SAP (NYSE:SAP) 2025 Conference December 03, 2025 09:00 AM ET Company ParticipantsFred Boulan - Head of European Software, Payments, and IT Services ResearchMuhammad Alam - Executive Board Member for Product and EngineeringFred BoulanOkay, good afternoon and good morning, Fred Boulan from Bank of America's software team. We are delighted to be hosting Muhammad Alam, Head of Product Engineering and Member of the Executive Board at SAP. From a format perspective, we'll go through some, some questions together, ...

Core Insights - SAP SE reported third-quarter 2025 non-IFRS earnings of €1.59 ($1.86) per share, a 29% increase year-over-year, although below the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.69 [1] - Total revenues on a non-IFRS basis reached €9.08 billion ($10.6 billion), marking a 7% year-over-year increase (11% at constant currency), slightly above the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $10.56 billion [1][2] Revenue Growth and Cloud Strategy - The cloud backlog surged 23% (27% at constant currency) to €18.8 billion, indicating strong market demand [3] - The Cloud and software segment, which constitutes 88.3% of total revenues, generated €8.02 billion, an 8% year-over-year increase (12% at constant currency) [3] - Cloud revenues reached €5.29 billion, up 22% year-over-year (27% at constant currency), driven by a 26% growth in Cloud ERP Suite revenues [4] Client Adoption and Market Expansion - The "RISE with SAP" program saw significant adoption among global organizations, including notable clients like Alphabet and Nestlé [5][6] - Major customer wins included engagements from brands such as BMW, Volkswagen Mexico, and Panasonic, showcasing SAP's expanding clientele [7] Financial Performance and Margins - Non-IFRS gross profit increased 7% year-over-year to €6.7 billion, with cloud gross profit rising 24% to €3.97 billion [10] - Non-IFRS operating profit rose 14% to €2.57 billion, with an operating margin of 28.3% [10] Cash Flow and Share Repurchase - As of September 30, 2025, SAP's cash and cash equivalents stood at €9.9 billion, up from €7.94 billion in June [11] - The company generated operating cash of €1.5 billion, a 7% increase year-over-year, and free cash flow rose 5% to €1.27 billion [11][12] Updated Financial Outlook - SAP revised its full-year 2025 guidance, expecting cloud revenue to be near the low end of €21.6–€21.9 billion, reflecting a 26–28% increase from 2024 [14] - The company anticipates non-IFRS operating profit near the high end of €10.3–€10.6 billion, up 26–30% from 2024 [15]

Core Viewpoint - SAP's third-quarter financial results showed overall stability, but cloud business revenue fell short of market expectations, leading to a post-market stock drop of approximately 4% [1][3]. Financial Performance - Operating profit increased by 12% to €2.49 billion, with an operating margin rising by 1.3 percentage points to 27.4%. Non-IFRS operating profit grew by 14% to €2.57 billion, with a constant currency growth of 19% [4]. - Basic earnings per share (EPS) rose by 37% to €1.72 under IFRS, and by 29% to €1.59 under non-IFRS, exceeding analyst expectations of €1.49 [5]. - Operating cash flow grew by 7% to €1.5 billion, while free cash flow increased by 5% to €1.27 billion [5]. Cloud Business Insights - Cloud business backlog orders grew by 23% to €18.84 billion, with a constant currency growth of 27% [5]. - Cloud revenue increased by 22% to €5.29 billion, but fell short of analyst expectations of €5.33 billion; cloud ERP suite revenue grew by 26% to €4.59 billion, with a constant currency growth of 31% [5]. - Cloud business gross profit rose by 24% to €3.95 billion under IFRS, and by 24% to €3.97 billion under non-IFRS, with a constant currency growth of 28% [9]. Revenue Breakdown - Total revenue from cloud and software grew by 8% to €8.02 billion, with a constant currency growth of 12% [7]. - Service revenue increased by 2% to €1.06 billion, with a constant currency growth of 6%. Overall revenue grew by 7% to €9.08 billion, with a constant currency growth of 11% [8]. - Software licensing revenue declined by 43% to €160 million, with a constant currency decline of 42% [6]. Future Outlook - For 2025, SAP expects cloud revenue to be at the lower end of the guidance range, between €21.6 billion and €21.9 billion, with a year-on-year growth of 26% to 28% [11]. - Non-IFRS operating profit is projected to be at the upper end of the guidance range, between €10.3 billion and €10.6 billion, with a year-on-year growth of 26% to 30% [12]. - Free cash flow is anticipated to be between €8 billion and €8.2 billion [13]. Market Context - SAP's stock has declined approximately 9% over the past three months, and the company was previously seen as a potential challenger to the U.S. tech giants [14][16]. - The CEO highlighted strong cloud revenue growth of 27% and expressed confidence in achieving faster overall revenue growth by 2026 [17]. - Analysts noted that trade disputes and economic weakness have impacted sales, particularly from manufacturing clients [18][19].

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In Q3 2025, cloud revenue rose by 27%, marking five consecutive quarters of growth exceeding 25% [5][20] - Total revenue increased by 11% to €9.1 billion, with a share of predictable revenue rising to 87% [21][24] - Current cloud backlog exceeded €18.8 billion, up 27% [20] - Free cash flow increased by 5% to €1.3 billion, while operating profit rose by 19% to €2.6 billion [24] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The cloud ERP suite delivered 31% growth in Q3, representing 87% of cloud revenues [20] - Software licenses revenue decreased by 42% in Q3, indicating a shift towards cloud solutions [21] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Cloud revenue performance was particularly strong in APJ and EMEA regions, with Brazil, France, Germany, India, Italy, and South Korea showing outstanding performance [22] - The U.S. public sector is showing early signs of improvement, with SAP NS2 awarded a major framework contract [10][21] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to accelerate total revenue growth through 2027, leveraging AI as a key enabler [4][18] - SAP's strategy focuses on providing software and cloud solutions without building infrastructure, partnering with cloud infrastructure providers instead [10][60] - The company is enhancing its AI capabilities, integrating AI into business processes to create high-value use cases [11][62] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the Q4 pipeline, noting that many deals are returning, particularly in the U.S. public sector and manufacturing [30][33] - The company anticipates reaching the lower end of its cloud revenue outlook for fiscal year 2025 due to delayed bookings but expects to exceed its operating profit target [25][24] Other Important Information - The acquisition of SmartRecruiters was completed, strengthening SAP's capabilities in talent acquisition [20] - The company is focusing on high-quality data and AI integration to enhance customer value [48][62] Q&A Session Summary Question: Update on demand backdrop in U.S. public sector and manufacturing - Management noted positive early signs in the U.S. public sector and a strong Q4 pipeline, indicating a return of stalled deals [30][33] Question: Insights on backlog and cloud revenue expectations - Management expressed confidence in achieving a good Q4 and maintaining a strong pipeline for cloud revenue growth [35][52] Question: Uptake of SAP ERP transition option - Management indicated positive momentum in the pipeline, with high interest in the transition option helping to accelerate cloud adoption [39][41] Question: Competitive position versus Oracle - Management emphasized that SAP's strategy remains effective, focusing on software and cloud rather than infrastructure [60][62] Question: Free cash flow guidance and expectations - Management highlighted that Q4 cash flow may be impacted by tax payments and working capital fluctuations, but overall cash conversion remains strong [56][57]

Core Thesis - SAP SE is positioned as a leading enterprise software company that has successfully transitioned to a cloud-first model, enhancing its growth potential and market visibility [2][5]. Financial Performance - As of October 10th, SAP's share price was $265.53, with trailing and forward P/E ratios of 41.67 and 33.11 respectively [1]. - Cloud revenue increased by 26% year-over-year, while cloud ERP grew by 33% year-over-year, indicating strong demand for its services [4]. - The cloud backlog has risen nearly 30% to €18 billion, providing visibility for future growth [4]. - Free cash flow is expected to rebound to €8 billion in FY2025, supported by expanding margins and a solid net cash position [4]. Customer Retention and Market Position - Over 85% of new bookings are cloud-based, with a customer retention rate exceeding 98%, which creates significant switching costs and a durable competitive advantage [3][4]. - SAP's systems are deeply integrated into corporate workflows, reinforcing its position in the market [3]. Growth Strategy - The company aims for long-term double-digit growth through the migration of over 300,000 customers to cloud subscriptions, expansion of AI features, and entry into new verticals and SMEs [5]. - Investment cycles are winding down, and operational efficiency is expected to improve as cloud operations scale [5]. Market Perception - Despite being undervalued in U.S. markets due to its operational complexity and European roots, SAP is recognized for its scale, resilience, and potential for compounding growth [5][6]. - The stock has depreciated approximately 9.23% since previous bullish coverage, but the long-term growth thesis remains intact [7].

Core Insights - SAP reported Q3 earnings of $1.85 per share, exceeding analyst expectations of $1.69, while quarterly revenue was $10.54 billion, slightly below the estimate of $10.57 billion [2][4]. Financial Performance - Cloud revenue grew by 22%, and 27% when adjusted for constant currencies [5]. - Cloud ERP Suite revenue increased by 26%, and 31% at constant currencies [5]. - Total revenue rose by 7%, and 11% at constant currencies [5]. - IFRS operating profit increased by 12%, while non-IFRS operating profit rose by 14%, and 19% at constant currencies [5]. Market Position and Outlook - CEO Christian Klein highlighted strong cloud revenue growth of 27% and emphasized gaining market share as customers adopt solutions across the Business Suite [4]. - The current cloud backlog stands at $21.8 billion, reflecting a 23% increase, and a 27% increase at constant currencies [5]. - The company expressed confidence in its revenue growth ambitions for 2026, supported by a strong pipeline for Q4 [4].