Core Viewpoint - Autodesk, Inc. (NASDAQ: ADSK) is assigned a Buy rating due to its strong billing growth and focus on cloud, platform, and AI technologies, with a fair value estimate of $336 per share [1] Company Summary - The company has demonstrated significant billing growth, which is a positive indicator for its financial health and future performance [1] - Autodesk's strategic emphasis on cloud services, platform development, and artificial intelligence positions it well for future growth in the technology sector [1]

Core Insights - Autodesk Inc. reported better-than-expected first-quarter financial results, with earnings of $2.29 per share and revenue of $1.63 billion, surpassing analyst estimates [1][2] - The company issued strong guidance for the second quarter, expecting adjusted EPS between $2.44 and $2.48 and revenue between $1.72 billion and $1.73 billion, both above analyst estimates [2] - Autodesk raised its fiscal 2026 adjusted EPS guidance to a range of $9.50 to $9.73 and revenue guidance to between $6.92 billion and $7 billion, also exceeding estimates [3] Analyst Ratings and Price Targets - Rosenblatt analyst maintained a Buy rating and raised the price target from $340 to $345 [8] - DA Davidson maintained a Neutral rating and increased the price target from $265 to $305 [8] - Morgan Stanley maintained an Overweight rating and raised the price target from $330 to $370 [8] - Keybanc maintained an Overweight rating and increased the price target from $323 to $350 [8] - Barclays maintained an Overweight rating and raised the price target from $325 to $355 [8] - Stifel maintained a Buy rating and increased the price target from $310 to $350 [8] - BMO Capital maintained a Market Perform rating and raised the price target from $324 to $333 [8] - Goldman Sachs maintained a Neutral rating and boosted the price target from $270 to $300 [8] - B of A Securities maintained a Neutral rating and raised the price target from $290 to $330 [8]

Group 1: Autodesk Inc (ADSK) - Autodesk reported a first-quarter earnings and revenue beat, along with a raised full-year guidance [2] - Following the earnings report, 11 brokerage firms increased their price targets, with Morgan Stanley raising its target from $330 to $370 [2] - Despite a slight decline of 0.3% to $294.03, Autodesk's stock is up 37% year-over-year [2] - Options volume for Autodesk is significantly high, running at 12 times the average daily pace, with notable activity in the 300-strike and 315-strike calls [3] Group 2: Workday Inc (WDAY) - Workday also reported a first-quarter earnings and revenue beat, but faced pressure due to a disappointing subscription revenue outlook [4] - The stock was down 10.8% to $242.48, with J.P. Morgan Securities maintaining an "overweight" rating, while six analysts cut their price targets [4] - Workday is experiencing its worst single-session drop since May 2024, with a decline of 6.4% in 2025 [4] - Options trading for Workday is exceptionally high, with 10,000 calls and 13,000 puts traded, which is 20 times the average daily volume [5]

Core Insights - Autodesk, Inc. will be participating in the Baird 2025 Global Consumer, Technology & Services Conference on June 4, 2025, where executives will present [1] - A live webcast and replay of the presentations will be accessible through Autodesk's Investor Relations Website [1] Company Overview - Autodesk is a trusted partner for designers, engineers, builders, and creators, providing tools to design and create various structures and products [2] - The company's Design and Make Platform leverages data to enhance insights and automate processes, enabling customers to improve their business outcomes and contribute positively to the planet [2] - Autodesk utilizes its investor relations website to disclose material non-public information and announce upcoming investor conferences, complying with Regulation FD [2]

Market Overview - Market indexes showed resilience against high bond yields, with the 30-year bond yield at +5.05%, the highest in 18 years, but moderated from previous spikes [1] - Major indexes finished flat, with the Dow, S&P 500, and Russell 2000 remaining unchanged, while the Nasdaq closed up +53 points (+0.28%) [2] - Despite being in the red over the past five trading days, the indexes have seen double-digit gains over the past month [2] Quarterly Earnings Summary - **Workday (WDAY)**: Reported Q1 earnings of $2.23 per share on $2.4 billion in sales, beating previous figures of $1.99 per share and $2.22 billion. However, shares fell -5% due to steady guidance and reduced capex spending [3] - **Deckers Outdoor (DECK)**: Earnings of $1.00 per share exceeded the Zacks consensus of 57 cents, with revenues of $1.02 billion surpassing expectations of $988.6 million. Shares dropped -11% due to lower-than-expected guidance for the current quarter and full-year guidance held back due to tariff issues [3] - **Intuit (INTU)**: Surpassed earnings expectations with $11.65 per share against a consensus of $10.89, and revenues of $7.75 billion exceeding the $7.54 billion forecast. Shares rose +5% following a significant increase in next-quarter guidance driven by Credit Karma growth [4] - **Ross Stores (ROST)**: Beat earnings estimates by 4 cents with $1.47 per share on $4.98 billion in revenues, slightly above consensus. Same-store sales were flat but improved from a projected decline. Shares fell -9% due to lower next-quarter earnings guidance attributed to tariff pressures [5] - **AutoDesk (ADSK)**: Reported Q1 earnings of $2.29 per share, beating the anticipated $2.14, with revenues of $1.63 billion slightly above the forecast of $1.61 billion. Shares gained +5% due to positive next-quarter guidance [6]

Core Insights - Autodesk reported quarterly earnings of $2.29 per share, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.14 per share, and showing an increase from $1.87 per share a year ago, resulting in an earnings surprise of 7.01% [1] - The company achieved revenues of $1.63 billion for the quarter ended April 2025, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 1.64% and up from $1.42 billion year-over-year [2] Earnings Performance - Autodesk has consistently surpassed consensus EPS estimates over the last four quarters, indicating strong earnings performance [2] - The stock has experienced a slight decline of about 0.9% since the beginning of the year, compared to a decline of -0.6% for the S&P 500 [3] Future Outlook - The future performance of Autodesk's stock will largely depend on management's commentary during the earnings call and the company's earnings outlook [3][4] - Current consensus EPS estimate for the upcoming quarter is $2.34 on revenues of $1.7 billion, and for the current fiscal year, it is $9.48 on revenues of $6.92 billion [7] Industry Context - The Internet - Software industry, to which Autodesk belongs, is currently ranked in the top 26% of over 250 Zacks industries, suggesting a favorable industry outlook [8] - Empirical research indicates a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions, which can be tracked by investors [5]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total revenue in Q1 grew 15% as reported and 16% in constant currency, with a contribution from the new transaction model of $78 million [12][18] - Billings increased 29% as reported and 30% in constant currency, reflecting the shift to annual billings for most multiyear contracts [12][18] - First quarter free cash flow was $556 million, with GAAP operating margins decreasing by seven percentage points due to restructuring charges [14][15] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Strength was observed in AECO, upfront revenue from enterprise business agreements (EBAs), and the Autodesk store as friction from the new transaction model eased [11] - The contribution from the new transaction model to billings was $105 million in Q1, with billings growing 22% at constant currency excluding this impact [12][18] - Non-GAAP operating margins increased by three percentage points, reflecting operating leverage from ongoing cost discipline [15] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The U.S. dollar has depreciated against major currencies, impacting billings, revenue, and free cash flow guidance ranges [17] - Asia Pacific showed some softness, particularly in Japan, which was the last to adopt the new transaction model, and China and Korea were more exposed to macroeconomic turmoil [115][116] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focusing growth investments on strategic priorities in cloud, platform, and AI, optimizing sales and marketing to drive higher margins [8][19] - The new transaction model aims to integrate more closely with customers, driving additional business while increasing automation [9] - The company is committed to delivering connected solutions and enhancing operational efficiency to capture growth opportunities in the market [28][29] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted that customer conversations reflect uncertainty due to geopolitical and macroeconomic factors, but construction backlog ticked up, and monthly active users increased [39][40] - The company is prepared for potential macroeconomic impacts, having factored in greater uncertainty into their guidance while maintaining a positive outlook based on Q1 performance [17][92] Other Important Information - The company is refreshing its board to guide the next decade of growth, with new appointments aimed at enhancing strategic direction [8] - The company is focused on reducing stock-based compensation as a percentage of revenue to below 10% [15] Q&A Session Summary Question: How are customer conversations evolving given the uncertainty? - Management acknowledged that trade policy uncertainty is impacting customers, but noted that construction backlog and active user growth remain positive [39][40] Question: Can you discuss margin momentum and the sales and marketing optimization plan? - Management indicated strong Q1 performance driven by revenue outperformance and ongoing expense discipline, with the sales and marketing optimization plan on track [41][43] Question: What are the benefits and risks of channel consolidation? - Management is encouraging consolidation towards fewer, more solution-focused partners, which has led to increased activity and price realization [51][55] Question: How is the new transaction model progressing? - Management reported no significant disruptions compared to the previous year, with channel productivity expected to increase as partners adapt [60][61] Question: What are the opportunities for AI functionality? - Management emphasized the focus on delivering specific AI enhancements that drive productivity, with plans to roll out more sophisticated tools [78][80] Question: How is the company addressing labor constraints in the industry? - Management noted persistent labor constraints and emphasized the need for digital efficiency, which is driving robust adoption of their solutions [94]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total revenue in Q1 grew 15% as reported and 16% in constant currency, with a contribution from the new transaction model to revenue of $78 million [12][13] - Billings increased 29% as reported and 30% in constant currency, reflecting the shift to annual billings for most multiyear contracts [12][13] - First quarter free cash flow was $556 million, with GAAP operating margins decreasing by seven percentage points due to restructuring charges [15][14] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Strength was observed in AECO, upfront revenue from enterprise business agreements (EBAs), and the Autodesk store as friction from the new transaction model eased [10] - The contribution from the new transaction model to billings was $105 million in Q1, with billings growing 22% at constant currency excluding the impact of the new transaction model [12][13] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The U.S. dollar has depreciated against major currencies, impacting billings, revenue, and free cash flow guidance ranges [17] - Asia Pacific showed some softness, particularly in Japan, which was the last to adopt the new transaction model, and China and Korea were more exposed to macroeconomic turmoil [114] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focusing growth investments on strategic priorities in cloud, platform, and AI, optimizing sales and marketing to drive higher margins [7] - The new transaction model aims to integrate more closely with customers, driving additional business while increasing automation and reducing duplicative workflows [8] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted that customer conversations reflect uncertainty due to trade policy and macroeconomic factors, but construction backlog increased and monthly active users grew [40] - The company remains optimistic about its underlying business momentum despite macroeconomic uncertainties, with guidance reflecting caution [17][89] Other Important Information - The company is refreshing its board to guide the next decade of growth, with new appointments aimed at enhancing strategic direction [7] - The company is committed to reducing stock-based compensation as a percentage of revenue to below 10% [15] Q&A Session Summary Question: How are customer conversations evolving given the uncertainty? - Management acknowledged that trade policy uncertainty is impacting customers, but noted that construction backlog increased and business inflow remains strong [40] Question: Can you discuss margin momentum and the sales and marketing optimization plan? - Management indicated that Q1 margin strength was driven by revenue outperformance and ongoing expense discipline, with the sales and marketing optimization plan on track [42][43] Question: What are the benefits and risks of channel consolidation? - Management is encouraging consolidation towards fewer, more solution-focused partners, which has led to increased activity and price realization in the store [52][55] Question: How is the new transaction model progressing? - Management reported that disruptions seen last year are not present now, and channel productivity is expected to increase as partners adapt to the new model [61][62] Question: What is the outlook for net revenue retention (NRR)? - Management confirmed that the NRR is above the 100-110% range due to the new transaction model, and it is expected to remain in that range for the year [63] Question: How is the company addressing labor constraints in the industry? - Management noted that labor constraints persist, but the demand for digital efficiency is driving robust adoption of their solutions [91] Question: What are the plans for AI functionality and future use cases? - Management emphasized the focus on delivering AI enhancements that drive productivity, with plans to roll out more sophisticated tools [78][80] Question: What is the current status of the restructuring and its impact? - Management indicated that while there was some disruption from the restructuring, overall business momentum has improved, and risks are being managed effectively [85][86]

Financial Performance - Q1 FY26 - Billings reached $1434 million, a 29% year-over-year increase[5] - Revenue totaled $1633 million, up 15% compared to the previous year[5] - Non-GAAP operating margin was 37%, a 3 percentage point increase year-over-year[5] - Free cash flow amounted to $556 million, a 14% increase from the prior year[5] Revenue Breakdown - Q1 FY26 - Design revenue was $1361 million, showing a 14% year-over-year increase[9] - Make revenue reached $179 million, a 23% increase compared to the previous year[9] - Americas revenue was $725 million, up 17% year-over-year[9] - EMEA revenue totaled $627 million, a 17% increase from the prior year[9] Outlook - FY26 - The company projects billings between $7160 million and $7310 million[11] - Revenue is expected to be in the range of $6925 million to $6995 million[11] - Non-GAAP operating margin is forecasted to be between 365% and 37%[11]

Financial Performance - First quarter revenue increased by 15% year-over-year to $1.6 billion, with a 16% growth on a constant currency basis[1] - Billings for Q1 FY26 reached $1.434 billion, reflecting a 29% year-over-year increase[3] - GAAP EPS for Q1 FY26 was $0.70, down $0.46 compared to the previous year, while non-GAAP EPS was $2.29, up $0.42[3] - Total net revenue by product type showed Design revenue at $1.361 billion (14% increase), Make revenue at $179 million (23% increase), and Other revenue at $93 million (22% increase)[4] - Total net revenue for the three months ended April 30, 2025, was $1,633 million, a decrease from $1,633 million in the same period last year[39] - Subscription revenue reached $1,532 million, while maintenance revenue was $8 million, contributing to a total subscription and maintenance revenue of $1,540 million[39] - Net income for the period was $152 million, with diluted net income per share at $0.70[39] Revenue Guidance - Q2 FY26 revenue guidance is projected between $1.720 billion and $1.730 billion, with GAAP EPS guidance of $1.37 to $1.46[12] - Full-year FY26 revenue guidance is set between $6.925 billion and $6.995 billion, with billings expected between $7.160 billion and $7.310 billion[12] Cash Flow and Capital Allocation - The company plans to allocate more capital to share repurchases as free cash flow grows, which was $556 million in Q1 FY26, a 14% increase[3] - Cash and cash equivalents increased to $1,816 million from $1,599 million at the beginning of the period[41] - Operating cash flow for the three months ended April 30, 2025, was $564 million, compared to $494 million in the same period last year[41] - Net cash provided by operating activities amounted to $564 million, resulting in free cash flow of $556 million[45] - The company repurchased $354 million of common stock during the period[41] Operating Metrics - Remaining performance obligations (RPO) totaled $7.157 billion, a 21% increase year-over-year, with current RPO at $4.552 billion (16% increase)[8] - Total operating expenses amounted to $1,240 million, with research and development expenses at $394 million[39] - GAAP operating margin for the three months ended April 30, 2025, was 14%, while the non-GAAP operating margin was 37%[45] - The GAAP operating margin for FY26 is expected to be between 21% and 22%, with a non-GAAP operating margin forecasted at 36.5% to 37%[48] Stock and Intangible Assets - Autodesk's goodwill increased to $4,275 million from $4,242 million at the end of January 2025[40] - Deferred revenue stood at $3,620 million, a decrease from $3,787 million at the end of January 2025[40] - Total assets decreased to $10,585 million from $10,833 million at the end of January 2025[40] Future Projections - For Q2 FY26, GAAP EPS is projected to be between $1.37 and $1.46, with non-GAAP EPS expected to be between $2.44 and $2.48[48] - The FY26 GAAP EPS is forecasted to be between $4.63 and $5.14, while non-GAAP EPS is anticipated to be between $9.50 and $9.73[49] - Stock-based compensation expense for Q2 FY26 is estimated to be between $0.87 and $0.89[48] - Amortization of purchased intangibles and developed technologies for FY26 is projected at $0.65[49] - Restructuring and other exit costs for FY26 are expected to be between $0.53 and $0.60[49] - Income tax adjustments for FY26 are anticipated to range from $(0.24) to $(0.33)[49] Strategic Focus - The focus remains on strategic priorities in cloud, platform, and AI to drive long-term shareholder value amidst macroeconomic uncertainties[2]