Adtalem Global Education Inc. (ATGE) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript
Access earnings results, analyst expectations, report, slides, earnings call, and transcript.
Overview
The earnings call indicates strong financial performance with revenue and EBITDA growth in medical and veterinary segments. The Q&A session reveals confidence in addressing enrollment issues and a promising partnership with Sallie Mae. Despite temporary margin pressures, the company's guidance remains optimistic. The strategic partnership announcements and commitment to enhancing technology and AI credentials further bolster a positive outlook. With a market cap of approximately $2.48 billion, these factors suggest a positive stock price movement in the short term.
Key Financial Performance
Total Enrollment Up 8% year-over-year to 97,000 students. This marks the ninth consecutive quarter of enrollment growth.
Revenue Grew nearly 11% to $462 million. This growth was driven by all three segments, particularly Walden.
Adjusted EBITDA Margin Expanded by 100 basis points to 24.2%. This was due to operational leverage and efficiencies.
Adjusted Earnings Per Share (EPS) $1.75, representing growth of nearly 36% year-over-year. This was attributed to revenue growth, operational efficiencies, and lower interest expenses.
Free Cash Flow Generated trailing 12-month free cash flow of $319 million. This reflects strong cash generation and financial flexibility.
Chamberlain Revenue $179.2 million, an increase of 6.7% compared with the prior year. This was driven by growth in enrollments and pricing optimization.
Chamberlain Adjusted EBITDA Decreased by 5.1% to $35.1 million. Adjusted EBITDA margin was 19.6%, 240 basis points lower due to reinvestments in capacity and student support.
Walden Revenue $190 million, an increase of 17.6% versus the prior year. This was driven by strong enrollment growth across all degree levels.
Walden Adjusted EBITDA Increased by 29.5% to $61.9 million. Adjusted EBITDA margin expanded by 300 basis points to 32.6% due to operational efficiencies and leverage.
Medical and Veterinary Revenue $93.1 million, an increase of 5.9% versus the prior year. This was driven by strategic growth initiatives and near-capacity operations in veterinary programs.
Medical and Veterinary Adjusted EBITDA Increased by 11.6% to $21.4 million. Adjusted EBITDA margin increased by 120 basis points to 23% due to efficient operations and long-term growth investments.
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Operating Highlights
Enrollment Growth: Adtalem achieved its ninth consecutive quarter of enrollment growth, with total enrollment up 8% year-over-year to 97,000 students.
Revenue Growth: Revenue grew nearly 11% to $462 million in Q1 FY2026.
New Programs and Partnerships: Chamberlain expanded its practice-ready specialty model with a partnership addressing post-acute care nursing shortages. Walden streamlined professional doctoral programs and introduced AI-enabled technology. A strategic partnership with Google Cloud was launched to prepare healthcare workers for AI-enabled careers.
Global Expansion: Adtalem expanded its global reach through partnerships in India and the UK, including a new direct admittance partnership with the University of Wolverhampton and a pathway for Indian students to attend Ross Med.
Domestic Expansion: Chamberlain opened its 24th location in Kansas City and expanded its second Atlanta campus.
Operational Adjustments: Chamberlain made operational improvements to its marketing mix and streamlined enrollment processes to address execution failures.
Leadership Changes: Key leadership changes were made at Chamberlain, including a national search for a new President and restructuring of the senior leadership team.
Strategic Investments: Adtalem is investing in AI-enabled healthcare education, expanding capacity, and pursuing strategic M&A to strengthen its position in healthcare education.
Capital Allocation: The company repurchased $8 million in shares and increased its revolving credit facility to $500 million, extending its maturity to 2030.
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Risk or Challenges
Marketing and Enrollment Operations: Execution failures in marketing and enrollment operations at Chamberlain led to underperformance in local marketing effectiveness and lower conversion rates of inquiry volume into enrollments. This resulted in a shortfall in enrollment growth, which is expected to cause continued softness in post-licensure enrollment through the second and third quarters.
Healthcare Workforce Shortage: The intensifying healthcare workforce crisis, driven by an aging population and clinician retirements, poses a structural challenge. While this creates opportunities for Adtalem, it also underscores the critical need for effective execution to meet market demand.
Operational Adjustments: Operational changes, including leadership restructuring and marketing mix optimization, are being implemented to address execution gaps. However, these adjustments may take time to yield results, potentially impacting short-term performance.
Post-Licensure Enrollment: Softness in post-licensure enrollment at Chamberlain is anticipated to persist in the near term, affecting revenue growth in the second and third quarters.
Regulatory and Competitive Pressures: The company operates in a highly regulated and competitive environment, which could impact its ability to execute its strategic objectives effectively.
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Guidance & Outlook
Revenue Guidance: Maintained full year fiscal 2026 revenue guidance of $1.9 billion to $1.94 billion, representing approximately 6% to 8.5% growth year-over-year.
Earnings Per Share (EPS) Guidance: Maintained full year fiscal 2026 adjusted EPS guidance of $7.60 to $7.90, representing approximately 14% to 18.5% growth year-over-year.
Chamberlain Enrollment Outlook: Anticipates continued softness in post-licensure enrollment through the second and third quarters due to operational changes, with expectations of stronger new enrollment in the back half of the year.
Walden University Enrollment: Continued enrollment growth expected, supported by investments in program enhancements, scholarships, and AI-enabled technology.
Medical and Veterinary Segment: Sustainable long-term growth expected, supported by strategic partnerships and capacity expansion.
Capital Allocation: Plans to reinvest in student growth, strategic initiatives, and maintain financial flexibility while returning excess cash to shareholders.
Investor Day: Upcoming Investor Day on February 24, 2026, to provide deeper visibility into strategic road map, capacity expansion plans, and long-term value creation framework.
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Shareholder Return Plan
Share Repurchase Program: We repurchased $8 million of shares in the first quarter with $142 million remaining on our $150 million Board-authorized share repurchase program through May of 2028.
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Key Q&A
Q:What is the range of outcomes for Chamberlain's enrollment moving forward, given the strong ramp in the last two years?
A:Stephen Beard stated that the deceleration in post-licensure nursing is not a go-forward trend and attributed it to a marketing misstep before the September enrollment cycle. He expressed confidence in recovering and maintaining their market position in post-licensure nursing while growing pre-licensure nursing programs, particularly the BSN online program. The company is confident in maintaining its full-year guidance.
Q:What is the trajectory of Chamberlain's margins moving forward?
A:Stephen Beard explained that as the top line at Chamberlain recovers to expected levels, margin expansion will occur over a full-year period. The temporary margin pressure is due to the September performance miss, but recovery is expected by the fiscal year's end.
Q:Is the company confident in its technology infrastructure, particularly in Walden?
A:Stephen Beard confirmed confidence in their technology infrastructure, stating that they feel great about the tech stack supporting operations and student journeys. He also mentioned ongoing innovations to enhance and differentiate the student experience.
Q:How does the company know that the Chamberlain enrollment issue is not a competitive issue?
A:Stephen Beard stated that as recently as two quarters ago, they were taking share in RN to BSN. He attributed the enrollment issue to a misstep in transitioning from national-based to market-specific marketing campaigns, not to competitive dynamics. He expressed confidence in defending their position in RN to BSN and growing pre-licensure programs.
Q:What is the status of the partnership with Sallie Mae?
A:Stephen Beard mentioned that they are finalizing documentation with Sallie Mae and expect to announce specifics soon. He expressed encouragement about the partnership's potential benefits for students across their portfolio.
Q:What are the company's thoughts on the Department of Education's increased verification efforts to root out fraud?
A:Stephen Beard stated that they are not seeing a spike in fraudulent enrollments and do not believe verification efforts contributed to Chamberlain's enrollment challenges. He acknowledged the administrative burdens but noted no significant issues.
Q:What is the scope and cost of the Google Cloud partnership and AI credentials for healthcare professionals?
A:Stephen Beard explained that these are ancillary certificate programs running alongside existing degree programs, with no additional cost for students. The programs aim to provide AI fluency and stackable credentials for the clinical marketplace. They are not yet embedded in degree programs due to accreditation considerations.
Q:What is the company's exposure to military tuition assistance and the impact of a government shutdown?
A:Stephen Beard stated that their exposure to active-duty military tuition assistance is very low. He noted no issues with student disbursements, including veterans' benefits or Title IV benefits, but they continue to monitor the situation.
Q:Where will the February Investor Day be held?
A:Stephen Beard mentioned that it will not be in Chicago and is likely to be held on the East Coast, with details to be announced soon.
Q:What gives the company confidence that the marketing missteps at Chamberlain are contained and addressed?
A:Stephen Beard explained that their central marketing center of excellence localizes strategies for each institution. The issues at Chamberlain are specific to that institution and do not affect others. He expressed confidence in the corrective steps taken.
Q:What were the conversion challenges at Chamberlain, and how are they being addressed?
A:Stephen Beard identified opportunities to simplify and reduce handoffs in the enrollment process to minimize leakage. He emphasized the importance of staying in front of prospective students and providing necessary information to improve conversion rates. Changes are expected to improve outcomes starting with the January enrollment cycle.
Q:Review of Unclear Management Responses
A:Management avoided providing specific details on the finalized documentation timeline for the Sallie Mae partnership, only stating that it would be announced 'relatively soon.' Additionally, they did not provide a definitive location for the February Investor Day, only mentioning it would likely be on the East Coast.
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Earnings Word Cloud
The most frequently occurring keywords in this quarter's earning call
America health
Chamberlain enrollment
Nursing
accountability
allocation philosophy
barrier
brand
breadth
care education
care worker
care workforce
completion
course
demand health
detail
discipline
enrollment cycle
enrollment funnel
enterprise
flexibility
fundamental
gap
health care
improvement
infrastructure America
leader
learning
market demand
marketing mix
model
pathway
physician
platform
power
progress
recognition
retirement
standard
student clinician
talent infrastructure
technology
year
ATGE Transcript
Adtalem Global Education Inc. (ATGE) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript
Positive10-30
The earnings call indicates strong financial performance with revenue and EBITDA growth in medical and veterinary segments. The Q&A session reveals confidence in addressing enrollment issues and a promising partnership with Sallie Mae. Despite temporary margin pressures, the company's guidance remains optimistic. The strategic partnership announcements and commitment to enhancing technology and AI credentials further bolster a positive outlook. With a market cap of approximately $2.48 billion, these factors suggest a positive stock price movement in the short term.
Adtalem Global Education Inc. (ATGE) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
Positive8-8
The earnings call reveals strong financial performance, with 12.9% revenue growth and a 33% increase in adjusted EPS. The company announced a new $150 million share repurchase program, which is generally positive. Despite some capacity constraints and economic uncertainties, management's responses in the Q&A were clear and positive, emphasizing robust demand and strategic investments. The market cap suggests moderate reaction, leading to a 'Positive' prediction of 2% to 8% stock price increase.
Adtalem Global Education Inc. (ATGE) Q3 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
Positive5-9
The earnings call summary shows strong financial performance with revenue and EBITDA growth, positive shareholder return plans, and strategic initiatives like AI integration. The Q&A section highlights management's confidence in overcoming margin challenges and expanding enrollment. The new share repurchase program and positive guidance further enhance sentiment. Despite some uncertainties in the education sector, the company's strong results and optimistic outlook suggest a positive stock price reaction, especially given the market cap size.
Earnings call transcript: Adtalem beats Q4 2024 forecasts, stock dips
Neutral2-1
ATGE Slides
ATGE Report
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