Medpace Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:MEDP) Q4 2022 Earnings Call Transcript

August Troendle: Sure, Max, cancellation rate was up not, not drastically, but it was it did get outside of the, our usual kind of 5% range. So it was moderately elevated, was not in not a particularly striking increase, but slightly up. And a portion of backlog that has clients that, are at risk, I guess you might put that into our total group of fun partnered pre revenue clients. I don’t know. I mean, it’s a handful, 10 or so clients that we’ve had discussions with about funding and difficulty or program reorganization, reprioritization, whatever. Jessie, do you have the number on the total portion of our clients that are non-partnered?

Jesse Geiger: Let me let me grab it. The group that we’ve that we’ve had specific conversations with over specific information from his is a, a subset of that of that total group. But no, let me let me grab the total.

Max Smock: And then — okay, perfect. And as a follow up, related, I guess in terms of your plans for capital allocation, right. I mean the stock near all time, highs here, you’re pointing to things slowing down, but you still have this 450 million of share repurchase authorization out there. So you just help us think through share repurchases in 2023, whether or not it makes sense to be buying back stock you’re given where everything is and the potential for things slowing back down as we move throughout the year here. Thank you.

Kevin Brady: Max, this is Kevin. As we’ve traditionally done, historically, I mean, we will continue to take an opportunistic approach to share repurchases. We were able to execute some in the fourth quarter and you can see what those level levels look like. But as we approach 2023, again, the extent that volatility in the market opens up opportunity, we’ll look at share repurchases again. If not, we’re not afraid to build some cash either.

Max Smock: Got it. Thank you.

Jesse Geiger: Max, just a follow up. Around 60% of our of our backlog is with customers that have that are non-partnered with, with large pharma.

Max Smock: Okay, that’s helpful. Thank you.

Operator: Thank you. Our next question or comment comes from the line of David Windley from Jefferies. Mr. Windley. Your line is now open.

David Windley: Gentlemen, thanks for taking — ladies and gentlemen thanks for taking my question. I guess August I’m interested in in kind of a further bridge to Sandy’s question around the environment. I think the first call where you sounded a little bit of caution warning to us was a year ago. And you’ve been able to navigate, as you said, been able to navigate pretty effectively. Bookings growth was down year-over-year but still growing. So I guess I’m wondering, is it easy to cut what is what’s allowing you to post numbers that can still get you to your growth outlook when it seems to be a deteriorating environment, should we just chalk that up to conservative guidance or a sales effort that is kind of turning over more rocks and so you have more things going in the top of the funnel that allows you to absorb something — a higher percentage of opportunities dropping out. Maybe you could add a little more detail to the navigation through the turbulence here.