Pitney Bowes Announces Financial Results for Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2024

Rhea-AI Summary

Pitney Bowes (NYSE: PBI) reported its Q4 and full-year 2024 results, showing mixed performance. Full-year revenue declined 3% to $2.027 billion, with a GAAP net loss of $204 million. However, adjusted EBIT improved 25% to $385 million, and free cash flow reached $290 million.

The company announced significant shareholder returns, including a new $150 million share repurchase program and increased quarterly dividend to $0.06. The company is nearing completion of its Global Ecommerce exit, with revised exit costs of approximately $165 million.

For 2025, Pitney Bowes provided guidance of $1.95-2.0 billion in revenue and $450-480 million in adjusted EBIT. The company expects free cash flow between $330-370 million and adjusted EPS of $1.10-1.30.

Positive

• New $150 million share repurchase authorization and dividend increase
• Adjusted EBIT increased 25% to $385 million in 2024
• Free cash flow of $290 million in 2024
• Cost savings target increased to $170-190 million from previous $150-170 million
• Shipping-related revenue grew 18% in Q4 2024

Negative

• Full-year revenue declined 3% to $2.027 billion
• GAAP net loss of $204 million in 2024
• Global Ecommerce exit costs increased to $165 million from initial $150 million estimate
• SendTech Solutions revenue declined 5% in Q4 2024

Insights

Financial Analyst

The Q4 2024 results and strategic updates reveal a compelling transformation story at Pitney Bowes, marked by three critical developments that significantly enhance the company's financial profile:

1. Structural Cost Improvements: The company has exceeded its cost rationalization targets, achieving $120 million in annualized savings by 2024's end, with an increased target of $170-190 million. This represents a fundamental shift in the cost structure, not merely temporary cost-cutting measures.

2. Working Capital Optimization: The implementation of sophisticated cash management strategies has unlocked over $200 million in cash through three key initiatives: reducing working capital needs post-GEC exit, optimizing international cash holdings (reducing from $140 million to $50 million), and accelerating lease cash flows through the Bank Receivables Purchase Program.

3. Balance Sheet Transformation: The refinancing actions have materially improved the debt profile by:

• Extending debt maturities with no significant obligations in the next 24 months
• Reducing interest costs on the Term Loan B
• Securing more flexible debt covenants, providing greater operational flexibility

The Presort Services segment's performance is particularly noteworthy, with a 49% increase in adjusted EBIT, demonstrating strong pricing power and operational efficiency improvements. This segment's margins have expanded significantly, suggesting sustainable competitive advantages in mail sortation services.

The projected free cash flow guidance of $330-370 million for 2025 appears conservative given the structural improvements in working capital management and cost structure. The $164 million tax asset from the GEC reorganization effectively offsets exit costs, showcasing sophisticated tax planning that preserves shareholder value.

The comprehensive capital allocation framework, including the $150 million share repurchase authorization and increased dividend, signals management's confidence in sustainable cash generation. The target leverage ratio of 3.0x within 24 months balances growth investments with shareholder returns, suggesting a disciplined approach to capital deployment.

Believes Strong Full Year Results Reinforce the Company is Well-Positioned to Grow Cash Flow and Earnings

Outlines Comprehensive Capital Allocation Framework That Includes a New $150 Million Share Repurchase Authorization and Dividend Increase

Shares Full Year 2025 Guidance of $1.95 Billion to $2.0 Billion of Revenue and $450 Million to $480 Million of Adjusted EBIT

STAMFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Pitney Bowes Inc. (NYSE: PBI) (“Pitney Bowes” or the “Company”), a technology-driven company that provides SaaS shipping solutions, mailing innovation, and financial services to clients around the world, today announced its financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2024. The Company also delivered an update on the strategic initiatives announced on May 22, 2024, and provided guidance for 2025.

Full Year 2024 Financial Highlights

• Revenue was $2.027 billion, down 3% year-over-year
• GAAP EPS was a loss of $1.12, including a loss of $1.68 per share from discontinued operations tied to the Global Ecommerce (“GEC”) sale
• Adjusted EPS was $0.82, an improvement of $0.21 or 34% over the prior year
• GAAP net loss of $204 million, including a loss of $306 million from discontinued operations tied to the GEC sale
• Adjusted EBIT was $385 million, up $77 million or 25% over the prior year
• GAAP cash from operating activities was $276 million
• Free Cash Flow was $290 million and excludes $86 million of restructuring payments

Fourth Quarter 2024 Financial Highlights

• Revenue was $516 million, down 2% year-over-year
• GAAP EPS was a loss of $0.21, including a non-cash pension settlement charge of $0.37 per share and GEC exit costs of $0.12 per share
• Adjusted EPS was $0.32, an improvement of $0.12 or 60% over the prior year period
• GAAP net loss of $37 million
• Adjusted EBIT was $114 million, up $28 million or 33% versus the prior year period
• GAAP cash from operating activities was $132 million
• Free Cash Flow was $145 million and excludes $32 million of restructuring payments

Returning Capital to Shareholders

• Pitney Bowes is committed to significantly increasing the amount of capital that it consistently returns to shareholders.
• Pitney Bowes believes that share repurchases currently represent the most efficient way to return capital to shareholders. To that end, the Pitney Bowes Board of Directors (the “Board”) has authorized a share repurchase program in the amount of $150 million.
• The Company is increasing its quarterly dividend to $0.06, and the Board will evaluate potential additional increases on a quarterly basis.

Update on Strategic Initiatives

• GEC Exit: The wind-down process is quickly nearing completion. Based on the most recent developments, the Company is revising its expectations for associated one-time costs from $150 million to approximately $165 million. At year end, $120 million of exit costs had been paid. Exiting the business is expected to improve go-forward earnings by eliminating the losses generated by GEC, which were $136 million in 2023.
  
  Notably, the Company recorded a $164 million tax asset in 2024 related to this reorganization. The Company expects to benefit from lower cash taxes over the next three years as this asset is realized. Of note, the cash benefit of the tax asset will almost entirely offset expected cash exit costs, thanks to the significant work leadership put into developing an exit strategy that effectively optimized the trade-off between the exit costs and tax asset retention of various potential paths.

• Cost Rationalization: The Company continued to identify and execute cost reduction initiatives and removed approximately $30 million in annualized costs during the fourth quarter. This brings the Company’s run-rate exiting 2024 to approximately $120 million in annualized savings. The Company now expects to achieve a total of $170 million to $190 million in net annualized cost savings, up from its previously announced target of $150 million to $170 million, with the remainder occurring over the course of 2025 and into 2026.

• Cash Optimization: Pitney Bowes is reducing cash needs through three core initiatives.
  • First, the Company is reducing cash held for working capital purposes by (i) exiting GEC, the losses of which required the Company to hold significant cash, (ii) significantly improving internal cash forecasting, and (iii) managing liquidity instead of cash.
  • Second, the Company implemented an overseas cash pooling system which has reduced the amount of international cash it needs to hold from approximately $140 million to approximately $50 million.
  • Third, the Pitney Bowes Bank Receivables Purchase Program has accelerated the net realization of $41 million of cash from leases in 2024, freeing up approximately that amount of cash to flow to the parent Company.
  • Overall, these initiatives have unlocked more than $200 million that can be utilized to reduce debt, return capital to shareholders, and invest in high-return organic growth opportunities and tuck-in acquisitions.

• Balance Sheet Deleveraging: As previously announced, the Company’s strong cash flow and cash optimization efforts have allowed Pitney Bowes to retire the Oaktree Capital Management, L.P. (collectively with its affiliates, “Oaktree”) senior secured notes (“2028 Notes”). The Company also refinanced its 2026 Term Loan A, its 2026 Revolving Credit Facility (“RCF”) and its 2028 Term Loan B through the issuance of a new $265 million 2028 RCF, a $160 million 2028 Term Loan A and a $615 million 2032 Term Loan B.
  
  These actions have resulted in (i) an extension of maturities, (ii) a reduction of the interest rate on the Term Loan B and (iii) a significant loosening of debt covenants.
  
  Moving forward, the Company will continue to pursue a disciplined capital allocation strategy that balances attractive investments in the business, high-return/low-risk acquisitions, reducing its leverage ratio to 3.0x over the next 24 months, and returning capital to shareholders.

The Company also announced that Robert (Bob) Gold has been appointed Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer, effective March 10, 2025. Additional details are available in a separate press release issued today.

Lance Rosenzweig, Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board, commented:

“Last year was a transformational one for Pitney Bowes. By continuing to successfully execute our four key priorities, we have positioned the Company to be more efficient and profitable. We have significantly improved free cash flow and strengthened our balance sheet – and now have no debt maturing over the next 24 months. We now have ample runway to return capital to shareholders – something that will be a core part of our capital allocation framework going forward. The team will continue its hard work in 2025 to improve cash flow in a sustainable manner – and we will benefit greatly from having Bob Gold on board as our new CFO to help drive these efforts. We are optimistic about the business and the potential to create enhanced value for our shareholders.”

Earnings per share results are summarized in the table below:

	Fourth Quarter		Full Year
	2024	2023	2024	2023
GAAP EPS	($0.21)	($1.27)	($1.12)	($2.20)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	($0.03)	$0.92	$1.68	$1.85
Restructuring charges	$0.05	$0.08	$0.32	$0.22
Pension settlement	$0.37	-	$0.37	-
Foreign currency (gain) / loss on intercompany loans	($0.10)	$0.02	($0.04)	$0.02
Strategic review costs	$0.01	-	$0.07	-
Asset impairment charge	-	-	$0.06	-
Charges in connection with GEC Restructuring	$0.12	-	$0.28	-
Tax benefit from affiliate reorganization	-	-	($0.90)	-
Tax on settlement of investment securities	$0.05	-	$0.05	-
Goodwill impairment	-	$0.45	-	$0.68
Loss (gain) on debt refinancing	$0.04	-	$0.05	($0.01)
Proxy solicitation fees	-	-	-	$0.05
Adjusted EPS	$0.32	$0.20	$0.82	$0.61

Business Segment Reporting

SendTech Solutions
SendTech Solutions offers physical and digital shipping and mailing technology solutions, financing, services, supplies and other applications for small and medium businesses, retail, enterprise, and government clients around the world to help simplify and save on the sending, tracking and receiving of letters, parcels and flats.

	Fourth Quarter			Full Year
($ millions)	2024	2023	% Change Reported	2024	2023	% Change Reported
Revenue	$320	$338	(5%)	$1,280	$1,328	(4%)
Adj. Segment EBITDA	$106	$126	(16%)	$442	$446	(1%)
Adj. Segment EBIT	$95	$116	(18%)	$402	$408	(2%)

In the fourth quarter, revenue decline was driven by near-term headwinds related to the Company’s product migration, continued decline in the mailing install base and a difficult year-over-year comparison from a large government deal with $8 million in upfront revenue in the prior year. Shipping-related revenue grew 18% and drove a 27% increase in business services revenue.

The declines in Adjusted Segment EBITDA and EBIT for the quarter were driven by lower revenue and non-recurring expenses but were partially offset by cost reductions. Non-recurring expenses include $11 million associated with variable compensation and a $4 million net termination fee as part of the Company’s broader strategic initiatives.

Presort Services
Presort Services provides sortation services that enable clients to qualify for USPS workshare discounts in First Class Mail, Marketing Mail, Marketing Mail Flats and Bound Printed Matter.

	Fourth Quarter			Full Year
($ millions)	2024	2023	% Change Reported	2024	2023	% Change Reported
Revenue	$180	$163	10%	$663	$618	7%
Adj. Segment EBITDA	$61	$43	43%	$202	$145	39%
Adj. Segment EBIT	$52	$34	52%	$166	$111	49%

Higher revenue per piece from pricing and mix drove revenue growth.

Adjusted Segment EBITDA and EBIT growth were also driven by higher revenue per piece, in addition to continued labor and transportation cost productivity and cost reductions.

Full Year 2025 Guidance

Pitney Bowes provided the following guidance for total revenue, Adjusted EBIT, Adjusted EPS and free cash flow.

The Company expects to generate full year revenue of $1.95 billion to $2.0 billion.

The Company also expects to generate full year Adjusted EBIT of $450 million to $480 million.

2025 adjusted EPS is expected to range from $1.10 to $1.30.

Free cash flow for 2025, which excludes restructuring payments and capital expenditures, is expected to be in the range of $330 million to $370 million.

Conference Call and Webcast

Management of Pitney Bowes will discuss the Company’s results in a webcast today at 5:00 p.m. ET. Instructions for accessing the earnings results call are available on the Investor Relations page of the Company’s website at www.pitneybowes.com.

About Pitney Bowes

Pitney Bowes (NYSE: PBI) is a technology-driven company that provides SaaS shipping solutions, mailing innovation, and financial services to clients around the world – including more than 90 percent of the Fortune 500. Small businesses to large enterprises, and government entities rely on Pitney Bowes to reduce the complexity of sending mail and parcels. For the latest news, corporate announcements, and financial results, visit www.pitneybowes.com/us/newsroom. For additional information, visit Pitney Bowes at www.pitneybowes.com.

Adjusted Segment EBIT
Adjusted Segment EBIT is the primary measure of profitability and operational performance at the segment level. Adjusted Segment EBIT includes segment revenues and related costs and expenses attributable to the segment, but excludes interest, taxes, restructuring charges, goodwill and asset impairment charges, corporate expenses, and other items not allocated to a business segment. We also report Adjusted Segment EBITDA as an additional useful measure of segment profitability and operational performance, which is calculated as Adjusted Segment EBIT plus depreciation and amortization expense of the segment.

Use of Non-GAAP Measures
Pitney Bowes’ financial results are reported in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). Pitney Bowes also discloses certain non-GAAP measures, such as revenue growth on a constant currency basis, adjusted earnings before interest and taxes (Adjusted EBIT), adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (Adjusted EBITDA), adjusted earnings per share (Adjusted EPS) and free cash flow.

Revenue growth is presented on a constant currency basis to exclude the impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates since the prior period under comparison. Constant currency is calculated by converting the current period non-U.S. dollar denominated revenue using the prior year’s exchange rate for the comparable quarter. We believe that excluding the impacts of currency exchange rates provides a better understanding of the underlying revenue performance.

Adjusted EBIT, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EPS exclude the impact of restructuring charges, goodwill and asset impairment charges, foreign currency gains and losses on intercompany loans, certain costs associated with the Ecommerce Restructuring, gains and losses on debt redemptions and other unusual items that we believe are not indicative to our core business operations.

Beginning in the third quarter of 2024, as a result of the Ecommerce Restructuring, we also exclude from these measures the operating results of GEC operations that we are also in the process of exiting that did not qualify for discontinued operations reporting. These operations individually did not qualify for discontinued operations but were part of management's strategic review to exit the GEC business. These operations have either been fully dissolved or are expected to be completely dissolved by the end of the first half of 2025. We believe that excluding these amounts improves the usefulness of these measures as these results are not consistent with our ongoing operations. Previously reported periods have been revised to conform to the current period presentation.

Free cash flow adjusts cash flow from operations calculated in accordance with GAAP for capital expenditures, restructuring payments and other special items. Management believes free cash flow provides better insight into the amount of cash available for other discretionary uses.

Complete reconciliations of non-GAAP measures to comparable GAAP measures can be found in the attached financial schedules and at the Company's web site at www.investorrelations.pitneybowes.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
This document contains “forward-looking statements” about the Company’s expected or potential future business and financial performance, including, but not limited to, statements about future revenue and earnings guidance, future events or conditions, capital allocation strategy and expected cost savings, elimination of future losses, and anticipated deleveraging in connection with Pitney Bowes’ announced strategic initiatives. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Factors which could cause future financial performance to differ materially from expectations include, without limitation, changes in postal regulations or the operations and financial health of posts in the U.S. or other major markets or changes to the broader postal or shipping markets; accelerated or sudden decline in physical mail volumes; inability to compete effectively with our Sending Technology Solutions competitors; the loss of some of Pitney Bowes’ larger clients in the Presort Services segment; inability to successfully execute on our strategic initiatives; changes in government contracting regulations and inability to comply; risks and uncertainties associated with the GEC exit and wind-down on the Company’s operations; risk of the Company’s worldwide cost reduction initiative causing loss of continuity, experience and knowledge and loss of key employees; changes in trade policies, tariffs and regulations; changes in current economic conditions including recessionary periods, labor shortages, interest rate increases and/or inflation; and other factors as more fully outlined in the Company's 2023 Form 10-K Annual Report and other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission during 2024. Pitney Bowes assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this document as a result of new information, events, or developments.

Financial Presentation

On August 8, 2024, we entered into a series of transactions designed to facilitate an orderly wind-down of a majority our GEC reporting segment, which culminated in what we refer to as the “Ecommerce Restructuring.” As a result of the Ecommerce Restructuring, certain revenues, expenses, assets and liabilities are now reported as discontinued operations. Amounts of the former GEC segment that did not qualify for discontinued operations treatment primarily relate to operations that were dissolved or sold, certain shared services functions and a cross-border services contract. Prior periods have been recast to conform to the current period presentation.

Note: Consolidated statements of income; revenue, adjusted segment EBIT and adjusted segment EBITDA by business segment; and reconciliations of GAAP to non-GAAP measures for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, and consolidated balance sheets at December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023 are attached. We have not provided a reconciliation of our future expectations as to Adjusted EBIT, Adjusted EPS or free cash flow as such reconciliations are not available without unreasonable efforts.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250211741612/en/

For Investors:

Alex Brown

investorrelations@pb.com

For Media:

Longacre Square Partners

Joe Germani / Ashley Areopagita

jgermani@longacresquare.com / aareopagita@longacresquare.com

Source: Pitney Bowes Inc.

FAQ

What is Pitney Bowes' (PBI) revenue guidance for 2025?

Pitney Bowes expects to generate revenue between $1.95 billion to $2.0 billion for full-year 2025.

How much is PBI's new share repurchase program worth?

Pitney Bowes announced a new share repurchase program worth $150 million.

What was Pitney Bowes' free cash flow in 2024?

Pitney Bowes reported free cash flow of $290 million for 2024, excluding $86 million in restructuring payments.

What is PBI's expected adjusted EBIT range for 2025?

Pitney Bowes expects adjusted EBIT to be between $450 million to $480 million for 2025.

How much did Pitney Bowes increase its quarterly dividend to?

Pitney Bowes increased its quarterly dividend to $0.06 per share.