Adtalem Global Education Q4 2024 Earnings Call Transcript

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Provided by Quartr
August 6, 2024

There are 8 speakers on the call.

Operator

Hello, and welcome to the Adtalem Global Education, Inc. 4th Quarter and Fiscal Year 20 24 Earnings Conference Call and Webcast. At this time, all participants are in a listen only mode. A question and answer session will follow the formal presentation. As a reminder, this conference is being recorded.

Operator

It's now my pleasure to turn the conference over to Jonathan Spitzer, Vice President, Investor Relations. Please go ahead, sir.

Speaker 1

Good afternoon, and welcome to our earnings call for the Q4 fiscal year 2024 results. On the call with me today are Steve Beard, President and Chief Executive Officer of Adtalem Global Education and Bob Phelan, Chief Financial Officer. Before I hand you over to Steve, I will, as usual, take you through legal, safe harbor and cautionary declarations. Certain statements and projections of future results made in this presentation constitute as forward looking statements that are based on current market competitive regulatory expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to vary materially. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward looking statement after this presentation, whether as a result of new information, future events, change in assumptions or otherwise.

Speaker 1

Please see our latest Form 10 ks, Form 10 Q for a discussion of risk factors that relate to forward looking statements. In today's presentation, we use certain non GAAP financial measures. We refer you to the appendix of the presentation materials available on our Investor Relations website for reconciliations to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures and related information. You will find a link to the webcast on our Investor Relations website at investors. Attalum.com.

Speaker 1

After this call, the presentation webcast will be archived on the website for 30 days. I will now hand you over to Steve.

Speaker 2

Thanks, Jay. Good afternoon, everyone, and welcome to Atalem's 4th quarter and fiscal year 2024 earnings call. This year, we expanded our reach and amplified our impact through successful execution against our growth with purpose strategy. We've accelerated our strategic initiatives, achieved significant operational milestones, and exceeded the 2024 financial targets we set during our June 2023 Investor Day. We're encouraged by our results, our growth trajectory, and by the substantial impact we're making as a national leader in postsecondary higher education and the leading provider of professional talent to US health care.

Speaker 2

As we reflect on fiscal 24 2024, I'd like to note the following specific highlights. We further integrated our 5 institutions, creating a more efficient operating model with durable synergies, attractive profitability and real operating leverage. Our data driven marketing strategies have enhanced brand awareness, producing double digit growth in enterprise increase for the fiscal year. We utilized economies of scale to boost student facing investments, while maintaining an attractive adjusted EBITDA operating margin profile. Total enrollment returned to growth in the Q1 and consistently improved throughout the year, returning to pre pandemic levels and ending the year with a 10% year over year increase for the Q4.

Speaker 2

Our revenue for the year was $1,580,000,000 up 9.2% year over year. We delivered an adjusted EBITDA margin of approximately 24%, resulting in adjusted earnings per share of $5.01 an increase of 19% year over year. Finally, we strengthened our financial position, generating $239,000,000 in free cash flow and returning $261,000,000 in capital to our shareholders. From here, I'd like to turn to our segments. Chamberlain University, the nation's leading nursing school, continues to enhance its national presence through a diverse range of nursing programs and learning modalities, achieving a notable 10.4% increase in total enrollment this quarter.

Speaker 2

We're actively expanding our online Bachelor of Science in Nursing option, while making strategic investments to enhance capacity and program offerings at our physical locations. In July, we proudly opened our new relocated Phoenix campus capable of accommodating nearly 1100 students. This campus features a modernized learning environment, including an expansive simulation lab. In addition, the campus is also designed to house a physician assistance program that would represent our 2nd location for this in demand field. Today, we're excited to announce our plan to enter the Kansas City market with our 24th Chamberlain location, which will serve approximately 550 students.

Speaker 2

Our extensive campus footprint combined with flexible online and hybrid pathways positions Chamberlain as a leader in delivering education to students in a way that aligns with their individual learning preferences. We're further expanding our practice ready specialty focus program through a new partnership with the American Association of Critical Care Nurses. Beginning in January of 2025 this collaboration will provide an in-depth introduction to caring for acutely and critically ill patients and their families. The AACN partnership marks our 5th marquee specialization, addressing critical workforce needs identified by industry leaders. Since the launch of practice ready specialty focused programs in January 2022, we've enrolled over 2,000 BSN students with more than 650 successfully completing specialty clinical tracks.

Speaker 2

Now turning to Walden University. Our go to market strategy, commitment to operational excellence, and focus on flexible distance learning for working adults have resulted in another quarter of impressive enrollment, reflecting at 11.3% increase year over year. Our ongoing operational improvements and the implementation of industry leading technology are not only attracting new students, but also driving high persistence rates. By prioritizing a seamless student experience through tech enabled enhancements in areas such as enrollment, virtual classrooms, student support platforms, and advising methods, we remain confident in Walden's position as a leader in digital learning for working professionals. The latest addition to our tech enabled enhancements is the launch of our newly redesigned Walden website, which offers students a more streamlined navigation experience.

Speaker 2

Walden remains a leader in addressing nursing labor shortages, ranking as the 2nd largest producer of Master of Science in Nursing graduates in the country, just behind its sister university, Chamberlain. Additionally, we're making significant strides in tackling the mental health crisis through our comprehensive counseling, psychology, social work and human services programs. Furthermore, our TiVo program, which is competency based, has experienced double digit enrollment growth each quarter this year. Our Believe in Achieve scholarship designed to provide financial clarity and reward persistence has had over 25,000 participants since its launch. These initiatives, along with our continued technological advancements, contribute to our confidence in Walden's promising growth trajectory.

Speaker 2

With respect to the medical and veterinary segment, we're making significant progress at our medical schools as we work to return to year over year growth. Our remediation plans are starting to yield positive results as evidenced by the improved enrollment trends for the May student intake. Our newly established leadership team remains dedicated to implementing initiatives and identify opportunities to enhance our institutions and improve the enrollment journey for prospective students. We continue to see strong interest in Ross Med's clinical return home program. Additionally, students enrolled in the 1st cohort of capstone, a Ross Med elective, have achieved promising academic outcomes on USMLE Step 1, prompting us to incorporate its insights into our basic sciences curriculum.

Speaker 2

Ross Vet is operating near capacity. In May, we celebrated our annual commencement graduating nearly 400 new doctors of veterinary medicine. In the most recently reported academic year, 2022, Ross Fed accounted for approximately 9% of all DBM graduates in the United States. Looking ahead, we anticipate that total enrollment trends in our medical and veterinary segment will continue to improve in fiscal year 2025. We expect that our growth with purpose strategy with its focus on operational excellence will continue to drive top and bottom line results.

Speaker 2

We expect fiscal year 2025 to be another record year, with projected revenue of $1,660,000,000 to $1,700,000,000 and adjusted earnings per share of $5.60 to $5.85 Before I hand the call over to Bob for a detailed financial overview, I'd like to thank our nearly 10,000 colleagues who come to work every day with the goal of making Adtalem a force for good. I continue to be awestruck by your dedication and unwavering commitment to serving our students, driving remarkable outcomes, and making a positive impact on society. And with that, I'll turn the call over to Bob.

Speaker 3

Thank you, Steve, and hello, everyone. Our 4th quarter and full year results highlight our sustainable momentum and trajectory. Returns against our Growth With Purpose strategic initiatives are amplifying our total enrollment growth and delivering enhanced leverage through our disciplined operational performance. In turn, we achieved strong top and bottom line growth for the quarter the year as well as yielded robust cash generation. We not only achieved financial and operational results ahead of our initial expectations set heading into the year, but we also exceeded our most recent updated guidance range.

Speaker 3

I'll begin with a review of our financial results and key drivers for our performance in the Q4 and the full year. Later in my remarks, I will discuss our expectations and assumptions for fiscal year 2025. Starting with the top line. Revenue in the 4th quarter increased by 12.4% to $409,900,000 driven by growth in all three segments, in particular through accelerated enrollment growth at Chamberlain and Walden. For the full year, revenue was $1,580,000,000 up 9.2%.

Speaker 3

Our enrollment growth trend sequentially improved every quarter throughout the year across all three segments as Growth With Purpose initiatives and our marketing investments generated their intended returns. During the quarter, consolidated adjusted EBITDA came in at $97,400,000 up 16.9% compared to the prior year from growth in all three segments. This growth was led by Chamberlain and Walden and resulted in an adjusted EBITDA margin of 23.8 percent, a 100 basis point increase from last year. Adjusted operating income was $80,100,000 up 14.6% compared to the prior year as revenue growth and efficiencies generated operational leverage. Looking at the full year, adjusted EBITDA was $377,500,000 an increase of 9.9% compared with the prior year.

Speaker 3

We continued to achieve a high adjusted EBITDA margin of 23.8%, meeting our fiscal year goal as we optimally balanced our long term growth investments with our more efficient, integrated and scaled operational foundation across our 3 segments in home office. Fiscal year 2024 adjusted operating income was 308 $800,000 up 7.4% compared to the prior year. Adjusted net income for the quarter was $52,800,000 with adjusted earnings per share of $1.37 For the full year, adjusted net income increased by 5% to $201,800,000 resulting in an adjusted earnings per share of $5.01 a 19% increase compared with the prior year as adjusted operating income growth and lower diluted shares outstanding was partially offset by higher net interest expense and a higher effective tax rate. Diluted shares outstanding were approximately 5 point 3,000,000 lower this year at 40,300,000 as we returned a total of $261,000,000 of capital to shareholders through open market share repurchases at an average cost basis of $47.96 per share for the year, actions that we believe have increased long term intrinsic value for the benefit of our shareholders. Next, I'll discuss Q4 financial highlights by segment.

Speaker 3

Chamberlain reported 4th quarter revenue of $167,000,000 an increase of 15.6 percent when compared with the prior year driven primarily by growth in enrollments. Total student enrollment during the quarter increased 10.4% compared to the prior year, a 6th consecutive quarter of both pre licensure and post licensure nursing program growth. We continue to rapidly expand our pre licensure BSN online option, now offered in 34 states, growing over triple digits year over year, expanding access to nursing education for students who previously had limited or no traditional local options available. Adjusted EBITDA increased by 15.1% to $47,300,000 for the 4th quarter. Adjusted EBITDA margin of 28.3% was 10 basis points lower than the prior year as our underlying operational leverage was offset by investments in marketing, student support services to enhance academic outcomes, higher employee benefit costs tied to our performance and higher provision for bad debt.

Speaker 3

Our student facing investments are creating a more seamless student experience, enhancing our differentiation and market leading position. Taken together with our marketing investments, we believe that we are expanding our top nursing education position. Turning to Walden. 4th quarter revenue

Speaker 4

3

Speaker 3

Total student enrollment accelerated in the quarter, up 11.3% compared to the prior year from robust enrollment across degree levels and continued high persistence rates. The strong enrollment growth was led by social and behavioral health and nursing programs with non healthcare programs also up in the quarter. Adjusted EBITDA increased by 16.6 percent to $41,100,000 Adjusted EBITDA margin expanded by 70 basis points versus the prior year to 26.3% as our transformation and efficiencies generate operational leverage, which is being balanced with an increased level of investments and new student support commensurate with the strong growth in new enrollments. Our operational focus continues to afford us the ability to invest for future growth at Walden. For the Medical and Veterinary segment, revenue in the 4th quarter increased 5.4% to $86,600,000 Total student enrollment decreased 2.9% compared with the prior year as our plans remain on track at the medical schools and Ross Vet continues to operate near capacity.

Speaker 3

Adjusted EBITDA increased by 12.3 percent to 16 point expanded by 120 basis points versus the prior year to 19% from revenue growth and our operational focus. Shifting the cash flow and the balance sheet. We continue to enhance our financial strength through robust cash generation. Fiscal year 2024 free cash flow was $239,000,000 a $70,000,000 increase versus last year, inclusive of year over year increases in investments. Strong performance and working capital improvements drove the increase in free cash flow, while we continue to increase our planned investments in student facing technologies and our physical expansion.

Speaker 3

Our balance sheet remains healthy ending the year with $219,000,000 in cash and a low adjusted EBITDA net leverage of 1.2x. Our top priority remains to reinvest into our institutions as we aim to achieve optimal capacity and deliver positive student outcomes. We'll thoughtfully strengthen our balance sheet, while we also continue a balanced approach to capital allocation. We exited fiscal year 2024 strong as our growth with purpose initiatives generate tangible returns. We are creating sustainable momentum off a higher total enrollment base heading into fiscal year 2025.

Speaker 3

As we continue to execute and accelerate performance, we are initiating fiscal year 2025 guidance, which exceeds our June 2023 Investor Day targets. Revenue in the range of $1,660,000,000 to $1,700,000,000 approximately 5 percent to 7.5% growth year over year with adjusted earnings per share in the range of $5.60 to $5.85 approximately 12% to 17% growth year over year. We plan to continue to make incremental growth investment primarily into student facing technology and marketing with revenue growth in fiscal year 'twenty five growing faster than the level of year over year investments, resulting in an approximate 100 basis points adjusted EBITDA margin expansion from enhanced operational leverage. To capture the current external market opportunities and to expand our reach through inclusive education access, we are investing more into marketing during the Q1. We anticipate a slightly higher level of total revenue growth during the first half of the year compared to the second half.

Speaker 3

Though we expect fiscal year 2025 total revenue growth to be more balanced compared to the accelerating revenue growth we had seen throughout fiscal year 2024. Included within our guidance are the capital allocation actions from fiscal year 2024 as well as our continued strong cash flow generation. Finally, we anticipate a normalized adjusted effective tax rate of approximately 22%. In conclusion, we are well positioned to continue to make a positive outsized impact on U. S.

Speaker 3

Healthcare. Our Growth With Purpose strategy is amplifying our trajectory, growing enrollments through expanding access. As we continue to deliver outstanding student outcomes, the number of healthcare focused graduates coming from an Adtalem institution will continue to grow, poised to have positive societal impacts for decades to come. With that, I will now turn the call over to the operator for Q and A.

Operator

Thank you. We'll now be conducting a question and answer session. Our first question today is coming from Jeff Silber from BMO Capital Markets. Your line is now live.

Speaker 5

Hey, thank you so much. This is Ryan on for Jeff. Just curious to how much the admissions growth was driven by marketing spend? And then will you still be able to get leverage in FY 'twenty five if you slow down that spend and achieve margin expansion? Thank you.

Speaker 4

Well, I think the overall total enrollment gains were driven by combination of new enrollment and persistence. And as a result, the persistence portion of that wouldn't be impacted by marketing. We think we've got real momentum on the heels of the brand campaigns we did last year to sustain that kind of enrollment growth without material investments in marketing beyond the ordinary course refreshing of our campaigns.

Speaker 5

Got it. And then just for my follow-up, can you give any comments on the pricing environment? It looks like you've been successful in bringing up the tuition rates there and was just curious how we should think about that and the competitive environment in 2025? Thank you.

Speaker 4

Yes. Price optimization is one of the core disciplines we've begun to adhere to as part of our growth with purpose strategy. And by optimization, that can mean taking price where we have pricing power. It also means potentially taking price down where we think we're not priced competitively. And so we, along with our teams each of the three segments, review that on a regular basis and make adjustments accordingly to ensure that we're competitive in the marketplace and can take more than our fair share from the large pool of aspiring students for our programs.

Speaker 5

Got it. And just to confirm, we should still be using 100 basis points of adjusted EBITDA margin expansion this year?

Speaker 4

That's correct.

Speaker 5

Okay. Thank you very much. Of

Operator

course. Thank you. Our next question is coming from Steven Pollack from Baird. Your line is now live.

Speaker 6

Yes. Thank you. How would you characterize the current demand environment relative to a more normalized view? And I guess the reason I'm asking is, I think there was still some catch up as hospitals and clinical capacities were normalized post COVID. So just how would you characterize the environment relative to a more normal environment?

Speaker 4

Just want to make sure

Speaker 6

On the demand side?

Speaker 4

Your question, are you talking about the demand environment for clinicians or the demand environment for students in these programs?

Speaker 6

For students.

Speaker 4

So our view is that the demand environment for students normalized last year. There was a one time reset in the wake of COVID, which had I think real impact on undergraduate enrollments across all of higher ed. But I think we've ed. But I think we've been operating

Operator

in a normalized demand environment for at least the last year. And what we've

Speaker 4

been really gratified by is our ability to take share in that normalized demand environment. That's something we expect to continue to do into fiscal 2025.

Speaker 6

Okay. And then on within the guidance range, any color you can provide on sort of what puts and takes would put you at the higher or lower end of that range?

Speaker 7

Sure. What I would tell you is that, right now we're basing this on what we see the visibility on our enrollments to the extent that our enrollments come in stronger in September in particular, that would be one of the things we'll be looking at closely for future guidance in terms of what the rest of the year will look like. Obviously, the first period that you get into in September is really important for setting yourself up for the rest of the year.

Speaker 5

All right. Thank you.

Operator

Thank you. We've reached the end of our question and answer session. I'd like to turn the floor back over to management for any further or closing comments. I want to

Speaker 4

thank everyone for joining us on the call. Thank you for all of your support in fiscal 'twenty four. We look forward to a record setting fiscal 'twenty five and we'll talk to you next quarter. Thank you.

Operator

Thank you. That does conclude today's teleconference and webcast. You may disconnect your line at this time and have a wonderful day.

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Earnings Conference Call
Adtalem Global Education Q4 2024
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