BR Q1 Earnings Call: Broadridge Misses Revenue Estimates as Recurring Revenue, Margins Expand

Financial technology provider Broadridge (NYSE: BR) fell short of the market’s revenue expectations in Q1 CY2025 as sales rose 4.9% year on year to $1.81 billion. Its non-GAAP profit of $2.44 per share was 1.1% above analysts’ consensus estimates.

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StockStory’s Take

Broadridge’s first quarter results reflected continued expansion in recurring revenue streams and improved margins, even as the company’s total revenue came in below Wall Street expectations. Management attributed the period’s performance to higher investor participation, robust growth in equity and fund positions, and strong demand for digital communications and capital markets solutions. CEO Tim Gokey emphasized the company’s high proportion of recurring revenue and operational resilience, noting, “Our recurring revenue business model helps insulate us from market swings.”

Looking ahead, leadership highlighted a cautious approach to near-term client investment decisions amid economic uncertainty and a lengthening sales cycle. Despite this, Broadridge reaffirmed its full-year outlook, supported by a sizable backlog and high revenue retention. CFO Ashima Ghei pointed to strong visibility for the remainder of the year, stating that over 90% of proxy positions have been recorded, giving the company confidence in achieving its full-year growth objectives.

Key Insights from Management’s Remarks

Broadridge’s quarterly performance was driven by increased investor participation, growth in digital solutions, and expanding post-trade capabilities. Management cited solid execution of their digitization strategy and ongoing investments in their wealth and capital markets platforms.

• Recurring Revenue Stability: The company benefited from a high proportion of recurring fee revenue (94%) and a 98% revenue retention rate, providing significant visibility and stability despite broader market volatility.
• Equity and Fund Position Growth: Broadridge reported 15% equity position growth, with the strongest contributions from managed accounts and smaller, fractional positions. This trend, likely driven by direct indexing, supports the democratization of investing but is expected to yield incremental revenue over time as these accounts mature.
• Capital Markets Demand: Increased trading volumes, especially in fixed income and equities, drove growth in capital markets solutions. The company processed record fixed income trades, highlighting the scalability of its settlement platforms during periods of market stress.
• Digital and AI-Driven Solutions: Management highlighted continued strong demand for digital communication services and data analytics products, including AI-enabled tools for asset managers. The digital revenue stream in customer communications grew at a double-digit pace, reflecting ongoing migration from print to digital formats.
• Wealth Platform Integration: The acquisition and ongoing integration of SIS contributed to 13% revenue growth in the wealth and investment management segment. The rollout of next-generation wealth platforms saw new sales and expanding client adoption, with 34 clients live on platform components and additional clients in onboarding.

Drivers of Future Performance

Broadridge’s outlook for the remainder of the year is anchored by its large backlog, high recurring revenue retention, and a focus on cost and operational simplification for clients. Management expects steady growth, but notes that economic uncertainty may delay some client investment decisions.

• Sales Cycle Elongation: Leadership observed a lengthening in the client decision process, with some deals taking longer to close due to increased caution around new investments. Management believes this may affect the timing of booked sales but not long-term revenue growth, as most deals are still progressing through negotiations.
• Product and Platform Innovation: Continued investment in digital communications, data analytics, and wealth management technology is expected to drive future growth. Management cited strong client interest in omnichannel solutions and post-trade capabilities for capital markets firms.
• Regulatory and Market Trends: Changes in U.S. regulatory policy, ongoing digitization of investor communications, and potential expansion in areas like digital assets and data-driven voting solutions are seen as opportunities for Broadridge to expand its service offerings.

Top Analyst Questions

• Dan Perlin (RBC Capital Markets): Asked about the impact of economic uncertainty on client investment decisions and the lengthening sales cycle; management responded that most delays are in more complex, longer-term deals, with no loss of mandates or pipeline deterioration.
• Michael Infante (Morgan Stanley): Sought clarification on the spread between equity position growth and revenue growth, especially regarding small, non-revenue generating accounts; CFO Ashima Ghei explained that while small positions do not immediately contribute to revenue, their maturation supports long-term growth.
• Scott Wurtzel (Wolfe Research): Questioned whether the extended sales cycle was isolated to specific product lines or geographies; CEO Tim Gokey said delays were broad-based and not concentrated in any one area.
• Patrick O'Shaughnessy (Raymond James): Requested more detail on the recent wealth platform sale and the scope of its solutions; management explained the deal centered on a “wealth operating model” data layer and noted growing demand for modular, next-generation wealth tech.
• Puneet Jain (JPMorgan): Asked about the potential revenue impact if bookings remain weak for more than a quarter; management stated that the expected impact would be minimal due to the backlog and typical implementation cycles, with only a small fraction of delayed sales affecting near-term revenue.

Catalysts in Upcoming Quarters

Looking ahead, our analysts will monitor (1) whether the lengthening sales cycle persists or reverts to historical norms, (2) execution and adoption of new digital and AI-enabled solutions in both communications and capital markets platforms, and (3) continued integration and client uptake of the wealth management platform. Additional areas of focus will include regulatory developments, particularly those affecting digital assets and shareholder engagement.

Broadridge currently trades at a forward P/E ratio of 26.7×. Should you load up, cash out, or stay put? See for yourself in our free research report.

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