The Zombie Stock List Makes Another Call For Five9

Core Viewpoint - Five9 Inc. is classified as a Zombie Stock due to its high cash burn, lack of profitability, and declining revenue growth, despite recent revenue increases driven by enterprise AI [3][4][6][8]. Financial Performance - Five9's subscription revenue grew 16% year-over-year (YoY) in 2Q25, primarily due to a 42% increase in enterprise AI revenue [4]. - Total revenue increased by 12% YoY in 2Q25, and management raised its full-year 2025 revenue guidance to 10% YoY [4]. - The company has not generated annual profits since 2019 and has a negative free cash flow (FCF) [4][10]. Cash Position and Burn Rate - Five9's cash on hand decreased from $1.1 billion in the TTM ended 2Q24 to $636 million in the TTM ended 2Q25, indicating a significant cash burn [7]. - The company has burned through a cumulative $1.1 billion in FCF since 2017, with a TTM cash burn of -$299 million [11][10]. Profitability and Valuation - Five9 is the least profitable company in its industry, with a negative net operating profit after tax (NOPAT) of -$5 million in the TTM [15][17]. - To justify its current stock price of $26/share, Five9 would need to achieve $8.5 billion in revenue by 2034, which is nearly 8 times its TTM revenue [20]. - If revenue grows at consensus and industry forecast rates, the stock could be worth just $6/share today, indicating a 77% downside [22]. Competitive Landscape - Competitors like Microsoft and Nice Ltd. maintain competitive advantages by offering full-service solutions, while Five9 remains focused on niche offerings [18]. - Analysts expect Five9's revenue growth to lag behind the projected 22% compounded annual growth rate of the cloud-based contact center market from 2025 to 2034 [14].