Autodesk Inc. (NASDAQ:ADSK) is one of the most profitable tech stocks to buy. On November 26, Baird raised the firm’s price target on Autodesk to $377 from $367 and maintained an Outperform rating on the shares. This sentiment was announced by the firm as Baird updated its estimates following the company’s beat and raise results. Autodesk’s revenue for FQ3 2026 grew by 18% year-over-year to make $1.85 billion, with non-GAAP EPS of $2.67. Billings surged by 21% to $1.85 billion, and free cash flow saw an i ...

Summary of Autodesk Q3 2025 Conference Call Company Overview - **Company**: Autodesk (NasdaqGS:ADSK) - **Date of Conference**: December 02, 2025 Key Points Industry and Market Performance - **Strong Q3 Results**: Autodesk reported strong performance in Q3, with continued momentum from the first half of the year, particularly in data centers, industrial, and infrastructure sectors [2][3] - **Geographic Strength**: Notable growth was observed in various regions, especially in emerging markets [2] - **Diversification and Resilience**: The company emphasized the diversification built over the years, contributing to consistent growth and resilience in the business [3][5] Growth Drivers and Future Outlook - **Capacity Constraints**: Autodesk highlighted a significant capacity constraint in the market, indicating that customers need more capacity to execute projects efficiently [7][8] - **Incremental Capacity through Automation**: The company plans to add capacity through automation, particularly in construction and manufacturing sectors, which are expected to provide durable growth opportunities [9][10] - **AI Integration**: Autodesk is focusing on AI initiatives, including task and workflow automation, to enhance productivity and customer satisfaction [19][20] Financial Guidance and Revenue Model - **Guidance for Q4 and Beyond**: Autodesk raised its guidance for Q4 and expressed confidence in sustaining growth into fiscal 2027, driven by consistent performance and ongoing go-to-market optimization [3][14] - **Revenue Growth Areas**: Key areas for growth include construction, Fusion (a manufacturing application), and infrastructure projects, with expectations of continued strong performance [13][14][42] Go-to-Market Strategy - **Transition to Self-Service**: Autodesk is transitioning to a self-service model, which is expected to enhance customer engagement and streamline renewals [61][64] - **Partner Compensation Changes**: Changes in partner compensation structures are being implemented to incentivize new business generation over renewals [64][66] Data and Cloud Strategy - **Importance of Data Layer**: The data flow is crucial for connecting various processes from design to operations, facilitating automation and enhancing customer value [30][31] - **SaaS Adoption**: Autodesk is witnessing rapid growth in its SaaS offerings, with a significant shift towards cloud-based solutions, which is essential for future AI and automation initiatives [32][34] Operational Efficiency and Margins - **Operating Margin Targets**: Autodesk aims for adjusted operating margins of 41%-45%, with expectations of non-linear growth due to ongoing optimization and inherent operating leverage [72][78] - **Pricing Strategy**: The company is considering pricing adjustments based on value delivered, with potential for new monetization models, especially in AI [80][84] Customer Sentiment and Spending - **Consistent Customer Investment**: Customer sentiment remains positive, with no downsizing of Enterprise Business Agreements (EBAs) and indications of consistent technology investment heading into the next year [48][49] Conclusion - Autodesk is positioned for continued growth through strategic focus on automation, AI integration, and a robust go-to-market strategy, while navigating macroeconomic uncertainties and optimizing its operational efficiencies. The emphasis on cloud solutions and data management is expected to drive future opportunities across various sectors.

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total revenue in Q3 grew 18% as reported and in constant currency, with a contribution from the new transaction model of approximately $124 million [8][9] - Billings increased 21% as reported and 20% in constant currency, with a contribution from the new transaction model of approximately $135 million [9][10] - Third quarter GAAP and non-GAAP operating margins were 25% and 38% respectively, reflecting year-over-year increases of approximately 330 basis points and 120 basis points [10][14] - Free cash flow for Q3 was $430 million, benefiting from earlier timing of billings and lower cash tax payments [10][14] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Strength was observed in AECO (architecture, engineering, construction, and operations), driven by sustained investment in data centers, infrastructure, and industrial buildings [8][9] - The Autodesk Store and billing linearity during the quarter were stronger than expected, contributing to overall revenue growth [8][9] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - RPO (Remaining Performance Obligations) of $7.4 billion and current RPO of $4.8 billion both grew 20%, benefiting from the new transaction model [9][10] - The macroeconomic environment appears broadly stable, but uncertainty remains elevated [12][14] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on enhancing products with cloud-based platforms and capabilities, redefining its business model and go-to-market strategies [5][6] - Autodesk aims to capture shared value through subscription, consumption, and outcome-based business models that blend human and machine capabilities [6][22] - The strategy includes building a vibrant third-party ecosystem to enhance solution value and efficiency [6][22] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the long-term value being created for customers and shareholders, despite geopolitical and macroeconomic uncertainties [5][6] - The company raised its full-year guidance for billings and revenue, reflecting current business momentum [13][14] - Management acknowledged potential disruptions in the sales and marketing optimization plan but remains focused on controllable factors driving revenue and margins [12][14] Other Important Information - The company plans to buy back approximately $1.3 billion of stock, a 50% increase compared to fiscal 2025 [14] - The transition to annual billing for most multi-year contracts is expected to significantly diminish tailwinds next year [10][12] Q&A Session Summary Question: Discussion on seats versus consumption AI monetization - Management highlighted the capacity challenge in industries served and the balance between human engagement and machine execution in future projects [26][28] Question: Insights on fiscal 2027 outlook - Management indicated that while the business is performing well, there are risks of disruption and macroeconomic uncertainty that will be considered in future guidance [30][31] Question: Autodesk Construction Cloud penetration - Management noted that there is still room for increased penetration within existing accounts and emphasized the unique value proposition of the Autodesk Construction Cloud [35][37] Question: PLM market opportunities - Management stated that many mid-market customers lack strong data management solutions and that Autodesk aims to provide them with modern, SaaS-based platforms [39][40] Question: Customer migration and packaging strategies - Management discussed efforts to ensure customers are not left behind during transitions and the importance of seamless integration between existing and new products [44][46] Question: Trends in usage telemetry - Management confirmed that momentum in Q3 was consistent with previous quarters, with no new emerging trends to highlight [48] Question: Billings growth mechanics - Management clarified that there was no unusual M&A activity affecting growth rates and attributed outperformance to strong execution and favorable macro conditions [51][62] Question: Customer spending plans for 2026 - Management reported that customers are maintaining their spending patterns and investing in digital infrastructure [58][59] Question: Fiscal 2027 growth expectations - Management emphasized the importance of considering macro risks and the performance of the underlying business when guiding for fiscal 2027 [84]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total revenue in Q3 grew 18% as reported and in constant currency, with a contribution from the new transaction model of approximately $124 million [9][10] - Billings increased 21% as reported and 20% in constant currency, with a contribution from the new transaction model of approximately $135 million [10] - Third quarter GAAP and non-GAAP operating margins were 25% and 38% respectively, reflecting year-over-year increases of approximately 330 and 120 basis points [11][12] - Free cash flow for Q3 was $430 million, benefiting from earlier timing of billings and lower cash tax payments [11] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Strength was observed in AECO (architecture, engineering, construction, and operations), driven by sustained investment in data centers, infrastructure, and industrial buildings [9] - The Autodesk Store and billing linearity during the quarter were stronger than expected, contributing to overall revenue growth [9] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - RPO (Remaining Performance Obligations) of $7.4 billion and current RPO of $4.8 billion both grew 20%, benefiting from the new transaction model [10] - The macroeconomic environment appears broadly stable, but uncertainty remains elevated [13] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on the convergence of design and make in the cloud, leveraging AI and platform capabilities to enhance customer value [17][18] - Autodesk is building a vibrant third-party ecosystem to enhance its solutions and create new monetization opportunities [7][19] - The strategy includes redefining business models and go-to-market approaches to capture shared value through subscription and consumption-based models [7][24] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the long-term value being created for customers and shareholders, despite geopolitical and macroeconomic uncertainties [5][6] - The company raised its full-year guidance for billings and revenue, reflecting strong underlying business momentum [14][15] Other Important Information - The company plans to buy back approximately $1.3 billion of stock, a 50% increase compared to fiscal 2025 [15] - The transition to annual billing for most multi-year contracts is expected to significantly diminish tailwinds next year [11][14] Q&A Session Summary Question: Insights on seats versus consumption AI monetization - Management highlighted a capacity challenge in industries served and the balance between human engagement and machine execution in future projects [28][30] Question: Fiscal 2027 outlook - Management indicated that while the business is performing well, there are risks of disruption and macroeconomic uncertainty that will be considered in future guidance [32] Question: Autodesk Construction Cloud penetration - Management noted that there is still room for increased penetration within existing accounts and emphasized the unique value proposition of the Autodesk Construction Cloud [36][39] Question: PLM market opportunities - Management stated that many mid-market customers lack strong data management solutions and Autodesk aims to provide them with modern, cloud-based platforms [41][42] Question: Customer migration and packaging - Management discussed efforts to ensure customers are not left behind during transitions and emphasized the importance of seamless integration between existing and new products [47][48] Question: AI capabilities and retention - Management confirmed that AI-driven capabilities like auto-constraints are enhancing customer retention and creating opportunities for incremental monetization [68][70] Question: Margin expansion drivers - Management identified go-to-market optimization and operating leverage as key levers for achieving margin targets [72][73]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total revenue in Q3 grew 18% as reported and in constant currency, with a contribution from the new transaction model of approximately $124 million [8] - Billings increased 21% as reported and 20% in constant currency, with a contribution from the new transaction model of approximately $135 million [9] - Third quarter GAAP and non-GAAP operating margins were 25% and 38% respectively, reflecting year-over-year increases of approximately 330 and 120 basis points [10] - Third quarter free cash flow was $430 million, benefiting from earlier timing of billings and lower cash tax payments [10] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Strength was observed in AECO (architecture, engineering, construction, and operations), driven by sustained investment in data centers and infrastructure, offsetting softness in commercial [7] - The Autodesk Construction Cloud is gaining momentum, with significant migrations from competitors, indicating strong demand for integrated solutions [17][18] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The macroeconomic environment appears broadly stable, but uncertainty remains elevated, impacting guidance for fiscal 2027 [12] - The company is seeing strong engagement from customers, particularly in the AECO sector, with continued investment in digital infrastructure [59] Company Strategy and Development Direction - Autodesk is focused on the convergence of design and make in the cloud, leveraging AI and industry clouds to enhance product offerings and customer value [15][16] - The company aims to redefine its business model and go-to-market strategies, positioning itself for long-term growth and margin expansion [4][5] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the company's ability to navigate geopolitical and macroeconomic uncertainties while executing on strategic initiatives [4] - The company has raised its full-year guidance for billings and revenue, reflecting strong underlying business momentum [12][13] Other Important Information - The company plans to buy back approximately $1.3 billion of stock, a 50% increase compared to fiscal 2025 [13] - Autodesk is integrating AI capabilities deeply into its products, enhancing customer workflows and driving productivity [16][20] Q&A Session Summary Question: Insights on seats versus consumption AI monetization - Management highlighted a capacity challenge in industries served and the balance between human engagement and machine execution in future projects [26][27] Question: Fiscal 2027 outlook - Management indicated that while the business is performing well, there are risks of disruption and macroeconomic uncertainty that will be considered in future guidance [31] Question: Autodesk Construction Cloud penetration - Management noted that there is still room for increased penetration within existing accounts and emphasized the unique value proposition of their platform [35][37] Question: AI capabilities and their impact on retention and pricing power - Management confirmed that AI-driven capabilities are enhancing customer satisfaction and retention, with potential for incremental monetization opportunities [67][69] Question: Channel productivity and operational elements - Management stated that operational friction from the new transaction model is being addressed, and partners are beginning to see improved productivity [89][90]

Core Insights - Autodesk is pivoting towards maximizing profitability and leveraging AI-driven monetization, indicating a strategic evolution of its business model [1] - The company aims for long-term efficiency while balancing sustainable growth with aggressive financial targets [1] Strategic Focus - Autodesk's strategy includes expanding AI-driven monetization and enhancing its position in infrastructure and operations software, with a goal of achieving 41% EBIT margins by 2029 [2] - The company is committed to maintaining growth alongside its focus on efficiency and profitability, reflecting ambition in a changing market [3] Financial Projections - Piper Sandler forecasts Autodesk's fiscal year 2026 revenue at $7.05 billion and EPS at $9.89, increasing to $7.78 billion and $11.32 in fiscal year 2027 [7] - Free cash flow margins are expected to approach 36.1% by 2029, with a base-case price forecast of $373, suggesting a 19% upside, and a bull-case scenario indicating potential upside to $508 [7] Revenue Composition - Currently, 17% of Autodesk's revenue is consumption-driven, with new API monetization initiatives anticipated to accelerate this mix [4] - The company is preparing for a future where design work increasingly shifts from human to machine hours, which may lower gross margins but is expected to generate incremental gross profit [5] Market Positioning - Autodesk is expanding its focus beyond traditional vertical construction into Infrastructure, Water, and Operations, indicating a competitive stance against Bentley Systems, Inc. [5][6] - The company plans to invest both organically and inorganically in these segments, following a multi-year strategy similar to that of Autodesk Construction Cloud [6]

Summary of Autodesk's Earnings Call Company Overview - **Company**: Autodesk - **Industry**: Software, specifically focusing on design and manufacturing, architecture, engineering, construction (AEC), and media and entertainment Key Points and Arguments Business Transformation and AI Strategy - Autodesk has successfully transitioned to a cloud-based, AI-native model, enhancing efficiency and market position [3][4][10] - The company has modernized billing practices to align with industry standards, resulting in smoother cash flow [4] - Autodesk is focusing on task automation, workflow automation, and systems automation to enhance customer productivity [10][27][59] Market Position and Growth Opportunities - Autodesk is positioned to lead in the AEC sector, particularly in infrastructure, water, and transportation, with a multi-trillion dollar global spend opportunity [19][20] - The construction industry is still in early digital transformation stages, providing significant growth potential for Autodesk's solutions [20] - The manufacturing sector is also a key focus, with a total addressable market of $58 billion, including design ($30 billion), make ($8 billion), and operate ($20 billion) segments [47] AI and Product Development - Autodesk is leveraging AI to drive product innovation and improve customer outcomes, with a focus on automating complex workflows [10][27][28] - The company is developing a new portfolio of intellectual property (IP) that will define its value delivery over the next decade [10][11] - AI features will be integrated into product subscriptions, with additional usage-based pricing for high-value automation [28][38] Customer Success Stories - Denver International Airport is utilizing Autodesk Construction Cloud for its Vision 100 expansion project, showcasing the effectiveness of cloud-based collaboration [13][14] - Swiss Drones employs Fusion for comprehensive product development, demonstrating the integration of design and manufacturing processes [57] Financial Performance and Future Outlook - Autodesk has a strong financial foundation and is expected to maintain momentum through AI and digital transformation [24] - The company anticipates significant growth in the mid-market manufacturing sector, which represents 90% of global manufacturing firms [50] - Autodesk's community engagement, particularly among students, is fostering future growth and adoption of its products [56] Media and Entertainment Sector - The media and entertainment industry faces rising production costs, with studios losing over $30 billion since 2020 [67] - Autodesk is positioned to capitalize on AI's potential to reduce production complexity and costs, with a total addressable market of $8.5 billion [68][69] - The company is enhancing its product offerings to meet the growing demand for high-quality content creation [66][71] Additional Important Insights - Autodesk's commitment to responsible AI governance and data stewardship is reinforced by achieving ISO 42001 certification [40] - The company is expanding its platform ecosystem to include third-party developers, enhancing the value of its solutions [37] - Autodesk's focus on customer trust and security is critical as it navigates the evolving landscape of AI and cloud technologies [40][41] This summary encapsulates the key insights from Autodesk's earnings call, highlighting its strategic focus on AI, market opportunities, and customer success stories while addressing the challenges and dynamics within the industries it serves.

Summary of Autodesk's Conference Call Company Overview - **Company**: Autodesk - **Industry**: Design and Manufacturing, Media and Entertainment Key Points and Arguments 1. AI and Cloud Integration - Autodesk is expanding its AI-powered cloud services into operations, enhancing its presence across the entire lifecycle of buildings, factories, and infrastructure, which increases the total addressable market and business resiliency [1][2][3] - The company is building a vibrant third-party ecosystem to monetize its platform and AI agents, exemplified by BAM's use of Autodesk Platform Services to automate workflows [1][2] 2. Growth Opportunities - Autodesk identifies proven growth opportunities in infrastructure, construction, and manufacturing, which will serve as growth levers over the next five years [3] - The company emphasizes the untapped potential of monetizing its intellectual property through AI, which will unlock significant future opportunities [3] 3. AI Automation Levels - Autodesk outlines three levels of AI automation: task automation, workflow automation, and systems automation, each providing increasing value to customers [6][9] - The company is advancing AI features across these levels, with some features included in product subscriptions while others will be available for purchase beyond usage limits [9][10] 4. Market Position and Strategy - Autodesk's design and manufacturing software industry is valued at approximately $58 billion, with design accounting for $30 billion, make for $8 billion, and operate for $20 billion [25] - The company targets mid-market manufacturers, which represent 90% of global manufacturing firms, focusing on scalable, cloud-based solutions to disrupt the enterprise market [26][28] 5. Fusion Platform - Fusion is highlighted as Autodesk's AI-native cloud for manufacturing, which integrates design and manufacturing processes, providing significant productivity gains [30][32] - The platform's growth is driven by new capabilities, a disruptive pricing model, and a passionate community of users [33][35] 6. Media and Entertainment Sector - The media and entertainment software industry is facing challenges with rising production costs, with major studios losing over $30 billion since 2020 [48] - Autodesk's media and entertainment business is positioned to capitalize on AI to reduce production costs and improve profitability [50][52] 7. Flow Studio and Creator Economy - Autodesk Flow is introduced as a solution to connect the production lifecycle, addressing inefficiencies in the media and entertainment industry [63] - Flow Studio aims to unlock new markets in the creator economy by providing tools that simplify high-quality content creation [60][61] 8. Security and Data Management - Autodesk emphasizes the importance of data security in media and entertainment, with Flow Capture designed to protect sensitive production data [67] - The company is expanding its reach by integrating with various production roles that traditionally did not use Autodesk tools, enhancing collaboration and data sharing [67] 9. Future Vision - Autodesk envisions a connected, intelligent production ecosystem that empowers creators at every stage, leveraging AI to enhance productivity and creativity [68] Additional Important Content - Autodesk's commitment to responsible AI governance is reinforced by achieving ISO 42001 certification, which emphasizes security, privacy, and reliability in AI management [19] - The company is focused on improving internal productivity through shared capabilities and AI tools, which have already shown significant time savings for employees [21][22] This summary encapsulates the key insights from Autodesk's conference call, highlighting the company's strategic focus on AI, cloud integration, and market opportunities in both the design and manufacturing, as well as media and entertainment sectors.

Core Insights - Aurigo Software has announced a fully integrated solution that combines its capital planning product with Autodesk Construction Cloud, enhancing project execution from planning to operations [1][4] - The integration allows project teams to manage various aspects such as Projects, Budgets, Commitments, Change Orders, and Expenses, facilitating performance updates [2] - Aurigo manages over $450 billion in capital programs across 40,000 projects, positioning itself as a leading planning solution for major capital owners in North America [6][10] Company Overview - Aurigo Software specializes in capital planning software, providing cloud-based solutions for infrastructure and private owners to enhance planning, building, and maintenance processes [10] - The company has introduced Aurigo Primus, an AI-powered capital planning system designed specifically for facility owners, which includes features like predictive analytics and generative modeling [6][7] - Aurigo's solutions are utilized by over 300 customers across various sectors, including transportation, water and utilities, healthcare, and government [10] Industry Context - Recent data from the U.S. Census Bureau indicates a rise in construction across multiple sectors, necessitating modern tools for planning and finance teams to manage complex capital programs [3] - The integration of Aurigo's capital planning with Autodesk's construction management solutions aims to improve accountability and transparency throughout the project lifecycle [8][9]

Group 1 - Autodesk, Inc. (NASDAQ:ADSK) has signed a multi-year agreement with the Kraft Group to serve as the New England Patriots' Official Design and Make Platform [1] - The collaboration will utilize Autodesk Construction Cloud for overseeing infrastructure projects, including developments and enhancements at Gillette Stadium [2] - Autodesk will gain visibility through the Patriots' social media and digital channels, as well as LED signage during home games, enhancing its brand presence [3] Group 2 - Autodesk is recognized as a leading software provider for designers, engineers, and builders, with technology that spans various sectors including architectural, engineering, construction, product design, and manufacturing [3]