Summary of Appian FY Conference Call (December 10, 2025) Company Overview - **Company**: Appian (NasdaqGM: APPN) - **Industry**: Enterprise Software, focusing on AI and process automation Key Points and Arguments Financial Performance - Appian has high retention rates and gross margins, indicating a strong business model [1][6] - EBITDA margin improved from negative 12% in 2023 to approximately 10% in the latest guidance [15] AI Integration and Value Proposition - Appian is positioned to facilitate enterprise adoption of AI, addressing the need for guardrails, security, and data access [4][6] - Approximately 25% of customers are already paying for AI services, indicating strong initial adoption [49] - AI is integrated into existing processes, enhancing efficiency and accuracy, particularly in document processing [82][83] Go-to-Market Strategy - The company has shifted focus to high-value use cases, targeting complex, mission-critical applications [7][36] - A reduction in the sales organization has led to increased productivity and cost savings [39][41] - Appian aims to align with C-suite priorities to drive larger deal sizes [7][36] Market Dynamics - Despite market volatility, Appian has not seen hesitance from customers in pursuing IT objectives [48] - The federal sector has shown growth, with Appian's federal business outpacing overall company growth [58] Capital Discipline and Profitability - Appian has implemented capital discipline, focusing on profitability and scrutinizing headcount growth [14][115] - The company aims to balance moderate growth with profitability improvements [116] Cloud vs. Self-Managed Business - Approximately 80%-90% of new business is in the cloud, but self-managed deployments continue to grow, especially in regulated industries [97][100] - The self-managed business model presents cash flow challenges due to upfront payments [101] Future Outlook and Capital Allocation - Appian is generating meaningful cash flow and approaching a net debt zero position [128] - The company has conducted share buybacks to return capital to shareholders, indicating a commitment to shareholder value [132] - While open to M&A opportunities, Appian remains cautious about large acquisitions in the rapidly evolving AI landscape [134][138] Additional Insights - The company culture is noted for its focus on efficiency and internal use of AI [9] - Appian's AI offerings are expected to evolve, with a focus on customer engagement and proof points [85] - The emphasis on automation in government processes presents a long-term growth opportunity for Appian [60][63]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In Q3 2025, Appian's total revenue grew 21% year-over-year to $187 million, with cloud subscriptions revenue increasing 21% to $113.6 million and total subscriptions revenue rising 20% to $147.2 million [4][18] - Adjusted EBITDA was $32.2 million, significantly higher than the guidance of $9-$12 million and up from $10.8 million in the same quarter last year [20][23] - Net income reached $24.4 million, or $0.32 per diluted share, compared to $1.8 million, or $0.02 per diluted share, in Q3 2024 [20] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Cloud subscription revenue retention rate was 111%, stable compared to the previous quarter but down from 117% a year ago [19] - Professional services revenue increased by 29% year-over-year to $39.8 million, with a gross margin of 34%, up from 30% in the previous year [18][19] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - International operations contributed 40% of total revenue, up from 36% in the year-ago period, indicating strong growth in international markets [19] - Cloud net new ACV bookings accounted for approximately 90% of total net new software bookings in Q3, reflecting strong demand [19] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focusing on integrating AI with business processes, emphasizing the importance of connecting AI to real work to enhance its value [5][8] - Appian's up-market strategy is driving growth, with over 50% more new seven-figure software deals booked compared to the previous year [15][17] - The launch of new features like Agent Studio is expected to enhance AI capabilities and drive further adoption among customers [13][32] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about the government sector's purchasing patterns, noting a shift towards efficiency and openness to AI solutions despite the temporary impact of the government shutdown [31] - The company anticipates continued growth in cloud subscription revenue and total revenue for Q4 2025, with adjusted EBITDA expected to be between $10 million and $13 million [22][23] Other Important Information - The company is increasing its full-year guidance for cloud subscription revenue and total revenue, expecting cloud subscription revenue to be between $435 million and $437 million, representing year-over-year growth of 18% to 19% [23][24] - The upcoming release of Agent Studio is highly anticipated, with positive feedback from early customer programs indicating strong demand for the new capabilities [32] Q&A Session Summary Question: What drove the strength in cloud ACV bookings this quarter? - Management attributed the strength to a broad market improvement and the success of the up-market strategy, rather than specific sectors [27] Question: How does the company view its go-to-market transformation progress? - Management feels they are in the fourth or fifth inning of the transformation, with plans to return to growth in the sales organization while maintaining productivity [28] Question: What is the outlook for government business given the shutdown? - Management remains bullish about government business, noting that the shutdown is temporary and that long-term changes in purchasing patterns are positive [31] Question: What feedback has been received regarding the upcoming AI Studio release? - The beta program for AI Studio was oversubscribed, with positive feedback indicating strong anticipation for the release [32] Question: How does the company differentiate itself in the AI market? - Management emphasized the importance of connecting AI to data and processes, positioning Appian as a leader in providing complementary technologies to AI [35] Question: What is the expected path for profitability moving forward? - Management expects modest margin expansion in the future, focusing on sustainable revenue growth and continued efficiency improvements [38] Question: What is driving the strong performance in international markets? - The growth is attributed to AI adoption and higher-level conversations with decision-makers, along with favorable foreign exchange rates [39] Question: What is the outlook for professional services margins? - Management noted that while the current high margins may not be sustainable, they expect continued high profitability in professional services moving forward [41]

Core Insights - UiPath has reported steady growth, expanding customer adoption, and improving profitability, combining traditional RPA methods with advanced AI [1][4] - Wall Street remains cautiously optimistic about the company's future performance [1] Financial Performance - In Q2 of fiscal 2026, total revenue increased by 14% year-on-year to $362 million, while annualized recurring revenue (ARR) rose by 11% YoY to $1.72 billion, including $31 million in net new ARR [4] - The gross margin for the quarter was 84%, with no profit or loss reported, compared to a loss of $0.15 per share in the same quarter last year [4] Customer Base and Retention - UiPath ended the quarter with 10,820 customers, with significant growth in high-value customers: those with over $100,000 in ARR increased to 2,432, and those with over $1 million in ARR rose to 320 [6] - The net retention rate stood at 108%, indicating strong customer loyalty and commitment [6] Innovation and Product Development - The company's innovation strategy focuses on merging automation with AI, with agentic AI offerings becoming a key growth driver [5] - UiPath continues to invest in product development, with tools designed to enhance adoption and scalability, while maintaining a healthy balance sheet with $1.5 billion in cash and no debt [7] Future Guidance - Despite early-stage adoption of agentic automation, UiPath has increased its revenue guidance, predicting a 12% increase to $1.57 billion and an ARR of around $1.83 billion for fiscal 2026 [8] - Analysts expect a 10% revenue increase for the same period, with a projected 25% rise in earnings [8] - PATH stock is currently trading at 17 times forward earnings, which is considered reasonable [8]