Sabre (SABR) Q1 2025 Earnings Call May 07, 2025 09:00 AM ET Company Participants Brian Evans - SVP, Investor Relation & TreasurerKurt Ekert - President & Chief Executive OfficerMike Randolfi - Chief Financial OfficerJed Kelly - Managing Director - Equity ResearchJames Goodall - Director & Head - Transport & Leisure Conference Call Participants Victor Cheng - AnalystJoshua Baer - AnalystJeff Harlib - AnalystNone - AnalystAlex Irving - Analyst Operator Good morning, and welcome to the Sabre First Quarter twen ...

Sabre (SABR) Q1 2025 Earnings Call May 07, 2025 09:00 AM ET Speaker0 Good morning, and welcome to the Sabre First Quarter twenty twenty five Earnings Conference Call. My name is Rivka, and I'll be your operator. As a reminder, please note today's call is being recorded. I will now turn the call over to the Senior Vice President, Investor Relations and Treasurer, Brian Evans. Please go ahead, sir. Speaker1 Good morning, and welcome to our first quarter twenty twenty five earnings call. This morning, we issue ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported a trailing twelve month recurring calculated billings growth of 14% year over year, marking the strongest performance in ten quarters [6] - Subscription revenue reached $70.8 million, up 10% year over year, while total revenue was $86.3 million, up 7% year over year, both exceeding guidance [20] - Free cash flow improved by $6 million year over year to $1.1 million, despite Q1 typically being a seasonally high cash used quarter [19][22] - Non-GAAP earnings per share was $0.13, also exceeding guidance [23] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Recurring revenue constituted 85% of total revenue, an increase from 84% in Q1 of the previous year [20] - Non-GAAP subscription gross margin improved to 81%, an increase of over 160 basis points year over year [21] - Non-GAAP services gross margin was 13%, improving by over 460 basis points year over year [21] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company saw strong demand in the travel sector, winning contracts with two of the top seven US carriers [12] - The ongoing market volatility has led to increased adoption of AI-powered pricing and selling solutions, with companies recognizing the need for real-time data-driven decisions [9][10] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on enhancing its AI-powered pricing and selling solutions, which are deemed mission-critical in volatile markets [6][14] - The upcoming Outperform conference will showcase the latest AI innovations, emphasizing the integration of AI with customer experience [14] - The company plans to increase investments in selling and marketing in the second quarter [23] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management acknowledged the complex selling environment due to macroeconomic uncertainties but noted strong execution and demand across B2B and travel sectors [5][34] - There is confidence in the company's ability to navigate market volatility, with an increase in inbound demand and SDR-based meetings booked [35] - The company maintains its full-year guidance despite positive momentum, citing macro risks as a consideration [62] Other Important Information - The company announced the planned retirement of its CEO, with Jeff Cotton set to take over as president and CEO [15][16] - The company exited Q1 with $170 million in cash and investments [22] Q&A Session Summary Question: Insights on the travel segment's momentum - Management noted improvements in travel bookings and highlighted innovations in offer optimization that resonate with airlines [30][31] Question: Impact of current macro conditions on business - Management indicated that the complex selling environment has not negatively impacted demand, with companies accelerating initiatives [34][35] Question: Clarification on gross margin improvements - Management explained that efficiencies in cloud solutions and automation in services have driven better gross margins [40][41] Question: Customer behavior regarding implementations - Management reported no significant changes in demand patterns, with strong demand for CPQ solutions [44] Question: Revenue guidance breakdown - Management provided a split of approximately 40% new customers and 60% existing customers, expecting this mix to remain consistent [51] Question: Go-to-market changes contributing to improved bookings - Management highlighted improvements in sales execution, marketing function, and demand generation as key contributors to better bookings [55]