Raises FY25 Earnings Guidance While Securing Favorable Outcomes on Key Rebids

Maximus Reports Fiscal Year 2025 First Quarter Results

James Francis, VP - IR
Jessica Batt, VP - IR & ESG
IR@maximus.com

Maximus (NYSE: MMS), a leading provider of government services worldwide, reported financial results for the three months ending December 31, 2024.

Highlights for the first quarter of fiscal year 2025 include:

  • Revenue increased 5.7% to $1.40 billion, compared to $1.33 billion for the prior year period. Organic growth of 6.3% was due primarily to the U.S. Federal Services Segment with added contributions from the Outside the U.S. Segment.
  • Diluted earnings per share were $0.69 and adjusted diluted earnings per share were $1.61, compared to $1.04 and $1.34, respectively, for the prior year period. The three months ending December 31, 2024, included divestiture-related charges resulting from the completed sale of the employment services businesses in Australia and South Korea in the Outside the U.S. Segment.
  • Earnings guidance is increasing, with adjusted EBITDA margin expected to be approximately 11.2% and adjusted diluted earnings per share expected to range between $5.90 and $6.20 per share for the full fiscal year 2025.
  • Purchases of Maximus common stock totaled 3.1 million shares for $237 million in the quarter, with additional purchases totaling 0.7 million shares for $52.9 million subsequent to December 31, 2024.
  • A quarterly cash dividend of $0.30 per share is payable on February 28, 2025, to shareholders of record on February 15, 2025.

"Along with strong financials in our first quarter and an improvement to full-year earnings guidance, we have recently been successful in removing multiple contractual and business uncertainties that ultimately strengthen the durability of our business," said Bruce Caswell, President and Chief Executive Officer. "We had winning outcomes on the two large recompetes and the recent divestiture improves the health and predictability of our Outside the U.S. Segment."

Caswell added, "We believe that Maximus has a favorable and unique position in government services, with a recognized and proven track record administering critical government programs in an efficient and accountable manner. As our government customers, in both Federal agencies and state governments, face uncertainties and potential challenges, we believe Maximus is in a superior strategic position to provide value-added solutions and assistance."

First Quarter Results

Revenue for the first quarter of fiscal year 2025 increased 5.7% to $1.40 billion, compared to $1.33 billion for the prior year period. Organic growth totaled 6.3%, primarily due to the U.S. Federal Services Segment and, to a lesser degree, contributions from the Outside the U.S. Segment.

For the first quarter of fiscal year 2025, operating margin was 6.2% and the adjusted EBITDA margin was 11.2%. This compares to margins of 8.1% and 10.6%, respectively, for the prior year period. Diluted earnings per share were $0.69 and adjusted diluted earnings per share were $1.61. This compares to $1.04 and $1.34, respectively, for the prior year period.

The first quarter of fiscal year 2025 included divestiture-related charges from the completed sale of the employment services businesses in Australia and South Korea as announced in December 2024. The charges totaled approximately $38 million and mostly related to accumulated foreign exchange losses since inception of operations in Australia. The divestiture-related charges drove a higher tax rate for the first quarter of fiscal year 2025.

U.S. Federal Services Segment

U.S. Federal Services Segment revenue for the first quarter of fiscal year 2025 increased 15.3% to $780.7 million, compared to $677.1 million reported for the prior year period. All growth was organic and resulted from a combination of clinical assessment volume, outsized volumes on other clinical programs, and customer service-type programs.

The segment operating margin for the first quarter of fiscal year 2025 was 12.7%, compared to 10.2% reported for the prior year period. The outsized volumes on other clinical programs benefited this quarter’s margin. The full-year fiscal 2025 margin for the U.S. Federal Services Segment is now expected to be approximately 11.5%.

U.S. Services Segment

U.S. Services Segment revenue for the first quarter of fiscal year 2025 decreased 7.7% to $452.3 million, compared to $489.8 million reported in the prior year period. The decrease resulted from the prior year period containing excess volumes from Medicaid-related activities, including the one-time unwinding exercise that drove extra redeterminations.

The segment operating margin for the first quarter of fiscal year 2025 was 9.0%, compared to 13.5% reported for the prior year. The margin disparity is due to a combination of the excess volumes benefiting the margin of the prior year period as well as seasonality factors that slightly reduced margin in the current period and were anticipated in the full year outlook. The full-year fiscal 2025 margin for the U.S. Services Segment is anticipated to be approximately 11%.

Outside the U.S. Segment

Outside the U.S. Segment revenue for the first quarter of fiscal year 2025 increased 6.0% to $169.8 million, compared to $160.1 million reported in the prior year period. Organic growth was 10.7% and driven primarily by strong performance on flagship contracts in the United Kingdom.

The segment operating margin for the first quarter of fiscal year 2025 was 4.8%, or $8.1 million operating profit, compared to an operating loss of $0.1 million in the prior year period. The multiple divestitures of employment services businesses over the last two years have reduced volatility and improved profitability in the segment.

Sales and Pipeline

Year-to-date signed contract awards at December 31, 2024, totaled $2.08 billion, and contracts pending (awarded but unsigned) totaled $410 million. The book-to-bill ratio at December 31, 2024, was 0.7x calculated on a trailing twelve-month basis, and 1.5x for the three months ending December 31, 2024.

The sales pipeline at December 31, 2024, totaled $41.4 billion, comprised of approximately $2.47 billion in proposals pending, $1.50 billion in proposals in preparation, and $37.5 billion in opportunities tracking. The reduction from the pipeline at September 30, 2024 is primarily attributable to removal of the Contact Center Operations (CCO) early recompete and successful win of the Veterans Affairs Medical Disability Examination contracts recompete. New work opportunities represent approximately 57% of the total sales pipeline.

Balance Sheet and Cash Flows

At December 31, 2024, cash and cash equivalents totaled $73 million, and gross debt was $1.40 billion. The ratio of debt, net of allowed cash, to EBITDA for the quarter ended December 31, 2024, as calculated in accordance with our credit agreement, was 1.8x and trended higher from increased purchases of Maximus common stock. This compares to 1.4x at September 30, 2024 and remains below the target net leverage range of 2x to 3x.

For the first quarter of fiscal year 2025, cash used in operating activities totaled $80.0 million, and free cash flow was an outflow of $103.0 million. Negative cash flow was anticipated due to the timing of certain payments that often occur in the first fiscal quarter, while free cash flow guidance for the full fiscal year 2025 is increasing by $10 million. DSO at December 31, 2024, were 62 days, compared with 61 days at September 30, 2024.

During the first quarter of fiscal year 2025, we purchased approximately 3.1 million shares for $237 million. Subsequent to December 31, 2024, and through January 31, 2025, we purchased an additional 0.7 million shares for $52.9 million, leaving approximately $85.0 million remaining under the current Board of Directors authorization announced in December 2024.

On January 5, 2025, our Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.30 for each share of our common stock outstanding. The dividend is payable on February 28, 2025, to shareholders of record on February 15, 2025.

Raising Fiscal Year 2025 Earnings Guidance

Maximus is raising earnings guidance and adjusting revenue guidance for fiscal year 2025. Revenue is now expected to range between $5.2 billion and $5.35 billion adjusting for the recent divestiture that removed approximately $100 million of revenue, and partially offset by increased organic growth.

An adjusted EBITDA margin, which excludes divestiture-related charges, of approximately 11.2% is anticipated for the full year. Adjusted diluted earnings per share, which excludes expense for amortization of intangible assets and divestiture-related charges, is now expected to range between $5.90 and $6.20 per share for fiscal year 2025.

Free cash flow is now expected to range between $355 million and $385 million for fiscal year 2025. Interest expense is estimated to be $75 million for fiscal year 2025 and increased from prior guidance as a result of the higher purchase activity of Maximus common stock. The full year tax rate is now expected to range between 28% and 29% as a result of the higher tax rate for the first quarter of fiscal year 2025. On a full-year basis, the weighted average shares outstanding is forecasted to be approximately 58 million shares for fiscal year 2025.

Conference Call and Webcast Information

Maximus will host a conference call this morning, February 6, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. ET.

The call is open to the public and available by webcast or by phone at:

877.407.8289 (Domestic) / +1.201.689.8341 (International)

For those unable to listen to the live call, a recording of the webcast will be available on investor.maximus.com.

About Maximus

As a leading strategic partner to government, Maximus helps improve the delivery of public services amid complex technology, health, economic, environmental, and social challenges. With a deep understanding of program service delivery, acute insights that achieve operational excellence, and an extensive awareness of the needs of the people being served, our employees advance the critical missions of our partners. Maximus delivers innovative business process management, impactful consulting services, and technology solutions that provide improved outcomes for the public and higher levels of productivity and efficiency of government-sponsored programs. For more information, visit maximus.com.

Non-GAAP Measures and Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains non-GAAP measures and other indicators, including organic growth, free cash flow, operating income and EPS adjusted for amortization of intangible assets and divestiture-related charges, adjusted EBITDA, and other non-GAAP measures.

A description of these non-GAAP measures and details as to how they are calculated are included with our earnings presentation and forthcoming Form 10-Q.

The presentation of these non-GAAP numbers is not meant to be considered in isolation, nor as alternatives to cash flows from operations, revenue growth, operating income, or net income as measures of performance. These non-GAAP financial measures, as determined and presented by us, may not be comparable to related or similarly titled measures presented by other companies.

Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about our confidence and strategies, and our expectations about revenues, results of operations, profitability, future contracts, market opportunities, market demand, or acceptance of our products are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties.

These risks could cause our actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements. A Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements is included within our forthcoming Form 10-Q and a summary of risk factors can be found in Item 1A, "Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2024, which was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on November 21, 2024. Our SEC reports are accessible on maximus.com.

 

FY25 Guidance Reconciliation - Non-GAAP

($ in millions except per share items)

Low End

 

High End

Operating income

$

405

 

 

$

429

 

Add: amortization of intangible assets

 

92

 

 

 

92

 

Add: depreciation & amortization of property, equipment and capitalized software

 

43

 

 

 

43

 

Add: divestiture-related charges

 

38

 

 

 

38

 

Adjusted EBITDA

$

578

 

 

$

602

 

Revenue

$

5,200

 

 

$

5,350

 

Adjusted EBITDA Margin

 

11.1

%

 

 

11.3

%

 

 

 

 

Diluted EPS

$

4.09

 

 

$

4.39

 

Add: effect of amortization of intangible assets on diluted EPS

 

1.17

 

 

 

1.17

 

Add: divestiture-related charges

 

0.64

 

 

 

0.64

 

Adjusted diluted EPS

$

5.90

 

 

$

6.20

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from operating activities

$

435

 

 

$

465

 

Remove: purchases of property and equipment and capitalized software costs

 

(80

)

 

 

(80

)

Free cash flow

$

355

 

$

385

 

Maximus, Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Operations

(Unaudited)

 

For the Three Months Ended

 

December 31, 2024

 

December 31, 2023

 

(in thousands, except per share amounts)

Revenue

$

1,402,675

 

$

1,327,041

Cost of revenue

 

1,101,118

 

 

1,026,987

Gross profit

 

301,557

 

 

300,054

Selling, general, and administrative expenses

 

191,735

 

 

169,195

Amortization of intangible assets

 

23,035

 

 

23,349

Operating income

 

86,787

 

 

107,510

Interest expense

 

17,522

 

 

21,507

Other expense, net

 

312

 

 

488

Income before income taxes

 

68,953

 

 

85,515

Provision for income taxes

 

27,757

 

 

21,367

Net income

$

41,196

 

$

64,148

 

 

 

 

Earnings per share:

 

 

 

Basic

$

0.69

 

$

1.05

Diluted

$

0.69

 

$

1.04

Weighted average shares outstanding:

 

 

 

Basic

 

59,733

 

 

61,322

Diluted

 

60,002

 

 

61,535

 

 

 

 

Dividends declared per share

$

0.30

 

$

0.30

Maximus, Inc.

Consolidated Balance Sheets

 

December 31, 2024

 

September 30, 2024

 

(unaudited)

 

 

 

(in thousands)

Assets:

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

$

72,653

 

 

$

183,123

 

Accounts receivable, net

 

962,650

 

 

 

879,514

 

Income taxes receivable

 

1,384

 

 

 

5,282

 

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

128,691

 

 

 

132,625

 

Total current assets

 

1,165,378

 

 

 

1,200,544

 

Property and equipment, net

 

37,905

 

 

 

38,977

 

Capitalized software, net

 

200,070

 

 

 

187,677

 

Operating lease right-of-use assets

 

118,749

 

 

 

133,594

 

Goodwill

 

1,779,682

 

 

 

1,782,871

 

Intangible assets, net

 

607,033

 

 

 

630,569

 

Deferred contract costs, net

 

58,863

 

 

 

59,432

 

Deferred compensation plan assets

 

55,579

 

 

 

55,913

 

Deferred income taxes

 

12,259

 

 

 

14,801

 

Other assets

 

23,242

 

 

 

27,130

 

Total assets

$

4,058,760

 

 

$

4,131,508

 

Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity:

 

 

 

Liabilities:

 

 

 

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

$

286,359

 

 

$

303,321

 

Accrued compensation and benefits

 

119,869

 

 

 

237,121

 

Deferred revenue, current portion

 

78,165

 

 

 

83,238

 

Income taxes payable

 

36,504

 

 

 

26,535

 

Long-term debt, current portion

 

34,945

 

 

 

40,139

 

Operating lease liabilities, current portion

 

38,013

 

 

 

47,656

 

Other current liabilities

 

85,070

 

 

 

69,519

 

Total current liabilities

 

678,925

 

 

 

807,529

 

Deferred revenue, non-current portion

 

40,366

 

 

 

45,077

 

Deferred income taxes

 

172,548

 

 

 

169,118

 

Long-term debt, non-current portion

 

1,353,217

 

 

 

1,091,954

 

Deferred compensation plan liabilities, non-current portion

 

58,781

 

 

 

57,599

 

Operating lease liabilities, non-current portion

 

89,743

 

 

 

97,221

 

Other liabilities

 

18,331

 

 

 

20,195

 

Total liabilities

 

2,411,911

 

 

 

2,288,693

 

Shareholders' equity:

 

 

 

Common stock, no par value; 100,000 shares authorized; 57,286 and 60,352 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2024, and September 30, 2024, respectively

 

603,252

 

 

 

598,304

 

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

 

(19,554

)

 

 

(32,460

)

Retained earnings

 

1,063,151

 

 

 

1,276,971

 

Total shareholders' equity

 

1,646,849

 

 

 

1,842,815

 

Total liabilities and shareholders' equity

$

4,058,760

 

 

$

4,131,508

 

Maximus, Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(Unaudited)

 

For the Three Months Ended

 

December 31, 2024

 

December 31, 2023

 

(in thousands)

Cash flows from operating activities:

 

 

 

Net income

$

41,196

 

 

$

64,148

 

Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash flows from operations:

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization of property, equipment, and capitalized software

 

8,455

 

 

 

8,411

 

Amortization of intangible assets

 

23,035

 

 

 

23,349

 

Amortization of debt issuance costs and debt discount

 

638

 

 

 

601

 

Deferred income taxes

 

2,157

 

 

 

(2,165

)

Stock compensation expense

 

6,952

 

 

 

9,427

 

Divestiture-related charges

 

38,341

 

 

 

1,018

 

Change in assets and liabilities, net of effects of business combinations and divestitures:

 

 

 

Accounts receivable

 

(103,454

)

 

 

(35,379

)

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

(2,500

)

 

 

10,056

 

Deferred contract costs

 

(366

)

 

 

(888

)

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

 

(8,150

)

 

 

(15,543

)

Accrued compensation and benefits

 

(93,036

)

 

 

(67,392

)

Deferred revenue

 

(8,232

)

 

 

877

 

Income taxes

 

12,076

 

 

 

22,250

 

Operating lease right-of-use assets and liabilities

 

(2,349

)

 

 

(1,088

)

Other assets and liabilities

 

5,241

 

 

 

3,926

 

Net cash (used in)/provided by operating activities

 

(79,996

)

 

 

21,608

 

Cash flows from investing activities:

 

 

 

Purchases of property and equipment and capitalized software

 

(22,992

)

 

 

(22,247

)

Proceeds from divestitures

 

736

 

 

 

1,815

 

Net cash used in investing activities

 

(22,256

)

 

 

(20,432

)

Cash flows from financing activities:

 

 

 

Cash dividends paid to Maximus shareholders

 

(18,060

)

 

 

(18,299

)

Purchases of Maximus common stock

 

(228,593

)

 

 

 

Tax withholding related to RSU vesting

 

(16,441

)

 

 

(13,455

)

Payments for contingent consideration

 

 

 

 

(2,819

)

Proceeds from borrowings

 

435,000

 

 

 

228,409

 

Principal payments for debt

 

(179,264

)

 

 

(166,658

)

Cash-collateralized escrow liabilities

 

(899

)

 

 

1,204

 

Net cash (used in)/provided by financing activities

 

(8,257

)

 

 

28,382

 

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash

 

(2,384

)

 

 

1,846

 

Net change in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash

 

(112,893

)

 

 

31,404

 

Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash, beginning of period

 

235,763

 

 

 

122,091

 

Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash, end of period

$

122,870

 

 

$

153,495

 

 

Maximus, Inc.

Consolidated Results of Operations by Segment

(Unaudited)

 

 

For the Three Months Ended

 

December 31, 2024

 

December 31, 2023

 

Amount

 

% (1)

 

Amount

 

% (1)

 

(dollars in thousands)

Revenue:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. Federal Services

$

780,655

 

 

 

 

$

677,078

 

 

 

U.S. Services

 

452,250

 

 

 

 

 

489,845

 

 

 

Outside the U.S.

 

169,770

 

 

 

 

 

160,118

 

 

 

Revenue

$

1,402,675

 

 

 

 

$

1,327,041

 

 

 

Gross profit:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. Federal Services

$

173,315

 

 

22.2

%

 

$

156,662

 

 

23.1

%

U.S. Services

 

95,004

 

 

21.0

%

 

 

118,363

 

 

24.2

%

Outside the U.S.

 

33,238

 

 

19.6

%

 

 

25,029

 

 

15.6

%

Gross profit

$

301,557

 

 

21.5

%

 

$

300,054

 

 

22.6

%

Selling, general, and administrative expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. Federal Services

$

74,215

 

 

9.5

%

 

$

87,855

 

 

13.0

%

U.S. Services

 

54,158

 

 

12.0

%

 

 

52,300

 

 

10.7

%

Outside the U.S.

 

25,118

 

 

14.8

%

 

 

25,141

 

 

15.7

%

Divestiture-related charges (2)

 

38,341

 

 

NM

 

 

 

1,018

 

 

NM

 

Other (3)

 

(97

)

 

NM

 

 

 

2,881

 

 

NM

 

Selling, general, and administrative expenses

$

191,735

 

 

13.7

%

 

$

169,195

 

 

12.7

%

Operating income/(loss):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. Federal Services

$

99,100

 

 

12.7

%

 

$

68,807

 

 

10.2

%

U.S. Services

 

40,846

 

 

9.0

%

 

 

66,063

 

 

13.5

%

Outside the U.S.

 

8,120

 

 

4.8

%

 

 

(112

)

 

(0.1

)%

Amortization of intangible assets

 

(23,035

)

 

NM

 

 

 

(23,349

)

 

NM

 

Divestiture-related charges (2)

 

(38,341

)

 

NM

 

 

 

(1,018

)

 

NM

 

Other (3)

 

97

 

 

NM

 

 

 

(2,881

)

 

NM

 

Operating income

$

86,787

 

 

6.2

%

 

$

107,510

 

 

8.1

%

(1)

Percentage of respective segment revenue. Percentages not considered meaningful are marked "NM."

(2)

During fiscal years 2025 and 2024, we have divested businesses from our Outside the U.S. Segment.

(3)

Other expenses includes credits and costs that are not allocated to a particular segment.

Maximus, Inc.

Consolidated Free Cash Flows - Non-GAAP

(Unaudited)

 

 

For the Three Months Ended

 

December 31, 2024

 

December 31, 2023

 

(in thousands)

Net cash (used in)/provided by in operating activities

$

(79,996

)

 

$

21,608

 

Purchases of property and equipment and capitalized software

 

(22,992

)

 

 

(22,247

)

Free cash flow (Non-GAAP)

$

(102,988

)

 

$

(639

)

 

 

 

 

Maximus, Inc.

Non-GAAP Adjusted Results - Operating Income, Adjusted EBITDA, Net Income, and Diluted Earnings per Share

(Unaudited)

 

 

For the Three Months Ended

 

December 31, 2024

 

December 31, 2023

 

(dollars in thousands, except per share data)

Operating income

$

86,787

 

 

$

107,510

 

Add back: Amortization of intangible assets

 

23,035

 

 

 

23,349

 

Add back: Divestiture-related charges

 

38,341

 

 

 

1,018

 

Add back: Depreciation and amortization of property, equipment, and capitalized software

 

8,455

 

 

 

8,411

 

Adjusted EBITDA (Non-GAAP)

$

156,618

 

 

$

140,288

 

Adjusted EBITDA margin (Non-GAAP)

 

11.2

%

 

 

10.6

%

 

 

 

 

Net income

$

41,196

 

 

$

64,148

 

Add back: Amortization of intangible assets, net of tax

 

16,977

 

 

 

17,208

 

Add back: Divestiture-related charges

 

38,341

 

 

 

1,018

 

Adjusted net income excluding amortization of intangible assets and divestiture-related charges (Non-GAAP)

$

96,514

 

 

$

82,374

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted earnings per share

$

0.69

 

 

$

1.04

 

Add back: Effect of amortization of intangible assets on diluted earnings per share

 

0.28

 

 

 

0.28

 

Add back: Effect of divestiture-related charges on diluted earnings per share

 

0.64

 

 

 

0.02

 

Adjusted diluted earnings per share excluding amortization of intangible assets and divestiture-related charges (Non-GAAP)

$

1.61

 

 

$

1.34

 

 


Read Previous

Knightscope Establishes Federal Presence

Read Next

CSI Launches Advanced Check Fraud Detect

Add Comment