Coursera (NYSE:COUR) Q3 2025 Earnings Call October 23, 2025 05:00 PM ET Company ParticipantsRishi Jaluria - Managing Director of Software Equity ResearchGreg Hart - CEO and PresidentBryan Smilek - Equity Research AssociateKen Hahn - CFOCam Carey - VP of Investor RelationsRyan Griffin - Senior Equity Research AssociateClaire Gerdes - Director of Equity ResearchConference Call ParticipantsStephen Sheldon - Equity Research Analyst of TechnologyNafeesa Gupta - VP and Equity Research AnalystJoshua Baer - Executi ...

Coursera (NYSE:COUR) Q3 2025 Earnings Call October 23, 2025 05:00 PM ET Company ParticipantsRishi Jaluria - Managing Director of Software Equity ResearchGreg Hart - CEO and PresidentBryan Smilek - Equity Research AssociateKen Hahn - CFOCam Carey - VP of Investor RelationsRyan Griffin - Senior Equity Research AssociateClaire Gerdes - Director of Equity ResearchConference Call ParticipantsJosh Baer - Executive Director and Software Equity Research AnalystStephen Sheldon - Equity Research Analyst of Technology ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported revenue of $194 million, reflecting a 10% year-over-year increase [7] - Free cash flow reached $27 million, up 59% from the prior year [7] - The company raised its full-year revenue guidance to a range of $750 to $754 million, representing 8% to 9% growth from the prior year [8][25] - Gross profit was $108 million, maintaining a gross margin of 56% [29] - Net income was $17 million, or 8.6% of revenue, with adjusted EBITDA of $16 million, or 8% of revenue [30] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Consumer segment revenue was $130 million, up 13% year-over-year, driven by 7.7 million new registered learners [31] - The Coursera Plus subscription offering now accounts for more than half of consumer segment revenue [7] - Enterprise segment revenue was $64 million, up 6% year-over-year, with a 10% increase in the total number of paid enterprise customers [34] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The total number of registered learners reached 191 million, with 7.7 million new learners added in the quarter [32] - The company reported 14 enrollments per minute in its generative AI courses, up from eight enrollments per minute last year [14] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on product-led innovation and enhancing customer experiences to drive long-term growth [6] - There is a commitment to leveraging data insights to improve product offerings and learner engagement [11] - The introduction of SkillsTracks aims to address skill gaps and provide tailored learning paths for enterprises [63] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the business's growth trajectory, citing strong top-of-funnel metrics and the success of Coursera Plus [48] - The company anticipates a seasonal decline in Q4 revenue, which is typical based on historical trends [49] - Management highlighted the importance of adapting to changing corporate spending environments and the need for upskilling in response to AI advancements [62] Other Important Information - The company announced the appointment of Anthony Salcedo as the new general manager of the enterprise segment [8] - The catalog has expanded by 44% to over 12,000 courses, with a focus on job-aligned micro-credentials [13] Q&A Session Summary Question: Insights on OpenAI embedded app and its impact - Management expressed excitement about the partnership with OpenAI, noting it as a top-of-funnel opportunity to attract new learners [40][41] Question: Sales and marketing investment priorities - The company highlighted the efficiency of its sales and marketing efforts, particularly in driving subscription growth [43] Question: Q4 revenue outlook and consumer growth durability - Management indicated that consumer growth is supported by strong marketing and product enhancements, despite typical seasonal impacts [48][49] Question: Trends in enterprise segment and budgetary challenges - Mixed trends were noted across different verticals, with Coursera for campus performing well while government segments faced challenges [61][62] Question: AI skills initiatives and Coursera's role - Management confirmed ongoing dialogues with partners like Google and Microsoft to enhance collaboration on AI skills training [73][74] Question: AI certifications and course offerings - The company sees potential in developing AI certifications in collaboration with partners, emphasizing the importance of verified skills [80][81] Question: Shifts in search and user engagement - Management discussed the integration with OpenAI as a way to enhance user engagement and improve course discovery through AI [86][87]

We came across a bullish thesis on Coursera, Inc. on Saadiyat Capital’s Substack by Shehroz Babar. In this article, we will summarize the bulls’ thesis on COUR. Coursera, Inc.'s share was trading at $10.25 as of October 15th. COUR’s forward P/E was 25.77 according to Yahoo Finance. Is NCR Voyix Corporation (VYX) the Best Information Technology Services Stock to Buy Right Now? Robert Kneschke/Shutterstock.com On October 9, 2025, Coursera (NYSE: COUR) announced that CFO Ken Hahn will step down effective O ...

Company Overview - Coursera, Inc. is a leading global E-learning platform with over 168 million registered learners and partnerships with more than 350 universities and corporate partners, including Yale, Google, and the University of London [2] - The platform offers a range of educational products, including short courses, professional certificates, and full degrees, now consolidated under the Consumer segment for reporting clarity [2] Financial Performance - In Q2 2025, Coursera's Consumer segment generated $123 million in revenue, reflecting a 10% year-over-year growth, with 7.5 million new learners [3] - Gross margins improved to 61% due to favorable content agreements and localization strategies [3] - Enterprise revenue reached $64 million with a 70% margin, supported by various clients and engagement with AI-driven tools like Coursera Coach [3] - The company is debt-free, holding $775 million in cash and equivalents, with manageable liabilities [4] - Operating losses are narrowing, with a net loss of $7.8 million in Q2 2025, indicating improving unit economics and cost efficiencies [4] - Free cash flow accelerated to $29 million in Q2 2025, while stock-based compensation is declining, reducing dilution risks [4] Market Position and Growth Potential - The online learning market is large and growing, with corporate e-learning exceeding $100 billion globally [5] - Despite competition from platforms like Udemy and LinkedIn Learning, Coursera differentiates itself through university-backed content, global reach, and career-aligned offerings [5] - With improving margins, a debt-free balance sheet, and robust free cash flow, the company is well-positioned for profitability as AI adoption and enterprise expansion continue [6] Investment Thesis - The setup presents a disciplined, risk-adjusted opportunity for investors over the next 12–24 months, despite key risks such as pricing pressure and potential dilution [6] - The stock price has appreciated approximately 32% since previous coverage, with ongoing scaling and strengthening of AI initiatives [7] - Updated financials, segment consolidation, and rising free cash flow in 2025 support a bullish outlook for the company [7]

Core Insights - Coursera reported strong Q2 2025 results, exceeding analyst expectations with GAAP revenue of $187.1 million and non-GAAP EPS of $0.12, leading to an optimistic outlook for the full year 2025 [1][5][14] Financial Performance - Q2 2025 GAAP revenue increased by 10% year-over-year, surpassing estimates by $6.6 million [5] - Non-GAAP net income rose 40% to $19.3 million, while adjusted EBITDA grew 73% to $18.0 million [5] - Free cash flow reached $28.6 million, up 68% from the previous year [5] - Operating cash flow for the quarter was $35.5 million, indicating improved operational efficiency [5] Business Focus and Strategy - Coursera focuses on expanding its network of educator partners, technological innovation, and global market penetration [4] - The company has nearly 10,000 courses available, with a significant emphasis on AI-related content [7] - Partnerships with institutions like Adobe and DeepLearning.AI are crucial for maintaining relevance in high-demand fields [10] Market Position and Growth - Coursera has 183 million registered learners globally, with nearly half of its revenue generated outside the US [12] - The Consumer segment generated $122.8 million in revenue, while the Enterprise segment brought in $64.3 million, both reflecting a 10% increase [6] - The company added 7.5 million new registered learners in the quarter [6] Technological Advancements - AI-powered features such as content translation and Coursera Coach have been introduced to enhance user experience [7][11] - The company is committed to linking course content with career outcomes through ongoing innovations [7] Financial Outlook - Management raised the full-year revenue guidance for FY2025 to $738-$746 million, up from the previous range of $720-$730 million [14] - For Q3 2025, expected GAAP revenue is between $188 million and $192 million [14] - Adjusted EBITDA margin target for the full year is set at 8.0%, indicating a planned improvement of 200 basis points [14]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported revenue of $187 million, representing a 10% year-over-year growth [6][25] - Free cash flow increased by 68% year-over-year to $29 million [6] - Gross profit was $105 million, up 13% year-over-year, with a gross margin of 56%, an increase of 180 basis points from the previous year [25] - Net income was $19 million, or 10.3% of revenue, while adjusted EBITDA was $18 million, or 9.6% of revenue [26] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Consumer segment revenue reached $123 million, also up 10% year-over-year, driven by increased learner engagement and Coursera Plus subscriptions [30] - Enterprise segment revenue was $64 million, reflecting a 10% year-over-year growth, with a net retention rate of 93% [32][34] - The number of paid enterprise customers increased by 12% year-over-year to 1,686 [34] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The total number of registered learners grew by 18% year-over-year to 183 million, with 7.5 million new learners added in the second quarter [7][8] - The generative AI course catalog expanded to over 925 courses, with more than 10 million enrollments [10][11] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on product-led growth, enhancing platform capabilities, and accelerating content production to meet the rapid pace of skills development [21][22] - New appointments in leadership positions aim to drive innovation and operational rigor [9] - The company is expanding its catalog of industry micro-credentials and collaborating with universities to broaden access to job-relevant education [12][13] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the company's ability to adapt to the changing labor market and the growing demand for new technologies and skills [7][11] - The company raised its full-year revenue guidance to a range of $738 million to $746 million, reflecting a midpoint increase of $17 million [7][35] - Management acknowledged macroeconomic uncertainties affecting the enterprise segment but remains optimistic about consumer growth [40][86] Other Important Information - The company has a strong balance sheet with approximately $775 million in unrestricted cash and no debt [28] - The catalog now includes over 10,500 courses, having expanded by more than 36% over the past year [10] Q&A Session Summary Question: What is driving the guidance for Q3 and Q4? - The guidance reflects strong performance in the consumer segment, with macro trends in enterprise remaining uncertain [39][40] Question: How is Coursera positioned in the context of big tech prioritizing AI skills education? - The company is well-positioned with trusted content and an AI-enabled learning platform, recognizing the need for reskilling and upskilling in the workforce [44][46] Question: Can you elaborate on consumer outperformance and future growth? - The consumer segment saw broad-based growth across regions, with ongoing improvements in product development and marketing strategies [55][56] Question: What trends are observed across government, business, and campus in the enterprise segment? - The enterprise segment showed strong performance in business and campus verticals, with ongoing monitoring of budgetary trends [60][64] Question: How sustainable are the improvements in consumer gross margins? - Improvements are driven by better revenue share agreements and investments in content, with expectations for continued positive trends [72][74] Question: What are the key metrics being monitored to assess business performance? - Key metrics include traffic conversion rates, learner engagement, and retention, all of which are essential for revenue growth [102][104]