Can Toast Sustain Healthy Net Additions in Q2 and Beyond?

Core Insights - Toast Inc (TOST) started 2025 with strong momentum, adding over 6,000 net locations in Q1 2025, totaling approximately 140,000 customer locations globally, reflecting a 25% year-over-year growth [1] - The company aims to achieve record net additions in the current quarter and expects 2025 to surpass 2024's full-year net additions [1] - Toast is focusing on expanding its presence in the U.S. SMB restaurant market, with only 10% penetration into its total addressable market (TAM) of 1.4 million locations, indicating significant long-term growth potential [1] - The company is also pursuing growth in three new areas: enterprise, international, and food & beverage retail, targeting over 10,000 locations by the end of 2025 in these segments [1] Technology and Innovation - Toast's AI-powered tools, such as Sous Chef and ToastIQ, are enhancing its competitive edge in restaurant technology [2] - The company has improved its reporting, payroll, and accounting tools, and introduced a Benchmarking tool to assist restaurants in managing costs [2] - These advancements position Toast as a full-stack solutions provider, which is expected to support its growth trajectory beyond the current quarter [2] Financial Projections - Toast projects a 26% growth in fintech and subscription gross profit for 2025 at the midpoint, with adjusted EBITDA estimated at $550 million and a 31% margin, reflecting a five percentage point increase from 2024 [3] Market Environment - Management is closely monitoring the macro environment, acknowledging the restaurant industry's sensitivity to consumer spending, labor inflation, and supply chain volatility [4] - A downturn in consumer spending or increased cost pressures could potentially impact restaurant technology budgets, affecting TOST's performance [4] Competitive Landscape - Competitor Lightspeed Commerce Inc. is pivoting towards North America's Retail and Europe's Hospitality sectors, reporting a 3% year-over-year increase in customer locations and a 6% rise in GTV for these customers [5][6] - Block, Inc. offers a comprehensive commerce ecosystem, including Square for Restaurants, which competes directly with TOST's offerings, generating $1.48 billion in transaction revenues, up 5.9% year over year [7][8] Stock Performance and Valuation - TOST shares gained 13.9% year to date, slightly underperforming the Internet-Software industry's growth of 14.2% [9] - The shares are currently trading at a price/book ratio of 12.34X, higher than the industry average of 6.49X [11] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for TOST's earnings for 2025 has remained unchanged over the past 30 days [12]