Announces mid-term financial target, portfolio optimization plans, capital return plans with authorization to initiate a substantial issuer bid, new financial disclosures, and intention to dual-list in the U.S.TORONTO, Nov. 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Altus Group Limited (ʺAltus Group”, “Altus” or “the Company”) (TSX: AIF), a leading provider of commercial real estate (“CRE”) intelligence, is hosting an Investor Day today. Altus’ Executive Chair and incoming CEO Mike Gordon, along with other members of the ...

Core Insights - Block, Inc. shares increased nearly 9% following the announcement of a strategic plan to achieve $15.8 billion in gross profit by 2028 and a $5 billion share repurchase program, indicating strong confidence in future profitability [1][6] - The company is shifting focus from its core point-of-sale operations to consumer services, AI tools, and Bitcoin infrastructure, as outlined during the 2025 Investor Day [1] Financial Targets - Block aims for mid-teens percentage gross profit growth annually through 2028, with adjusted operating income expected to rise about 30% per year, reaching $4.6 billion by 2028 [2] - Adjusted earnings per share are projected to exceed 30% annual growth, reaching $5.50 by 2028 [2] - For fiscal year 2026, gross profit is projected to increase by 17% to nearly $12 billion, with adjusted operating income and earnings per share expected to exceed 30%, reaching $2.7 billion and $3.20 respectively [4] Performance Metrics - Block aims to achieve the "Rule of 40" benchmark in 2026, combining revenue growth and profit margin over 40%, which is a key target for software and fintech firms [5] - The new non-GAAP cash flow metric is forecasted to account for 25% of gross profit, exceeding $4 billion by 2028 [4] Share Repurchase Program - The expanded buyback program adds $5 billion to the existing $1.1 billion, totaling approximately $6.1 billion available for share repurchases, reflecting confidence in cash generation [6] Recent Performance - Block reported mixed Q3 results, with earnings and revenue slightly below analyst expectations; however, gross profit rose 18.3%, primarily driven by a 24.3% increase in Cash App [7] - Monthly active users for Cash App reached 58 million, with profit per user increasing by 25.3% and Gross Payment Volume growing 10.9% year-over-year [7] - Subscription and services revenue increased by 22.6%, indicating healthy recurring income streams, while Bitcoin-related revenue fell by 19% [8] - Despite the decline in Bitcoin revenue, Block maintains strong liquidity with ample cash reserves against manageable debt levels [8]

Core Insights - Block, Inc. is presenting a three-year financial outlook during its 2025 Investor Day, focusing on profitable growth and operational efficiency across its ecosystems, including Cash App and Square [1][3] Financial Guidance - For 2026, Block anticipates a 17% year-over-year growth in gross profit, reaching $11.98 billion, with Adjusted Operating Income and Adjusted Earnings per Share projected to grow over 30% to $2.70 billion and $3.20 respectively [2] - Non-GAAP Cash Flow is expected to be 20% of gross profit, amounting to $2.40 billion for 2026 [2] - The company has announced a $5 billion increase to its share repurchase program, with approximately $1.1 billion remaining under the previous $4 billion authorization as of September 30, 2025 [2] Long-Term Projections - Gross profit is expected to grow in the mid-teens annually through 2028, reaching approximately $15.8 billion [6] - Adjusted Operating Income is projected to grow about 30% annually, reaching $4.6 billion by 2028 [6] - Adjusted Earnings Per Share is expected to grow in the low 30% range annually through 2028, targeting $5.50 [6] - Non-GAAP Cash Flow is anticipated to reach 25% of gross profit by 2028, exceeding $4.0 billion [6] - The company aims to achieve the Rule of 40 by 2026 and maintain it through 2028 [6] Strategic Focus - The company emphasizes the strength of its interconnected ecosystems and its commitment to innovation, aiming to drive product velocity and serve more customers [3]

Summary of Pegasystems Conference Call Company Overview - **Company**: Pegasystems (NasdaqGS:PEGA) - **Industry**: Software, specifically focusing on enterprise automation and AI-driven solutions - **Recent Developments**: Significant transformation in business model and technology adoption over the past 24 months, particularly with the introduction of Pega Blueprint [9][10][11] Core Business Insights - **Business Model**: Pegasystems helps enterprise clients automate work using AI and decision-making capabilities, enhancing processes like client onboarding, customer service, and ERP [9] - **Pega Blueprint**: A new design agent that accelerates digital transformation by reducing the time and cost associated with application design and implementation [19][20] - **Financial Performance**: Transitioned from 3% of business on Pega Cloud a decade ago to over 50% now; free cash flow increased from $20 million three years ago to nearly $500 million [10] Pega Blueprint Details - **Functionality**: Blueprint allows clients to quickly design applications, significantly reducing the time from ideation to production, with some clients completing this in an afternoon compared to several months previously [21][22] - **Client Adoption**: Hundreds of thousands of Blueprints created in the last 18 months, with notable clients like Vodafone using it as a primary tool for digital transformation [28] - **Monetization Strategy**: Shifted to a case-based licensing model, allowing clients to pay based on activity rather than user licenses, which aligns better with AI-driven efficiencies [26][27] AI and Security Concerns - **Client Hesitance**: Enterprises are cautious about fully adopting AI due to security, privacy, and governance concerns, leading to the establishment of GenAI gateways to control data usage [32][33] - **Pega's Advantage**: Pega Blueprint operates in the design phase, using test data rather than production data, which alleviates some security concerns [34][35] Competitive Landscape - **Market Position**: The competitive landscape has remained relatively stable over the past decade, with key players including Oracle, IBM, and newer entrants like UiPath [63][64] - **Differentiation**: Pega's approach focuses on structured, deterministic workflows, which are essential for regulatory compliance, contrasting with more flexible, best-effort workflows that GenAI can enhance [65][66] Financial Outlook - **Gross Margins**: Improved from the 30-40% range five years ago to above 80% currently, with expectations for continued growth as the company scales [48] - **Free Cash Flow Projections**: Targeting $700 million in free cash flow within three years, with current projections nearing $500 million [51][52] Cultural and Operational Changes - **Rule of 40**: Pega has embedded the Rule of 40 into its culture, focusing on balancing growth and profitability, which has led to improved operational discipline [56][58] - **Sales Strategy**: The introduction of Blueprint has streamlined the sales process, allowing for quicker engagement with potential clients and reducing the time required to close new business [42][46] Conclusion - **Future Growth**: Pega is positioned to leverage its innovative Blueprint technology and strong financial performance to capture new market opportunities and enhance its competitive edge in the enterprise automation space [42][51]

In its strongest quarter ever, Palantir Technologies (NYSE: PLTR) delivered results that solidified its leadership in enterprise AI, combining record growth with historic profitability. For Q3 2025, revenue surged 63% year-over-year and 18% sequentially, driven by a 121% jump in U.S. commercial business, while the company achieved a Rule of 40 score of 114%—a level rarely seen in software. CEO Alex Karp described the results as “arguably the best any software company has ever delivered,” underscoring Palant ...

2015 Getty Images / Getty Images News via Getty Images Shares of Palantir Technologies (NASDAQ: PLTR) fell 3.56% yesterday and then another 1.1% in after horus trading. While Palantir is a volatile stock, that's a nearly 5% move in 24h for a stock that was also seeing an extreme rebound in investor sentiment following an meme worthy interview CEO Alex Karp gave The delta between sentiment and sell off just points to a recurring pattern in meme stocks, where viral enthusiasm doesn't always translate to in ...

Core Insights - Palantir Technologies has experienced significant stock growth, rallying over 150% year-to-date, while the S&P 500 increased by 15% [1] - The company has demonstrated strong revenue growth and profitability, but questions remain about sustaining this momentum [2] Business Model - Palantir operates two main platforms: Gotham for government clients and Foundry for commercial clients, with 54% of revenue from Gotham and 46% from Foundry in the latest quarter [3] Financial Performance - Palantir's revenue growth has fluctuated, with government revenue growth decreasing from 77% in 2020 to 14% in 2023, while commercial revenue growth has also slowed [6][7] - The company reported a GAAP net income that more than doubled year-over-year in both 2024 and the first nine months of 2025, contributing to its inclusion in major stock indices [10][11] Future Projections - For the full year, Palantir expects revenue to rise by 53%-54% to approximately $4.4 billion, with an adjusted operating margin of 49% [12] - Analysts project a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 41% for revenue and 37% for GAAP EPS from 2024 to 2027 [13] Valuation Concerns - Palantir's current stock price of $193 and market cap of $491.5 billion suggest a valuation of over 300 times next year's earnings and 83 times next year's sales, raising concerns about sustainability [14]

Core Viewpoint - Block Inc.'s third quarter results were mixed, but JPMorgan analyst Tien-tsin Huang maintains an Overweight rating with a $100 price target, believing the company is on track to achieve the Rule of 40 by 2026 [1][6]. Group 1: Financial Performance - The third quarter showed a blend of momentum and margin challenges, including a $70 million event impacting profitability [2]. - Cash App's gross profit increased by 24% year over year, a significant rise from 16% in the previous quarter, driven by improved monetization and a 134% increase in Borrow originations [3]. - Square's gross profit grew by 9%, with Gross Payment Volume (GPV) up 12%, slightly exceeding forecasts despite higher processing costs affecting margins [5]. Group 2: User Metrics and Growth - Monthly transacting actives for Cash App rose to 58 million after six consecutive quarters of stagnation, with primary banking users reaching 8.3 million in September and an additional 400,000 in October [3][4]. - Huang noted that the growth flywheel for Cash App, encompassing Borrow, banking, and user engagement, is gaining momentum [4]. Group 3: Market Outlook - Despite the $70 million event affecting quarterly optics, JPMorgan believes Block's ecosystems are accelerating, user metrics are improving, and margins will normalize as temporary challenges dissipate [6]. - The company is expected to face a non-linear recovery, but the right conditions are believed to be in place for future profitability and operational discipline by 2026 [6].

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Gross profit grew 18% year-over-year to $2.66 billion, accelerating from 14% growth last quarter [8] - Adjusted operating income was $480 million, with adjusted operating income margins at 18% [15] - Adjusted EBITDA was $833 million, reflecting strong profitability despite investments for long-term growth [15] - Full-year guidance for gross profit is set at $10.243 billion, indicating over 15% year-over-year growth [16] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Cash-up's gross profit grew 24% year-over-year, with monthly active users reaching 58 million [9] - Square's gross profit grew 9% year-over-year, with GPV growing 12% [10] - Cash-up borrow origination volume increased 134% year-over-year, reaching nearly $22 billion on an annualized basis [42] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - GPV from sellers above half a million dollars grew 20% year-over-year, marking the strongest growth rate since Q1 2023 [13] - International markets saw GPV growth of 26% year-over-year, particularly strong in the telesales channel [13] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on connecting sellers and consumers at scale, leveraging AI tools for operational efficiency, and enhancing software solutions for sellers [11][12] - The strategy includes expanding Cash-up's capabilities and integrating new products to drive engagement and growth [10][12] - The company aims to enhance its lending products and maintain healthy risk loss rates while expanding credit access [41][42] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the company's ability to navigate macroeconomic challenges, with strong performance metrics observed in Q3 and October [58] - The company anticipates continued growth in gross profit and adjusted operating income margins, approaching Rule of 40 by 2026 [16][17] - Management highlighted the importance of data-driven decision-making and flexibility in operations to adapt to changing market conditions [60] Other Important Information - The company repurchased approximately $1.5 billion of stock this year, indicating a commitment to returning capital to shareholders [15] - The Bitcoin mining business, Proto, generated its first revenue, indicating potential for future growth [14] Q&A Session Summary Question: Update on Cash-up active growth and network density - Management reported strong progress with 58 million monthly actives and continued investments in engagement strategies [22][24] Question: Field sales team productivity and GPV contributions - The field sales team has scaled significantly, with strong paybacks and expectations for continued growth in GPV [29][32] Question: Concerns about credit quality of borrow products - Management emphasized the importance of AI-driven underwriting and strong product-market fit for borrow products, maintaining healthy risk loss rates [41][42] Question: Visibility on macroeconomic impacts and guidance - Management noted strong performance metrics and healthy returns on investments, with a data-driven approach to guide future expectations [58][60] Question: Square Bitcoin integration and testing - Management expressed excitement about the upcoming launch of Bitcoin payments, highlighting ease of use and potential for seller adoption [68][69] Question: Competitive momentum and pricing environment - Management indicated strong performance against competitors, with no significant pricing changes impacting the business [73][78] Question: Unique opportunities with Afterpay - Management highlighted significant growth in post-purchase Afterpay, with expectations for continued expansion and adoption [81]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Gross profit grew 18% year over year to $2.66 billion, accelerating from 14% growth last quarter [8] - Adjusted operating income was $480 million, with adjusted operating income margins at 18% for the quarter [15][16] - Adjusted EBITDA was $833 million, reflecting strong profitability despite investments for long-term growth [15] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Cash-up's gross profit grew 24% year over year, with primary banking actives increasing 18% to 8.3 million [9][10] - Square's gross profit grew 9% year over year, with GPV growing 12% [10] - Cash-up borrow origination volume increased 134% year over year, reaching nearly $22 billion on an annualized basis [43] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - GPV from sellers above half a million dollars grew 20% year over year, indicating strong performance in larger seller segments [13] - International markets saw GPV growth of 26% year over year, particularly strong in the telesales channel [13] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on connecting sellers and consumers at scale, leveraging AI tools for operational efficiency, and enhancing software solutions for sellers [11][12] - The strategy includes expanding Cash-up's capabilities and integrating new products to drive engagement and growth [10][12] - The company aims to enhance its market position by offering a comprehensive ecosystem that includes payment processing, banking, and lending products [50] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the company's ability to navigate macroeconomic conditions, with strong performance indicators observed in Q3 and October [58][59] - The company anticipates continued growth in gross profit and adjusted operating income for Q4, with expectations of approaching Rule of 40 by 2026 [16][17] - Management highlighted the importance of ongoing investments in marketing and product development to sustain growth momentum [15][59] Other Important Information - The company repurchased approximately $1.5 billion of stock this year and plans to continue returning capital to shareholders [15] - The upcoming Investor Day on November 19 will provide further insights into long-term financial performance and strategic priorities [18] Q&A Session Summary Question: Update on Cash-up active growth and network density - Management reported strong progress with 58 million monthly actives in September, with continued acceleration in growth [22] Question: Field sales team productivity and GPV contributions - The field sales team has scaled to over 100 reps, with strong paybacks and expected growth in NVA [32][33] Question: Concerns about credit quality of borrow products - Management emphasized the importance of AI-driven underwriting, with borrow performance showing strong metrics and healthy risk loss rates [41][44] Question: Insights on Square's competitive momentum - Management noted strong growth from both new and returning sellers, with a focus on simplifying pricing structures to enhance competitiveness [72][76] Question: Unique opportunities with Afterpay - Management highlighted significant growth in post-purchase Afterpay, with adoption trending ahead of expectations [80]