Calix (CALX) FY 2025 Conference June 10, 2025 04:00 PM ET Speaker0 Hi. Good afternoon, everyone, and, thanks for joining us at the Rosenblatt Age of AI tech conference. I'm Mike Genovese, the cloud and communications equipment manager equipment manager. Equipment analyst. That's my other job, equipment manager. So, again, thanks for joining us. Super happy to have, management from, Calix with us today. We've got the chairman, Carl Russo, the chief financial officer, Corey Sindelar. And, with her camera off ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue for Q1 2025 was $220 million, representing a 7% sequential growth and a 39% year-over-year increase in RPOs to $340 million [17][18] - Non-GAAP gross margin reached a record 56.2% in Q1, driven by customer mix and new subscriber wins [18] - Cash and investments totaled $282 million, with double-digit free cash flow generated for the eighth consecutive quarter [19][20] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company added 16 new BSP customers in Q1, primarily through competitive takeaways, indicating strong demand for its platform [18] - The introduction of SmartBiz for small businesses and SmartMDU for multi-dwelling units expanded the customer base and service offerings [9][18] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Demand for broadband experiences remains strong and inelastic, with consumers prioritizing broadband over discretionary spending [12][44] - The company anticipates continued growth in demand through 2025, supported by its unique business model [11][12] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to differentiate itself from traditional speed-based network operators by focusing on experience-based broadband services [7][8] - The strategy includes leveraging marketing analytics to help customers reduce churn and grow revenue per subscriber [35][60] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the resilience of broadband demand despite potential economic downturns, citing historical trends during the pandemic [44][45] - The company raised its revenue guidance for Q2 2025 to between $221 million and $227 million, reflecting ongoing strong demand [21] Other Important Information - The board approved an additional $100 million for the stock repurchase program, indicating confidence in the company's financial health [23] - The company plans to keep operating expenses flat to slightly up in 2025, while gross margins are expected to improve by 100 to 200 basis points annually [22] Q&A Session Summary Question: Insights on macro spending environment and CapEx plans - Management noted that customers are continuing to invest appropriately in capital expenditures, driven by consumer and business demand [34][36] Question: Clarification on customer pull-forwards - Management clarified that the pull-forwards were not related to tariffs but were due to inherent business lumpiness [39][40] Question: Expectations for sequential revenue growth - Management confirmed expectations for continued sequential revenue growth, even with the pull-forward from a large customer [49] Question: Impact of tariffs on gross margins - Management stated that there was no impact from tariffs in Q1, and they will pass through any future costs without adding a profit margin [54][56] Question: Opportunities from DZS bankruptcy - Management expressed sympathy for affected customers but noted that they are offering support and assistance to those in need [102][103]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported Q4 revenue of $206 million, representing a 2.6% sequential growth and at the high end of the guidance range provided in October [8] - Record non-GAAP gross margin of 55.5% was achieved in Q4, driven by strong demand for platform cloud and managed services [8] - Remaining performance obligations (RPOs) grew 10% sequentially to $326 million and increased 34% year over year [8] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company added 18 new customers in Q4, with the majority being competitive takeaways [9] - 21 customers expanded their use of the platform, 15 started with Calix Cloud, and 32 deployed a managed service for the first time [9] - Current RPOs were $121 million, up 10% sequentially and 27% year over year [8] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company’s balance sheet metrics remained strong, ending the year with record cash and investments of $297 million [10] - Days sales outstanding (DSO) remained at an industry-best 36 days, and inventory turns were 3.1 [10] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to help customers transition from speed-based network operators to broadband experience providers, focusing on differentiation through broadband experiences [5][6] - The strategy includes expanding the footprint by landing new broadband service providers and continuously enhancing platform, cloud, and managed services [12] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the ongoing transformation within the broadband industry, viewing it as a once-in-a-generation opportunity [13] - The company anticipates revenue for Q1 2025 to be between $204 million and $210 million, with non-GAAP gross margin expected to remain flat to slightly up [11] Other Important Information - The company plans to keep operating expenses flat to slightly up in 2025 compared to 2024 [12] - Management highlighted the importance of helping customers monetize their subscriber base and differentiate in a commoditized market [28] Q&A Session Summary Question: What drove the increase in RPO this quarter? - Management noted that the increase was due to momentum from recent events and a shift in customer mindset towards embracing transformation [20][21] Question: Concerns about government programs and their scrutiny? - Management stated that there is a lot of noise but no significant news affecting their strategy at this time [24] Question: How is the company focusing on monetizing the installed base of fiber served homes and businesses? - The company emphasized its long-term investment in building a broadband platform that helps customers monetize subscribers regardless of network [28] Question: What is the outlook for international customers? - Management indicated that international growth will be consistent with U.S. growth and not disproportionately higher [44] Question: What is the expected tax rate for the year? - The tax rate is expected to normalize higher due to the expiration of some tax credits [47] Question: Was there a large new customer contributing to RPO strength this quarter? - Management clarified that there were no large contracts in Q4, but rather a broad base of medium-sized contracts contributing to strength [50][51] Question: What is the multi-year outlook for revenue and earnings potential? - Management referred to a target financial model indicating potential growth in the range of 10% to 15% [56] Question: How does the company view growth from medium and large carriers? - Management expressed confidence in growth opportunities from existing and new customers, particularly in light of competitive pressures [71]