SUSSEX, WI, August 1, 2023 — Quad/Graphics, Inc. (NYSE: QUAD) (“Quad” or the “Company”), today reported results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2023.
Recent Highlights
- Reported Net Sales of $703 million and Net Loss of $6 million in the second quarter of 2023, or $0.12 diluted loss per share.
• Achieved Adjusted EBITDA of $50 million in the second quarter of 2023 compared to Adjusted EBITDA of $56 million in the second quarter of 2022, and Adjusted EBITDA of $111 million in the first half of 2023 compared to Adjusted EBITDA of $105 million in the first half of 2022.
• Delivered Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share of $0.02 in the second quarter of 2023, compared to $0.13 in the second quarter of 2022, and in the first half of the year, delivered $0.17 Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share in both 2023 and 2022.
• Increased Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities by $24 million for the six months ended June 30, 2023, compared to the same period in 2022.
• Increased Free Cash Flow by $12 million for the six months ended June 30, 2023, compared to the same period in 2022, including $34 million of Free Cash Flow generation in the second quarter of 2023.
• Reduced Net Debt by $80 million over last 12 months to end the second quarter with a Debt Leverage Ratio of 2.34x, which is within the company’s long-term targeted leverage range of 2.0x – 2.5x.
• Returned value to shareholders by repurchasing approximately 8% of the company’s total outstanding common stock beginning in the second quarter of 2022.
• Reaffirms full-year 2023 financial guidance.
Joel Quadracci, Chairman, President and CEO of Quad, said: “Our results for the second quarter of 2023 were in line with our expectations as we continue to advance as a marketing experience, or MX, company that brings together all the resources companies need for frictionless marketing execution. Through our uniquely integrated marketing platform, we help companies reduce the complexity they experience from working with multiple agency partners and vendors; increase their marketing process efficiency; and maximize the effectiveness of their marketing efforts.
“Our ability to seamlessly connect every facet of the marketing journey is the centerpiece of our new brand campaign, Built on Quad. We launched the campaign in June in conjunction with the Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity – the premier gathering of the global advertising and creative communications industry. Our uniqueness as an MX company resonates with brands and marketers. Because we provide a better marketing experience for our clients, they can focus on delivering the best customer experience.
“While some marketers have reduced print volumes due to economic uncertainty and postage rate increases, we continue to help them through our holistic marketing solutions. As these companies contemplate where and how to invest their marketing dollars, we remain ready to meet their needs with an integrated marketing platform that easily supports their shifts in marketing spend. Printing continues to be a core part of our business, and a clear and competitive differentiator from traditional agencies. Our reputation for quality, on-time production, ongoing investments in automation and equipment, and a well-trained, skilled workforce enables us to continue to gain segment share across all categories of print.
“As always, we are committed to delivering superior service to our clients while enhancing our financial strength and creating shareholder value, including opportunistic share repurchases. We will continue to prioritize growth while improving productivity and reducing debt in 2023, consistent with our commitment to create a better, more purposeful and sustainable way forward for all our stakeholders.”
Summary Results
Results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2023, include:
- Net Sales — Net Sales were $703 million in the second quarter of 2023, a decrease of 7% compared to the same period in 2022 primarily due to lower paper and print sales, as well as the 2022 divestiture of the Company’s Argentina print operations.
- Net Loss — Net Loss was $6 million in the second quarter of 2023 compared to Net Earnings of $5 million in the second quarter of 2022. The decrease is primarily due to lower sales, higher restructuring and impairment charges from recent plant closures, increased interest expense from rising interest rates, and lower pension income, partially offset by benefits from improved manufacturing productivity and savings from cost reduction initiatives.
- Adjusted EBITDA — Adjusted EBITDA was $50 million in the second quarter of 2023 as compared to $56 million in the same period in 2022. The decrease was due to lower sales, partially offset by benefits from improved manufacturing productivity and savings from cost reduction initiatives.
- Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share — Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share was $0.02 in the second quarter of 2023, as compared to $0.13 in the second quarter of 2022, primarily due to lower adjusted net earnings and partially offset by the beneficial impact from the Company repurchasing Class A shares totaling approximately 8% of its outstanding Class A and B common stock beginning in the second quarter of 2022, at a weighted average price of $3.32 per share for a total purchase price of $15 million.
Results for the six months ended June 30, 2023, include:
- Net Sales — Net Sales were $1.5 billion in the six months ended June 30, 2023, a decrease of 2% from the same period in 2022 primarily due to lower paper sales and the divestiture of the Company’s Argentina print operations.
- Net Loss — Net Loss was $31 million in the six months ended June 30, 2023, compared to Net Earnings of $4 million in the six months ended June 30, 2022. The decrease is primarily due to lower sales, higher restructuring and impairment charges from recent plant closures, increased interest expense from rising interest rates, and lower pension income, partially offset by benefits from improved manufacturing productivity and savings from cost reduction initiatives.
• Adjusted EBITDA — Adjusted EBITDA was $111 million in the six months ended June 30, 2023, an increase of $6 million compared to the same period in 2022. This increase was primarily due to benefits from improved manufacturing productivity and savings from cost reduction initiatives, partially offset by lower sales. - Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share — Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share was $0.17 in the six months ended June 30, 2023, consistent with the six months ended June 30, 2022.
- Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities and Free Cash Flow — Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities was $0.3 million in the six months ended June 30, 2023, as compared to Net Cash Used in Operating Activities of $24 million in the same period in 2022. Free Cash Flow improved $12 million from last year to negative $45 million in the first six months ended June 30, 2023, and included $34 million of Free Cash Flow generation in the second quarter of 2023. The increase in Free Cash Flow was primarily due to lower inventory as supply chain challenges improved and strong receivables collections. The increase in Free Cash Flow was despite $12 million of increased capital expenditures as the Company continues to progress on its automation initiatives. As a reminder, the Company historically generates the majority of its Free Cash Flow in the fourth quarter of the year.
- Net Debt — Net Debt increased by $59 million to $604 million at June 30, 2023, as compared to $545 million at December 31, 2022, primarily due to the negative $45 million of Free Cash Flow in the six months ended June 30, 2023. Compared to March 31, 2023, the Company lowered the Debt Leverage Ratio by 5 basis points to 2.34x, which is within its long-term targeted leverage range of 2.0x – 2.5x.
2023 Guidance
The Company’s full-year 2023 financial guidance remains unchanged and includes:
| Financial Metric | 2023 Guidance |
| Annual Net Sales Change | 0% to 5% decline |
| Full-Year Adjusted EBITDA | $210 million to $250 million |
| Free Cash Flow | $50 million to $90 million |
| Capital Expenditures | $65 million to $75 million |
| Year-End Debt Leverage Ratio (1) | Approximately 2.0x |
(1) Debt Leverage Ratio is calculated at the midpoint of the Adjusted EBITDA guidance.
Tony Staniak, CFO of Quad, said: “We are pleased to have generated $34 million of Free Cash Flow in the second quarter, which we used to strengthen our balance sheet and repurchase an additional $5 million of Quad shares. This brings our Class A share repurchases to 8% of Quad’s total outstanding common stock over the past 13 months. Additionally, our focus on productivity improvements, cost reduction initiatives, lower inventory balances and receivables collections helped drive strong cash generation that was used to reduce debt by $80 million over the last year. We will continue enhancing our balance sheet and remain confident in our 2023 financial guidance, including decreasing our debt leverage to approximately 2.0x by the end of 2023, representing the low end of our long-term targeted debt leverage range of 2.0x-2.5x.”
Quarterly Conference Call
Quad will hold a conference call at 10 a.m. ET on Wednesday, August 2, to discuss second quarter and year-to-date 2023 results. The call will be hosted by Joel Quadracci, Quad Chairman, President & CEO, and Tony Staniak, Quad CFO. As part of the conference call, Quad will conduct a question-and-answer session.
Participants can pre-register for the webcast by navigating to https://dpregister.com/sreg/10180923/f9ed270e79. Participants will be given a unique PIN to gain access to the call on August 2, bypassing the live operator. Participants may pre-register at any time, including up to and after the call start time.
Alternatively, participants may dial in on the day of the call as follows:
• U.S. Toll-Free: 1-877-328-5508
• International Toll: 1-412-317-5424
An audio replay of the call will be posted on the Investors section of Quad’s website shortly after the conference call ends. In addition, telephone playback will also be available until September 2, 2023, accessible as follows:
• U.S. Toll-Free: 1-877-344-7529
• International Toll: 1-412-317-0088
• Replay Access Code: 5462040
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding, among other things, our current expectations about the Company’s future results, financial condition, sales, earnings, free cash flow, margins, objectives, goals, strategies, beliefs, intentions, plans, estimates, prospects, projections and outlook of the Company and can generally be identified by the use of words or phrases such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “intend,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “foresee,” “project,” “believe,” “continue” or the negatives of these terms, variations on them and other similar expressions. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results to be materially different from those expressed in or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based largely on the Company’s expectations and judgments and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are unforeseeable and beyond our control.
The factors that could cause actual results to materially differ include, among others: the impact of decreasing demand for printed materials and significant overcapacity in a highly competitive environment creates downward pricing pressures and potential under-utilization of assets; the impact of fluctuations in costs (including labor and labor-related costs, energy costs, freight rates and raw materials, including paper and the materials to manufacture ink) and the impact of fluctuations in the availability of raw materials, including paper, parts for equipment and the materials to manufacture ink; the impact of macroeconomic conditions, including inflation, rising interest rates and recessionary concerns, as well as ongoing supply chain challenges, labor availability and cost pressures, distribution challenges and the COVID-19 pandemic, have had, and may continue to have, on the Company’s business, financial condition, cash flows and results of operations (including future uncertain impacts); the impact of increased business complexity as a result of the Company’s transformation to a marketing experience company; the inability of the Company to reduce costs and improve operating efficiency rapidly enough to meet market conditions; the impact of changes in postal rates, service levels or regulations, including delivery delays; the failure to attract and retain qualified talent across the enterprise; the impact of a data-breach of sensitive information, ransomware attack or other cyber incident on the Company; the fragility and decline in overall distribution channels; the impact of digital media and similar technological changes, including digital substitution by consumers; the impact negative publicity could have on our business and brand reputation; the failure of clients to perform under contracts or to renew contracts with clients on favorable terms or at all; the impact of risks associated with the operations outside of the United States, including trade restrictions, currency fluctuations, the global economy, costs incurred or reputational damage suffered due to improper conduct of its employees, contractors or agents, and geopolitical events like war and terrorism; the failure to successfully identify, manage, complete and integrate acquisitions, investment opportunities or other significant transactions, as well as the successful identification and execution of strategic divestitures; significant investments may be needed to maintain the Company’s platforms, processes, systems, client and product technology, marketing and talent, and to remain technologically and economically competitive; the impact of the various restrictive covenants in the Company’s debt facilities on the Company’s ability to operate its business, as well as the uncertain negative impacts macroeconomic conditions may have on the Company’s ability to continue to be in compliance with these restrictive covenants; the impact of an other than temporary decline in operating results and enterprise value that could lead to non-cash impairment charges due to the impairment of property, plant and equipment and other intangible assets; the impact of regulatory matters and legislative developments or changes in laws, including changes in cyber-security, privacy and environmental laws; the impact on the holders of Quad’s class A common stock of a limited active market for such shares and the inability to independently elect directors or control decisions due to the voting power of the class B common stock; and the other risk factors identified in the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, which may be amended or supplemented by subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q or other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Except to the extent required by the federal securities laws, the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
This press release contains financial measures not prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (referred to as non-GAAP), specifically Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA Margin, Free Cash Flow, Net Debt, Debt Leverage Ratio and Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net earnings (loss) excluding interest expense, income tax expense (benefit), depreciation and amortization and restructuring, impairment and transaction-related charges. Adjusted EBITDA Margin is defined as Adjusted EBITDA divided by net sales. Free Cash Flow is defined as net cash provided by (used in) operating activities less purchases of property, plant and equipment. Debt Leverage Ratio is defined as total debt and finance lease obligations less cash and cash equivalents (Net Debt) divided by the last twelve months of Adjusted EBITDA. Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share is defined as earnings (loss) before income taxes excluding restructuring, impairment and transaction-related charges and adjusted for income tax expense at a normalized tax rate, divided by diluted weighted average number of common shares outstanding.
The Company believes that these non-GAAP measures, when presented in conjunction with comparable GAAP measures, provide additional information for evaluating Quad’s performance and are important measures by which Quad’s management assesses the profitability and liquidity of its business. These non-GAAP measures should be considered in addition to, not as a substitute for or superior to, net earnings (loss) as a measure of operating performance or to cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities as a measure of liquidity. These non-GAAP measures may be different than non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies. Reconciliation to the GAAP equivalent of these non-GAAP measures are contained in tabular form on the attached unaudited financial statements.
About Quad
Quad (NYSE: QUAD) is a $3 billion global marketing experience company that gives brands a more streamlined, impactful, flexible and frictionless way to reach their target audience via a uniquely integrated marketing platform. Quad connects every facet of the marketing journey efficiently and at scale through its innovative, data-driven offerings – from strategy and consulting to data and analytics, technology solutions, media services, creative and content solutions, and managed services. Quad provides a better marketing experience for its clients, so they can focus on delivering the best customer experience.
Quad employs approximately 15,000 people in 14 countries worldwide and serves more than 2,900 clients across the retail, publishing, consumer packaged goods, financial services, healthcare, insurance and direct-to-consumer industries. Quad is ranked as a leader in multiple industries including largest agency companies (Ad Age, #14); largest commercial printers (Printing Impressions, #2); and largest Milwaukee-area manufacturers (Milwaukee Business Journal, #1).
For more information about Quad, including its commitment to ongoing innovation, culture and social purpose, visit quad.com.
Investor Relations Contact
Don Pontes
Executive Director of Investor Relations, Quad
916-532-7074
dwpontes@quad.com
Media Contact
Claire Ho
Director of Marketing Communications, Quad
414-566-2955
cho@quad.com