WEX Inc (WEX) Q3 2024 Earnings Call Highlights: Record Revenue and EPS Amid Challenges

In This Article:

  • Revenue: $665 million, a 2% increase compared to the same period last year.

  • Adjusted Net Income per Diluted Share: $4.35, a 7% increase compared to the prior year quarter.

  • Mobility Segment Revenue: $357.2 million, a 2% increase from the prior year.

  • Corporate Payments Segment Revenue: Decreased 6% to $126.9 million.

  • Benefits Segment Revenue: $181.5 million, a 9% increase over the prior year.

  • Adjusted Operating Income Margin: 44%, up from 41.8% last year.

  • Net Income (GAAP): $102.9 million or $2.52 per diluted share.

  • Cash Flow: Year-to-date adjusted free cash flow was $393 million through September.

  • Share Repurchases: $544 million spent on share purchases through the end of the third quarter.

  • Leverage Ratio: 2.6 times, at the low end of the long-term target of 2.5 to 3.5 times.

  • Guidance for Q4 Revenue: Expected to be in the range of $630 million to $640 million.

  • Guidance for Full Year Revenue: Expected to be in the range of $2.62 billion to $2.63 billion.

  • Guidance for Full Year ANI EPS: Expected to be between $15.21 and $15.31 per diluted share.

Release Date: October 24, 2024

For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.

Positive Points

  • WEX Inc (NYSE:WEX) reported a 2% increase in revenue for the third quarter, reaching $665 million.

  • Adjusted net income per diluted share increased by 7% to $4.35 compared to the prior year quarter.

  • The mobility segment delivered underlying revenue growth of 8% compared to last year, excluding the impact of lower fuel prices and foreign exchange rates.

  • WEX Inc (NYSE:WEX) achieved record high Q3 revenue and adjusted EPS, showing strong growth despite challenges.

  • The company has realized approximately $110 million in annual cost savings on a run rate basis, exceeding their $100 million target.

Negative Points

  • The third-quarter results fell short of prior guidance for revenue and adjusted EPS, primarily due to macro trends and an unplanned charge in the mobility segment.

  • Fuel prices declined significantly, impacting revenue by approximately $8 million compared to guidance.

  • The corporate payments segment saw a 6% decrease in revenue, largely due to a model change for a large online travel agency customer.

  • WEX Inc (NYSE:WEX) reduced its outlook for the remainder of 2024 due to ongoing impacts from lower fuel prices and softness in same-store sales.

  • The company experienced a deceleration in local fleet customer base purchases, which was not anticipated, indicating potential macroeconomic concerns.

Q & A Highlights

Q: On the mobility segment, is the high interchange rate sustainable, and what was the impact of the finance fee reversal? A: Jagtar Narula, CFO, explained that the interchange rate benefited from fuel prices and pricing increases, which are sustainable. The finance fee reversal impacted the mobility segment by about $10 million, and going forward, the rates should normalize.