Q3 2025 Enghouse Systems Ltd Earnings Call

Speaker #1: Good morning, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to the Enghouse Q3 2025 earnings results conference call. At this time, note that all phone participants are in a listen-only mode.

Operator: Good morning, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to the Enghouse Systems Limited Q3 2025 Earnings Results Conference call. At this time, note that all phone participants are in a listen-only mode. Following the presentation, we will conduct a question-and-answer session. If at any time during this call you require immediate assistance, please press *0 for the operator. Also, note that this call is being recorded on Friday, September 5, 2025. I would now like to turn the conference over to Stephen Sadler. Please go ahead, sir.

Speaker #1: Following the presentation, we will conduct a question and answer session. If at any time during this call you require my assistance, please press star zero for the operator.

Speaker #1: Also, note that this call is being recorded on Friday, September 5th, 2025. I would now like to turn the conference over to Stephen Sadler.

Speaker #1: Please go ahead, sir.

Speaker #2: Good morning, everybody. I'm here today with Rob Medved, Chief Financial Officer, and Todd May, VP Legal Counsel. Before we begin, I'll read our forward disclaimer.

Stephen Sadler: Good morning, everybody. I'm here today with Robert Medved, Chief Financial Officer, and Todd May, VP Legal Counsel. Before we begin, I'll read a forward disclaimer.

Speaker #2: Certain statements made may be forward-looking by their nature. Such forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties, including those in Enghouse's continuous disclosure filings.

Todd May: Certain statements made may be forward-looking, but by their nature, such forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties, including those in Enghouse Systems Limited's continuous disclosure filings, such as with AIF, which could cause the company's actual results and experience to differ materially from anticipated results or other expectations. Undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking information, and the company has no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

Speaker #2: Such as with AIF, which could cause the company's actual results and experience to differ materially from anticipated results or other expectations. Undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking information, and the company has no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

Speaker #2: Thanks, Todd. Rob will now give an overview of the financial and business results.

Stephen Sadler: Thanks, Todd. Rob will now give an overview of the financial and business results.

Speaker #3: Thanks, Steve. Good morning and welcome, everyone. As we present our Q3 results, we acknowledge the persistent uncertainty in the global economy. Geopolitical tensions, inflation, and currency volatility continue to impact enterprise spending.

Robert Medved: Thanks, Steve. Good morning and welcome, everyone. As we present our Q3 results, we acknowledge the persistent uncertainty in the global economy. Geopolitical tensions, inflation, and currency volatility continue to impact enterprise spending. Despite these challenges, Enghouse Systems Limited remains resilient, supported by our recurring revenue base and disciplined execution. Revenue for the quarter was $125.6 million, lower year-over-year but slightly increasing from Q2. Recurring revenue was $87.8 million, or 69.9% of total revenue. Adjusted EBITDA was $32.3 million, achieving a margin of 25.7%. Net income was $17.2 million, or $0.31 per diluted share. During the quarter, we undertook a strategic restructuring, including our recent acquisitions, to align costs with revenue, incurring $3 million in special charges, which are reflected in net income. We expect these actions to yield ongoing benefits and improve profitability. Operating cash flow, excluding working capital and income taxes paid, was $30.9 million.

Speaker #3: Despite these challenges, Enghouse remains resilient, supported by our recurring revenue base and disciplined execution. Revenue for the quarter was $125.6 million, lower year-over-year, but slightly increasing from Q2.

Speaker #3: Recurring revenue was $87.8 million, or 69.9% of total revenue. Adjusted EBITDA was $32.3 million, achieving a margin of 25.7%. Net income was $17.2 million, or $0.31 per diluted share.

Speaker #3: During the quarter, we undertook a strategic restructuring, including our recent acquisitions, to align costs with revenue. We incurred $3 million in special charges, which are reflected in net income.

Speaker #3: We expect these actions to yield ongoing benefits and improved profitability. Operating cash flow, excluding working capital and income taxes paid, was $30.9 million. We ended the quarter with $271.6 million in cash and no external debt.

Robert Medved: We ended the quarter with $271.6 million in cash and no external debt. We returned $16.5 million to shareholders through dividends, reflecting an increase from $0.26 to $0.30 per share, and we repurchased $1.6 million in shares. We completed the integration of Trafi Ltd. at the end of Q3 into our Asset Management Group. This acquisition strengthens our transportation portfolio and supports our vertical SaaS strategy. We continue to evaluate acquisition opportunities. We enter Q4 with a leaner cost structure and strong balance sheet. Despite ongoing macroeconomic and geopolitical risks, we remain focused on accretive acquisitions, profitability, and positive cash flows. Yesterday, the board approved a quarterly dividend of $0.30 per common share, payable on November 28, 2025, to shareholders of record as of November 14, 2025. In closing, Enghouse Systems Limited continues to demonstrate resilience.

Speaker #3: We returned $16.5 million to shareholders through dividends, reflecting an increase from $0.26 to $0.30 per share, and we repurchased $1.6 million in shares.

Speaker #3: We completed the integration of TRAFI at the end of Q3 into our asset management group. This acquisition strengthens our transportation portfolio and supports our vertical SaaS strategy.

Speaker #3: We continue to evaluate acquisition opportunities. We enter Q4 with a leaner cost structure and a strong balance sheet. Despite ongoing macroeconomic and geopolitical risks, we remain focused on creative acquisitions, profitability, and positive cash flows.

Speaker #3: Yesterday, the board approved a quarterly dividend of $0.30 per common share, payable on November 28, 2025, to shareholders of record as of November 14, 2025.

Speaker #3: In closing, Enghouse continues to demonstrate resilience. Our recurring revenue model, disciplined execution, and strong financial position enable us to navigate uncertainty and deliver long-term value in a difficult business environment.

Robert Medved: Our recurring revenue model, disciplined execution, and strong financial position enable us to navigate uncertainty and deliver long-term value in a difficult business environment. Thank you for your continued support, and I will turn the call over to Mr. Sadler.

Speaker #3: Thank you for your continued support. I will now turn the call over to Mr. Sadler.

Speaker #2: Thanks, Rob. Our new business unit structure, established January 1, 2025, is working well, and the challenges in our IMG and AMG business units are being addressed.

Stephen Sadler: Thanks, Rob. Our new business unit structure established January 1, 2025, is working well, and the challenges in our IMG and AMG business units are being addressed. In a short timeframe, there has been good progress. In our Q3, as Rob mentioned, we completed the integration of Trafi Ltd. and Margento R&D d.o.o. into our AMG business segment. In addition, we did a further right-sizing of the overall business at the end of the quarter. Both the Trafi Ltd. and Margento R&D d.o.o. acquisitions contributed to revenue and operating income in the quarter, and further operating income improvement is anticipated in our final quarter of 2025. Artificial intelligence continues to be used in our operations for cost efficiencies, though it is difficult to monetize from a revenue viewpoint. Artificial intelligence continues to be an interesting learning experience.

Speaker #2: In a short timeframe, there has been good progress. In our Q3, as Rob mentioned, we completed the integration of TRAFI and Magento into our AMG business segment.

Speaker #2: But in addition, we did a further right-sizing of the overall business at the end of the quarter. Both the TRAFI and Magento acquisitions contributed to revenue and operating income in the quarter, but further operating income improvement is anticipated in our final quarter of 2025.

Speaker #2: AI continues to be used in our operations for cost efficiencies, but it is difficult to monetize from a revenue viewpoint. AI continues to be an interesting learning experience.

Speaker #2: As noted last quarter, we continue to see substantial acquisition opportunities that will provide a return on our investment, but uncertainty continues delaying the completion of our backlog of these opportunities.

Stephen Sadler: As noted last quarter, we continue to see substantial acquisition opportunities, which will provide a return on our investment, though uncertainty continues delaying completion of our backlog of these opportunities. As you note from our financial results, we have no debt and the financial reserves to continue our capital deployment as well as investing in our operations for improvement. A strong financial position is proving to be very important in the current financial environment of our markets. Larger competitors seem to be having serious financial challenges with their strategy of unprofitable growth. I would now like to turn the call over for questions.

Speaker #2: As you note from our financial results, we have no debt, and our financial results continue to support our capital deployment as well as investing in our operations for improvement.

Speaker #2: A strong financial position is proving to be very important in the current financial environment of our markets. Larger competitors seem to be having serious financial challenges with their strategy of unprofitable growth.

Speaker #2: I would now like to turn the call over for questions.

Speaker #1: Thank you, sir. Ladies and gentlemen, if you do have any questions, please press star followed by one on your touch-tone phone. You will then hear a prompt that your hand has been raised.

Operator: Thank you, sir. Ladies and gentlemen, if you do have any questions, please press *1 on your touch-tone phone. You will then hear a prompt that your hand has been raised. Should you wish to decline from the polling process, please press *2. If you're using a speaker phone, we ask that you please lift the handset first before pressing any keys. Please go ahead and press *1 now if you do have any questions. First, we will hear from Erin Kyle at CIBC. Please go ahead, Erin.

Speaker #1: In case you wish to decline from the polling process, please press star followed by two. And if you're using a speakerphone, we ask that you please lift your hands up first before pressing any keys.

Speaker #1: Please go ahead and press star one now if you do have any questions. First, we will hear from Aaron Kyle at CIBC. Please go ahead, Aaron.

Speaker #4: Hi, good morning. Maybe I'll just start with a question on the restructuring. Could you provide some additional color in terms of where the cost cuts were focused?

Erin Kyle: Hi, good morning. Maybe I'll just start with a question on the restructuring. Could you provide some additional color in terms of where the cost cuts were focused, and then whether that restructuring was fully completed in the quarter or if you expect to see any additional special charges in Q4?

Speaker #4: And then, whether that restructuring was fully completed in the quarter, or if you expect to see any additional special charges in Q4?

Speaker #2: I don't think there will be any significant charges in Q4, and so that part of the question. The restructuring was generally done through operations.

Stephen Sadler: I don't think there'll be any significant charges in Q4. To answer that part of the question, the restructuring was generally done through operations. You notice, for example, the professional services, as you go to the cloud, tends to be harder to get because they don't customize things. The clients don't customize things as much as they used to, which goes to professional services. We did a little bit in R&D. Where we didn't do restructuring is the sales side. We kept the sales side generally as it was and restructured the other areas. A little bit of restructuring was in accounting as well, as an example, and administration areas.

Speaker #2: You notice that, for example, the fractional services, as you go to the cloud, tend to be harder to get because they don't customize things in the clients, and clients don't customize things as much as they used to, which goes to professional services.

Speaker #2: We did a little bit in R&D, where we didn't do restructuring; the sales side was generally kept as it was, and we restructured the other areas.

Speaker #2: You know, though, a little bit of restructuring was in accounting as well, as an example, and administration areas.

Speaker #4: Okay, thank you, Steve. That's helpful. And then, if I just switch gears here to the IMG division, it appears the revenue declines there continue to accelerate in the quarter.

Erin Kyle: Okay, thank you, Steve. That's helpful. Maybe if I just switch gears here to the IMG division, it appears the revenue declines there continue to accelerate in the quarter. Could you maybe elaborate on just what's been driving that? Is that still a concern from Lifesize, or how should we think about that?

Speaker #4: Could you maybe elaborate on just what's been driving that? Is that still concern from LifeSize, or how should we think about that?

Speaker #2: Again, we tried for profitable revenue, and if you look at the industry overall, it’s struggling. So we are doing quite well, again, trying to get profitable growth, not just growth at any cost.

Stephen Sadler: Again, we try for profitable revenue, and if you look at the industry overall, it's struggling. We're doing quite well, again, trying to get profitable growth, not just growth at any cost. A little bit came somewhat from Lifesize, but Lifesize is going to be our go-forward product. We're ready to start bringing that product into the marketplace. We had to fix a lot of things there. Video is still a problem. I mean, we did a lot of video acquisitions, and it's still in decline if you look in the market as more and more companies are telling their employees to go back to work. Of course, that reduces video because a lot of it's done by video when you're not in the office. It's a tougher market. We're strong in the market, and it should, in many ways, help our acquisition process.

Speaker #2: A little bit came from what, from LifeSide, but LifeSize is going to be our go-forward product. So, we're ready to start bringing that product into the marketplace.

Speaker #2: We had to fix a lot of things there. Video is still a problem. I mean, we did a lot of video acquisitions, and so it's still in decline. If you look at the market, more and more companies are telling their employees to go back to work. Of course, that reduces video usage, because a lot of it's done by video when you're not in the office.

Speaker #2: So again, it's a tougher market. We're strong in the market, and it should, in many ways, help our acquisition process. Even some larger acquisitions are interesting and being looked at by us these days.

Stephen Sadler: Even some larger acquisitions are interesting and being looked at by us these days.

Speaker #4: Okay, thank you. That's helpful color. I will pop the line.

Erin Kyle: Okay, thank you. That's helpful color. I will take the line.

Speaker #1: Thank you. Next question will be from Kevin McVeigh at UBS Securities. Please go ahead, Kevin.

Operator: Thank you. Next question will be from Kevin McVey at UBS Securities. Please go ahead, Kevin.

Speaker #5: Great, thanks so much. In terms of the $3 million charge, can you give us a sense of what the recurrent benefit is as a result of that charge and how it kind of sequences over the course of this year and into next?

Kevin McVey: Great, thanks so much. In terms of the $3 million charge, can you give us a sense of what the recurring benefit is as a result of that charge and how it kind of sequences it over the course of this year and into next?

Speaker #2: Yeah, it's, as a rough estimate, okay, because most of it was really people, that charge. It wasn't premises or anything else. It should improve the bottom line by everything's staying the same, change staying the same, revenues, everything else staying the same, probably by two to two and a half million a quarter.

Stephen Sadler: Yeah, it's as a rough estimate, okay? Because most of it was really people, that charge. It wasn't premises or anything else. It should improve the bottom line by everything staying the same, shades staying the same, revenues, everything else staying the same, probably by $2 million to $2.5 million a quarter.

Speaker #5: Got it. That's very helpful. And then, you know, I think you'd reference and continue to reference in the executing pretty well on kind of AI, as you're kind of learning, any kind of relative to just expectations. Anything to call out either internally or what your clients are asking for, just as we kind of get a little bit deeper into the kind of AI opportunities that you're seeing out there?

Kevin McVey: Got it. That's very helpful. I think you'd reference and continue to reference in executing pretty well on kind of artificial intelligence as you're kind of learning. Any kind of relative to just expectations, anything to call out either internally or what your clients are asking for, just as we kind of get a little bit deeper into the kind of artificial intelligence opportunities that you're seeing out there?

Speaker #2: Most of the AI we'd be doing, and we'd be doing it for a while, like many years, we just don't call it out as the biggest factor. Has been to improve internal operations. I mean, a lot of companies say they're doing reductions these days because of AI.

Stephen Sadler: Most of the artificial intelligence we've been doing, and we've been doing it for a while, like many years, we just don't call it out as the biggest factor, has been to improve internal operations. I mean, a lot of companies say they're doing reductions these days because of artificial intelligence. The restructuring we did was not because of artificial intelligence. Let's make that clear. It was just restructuring that we needed to do to tie to our revenue, which has come down a bit. We did that restructuring for that reason. We are going to look at setting up a couple of specialized artificial intelligence groups in both our divisions, the Interactive Management Group and the Asset Management Group. We're going to start that probably in the next year in the budgeting process. We're going to put a little bit more focus on it, but most of it's internal.

Speaker #2: The restructuring we did was not because of AI. So let's make that clear. It was just restructuring that we needed to do to tie to our revenue, which has come down a bit.

Speaker #2: So, we did that restructuring for that reason. We are going to look at setting up a couple of specialized AI groups in both our divisions, the IMG group and the AMG. We're going to start that probably in the next year in the budgeting process.

Stephen Sadler: We go out to customers, like many, you hear a lot of talk about it, individuals using it, but I do not see enterprises actually selling it other than, you know, the people who just do the artificial intelligence on the road or the platform guys. I mean, NVIDIA does well selling chips to the big platform guys. From a revenue side, I don't see a huge impact from artificial intelligence. From the cost side, we continue to take on projects that actually do make money, as many projects, if you do reading on this subject, do not make money. It's great out there. There's more promotion than actual savings or money being made from artificial intelligence at this time. You do have to be in it because, of course, over time, it should improve.

Kevin McVey: That's very helpful. Thank you.

Operator: Thank you. Once again, ladies and gentlemen, if you do have any questions, please go ahead and press *1 at this time. Thank you. Next, we will hear from Paul Traver at RBC Capital Markets. Please go ahead, Paul.

Paul Traver: Yeah, thanks. Good morning. Just a question on customer churn and then new bookings. Can you just speak to the trend of both, you know, how churn has been trending and how bookings of new cloud offerings has been trending?

Stephen Sadler: Okay, from a trend point of view, the churn has been pretty steady, but unfortunately, there is churn, okay? As people are changing, looking at things, the environment for us in the small business area seems to be more difficult than you read in the general market. That is, there's a lot of small business companies struggling. We see more of that than the Magnificent Seven would let you believe or the overall indexes on the market. There is certainly some churn that we go through. From a bookings point of view, again, for profitable growth, I would say it's about as it has been over the last year or so, which is slow. To get more bookings and get more revenue, you have to lose money. We're not prepared to do that. We want to have profitable growth. We think that's the right way to do.

Stephen Sadler: If you notice, some of our major competitors, a buy at $2.5 billion, can't get back out or are having some trouble. Mitel went into receivership, major competitors, especially in the small business side. Genesys, a good competitor, but now said they don't want to sell anything for 250 seats and less. The market is going through a lot of turmoil right now. We're strong in that market, and we expect over time that will be helpful, but it takes time to go through those challenging events.

But it takes time to go through those, uh, challenging events.

Paul Traver: Okay, that's helpful to understand. Did the MD&A mention a focus on cash activities, including diligence on deal quality and then customer creditworthiness? Can you just elaborate on what that's referring to?

Okay, that's helpful to understand the, uh, the empty and I mentioned, uh, you know, a focus on cash activities, including diligence on deal quality and then customer credit worthiness. Can you just elaborate on what that's referring to?

Stephen Sadler: I think it means what it says. It is challenging when we're trying to do deals. There's a lot of people, just from an acquisition side, remember a year ago when things were much higher. The whole industry's come down, including us. We're very strong in the industry. Everyone sort of gets painted with the same brush. Others are having more financial issues than certainly we have, which I would say we don't have any. We're doing pretty good. We've got cash flow. We've got cash. In a struggling market, we have an M&A group who can do deals in that environment. I think it's just a matter of time, and that time is a little longer than I would like, but we're progressing forward with it right now.

Um, well, I, I mean, I, I think it means what it says. Um, it is challenging when we're trying to do deals; there's a lot of people, just from an acquisition side. Remember a year ago, when things were much higher?

The whole industry's come down, including us. Um, but we're very strong in the industry. Everyone sort of gets painted with the same brush. Um, others are having more financial issues than certainly we have, which I would say we don't have any. We're doing pretty good. We've got cash flow, we've got cash, and it is a struggling market. We have an M&A group who can do deals in that environment. So I think it's just a matter of time, and that time is a little longer than I would like, but we're progressing forward with it right now.

Paul Traver: In terms of M&A, you touched on it, but I want you to be more explicit. In light of this environment, are you considering lower EBITDA multiples in acquisitions, or just being more prudent around some of the assumptions in acquisitions, just given the lower visibility here?

And then in terms of M&A – and you touched on it – but I don't know, you could be more explicit in light of this environment. Are you considering, you know, lower takeout multiples and acquisitions, or just being more prudent around some of the assumptions in acquisitions, just given that the lower visibility here?

Stephen Sadler: I think the values are coming down into our range, but we're not changing our criteria, i.e., not making it more difficult because we would like to deploy some of our cash. Our cash is good, but that might be bad because we haven't deployed enough on acquisitions. We've got to focus a little bit more on getting some more things done. That's our intention. Again, we're not going to do it for the sake of doing acquisitions. We want to make sure we get the usual return that we've done over the years, which we have on our website. You try and get a payback in five or six years, and we're just sticking to that.

I think the values are coming down into our range, but we're not changing our criteria. You know, we're making it more difficult because we would like to deploy some of our cash. Our cash is good, but that might be bad because we haven't deployed enough on acquisitions. So we've got to focus a little bit more and get some more things done. That's our intention. Um, but again, we're not going to do it for the sake of doing acquisitions. We want to make sure we get the usual return that we've done over the years, which we have on our website, to try and get a payback in 5 or 6 years. And we're just going to need to do that.

Paul Traver: Okay, thanks for taking the questions.

Okay, thanks for taking the questions.

Operator: Thank you. At this time, Mr. Sadler, it appears we have no other questions registered. Please proceed.

Thank you. And at this time, Mr. Sadler, it appears we have no other questions registered. Please proceed.

Stephen Sadler: you, everybody. Enghouse Systems Limited is well-positioned to operate profitably and acquire business assets which will provide a good return on our capital deployed. Thank you, Ted, for attending the call, and I look forward to providing our year-end update in December.

Well, thank you, everybody. Enghouse is well positioned to operate profitably and acquire business assets, which will provide a good return on our capital deployed. Thank you, Ted, for attending the call, and I look forward to providing our year-end update in December.

Operator: Thank you, sir. Ladies and gentlemen, this has concluded the conference call for today. Once again, thank you for attending. At this time, we ask that you please disconnect your lines. Have a good weekend.

Thank you, sir. Ladies and gentlemen, this concludes your conference call for today. Once again, thank you for attending. At this time, we ask that you please disconnect your lines. Have a good weekend.