STAGWELL INC. (NASDAQ: STGW) REPORTS RESULTS FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2025

Q1 YoY Revenue Decline of 3%, Q1 YoY Net Revenue Growth of 6%

Q1 YoY Net Revenue Growth excluding Advocacy of 9%, Digital Transformation Net Revenue ex. Advocacy Growth of 15%

Q1 Net Loss Attributable to Stagwell Inc. Common Shareholders of $3 million; Q1 Adjusted EBITDA of $81 million; Adjusted EBITDA Margin of 14%

Q1 EPS of $(0.04); Adjusted EPS of $0.12

Net New Business of $130 million in Q1; LTM Net New Business of $446 million

Reiterate Guidance for 2025 of Total Net Revenue Growth of ~8%; Adjusted EBITDA of $410 million to $460 million; Free Cash Flow Conversion in excess of 45%

NEW YORK, May 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — (NASDAQ: STGW) – Stagwell Inc. (“Stagwell”) today announced financial results for the quarter and three months ended March 31, 2025.

FIRST QUARTER RESULTS:

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STAGWELL INC. (NASDAQ: STGW) REPORTS RESULTS FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2025
STAGWELL INC. (NASDAQ: STGW) REPORTS RESULTS FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2025

Q1 Revenue of $652 million, a decrease of 3% versus the prior year period;
Q1 Revenue ex. Advocacy of $610 million, an increase of 1% versus the prior year period;
Q1 Net Revenue of $564 million, an increase of 6% versus the prior year period;
Q1 Net Revenue ex. Advocacy of $535 million, an increase of 9% versus the prior year period;
Q1 Net Loss attributable to Stagwell Inc. Common Shareholders of $3 million versus $1 million in the prior year period;
Q1 Adjusted EBITDA of $81 million, a decrease of 11% versus the prior year period;
Q1 Adjusted EBITDA Margin of 14% on net revenue;
Q1 Earnings Per Share Attributable to Stagwell Inc. Common Shareholders of $(0.04) versus $(0.01) in the prior year period;
Q1 Adjusted Earnings Per Share attributable to Stagwell Inc. Common Shareholders of $0.12 versus $0.16 in the prior year period;
Net new business of $130 million in the first quarter, last twelve-month net new business of $446 million

See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below for explanations and reconciliations of the Company’s non-GAAP financial measures.

Mark Penn, Chairman and CEO of Stagwell, said, “Despite the macro noise from tariffs, Stagwell’s first quarter results were in-line with our expectations, setting us up for a strong year ahead. Q1 is a low point in the political cycle and yet we delivered solid growth in the quarter, led by double-digit increases in our Digital Transformation, Creativity and Stagwell Marketing Cloud capabilities. We hit a record $130M of net new business and, consequently, we remain optimistic about our outlook for the rest of the year.”

Frank Lanuto, Chief Financial Officer, commented: “Stagwell delivered solid first quarter results. We reported 9% total net revenue growth excluding advocacy, while posting $81 million in adjusted EBITDA as we effectively managed costs. Additionally, we have made significant progress in simplifying our capital structure and refinancing our revolving credit facility. Our results and these actions position us well for the year ahead.”  

Financial Outlook

2025 financial guidance is reiterated as follows:

Total Net Revenue growth of approximately 8%
Adjusted EBITDA of $410 million to $460 million
Free Cash Flow Conversion in excess of 45%
Adjusted EPS of $0.75 – $0.88
Guidance includes anticipated impact from acquisitions or dispositions.

* The Company has excluded a quantitative reconciliation with respect to the Company’s 2025 guidance under the “unreasonable efforts” exception in Item 10(e)(1)(i)(B) of Regulation S-K. See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below for additional information.

Video Webcast

Management will host a video webcast on Thursday, May 8, 2025, at 8:30 a.m. (ET) to discuss results for Stagwell Inc. for the quarter and three months ended March 31, 2025. The video webcast will be accessible at https://bit.ly/436rkSP. An investor presentation has been posted on our website at www.stagwellglobal.com and may be referred to during the webcast.

A recording of the webcast will be accessible one hour after the webcast and available for ninety days at www.stagwellglobal.com.

Stagwell Inc.

Stagwell is the challenger network built to transform marketing. We deliver scaled creative performance for the world’s most ambitious brands, connecting culture-moving creativity with leading-edge technology to harmonize the art and science of marketing. Led by entrepreneurs, our specialists in 45+ countries are unified under a single purpose: to drive effectiveness and improve business results for their clients. Join us at www.stagwellglobal.com.

Contacts

For Investors:Ben Allanson
[email protected]

For Press:Beth Sidhu
[email protected]

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

In addition to its reported results, Stagwell Inc. has included in this earnings release certain financial results that the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) defines as “non-GAAP Financial Measures.” Management believes that such non-GAAP financial measures, when read in conjunction with the Company’s reported results, can provide useful supplemental information for investors analyzing period to period comparisons of the Company’s results. Such non-GAAP financial measures include the following:

(1) Net New Business: Estimate of annualized revenue for new wins less annualized revenue for losses incurred in the period.

(2) Adjusted EBITDA: defined as Net income excluding non-operating income or expense to achieve operating income, plus depreciation and amortization, stock-based compensation, deferred acquisition consideration adjustments, and other items. Other items include restructuring costs, acquisition-related expenses, and non-recurring items.

(3) Adjusted Diluted EPS is defined as (i) Net income (loss) attributable to Stagwell Inc. common shareholders, plus net income attributable to Class C shareholders, excluding amortization expense, impairment and other losses, stock-based compensation, deferred acquisition consideration adjustments, discrete tax items, and other items, divided by (ii) (a) the per weighted average number of common shares outstanding plus (b) the weighted average number of Class C shares outstanding, (if dilutive). Other items includes restructuring costs, acquisition-related expenses, and non-recurring items, and subject to the anti-dilution rules.

(5) Free Cash Flow: defined as Adjusted EBITDA less capital expenditures, change in net working capital, cash taxes, interest, and distributions to minority interests, but excludes contingent M&A payments. Free Cash Flow Conversion is the percentage of adjusted EBITDA.

Included in this earnings release are tables reconciling reported Stagwell Inc. results to arrive at certain of these non-GAAP financial measures.

This document contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). The Company’s representatives may also make forward-looking statements orally or in writing from time to time. Statements in this document that are not historical facts, including, statements about the Company’s beliefs and expectations, future financial performance, growth, and future prospects, the Company’s strategy, business and economic trends and growth, technological leadership and differentiation, potential and completed acquisitions, anticipated and actual operating efficiencies and synergies and estimates of amounts for redeemable noncontrolling interests and deferred acquisition consideration, constitute forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements, which are generally denoted by words such as “ability,” “aim,” “anticipate,” “assume,” “believe,” “build,” “consider,” “continue,” “could,” “develop,” “drive,” “estimate,” “expect,” “focus,” “forecast,” “future,” “guidance,” “intend,” “likely,” “maintain,” “may,” “ongoing,” “opportunity,” “outlook,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “probable,” “project,” “seek,” “should,” “target,” “will,” “would” or the negative of such terms or other variations thereof and terms of similar substance used in connection with any discussion of current plans, estimates and projections are subject to change based on a number of factors, including those outlined in this section. 

Forward-looking statements in this document are based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by the Company. Although the management of the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. The material assumptions upon which such forward-looking statements are based include, among others, assumptions with respect to general business, economic and market conditions, the competitive environment, anticipated and unanticipated tax consequences and anticipated and unanticipated costs. These forward-looking statements are based on current plans, estimates and projections, and are subject to change based on a number of factors, including those outlined in this section. These forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties, many of which are outside the Company’s control. Therefore, you should not place undue reliance on such statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly any of them in light of new information or future events, if any.

Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. Such risk factors include, but are not limited to, the following:

risks associated with international, national and regional unfavorable economic conditions, including the effect of changing tariff and other trade policies, inflation and other macroeconomic factors that could affect the Company or its clients;
demand for the Company’s services, which may precipitate or exacerbate other risks and uncertainties;
inflation and actions taken by central banks to counter inflation;
the Company’s ability to attract new clients and retain existing clients;
the impact of a reduction in client spending and changes in client advertising, marketing and corporate communications requirements;
financial failure of the Company’s clients;
the Company’s ability to retain and attract key employees;
the Company’s ability to compete in the markets in which it operates;
the Company’s ability to achieve its cost saving initiatives;
the Company’s implementation of strategic initiatives;
the Company’s ability to remain in compliance with its debt agreements and the Company’s ability to finance its contingent payment obligations when due and payable, including but not limited to those relating to redeemable noncontrolling interests and deferred acquisition consideration;
the Company’s ability to manage its growth effectively;
the Company’s ability to identify and complete acquisitions or other strategic transactions that complement and expand the Company’s business capabilities and successfully integrate newly acquired businesses into the Company’s operations, retain key employees, and realize cost savings, synergies and other related anticipated benefits within the expected time period;
the Company’s ability to identify and complete divestitures and to achieve the anticipated benefits therefrom;
the Company’s ability to develop products incorporating new technologies, including augmented reality, artificial intelligence, and virtual reality, and realize benefits from such products;
the Company’s use of artificial intelligence, including generative artificial intelligence;
adverse tax consequences for the Company, its operations and its stockholders, that may differ from the expectations of the Company, including that future changes in tax laws, potential increases to corporate tax rates in the United States and disagreements with tax authorities on the Company’s determinations that may result in increased tax costs;
adverse tax consequences in connection with the business combination that formed the Company in August 2021, including the incurrence of material Canadian federal income tax (including material “emigration tax”);
the Company’s ability to maintain an effective system of internal control over financial reporting, including the risk that the Company’s internal controls will fail to detect misstatements in its financial statements;
the Company’s ability to accurately forecast its future financial performance and provide accurate guidance;
the Company’s ability to protect client data from security incidents or cyberattacks;
economic disruptions resulting from war and other economic and geopolitical tensions (such as the ongoing military conflicts between Russia and Ukraine and in the Middle East), terrorist activities, natural disasters, public health events and tariff and trade policies;
stock price volatility; and
foreign currency fluctuations.

Investors should carefully consider these risk factors, other risk factors described herein, and the additional risk factors outlined in more detail in our 2024 Form 10-K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on March 11, 2025, and accessible on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov, under the caption “Risk Factors,” and in the Company’s other SEC filings.

SCHEDULE 1

STAGWELL INC.

UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(amounts in thousands, except per share amounts)

Three Months Ended March 31,

2025

2024

Revenue

$         651,740

$         670,059

Operating Expenses

Cost of services

412,087

444,526

Office and general expenses

179,362

163,343

Depreciation and amortization

42,006

34,836

Impairment and other losses

1,500

633,455

644,205

Operating Income

18,285

25,854

Other income (expenses):

Interest expense, net

(23,356)

(20,965)

Foreign exchange, net

1,220

(2,258)

Other, net

249

(1,267)

(21,887)

(24,490)

Income (loss) before income taxes and equity in earnings of non-consolidated affiliates

(3,602)

1,364

Income tax expense

1,722

2,585

Loss before equity in earnings of non-consolidated affiliates

(5,324)

(1,221)

Equity in income (loss) of non-consolidated affiliates

(1)

508

Net loss

(5,325)

(713)

Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling and redeemable noncontrolling interests

2,408

(569)

Net loss attributable to Stagwell Inc. common shareholders

$            (2,917)

$            (1,282)

Loss Per Common Share:

   Basic

$              (0.03)

$              (0.01)

   Diluted

$              (0.04)

$              (0.01)

Weighted Average Number of Common Shares Outstanding:

   Basic

112,088

112,633

   Diluted

263,737

116,405

SCHEDULE 3

STAGWELL INC.

UNAUDITED SEGMENT OPERATING RESULTS

(amounts in thousands)

For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2025

Integrated
Agencies
Network

Brand
Performance
Network

Communications
Network

All Other

Corporate

Total

Net Revenue

$    325,794

$        146,858

$                 66,998

$    24,537

$              —

$     564,187

Billable costs

51,560

15,360

20,630

3

87,553

Revenue

377,354

162,218

87,628

24,540

651,740

Billable costs

51,560

15,360

20,630

3

87,553

Staff costs

199,882

96,450

44,577

15,455

11,898

368,262

Administrative costs

31,644

23,407

10,174

8,225

1,659

75,109

Unbillable and other costs, net

17,099

15,458

490

7,187

40,234

Adjusted EBITDA (1)

77,169

11,543

11,757

(6,330)

(13,557)

80,582

Stock-based compensation

4,145

1,368

693

229

5,108

11,543

Depreciation and amortization

21,364

7,722

5,175

4,301

3,444

42,006

Deferred acquisition consideration

5,863

(1,282)

1,213

863

6,657

Other items, net (1)

(2,246)

3,654

128

311

244

2,091

Operating income (loss)

$      48,043

$                  81

$                    4,548

$  (12,034)

$    (22,353)

$       18,285

(1)

See Non-GAAP Financial Measures section above for the definition of Adjusted EBITDA and Other items, net.

SCHEDULE 4

STAGWELL INC.

UNAUDITED SEGMENT OPERATING RESULTS

(amounts in thousands)

For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2024

Integrated
Agencies
Network

Brand
Performance
Network

Communications
Network

All Other

Corporate

Total

Net Revenue

$    292,772

$        162,562

$                  67,488

$      9,632

$              —

$     532,454

Billable costs

59,947

51,400

26,258

137,605

Revenue

352,719

213,962

93,746

9,632

670,059

Billable costs

59,947

51,400

26,258

137,605

Staff costs

186,534

98,431

39,264

7,821

10,107

342,157

Administrative costs

30,602

22,071

8,704

3,209

2,577

67,163

Unbillable and other costs, net

15,528

14,566

136

2,588

32,818

Adjusted EBITDA (1)

60,108

27,494

19,384

(3,986)

(12,684)

90,316

Stock-based compensation

9,321

2,043

1,049

98

3,605

16,116

Depreciation and amortization

19,381

7,514

2,894

2,421

2,626

34,836

Deferred acquisition consideration

2,045

(777)

(1,114)

154

Impairment and other losses

1,500

1,500

Other items, net (1)

5,511

5,019

282

174

870

11,856

Operating income (loss)

$      22,350

$          13,695

$                  16,273

$    (6,679)

$    (19,785)

$       25,854

(1)

See Non-GAAP Financial Measures section above for the definition of Adjusted EBITDA and Other items, net.

SCHEDULE 5

STAGWELL INC.

UNAUDITED RECONCILIATION OF ADJUSTED DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE (NON-GAAP MEASURE)

(amounts in thousands, except per share amounts)

For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2025

GAAP

Adjustments

Non-GAAP

Net income (loss) attributable to Stagwell Inc. common shareholders

$            (2,917)

$            18,439

$            15,522

Net income (loss) attributable to Class C shareholders

(6,637)

24,513

17,876

Net income (loss) attributable to Stagwell Inc. and Class C shareholders and adjusted net income

$            (9,554)

$            42,952

$            33,398

Weighted average number of common shares outstanding

112,088

9,462

121,550

Weighted average number of shares of Class C Common Stock outstanding

151,649

151,649

Weighted average number of shares outstanding

263,737

9,462

273,199

Diluted EPS and Adjusted Diluted EPS (1)

$              (0.04)

$                0.12

Adjustments to Net Income (loss)

Amortization

$            32,981

Stock-based compensation

11,543

Deferred acquisition consideration

6,657

Other items, net

2,091

53,272

Adjusted tax expense

(10,320)

$            42,952

(1)

Adjusted Diluted EPS is defined within the Non-GAAP Financial Measures section of the Executive Summary.

SCHEDULE 6

STAGWELL INC.

UNAUDITED RECONCILIATION OF ADJUSTED DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE (NON-GAAP MEASURE)

(amounts in thousands, except per share amounts)

For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2024

GAAP

Adjustments

Non-GAAP

Net income (loss) attributable to Stagwell Inc. common shareholders

$            (1,506)

$            19,480

$            17,974

Net income attributable to Class C shareholders

24,554

24,554

Net income (loss) attributable to Stagwell Inc. and Class C shareholders and adjusted net income

$            (1,506)

$            44,034

$            42,528

Weighted average number of common shares outstanding

116,405

4,534

120,939

Weighted average number of shares of Class C Common Stock outstanding

151,649

151,649

Weighted average number of shares outstanding

116,405

156,183

272,588

Diluted EPS and Adjusted Diluted EPS (1)

$              (0.01)

$                0.16

Adjustments to Net income (loss)

Amortization

$            28,203

Impairment and other losses

1,500

Stock-based compensation

16,116

Deferred acquisition consideration

154

Other items, net

11,856

57,829

Adjusted tax expense

(12,748)

45,081

Net loss attributable to Class C shareholders

(1,047)

$            44,034

Allocation of adjustments to Net income

Net income attributable to Stagwell Inc. common shareholders

$            19,480

Net income attributable to Class C shareholders – add-backs

25,601

Net loss attributable to Class C shareholders

(1,047)

24,554

$            44,034

(1)

Adjusted Diluted EPS is defined within the Non-GAAP Financial Measures section of the Executive Summary.

SCHEDULE 7

STAGWELL INC.

UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(amounts in thousands)

March 31, 2025

December 31, 2024

ASSETS

Current Assets

Cash and cash equivalents

$                  137,653

$                  131,339

Accounts receivable, net

772,974

716,415

Expenditures billable to clients

163,702

173,194

Other current assets

147,163

114,200

Total Current Assets

1,221,492

1,135,148

Fixed assets, net

69,017

72,706

Right-of-use assets – operating leases

209,720

219,400

Goodwill

1,562,490

1,554,146

Other intangible assets, net

822,964

836,783

Other assets

96,671

90,038

Total Assets

$               3,982,354

$               3,908,221

LIABILITIES, REDEEMABLE NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS (“RNCI”), AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Current Liabilities

Accounts payable

$                  420,779

$                  449,347

Accrued media

295,964

245,883

Accruals and other liabilities

219,047

265,356

Advance billings

311,329

294,609

Current portion of lease liabilities – operating leases

56,390

60,195

Current portion of deferred acquisition consideration

37,336

51,906

Total Current Liabilities

1,340,845

1,367,296

Long-term debt

1,465,323

1,353,624

Long-term portion of deferred acquisition consideration

55,941

50,209

Long-term lease liabilities – operating leases

224,323

245,397

Deferred tax liabilities, net

47,323

47,239

Other liabilities

57,850

59,139

Total Liabilities

3,191,605

3,122,904

Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests

10,856

8,412

Commitments, Contingencies and Guarantees

Shareholders’ Equity

Common shares – Class A

114

115

Common shares – Class C

2

2

Paid-in capital

343,082

343,647

Retained earnings

10,504

11,740

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

(19,302)

(23,773)

Stagwell Inc. Shareholders’ Equity

334,400

331,731

Noncontrolling interests

445,493

445,174

Total Shareholders’ Equity

779,893

776,905

Total Liabilities, Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests and Shareholders’ Equity

$               3,982,354

$               3,908,221

SCHEDULE 8

STAGWELL INC.

UNAUDITED SUMMARY CASH FLOW DATA

(amounts in thousands)

Three Months Ended March 31,

2025

2024

Cash flows from operating activities:

Net loss

$                   (5,325)

$                      (713)

Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash used in operating activities:

Stock-based compensation

11,543

16,116

Depreciation and amortization

42,006

34,836

Amortization of right-of-use lease assets and lease liability interest

17,118

20,912

Impairment and other (gains) losses

(3,529)

1,500

Deferred income taxes

(747)

(655)

Adjustment to deferred acquisition consideration

6,657

154

Other, net

(2,060)

292

Changes in working capital:

Accounts receivable

(44,701)

(42,976)

Expenditures billable to clients

11,095

6,681

Other assets

(32,778)

(19,584)

Accounts payable

(35,287)

22,206

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

(19,075)

(63,856)

Advance billings

15,628

(6,124)

Current portion of lease liabilities – operating leases

(20,558)

(21,660)

Deferred acquisition related payments

(250)

Net cash used in operating activities

(60,013)

(53,121)

Cash flows from investing activities:

Capitalized software

(11,966)

(8,794)

Capital expenditures

(3,912)

(5,439)

Acquisitions, net of cash acquired

(1,090)

(11,673)

Other

(3,391)

(218)

Net cash used in investing activities

(20,359)

(26,124)

Cash flows from financing activities:

Repayment of borrowings under revolving credit facility

(432,000)

(417,000)

Proceeds from borrowings under revolving credit facility

543,000

540,000

Shares repurchased and cancelled

(11,068)

(29,698)

Distributions to noncontrolling interests

(581)

(559)

Payment of deferred consideration

(16,103)

(1,657)

Net cash provided by financing activities

83,248

91,086

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

3,438

(1,754)

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

6,314

10,087

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

131,339

119,737

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

$                 137,653

$                 129,824

SOURCE Stagwell Inc.


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