Meanwhile, high-capacity drives (20TB+) grew by nearly 8,000 units and now represent 21% of the active drive pool. The lifetime AFR remains steady at 1.31%, consistent with the previous two quarters. Backblaze Q3 2025 Drive Stats: Rethinking Failure, Celebrating High-Capacity Drive Strength Share Four models achieve zero failures across 328,000+ drives; new failure analysis on outliers prompts dive into failure definitions SAN MATEO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Backblaze, Inc. (Nasdaq: BLZE), the high-performa ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Company revenue grew 14% year over year, reaching $37.2 million, exceeding the high end of guidance of $37.1 million [13] - Adjusted EBITDA margin reached 23%, almost double the 12% from a year ago [18] - GAAP net loss improved to $3.8 million, a 70% improvement from a loss of $12.8 million in the prior year [17] - Adjusted free cash flow was negative $3.5 million, improving by roughly $500,000 year over year [18] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - B2 Cloud Storage revenue grew 28% year over year, compared to organic growth of 19% in the same period last year [13] - Computer Backup revenue was flat year over year, reflecting the final rolloff of the price increase implemented in 2023 [14] - Net revenue retention (NRR) for B2 improved to 116% in Q3 from 109% in Q2 [15] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company is seeing diversification within B2 across core use cases, including live application hot storage, backup, media, and AI-related workloads [14] - Industry-wide demand for data storage is expected to grow rapidly, positioning the company well to support expanding needs [14] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is launching phase two of its go-to-market transformation to accelerate sales velocity and improve efficiency [12] - Focus on moving upmarket with larger deals while also increasing the core base of smaller deals for consistency [26] - The company aims to achieve a rule of 40 profile, with a current score of 9 expected to triple by Q4 [20] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management acknowledges variability in data usage from large AI customers, impacting growth expectations [26][30] - The company remains confident in its ability to deliver consistent, durable growth over time despite not reaching the 30% B2 growth goal [20] - Management emphasizes the importance of AI workloads and the company's positioning to support these transformative needs [72] Other Important Information - The company ended the quarter with $50 million in cash and marketable securities, largely unchanged from the previous quarter [18] - A modest share repurchase program was initiated, with $1.2 million of shares repurchased in Q3 [19] Q&A Session Summary Question: Sales evolution in phase two - Management discussed the focus on driving execution velocity and moving upmarket while supporting larger deals [25] Question: B2 growth expectations - Management noted that variability from a large AI customer and longer execution times for larger deals impacted growth expectations [26] Question: Data variability from customers - Management explained that AI use cases are evolving rapidly, leading to fluctuations in data storage needs [30] Question: Long-term growth expectations for B2 and CBU - Management indicated that B2 is on track for mid-20s growth in 2025, while Computer Backup is expected to contract in low to mid-single digits [35] Question: Phase two initiative investments - Management clarified that sales and marketing expenses should remain stable as a percentage of revenue, with restructuring costs being one-time charges [52] Question: Larger deals in the pipeline - Management noted that larger deals are more complex and can take longer to close due to various internal factors [57] Question: Improvements in self-serve motion - Management highlighted efforts to enhance the self-serve experience for data-heavy AI use cases [59] Question: Powered By white-label solution - Management expressed excitement about the Powered By initiative and its potential in the Neo Cloud market [67] Question: Uptick in AI video companies - Management confirmed an increase in customers from the AI video sector, reflecting the growing data needs associated with video generation [72]

Financial Performance - B2 Cloud Storage revenue grew by 29% year-over-year in Q2 2025[11, 19, 33], accelerating from 23% growth in Q1 2025[11] - Total company revenue reached $36.3 million in Q2 2025, representing a 16% year-over-year increase[42] - The company's adjusted EBITDA margin doubled year-over-year[33, 61], reaching 18% in 1H 2025[44] - The company is targeting 30%+ B2 growth in Q4 2025[34, 35, 40] Customer Growth and Value - The number of customers with ARR (Annual Recurring Revenue) above $50,000 increased by 30% year-over-year[19, 20] - AI customers' data stored grew by 40x year-over-year[28] - The AI customer count increased by 70% year-over-year[28] - 3 of the top 10 customers are AI companies[28] Financial Strategy - The company secured a new $20 million line of credit[32, 33] - A stock buyback program of up to $10 million was approved[32, 33, 49, 50] - The company aims to reduce equity dilution by 15% to 25%[34]

Industry Overview - The Internet Software industry is expected to report modest-to-solid revenue growth for Q3 2025, driven by technological innovations in AI, cloud computing, and automation [1][4][10] - Steady demand for AI-powered software solutions, sustained cloud migration, and expanding enterprise IT budgets are anticipated to support this growth [2][3] Key Players and Performance Expectations - Leading companies such as Backblaze (BLZE), Datadog, Inc. (DDOG), JFrog (FROG), Affirm Holdings (AFRM), and Block (XYZ) are expected to benefit from increased adoption and subscription renewals [2][10] - Backblaze's revenues are projected at $36.95 million, reflecting a 13.37% year-over-year increase, driven by strong demand in its B2 Cloud Storage business [9] - Datadog's revenues are estimated at $849.77 million, indicating a 23.15% year-over-year growth, supported by strong momentum in its security and AI-focused offerings [14] - JFrog's revenues are expected to be between $127 million and $129 million, with a year-over-year increase of 17.73% anticipated [17] - Affirm Holdings is projected to report revenues of $885.01 million, representing a 26.7% year-over-year rise [19] - Block's revenues are estimated at $6.34 billion, indicating a 6.12% year-over-year increase [22] Growth Catalysts - AI and generative AI are major growth catalysts, enhancing productivity and customer engagement across various sectors [3] - The expansion of cloud and edge computing capabilities, along with increased data-center investments, is expected to further support revenue growth [3] Challenges - The industry's performance may be affected by macroeconomic factors such as high interest rates and market volatility, which could dampen investor sentiment [4][10] - Companies with strong AI features, solid cloud platforms, and flexible SaaS models are likely to outperform their peers despite these challenges [4]

Core Insights - BackBlaze (BLZE) is expected to report third-quarter 2025 results on November 6, with revenues estimated at $36.95 million, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 13.37% [1] - The consensus estimate for loss is projected at one cent per share, indicating a 90% improvement from the previous year's loss of ten cents [1] - The company has shown a strong earnings surprise history, with an average positive surprise of 51.02% over the last four quarters [2] Revenue Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for third-quarter 2025 B2 Cloud Storage revenues is $20.9 million, representing a growth of 29.17% year over year [9] - The estimate for Computer Backup revenues is $16.05 million, indicating a decline of 2.2% from the previous year [9] Operational Momentum - Backblaze has entered the third quarter with solid operational momentum, particularly in its B2 Cloud Storage business, which saw a 29% year-over-year revenue increase [4] - The company aims for third-quarter revenue between $36.7 million and $37.1 million, with adjusted EBITDA margins of 17-19% [4] Growth Drivers - The company's sales pipeline has doubled year over year, contributing to growth [5] - Backblaze added its first six-figure B2 Overdrive customer, indicating strong product fit for high-throughput AI workloads [5][6] Competitive Landscape - Challenges persist in the Computer Backup segment, which has been experiencing low-to-mid single-digit declines [8] - Competition from established players like Dropbox, Datadog, and Snowflake has intensified, impacting market share [8] Stock Performance - Backblaze has seen a 72.9% surge year-to-date, outperforming the Zacks Internet-Software industry and the Computer and Technology sector [10] - The stock is currently trading at 3.58X forward 12-month price-to-sales, below the industry average of 5.34X, indicating attractive valuation [13] Investment Considerations - The company is positioned for growth in its B2 Cloud Storage business and AI workloads, supported by new enterprise security features [15] - However, the stock's sharp year-to-date rally may have priced in much of the optimism, and competition could temper near-term gains [15][16]

Core Insights - The explosive growth of enterprise data presents significant opportunities for cloud infrastructure providers, specifically Backblaze (BLZE) and Snowflake (SNOW), which cater to different segments of the market [1][2] Market Overview - The global cloud analytics market was valued at $35.39 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach $130.63 billion by 2030, with a CAGR of 25.5%, benefiting both BLZE and SNOW as organizations modernize their data architecture [2] Backblaze (BLZE) Analysis - Backblaze has transitioned from a consumer backup provider to an enterprise-focused cloud storage company, with its B2 Cloud Storage business targeting developers and mid-sized enterprises [3] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for BLZE's Q3 2025 revenues is $36.9 million, indicating a 17% year-over-year growth, while the loss per share is expected to improve by 90% year-over-year [4] - Backblaze faces competitive pressure from major players like AWS, Google Cloud, and Microsoft Azure, while balancing its legacy Computer Backup business with its growing enterprise cloud segment [5] Snowflake (SNOW) Analysis - Snowflake has become integral to enterprise data strategy, enabling organizations to analyze large datasets through its AI-native cloud platform [6] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Snowflake's Q3 2025 revenues is $1.18 billion, reflecting a 25.39% year-over-year growth, with EPS projected to increase by 55% year-over-year [8] - Snowflake's AI-driven innovations, such as Snowflake Intelligence and Cortex AI, enhance customer engagement and platform adoption [7] Performance Comparison - Year-to-date, BLZE shares have risen 78% due to optimism around its cloud storage turnaround, while SNOW shares have increased 73% supported by consistent revenue growth and AI integration [9][12] - Snowflake's forward price-to-sales ratio is 16.89x, significantly higher than Backblaze's 3.7x, indicating stronger investor confidence in Snowflake's scale and profitability [10] Conclusion - Both companies are well-positioned to benefit from the growing demand for cloud data infrastructure and AI analytics, but Snowflake's scale, profitability, and consistent execution provide a competitive advantage over Backblaze [15]

Core Insights - Backblaze (BLZE) is experiencing growth driven by increasing demand for artificial intelligence and data-heavy workloads, necessitating scalable and cost-efficient storage solutions [1][3] - The B2 Cloud Storage platform is pivotal to this growth, with a significant rise in data stored by AI customers and an increase in AI-focused clients [2][7] - Backblaze's competitive positioning is challenged by companies like Dropbox and Datadog, which are enhancing their AI-enabled cloud infrastructure offerings [4] Company Performance - In Q2 2025, data stored by AI customers increased 40 times year over year, and the number of AI-focused clients grew by 70% [2] - Backblaze anticipates Q3 2025 revenues between $36.7 million and $37.1 million, reflecting approximately 29% year-over-year growth [2] - Year-to-date, Backblaze shares have risen by 51.7%, outperforming the Zacks Internet-Software industry and the Computer and Technology sector [5] Valuation Metrics - Backblaze's forward 12-month price-to-sales ratio stands at 3.16, which is lower than the industry average of 5.45 [9] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Q3 2025 indicates a loss of one cent per share, representing a 90% improvement year over year [11]

Core Insights - Backblaze (BLZE) has seen a significant year-to-date (YTD) increase of 56.8%, outperforming the Zacks Internet-Software industry and Zacks Computer and Technology sector, which returned 16.7% and 19.6% respectively [1] - The company is capitalizing on the AI revolution and executing its growth strategy effectively, leading to a critical decision for investors regarding holding positions or seeking better entry points [1] B2 Cloud Storage Growth - Backblaze's B2 Cloud Storage business is the main driver of its expansion, benefiting from increased enterprise adoption and demand for scalable, cost-efficient infrastructure for AI, media, and cybersecurity workloads [4][6] - The company anticipates B2 Cloud Storage revenue growth of 28% to 30% for Q3 2025, with a Zacks Consensus Estimate of $20.88 million, indicating a 29% year-over-year increase [5][8] - The focus on enterprise scale, predictable pricing, and AI-aligned product innovation strengthens B2 Cloud Storage as a durable and profitable growth engine [6] AI and Cybersecurity Integration - Backblaze is enhancing its market position by integrating AI and cybersecurity features into its cloud storage platform, capitalizing on the rising demand for scalable and secure infrastructure [7][9] - AI-related customers are increasingly contributing to enterprise revenues, diversifying growth and improving visibility across data-intensive use cases [9] - New cybersecurity features such as Anomaly Alerts and Enterprise Web Console enhance threat detection and compliance capabilities for enterprises [9] Competitive Landscape - Backblaze faces competition from Dropbox, Datadog, and Amazon, which are targeting overlapping enterprise workloads and expanding their service offerings [12] - Despite its transparent pricing and open-cloud design, competition from larger rivals may limit near-term market share gains [13] Valuation and Market Position - Backblaze's forward price-to-sales ratio stands at 3.27X, compared to 3.12X for Dropbox and 3.06X for Amazon, indicating a relatively high valuation [14] - The company holds a Zacks Value Score of F, suggesting that the stock may be overvalued following its substantial rally [14] - Continued growth in B2 Cloud Storage and strong demand for AI-related services could justify the current valuation, but investors may prefer to hold existing positions while waiting for more attractive entry points [14][16]

Core Insights - Backblaze's strategic shift towards cybersecurity innovations positions the company for sustained growth, capitalizing on the increasing demand for data protection and artificial intelligence solutions [1][4] - The company has reported a 16% year-over-year revenue increase in Q2 2025, with B2 Cloud Storage revenue rising by 29%, and expects Q3 revenue to be between $36.7 million and $37.1 million, reflecting a year-over-year growth of 28-30% [3][4] Company Developments - Backblaze is enhancing its enterprise security architecture with tools like AI-powered Anomaly Alerts and the Enterprise Web Console, which improve threat detection and data visibility [2][8] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Q3 2025 B2 Cloud Storage revenues is projected at $20.88 million, indicating a 29.05% year-over-year increase, showcasing confidence in the company's growth trajectory [4][8] Competitive Landscape - Backblaze faces competition from Dropbox and Datadog, both of which are intensifying their focus on cybersecurity innovations, integrating AI-based analytics for enhanced data visibility [5] - The competitive environment is becoming increasingly challenging as these companies enhance their threat detection and security monitoring capabilities [5] Financial Performance - Backblaze's shares have increased by 66% year-to-date, outperforming the Zacks Internet-Software industry and the Computer and Technology sector, which returned 19.7% and 24.4% respectively [6] - The company is trading at a forward 12-month price-to-sales ratio of 3.47X, which is lower than the industry's 5.57X, indicating a potentially favorable valuation [10] Earnings Outlook - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Backblaze's Q3 2025 loss is projected at a penny per share, reflecting a 90% improvement year-over-year [12]

Financial Performance - B2 Cloud Storage revenue grew by 29% year-over-year in Q2 2025 [11, 19, 33], reaching $19.8 million [42] - Total company revenue reached $36.3 million in Q2 2025, representing a 16% year-over-year growth [42] - Adjusted EBITDA margin was 18% in Q2 2025, doubling compared to the previous year [33, 61] - The company is targeting 30%+ B2 growth in Q4 2025 [34] - Adjusted Free Cash Flow margin improved to -11% in Q2 2025 [62] Strategic Initiatives and Growth Drivers - AI is a significant growth driver, with a 70% increase in AI customer count year-over-year [28] and a 40x growth in data stored by AI customers [28] - The company secured a new $20 million line of credit [33] - A stock buyback program of up to $10 million was approved [33, 49, 50] - The company launched new cyber security features, including Anomaly Alerts, Enterprise Web Console, and Bucket Access Logs [16] Customer Success - The company highlighted a B2 Overdrive customer win with a Generative AI Video Company [21] - The company closed a six-figure deal with a hyperscaler displacement customer [24] - The number of customers with ARR above $50,000 increased by 30% year-over-year, reaching 150 [19, 20]