Q1 2025 Yellow Pages Ltd Earnings Call

May 14, 2025

Operator: This call contains forward-looking information about Yellow Pages' outlook, objectives, and strategy. These statements are based assumption and are subject to important risks and uncertainties. Yellow Pages' actual results could differ materially from expectations discussed. The details of Yellow Pages' caution regarding forward-looking information, including key assumptions and risks, can be found in Yellow Pages' management discussion and analysis for Q1 2025. This call is being recorded and webcast, and all of the disclosure documents are available on the company's website and on SEDAR. I would now like to turn the meeting over to Mr. David Eckert, Chief Executive Officer. Please go ahead, sir.

David Eckert: Thank you very much. Good morning, everyone. Welcome to our Q1 2025 Analyst Call. Really appreciate your continued interest. As usual, today, I'm joined by Franco Sciannamblo, our Chief Financial Officer, and by Sherilyn King, our President. I'll begin with some overview comments. Sherilyn will provide some comments. Frank will provide a bit more detail for you. After that, we'd be happy to answer any questions that you might have at the end. This quarter, we're quite pleased with our results that we're reporting this morning, particularly for the fifth consecutive quarter. This quarter, we again report a favorable, what we call bending of the revenue curve, as our rate of change in revenue was better than the change rate reported for the previous quarter. This is really important, as we drive toward ultimate strong stability.

David Eckert: We also report solid quarterly earnings. Our Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter was 23.4% of revenue, even with our still continued investments in revenue initiatives, including the steady continued expansion of our sales force. We also have a strong cash balance. Despite certain regular seasonal normal disbursements during the quarter, cash still stood at approximately CAD 49 million at the end of April. I will pass the microphone on to Sherilyn King now to provide some additional overview comments.

Sherilyn King: Thank you, David. We continue to be very pleased with our progress on our metrics underlying our revenue generation. Those include the size of our sales force, the continued deceleration of our customer count decline rate, fueled by our new customer acquisitions, our stable renewal rates, and our strong average spend per customer. We continue to believe these fundamentals bode well for our medium- and long-term future. Also, our board yesterday has declared a dividend of CAD 0.25 per common share to be paid on 16 June 2025, to shareholders of record as of 27 May 2025. I will now pass it on to Franco to provide some additional details on our numbers.

Franco Sciannamblo: Thanks, SK, and good morning, everyone. Let me take you through our financial results for Q1 ended 31 March 2025. Beginning with revenues, our total revenues decreased by CAD 4.2 million or 7.6% year-over-year and amounted to CAD 50.8 million for Q1, an improvement from the decrease of 8.1% reported last quarter. The year-over-year decrease in revenue is mainly attributable to the decline of our higher margin digital media and print products, and to a lesser extent, to our lower margin digital services products, thereby creating some pressure on our gross profit margins.

Franco Sciannamblo: Digital revenues decreased 6.8% year-over-year and amounted to CAD 40.7 million for the three-month period ended 31 March 2025, an improvement from the decrease of 7.2% reported last quarter. The year-over-year decline was mainly attributable to a decrease in digital customer count, partially offset by an increase in average spend per customer. For print revenues, it decreased 10.5% year-over-year and amounted to CAD 10.1 million for the three-month period ended 31 March 2025, an improvement from the decrease of 11.5% reported last quarter. The decline in revenue was mainly attributable to the decrease in the number of print customers, while the spend per customer has improved year-over-year, driven by some price increases.

Franco Sciannamblo: The decline rate of revenues improved during Q1 ended March 31st, 2025, compared to the same period last year. These improvements were mainly attributable to the deceleration of the customer count decline rate, fueled by an increase in new customer acquisitions while renewal rates remained relatively stable, and an increase in average spend per customer due in part to the price increases. On Adjusted EBITDA for Q1, it was impacted by the pressures from lower revenue, change in product mix, continued investments in our telesales force capacity, and the impact of the company's share price on cash-settled stock-based compensation expense, partially offset by price increases, the efficiencies from optimization in cost of sales, and reductions in other operating costs, including reductions in our workforce and associated employee expenses.

Franco Sciannamblo: As a result, Adjusted EBITDA decreased year-over-year by CAD 3.4 million, or 22.3% to CAD 11.9 million for the Q1. Adjusted EBITDA margin decreased to 23.4% compared to 27.8% for the same period last year. The revaluation of cash-settled stock-based compensation liabilities resulted in a recovery of CAD 1.3 million for the three-month period ended 31 March 2025, compared to a recovery of CAD 1.9 million for the same period last year. Revenue pressures and continued investments in our telesales force capacity, partially offset by continued optimizations, will continue to cause some pressure on margins in upcoming quarters.

Franco Sciannamblo: On Adjusted EBITDA less CAPEX for the Q1, it decreased by CAD 2.9 million year-over-year to CAD 11.4 million, mainly due to the decrease in Adjusted EBITDA, partially offset by the decrease in CAPEX spend year-over-year. For net income, it decreased to CAD 5 million for the Q1 of 2025, compared to CAD 8.4 million for the same period last year, due to lower Adjusted EBITDA and the increase in restructuring other charges, partially offset by decrease in income taxes for the three month period ended 31 March 2025. On our workforce as at 31 March 2025, well, it decreased to 572 employees compared to 613 at the same date last year, a decrease of 6.7%. The sales force headcount actually increased by 9, while all other headcount decreased by 50.

Franco Sciannamblo: As David mentioned earlier, our cash on hand at the end of April stood at approximately CAD 49 million. As to dividends, the board has declared a cash dividend of $0.25 per common share, payable on 16 June 2025 to shareholders of record as at 27 May 2025. This concludes our formal remarks. Thank you for taking the time to join us this morning. We will now take your questions. I'll pass it back over to our operator, mode.

Operator: Thank you. We will now take questions from the telephone lines. If you have a question, please press star one. You may cancel your question at any time by pressing star two. Please press star one at this time if you have a question. There will be a brief pause while participants register for questions. We thank you for your patience. Once again, please press star one at this time for any questions or comments. We have no questions registered at this time. I would now like to turn the meeting back over to David Eckert.

David Eckert: Yes, thank you very much for your continued interest. We appreciate your support and look forward to seeing you here, next quarter. Thanks very much. Have a good day. Bye now.

Operator: Thank you. The conference has now ended. Please disconnect your lines at this time, and we thank you for your participation.

Called contains forward-looking information about Yellow, Pages object, objectives and strategy.

These statements are based assumption and are subject to important risks and uncertainties Yellow Pages. Actual results could differ material from expectations discussed

The details of Yellow Pages. Caution regarding forward-looking information, including key assumptions and risk can be found in Yellow Pages, management, discussion and Analysis. For the first quarter 2025,

This call is being recorded and was cast and all of the disclosure documents are available in the company's website and on Cedar.

I would now like to turn the meeting over to Mr. David dickert chief executive officer, please. Go ahead, sir.

Thank you very much.

Uh, good morning everyone. Uh, Welcome to our first quarter 2025 animals call.

Really appreciate your continued interest.

As usual today, I'm joined by Frank Ocean shamblo. Our Chief Financial Officer

And by Cheryl and King are present.

Again, with some overview comments.

And cherylyn will provide some comments.

And then Frank will provide a bit more detail for you.

After that we'd be happy to answer any questions that you might have at the end.

This quarter would quite pleased with our our results that we were reporting this morning.

Particularly for the fifth consecutive quarter, this quarter, we again report a favorable of what we call bending of the revenue curve.

As our rate of change in Revenue, was better than the change rate reported for the previous quarter.

This is really, really important. Uh, as we drive toward the ultimate uh, strong stability,

We also report solid quarterly earnings.

Our adjusted Eva for the quarter was 23.4% of Revenue.

Even with our still continued investments in Revenue initiatives.

Including the steady continued expansion of our sales force.

We have also have strong a strong cash balance.

Despite certain regular seasonal, normal disbursements during the quarter.

Cash, still stood at approximately 49 million at the end of April.

Uh, I will pass the microphone on to cherylyn King now to provide some additional overview comments.

Thank you, David. We continue to be very pleased with our progress on our metrics, underlying our Revenue generation.

Those include the size of our sales force.

The continued deceleration of our customer count decline rate.

fueled by our new customer Acquisitions, our stable renewal rates and our strong average spend per customer

We continue to believe these fundamentals bode well for our medium and long-term future.

also, our board yesterday has declared a dividend of 25 cents per common, share to be paid on June 16th 2025 to shareholders of record as of May 27th 2025

I will now pass it on to Franco to provide some additional details on our numbers.

Thanks Esky and good morning everyone. Uh, let me take you through our financial results for the first quarter ended, March 31st 2025 beginning with revenues, our total revenues decreased by by 4.2 million or 7.6% year-over-year and amounted to 50.8 million for the first quarter and improvement from the decrease of 8.1% reported last quarter. The year-over-year decrease in revenue is mainly attributable to the decline of our higher margin, digital media and print products. And to a lesser extent to our lower margin Digital Services products, thereby, creating some pressure on our gross profit margins

Digital revenues decreased 6.8% year-over-year and amounted to 40.7 million for the 3-month period ended, March 31st, 2025 and improvement from the decrease of 7.2% reported last quarter. The year-over-year decline was mainly attributable to a decrease in digital customer count. Partially offset by an increase in average spend per customer

To spend per customer has improved year to year, driven by some price increases.

The decline rate of revenues improved during the quarter ended March, 31st 2025 compared to the same period last year. These improvements were mainly attributable to the deceleration of the customer count decline rate fueled by an increase in new customer Acquisitions, while renewal rates remained, relatively stable, and an increase in average spend per customer due in part to the price increases.

On adjusted. But for the first quarter, it was impacted by the pressures from lower Revenue change in product. Mix continued investments in our Telus sales, force capacity and the impact of the company's share price on cash settled. Stock-based compensation expense, partially offset by price increases the efficiencies from optimization and cost of sales and reductions in other operating costs, including reductions, in our Workforce and the associated employee expenses.

As a result adjusted ibida, decrease your over year by 3.4 million or 22.3% to 11.9 million. For the first quarter, adjusted ibida, margin decreased to 23.4% compared to 27.8% for the same period last year. The revaluation of cash settled. Stock-based, compensation liabilities resulted in a recovery of 1.3 million. For the 3-month period ended. March 31st, 2025 compared to a recovery of 1.9 million for the same period last year, Revenue pressure.

And continued investments in our to Salesforce capacity. Partially offset by continued, optimizations will continue to cause some pressure on margins in upcoming quarters.

I'm adjusted capex for the first quarter. I decreased by 2.9 Million year-over-year to 11.4 million mainly due to the decrease in adjusted. But the proxy offset by the decrease in capex spend year over year.

for net income, it decreased to 5 million for the first quarter of 2025 compared to 8.4 million for the same period last year, due to lower adjustability, but the, and the increase in restructuring and other charges partially offset by decreasing income taxes for the 3, a month period ended March 31st 2025

On our Workforce, as of March, 31st 2025 it, stood and well, it decreased to 572 employees compared to 613 at the same date last year, a decrease of 6.7%. The sales force, headcount actually increased by 9 while all other headcount decreased by 50.

uh, and as David mentioned earlier, our cash on hand at the end of April, stood at approximately 49 million,

Um, as to dividends the board, has declared a cash dividend of 25 cents per common. Share payable on June 16th, 2025, to shareholders of record as of May 27th. 2025 this concludes, our formal remarks. Thank you for taking the time to join us this morning. We will now take your questions and I'll pass it back over to our operator, uh mode.

Questions from the telephone lines. If you have a question, please press star 1

You may cancel your question at any time by pressing star 2.

Please press star 1 at this time. If you have any questions,

there will be a brief pause while participants register for questions.

We thank you for your patience.

Once again, please press star 1 at this time for any questions or comments.

We have no questions registered at this time, I would not like to turn a meeting back over to David dechert.

Yes, thank you very much for your continued interest. Uh we appreciate your support and look forward to seeing you here. Uh next quarter, thanks very much. Have a good day. Bye now.

Thank you.

The conference has now ended.

Please disconnect your lines at this time and we thank you for your participation.

Q1 2025 Yellow Pages Ltd Earnings Call

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