NICE Q1 Earnings Beat Estimates on Strong Cloud Revenues, Stock Rises

Core Insights - NICE reported adjusted earnings of $2.87 per share for Q1 2025, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 1.06% and reflecting an 11% year-over-year increase [1] - Non-GAAP revenues reached $700.2 million, surpassing the consensus mark by 0.12% and showing a 6% year-over-year growth [1] Revenue Breakdown - Revenues in the Americas were $590 million, up 6% year over year [2] - EMEA revenues were $74 million, reflecting a 10% year-over-year increase [2] - APAC revenues increased by 9% year over year to $36 million [2] - Cloud revenues constituted 75.2% of total revenues at $526.3 million, marking a 12% year-over-year growth despite missing the consensus estimate by 0.22% [3] - Service revenues accounted for 20% of total revenues at $140.2 million, down 5.8% year over year and missing the consensus by 0.44% [3] - Product revenues, making up 4.8% of total revenues, were $33.7 million, exceeding the consensus by 8.31% but down 19.8% year over year [4] Operating Performance - Non-GAAP gross margin contracted by 100 basis points to 69.9% [5] - Research and development expenses as a percentage of revenues decreased by 60 basis points to 12.7% [5] - Sales and marketing expenses as a percentage of revenues contracted by 40 basis points to 23.1% [5] - General and administrative expenses decreased by 110 basis points to 9.9% [5] - Non-GAAP operating expenses as a percentage of revenues contracted by 120 basis points to 39.4% [6] - Non-GAAP operating margin expanded by 20 basis points to 30.5% [6] - Non-GAAP EBITDA margin increased by 30 basis points to 33.6% [6] Balance Sheet and Cash Flow - As of March 31, 2025, NICE had cash and cash equivalents of $1.61 billion, slightly down from $1.62 billion at the end of 2024 [7] - Long-term debt was $459.2 million, a slight increase from $458.8 million at the end of 2024 [8] - Cash flow from operations in Q1 2025 was $285.1 million, up from $249.5 million in the same quarter last year [8] - The company allocated $500 million for share repurchases in Q1 2025 [8] Guidance - For Q2 2025, NICE expects non-GAAP revenues between $709 million and $719 million, indicating a 7% year-over-year growth at the midpoint [9] - Non-GAAP earnings are projected to be between $2.93 and $3.03 per share, suggesting a 13% year-over-year growth at the midpoint [9] - For the full year 2025, NICE anticipates non-GAAP revenues between $2.92 billion and $2.94 billion, implying a 7% year-over-year growth at the midpoint [9] - Non-GAAP earnings for the full year are estimated to be between $12.28 and $12.48 per share, indicating an 11% year-over-year growth at the midpoint [10]