Earnings call transcript: PLBY Group reports first positive EBITDA since 2023 in Q1 2025

PLBY Group reported its first positive EBITDA since 2023 in the first quarter of 2025. The company achieved an adjusted EBITDA of $2.4 million, driven by significant growth in licensing revenue. Earnings per share (EPS) matched the forecast at -$0.10, while revenue exceeded expectations, reaching $28.9 million compared to the forecast of $27 million. Following the earnings release, PLBY’s stock price rose 2.56% in aftermarket trading, closing at $1.20. According to InvestingPro data, the company maintains impressive gross profit margins of 64.02%, though it operates with a significant debt burden of $202.04 million.

Key Takeaways

• PLBY Group achieved its first positive EBITDA since 2023, with $2.4 million in Q1 2025.
• Licensing revenue increased by 175% year-over-year.
• Revenue exceeded forecasts, reaching $28.9 million.
• The company is transitioning to an asset-light business model.
• Stock price increased by 2.56% in aftermarket trading.

Company Performance

PLBY Group’s Q1 2025 results marked a significant turnaround with positive EBITDA for the first time since 2023. The company reported substantial growth in licensing revenue, driven by strategic partnerships and new market opportunities. PLBY is focusing on high-margin licensing deals and reducing overhead to improve profitability. The company’s efforts to diversify revenue streams through gaming, hospitality, and content licensing are part of its strategy to rebuild its brand and strengthen its competitive position. InvestingPro analysis indicates the company’s overall financial health score remains weak at 1.68, with analysts not anticipating profitability this year. InvestingPro subscribers have access to 10+ additional key insights about PLBY’s financial health and future prospects.

Financial Highlights

• Revenue: $28.9 million, up from the forecasted $27 million.
• Earnings per share: -$0.10, matching the forecast.
• Adjusted EBITDA: $2.4 million.
• Licensing revenue increased by 175% year-over-year.

Earnings vs. Forecast

PLBY Group’s revenue of $28.9 million surpassed the forecast of $27 million, representing a positive surprise of approximately 7%. The company’s EPS met expectations at -$0.10, indicating stable performance compared to forecasts. This marks an improvement in financial metrics, reflecting the company’s strategic focus on high-margin licensing deals and cost reductions.

Market Reaction

Following the earnings announcement, PLBY’s stock price increased by 2.56% in aftermarket trading, closing at $1.20. This positive movement reflects investor optimism about the company’s financial turnaround and future growth prospects. The stock’s performance is noteworthy, given the broader market trends and sector performance. With a beta of 2.33, InvestingPro data shows PLBY exhibits significant volatility compared to the market. The stock’s current market capitalization stands at $110.53 million, and based on InvestingPro’s Fair Value analysis, the stock appears overvalued at current levels.

Outlook & Guidance

PLBY Group is focused on growth opportunities for 2026 and beyond, with potential revenue streams from gaming, hospitality, and content licensing. The company is also exploring new initiatives such as paid voting campaigns and magazine sales to enhance its revenue base. The strategic shift to an asset-light model and the implementation of price increases are expected to mitigate potential tariff impacts.

Executive Commentary

"Q1 was our first positive EBITDA quarter since ’23," stated Ben, an executive at PLBY Group, emphasizing the company’s financial recovery. He added, "We can now sort of focus on growth," highlighting the strategic shift towards expanding revenue streams. Ben also noted, "We’re seeing a lot of traction in what I would say is gaming," indicating promising prospects in the gaming licensing sector.

Risks and Challenges

• US-China tariff tensions could impact PLBY’s supply chain and cost structure.
• Rebuilding the China licensing business presents challenges amidst geopolitical uncertainties.
• The transition to an asset-light model requires careful management to avoid operational disruptions.
• Market saturation in core product categories could limit growth potential.
• Macroeconomic pressures may affect consumer spending and demand for PLBY’s offerings.

Q&A

During the earnings call, analysts inquired about the details of the ByBorg deal and its financial implications. Executives explained the impact of tariffs and strategies to mitigate these effects. Additionally, the potential for new licensing opportunities and the magazine relaunch were discussed, highlighting the company’s efforts to diversify revenue streams and enhance brand value.

Full transcript - Plby Group Inc (PLBY) Q1 2025:

Conference Operator: Greetings, and welcome to the to PLBY Group’s first quarter twenty twenty five earnings conference call. At this time, all participants are in a listen only mode. A question and answer session will follow the formal presentation. It is now my pleasure to introduce your host, Matt Chesler. Thank you.

You may begin.

Matt Chesler, Investor Relations, PLBY Group: Thank you, operator, and good afternoon, everyone. I’d like to remind you that the information discussed today is qualified in its entirety by the Form eight ks and Form 10 Q filed today by PLY Group, which may be accessed on the SEC’s website and on PLBY Group’s website. Today’s call is also being webcast and a replay will be posted to the company’s Investor Relations website. Please note that statements made during this call, including financial projections or other statements that are not historical in nature may constitute forward looking statements. Such statements are made on the basis of PLPY Group’s views and assumptions regarding future events and business performance at the time they are made, and we do not undertake any obligation to update these statements.

Forward looking statements are subject to risks and could cause the company’s actual results to differ from its historical results and forecasts, including those set forth in the company’s filings with the SEC, and you should refer to and carefully consider those for more information. This cautionary statement applies to all forward looking statements made during this call. Do not place undue reliance on any forward looking statements. During this call, the company may refer to non GAAP financial measures. Such non GAAP measures are not prepared in accordance with

Conference Operator: Ladies and gentlemen, please stand by. We’re having some technical difficulties. And Matt, you may proceed.

Matt Chesler, Investor Relations, PLBY Group: With that, I will hand the call back over to the operator to begin the Q and A session. Operator?

Mark, Executive, PLBY Group: Thank

Conference Operator: you. We will now be conducting a question and answer session. If you would like to ask a question, please press star one on your telephone keypad. A confirmation tone will indicate your line is in the question queue. You may press star two to remove yourself from the queue.

For participants using speaker equipment, it may be necessary to pick up the handset before pressing the star keys. And our first question comes from the line of George Kelly with ROTH Capital Partners. Please proceed with your question.

George Kelly, Analyst, ROTH Capital Partners: Hey, everyone. Thanks for taking my questions. First, if we could start with Honeybird debt. I was wondering if you could give us your expectations just as you look out for the next couple of quarters with respect to growth? And like when does that compare for the discounting quarters last year, when does that compare ease?

And then also with gross margin, should we expect much sort of change in gross margin in the near term?

Mark, Executive, PLBY Group: Hey, George, it’s Mark. In terms of comps, we’re lapping after the first quarter. So in the second quarter, we’re going to be up against an easy comparable from a sales standpoint. And we’re already seeing that we’re ahead of plan right now in the second quarter. So things look good at Hungry Birdat.

Do you have a second part to that question?

George Kelly, Analyst, ROTH Capital Partners: Yes, just on the near term gross margin expectations there too. And I guess the second part of that would be any kind of impact from Chinese tariffs?

Mark, Executive, PLBY Group: Yes. So the near term right now all the product that we’re selling pretty much in the second quarter is product that was brought in prior to the tariffs. When we look at the tariff impact going into 3Q and 4Q, it’s tough to quantify right now if you were to assume the tariffs that they have right now. It’s about $1,000,000 impact, which is not that big of a number. Now to help combat that, we put 10% price increases in already.

And in addition to that, we’re changing some of our shipping thresholds for free shipping. So there are a number of levers that we can pull. The good thing about the price increases is that should the tariffs stay where they are not go back up, the price increases stay in regardless that we’d get a pickup from that.

Ben, Executive, PLBY Group: Yes. So George, it’s Ben. Remember The US is roughly $35,000,000 of the business. And so we put a 10% price increase in on that. And should tariffs go back up, we have additional levers that we can pull as other companies have.

But the goal was to keep the price increases as permanent. And so if tariffs stays the same, there should actually be a pickup assuming there’s no degradation in volume moving forward.

George Kelly, Analyst, ROTH Capital Partners: And the million that you mentioned that’s for the back two quarters?

Mark, Executive, PLBY Group: Yes, for the back two quarters.

George Kelly, Analyst, ROTH Capital Partners: Okay. And then second topic I was hoping you could chat on is the VIBORG. What are their plans as far as new product development timeline? Anything you’re comfortable sharing on the call just sort of that’s in the works with BIBORG?

Ben, Executive, PLBY Group: Yeah, so we’ve been working actively with them. We’ve seen the new designs they have for the existing products as well as a live cams business. We’re excited by it. But if you remember, we have a great deal with them. It’s a $20,000,000 a year minimum guarantee.

And then we get a significant percentage of the ops of 25% above that. And I think as I’ve stated previously, I think that over the life of the deal, we should hopefully see profits well in excess of the MGs. But in the beginning years, they’re developing and spending money building out those products. And so for our purposes, we’re assuming it’s $20,000,000 a year right now is the MG moving forward. We will receive a further $20,000,000 payment from them this year.

It’s scheduled for July 1. That is $5,000,000 for the last two quarters of the year, plus what is effectively a $10,000,000 security deposit, which is a prepayment of the last six months of year 15 licensing term.

George Kelly, Analyst, ROTH Capital Partners: Okay. And there that second equity investment remind me on the that vote date got moved to the annual meeting. Is that correct? Is that later in May?

Ben, Executive, PLBY Group: Yeah, so the dates were sort of coming together. And so we decided just based on participation typically in the annual meeting to put that to the shareholders as part of the annual meeting. That’s scheduled for June 16.

George Kelly, Analyst, ROTH Capital Partners: Okay. And then last question for me is about the other licensing business. You made comments in the press release about enthusiasm or what you think is potential around certain other categories. I think you mentioned a club and and something maybe hospitality or something else.

Matt Chesler, Investor Relations, PLBY Group: Yeah.

George Kelly, Analyst, ROTH Capital Partners: What stage are is that something we could start to see in the back half of this year? Do you feel like you’re getting close? Just any more context around those comments would be helpful.

Ben, Executive, PLBY Group: Yeah, so I think it’s important to level set sort of where we are and what we’ve done. Right? And then we I’ll talk about that. Almost two years ago, we embarked on this asset light model. And Q1 was our first positive EBITDA quarter since ’23.

So, feel really good where we are now as a company. And what the future looks like for the balance of this year and moving forward, especially with our adjusted EBITDA positive $2,400,000 There was actually $1,000,000 of costs in the first quarter related to personnel that we’ve already eliminated at the end of the quarter. So, that would have actually been positive 3,400,000. But what we have is a portfolio of really stable high margin licensing deals. And now what we’re actually able because we have a plan to continue to reduce overhead, but we’re in a position now where we should start to produce cash as a company.

We can now sort of focus on growth. And I think that comes from two areas. As we mentioned in the press release, we’re seeing a lot of traction in what I would say is gaming. And then in the hospitality or LBE side of things, we have actually been approached by two, what I would say is some of the best operators we know of in The United States to develop some form of, for lack of a better term, Playboy Club. The physical build out of that and the development of that would actually take a while.

That’s a one to two year project. But the licensing deals themselves for gaming and some of the other stuff we have in our strong pipeline, that is something that we should see in the back half of this year starting. Obviously revenue recognition when you do a multi year deal, that subject to sort of straight line in the accountants. And then in addition to that, what’s really interesting is what happened with the magazine. And so, we sold out of the magazine, albeit a small print run online.

And then the sell through of Barnes and Nobles was unbelievable. They were our exclusive brick and mortar or new stand sale. And what we’ve seen come out of that actually, and we’re going to do one additional issue this year as we ramp up to hopefully four issues next year, is the ancillary revenue streams that come off of that. Think about these as quasi licensing streams actually from a margin profile perspective. But when we start to

Mark, Executive, PLBY Group: get

Ben, Executive, PLBY Group: into opportunities around mainstream content, so TV shows both linear and digital, as well as paid voting. We actually have a history of doing paid voting before. Back when we weren’t asset light, we had launched Playboy Lingerie and we actually done a paid voting campaign to find the next face of Playboy. And that generated significant amount of revenue and EBITDA for us. This deal that we’re doing is slightly different and we’ll talk about that on the next call.

But it’s something that we think is as an always on ongoing competition, really embracing our community and allowing them to help pick or dominate who might become the next playmate as we gear up for 12 playmates a year. And then the ancillary products around that, not only the magazine, but the calendars. We had a long history of producing a Playmate calendar that used to produce multiple millions of dollars a year in sales. And so there’s a lot of other revenue streams that can come on the back of what we’re doing from a content perspective. And then in addition to that, we get the benefit of what I would say is really the strong brand awareness and rebuilding the brand.

And so, I feel really good with where we are from our plan to continue to reduce overhead moving forward, continuing to increase EBITDA. And then really what is the growth opportunities, which I would say, if I look over the last three to five years are probably the strongest growth opportunities we’ve seen. Doesn’t mean it will hit in ’25. We’re really focused on sort of ’26 and beyond. But you could see paid voting in the second half of this year.

You could start to see a calendar that we’re planning for the magazine, which will come out in November. And then you also saw in the first quarter some sponsorship revenue. And we think that will continue and grow moving forward as we continue to refine what I would say is our media and content strategy moving forward, George.

George Kelly, Analyst, ROTH Capital Partners: Okay. Okay. Gotcha. Thank you very much.

Conference Operator: Thank you. And now I would like to hand it over back to Matt Chester for further questions.

Matt Chesler, Investor Relations, PLBY Group: Yeah, operator, we had an additional question on the drivers of the licensing business actually in the quarter from the team at Jefferies, Saleel Sanjeev and James Heeney. Ben, I think you answered a lot of this. If you’d like to provide any more details on the drivers of the quarter, go ahead. If not, perhaps we turn it over and have some concluding remarks.

Ben, Executive, PLBY Group: Sure, I’ll just reiterate. So, obviously licensing was up huge 175% year over year with ByBorg, without ByBorg it was still up over 50%. The two primary reasons for that were one, the BIBORG deal went into effect January 1. They’ve already made their first two payments. The second payment came in after the quarter ended as the contract calls for.

But that’s $5,000,000 a quarter. And then in addition to that, it’s the year over year improvement in rebuilding our China licensing business. We’re encouraged by what we see. A tough environment with the tariff war, but our partner is doing well. And we think there’s continued growth there.

And then what we’ve been really working on is the pipeline moving forward, which we should start to see the benefit of that in the third and fourth quarter with that pipeline and getting some of these deals across the finish line, which we’re very close on in gaming and other areas. And so I’m excited by that and I’m really excited as I mentioned, with some of the opportunities we have around content licensing, fast channels, paid playmate voting, etcetera, as we move forward. Anything else, not for questions that came in online?

Matt Chesler, Investor Relations, PLBY Group: Let me take a quick look. We do not have any more questions online.

Ben, Executive, PLBY Group: Great. I’ll conclude it by thanking everyone for joining our Q1 twenty twenty five call. Look forward to talking to you sometime in the August when we report Q2 earnings. So thank you everyone.

Conference Operator: Thank you and this does conclude today’s conference and you may disconnect your lines at this time. Thank you for your participation. Have a great day.

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