Quad Reports 10% Net Sales Decline for Second Quarter, But Reaffirms 2024 Financial Guidance

Quad/Graphics, Inc. (NYSE: QUAD) (“Quad” or the “Company”), a global marketing experience company, reported results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2024.

• Recognized Net Sales of $634 million in the second quarter of 2024 compared to $703 million in 2023 and realized a Net Loss of $3 million or $0.06 Diluted Loss Per Share for the second quarter of 2024.
• Achieved Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA of $52 million in the second quarter of 2024, increased from $50 million in the second quarter of 2023, and delivered $0.12 Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share for the second quarter of 2024.
• Increased Adjusted EBITDA Margin by 100 basis points to 8.2% in the second quarter of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023.
• Introduced Betty, a creative agency that delivers best-in-class strategy and creative, backed by Quad’s global production resources for speed and scale.
• Launched 3D Commerce by Quad, the first commercially available automated and scalable 3D scanning solution in the North American market for creating photorealistic 3D assets.
• Expanded partnerships for In-Store Connect by Quad, the company’s in-store retail media network.
• Generated $22 million of cash proceeds from sale of minority investment in Manipal Technologies, a leading print services and end-to-end business solutions provider headquartered in India.
• Declared quarterly dividend of $0.05 per share.
• Reaffirms full-year 2024 financial guidance.

Joel Quadracci, Chairman, President and CEO of Quad, said: “During the second quarter, we continued our focus on differentiating ourselves as a marketing experience company, including investments in innovative solutions and superior talent. We joined all of our creative business lines under a single agency called Betty, pairing the strategic creative services of an Agency of Record with our global production platform to offer highly scalable content at elevated speeds without sacrificing brand consistency or quality. We further enhanced our creative capabilities with the launch of 3D Commerce by Quad, the first commercially available automated and scalable 3D scanning solution in North America for creating photorealistic 3D assets for a range of applications, including product videos and virtual try-ons. Meanwhile, we advanced our In-Store Connect retail media network, or RMN, through a partnership with Swiftly, a prominent retail technology and media company whose industry-leading platform will help us bring the best elements of digital commerce into physical store environments. We continue to build sales momentum behind In-Store Connect. The Save Mart Companies, the largest private regional grocer on the West Coast, is in the process of activating our in-store RMN solution, and Homeland Stores, a large Oklahoma grocery chain, is scheduled to debut it in October. Additionally, we are in active conversations with more than a dozen other supermarket chains.

“As always, we remain focused on enhancing Quad’s financial strength and creating shareholder value and will continue to prioritize growth while further reducing debt in 2024.”

Added Tony Staniak, Chief Financial Officer: “During the second quarter, our Adjusted EBITDA margin increased by 100 basis points primarily due to higher manufacturing productivity and cost savings from completed restructuring actions that are ultimately expected to generate $60 million of savings in 2024. We generate cash from Free Cash Flow driven by our cost discipline as well as proceeds from asset sales, including $22 million in the second quarter of 2024 from the sale of our minority investment in Manipal Technologies. Net Sales declined in the second quarter reflecting pressure from ongoing external headwinds, including significant postal rate increases and the impact of elevated interest rates on financial services clients. Despite lower Net Sales, with our margin improvement and strong cash generation we are reaffirming our full-year guidance, including approximately 1.8x debt leverage, and we will continue to invest in accelerating our competitive position as a marketing experience company while returning capital to shareholders through our quarterly dividend. We also expect to be opportunistic in terms of our future share repurchases.”

• Net Sales were $634 million in the second quarter of 2024, a decrease of 10% compared to the same period in 2023 primarily due to lower print volumes, a higher mix of lower unit price gravure versus offset print in our magazine and catalog offerings from segment share wins, and lower paper and agency solutions sales, including the loss of a large grocery client.

• Net Loss was $3 million in the second quarter of 2024 compared to $6 million in the same period in 2023. The improvement is primarily due to benefits from increased manufacturing productivity, savings from cost reduction initiatives and a $4 million gain on the sale of the Company’s minority investment in Manipal Technologies, partially offset by the impact from lower Net Sales.

• Adjusted EBITDA was $52 million in the second quarter of 2024 compared to $50 million in the same period in 2023, primarily due to the same reasons as the improvement in Net Loss.

• Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share was $0.12 in the second quarter of 2024 compared to $0.02 in the same period in 2023, primarily due to higher Adjusted Net Earnings and the beneficial impact from the Company repurchasing Class A shares totaling approximately 11% of its outstanding shares since the second quarter of 2022.

• Net Sales were $1.3 billion in the six months ended June 30, 2024, a decrease of 12% compared to the same period in 2023 primarily due to lower print volumes, a higher mix of lower unit price gravure versus offset print in our magazine and catalog offerings from segment share wins, and lower paper and agency solutions sales, including the loss of a large grocery client.

• Net Loss was $31 million, or $0.65 Diluted Loss Per Share, in the six months ended June 30, 2024, compared to Net Loss of $31 million, or $0.62 Diluted Loss Per Share, in the same period in 2023. The impact from lower Net Sales and higher restructuring and impairment charges from recent plant closures was offset by benefits from improved manufacturing productivity, lower depreciation and amortization, savings from cost reduction initiatives and a $4 million gain on the sale of the Company’s minority investment in Manipal Technologies.

• Adjusted EBITDA was $102 million in the six months ended June 30, 2024, a decrease of $8 million compared to the same period in 2023. The decrease was due to lower Net Sales, partially offset by benefits from improved manufacturing productivity, savings from cost reduction initiatives and a $4 million gain on the sale of the Company’s minority investment in Manipal Technologies.

• Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share was $0.22 in the six months ended June 30, 2024, compared to $0.17 in the same period in 2023.

• Net Cash Used in Operating Activities was $48 million in the six months ended June 30, 2024, compared to Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities of $0.3 million in the six months ended June 30, 2023. Free Cash Flow was negative $82 million in the six months ended June 30, 2024, compared to negative $45 million in the same period in 2023. During the six months ended June 30, 2023, the Company realized non-recurring cash flow benefits from reducing inventories enabled by an improved supply chain environment. As a reminder, the Company historically generates most of its Free Cash Flow in the fourth quarter of the year.

• Net Debt was $532 million at June 30, 2024, compared to $470 million at December 31, 2023, and $604 million at June 30, 2023. Compared to December 31, 2023, Net Debt increased primarily due to the negative $82 million of Free Cash Flow in the six months ended June 30, 2024, less the $22 million of proceeds from the sale of the Company’s minority investment in Manipal Technologies. Quad continues to expect to reduce Net Debt to approximately $405 million, achieving a 1.8x Debt Leverage Ratio, at the end of this year.

Click to enlarge. | Credit: Quad Q2 Investor Presentation

Quad’s next quarterly dividend of $0.05 per share will be payable on September 6, 2024, to shareholders of record as of August 19, 2024.

The Company’s full-year 2024 financial guidance ranges are unchanged and are as follows:

Click to enlarge. | Credit: Quad Q2 Investor Presentation

Source: Quad

The preceding press release was provided by a company unaffiliated with Printing Impressions. The views expressed within do not directly reflect the thoughts or opinions of the staff of Printing Impressions.