $12.6 million during the three months ended March 31, 2024, to $0.3 million during the three months ended March 31, 2025;
c.A $2.1 million increase in transaction-related charges from $0.5 million during the three months ended March 31, 2024, to $2.6 million during the three months ended March 31, 2025;
d.A $0.1 million decrease in integration costs from $0.1 million during the three months ended March 31, 2024, to zero during the three months ended March 31, 2025;
e.A $2.6 million decrease in various other restructuring charges from $5.6 million during the three months ended March 31, 2024, to $3.0 million during the three months ended March 31, 2025.
The Company expects to incur additional restructuring and integration costs in future reporting periods in connection with eliminating excess manufacturing capacity and properly aligning its cost structure in conjunction with the Company’s acquisitions and strategic investments, and other cost reduction programs.
(2)Other operating income elements increased $4.4 million ($3.3 million, net of tax impact) during the three months ended March 31, 2025, primarily due to the following: (1) a $8.9 million decrease in depreciation and amortization expense; (2) impacts from improved manufacturing productivity; and (3) savings from other cost reduction initiatives, partially offset by the impact from lower net sales and increased investments in innovative offerings to drive future revenue growth.
(3)Interest expense decreased $2.8 million ($2.1 million, net of tax) during the three months ended March 31, 2025, to $12.4 million. This was primarily due to lower average debt levels and a $0.5 million decrease in interest expense related to the interest rate swap and lower weighted average interest rates on borrowings in the three months ended March 31, 2025, as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2024.
(4)Net pension expense increased $0.6 million ($0.4 million, net of tax) during the three months ended March 31, 2025, to $0.4 million. This was due to a $0.8 million decrease from the expected long-term return on pension plan assets and a $0.1 million increase in the amortization of actuarial loss, partially offset by a $0.3 million decrease from interest cost on pension plan liabilities.
35
(5)The $9.5 million decrease in income tax expense as calculated in the following table is primarily due to the following: (1) a $7.9 million decrease from valuation allowance reserves; (2) a $1.1 million decrease from the impact of non-deductible expenses; and (3) a $0.4 million decrease in the Company’s liability for audit assessments and unrecognized tax benefits.
| Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||||||||
| 2025 | 2024 | $ Change | |||||||||||||||
| (dollars in millions) | |||||||||||||||||
| Earnings (loss) before income taxes | $ | 6.8 | $ | (25.7) | $ | 32.5 | |||||||||||
| Normalized tax rate | 25.0 | % | 25.0 | % | |||||||||||||
| Income tax expense (benefit) at normalized tax rate | 1.7 | (6.4) | 8.1 | ||||||||||||||
| Income tax expense from the condensed consolidated statements of operations | 1.0 | 2.4 | (1.4) | ||||||||||||||
| Impact of income taxes | $ | (0.7) | $ | 8.8 | $ | (9.5) | |||||||||||
Operating Results
The following table sets forth certain information from the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of operations on an absolute dollar basis and as a relative percentage of total net sales for each noted period, together with the relative percentage change in such information between the periods set forth below:
| Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2025 | % of Sales | 2024 | % of Sales | $ Change | % Change | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (dollars in millions) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net sales: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Products | $ | 494.8 | 78.6 | % | $ | 507.2 | 77.5 | % | $ | (12.4) | (2.4) | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Services | 134.6 | 21.4 | % | 147.6 | 22.5 | % | (13.0) | (8.8) | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total net sales | 629.4 | 100.0 | % | 654.8 | 100.0 | % | (25.4) | (3.9) | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cost of sales: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Products | 414.4 | 65.9 | % | 426.5 | 65.1 | % | (12.1) | (2.8) | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Services | 85.6 | 13.6 | % | 94.8 | 14.4 | % | (9.2) | (9.7) | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total cost of sales | 500.0 | 79.5 | % | 521.3 | 79.5 | % | (21.3) | (4.1) | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Selling, general & administrative expenses | 83.5 | 13.3 | % | 83.1 | 12.7 | % | 0.4 | 0.5 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 19.7 | 3.1 | % | 28.6 | 4.4 | % | (8.9) | (31.1) | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Restructuring, impairment and transaction-related charges, net | 6.6 | 1.0 | % | 32.5 | 5.0 | % | (25.9) | (79.7) | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total operating expenses | 609.8 | 96.9 | % | 665.5 | 101.6 | % | (55.7) | (8.4) | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operating income (loss) | $ | 19.6 | 3.1 | % | $ | (10.7) | (1.6) | % | $ | 30.3 | (283.2) | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Net Sales
Product sales decreased $12.4 million, or 2.4%, for the three months ended March 31, 2025, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2024, primarily due to a $10.7 million decrease from paper sales, of which $6.4 million is from the impact of the sale of the European operations, and $4.5 million in unfavorable foreign exchange impacts, partially offset by a $2.8 million increase in sales in the Company’s print product lines, which is net of a $6.3 million decrease from the impact of the sale of the European operations.
Service sales, which primarily consist of logistics, distribution, marketing services, imaging and medical services, decreased $13.0 million, or 8.8%, for the three months ended March 31, 2025, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2024, primarily due to a $7.6 million decrease in logistics sales, of which $1.8 million is from the impact of the sale of the European operations, and a $5.4 million decrease in marketing services and medical services.
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Cost of Sales
Cost of product sales decreased $12.1 million, or 2.8%, for the three months ended March 31, 2025, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2024, primarily due to the following: (1) a decrease in paper costs; (2) impacts from improved manufacturing productivity; and (3) other cost reduction initiatives.
Cost of service sales decreased $9.2 million, or 9.7%, for the three months ended March 31, 2025, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2024, primarily due to the impact from decreased freight volumes and lower marketing services.
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
Selling, general and administrative expenses increased $0.4 million, or 0.5%, for the three months ended March 31, 2025, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2024, primarily due to the following: (1) a $1.3 million increase in credit loss expense; (2) a $0.9 million increase from a gain on the sale of property, plant and equipment in 2024 that did not reoccur in 2025; (3) a $0.7 million increase in employee-related costs; and (4) a $0.7 million increase in professional fees, partially offset by a $2.9 million increase in favorable foreign exchange impacts. Selling, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of net sales increased to 13.3% for the three months ended March 31, 2025, compared to 12.7% for the three months ended March 31, 2024.
Depreciation and Amortization
Depreciation and amortization decreased $8.9 million, or 31.1%, for the three months ended March 31, 2025, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2024, due to a $4.7 million decrease in amortization expense, primarily from intangible assets becoming fully amortized over the past year, and a $4.2 million decrease in depreciation expense, primarily due to impacts from plant closures and from property, plant and equipment becoming fully depreciated over the past year.
Restructuring, Impairment and Transaction-Related Charges, Net
Restructuring, impairment and transaction-related charges, net decreased $25.9 million, or 79.7%, for the three months ended March 31, 2025, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2024, primarily due to the following:
| Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||||||||
| 2025 | 2024 | $ Change | |||||||||||||||
| (dollars in millions) | |||||||||||||||||
| Employee termination charges | $ | 0.7 | $ | 13.7 | $ | (13.0) | |||||||||||
Impairment charges (a) | 0.3 | 12.6 | (12.3) | ||||||||||||||
Transaction-related charges (b) | 2.6 | 0.5 | 2.1 | ||||||||||||||
| Integration costs | — | 0.1 | (0.1) | ||||||||||||||
| Other restructuring charges | |||||||||||||||||
| Vacant facility carrying costs and lease exit charges | 2.1 | 4.3 | (2.2) | ||||||||||||||
| Equipment and infrastructure removal costs | 0.4 | 1.1 | (0.7) | ||||||||||||||
Loss on the sale of a business (c) | 0.5 | — | 0.5 | ||||||||||||||
| Other restructuring activities | — | 0.2 | (0.2) | ||||||||||||||
| Other restructuring charges | 3.0 | 5.6 | (2.6) | ||||||||||||||
| Total restructuring, impairment and transaction-related charges, net | $ | 6.6 | $ | 32.5 | $ | (25.9) | |||||||||||
______________________________
(a)Includes $0.3 million and $12.6 million of impairment charges during the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively, which consisted of the following: $0.3 million and $10.8 million, respectively, for machinery and equipment no longer being utilized in production as a result of facility consolidations, as well as other capacity reduction activities and $1.8 million for operating lease right-of-use assets in 2024.
(b)Includes professional service fees related to business acquisition and divestiture activities, including charges related to the sale of the European operations.
(c)Includes a $0.5 million loss on the sale of the European operations during the three months ended March 31, 2025.
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EBITDA and EBITDA Margin—Consolidated
EBITDA is defined as net earnings (loss), excluding (1) interest expense, (2) income tax expense and (3) depreciation and amortization. EBITDA margin represents EBITDA as a percentage of net sales. EBITDA and EBITDA margin are presented to provide additional information regarding Quad’s performance. Both are important measures by which Quad gauges the profitability and assesses the performance of its business. EBITDA and EBITDA margin are non-GAAP financial measures and should not be considered alternatives 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. Quad’s calculation of EBITDA and EBITDA margin may be different from the calculations used by other companies, and therefore, comparability may be limited.
EBITDA and EBITDA margin for the three months ended March 31, 2025, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2024, were as follows:
| Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2025 | % of Net Sales | 2024 | % of Net Sales | ||||||||||||||||||||
| (dollars in millions) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| EBITDA and EBITDA margin (non-GAAP) | $ | 38.9 | 6.2 | % | $ | 18.1 | 2.8 | % | |||||||||||||||
EBITDA increased $20.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2024, primarily due to the following: (1) $25.9 million of decreased restructuring, impairment and transaction-related charges, net; (2) impacts from improved manufacturing productivity; and (3) savings from other cost reduction initiatives, partially offset by the impact of lower net sales and increased investments in innovative offerings to drive future revenue growth.
A reconciliation of EBITDA to net earnings (loss) for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024, was as follows:
| Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||
| 2025 | 2024 | ||||||||||
| (dollars in millions) | |||||||||||
Net earnings (loss) (1) | $ | 5.8 | $ | (28.1) | |||||||
| Interest expense | 12.4 | 15.2 | |||||||||
| Income tax expense | 1.0 | 2.4 | |||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 19.7 | 28.6 | |||||||||
| EBITDA (non-GAAP) | $ | 38.9 | $ | 18.1 | |||||||
______________________________
(1)Net earnings (loss) included the following:
a.Restructuring, impairment and transaction-related charges, net of $6.6 million and $32.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively.
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United States Print and Related Services
The following table summarizes net sales, operating income (loss), operating margin and certain items impacting comparability within the United States Print and Related Services segment:
| Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2025 | 2024 | $ Change | % Change | ||||||||||||||||||||
| (dollars in millions) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net sales: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Products | $ | 422.1 | $ | 435.9 | $ | (13.8) | (3.2) | % | |||||||||||||||
| Services | 131.7 | 143.0 | (11.3) | (7.9) | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| Operating income (loss) (including restructuring, impairment and transaction-related charges, net) | 31.7 | (1.3) | 33.0 | nm | |||||||||||||||||||
| Operating margin | 5.7 | % | (0.2) | % | N/A | N/A | |||||||||||||||||
| Restructuring, impairment and transaction-related charges, net | $ | 3.5 | $ | 31.6 | $ | (28.1) | (88.9) | % | |||||||||||||||
Net Sales
Product sales for the United States Print and Related Services segment decreased $13.8 million, or 3.2%, for the three months ended March 31, 2025, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2024, primarily due to a $7.7 million decrease in sales in the Company’s print product lines, mainly due to decreased print volumes, and a $6.1 million decrease in paper sales.
Service sales for the United States Print and Related Services segment decreased $11.3 million, or 7.9%, for the three months ended March 31, 2025, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2024, primarily due to a $5.9 million decrease in logistics sales from lower print volumes and a $5.4 million decrease in marketing services and medical services.
Operating Income (Loss)
Operating income (loss) for the United States Print and Related Services segment increased $33.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2024, primarily due to the following: (1) a $28.1 million decrease in restructuring, impairment and transaction-related charges, net; (2) a $6.9 million decrease in depreciation and amortization expense; (3) impacts from improved manufacturing productivity; and (4) savings from other cost reduction initiatives; partially offset by the impact from decreased print volumes, decreased marketing services sales and increased investments in innovative offerings to drive future revenue growth.
The operating margin for the United States Print and Related Services segment increased to 5.7% for the three months ended March 31, 2025, compared to negative 0.2% for the three months ended March 31, 2024, primarily due to the reasons provided above.
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Restructuring, Impairment and Transaction-Related Charges, Net
Restructuring, impairment and transaction-related charges, net for the United States Print and Related Services segment decreased $28.1 million, or 88.9%, for the three months ended March 31, 2025, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2024, primarily due to the following:
| Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||||||||
| 2025 | 2024 | $ Change | |||||||||||||||
| (dollars in millions) | |||||||||||||||||
| Employee termination charges | $ | 0.6 | $ | 13.4 | $ | (12.8) | |||||||||||
Impairment charges (a) | 0.3 | 12.6 | (12.3) | ||||||||||||||
| Integration costs | — | 0.1 | (0.1) | ||||||||||||||
| Other restructuring charges | 2.6 | 5.5 | (2.9) | ||||||||||||||
| Total restructuring, impairment and transaction-related charges, net | $ | 3.5 | $ | 31.6 | $ | (28.1) | |||||||||||
______________________________
(a)Includes $0.3 million and $12.6 million of impairment charges during the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively, which consisted of $0.3 million and $10.8 million, respectively, for machinery and equipment no longer being utilized in production as a result of facility consolidations, as well as other capacity reduction activities, and $1.8 million for operating lease right-of-use assets in 2024.
International
The following table summarizes net sales, operating income, operating margin, and certain items impacting comparability within the International segment:
| Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2025 | 2024 | $ Change | % Change | ||||||||||||||||||||
| (dollars in millions) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net sales: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Products | $ | 72.7 | $ | 71.3 | $ | 1.4 | 2.0 | % | |||||||||||||||
| Services | 2.9 | 4.6 | (1.7) | (37.0) | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| Operating income (including restructuring, impairment and transaction-related charges, net) | 0.6 | 3.4 | (2.8) | (82.4) | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| Operating margin | 0.8 | % | 4.5 | % | N/A | N/A | |||||||||||||||||
| Restructuring, impairment and transaction-related charges, net | $ | 2.8 | $ | 0.8 | $ | 2.0 | 250.0 | % | |||||||||||||||
Net Sales
Product sales for the International segment increased $1.4 million, or 2.0%, for the three months ended March 31, 2025, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2024, due to a $10.5 million increase in print volume, primarily in Mexico, which is net of a $5.4 million decrease from the impact of the sale of the European operations, partially offset by a $4.6 million decrease in paper sales, of which $6.4 million is from the impact of the sale of the European operations, and $4.5 million in unfavorable foreign exchange impacts, primarily in Mexico and Europe.
Service sales for the International segment decreased $1.7 million, or 37.0%, for the three months ended March 31, 2025, when compared to the three months ended March 31, 2024, primarily due to a $1.7 million decrease in logistics sales from the impact of the sale of the European operations.
Operating Income
Operating income for the International segment decreased $2.8 million, or 82.4%, for the three months ended March 31, 2025, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2024, primarily due to a $2.0 million increase in restructuring, impairment and transaction-related charges, net and a $0.8 million decrease in operating income primarily from the impact from the sale of the European operations.
40
Restructuring, Impairment and Transaction-Related Charges, Net
Restructuring, impairment and transaction-related charges, net for the International segment increased $2.0 million, or 250.0%, for the three months ended March 31, 2025, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2024, primarily due to the following:
| Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||||||||
| 2025 | 2024 | $ Change | |||||||||||||||
| (dollars in millions) | |||||||||||||||||
| Employee termination charges | $ | 0.1 | $ | 0.3 | $ | (0.2) | |||||||||||
Transaction-related charges (a) | 2.3 | 0.4 | 1.9 | ||||||||||||||
Other restructuring charges (b) | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.3 | ||||||||||||||
| Total restructuring, impairment and transaction-related charges, net | $ | 2.8 | $ | 0.8 | $ | 2.0 | |||||||||||
______________________________
(a)Includes professional service fees related to business acquisition and divestiture activities, including charges related to the sale of the European operations.
(b)Includes a $0.5 million loss on the sale of the European operations during the three months ended March 31, 2025.
Corporate
The following table summarizes unallocated operating expenses presented as Corporate:
| Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2025 | 2024 | $ Change | % Change | ||||||||||||||||||||
| (dollars in millions) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operating expenses (including restructuring, impairment and transaction-related charges, net) | $ | 12.7 | $ | 12.8 | $ | (0.1) | (0.8) | % | |||||||||||||||
| Restructuring, impairment and transaction-related charges, net | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 200.0 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
Operating Expenses
Corporate operating expenses decreased $0.1 million, or 0.8%, for the three months ended March 31, 2025, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2024 primarily due to a $0.3 million decrease in employee-related costs, partially offset by a $0.2 million increase in restructuring, impairment and transaction-related charges, net.
Restructuring, Impairment and Transaction-Related Charges, Net
Corporate restructuring, impairment and transaction-related charges, net increased $0.2 million, or 200.0%, for the three months ended March 31, 2025, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2024, primarily due to the following:
| Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||||||||
| 2025 | 2024 | $ Change | |||||||||||||||
| (dollars in millions) | |||||||||||||||||
| Transaction-related charges | $ | 0.3 | $ | 0.1 | $ | 0.2 | |||||||||||
| Total restructuring, impairment and transaction-related charges, net | $ | 0.3 | $ | 0.1 | $ | 0.2 | |||||||||||
41
Liquidity and Capital Resources
The Company utilizes cash flows from operating activities and borrowings under its credit facilities to satisfy its liquidity and capital requirements. The Company had total liquidity of $209.2 million as of March 31, 2025, which consisted of up to $201.1 million of unused capacity under its revolving credit agreement, which was net of $25.6 million of issued letters of credit, and cash and cash equivalents of $8.1 million. This is the most restrictive liquidity measure currently applicable under the credit agreement. There were $97.9 million of borrowings under the $324.6 million revolving credit facility as of March 31, 2025.
The Company believes its expected future cash flows from operating activities and its current liquidity and capital resources, are sufficient to fund ongoing operating requirements and service debt and pension requirements for both the next 12 months and beyond.
Net Cash Used in Operating Activities
Three Months Ended March 31, 2025, Compared to Three Months Ended March 31, 2024
Net cash used in operating activities increased $36.8 million, from $52.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024, to $89.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025. This increase was due to a $50.6 million increase in cash flows used in changes in operating assets and liabilities, partially offset by $13.8 million increase in cash from earnings.
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities
Three Months Ended March 31, 2025, Compared to Three Months Ended March 31, 2024
Net cash used in investing activities decreased $1.8 million, from $15.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024, to $14.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025. The decrease was primarily due to a $6.6 million decrease in purchases of property, plant and equipment, partially offset by a $3.2 million increase in cash used in other investing activities and a $1.6 million decrease in proceeds from the sale of property, plant, and equipment.
Net Cash Provided by Financing Activities
Three Months Ended March 31, 2025, Compared to Three Months Ended March 31, 2024
Net cash provided by financing activities increased $54.9 million, from $25.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024, to $80.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025. The increase was primarily due a $60.6 million increase in net borrowings of debt and lease obligations and a $0.2 million decrease in cash used for other financing activities. These increases were partially offset by: (1) a $3.3 million increase in the purchase of treasury stock; (2) a $1.5 million increase in equity awards redeemed to pay employees’ tax obligations; and (3) a $1.1 million increase in payment of cash dividends.
Free Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow is defined as net cash provided by (used in) operating activities less purchases of property, plant and equipment.
The Company’s management assesses Free Cash Flow as a measure to quantify cash available for (1) strengthening the balance sheet (debt and pension liability reduction), (2) strategic capital allocation and deployment through investments in the business (acquisitions and strategic investments) and (3) returning capital to the shareholders (dividends and share repurchases). The priorities for capital allocation and deployment will change as circumstances dictate for the business, and Free Cash Flow can be significantly impacted by the Company’s restructuring activities and other unusual items.
Free Cash Flow is a non-GAAP financial measure and should not be considered an alternative to cash flows used in operating activities as a measure of liquidity. Quad’s calculation of Free Cash Flow may be different from similar calculations used by other companies, and therefore, comparability may be limited.
42
Free Cash Flow for the three months ended March 31, 2025, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2024, was as follows:
| Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||
| 2025 | 2024 | ||||||||||
| (dollars in millions) | |||||||||||
| Net cash used in operating activities | $ | (89.0) | $ | (52.2) | |||||||
| Less: purchases of property, plant and equipment | 11.3 | 17.9 | |||||||||
| Free Cash Flow (non-GAAP) | $ | (100.3) | $ | (70.1) | |||||||
Free Cash Flow decreased $30.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2024, primarily due to a $36.8 million increase in net cash used in operating activities, partially offset by a $6.6 million decrease in capital expenditures. See the “Net Cash Used in Operating Activities” section above for further explanations of the change in operating cash flows.
Debt Leverage Ratio
The Debt Leverage Ratio is defined as total debt and finance lease obligations less cash and cash equivalents (Net Debt) divided by the trailing twelve months Adjusted EBITDA, comprised of the sum of the last twelve months of EBITDA (see the definition of EBITDA and the reconciliation of net earnings (loss) to EBITDA in the “Results of Operations” section above) and restructuring, impairment and transaction-related charges, net.
The Company uses the Debt Leverage Ratio as a metric to assess liquidity and the flexibility of its balance sheet. Consistent with other liquidity metrics, the Company monitors the Debt Leverage Ratio as a measure to determine the appropriate level of debt the Company believes is optimal to operate its business, and accordingly, to quantify debt capacity available for strengthening the balance sheet through debt and pension liability reduction, for strategic capital allocation and deployment through investments in the business, and for returning capital to shareholders. The priorities for capital allocation and deployment will change as circumstances dictate for the business, and the Debt Leverage Ratio can be significantly impacted by the amount and timing of large expenditures requiring debt financing, as well as changes in profitability.
The Debt Leverage Ratio is a non-GAAP measure and should not be considered an alternative to cash flows used in operating activities as a measure of liquidity. Quad’s calculation of the Debt Leverage Ratio may be different from similar calculations used by other companies and, therefore, comparability may be limited.
The Debt Leverage Ratio calculated below differs from the Total Leverage Ratio, the Total Net Leverage Ratio and Senior Secured Leverage Ratio included in the Company’s debt covenant calculations (see “Covenants and Compliance” section below for further information on debt covenants). The Total Leverage Ratio included in the Company’s debt covenants includes interest rate derivative liabilities and letters of credit as debt, and excludes non-cash stock-based compensation expense from EBITDA. The Total Net Leverage Ratio includes and excludes the same adjustments as the Total Leverage Ratio, in addition to netting domestic unrestricted cash with debt. Similarly, the Senior Secured Leverage Ratio includes and excludes the same adjustments as the Total Leverage Ratio, in addition to netting domestic unrestricted cash with debt.
43
The Debt Leverage Ratio at March 31, 2025, and December 31, 2024, was as follows:
| March 31, 2025 | December 31, 2024 | ||||||||||
| (dollars in millions) | |||||||||||
| Total debt and finance lease obligations on the condensed consolidated balance sheets | $ | 471.0 | $ | 379.2 | |||||||
| Less: Cash and cash equivalents | 8.1 | 29.2 | |||||||||
| Net Debt (non-GAAP) | $ | 462.9 | $ | 350.0 | |||||||
| Divided by: Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP) | 218.9 | $ | 224.0 | ||||||||
| Debt Leverage Ratio—Net Debt (non-GAAP) | 2.11 | x | 1.56 | x | |||||||
The calculation of Adjusted EBITDA for the trailing twelve months ended March 31, 2025, and December 31, 2024, was as follows:
| Add | Subtract | Trailing Twelve Months Ended | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Year Ended | Three Months Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||||
December 31, 2024 (1) | March 31, 2025 | March 31, 2024 | March 31, 2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Net loss | $ | (50.9) | $ | 5.8 | $ | (28.1) | $ | (17.0) | |||||||||||||||
| Interest expense | 64.5 | 12.4 | 15.2 | 61.7 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Income tax expense | 6.4 | 1.0 | 2.4 | 5.0 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 102.5 | 19.7 | 28.6 | 93.6 | |||||||||||||||||||
| EBITDA (non-GAAP) | $ | 122.5 | $ | 38.9 | $ | 18.1 | $ | 143.3 | |||||||||||||||
| Restructuring, impairment and transaction-related charges, net | 101.5 | 6.6 | 32.5 | 75.6 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP) | $ | 224.0 | $ | 45.5 | $ | 50.6 | $ | 218.9 | |||||||||||||||
______________________________
(1)Financial information for the year ended December 31, 2024, is included as reported in the Company’s 2024 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 21, 2025.
The Debt Leverage Ratio at March 31, 2025, increased 0.55x, compared to December 31, 2024, primarily due to a $112.9 million increase in Net Debt and a $5.1 million reduction in trailing twelve months Adjusted EBITDA. The Debt Leverage Ratio at March 31, 2025, is above management’s desired target Debt Leverage Ratio range of 1.50x to 2.00x; however, the Company will operate at times above the Debt Leverage Ratio target range depending on the timing of compelling strategic investment opportunities, as well as seasonal working capital needs.
Debt Obligations
As of March 31, 2025, the Company utilized a combination of debt instruments to fund cash requirements, including the following:
•Senior Secured Credit Facility:
◦Revolving credit facility ($97.9 million outstanding as of March 31, 2025); and
◦Term Loan A ($355.8 million outstanding as of March 31, 2025);
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Covenants and Compliance
The Company’s various lending arrangements include certain financial covenants (all financial terms, numbers and ratios are as defined in the Company’s debt agreements). Among these covenants, the Company was required to maintain the following as of March 31, 2025:
•Total Leverage Ratio. On a rolling twelve-month basis, the Total Leverage Ratio, defined as consolidated total indebtedness to consolidated EBITDA, shall not exceed 3.50 to 1.00 (for the twelve months ended March 31, 2025, the Company’s Total Leverage Ratio was 2.09 to 1.00).
•If there is any amount outstanding on the Revolving Credit Facility or Term Loan A, or if any lender has any revolving credit exposure or Term Loan A credit exposure, the Company is required to maintain the following:
◦Senior Secured Leverage Ratio. On a rolling four-quarter basis, the Senior Secured Leverage Ratio, defined as the ratio of consolidated senior secured net indebtedness to consolidated EBITDA, shall not exceed 3.00 to 1.00 for any fiscal quarter ending on or after September 30, 2024 (for the twelve months ended March 31, 2025, the Company’s Senior Secured Leverage Ratio was 2.07 to 1.00).
◦Interest Coverage Ratio. On a rolling twelve-month basis, the Interest Coverage Ratio, defined as consolidated EBITDA to cash consolidated interest expense, shall not be less than 3.00 to 1.00 (for the twelve months ended March 31, 2025, the Company’s Interest Coverage Ratio was 4.39 to 1.00).
The Company was in compliance with all financial covenants in its debt agreements as of March 31, 2025. While the Company currently expects to be in compliance in future periods with all of the financial covenants, there can be no assurance that these covenants will continue to be met. The Company’s failure to maintain compliance with the covenants could prevent the Company from borrowing additional amounts and could result in a default under any of the debt agreements. Such default could cause the outstanding indebtedness to become immediately due and payable, by virtue of cross-acceleration or cross-default provisions.
In addition to those covenants, the Senior Secured Credit Facility also includes certain limitations on acquisitions, indebtedness, liens, dividends and repurchases of capital stock.
•If the Company’s Total Leverage Ratio is greater than 2.75 to 1.00, the Company is prohibited from making greater than $60.0 million of dividend payments, capital stock repurchases and certain other payments, over the course of the agreement. If the Company’s Total Leverage Ratio is above 2.50 to 1.00 but below 2.75 to 1.00, the Company is prohibited from making greater than $100.0 million of dividend payments, capital stock repurchases and certain other payments, over the course of the agreement. If the Total Leverage Ratio is less than 2.50 to 1.00, there are no such restrictions. As the Company’s Total Leverage Ratio as of March 31, 2025, was 2.09 to 1.00, the limitations described above are not currently applicable.
•If the Company’s Senior Secured Leverage Ratio is greater than 3.00 to 1.00 or the Company’s Total Net Leverage Ratio which, on a rolling twelve-month basis, is defined as consolidated net indebtedness to consolidated EBITDA, is greater than 3.50 to 1.00, the Company is prohibited from voluntarily prepaying any unsecured or subordinated indebtedness, with certain exceptions (including any mandatory prepayments on any unsecured or subordinated debt). If the Senior Secured Leverage Ratio is less than 3.00 to 1.00 and the Total Net Leverage Ratio is less than 3.50 to 1.00, there are no such restrictions. The limitations described above are not currently applicable, as the Company’s Senior Secured Leverage Ratio was 2.07 to 1.00 and the Total Net Leverage Ratio was 2.07 to 1.00, as of March 31, 2025.
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Share Repurchase Program
On July 30, 2018, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized a share repurchase program of up to $100.0 million of the Company’s outstanding class A common stock. Under the authorization, share repurchases may be made at the Company’s discretion, from time to time, in the open market and/or in privately negotiated transactions as permitted by federal securities laws and other legal requirements. The timing, manner, price and amount of any repurchase will depend on economic and market conditions, share price, trading volume, applicable legal requirements and other factors. The program may be suspended or discontinued at any time.
There were no share repurchases during the three months ended March 31, 2024, and the following repurchases occurred during the three months ended March 31, 2025:
| Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||
| 2025 | |||||
| Shares of Class A common stock | 564,216 | ||||
| Weighted average price per share | $ | 5.86 | |||
| Total repurchases during the period (in millions) | $ | 3.3 | |||
As of March 31, 2025, there were $74.2 million of authorized repurchases remaining under the program.
Risk Management
For a discussion of the Company’s exposure to market risks and management of those market risks, see Item 3, “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk,” of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
New Accounting Pronouncements
See Note 17, “New Accounting Pronouncements,” to the condensed consolidated financial statements in Item 1, “Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited),” of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
ITEM 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
The Company is exposed to a variety of market risks which may adversely impact the Company’s results of operations and financial condition, including changes in interest and foreign currency exchange rates, changes in the economic environment that would impact credit positions and changes in the prices of certain commodities. The Company’s management takes an active role in the risk management process and has developed policies and procedures that require specific administrative and business functions to assist in the identification, assessment and control of various risks. These risk management strategies may not fully insulate the Company from adverse impacts due to market risks.
Interest Rate Risk
The Company is exposed to interest rate risk on variable rate debt obligations and price risk on fixed rate debt and finance leases. The variable rate debt outstanding at March 31, 2025, was primarily comprised of $355.8 million outstanding on the Term Loan A. As of March 31, 2025, there was also $97.9 million outstanding on the revolving credit facility. In order to reduce the variability of cash flows from interest payments related to a portion of Quad’s variable rate debt, the Company entered into two $75.0 million interest rate collars in February 2023, and a $50.0 million interest rate swap in April 2024, and has classified $200.0 million of the Company’s variable rate debt as fixed rate debt. Including the impact of the $200.0 million interest rate hedges of variable rate to fixed rate debt, Quad had variable rate debt outstanding of $258.3 million at a current weighted average interest rate of 7.1% and fixed rate debt and finance leases outstanding of $212.7 million at a current weighted average interest rate of 7.1% as of March 31, 2025. A hypothetical 10% increase in the market interest rates impacting the Company’s current weighted average interest rate on variable rate debt obligations would change the fair value of floating rate debt at March 31, 2025 by approximately $1.9 million. In addition, a hypothetical 10% change in market interest rates would change the fair value of fixed rate debt at March 31, 2025, by approximately $0.2 million.
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Foreign Currency Risk and Translation Exposure
The Company is exposed to the impact of foreign currency fluctuations in certain countries in which it operates. The exposure to foreign currency movements is limited in most countries because the operating revenues and expenses of its various subsidiaries and business units are substantially in the local currency of the country in which they operate. To the extent revenues and expenses are not in the applicable local currency, the Company may enter into foreign exchange forward contracts to hedge the currency risk.
Although operating in local currencies may limit the impact of currency rate fluctuations on the results of operations of the Company’s non-United States subsidiaries and business units, rate fluctuations may impact the consolidated financial position as the assets and liabilities of its foreign operations are translated into U.S. dollars in preparing the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheets. As of March 31, 2025, the Company’s foreign subsidiaries had net current assets (defined as current assets less current liabilities) subject to foreign currency translation risk of $83.3 million. The potential decrease in net current assets as of March 31, 2025, from a hypothetical 10% adverse change in quoted foreign currency exchange rates, would be approximately $8.3 million. This sensitivity analysis assumes a parallel shift in all major foreign currency exchange rates versus the U.S. dollar. Exchange rates rarely move in the same direction relative to the U.S. dollar due to positive and negative correlations of the various global currencies. This assumption may overstate or understate the impact of changing exchange rates on individual assets and liabilities denominated in a foreign currency.
The Company’s hedging operations have historically not been material, and gains or losses from these operations have not been material to the Company’s results of operations, financial position or cash flows. The Company does not use derivative financial instruments for trading or speculative purposes.
These international operations are subject to risks typical of international operations, including, but not limited to, differing economic conditions, changes in political climate, potential restrictions on the movement of funds, differing tax structures, and other regulations and restrictions. Accordingly, future results could be adversely impacted by changes in these or other factors.
Credit Risk
Credit risk is the possibility of loss from a client’s failure to make payments according to contract terms. Prior to granting credit, each client is evaluated in an underwriting process, taking into consideration the prospective client’s financial condition, past payment experience, credit bureau information and other financial and qualitative factors that may affect the client’s ability to pay. Specific credit reviews and standard industry credit scoring models are used in performing this evaluation. Clients’ financial condition is continuously monitored as part of the normal course of business. Some of the Company’s clients are highly leveraged or otherwise subject to their own operating and regulatory risks. Based on those client account reviews and the continued uncertainty of the global economy, the Company has established an allowance for credit losses of $22.4 million and $21.5 million as of March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, respectively.
The Company has a large, diverse client base and does not have a high degree of concentration with any single client account. During the three months ended March 31, 2025, the Company’s largest client accounted for less than 5% of the Company’s net sales. Even if the Company’s credit review and analysis mechanisms work properly, the Company may experience financial losses in its dealings with clients and other parties. Any increase in nonpayment or nonperformance by clients could adversely impact the Company’s results of operations and financial condition. Economic disruptions could result in significant future charges.
Commodity Risk
The primary raw materials that the Company uses in its print business are paper, ink and energy. At this time, the Company’s supply of raw materials are available from numerous vendors. The Company generally buys these raw materials based upon market prices that are established with the vendor as part of the procurement process. The price of such raw materials has fluctuated over time and has caused fluctuations in the Company’s net sales and cost of sales. This volatility may continue and the Company may experience increases in the costs of its raw materials in the future as prices in the overall paper, ink and energy markets are expected to remain beyond its control. The price and availability of paper may also be adversely affected by paper mills’ permanent or temporary closures; paper mills’ access to raw materials, conversion to produce other types of paper, and ability to transport paper produced; and tariffs and trade restrictions.
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Approximately half of the paper used by the Company is supplied directly by its clients. For those clients that do not directly supply their own paper, the Company makes use of its purchasing efficiencies to supply paper by negotiating with leading paper vendors, uses a wide variety of paper grades, weights and sizes, and does not rely on any one vendor. In addition, the Company generally includes price adjustment clauses in sales contracts for paper and other critical raw materials in the printing process. Although these clauses generally mitigate paper price risk, higher paper prices and tight paper supplies, as well as changes in the United States import or trade regulations may have an impact on client demand for printed products. The Company’s working capital requirements, including the impact of seasonality, are partially mitigated through the direct purchasing of paper by its clients.
The Company produces the majority of ink used in its print production, allowing it to control the quality, cost and supply of key inputs. Raw materials for the ink manufacturing process are purchased externally from a variety of vendors. The price and availability of ink and ink components may be adversely affected by the availability of component raw materials, labor and transportation, as well as by tariffs and trade restrictions.
The Company may not be able to fully pass on to clients the impact of higher electric and natural gas energy prices on its manufacturing costs, and increases in energy prices result in higher manufacturing costs for certain of its operations. The Company mitigates its risk through natural gas hedges when appropriate. In its logistics operations, however, the Company is able to pass a substantial portion of any increase in fuel prices directly to its clients.
To the extent the cost of other raw materials increase and the Company is not able to increase selling prices of its products, then the Company may experience margin declines.
Management believes a hypothetical 10% change in the price of paper and other raw materials would not have a significant direct impact on the Company’s consolidated annual results of operations or cash flows; however, significant increases in commodity pricing or tight supply could influence future client demand for printed products.
ITEM 4. Controls and Procedures
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
The Company’s management, with the participation of the Company’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) as of the end of the period covered by this report and has concluded that, as of the end of such period, the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective.
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
There were no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that occurred during the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2025, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
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PART II — OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 1A. Risk Factors
There have been no material changes to the risk factors previously disclosed in Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, which was filed with the SEC on February 21, 2025.
ITEM 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
(a)None.
(b)Not applicable.
(c)Information about the Company’s repurchases of its class A common stock in the quarter ended March 31, 2025, was as follows:
| Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Period | Total Number of Shares Purchased(1) | Average Price Paid Per Share | Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs(1) | Dollar Value of Shares that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs(2) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| January 1, 2025 to January 31, 2025 | 27,990 | 6.24 | 27,990 | 77,332,439 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| February 1, 2025 to February 28, 2025 | 174,184 | 6.13 | 174,184 | 76,265,200 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| March 1, 2025 to March 31, 2025 | 930,516 | (3) | 5.70 | 362,042 | 74,202,154 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 1,132,690 | 564,216 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
_____________________________
(1)Represents shares of the Company’s class A common stock.
(2)On July 30, 2018, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized a share repurchase program of up to $100.0 million of the Company’s outstanding class A common stock. Under the authorization, share repurchases may be made at the Company’s discretion, from time to time, in the open market and/or in privately negotiated transactions as permitted by federal securities laws and other legal requirements. The timing, manner, price and amount of any repurchase will depend on economic and market conditions, share price, trading volume, applicable legal requirements and other factors. The program may be suspended or discontinued at any time. There were 564,216 shares repurchased during the three months ended March 31, 2025. As of March 31, 2025, there were $74.2 million of authorized repurchases remaining under the program.
(3)Includes 568,474 shares of class A common stock transferred from employees to the Company to satisfy tax withholding requirements in connection with the vesting of restricted stock under the Company’s Omnibus Incentive Plans during the month of March 2025.
See Item 2, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Liquidity and Capital Resources — Covenants and Compliance,” of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, for a discussion of covenants under the Company’s debt agreements that may restrict the Company’s ability to pay dividends.
ITEM 5. Other Information
During the quarter ended March 31, 2025, no director or Section 16 officer of the Company adopted terminated
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ITEM 6. Exhibits
The exhibits listed in the exhibit index below are filed as part of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
EXHIBIT INDEX
| Exhibit Number | Exhibit Description | |||||||
| (101) | Financial statements from the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Quad/Graphics, Inc. for the quarter ended March 31, 2025 formatted in Inline eXtensible Business Reporting Language (iXBRL): (i) the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited), (ii) the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Unaudited), (iii) the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited), (iv) the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited), (v) the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited), and (vi) document and entity information. | |||||||
| (104) | Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted in iXBRL and contained in Exhibit 101). | |||||||
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
| QUAD/GRAPHICS, INC. | ||||||||||||||
| Date: | April 30, 2025 | By: | /s/ J. Joel Quadracci | |||||||||||
| J. Joel Quadracci | ||||||||||||||
| Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer | ||||||||||||||
| (Principal Executive Officer) | ||||||||||||||
| Date: | April 30, 2025 | By: | /s/ Anthony C. Staniak | |||||||||||
| Anthony C. Staniak | ||||||||||||||
| Chief Financial Officer | ||||||||||||||
| (Principal Financial Officer) | ||||||||||||||
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