Q1 2024 FIS Earnings Call
Operator: Thank you for standing by, and welcome to the FIS First Quarter 2024 Earnings Conference Call. All participants are in a listen-only mode. Please note, there will be no Q&A following the speaker's prepared remarks. I would now like to hand the call over to George Meehan, Senior Vice President and Head of Investor Relief. Please go ahead.
Good day, Thank you for standing by and welcome to the Fas first quarter 2024 earnings Conference call. All participants are in a listen only mode. Please note there will be no Q&A following the speakers prepared remarks.
I'd now like to hand, the call over to George MELA.
Senior Vice President and head of Investor Relations. Please go ahead.
George Meehan: Good afternoon, everyone, and thank you for joining us today for the FIS First Quarter 2024 Earnings Conference. This call is being webcast. Today's news release, corresponding presentation, and webcast are all available on our website at FISglobal.com.
Georgios Mihalos: Good afternoon, everyone and thank you for joining us today for the Fas first quarter 2024 earnings conference call.
Georgios Mihalos: This call is being webcast at today's news release corresponding presentation and webcast are all available on our website at F. I S Global Dot com.
George Meehan: On the call with me today are Stephanie Ferris, our CEO and president, and James Kehoe, our CFO. Stephanie will begin the call with a strategic and operational update, followed by James, who will review our financial... Turning to slide three, today's remarks will contain forward-looking statements. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainty, as described in the press release and other filings with the SEC. The company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by law.
On the call with me today are Stephanie Ferris, our CEO and President and James Kehoe, Our CFO Steffen.
Stephanie L. Ferris: Stephanie will begin the call with a strategic and operational update followed by James who will review our financials.
Speaker Change: Turning to slide three.
Speaker Change: <unk> remarks will contain forward looking statements. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties as described in the press release and other filings with the SEC.
Speaker Change: The company undertakes no obligation to update any forward looking statements, whether as a result of new information future events or otherwise except as required by law. Please refer to the safe Harbor language.
George Meehan: Please refer to the Safe Harbor Language. Also, throughout this conference call, we will be presenting non-GAAP information, including adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net earnings, adjusted net earnings per share, and free cash flow. These are important financial performance measures for the company but are not financial measures as defined by GAAP. Reconciliation of our non-GAAP information to the GAAP financial information is presented in our earnings. And with that, I'll turn it over to Stephanie. Thank you, George.
Speaker Change: Also throughout this conference call, we will be presenting non-GAAP information, including adjusted EBITDA.
Speaker Change: <unk> net earnings adjusted net earnings per share and free cash flow.
Speaker Change: These are important financial performance measures for the company, but are not financial measures as defined by GAAP Rec.
Speaker Change: A reconciliation of our non-GAAP information to the GAAP financial information is presented in our earnings release and with that I'll turn it over to Stephanie. Thank you George and thank you everyone for joining us this afternoon.
Stephanie L. Ferris: Thank you, George. And thank you, everyone, for joining us this afternoon. I'm pleased to report that 2024 is off to a very strong start; we're outperforming on our financial commitments to shareholders, experiencing solid new sales momentum, and leveraging our strong capital position to aggressively return capital to shareholders while also investing for growth. The decisive actions we took in 2023 through our future forward strategy are resonating across the enterprise, and improving Operational and Financial Outcomes.
Stephanie: I am pleased to report that 2024 is off to a very strong start.
Stephanie: We're outperforming on our financial commitments to shareholders experiencing solid new sales momentum and leveraging our strong capital position to aggressively return capital to shareholders. While also investing for growth.
Stephanie: The decisive actions we took in 2023 through our future forward strategy are resonating across the enterprise and improving operational and financial outcomes.
Stephanie L. Ferris: This is the fifth consecutive quarter where we've exceeded our financial outlook, with broad-based outperformance across revenue, adjusted EBITDA, and adjusted EPS. While still early, we are confident in achieving our 2024 revenue and adjusted EBITDA outlook. And we are meaningfully raising our EPS outlook to reflect a sustainable lower tax rate and a higher EMI contribution from our world pace. Momentum is building across our new sales pipeline as our solutions continue to resonate with clients.
Stephanie: This is the fifth consecutive quarter, where we've exceeded our financial outlook with broad based outperformance across revenue adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EPS.
Stephanie: While still early we are confident in achieving our 2020 for outlook for revenue and adjusted EBITDA and we are meaningfully raising our EPS outlook to reflect a sustainable lower tax rate and a higher <unk> contribution from our world pay stake.
Stephanie: Momentum is building across our new sales pipeline as our solutions continue to resonate with clients we.
Stephanie L. Ferris: We saw strong new sales growth in the first quarter with good demand across digital banking, payments, and risk compliance solutions. We expect this strong new sales activity to continue over the remainder of the year. Moving on to capital allocation, we are once again increasing our share repurchase target for the year by $500 million. We now expect to repurchase a total of $4 billion in 2024. During the quarter, we returned $1.6 billion to shareholders, including $1.4 billion through share repurchase.
Stephanie: We saw strong new sales growth in the first quarter with good demand across digital banking payments and risk compliance solutions.
Stephanie: We expect the strong new sales activity to continue over the remainder of the year.
Stephanie: Moving on to capital allocation we.
Stephanie: We are once again, increasing our share repurchase target for the year by $500 million, we now expect to repurchase a total of $4 billion in 2024.
Stephanie: During the quarter, we returned $1 $6 billion to shareholders, including $1 $4 billion through repurchases.
Stephanie L. Ferris: And we continue to evaluate highly synergistic, tuck-in opportunities to further our business. Before turning it over for an in-depth discussion on our first quarter financial performance and updated 2024 outlook, I'd like to remind everyone that tomorrow we will be hosting an Investor Day, where we will be showcasing our corporate strategy, providing segment deep dives, and introducing medium-term financial targets. We hope you can join us in person, in New York City, or via the webcast. And with that, I'll turn it over to James. James?
Stephanie: Yeah.
Stephanie: Great highly synergistic tuck in opportunities.
Stephanie: And our business.
Before turning it over for an in depth discussion on our first quarter financial performance and updated 2020 for outlook.
Speaker Change: I'd like to remind everyone that tomorrow, we will be hosting an investor day, where we will be showcasing our corporate strategy, providing segment deep dives and introducing medium term financial targets. We hope you can join us in person in New York City or via the webcast and with that I'll turn it over to James James.
James Kehoe: Thank you, Stephanie, and hello everyone. We are very pleased with our performance in the first quarter, and our successful cash management and tax initiatives have allowed us to meaningfully raise our full-year EPS output. On a continuing operations basis, adjusted revenue growth accelerated to 3%, compared to flat in the fourth quarter of 2023. The adjusted EBITDA margin expanded by 200 basis points year over year, primarily reflecting cost optimization initiatives, which boosted margins in the banking segment.
Thank you Stephanie and Hello, everyone. We are very pleased with our performance in the first quarter and our successful cash management and tax initiatives has allowed us to meaningfully raise our full year EPS outlook.
James: On a continuing operations basis, adjusted revenue growth accelerated to 3%.
James: Compared to flat in the fourth quarter of 2023.
James: The adjusted EBITDA margin expanded by 200 basis points year over year.
James: Primarily reflecting cost optimization initiatives, which boosted margins in the banking segment.
James Kehoe: Adjusted EPS from continuing operations was $1.10 in the quarter, up 53% compared to the prior year, and up 24% on a normalized basis. On a total company basis, including one month of discontinued operations, revenues were $2.9 billion with adjusted EPS of $1.33. Beginning in February 2024, our 45% interest in WorldPay is reported on the EMI line of the income statement. Moving now to our balance sheet and cash flow metrics, after paying down debt with the World Pay Proceeds, our total debt at the end of the quarter was $11.2 billion, with a leverage ratio of 2.7 times.
James: Adjusted EPS from continuing operations was $1.10 in the quarter.
James: 53% compared to the prior year.
James: And up 24% on a normalized basis.
James: On a total company basis, including one month of discontinued operations revenue of $2 9 billion with adjusted EPS of $1.33.
James: Beginning in February 2024, or 45% interest in World PE is reported on the EMI in line of the income statement.
James: Moving now to our balance sheet and cash flow metrics.
James: After paying down debt with the <unk> proceeds.
James: Our total debt at the end of the quarter was $11 $2 billion with.
James: With a leverage ratio of two seven times.
James Kehoe: We repurchased approximately $1.4 billion of shares, resulting in over $1.6 billion of capital return to shareholders during the first quarter. Additionally, we are once again increasing our share repurchase target for the year by $500 million to $4 billion in total. We will deploy this incremental $500 million over the course of the fourth quarter of 2024, benefiting 2025 EPS. On a continuing operations basis, we generated free cash flow of $95 million in the first quarter, with a free cash flow conversion rate of 18%.
James: We repurchased approximately one $4 billion of shares.
And over one $6 billion of capital returned to shareholders during the first quarter.
Additionally, we are once again, increasing our share repurchase target for the year by $500 million to $4 billion in total.
We will deploy this incremental $500 million over the course of the fourth quarter of 2024.
James: For the 2025 EPS.
On a continuing operations basis, we generated free cash flow of $95 million in the first quarter with a free cash flow conversion rate of 18%.
James Kehoe: Free cash flow was negatively impacted by a number of factors which were temporary in nature, including the delay of prior year tax payments for the first quarter of 2024 and the timing of TSA reimbursements from World Pay. Overall, these temporary items amounted to $195 million, or 36 points of negative impact.
James: Free cash flow was negatively impacted by a number of factors, which are temporary in nature.
James: <unk> the delay of prior year tax payments for the first quarter of 2024 on.
James: And the timing of PSA reimbursements from World.
James: Overall, these temporary items amounted to $195 million or 36 points of negative impact.
James Kehoe: Adjusting for these items, free cash flow conversion would have been approximately 54%, compared to 40% in the first quarter of 2023. Importantly, these temporary items were already factored into our full-year cash conversion target of 85 to 90%, and we are confident that we will achieve this target. Turning now to our segment results on slide eight, adjusted revenue growth was 3%, in line with our expectations, and Recurring Revenue Group was a steady 5%, broadly in line with the trends we saw during 2023.
James: Adjusting for these items free cash flow conversion would have been approximately 54%.
James: <unk> to 40% in the first quarter of 2023.
James: Importantly, these temporary items were already factored into our full year cash conversion target of 85% to 90%.
And we are confident that we will achieve this target.
James: Turning now to our segment results on slide eight.
James: Adjusted revenue growth was 3% in line with our expectations.
James: And recurring revenue growth was a steady 5%.
James: Broadly in line with the trends we saw during 2023.
James Kehoe: One quick note on backlog. While we will continue to provide backlog data in our quarterly 10-Q filings, we will no longer be focusing on backlog during our earnings presentation. As you already know, backlog does not appropriately capture underlying growth from existing clients, such as account and transaction growth.
James: One quick note on backlog.
While we will continue to provide backlog data in our quarterly 10-Q filings, we will no longer be focusing on backlog during our earnings presentation.
James: As you already know backlog does not appropriately capture underlying growth from existing clients, such as account and transaction growth.
James Kehoe: Last quarter, we provided you with increased disclosure around our recurring and non-recurring revenue streams within the banking segment. And building on that transparency, we have now added a schedule in the appendix highlighting the resiliency of our recurring revenue growth across a multi-year period. Compared to backlog, recurring revenue growth is a more meaningful predictor of sustainable future revenue growth, and we will be increasingly focused on this measure as a key indicator of the underlying strength of the business. Moving on, we discuss segment performance.
Last quarter, we provided you with increased disclosure around our recurring and nonrecurring revenue streams within the banking segment.
Building on the transparency, we have now added a schedule in the appendix highlighting the resiliency of our recurring revenue growth across a multi year period.
James: Compared to backlog recurring revenue growth is a more meaningful predictor of sustainable future revenue growth.
James: And we will be increasingly focused on this measure.
James: Key indicator of the underlying strength of the business.
Moving onto segment performance.
James Kehoe: Banking adjusted revenue growth was at the high end of our outlook range and accelerated to 2% in the quarter, compared to flat in the fourth quarter of 23, adjusted EBITDA margin expanded by an impressive 350 basis points, primarily driven by cost initiatives and favorable revenue. Banking recurring revenue grew a healthy 4%, representing continued steady growth. Other non-recurring revenue grew 9%, with strong year-over-year growth in license fee revenue, more than offsetting declines in pandemic-related revenue. Professional services revenue declined 14%, reflecting a difficult year-over-year comparison in project revenue related to a large client.
James: Banking adjusted revenue growth was at the high end of our outlook range on accelerated to 2% in the quarter.
James: Compared to flat in the fourth quarter of 2003.
James: Adjusted EBITDA margin expanded by an impressive 350 basis points.
James: Primarily driven by cost initiatives and favorable revenue mix.
James: <unk> recurring revenue grew a healthy 4% representing continued steady growth.
James: Other nonrecurring revenue grew 9% with strong year over year growth in license fee revenue more than offsetting declines in pandemic related revenue.
Professional services revenue declined 14%, reflecting a difficult year over year comparison in project revenue related to a large client.
James Kehoe: Turning now to capital markets, adjusted revenue growth was 6%, an improvement from 1% growth in the fourth quarter, led by strong recurring revenue growth. Excluding the impact from acquisitions, adjusted revenue increased five percent. Adjusted EBITDA margin contracted 80 basis points during the quarter, primarily reflecting a less favorable revenue mix.
Turning now to capital markets.
James: Adjusted revenue growth was 6% an improvement from 1% growth in the fourth quarter led by strong recurring revenue growth.
James: Excluding the impact from acquisitions adjusted revenue increased 5%.
James: Adjusted EBITDA margin contracted 80 basis points during the quarter, primarily reflecting less favorable revenue mix.
James Kehoe: And for the year, we continue to expect modest margin expansion. Capital markets recurring revenue grew by a strong 9% in the quarter, whereas other non-recurring revenue was flat, and professional services declined 4%. Turning now to our full-year outlook on slide 9, our first quarter operational performance gives us great confidence in meeting our full-year outlook. However, given that it is so early in the year, for now, we are reiterating our full-year outlook for revenue and adjusted EBITDA. We are raising our full-year Adjusted EPS outlook by $0.22 to $4.88 to $4.98 as we drive broad-based favorability across taxes, interest expense, depreciation, and the EMI. Let's walk through the key changes on slide 10.
James: Further year, we continue to expect modest margin expansion.
James: Comparable markets recurring revenue grew by a strong 9% in the quarter, whereas other nonrecurring revenue was flat and professional services declined 4%.
James: Turning now to our full year outlook on slide nine.
James: Our first quarter operational performance gives us great confidence in meeting our full year outlook.
However, given the other that's so early in the year for now we are reiterating our full year outlook for revenue and adjusted EBITDA.
James: We are raising our full year adjusted EPS outlook by 22 cents.
James: To $4 88.
James: The $4 98.
James: As we drive broad based favorability across taxes interest expense depreciation and the EMI.
James: Let's walk through the key changes on slide 10.
James Kehoe: We continue to project total reported revenue of $10.1 billion to $10.15 billion, with adjusted revenue growth of 4% to 4.5%. We expect the banking segment to grow between 3-3.5%, and we anticipate capital markets revenue growth of 6.5-7%. We continue to forecast year-over-year margin expansion of 20 to 40 basis points for the full year, implying an expected moderation in the margin expansion relative to the first quarter's 200 basis points. Over the past few months, we've been very focused on optimizing our cash management, taxes, and capital structure.
James: We continue to project total reported revenue of $10 1 billion to $10, one 5 billion.
James: Wood adjusted revenue growth of four to four 5%.
James: We expect the banking segment to grow between three to three 5% and we anticipate capital markets revenue growth of six 5% to 7%.
James: We continue to forecast year over year margin expansion of 20 to 40 basis points for the full year.
James: Implying an expected moderation in the margin expansion relative to the first quarter's 200 basis points.
James: Over the past few months, we've been very focused on optimizing our cash management taxes on capital structure.
James Kehoe: And these initiatives are driving 22 cents of favorability compared to our original EPS guidance. We are now in a position to reduce our tax rate projection to around 14.5% from over 17% previously. This contributes approximately $0.14, and the lower tax rate is sustainable going forward; more to follow on this at Investor Day. We are also reducing our depreciation and amortization projections by five to ten million dollars compared to our prior outlook. And we now anticipate a full year interest expense of $320 to $325 million.
James: These initiatives are driving 22 cents of favorably compared to our original EPS guidance.
James: We are now in a position to reduce our tax rate projection to around 14, 5% from over 17% previously.
James: This contributes approximately 14 on the lower tax rate is sustainable going forward.
More to follow on this at Investor Day, we are also reducing our depreciation and amortization projections by $5 million to $10 million compared to our prior outlook.
James: We now anticipate full year interest expense of $320 million to $325 million an.
James Kehoe: An improvement of $25 million, reflecting strong execution in quickly deploying the World Pay proceeds to maximize return. Lastly... We have raised our 11-month World Pay EMI contribution by $15 to $20 million, mostly reflecting their strong start to the year. As a result, we are raising our full-year EPS outlook to a range of $4.88 to $4.98, growing more than 45% on a continuing operations basis. On a normalized basis, we now expect adjusted EPS to grow 10 to 12 percent, including a high single-digit negative impact from this synergy.
James: An improvement of $25 million, reflecting.
James: <unk> strong execution and quickly deploying the world pay proceeds to maximize returns.
James: Lastly.
We have raised our 11 month world pay EMI contribution by $15 million to $20 million, mostly reflecting the strong start to the year.
James: As a result, we are raising our full year EPS outlook to a range of $4 88 to.
James: The $4 98.
James: Growing more than 45% on a continuing operations basis.
James: On a normalized basis, we now expect adjusted EPS to grow 10% to 12%, including a high single digit negative impact from dis synergies.
James Kehoe: Let's now move to our second quarter outlook on slide 11. We are forecasting another quarter of accelerating revenue growth, margin expansion, and strong earnings growth. We are projecting adjusted revenue growth of 3 to 4 percent, with banking solutions at 2% to 2.5% and capital markets at 7% to 8%. We expect banking revenue growth to accelerate over the course of the year, reflecting easier year-over-year revenue comparisons and the favorable impact from stronger new sales in the second half of 2023.
James: Let's now move to our second quarter outlook on slide 11.
James: We are forecasting another quarter of accelerating revenue growth margin expansion and strong earnings growth.
James: We are projecting adjusted revenue growth of 3% to 4%.
James: With banking solutions of two to two 5% and capital markets at 7% to 8%.
James: We expect banking revenue growth to accelerate over the course of the year, reflecting easier year over year revenue comparisons and the favorable impact from the stronger new sales over the second half of 2023.
James Kehoe: We expect steady capital markets adjusted revenue growth over the remainder of the year, in line with our second quarter. We are projecting adjusted EBITDA of $980 to $995 million, which translates to year-over-year margin expansion of 80 to 100 basis points. Continuing Operations Adjusted EPS is projected to increase 59% to 64% to $1.21 to $1.25. In summary, we expect the favorable first quarter trends to continue into the second quarter, and we are confident in our full year outlook.
James: We expect steady capital markets adjusted revenue growth over the remainder of the year.
In line with our second quarter outlook.
James: We are projecting adjusted EBITDA of $980 million to $995 million.
James: Which translates to year over year margin expansion of 80 to 100 basis points.
James: Continuing operations adjusted EPS is projected to increase 59% to 64% to $1 21 to $1 25.
James: In summary, we expect the favorable first quarter trends to continue into the second quarter and we are confident in our full year outlook.
James Kehoe: Let me now wrap up on slide 12. In closing, we are very encouraged by our first quarter results, delivering our fifth straight quarter of outperformance. We are raising our full-year EPS outlook by 22 cents, an increase of four and a half percent. Additionally, we are reaffirming our revenue and adjusted EBITDA targets. We are confident in our full-year outlook and are well on track to deliver accelerating revenue growth and expanding margins in 2024.
Speaker Change: Let me now wrap up on slide 12.
Speaker Change: In closing we are very encouraged by our first quarter results delivering our fifth straight quarter of outperformance.
Speaker Change: We are raising our full year EPS outlook by 22 cents, an increase of 4.5%.
Speaker Change: And we are reaffirming our revenue and adjusted EBITDA targets.
Speaker Change: We are confident in our full year outlook and are well on track to deliver a set of rating revenue growth and expanding margins in 2024.
James Kehoe: Lastly, we returned over $1.6 billion of capital to our shareholders in the quarter and increased our 2024 share repurchase target by $500 million to $4 billion. With that, we will be concluding today's call, and we look forward to speaking with you and taking your questions at tomorrow's Investor Day. Have a good evening.
Speaker Change: Lastly.
Speaker Change: We returned over $1 $6 billion of capital to our shareholders in the quarter and increased our 2024 share repurchase target by 500 million to $4 billion.
Speaker Change: With that we will be concluding today's call and we look forward to speaking with you and taking your questions at Tomorrow's Investor day have a good evening.
Speaker Change: This concludes today's conference call. Thank you for participating you may now disconnect.
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Operator: Copyright 2020, New Thinking Allowed Foundation.
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