Deluxe Reports Second Quarter 2023 Results; Increases Full-Year 2023 Outlook for Revenue and Earnings

Deluxe (NYSE: DLX), a Trusted Payments and Data company, today reported operating results for its second quarter ended June 30, 2023.

“Our momentum continues, as comparable adjusted revenue increases in all four segments put us on a solid trajectory for our third consecutive year of comparable adjusted revenue growth,” said Barry McCarthy, President and CEO of Deluxe. “In addition, for the second consecutive quarter we demonstrated our improved operating leverage by growing Adjusted EBITDA faster than revenue.”

“We are pleased with our second quarter results, including as expected, a sequential improvement in free cash flow, and reduced leverage,” said Chip Zint, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Deluxe. “Given our first half results and our outlook for the year, particularly in light of our improved operational efficiencies, we are raising our full-year 2023 guidance for revenue and earnings.”

• Revenue for the second quarter increased 1.5% from the previous year. Comparable adjusted revenue, reflecting removal of prior-year business divestitures, increased 2.6%.
• Net income of $16.4 million was down from $22.1 million in the second quarter of 2022, primarily due to restructuring activities and higher interest expense.
• Adjusted EBITDA margin was 19.0%, up 90 basis points from the prior year, driven by pricing actions and improved cost structure.
• Adjusted diluted EPS was $0.93 versus $0.99 in the prior year.

Outlook

The Company now expects the following for full-year 2023, inclusive of divestitures, and all figures are approximate:

• Revenue of $2.180 to $2.220 billion, up from $2.145 to $2.210 billion
• Adjusted EBITDA of $400 to $415 million, up from $390 to $405 million
• Adjusted EPS of $3.10 to $3.40, up from $2.90 to $3.25
• Free cash flow of $80 to $100 million, unchanged from our prior guidance

The guidance outlined above is subject to, among other things, prevailing macroeconomic conditions, labor supply issues, inflation, and the impact of divestitures.

Capital Allocation and Dividend

The Board of Directors recently approved a regular quarterly dividend of $0.30 per share. The dividend will be payable on September 5, 2023 to shareholders of record as of market closing on August 21, 2023.

Earnings Call Information

Deluxe management will host a conference call today at 8:30 a.m. ET (7:30 a.m. CT) to review the financial results. Listeners can access the call by dialing 1-888-210-4748 (access code 7092711). The webcast and presentation will also be available on the investor relations website at www.investors.deluxe.com. Alternatively, an audio replay of the call will be available after 11:30 a.m. ET through midnight on August 10, 2023 by dialing 1-800-770-2030 (access code 7092711).

About Deluxe Corporation

Deluxe, a Trusted Payments and Data company, champions business so communities thrive. Our solutions help businesses pay and get paid, accelerate growth and operate more efficiently. For more than 100 years, Deluxe customers have relied on our solutions and platforms at all stages of their lifecycle, from start-up to maturity. Our powerful scale supports millions of small businesses, thousands of vital financial institutions and hundreds of the world’s largest consumer brands, while processing approximately $3 trillion in annual payment volume. Our reach, scale and distribution channels position Deluxe to be our customers’ most trusted business partner. To learn how we can help your business, visit us at www.deluxe.com, www.facebook.com/deluxecorp, www.linkedin.com/company/deluxe, or www.twitter.com/deluxe.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements made in this release concerning Deluxe, the company’s or management’s intentions, expectations, outlook or predictions about future results or events are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements reflect management’s current intentions or beliefs and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or events to vary from stated expectations, which variations could be material and adverse. Factors that could produce such a variation include, but are not limited to, the following: potential continuing negative impacts from pandemic health issues, such as the coronavirus / COVID-19, along with the impact of related government restrictions or similar directives on our future results of operations and our future financial condition; changes in local, regional, national and international economic or political conditions, including those resulting from heightened inflation, rising interest rates, a recession, or intensified international hostilities, and the impact they may have on the company, its customers or demand for the company’s products and services; the effect of proposed and enacted legislative and regulatory actions affecting the company or the financial services industry as a whole; continuing cost increases and/or declines in the availability of materials and other services; the company’s ability to execute its transformational strategy and to realize the intended benefits; the inherent unreliability of earnings, revenue and cash flow predictions due to numerous factors, many of which are beyond the company’s control; declining demand for the company’s checks, check-related products and services and business forms; risks that the company’s strategies intended to drive sustained revenue and earnings growth, despite the continuing decline in checks and forms, are delayed or unsuccessful; intense competition; continued consolidation of financial institutions and/or bank failures, thereby reducing the number of potential customers and referral sources and increasing downward pressure on the company’s revenue and gross profit; risks related to acquisitions, including integration-related risks and risks that future acquisitions will not be consummated; risks that any such acquisitions do not produce the anticipated results or synergies; risks that the company’s cost reduction initiatives will be delayed or unsuccessful; risks related to any divestitures contemplated or undertaken by the company; performance shortfalls by one or more of the company’s major suppliers, licensors or service providers; continuing supply chain and labor supply issues; unanticipated delays, costs and expenses in the development and marketing of products and services, including web services and financial technology and treasury management solutions; the failure of such products and services to deliver the expected revenues and other financial targets; risks related to security breaches, computer malware or other cyber-attacks; risks of interruptions to the company’s website operations or information technology systems; and risks of unfavorable outcomes and the costs to defend litigation and other disputes. The company’s forward-looking statements speak only as of the time made, and management assumes no obligation to publicly update any such statements. Additional information concerning these and other factors that could cause actual results and events to differ materially from the company’s current expectations are contained in the company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, and other filings made with the SEC. The company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events, new information or future circumstances.