Q2 2026 Cushman & Wakefield PLC Earnings Call

Operator 3: Good day, everyone, and welcome to the Cushman & Wakefield Q2 2026 Earnings Conference Call. All participants will be in a listen-only mode. Should you need assistance, please signal a conference specialist by pressing the star key followed by zero. After today's presentation, there will be an opportunity to ask questions. To ask a question, you may press star and then one on your touchtone phones. To withdraw your questions, you may press star and two. Please also note today's event is being recorded. I would now like to turn the conference call over to Megan McGrath, Head of Investor Relations. Ma'am, please go ahead.

Operator: Good day, everyone, and welcome to the Cushman & Wakefield Q2 2026 Earnings Conference Call. All participants will be in a listen-only mode. Should you need assistance, please signal a conference specialist by pressing the star key followed by zero. After today's presentation, there will be an opportunity to ask questions. To ask a question, you may press star and then one on your touchtone phones. To withdraw your questions, you may press star and two. Please also note today's event is being recorded. I would now like to turn the conference call over to Megan McGrath, Head of Investor Relations. Ma'am, please go ahead.

Speaker #1: Good day, everyone, and welcome to the Cushman & Wakefield second quarter 2026 earnings conference call. All participants will be in a listen-only mode. Should you need assistance, please signal a conference specialist by pressing the star key followed by zero.

Speaker #1: After today's presentation, there will be an opportunity to ask questions, to ask a question you may press star and then 1 on your touch tone phones.

Speaker #1: To withdraw your questions, you may press star and 2. Please also note today's event is being recorded. I would now like to turn the conference call over to Megan McGrath, Head of Investor Relations.

Speaker #1: Ma'am? Please go ahead.

Speaker #2: Thank you, and welcome to the Cushman & Wakefield second quarter 2026 earnings conference call. Earlier today, we issued a press release announcing our financial results for the period.

Megan McGrath: Thank you, welcome to Cushman & Wakefield Q2 2026 earnings conference call. Earlier today, we issued a press release announcing our financial results for the period. This release, along with today's presentation, can be found on our investor relations website at ir.cushmanwakefield.com. Please turn to the page in our presentation labeled Cautionary Note on Forward-Looking Statements. Today's presentation contains forward-looking statements based on our current forecasts and estimates of future events. These statements should be considered estimates only, actual results may differ materially. During today's call, we will refer to non-GAAP financial measures as outlined by SEC guidelines. Reconciliations of GAAP to non-GAAP financial measures, definitions of non-GAAP financial measures, and other related information are found within the financial tables of our earnings release in the appendix of today's presentation.

Megan McGrath: Thank you, welcome to Cushman & Wakefield Q2 2026 earnings conference call. Earlier today, we issued a press release announcing our financial results for the period. This release, along with today's presentation, can be found on our investor relations website at ir.cushmanwakefield.com. Please turn to the page in our presentation labeled Cautionary Note on Forward-Looking Statements. Today's presentation contains forward-looking statements based on our current forecasts and estimates of future events. These statements should be considered estimates only, actual results may differ materially. During today's call, we will refer to non-GAAP financial measures as outlined by SEC guidelines. Reconciliations of GAAP to non-GAAP financial measures, definitions of non-GAAP financial measures, and other related information are found within the financial tables of our earnings release in the appendix of today's presentation.

Speaker #2: This release, along with today's presentation, can be found on our investor relations website at ir dot cushman wakefield dot com. Please turn to the page in our presentation labeled Cautionary Note on Forward Looking Statements.

Speaker #2: Today's presentation contains forward-looking statements based on our current forecasts and estimates of future events. These statements should be considered estimates only and actual results may differ materially.

Speaker #2: During today's call, we will refer to non-GAAP financial measures as outlined by SEC guidelines. Reconciliations of GAAP to non-GAAP financial measures definitions of non-GAAP financial measures, and other related information are found within the financial tables of our earnings release in the appendix of today's presentation.

Speaker #2: Comparisons discussed on today's call are against the second quarter of the prior year, in local currency unless otherwise noted. And with that, I'd like to turn the call over to our CEO, Michelle MacKay.

Megan McGrath: Comparisons discussed on today's call are against the Q2 of the prior year in local currency, unless otherwise noted. With that, I'd like to turn the call over to our CEO, Michelle MacKay.

Megan McGrath: Comparisons discussed on today's call are against the Q2 of the prior year in local currency, unless otherwise noted. With that, I'd like to turn the call over to our CEO, Michelle MacKay.

Speaker #3: Thank you, Megan. And thank you, everyone, for joining us today. Our results this year demonstrated that we have hit our stride and we've gotten there fast.

Michelle MacKay: Thank you, Megan, thank you everyone for joining us today. Our results this year demonstrated that we have hit our stride, we've gotten there fast. We didn't just meet the bar this quarter, we moved it, setting several company records, including the highest Q2 total revenue in the history of the company, the highest Q2 Leasing and services revenue in the history of the company, the lowest gross debt balance in the history of the company. Along with this, we achieved our 6th consecutive quarter of double-digit Adjusted EPS growth. Back in December, at our Investor Day, we laid out our current 3-year growth plan, provided annual EPS targets. Today, just 2 quarters later, we are raising our guidance for year one. Here's what excites us most: This performance is organic, driven by a global platform with significant white space still ahead.

Michelle MacKay: Thank you, Megan, thank you everyone for joining us today. Our results this year demonstrated that we have hit our stride, we've gotten there fast. We didn't just meet the bar this quarter, we moved it, setting several company records, including the highest Q2 total revenue in the history of the company, the highest Q2 Leasing and services revenue in the history of the company, the lowest gross debt balance in the history of the company. Along with this, we achieved our 6th consecutive quarter of double-digit Adjusted EPS growth. Back in December, at our Investor Day, we laid out our current three-year growth plan, provided annual EPS targets. Today, just two quarters later, we are raising our guidance for year one. Here's what excites us most: This performance is organic, driven by a global platform with significant white space still ahead.

Speaker #3: We didn't just meet the bar this quarter; we moved it. Setting several company records, including the highest second quarter total revenue in the history of the company.

Speaker #3: The highest second quarter leasing and services revenue in the history of the company. And the lowest gross debt balance in the history of the company.

Speaker #3: Along with this, we achieved our sixth consecutive quarter of double-digit adjusted EPS growth. Back in December, at our Investor Day, we laid out our current three-year growth plan and provided annual EPS targets.

Speaker #3: Today, just two quarters later, we are raising our guidance for year one. And here's what excites us most: this performance is organic, driven by a global platform with significant white space still ahead.

Speaker #3: We are a company of builders, and our strength and foundation creates optionality for what we build next. We're expanding our footprint, scaling our service lines, and our recent growth investments are just beginning to contribute.

Michelle MacKay: We are a company of builders, our strength and foundation creates optionality for what we build next. We're expanding our footprint, scaling our service lines, our recent growth investments are just beginning to contribute. Let me give you some examples. Our Project Management business grew over 20% in the quarter, with strong growth in the Americas, APAC, and EMEA. We are scaling this business profitably using proprietary AI tools that create internal efficiencies for our teams, help our clients achieve meaningful project savings. Our Leasing business is a consistent standout. The results of pairing global strategic advisory with precise local execution. We are gaining share globally as we advise on some of the largest, most complex Leasing transactions in the world. We continue to build our platform in high-growth asset classes.

Michelle MacKay: We are a company of builders, our strength and foundation creates optionality for what we build next. We're expanding our footprint, scaling our service lines, our recent growth investments are just beginning to contribute. Let me give you some examples. Our Project Management business grew over 20% in the quarter, with strong growth in the Americas, APAC, and EMEA. We are scaling this business profitably using proprietary AI tools that create internal efficiencies for our teams, help our clients achieve meaningful project savings. Our Leasing business is a consistent standout. The results of pairing global strategic advisory with precise local execution. We are gaining share globally as we advise on some of the largest, most complex Leasing transactions in the world. We continue to build our platform in high-growth asset classes.

Speaker #3: Let me give you some examples. Our project management business grew over 20% in the quarter, with strong growth in the Americas, APAC, and EMEA.

Speaker #3: We are scaling this business profitably, using proprietary AI tools that create internal efficiencies for our teams, and help our clients achieve meaningful project savings.

Speaker #3: Our leasing business is a consistent standout. The results of pairing global strategic advisory with precise local execution. We are gaining share globally as we advise on some of the largest and most complex leasing transactions in the world.

Speaker #3: And we continue to build our platform in high-growth asset classes. Our data center work is diversified and expanding. With data center-related revenue up 83% year to date.

Michelle MacKay: Our data center work is diversified and expanding, with data center-related revenue up 83% year to date. While we have strong transactional presence, Integrated Facilities Management is actually the largest of our data center businesses, and 25% of our pipeline in the broader IFM business is now data center-related. What's exciting about all of these initiatives, and many more in process, is that we're just getting started. Year 1 of our current 3-year growth plan has confirmed we're building momentum, and we are more confident than ever in our ability to deliver strong value for our shareholders. Now, I'll turn the call over to Neil to walk you through the numbers.

Michelle MacKay: Our data center work is diversified and expanding, with data center-related revenue up 83% year to date. While we have strong transactional presence, Integrated Facilities Management is actually the largest of our data center businesses, and 25% of our pipeline in the broader IFM business is now data center-related. What's exciting about all of these initiatives, and many more in process, is that we're just getting started. Year 1 of our current 3-year growth plan has confirmed we're building momentum, and we are more confident than ever in our ability to deliver strong value for our shareholders. Now, I'll turn the call over to Neil to walk you through the numbers.

Speaker #3: And while we have strong transactional presence, integrated facilities management is actually the largest of our data center businesses, and 25% of our pipeline in the broader IFM business is now data center-related.

Speaker #3: What's exciting about all of these initiatives and many more in process is that we're just getting started. Year one of our current three-year growth plan has confirmed we're building momentum and we are more confident than ever in our ability to deliver strong value for our shareholders.

Speaker #3: Now, I'll turn the call over to Neil to walk you through the numbers.

Speaker #4: Thank you, Michelle, and good morning, everyone. As a reminder, all comparisons are against the second quarter of the prior year and in local currency.

Neil Johnston: Thank you, Michelle, and good morning, everyone. As a reminder, all comparisons are against Q2 of the prior year and in local currency. We delivered another strong quarter on both the top and bottom line. Q2 revenue was $2.8 billion, up 11%. Brokerage revenue, comprised of Leasing and Capital Markets, rose 19%, while services grew 7% and Valuation and other grew 8%. Adjusted EBITDA of $184 million was up 13% as we continue to drive operating leverage across our platform. Adjusted EPS of $0.35 rose 17%, and year-to-date Adjusted EPS of $0.50 represents 28% growth versus H1 2025, reflecting the combined impact of operational improvements and interest expense reductions. Looking at our results by geographic segment, we drove double-digit revenue growth in the Americas, APAC, and EMEA. Adjusted EBITDA in the Americas and APAC was up 23% and 17%, respectively.

Neil Johnston: Thank you, Michelle, and good morning, everyone. As a reminder, all comparisons are against Q2 of the prior year and in local currency. We delivered another strong quarter on both the top and bottom line. Q2 revenue was $2.8 billion, up 11%. Brokerage revenue, comprised of Leasing and Capital Markets, rose 19%, while services grew 7% and Valuation and other grew 8%. Adjusted EBITDA of $184 million was up 13% as we continue to drive operating leverage across our platform. Adjusted EPS of $0.35 rose 17%, and year-to-date adjusted EPS of $0.50 represents 28% growth versus H1 2025, reflecting the combined impact of operational improvements and interest expense reductions. Looking at our results by geographic segment, we drove double-digit revenue growth in the Americas, APAC, and EMEA. Adjusted EBITDA in the Americas and APAC was up 23% and 17%, respectively.

Speaker #4: We delivered another strong quarter on both the top and bottom line. Second quarter revenue was 2.8 billion dollars, up 11%. Brokerage revenue, comprised of leasing and capital markets, rose 19%, while services grew 7% and valuation in other grew 8%.

Speaker #4: Adjusted EBITDA of $184 million was up 13% as we continue to drive operating leverage across our platform. Adjusted EPS of $0.35 rose 17%, and year-to-date adjusted EPS of $0.50 represents 28% growth versus the first half of 2025, reflecting the combined impact of operational improvements and interest expense reductions.

Speaker #4: Looking at our results by geographic segment, we drove double-digit revenue growth in the Americas, APAC, and EMEA. Adjusted EBITDA in the Americas and APAC was up 23% and 17% respectively, while adjusted EBITDA in EMEA declined primarily due to the non-recurrence of FX gains in the prior year.

Neil Johnston: While Adjusted EBITDA in EMEA declined primarily due to the non-recurrence of FX gains in the prior year. Moving to revenue performance by service line, Leasing grew 27% globally, with Americas Leasing up 35%. Our Leasing growth in the Americas continued to be very broad-based, with double-digit growth across all deal sizes and strength in nearly every major market. Office Leasing remains strong, reflecting continued demand from occupiers for high-quality space. We saw particular strength in the legal, accounting, insurance, and tech sectors in key gateway markets. Industrial was also a standout performer, benefiting from robust activity across transaction sizes and continued momentum in the data center-related assignments. Chicago, New Jersey, and the West Coast are some of our strongest performing regions in industrial. Outside the Americas, APAC Leasing increased 6%, supported by solid performance in Greater China.

Neil Johnston: While adjusted EBITDA in EMEA declined primarily due to the non-recurrence of FX gains in the prior year. Moving to revenue performance by service line, Leasing grew 27% globally, with Americas Leasing up 35%. Our Leasing growth in the Americas continued to be very broad-based, with double-digit growth across all deal sizes and strength in nearly every major market. Office Leasing remains strong, reflecting continued demand from occupiers for high-quality space. We saw particular strength in the legal, accounting, insurance, and tech sectors in key gateway markets. Industrial was also a standout performer, benefiting from robust activity across transaction sizes and continued momentum in the data center-related assignments. Chicago, New Jersey, and the West Coast are some of our strongest performing regions in industrial. Outside the Americas, APAC Leasing increased 6%, supported by solid performance in Greater China.

Speaker #4: Moving to revenue performance by service line, leasing grew 27% globally, with Americas leasing up 35%. Our leasing growth in the Americas continued to be very broad-based, with double-digit growth across all deal sizes, and strength in nearly every major market.

Speaker #4: Office leasing remained strong, reflecting continued demand from occupiers for high-quality space. We saw particular strength in the legal, accounting, insurance, and tech sectors, in key gateway markets.

Speaker #4: Industrial was also a standout performer, benefiting from robust activity across transaction sizes and continued momentum in the data center-related assignments. Chicago, New Jersey, and the West Coast are some of our strongest performing regions in industrial.

Speaker #4: Outside the Americas, APAC leasing increased 6%, supported by solid performance in Greater China. In EMEA, leasing trends remained mixed, down 6% due primarily to quarterly deal timing variances and increased macroeconomic uncertainty in the region.

Neil Johnston: In EMEA, Leasing trends remain mixed, down 6%, due primarily to quarterly deal timing variances and increased macroeconomic uncertainty in the region. Turning to Capital Markets, revenue declined 1% globally following six consecutive quarters of strong growth. In the Americas, revenue was down 6%, driven primarily by industry softness in office and mid-sized multifamily transactions, where our business is more highly concentrated. Importantly, we are seeing improved momentum early in Q3. APAC and EMEA Capital Markets grew 50% and 11%, respectively, with particular strength in Singapore, Greater China, Sweden, and the Netherlands. Our services business expanded 7% globally, with Americas up 5%, EMEA up 21%, and APAC up 10%. We saw strong growth across all geographies in Project Management and Facilities Management, up 20% and 8%, respectively.

Neil Johnston: In EMEA, Leasing trends remain mixed, down 6%, due primarily to quarterly deal timing variances and increased macroeconomic uncertainty in the region. Turning to Capital Markets, revenue declined 1% globally following six consecutive quarters of strong growth. In the Americas, revenue was down 6%, driven primarily by industry softness in office and mid-sized multifamily transactions, where our business is more highly concentrated. Importantly, we are seeing improved momentum early in Q3. APAC and EMEA Capital Markets grew 50% and 11%, respectively, with particular strength in Singapore, Greater China, Sweden, and the Netherlands. Our services business expanded 7% globally, with Americas up 5%, EMEA up 21%, and APAC up 10%. We saw strong growth across all geographies in Project Management and Facilities Management, up 20% and 8%, respectively.

Speaker #4: Turning to capital markets, revenue declined 1% globally, following six consecutive quarters of strong growth. In the Americas, revenue was down 6%, driven primarily by industry softness in office and mid-sized multifamily transactions, where our business is more highly concentrated.

Speaker #4: Importantly, we are seeing improved momentum early in the third quarter. APAC and EMEA capital markets grew 50% and 11% respectively, with particular strength in Singapore, Greater China, Sweden, and the Netherlands.

Speaker #4: Our services business expanded 7% globally, with Americas up 5%, EMEA up 21%, and APAC up 10%. We saw strong growth across all geographies in project management and facilities management, up 20% and 8% respectively.

Speaker #4: Turning to our balance sheet and cash flow, we have continued to make meaningful progress on strengthening our balance sheet, ending the second quarter at three times net leverage, compared to 3.7 times a year ago.

Neil Johnston: Turning to our balance sheet and cash flow, we have continued to make meaningful progress on strengthening our balance sheet, ending Q2 at 3 times net leverage compared to 3.7 times a year ago. Since April, we have paid down an additional $150 million of debt, including $50 million of our 2028 senior secured notes announced today. This brings our cumulative debt repayment to approximately $650 million since the start of 2024. During the quarter, we also amended and extended $850 million of our term loan to 2033, repricing it 50 basis points lower to SOFR plus 225, the lowest pricing spread in our company's history. We also upsized the term loan by $350 million and concurrently redeemed an equal amount of our 2028 senior secured notes. We now have $150 million outstanding on the 2028 senior notes, which we intend to fully redeem by mid-year 2027.

Neil Johnston: Turning to our balance sheet and cash flow, we have continued to make meaningful progress on strengthening our balance sheet, ending Q2 at 3x net leverage compared to 3.7x a year ago. Since April, we have paid down an additional $150 million of debt, including $50 million of our 2028 senior secured notes announced today. This brings our cumulative debt repayment to approximately $650 million since the start of 2024. During the quarter, we also amended and extended $850 million of our term loan to 2033, repricing it 50 basis points lower to SOFR plus 225, the lowest pricing spread in our company's history. We also upsized the term loan by $350 million and concurrently redeemed an equal amount of our 2028 senior secured notes. We now have $150 million outstanding on the 2028 senior notes, which we intend to fully redeem by mid-year 2027.

Speaker #4: Since April, we have paid down an additional 150 million dollars of debt, including 50 million of our 2028 senior secured notes announced today. This brings our cumulative debt repayment to approximately 650 million dollars since the start of 2024.

Speaker #4: extended 850 million of our term loan to 2033. Repricing it 50 basis points lower to sofa plus 225. The lowest pricing spread in our company's history.

Speaker #4: We also upsized the term loan by 350 million dollars and concurrently redeemed an equal amount of our 2028 senior secured notes. We now have 150 million outstanding on the 2028 senior notes, which we intend to fully redeem by mid-year 2027.

Speaker #4: Our trailing 12-month free cash flow was $249 million, up $123 million from the same period last year, and representing a 79% conversion rate of adjusted net income, which is at the high end of our targeted 60% to 80% conversion rate.

Neil Johnston: Our trailing 12-month free cash flow was $249 million, up $123 million from the same period last year and representing a 79% conversion rate of adjusted net income, which is at the high end of our targeted 60% to 80% conversion rate. We closed the quarter with approximately $500 million in cash and cash equivalents and $1.5 billion in total liquidity. Moving to our 2026 outlook, we now expect revenue growth to be at the mid to high end of our guidance range of 6% to 8%. We are also raising our 2026 annual adjusted EPS growth target from 15% to 20% to 18% to 23%. I'll turn the call back over to Michelle.

Neil Johnston: Our trailing 12-month free cash flow was $249 million, up $123 million from the same period last year and representing a 79% conversion rate of adjusted net income, which is at the high end of our targeted 60% to 80% conversion rate. We closed the quarter with approximately $500 million in cash and cash equivalents and $1.5 billion in total liquidity. Moving to our 2026 outlook, we now expect revenue growth to be at the mid to high end of our guidance range of 6% to 8%. We are also raising our 2026 annual adjusted EPS growth target from 15% to 20% to 18% to 23%. I'll turn the call back over to Michelle.

Speaker #4: We closed the quarter with approximately $500 million in cash and cash equivalents, and $1.5 billion in total liquidity. Moving to our 2026 outlook, we now expect revenue growth to be at the mid to high end of our guidance range of 6% to 8%.

Speaker #4: We are also raising our 2026 annual adjusted EPS growth target, from 15 to 20% to 18 to 23%. Now I'll turn the call back over to Michelle.

Speaker #3: Thank you, Neil. Let me take a moment on the market backdrop. Because our performance is this quarter's story, but the market is the foundation under it.

Michelle MacKay: Thank you, Neil. Let me take a moment on the market backdrop. Our performance is this quarter's story, but the market is the foundation under it, and that foundation is solid. This market has been tested by every disruption you can name: rate volatility, shifting occupier behavior, geopolitical uncertainty, new technology. Each time it did what healthy markets do, absorb the shock, reprice, and move forward. Why? There is a deep structural demand from a diverse capital base seeking real assets. Here's what's important to understand. We're no longer talking about the traditional definition of commercial real estate, and we haven't been for quite some time. We're talking about the built world. Whether it's called commercial real estate, infrastructure, or energy, our expertise extends across the entire real asset ecosystem.

Michelle MacKay: Thank you, Neil. Let me take a moment on the market backdrop. Our performance is this quarter's story, but the market is the foundation under it, and that foundation is solid. This market has been tested by every disruption you can name: rate volatility, shifting occupier behavior, geopolitical uncertainty, new technology. Each time it did what healthy markets do, absorb the shock, reprice, and move forward. Why? There is a deep structural demand from a diverse capital base seeking real assets. Here's what's important to understand. We're no longer talking about the traditional definition of commercial real estate, and we haven't been for quite some time. We're talking about the built world. Whether it's called commercial real estate, infrastructure, or energy, our expertise extends across the entire real asset ecosystem.

Speaker #3: And that foundation is solid. This market has been tested by every disruption you can name, rate volatility, shifting occupier behavior, geopolitical uncertainty, new technology.

Speaker #3: Each time, it did what healthy markets do: absorb the shock, reprice, and move forward. Why? There is a deep structural demand from a diverse capital base seeking real assets.

Speaker #3: And here's what's important to understand: we're no longer talking about the traditional definition of commercial real estate. And we haven't been, for quite some time.

Speaker #3: We're talking about the built world. Whether it's called commercial real estate, infrastructure, or energy, our expertise extends across the entire real asset ecosystem. Subway systems and stadiums, solar panels and EV charging stations, airports and hospital systems, housing and logistics centers, and working for governments across the world.

Michelle MacKay: Subway systems and stadiums, solar panels and EV charging stations, airports and hospital systems, housing and logistics centers, working for governments across the world. The breadth of the real asset ecosystem is enormous. The real assets of any type for global companies in any industries are increasingly strategic, requiring thoughtful advice and careful management. We're convinced this market will keep growing through change. Our strategy is designed for it. It starts with clients. The world's top companies partner with us on what's foundational to their business. You don't just hand that to anyone. They hand it to a brand and a company that has earned trust for a century. That trust compounds deeper, more durable relationships, leading to expanding opportunities. Earning that trust and delivering on it doesn't happen in one office or one service line.

Michelle MacKay: Subway systems and stadiums, solar panels and EV charging stations, airports and hospital systems, housing and logistics centers, working for governments across the world. The breadth of the real asset ecosystem is enormous. The real assets of any type for global companies in any industries are increasingly strategic, requiring thoughtful advice and careful management. We're convinced this market will keep growing through change. Our strategy is designed for it. It starts with clients. The world's top companies partner with us on what's foundational to their business. You don't just hand that to anyone. They hand it to a brand and a company that has earned trust for a century. That trust compounds deeper, more durable relationships, leading to expanding opportunities. Earning that trust and delivering on it doesn't happen in one office or one service line.

Speaker #3: The breadth of the real asset ecosystem is enormous, and real assets of any type, for global companies in any industry, are increasingly strategic.

Speaker #3: Requiring thoughtful advice and careful management. We're convinced this market will keep growing through change. Our strategy is designed for it. And it starts with clients.

Speaker #3: The world's top companies partner with us on what's foundational to their business, and you don't just hand that to anyone. They hand it to a brand and a company that has earned trust for a century.

Speaker #3: And that trust compounds into deeper, more durable relationships, leading to expanding opportunities. But earning that trust and delivering on it doesn't happen in one office or one service line.

Speaker #3: It takes more than 50,000 of us at Cushman & Wakefield moving as one, across every market, connected by shared insight and a common exacting standard of execution.

Michelle MacKay: It takes more than 50,000 of us at Cushman & Wakefield moving as one across every market, connected by shared insight and a common exacting standard of execution. That's how we deliver for clients and shareholders. In 2023, we put an initial three-year plan in front of our board of directors, and we executed on it in two years. Now we're already accelerating our next plan, and our raised outlook shows it. We are builders, and we will keep proving it to you every day, every quarter, every year. Thank you to all of our employees, clients, lenders, and shareholders. With that, I'll turn the call over to questions.

Michelle MacKay: It takes more than 50,000 of us at Cushman & Wakefield moving as one across every market, connected by shared insight and a common exacting standard of execution. That's how we deliver for clients and shareholders. In 2023, we put an initial three-year plan in front of our board of directors, and we executed on it in two years. Now we're already accelerating our next plan, and our raised outlook shows it. We are builders, and we will keep proving it to you every day, every quarter, every year. Thank you to all of our employees, clients, lenders, and shareholders. With that, I'll turn the call over to questions.

Speaker #3: That's how we deliver for clients and shareholders. In 2023, we put an initial three-year plan in front of our board of directors and we executed on it in two years.

Speaker #3: Now we're already accelerating our next plan, and our raised outlook shows it. We are builders. And we will keep proving it to you. Every day, every quarter, every year.

Speaker #3: Thank you to all of our employees, clients, lenders, and shareholders. And with that, I'll turn the call over to questions.

Speaker #1: We will now begin the question and answer session. To ask a question, you may press star and then one on your touchdown phones. If you are using a speakerphone, we do ask that you please pick up the handset before pressing the keys.

Operator 3: We will now begin the question and answer session. To ask a question, you may press star and then one on your touchtone phones. If you are using a speakerphone, we do ask that you please pick up the handset before pressing the keys. To withdraw your questions, you may press star and two. In the interest of time, we do ask that you please limit yourselves to a single question and a follow-up. Again, that is star and then one to join the question queue. Our first question today comes from Julien Blouin from Goldman Sachs. Please go ahead with your question.

Operator: We will now begin the question and answer session. To ask a question, you may press star and then one on your touchtone phones. If you are using a speakerphone, we do ask that you please pick up the handset before pressing the keys. To withdraw your questions, you may press star and two. In the interest of time, we do ask that you please limit yourselves to a single question and a follow-up. Again, that is star and then one to join the question queue. Our first question today comes from Julien Blouin from Goldman Sachs. Please go ahead with your question.

Speaker #1: To withdraw your questions, you may press star and two. In the interest of time, we do ask that you please limit yourselves to a single question and a follow-up.

Speaker #1: Again, that is star and then one to join the question queue. Our first question today comes from Julian Bluen from Goldman Sachs. Please go ahead with your question.

Speaker #4: Yeah. Thank you for taking my question. I'd like to dig into those comments you made around the data center work that you're doing. It seems like you're seeing some very encouraging progress there.

Julien Blouin: Yeah. Thank you for taking my question. I'd like to dig into those comments you made around the data center work that you're doing. It seems like you're seeing some very encouraging progress there. I guess I'd be interested in just how you're thinking about growing that business. Do you think that at this point it would make sense to acquire additional capabilities, and bring on an additional platform, in that space or sort of more organically grow that business?

Julien Blouin: Yeah. Thank you for taking my question. I'd like to dig into those comments you made around the data center work that you're doing. It seems like you're seeing some very encouraging progress there. I guess I'd be interested in just how you're thinking about growing that business. Do you think that at this point it would make sense to acquire additional capabilities, and bring on an additional platform, in that space or sort of more organically grow that business?

Speaker #4: I guess I'd be interested in just how you're thinking about growing that business. Do you think that at this point, it would make sense to acquire additional capabilities and bring on an additional platform in that space, or sort of more organically grow that business?

Speaker #3: Good morning, Julian. Great question. Look, one of the most exciting things about the asset class is that we can participate in it across the life cycle of that asset.

Michelle MacKay: Good morning, Julien. Great question. Look, one of the most exciting things about the asset class is that we can participate in it across the life cycle of that asset and say, while the transactional business is strong for us right now and has been growing, the sustainable long-term potential is on the services side, and we're growing there too. As I mentioned in IFM, we're seeing a very exciting opportunity in our business. We've invested organically in expanding our sales and delivery capabilities, brought on new leadership, and expect it to be a larger driver of our growth going forward. In terms of capital allocation, the idea of either buying or bringing in some expertise in an inorganic fashion is also on the table.

Michelle MacKay: Good morning, Julien. Great question. Look, one of the most exciting things about the asset class is that we can participate in it across the life cycle of that asset and say, while the transactional business is strong for us right now and has been growing, the sustainable long-term potential is on the services side, and we're growing there too. As I mentioned in IFM, we're seeing a very exciting opportunity in our business. We've invested organically in expanding our sales and delivery capabilities, brought on new leadership, and expect it to be a larger driver of our growth going forward. In terms of capital allocation, the idea of either buying or bringing in some expertise in an inorganic fashion is also on the table.

Speaker #3: And say, while the transactional business is strong for us right now and has been growing, the sustainable long-term potential is on the services side, and we're growing there too.

Speaker #3: As I mentioned in IFM, we're seeing a very exciting opportunity in our business. We've invested organically in expanding our sales and delivery capabilities, brought on new leadership, and expect this to be a larger driver of our growth going forward.

Speaker #3: But in terms of capital allocation, the idea of either buying or bringing in some expertise in an inorganic fashion is also on the table.

Speaker #4: Got it. Thank you, that's helpful. And then, maybe digging into capital markets—I think we were a little bit surprised by the softness, relative to what we've seen reported from your peers, acknowledging those comments around mid-market and multifamily.

Julien Blouin: Got it. Thank you. That's helpful. Maybe digging into Capital Markets, I think we were surprised a little bit by the softness relative to what we've seen reported from your peers, acknowledging those comments around mid-market and multifamily. I guess that was just an area where I thought you guys had done quite a bit of hiring over the last 18 months. Does it feel like you're yet seeing the impact of that hiring? Neil, I think you mentioned sort of the momentum early in Q3. Is that specifically an improvement in multifamily? Is it broader than that?

Julien Blouin: Got it. Thank you. That's helpful. Maybe digging into Capital Markets, I think we were surprised a little bit by the softness relative to what we've seen reported from your peers, acknowledging those comments around mid-market and multifamily. I guess that was just an area where I thought you guys had done quite a bit of hiring over the last 18 months. Does it feel like you're yet seeing the impact of that hiring? Neil, I think you mentioned sort of the momentum early in Q3. Is that specifically an improvement in multifamily? Is it broader than that?

Speaker #4: I guess that was just an area where I thought you guys had done quite a bit of hiring over the last 18 months. Does it feel like you're yet seeing the impact of that hiring and then Neil, I think you mentioned sort of the momentum early in the third quarter.

Speaker #4: Is that specifically an improvement in multifamily? Is it broader than that?

Speaker #3: Fair question, Julian. Look, for the last 12 weeks, the activity has been unusually concentrated in large institutional portfolio trades and major metros. And the industry data confirms that concentration.

Michelle MacKay: Fair question, Julien. Look, for the last 12 weeks, the activity has been unusually concentrated in large institutional portfolio trades in major metros, and the industry data confirms that concentration. We have strong athletes producing in a couple of those key metros today, but our footprint there is early. We see that 12-week concentration as an anomaly, but the lesson holds either way. It's white space. Every dollar of that activity we're not yet capturing in share is share we can go win. What we can see is where we have the right athletes in place in those markets. They're proving the model. Expanding that means finding more people proven in those asset profiles and those metros who can operate inside a large, integrated global platform because the value here compounds through the cross-sell and global connectivity, not individual production.

Michelle MacKay: Fair question, Julien. Look, for the last 12 weeks, the activity has been unusually concentrated in large institutional portfolio trades in major metros, and the industry data confirms that concentration. We have strong athletes producing in a couple of those key metros today, but our footprint there is early. We see that 12-week concentration as an anomaly, but the lesson holds either way. It's white space. Every dollar of that activity we're not yet capturing in share is share we can go win. What we can see is where we have the right athletes in place in those markets. They're proving the model. Expanding that means finding more people proven in those asset profiles and those metros who can operate inside a large, integrated global platform because the value here compounds through the cross-sell and global connectivity, not individual production.

Speaker #3: We have strong athletes producing in a couple of those key metros today, but our footprint there is early. And we see that 12-week concentration as an anomaly.

Speaker #3: But the lesson holds either way. It's white space. Every dollar of that activity we're not yet capturing in share is share we can go win.

Speaker #3: What we can see is where we have the right athletes in place in those markets, they're proving the model, expanding that means finding more people, proving in those asset profiles and those metros who can operate inside a large integrated global platform.

Speaker #3: Because the value here compounds through the cross-sell and global connectivity, not individual production. The last year and a half, we've brought in about 100 people.

Michelle MacKay: The last year and a half, we've brought in about 100 people, and if you were going to model that, I would say kind of model that evenly over a year and a half, and it probably takes somewhere around 18 months from a hire to start to really see that ramp. Neil, do you want to add anything to that?

Michelle MacKay: The last year and a half, we've brought in about 100 people, and if you were going to model that, I would say kind of model that evenly over a year and a half, and it probably takes somewhere around 18 months from a hire to start to really see that ramp. Neil, do you want to add anything to that?

Speaker #3: And if you were going to model that, I would say kind of model that evenly over a year and a half. And it probably takes somewhere around 18 months from a hire to start to really see that ramp.

Speaker #3: Neil, do you want to add anything to that?

Speaker #2: Sure, Julian. As we look at the beginning of Q3 and certainly July we are encouraged by what we're seeing the strength is fairly broad.

Neil Johnston: Sure, Julien. As we look at the beginning of Q3, and certainly July, we are encouraged by what we're seeing. The strength is fairly broad. It's early in the quarter, but very pleased with what we're seeing as we move through Q3.

Neil Johnston: Sure, Julien. As we look at the beginning of Q3, and certainly July, we are encouraged by what we're seeing. The strength is fairly broad. It's early in the quarter, but very pleased with what we're seeing as we move through Q3.

Speaker #2: It's early in the quarter. But very pleased with what we're seeing as we move through Q3.

Speaker #3: It really does appear to be an air pocket, Julian.

Michelle MacKay: It really does appear to be an air pocket, Julien.

Michelle MacKay: It really does appear to be an air pocket, Julien.

Speaker #2: Yeah. Yeah.

Neil Johnston: Yeah.

Julien Blouin: Yeah.

Speaker #1: Our next question comes from Anthony Palone from JP Morgan. Please go ahead with your question.

Operator 3: Our next question comes from Anthony Paolone from J.P. Morgan. Please go ahead with your question.

Operator: Our next question comes from Anthony Paolone from JPMorgan. Please go ahead with your question.

Speaker #4: Thank you. Good morning. I'll start with services. You've kind of run that now with high single-digit revenue growth for a bit here. And so I was wondering if you can comment on how you feel about the sustainability of that revenue growth on a go-forward basis and then also just what profitability might be looking like.

Anthony Paolone: Thank you. Good morning. I'll start with services. You've kind of run that now with high single-digit revenue growth for a bit here, I was wondering if you can comment on how you feel about the sustainability of that revenue growth on a go-forward basis. Also just what profitability might be looking like. I know you don't break it out as a segment, but just any color into what's dropping to the bottom line there would be great.

Anthony Paolone: Thank you. Good morning. I'll start with services. You've kind of run that now with high single-digit revenue growth for a bit here, I was wondering if you can comment on how you feel about the sustainability of that revenue growth on a go-forward basis. Also just what profitability might be looking like. I know you don't break it out as a segment, but just any color into what's dropping to the bottom line there would be great.

Speaker #4: I know you don't break it out as a segment, but just any color into what's dropped into the bottom line there would be great.

Speaker #2: Short, Tony. You know, as we look at services, what we love about it is the resiliency of the business. So we can see the pipelines as we look out over the next 12 months.

Neil Johnston: Sure, Tony. As we look at services, what we love about it is the resiliency of the business. We can see the pipelines as we look out over the next 12 months, like what we're seeing. If we break it down into different pieces, our IFM business and our Facilities Management or Property Management businesses are performing very well globally in all markets. As you mentioned, Project Management, which tends to be slightly shorter cycle, has been exceptionally strong. In terms of margin, margins in services are exactly where we'd expect them to be. We're seeing certainly the work we did in EMEA around our design and build business has contributed to margin improvement in services in EMEA. Overall, margins are exactly where we'd like them to be.

Neil Johnston: Sure, Tony. As we look at services, what we love about it is the resiliency of the business. We can see the pipelines as we look out over the next 12 months, like what we're seeing. If we break it down into different pieces, our IFM business and our Facilities Management or Property Management businesses are performing very well globally in all markets. As you mentioned, Project Management, which tends to be slightly shorter cycle, has been exceptionally strong. In terms of margin, margins in services are exactly where we'd expect them to be. We're seeing certainly the work we did in EMEA around our design and build business has contributed to margin improvement in services in EMEA. Overall, margins are exactly where we'd like them to be.

Speaker #2: And like what we're seeing. So if we break it down into different pieces, IFM business and our facilities management, our property management businesses are performing very well globally.

Speaker #2: In all markets. And then, as you mentioned, project management, which tends to be slightly shorter cycle, has been exceptionally strong. In terms of margin, margins in services are exactly where we'd expect them to be.

Speaker #2: So we're seeing certainly the work we did in EMEA around our design and build business has contributed to margin improvement in services in EMEA.

Speaker #2: And overall, margins are exactly where we'd like them to be.

Speaker #4: Okay. And then just on capital allocation, it seems like the math points to 250 million or so of free cash flow this year. Can you talk about what you want to do with that?

Anthony Paolone: Okay. Just on capital allocation, it seems like the math points to $250 million or so of free cash flow this year. Can you talk about what you want to do with that? Because I know, Michelle, you alluded to maybe even complementing some of the data center capabilities with external growth.

Anthony Paolone: Okay. Just on capital allocation, it seems like the math points to $250 million or so of free cash flow this year. Can you talk about what you want to do with that? Because I know, Michelle, you alluded to maybe even complementing some of the data center capabilities with external growth.

Speaker #4: Because I know, Michelle, you alluded to maybe even complementing some of the data center capabilities with external growth.

Speaker #3: Yeah. Thank you for the question, Tony. We're entering a new phase of our capital allocation given the amount of substantial reduction in leverage and interest savings costs along with continued operational rigor that's resulted and will continue to result in increased free cash flow conversion.

Michelle MacKay: Yeah. Thank you for the question, Tony. We're entering a new phase of our capital allocation given the amount of substantial reduction in leverage and interest savings costs, along with continued operational rigor that's resulted and will continue to result in increased free cash flow conversion. In terms of capital allocation going forward, yes, we can continue to reduce leverage. As you know, we have a goal of reaching investment grade. We're already going to be in the mid-twos by the end of this year. Now, what's opened up to us, I would say more significantly, is we can continue to invest in organic growth more fully, which has been very successful for us, and/or we could pursue accretive M&A or even consider returning capital to shareholders. Those are all options on the table for us now.

Michelle MacKay: Yeah. Thank you for the question, Tony. We're entering a new phase of our capital allocation given the amount of substantial reduction in leverage and interest savings costs, along with continued operational rigor that's resulted and will continue to result in increased free cash flow conversion. In terms of capital allocation going forward, yes, we can continue to reduce leverage. As you know, we have a goal of reaching investment grade. We're already going to be in the mid-twos by the end of this year. Now, what's opened up to us, I would say more significantly, is we can continue to invest in organic growth more fully, which has been very successful for us, and/or we could pursue accretive M&A or even consider returning capital to shareholders. Those are all options on the table for us now.

Speaker #3: So in terms of capital allocation going forward, yes, we can continue can continue to reduce leverage as you know, we have a goal of reaching investment grade.

Speaker #3: We're already going to be in the mid-2s by the end of this year. Now what's opened up to us, I would say more significantly, is we can continue to invest in organic growth more fully, which has been very successful for us.

Speaker #3: And/or, we could pursue a creative M&A, or even consider returning capital to shareholders. Those are all options on the table for us now.

Speaker #1: Our next question comes from Stephen Sheldon from William Blair. Please go ahead with your question.

Operator 3: Our next question comes from Stephen Sheldon from William Blair. Please go ahead with your question.

Operator: Our next question comes from Stephen Sheldon from William Blair. Please go ahead with your question.

Speaker #4: Thanks. Nice work here. First, on the project management side, I think you noted 20% year-over-year growth this quarter. So I'm curious how much visibility you have into growth there.

Stephen Sheldon: Thanks. Nice work here. First, on the project management side, I think you noted 20% year-over-year growth this quarter. I'm curious how much visibility you have into growth there over the rest of the year and into early 2027, given I think a lot of those projects can last 12 to 18 months. Is that activity concentrated in certain subsectors?

Stephen Sheldon: Thanks. Nice work here. First, on the project management side, I think you noted 20% year-over-year growth this quarter. I'm curious how much visibility you have into growth there over the rest of the year and into early 2027, given I think a lot of those projects can last 12 to 18 months. Is that activity concentrated in certain subsectors?

Speaker #4: Over the rest of the year and into early 2027, given—I think a lot of those projects can last 12 to 18 months. And is that activity concentrated in certain sub-sectors?

Speaker #2: Yeah, great question, Stephen. Project management, as you say, has been very strong, up 20%. And we're seeing that broadness both in the US and internationally.

Neil Johnston: Yeah, great question, Stephen. Project Management, as you say, has been very strong, up 20%, and we're seeing that broadness both in the US and internationally. Really like what we're seeing there. It is slightly shorter duration, but you're right, some of the projects are fuller projects, so they do reoccur, and they certainly are underpinning the strength of our services business. We've built significant capabilities in that area. That's an area We put in place new management 18 months ago, both in the US and internationally. We've got a very strong operating team. It's an area that we're very excited about, and we see continued progress and continued growth in that market.

Neil Johnston: Yeah, great question, Stephen. Project Management, as you say, has been very strong, up 20%, and we're seeing that broadness both in the US and internationally. Really like what we're seeing there. It is slightly shorter duration, but you're right, some of the projects are fuller projects, so they do reoccur, and they certainly are underpinning the strength of our services business. We've built significant capabilities in that area. That's an area We put in place new management 18 months ago, both in the US and internationally. We've got a very strong operating team. It's an area that we're very excited about, and we see continued progress and continued growth in that market.

Speaker #2: So really like what we're seeing there. It is slightly shorter duration, but you're right. Some of the projects are fully a project. So they do reoccur and they certainly are underpinning the strength of our services business.

Speaker #2: We've built significant capabilities in that area. And so that's an area we put in place new management, 18 months ago, both in the US and internationally.

Speaker #2: We've got a very strong operating team. And so it's an area that we're very excited about and we see continued progress and continued growth in that market.

Speaker #3: Yeah. No, we're just underscore that with the comments I was making around capital allocation and our increased free cash flow and how successful we've been organically investing in that business.

Michelle MacKay: Yeah, no, I would just underscore that with the comments I was making around capital allocation and our increased free cash flow and how successful we've been organically investing in that business, and we will continue to do so.

Michelle MacKay: Yeah, no, I would just underscore that with the comments I was making around capital allocation and our increased free cash flow and how successful we've been organically investing in that business, and we will continue to do so.

Speaker #3: And we will continue to do so.

Speaker #4: Good to hear. And then as a follow-up, can you just remind us how you're thinking about incremental margins and both leasing and capital markets over the rest of this year and into next?

Stephen Sheldon: Good to hear. As a follow-up, can you just remind us how you're thinking about incremental margins in both Leasing and Capital Markets over the rest of this year and into next? Is there anything that would weigh on the profit flow through relative to what you've seen and kind of discussed historically in terms of incremental margins?

Stephen Sheldon: Good to hear. As a follow-up, can you just remind us how you're thinking about incremental margins in both Leasing and Capital Markets over the rest of this year and into next? Is there anything that would weigh on the profit flow through relative to what you've seen and kind of discussed historically in terms of incremental margins?

Speaker #4: Is there anything that would weigh on the profit flow through relative to what you've seen and kind of discussed historically in terms of incremental margins?

Speaker #2: No, I don't think so. Stephen, I think you've got it. We are very we remain very focused on driving margin expansion. And we're very confident in the target we put out at our investor day, which is the 150 basis points over the three-year period.

Neil Johnston: No, I don't think so, Stephen. I think you've got it. We remain very focused on driving margin expansion, and we're very confident in the target we put out at our Investor Day, which is the 150 basis points over the three-year period. If we look specifically at this year, I think two things weigh into what we've seen so far this year. First of all, we're pleased with our progress this year. We have seen margin expansion and operating leverage, so that's good to see. At the same time, we are investing to drive growth. Our growth is driven by organic growth, so very focused on balancing margin with investing in the business for future growth. Secondly, early on in the year, as others have noted, commissions were slightly higher than normal, just due to the size of leasing coming through early on in the year.

Neil Johnston: No, I don't think so, Stephen. I think you've got it. We remain very focused on driving margin expansion, and we're very confident in the target we put out at our Investor Day, which is the 150 basis points over the three-year period. If we look specifically at this year, I think two things weigh into what we've seen so far this year. First of all, we're pleased with our progress this year. We have seen margin expansion and operating leverage, so that's good to see. At the same time, we are investing to drive growth. Our growth is driven by organic growth, so very focused on balancing margin with investing in the business for future growth. Secondly, early on in the year, as others have noted, commissions were slightly higher than normal, just due to the size of leasing coming through early on in the year.

Speaker #2: If we look specifically at this year, I think two things weigh into what we've seen so far this year. First of all, we're pleased with our progress this year.

Speaker #2: We have seen margin expansion and operating leverage. So that's good to see. At the same time, we are investing to drive growth. Our growth is driven by organic growth.

Speaker #2: We're very focused on balancing margin with investing in the business for future growth. Secondly, early on in the year, as others have noted, commissions were slightly higher than normal, just due to the size of leasing coming through early in the year.

Speaker #2: That'll moderate as we go through the year. But I think those are the two specific things that impacted margin. But overall, I'm feeling very good about where we're going in the business.

Neil Johnston: That'll moderate as we go through the year. I think those are the two specific things that impacted margin. Overall feeling very good about where we're going in the business.

Neil Johnston: That'll moderate as we go through the year. I think those are the two specific things that impacted margin. Overall feeling very good about where we're going in the business.

Speaker #1: Our next question comes from Ronald Camden from Morgan Stanley. Please go ahead with your question.

Operator 3: Our next question comes from Ronald Kamdem from Morgan Stanley. Please go ahead with your question.

Operator: Our next question comes from Ronald Kamdem from Morgan Stanley. Please go ahead with your question.

Speaker #4: Hey, great. Hey, just going back to sort of the commentary on sort of the data center side, as you think about sort of that business, that growth line, have you thought about sort of breaking it out or is it still sort of makes sense to have it embedded in some of the different service lines and so forth?

Ronald Kamdem: Hey, great. Just going back to sort of the commentary on the sort of the data center side. As you think about sort of that business, that growth line, have you thought about sort of breaking it out, or does it still sort of make sense to have it embedded in some of the different service lines and so forth? Thanks.

Ronald Kamdem [Managing Director and Head of U.S. Real Estate Investment Trusts and Commercial Real Estate Researc: Hey, great. Just going back to sort of the commentary on the sort of the data center side. As you think about sort of that business, that growth line, have you thought about sort of breaking it out, or does it still sort of make sense to have it embedded in some of the different service lines and so forth? Thanks.

Speaker #4: Thanks.

Speaker #2: Yeah, Ron, it is embedded across the business, and so while we look at it, we don't break it out. I think it's helpful to understand, from an operating standpoint, where the opportunities are.

Neil Johnston: Yeah, Ron. It is embedded across the business. While we look at it, we don't break it out. I think it's helpful to understand from an operating standpoint where the opportunities are. At this point, I don't think breaking it out will add significantly to our disclosures.

Neil Johnston: Yeah, Ron. It is embedded across the business. While we look at it, we don't break it out. I think it's helpful to understand from an operating standpoint where the opportunities are. At this point, I don't think breaking it out will add significantly to our disclosures.

Speaker #2: But at this point, I don't think breaking it out will add significantly disclosures.

Speaker #4: Gotcha. And then the follow-up on the capital markets question, which it sounds like in their pocket in the quarter, but does this does a quarter like this sort of change anything in terms of the strategy?

Ronald Kamdem: Got you. The follow-up on the Capital Markets question, which it sounds like an air pocket in the quarter. Does a quarter like this sort of change anything in terms of the strategy? Do you want to hire more faster, or is it sort of like, "Hey, the market will sort of come to us as things sort of normalize?" Just sort of curious if strategically this sort of pushes you one way or the other. Thanks.

Ronald Kamdem [Managing Director and Head of U.S. Real Estate Investment Trusts and Commercial Real Estate Researc: Got you. The follow-up on the Capital Markets question, which it sounds like an air pocket in the quarter. Does a quarter like this sort of change anything in terms of the strategy? Do you want to hire more faster, or is it sort of like, "Hey, the market will sort of come to us as things sort of normalize?" Just sort of curious if strategically this sort of pushes you one way or the other. Thanks.

Speaker #4: Do you want to hire more faster? Or is it sort of like, hey, the market will sort of come to us? As things sort of normalize, just sort of curious if strategically this sort of pushes you one way or the other.

Speaker #4: Thanks.

Speaker #3: Thanks for the question. Strategically, we continue to execute on our long-term plan here. Remember, we're long-term strategic builders. And we've shown that leads to better and better performance.

Michelle MacKay: Thanks for the question. Strategically, we continue to execute on our long-term plan here. Remember, we're long-term strategic builders, and we've shown that leads to better and better performance. We are staying the course, our course, our strategy, our definition of talent. Here's the most important point. We raised guidance today, and that raise doesn't depend on this Capital Markets expansion. It's driven by the strength of the business we operate now, including our existing Capital Markets teams. Growth from the institutional portfolio build is upside beyond those numbers. Which means that we're never forced buyers of talent, and that's exactly why the Capital Markets platform will be durable when it's fully in place.

Michelle MacKay: Thanks for the question. Strategically, we continue to execute on our long-term plan here. Remember, we're long-term strategic builders, and we've shown that leads to better and better performance. We are staying the course, our course, our strategy, our definition of talent. Here's the most important point. We raised guidance today, and that raise doesn't depend on this Capital Markets expansion. It's driven by the strength of the business we operate now, including our existing Capital Markets teams. Growth from the institutional portfolio build is upside beyond those numbers. Which means that we're never forced buyers of talent, and that's exactly why the Capital Markets platform will be durable when it's fully in place.

Speaker #3: So we are staying the course. Our course our strategy our definition of talent. But here's the most important point. We raise guidance today. And that raise doesn't depend on this capital markets expansion.

Speaker #3: It's driven by the strength of the business we operate now, including our existing capital markets teams. So growth from the institutional portfolio build is upside beyond those numbers.

Speaker #3: Which means that we're never forced buyers of talent. And that's exactly why the capital markets platform will be durable when it's fully in place.

Speaker #1: Our next question comes from Mitch Jermaine from Citizens. Please go ahead with your question.

Operator 3: Our next question comes from Mitch Germain from Citizens. Please go ahead with your question.

Operator: Our next question comes from Mitch Germain from Citizens. Please go ahead with your question.

Speaker #2: Thank you very much. Michelle, I think you referenced 100 new hires. Was that just capital markets? And maybe if you can provide some perspective from a geography please?

Mitch Germain: Thank you very much. Michelle, I think you referenced 100 new hires. Was that just Capital Markets? Maybe if you can provide some perspective from a geography, please.

Mitch Germain: Thank you very much. Michelle, I think you referenced 100 new hires. Was that just Capital Markets? Maybe if you can provide some perspective from a geography, please.

Speaker #3: It's a good question. I won't give you geography, but I like that you added please. Yeah, that's I appreciate that. Thank you. It's 100 it's 100 in capital markets over the course of 18 months.

Michelle MacKay: It's a good question. I won't give you geography, but I like that you added please. Yeah. I appreciate that. Thank you. It's 100 in Capital Markets over the course of 18 months, starting in Q1 2025.

Michelle MacKay: It's a good question. I won't give you geography, but I like that you added please. Yeah. I appreciate that. Thank you. It's 100 in Capital Markets over the course of 18 months, starting in Q1 2025.

Speaker #3: Starting in first quarter of 2025.

Speaker #2: So then if I can just extend that question to where what have you been doing on the leasing side?

Mitch Germain: If I could just extend that question to what have you been doing on the Leasing side?

Mitch Germain: If I could just extend that question to what have you been doing on the Leasing side?

Speaker #3: Do we have leasing numbers here? Well, we'll come back to you on that one.

Michelle MacKay: Do we have Leasing numbers here? We'll come back to you on that one.

Michelle MacKay: Do we have Leasing numbers here? We'll come back to you on that one.

Speaker #2: No worries. Second question from me. I think you referenced—I just want to get the terminology right—deal timing variances in, um, leasing.

Mitch Germain: No worries. Second question from me. I think you referenced, I want to just kind of get the terminology, deal timing variances in EMEA Leasing. Does that suggest an acceleration in Q3?

Mitch Germain: No worries. Second question from me. I think you referenced, I want to just kind of get the terminology, deal timing variances in EMEA Leasing. Does that suggest an acceleration in Q3?

Speaker #2: Does that suggest an acceleration in the third quarter?

Speaker #4: Mitch, the way I put it is Europe is feeling the impact of the global economics and geopolitical more than other regions. Our leasing business, as you saw, was down primarily in the UK and in Ireland.

Neil Johnston: Mitch, the way I'd put it is Europe is feeling the impact of the global economics and geopolitical more than other regions. Our Leasing business, as you saw, was down primarily in the UK and in Ireland. I'm not sure that we're going to see a rapid recovery there in Q3, just because of what's weighing in that region. We certainly like what we're seeing in EMEA. The services side of the business has been exceptionally strong. Capital Markets were strong. I think that sort of helps you frame how we're thinking about EMEA.

Neil Johnston: Mitch, the way I'd put it is Europe is feeling the impact of the global economics and geopolitical more than other regions. Our Leasing business, as you saw, was down primarily in the UK and in Ireland. I'm not sure that we're going to see a rapid recovery there in Q3, just because of what's weighing in that region. We certainly like what we're seeing in EMEA. The services side of the business has been exceptionally strong. Capital Markets were strong. I think that sort of helps you frame how we're thinking about EMEA.

Speaker #4: We feel good about that business. But I'm not sure that we're going to see a rapid recovery there in Q3 just because of what's weighing in that region.

Speaker #4: But we certainly like what we're seeing in Emir. The services side of the business has been exceptionally strong. Capital markets were strong. And so I think that sort of helps you frame how we're thinking about Emir.

Speaker #1: Our next question comes from Seth Irgy from City. Please go ahead with your question.

Operator 3: Our next question comes from Seth Bergey from Citi. Please go ahead with your question.

Operator: Our next question comes from Seth Bergey from Citi. Please go ahead with your question.

Speaker #5: Hi. Thanks for taking my question. I just wanted to kind of ask on a few of the guidance pieces. You're kind of at the 79% of the free cash flow conversion kind of towards the higher range.

Seth Bergey: Hi. Thanks for taking my question. I just wanted to ask on a few of the guidance pieces. You're at 79% of the free cash flow conversion towards the higher range. I think just given where you are quarter to date, the back half implies adjusted growth of 11% to 18%. Is there anything we should be thinking about from a comps perspective in the back half? Is that what the deceleration in the back half is attributed to, or is there anything else we should be thinking about?

Seth Bergey: Hi. Thanks for taking my question. I just wanted to ask on a few of the guidance pieces. You're at 79% of the free cash flow conversion towards the higher range. I think just given where you are quarter to date, the back half implies adjusted growth of 11% to 18%. Is there anything we should be thinking about from a comps perspective in the back half? Is that what the deceleration in the back half is attributed to, or is there anything else we should be thinking about?

Speaker #5: And I think just given kind of where you are, quarter to date, the back half implies kind of adjusted growth of 11 to 18 percent.

Speaker #5: Is there anything we should be thinking about kind of from a comps perspective in the back half? Is that kind of what the deceleration in the back half is attributed to?

Speaker #5: Or is there anything else we should be thinking about?

Speaker #2: No, I don't think so. I think as we look to the full-year guide, we've raised both the full-year revenue and EPS guide. That really is primarily driven by the excellent outperformance we saw in the first half of the year and the strength we saw in leasing.

Neil Johnston: No, I don't think so. I think as we look to the full-year guide, we've raised both the full-year revenue and EPS guide, and that really is primarily driven by the excellent outperformance we saw in H1 and the strength we saw in Leasing. You are correct. As we look to the back half of the year, our guidance does contemplate more moderated growth. Our pipelines are strong. They look good. The fundamentals of the business remain strong. I think what you're seeing is us just taking a more pragmatic approach at this point in the year. We have raised the full-year guide, we're just being, as I say, more moderated as we look to the back half.

Neil Johnston: No, I don't think so. I think as we look to the full-year guide, we've raised both the full-year revenue and EPS guide, and that really is primarily driven by the excellent outperformance we saw in H1 and the strength we saw in Leasing. You are correct. As we look to the back half of the year, our guidance does contemplate more moderated growth. Our pipelines are strong. They look good. The fundamentals of the business remain strong. I think what you're seeing is us just taking a more pragmatic approach at this point in the year. We have raised the full-year guide, we're just being, as I say, more moderated as we look to the H2.

Speaker #2: You are correct as we look to the back half of the year. Our guidance does contemplate more moderated growth. But our pipelines are strong.

Speaker #2: They look good, and the fundamentals of the business remain strong. So, I think what you're seeing is us just taking a more pragmatic approach at this point in the year.

Speaker #2: We have raised the full-year guide. But we're just being we're just being as I say, more moderated as we look to the back half.

Speaker #5: Great. And then maybe just going back to kind of some of the work you've done on kind of desiloing the business. What kind of, I mean, would you say we're in there and how much more opportunity is there to kind of just drive efficiencies from that type of work?

Seth Bergey: Great. Maybe just going back to some of the work you've done on de-siloing the business. What kind of inning would you say we're in there, and how much more opportunity is there to just drive efficiencies from that type of work?

Seth Bergey: Great. Maybe just going back to some of the work you've done on de-siloing the business. What kind of inning would you say we're in there, and how much more opportunity is there to just drive efficiencies from that type of work?

Speaker #3: Brendan, do you mind to repeat the end of that question? You oh, I'm sorry. It's Seth. Can you just repeat the end of that?

Michelle MacKay: Brendan, do you mind to repeat the end of that question? Oh, I'm sorry, Seth. Can you just repeat the end of that? You broke up a bit for us.

Michelle MacKay: Brendan, do you mind to repeat the end of that question? Oh, I'm sorry, Seth. Can you just repeat the end of that? You broke up a bit for us.

Speaker #3: You broke up a bit for us.

Speaker #5: Yeah. You've talked kind of talked about driving some efficiencies across the business with the desiloing. Just kind of curious what, I mean, ending your end and how much kind of more efficiencies you're able to drive from that type of work.

Seth Bergey: Yeah. You've talked about driving some efficiencies across the business with the de-siloing. Just curious what inning you're in and how much more efficiencies you're able to drive from that type of work.

Seth Bergey: Yeah. You've talked about driving some efficiencies across the business with the de-siloing. Just curious what inning you're in and how much more efficiencies you're able to drive from that type of work.

Speaker #3: Okay. Great. I would say we're an ending out of a nine ending game. We're probably in ending seven at this point. We're starting to see some real efficiency gains.

Michelle MacKay: Okay, great. I would say we're in inning 7 out of a nine-inning game, we're probably in inning 7 at this point. We're starting to see some real efficiency gains. We're starting to connect the dots even more strongly. Even in reference to something like Capital Markets, I said that we're looking for the right kind of athletes there. We're seeing substantial cross-pollination of business into Leasing and Property Management. As we're de-siloing, I think what's important is we're also seeing a cultural shift in the way that people think about what their responsibility is to drive business across the platform and not just into their individual business line.

Michelle MacKay: Okay, great. I would say we're in inning 7 out of a nine-inning game, we're probably in inning 7 at this point. We're starting to see some real efficiency gains. We're starting to connect the dots even more strongly. Even in reference to something like Capital Markets, I said that we're looking for the right kind of athletes there. We're seeing substantial cross-pollination of business into Leasing and Property Management. As we're de-siloing, I think what's important is we're also seeing a cultural shift in the way that people think about what their responsibility is to drive business across the platform and not just into their individual business line.

Speaker #3: We're starting to connect the dots even more strongly. Even in reference to something like capital markets, I said that we're looking for the right kind of athletes there.

Speaker #3: We're seeing substantial cross-pollination of business into leasing and property management. So as we're desiloing, I think what's important is we're also seeing a cultural shift in the way that people think about what their responsibility is to drive business across the platform and not just into their individual business line.

Speaker #1: And our next question comes from Brendan Lynch from Barclays. Please go ahead with your question.

Operator 3: Our next question comes from Brendan Lynch from Barclays. Please go ahead with your question.

Operator: Our next question comes from Brendan Lynch from Barclays. Please go ahead with your question.

Speaker #5: Great. Thank you for taking my questions. I wanted to follow up on project management. It's clearly a strong contributor to revenue to services revenue.

Brendan Lynch: Great. Thank you for taking my questions. I wanted to follow up on Project Management. It is clearly a strong contributor to services revenue, and you mentioned that it was primarily through organic growth. Maybe you could discuss your broader go-to-market strategy for capturing the larger opportunity over the long term.

Brendan Lynch: Great. Thank you for taking my questions. I wanted to follow up on Project Management. It is clearly a strong contributor to services revenue, and you mentioned that it was primarily through organic growth. Maybe you could discuss your broader go-to-market strategy for capturing the larger opportunity over the long term.

Speaker #5: And you mentioned that it was primarily through organic growth. But maybe you could discuss your broader go-to-market strategy for capturing the larger opportunity over the long term.

Speaker #2: Yeah. Look, as I said earlier, it's a key focus area for us. We are looking both short-term, long-term it comes through in each of our service lines.

Neil Johnston: Look, as I said earlier, it is a key focus area for us. We are looking both short-term, long-term. It comes through in each of our service lines. We have Project Management in our Global Occupier Services business. That is a very strong business. We have Project Management in our Asset Services business in the US. We are strong both internationally and within the US. Just a big focus for us. Big opportunity comes through all the asset classes. Working on not only top-line growth, but also ensuring that the margin grows in that business, too.

Neil Johnston: Look, as I said earlier, it is a key focus area for us. We are looking both short-term, long-term. It comes through in each of our service lines. We have Project Management in our Global Occupier Services business. That is a very strong business. We have Project Management in our Asset Services business in the US. We are strong both internationally and within the US. Just a big focus for us. Big opportunity comes through all the asset classes. Working on not only top-line growth, but also ensuring that the margin grows in that business, too.

Speaker #2: So we have project management in our global occupied strategy business. That's a very strong business. We have project management in our asset services business in the US.

Speaker #2: And we are strong both internationally and within the US. So just a big focus for us, big opportunity comes through all the asset classes.

Speaker #2: And we’re working not only on top-line growth, but also ensuring that margins grow in that business too.

Speaker #5: Great, thanks. That's helpful. And maybe just to facilitate, management margins for data center services—how do they compare to the company-wide facility management margins? And how should we expect that to trend as data center exposure grows?

Brendan Lynch: Great. Thanks. That is helpful. Maybe just on Facilities Management margins, data center services, how they compare to the company-wide Facilities Management margins and how we should expect that to trend as the data center exposure grows.

Brendan Lynch: Great. Thanks. That is helpful. Maybe just on Facilities Management margins, data center services, how they compare to the company-wide Facilities Management margins and how we should expect that to trend as the data center exposure grows.

Speaker #2: Yeah. So our key focus around data centers is really moving up that value chain. We do some fairly sophisticated work with robotics for one of our clients.

Neil Johnston: Yeah. Our key focus around data centers is really moving up that value chain. We do some fairly sophisticated work with robotics for one of our clients. We are doing much more technical work, and that comes with higher margins. That's the focus of the investments we're making. That's the focus of the work that we've seen come through in data centers. It's very attractive work that we have strong capabilities in, and that is part of what's driving the improvements we're seeing.

Neil Johnston: Yeah. Our key focus around data centers is really moving up that value chain. We do some fairly sophisticated work with robotics for one of our clients. We are doing much more technical work, and that comes with higher margins. That's the focus of the investments we're making. That's the focus of the work that we've seen come through in data centers. It's very attractive work that we have strong capabilities in, and that is part of what's driving the improvements we're seeing.

Speaker #2: We are doing much more technical work. And that comes with higher margins. So that's the focus of the investments we're making. That's the focus of the work that we're seeing come through in data centers.

Speaker #2: So, it's very attractive work that we have strong capabilities in, and that is part of what's driving the improvements we're seeing.

Speaker #3: And I would just add that both in project management and data center work, it plays directly into the strategy. We put out at investor day to work up the value chain in terms of more technical services that we intend to provide.

Michelle MacKay: I would just add that both in Project Management and data center work, it plays directly into the strategy we put out at Investor Day to work up the value chain in terms of more technical services that we intend to provide. Again, reflecting back on the capital allocation questions that we've had, you're going to see that we've got more and more cash at our disposal to invest in those areas.

Michelle MacKay: I would just add that both in Project Management and data center work, it plays directly into the strategy we put out at Investor Day to work up the value chain in terms of more technical services that we intend to provide. Again, reflecting back on the capital allocation questions that we've had, you're going to see that we've got more and more cash at our disposal to invest in those areas.

Speaker #3: And again, reflecting back on the capital allocation questions that we've had, you're going to see that we've got more and more cash at our disposal to invest in those areas.

Speaker #1: And with that, ladies and gentlemen, we'll be concluding our question and answer session. I'd like to turn the floor back over to Michelle MacKay for closing remarks.

Operator 3: With that, ladies and gentlemen, we'll be concluding our question-and-answer session. I'd like to turn the floor back over to Michelle MacKay for closing remarks.

Operator: With that, ladies and gentlemen, we'll be concluding our question-and-answer session. I'd like to turn the floor back over to Michelle MacKay for closing remarks.

Speaker #3: Thank you, everyone, for your questions and your time today. And we look forward to speaking with you again on our third quarter earnings call.

Michelle MacKay: Thank you, everyone, for your questions and your time today, and we look forward to speaking with you again on our Q3 earnings call.

Michelle MacKay: Thank you, everyone, for your questions and your time today, and we look forward to speaking with you again on our Q3 earnings call.

Speaker #1: And the conference has concluded. We do thank you for joining today's presentation. You may now disconnect your lines.

Operator 3: The conference has concluded. We do thank you for joining today's presentation. You may now disconnect your lines.

Operator: The conference has concluded. We do thank you for joining today's presentation. You may now disconnect your lines.

Seth Bergey: Goodbye.

Q2 2026 Cushman & Wakefield PLC Earnings Call

Demo
CWK

Cushman & Wakefield

Earnings

Q2 2026 Cushman & Wakefield PLC Earnings Call

CWK

Wednesday, August 5th, 2026 at 1:00 PM

Transcript

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