Latest news with #ePlus
Korea Herald
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
K-Musical Market opens with focus on global collaboration, financial sustainability
The fifth edition of the K-Musical Market kicked off Monday in Daehangno, Seoul's vibrant small theater district, launching a weeklong program aimed at strengthening Korea's position in the global musical theater ecosystem. Opening with a forum titled 'Evolving Factors Behind Box Office Success in the Global Musical Market,' the event brought together leading producers, licensing executives and cultural policymakers from Korea, the US, the UK, Japan and China to exchange insights on international trends and sustainable growth strategies. 'Korea has been a growing territory for at least 20 years and we look forward to more growth here. We look forward to learning more about unique Korean musicals that can find a wider audience in the rest of the world and we look forward to representing more,' said Sean Patrick Flahaven, chief theatricals executive of Concord Theatricals. He also emphasized the qualities that make musicals successful in licensing markets, with the example of 'Maybe Happy Ending,' a Tony-nominated musical adapted from the original Korean work. 'It's not so much dependent on being a Korean story as it is a more universal story. So I think that's an important aspect to have — that a compelling specific story can have universality as well — and that kind of universality speaks to success in future licensing.' Erica Lynn Schwartz, vice president of theatrical programming for ATG Entertainment, echoed the need for a broader vision by sharing her experience in producing "Moulin Rouge" at Colonial Theatre in Boston about 10 years ago. "The interest really was coming from the UK and Asia," she said, opening her eyes beyond Broadway. Both Flahaven and Schwartz acknowledged the financial challenges on Broadway, leading many producers to seek opportunities beyond Broadway. Referencing "Moulin Rouge" and "Suffs," she said, 'What I'm looking for is: What is the actual market to where we're going to be able to take these shows beyond Broadway … so it has to have a life on Broadway, but it also has to have a life beyond Broadway, or at least an audience where I know that there will be a sustainable financial model.' Presentations from Japan by ePlus and China by Star Space highlighted their unique musical markets. In his presentation, Daisuke Yokoyama, a senior executive from Japan's largest ticket platform ePlus, pointed out both structural differences and emerging synergies between the Japanese and Korean musical theater markets. He noted Japan's unique strength in producing "2.5-dimensional musicals" — shows adapted from anime, manga or games — which now make up about one-third of Japan's musical market and resonate especially with younger audiences. Meanwhile, original Korean musicals are gaining momentum in Japan, particularly in midsized venues of around 1,000 seats, aided by the global popularity of Korean content, including webtoons and streaming content. He proposed that Korean dynamism and Japanese delicacy in direction could lead to powerful co-productions, especially if paired with Broadway and West End business know-how. In a presentation on China's performing arts infrastructure, Jai Xuening, vice general manager of Shanghai Star Space Theater Management, introduced an ambitious, government-supported initiative that transforms commercial buildings and historic sites into clusters of small, modular theaters. Since its 2020 launch, flagship complexes like the Asia Mansion have housed up to 19 theaters under one roof, attracting over 70,000 ticketed audience members annually. Beyond presentations, the K-Musical Market includes musical pitching sessions, showcases, global meetings and over 300 business appointments, running through Friday. The K-Musical Market is presented by the Korea Arts Management Service and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
PLUS Q1 Earnings Call: Services Growth Offsets Product Decline, Management Cautious on Outlook
IT solutions provider ePlus (NASDAQ:PLUS) missed Wall Street's revenue expectations in Q1 CY2025, with sales falling 10.2% year on year to $498.1 million. Its non-GAAP EPS of $1.11 per share was 28.3% above analysts' consensus estimates. Is now the time to buy PLUS? Find out in our full research report (it's free). Operating Margin: 6.8%, up from 5.3% in the same quarter last year Market Capitalization: $1.85 billion ePlus' latest quarter reflected a shift in its revenue mix, as a decline in product sales was partially offset by robust growth in services. Management highlighted that demand for security, AI, and cloud offerings drove increased gross profit and margin expansion. CEO Mark Marron noted that the company's services-led approach, supported by strategic investments and acquisitions such as Bailiwick, resulted in higher gross margins and deeper customer relationships. While product sales faced headwinds from industry-wide shifts to subscription models and lingering macroeconomic uncertainty, services revenue—including managed and professional services—continued to grow rapidly. The company's focus on high-margin solution areas contributed to improved profitability, despite a challenging sales environment. Looking ahead, ePlus is positioning itself for further growth by expanding its capabilities in AI, security, and cloud services. Management remains cautious, citing persistent economic uncertainty and the ongoing customer transition to subscription-based revenue models. CEO Mark Marron stated, 'We are cautiously optimistic... but want to be prudent when considering the entire year and the trends we are experiencing with regard to ratable and netted down revenue.' The company expects continued strong demand for services, particularly as enterprise customers explore AI adoption through workshops and proof-of-concept offerings. However, management does not anticipate a significant acceleration in AI-driven infrastructure spending until later in the year or next year, and its forward guidance assumes some ongoing impact from economic headwinds. Management attributed the quarter's performance to the ongoing shift from product to services revenue, a more profitable business mix, and investments in high-growth technology areas. Economic uncertainty and the transition to subscription models also affected top-line results. Services revenue momentum: ePlus' services revenue, including professional and managed services, continued to grow at a rapid pace, with professional services benefiting from the Bailiwick acquisition and managed services bookings remaining strong. This shift is central to the company's strategy of deepening customer engagement and generating more predictable revenue streams. Product sales softness: The decline in product sales was largely attributed to industry-wide shifts toward subscription and ratable revenue models, as well as tough year-over-year comparisons given last year's supply chain-driven product deliveries. Management noted that some customers are still digesting prior networking equipment purchases, delaying new orders. Security and AI demand: Security-related offerings now represent a growing share of gross billings, reflecting heightened enterprise focus on digital risk mitigation. AI-driven workshops and envisioning sessions have received positive customer feedback, positioning ePlus for future growth as enterprise adoption of AI expands. Margin expansion: Gross margin improved significantly due to a higher mix of services revenue and products recognized on a net basis, as well as disciplined expense management. The company's operating margin also increased, helped by the more profitable business mix. Strategic investments and partnerships: ePlus has invested in AI expertise and infrastructure, including achieving NVIDIA DGX Ready SuperPOD and managed service provider specializations. These credentials support the company's capabilities in deploying enterprise-grade AI solutions and managing complex workloads. Management expects trends like services growth and AI adoption to shape revenue and profitability, while macroeconomic uncertainty and slower product spending remain key considerations. Enterprise AI adoption timing: While management sees long-term potential in AI, they believe most investment is currently concentrated with hyperscaler data centers, not enterprises. Broader enterprise spending on AI infrastructure is expected to pick up later this year or next, with current demand focused on workshops and pilot programs. Subscription model transition: ePlus anticipates continued headwinds from the industry shift toward ratable and subscription-based revenue models, which could dampen near-term product sales but support future growth and margin expansion as services become a larger part of the business. Economic and customer demand uncertainty: Management remains cautious due to ongoing macroeconomic uncertainty and slower decision-making among enterprise customers, especially in networking. Guidance assumes some continued impact from these headwinds, without factoring in a full recession scenario. In the coming quarters, the StockStory team will be watching (1) whether services revenue maintains its growth trajectory as enterprises continue to shift spending, (2) signs of recovery in networking product demand as customers complete equipment digestion, and (3) the pace at which enterprise AI adoption translates into infrastructure and consulting revenue. The company's ability to leverage its new AI partnerships and manage economic uncertainty will also be key for future performance. ePlus currently trades at a forward P/E ratio of 15.3×. In the wake of earnings, is it a buy or sell? Find out in our full research report (it's free). Market indices reached historic highs following Donald Trump's presidential victory in November 2024, but the outlook for 2025 is clouded by new trade policies that could impact business confidence and growth. While this has caused many investors to adopt a "fearful" wait-and-see approach, we're leaning into our best ideas that can grow regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate. Take advantage of Mr. Market by checking out our Top 6 Stocks for this week. This is a curated list of our High Quality stocks that have generated a market-beating return of 183% over the last five years (as of March 31st 2025). Stocks that made our list in 2020 include now familiar names such as Nvidia (+1,545% between March 2020 and March 2025) as well as under-the-radar businesses like the once-micro-cap company Tecnoglass (+1,754% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
CBIZ and ePlus Shares Are Soaring, What You Need To Know
A number of stocks jumped in the afternoon session after the major indices rebounded (Nasdaq +2.0%, S&P 500 +1.5%) as President Trump postponed the planned 50% tariff on European Union imports, shifting the start date to July 9, 2025. Companies with substantial business ties to Europe likely had some relief as the delay reduced near-term cost pressures and preserved cross-border demand. The stock market overreacts to news, and big price drops can present good opportunities to buy high-quality stocks. Among others, the following stocks were impacted: Business Process Outsourcing & Consulting company CBIZ (NYSE:CBZ) jumped 5%. Is now the time to buy CBIZ? Access our full analysis report here, it's free. IT Distribution & Solutions company ePlus (NASDAQ:PLUS) jumped 5.5%. Is now the time to buy ePlus? Access our full analysis report here, it's free. ePlus's shares are somewhat volatile and have had 10 moves greater than 5% over the last year. In that context, today's move indicates the market considers this news meaningful but not something that would fundamentally change its perception of the business. The previous big move we wrote about was 4 days ago when the stock gained 7% on the news that the company reported decent first quarter 2025 earnings. EPS beat handily while revenue missed. Notably, margins improved, thanks to a shift toward higher-margin services like software subscriptions and managed support. But looking ahead, the company initiated full-year fiscal 2026 guidance (since fiscal year 2025 ended in March), guiding to "net sales growth of low single digits, and gross profit and adjusted EBITDA in the mid single digits". This was below expectations of mid single digit revenue growth and double digit EBITDA growth. Overall, this was a mixed yet decent quarter. ePlus is down 5.8% since the beginning of the year, and at $69.70 per share, it is trading 31.4% below its 52-week high of $101.67 from October 2024. Investors who bought $1,000 worth of ePlus's shares 5 years ago would now be looking at an investment worth $1,874. Unless you've been living under a rock, it should be obvious by now that generative AI is going to have a huge impact on how large corporations do business. While Nvidia and AMD are trading close to all-time highs, we prefer a lesser-known (but still profitable) semiconductor stock benefiting from the rise of AI. Click here to access our free report on our favorite semiconductor growth story. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
ePlus Full Year 2025 Earnings: EPS Beats Expectations, Revenues Lag
Revenue: US$2.07b (down 7.0% from FY 2024). Net income: US$108.0m (down 6.7% from FY 2024). Profit margin: 5.2% (in line with FY 2024). EPS: US$4.07 (down from US$4.35 in FY 2024). We check all companies for important risks. See what we found for ePlus in our free report. All figures shown in the chart above are for the trailing 12 month (TTM) period Revenue missed analyst estimates by 1.2%. Earnings per share (EPS) exceeded analyst estimates by 7.1%. Looking ahead, revenue is forecast to grow 2.3% p.a. on average during the next 2 years, compared to a 7.4% growth forecast for the Electronic industry in the US. Performance of the American Electronic industry. The company's share price is broadly unchanged from a week ago. Just as investors must consider earnings, it is also important to take into account the strength of a company's balance sheet. See our latest analysis on ePlus' balance sheet health. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
ePlus Full Year 2025 Earnings: EPS Beats Expectations, Revenues Lag
Revenue: US$2.07b (down 7.0% from FY 2024). Net income: US$108.0m (down 6.7% from FY 2024). Profit margin: 5.2% (in line with FY 2024). EPS: US$4.07 (down from US$4.35 in FY 2024). We check all companies for important risks. See what we found for ePlus in our free report. All figures shown in the chart above are for the trailing 12 month (TTM) period Revenue missed analyst estimates by 1.2%. Earnings per share (EPS) exceeded analyst estimates by 7.1%. Looking ahead, revenue is forecast to grow 2.3% p.a. on average during the next 2 years, compared to a 7.4% growth forecast for the Electronic industry in the US. Performance of the American Electronic industry. The company's share price is broadly unchanged from a week ago. Just as investors must consider earnings, it is also important to take into account the strength of a company's balance sheet. See our latest analysis on ePlus' balance sheet health. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
