Summary of Endava (DAVA) Conference Call Company Overview - **Company**: Endava (DAVA) - **Event**: Citi Tech Conference - **Date**: September 05, 2025 Industry Insights - **IT Services Demand**: The IT services industry has experienced cycles of demand, with a significant boost post-COVID leading to increased technology spending. However, there has been a recent shift towards more cautious spending as enterprises seek to control budgets more effectively [5][6] - **Digital Transformation**: The digital transformation wave that began post-COVID is now seeing a pull-forward effect, leading to a hiatus similar to the early 2000s [6][7] - **AI Impact**: The introduction of AI, particularly Generative AI, is creating uncertainty in the market. While some believe it may reduce the need for IT services, Endava sees it as an opportunity for increased demand as clients require deeper integration of AI into their core systems [11][12][15] Financial Performance - **Recent Deals**: Endava closed five large deals in Q3 and eight in Q4, marking the largest order book ever closed, although this momentum is not yet reflected in revenue [17][59] - **Revenue Guidance**: The company anticipates a decline of 5% to 6% in Q1 on a constant currency basis, with a flat outlook for the full year. Approximately 70% of revenues are contracted and committed, up from 60% the previous year [53][54] - **Large Deals Definition**: Large deals are defined as those over $5 million, with some reaching up to $100 million [25] Client Behavior and Market Trends - **Client Spending**: The top 10 clients account for 37% of total revenue, up from 32%, indicating a focus on larger clients [36] - **Geographic Trends**: North America shows good momentum despite a sequential decline due to FX movements. The UK and Europe are experiencing bumpy trends, particularly in payments, which are under pressure [38][39] - **Sector Performance**: The payments sector is facing margin pressure due to new competitors and a shift in traditional players towards M&A rather than technology investment [41][43] Strategic Shifts - **Focus on Larger Clients**: Endava is trimming its long tail of smaller clients to focus on larger, more profitable accounts [35] - **Outcome-Based Pricing**: The company is shifting towards more outcome-based pricing models, moving away from time-and-materials (T&M) structures, with 23% of business now outcome-based, up from 17% a year ago [50][49] - **AI Integration**: Endava is investing in AI to enhance productivity and revenue per head, expecting a gradual increase in headcount as they recruit graduates and specialists in data and AI [52][48] Partnerships and Future Outlook - **Partnership Development**: Endava is focusing on building partnerships with hyperscalers and LLM providers, aiming for these partnerships to contribute 25% to 30% of business in the next five years, up from below 5% currently [72][73] - **Investment in AI**: The company is investing in AI capabilities, which is expected to drive higher revenues and margins over the next two to three years [49][62] Conclusion - Endava is navigating a complex IT services landscape marked by cautious client spending and the transformative potential of AI. The company is strategically focusing on larger clients, shifting pricing models, and enhancing partnerships to position itself for future growth.

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Endava's revenue for Q4 FY2025 was £186.8 million, a decrease of 3.9% compared to £194.4 million in the same period last year. In constant currency, revenue decreased by 0.7% [30] - Profit before tax for Q4 FY2025 was £3.8 million, compared to a loss of £0.4 million in the same period last year. Adjusted profit before tax (PBT) was £16.4 million, up from £14.9 million [30] - Adjusted PBT margin for Q4 FY2025 was 8.8%, compared to 7.7% in the same period last year [31] - For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2025, revenue totaled £772.3 million, a 4.3% increase from £740.8 million in the previous fiscal year [35] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue from the 10 largest clients accounted for 37% of total revenue in Q4 FY2025, up from 34% in the same period last year. Average spend per client from these clients increased from £6.7 million to £6.9 million [31] - In FY2025, revenue from North America increased by 21.9%, while Europe decreased by 5.5% due to challenges in the payments and TMT verticals [38] - The healthcare sector saw a significant increase of 103.8% in revenue, primarily due to the Galaxy acquisition [40] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - North America accounted for 38% of revenue in Q4 FY2025, Europe for 23%, the UK for 33%, and the rest of the world for 6% [31] - Revenue from North America decreased by 5.3% in Q4 FY2025, while revenue from Europe declined by 13.1% [32] - The UK market grew by 5.9%, while the rest of the world saw a decline of 5.8% [32] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is transitioning to become AI native, focusing on evolving its delivery model and forming new alliances to enhance its technology offerings [7][8] - Endava is expanding its partnerships, particularly with OpenAI, to strengthen its technical capabilities and drive new client acquisitions [13][15] - The introduction of flexible pricing structures, including transaction-based models, is aimed at aligning with client needs while managing associated risks [21][76] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed caution regarding the short-term operating backdrop, noting that many clients are recalibrating their spending [9] - The company expects revenue for Q1 FY2026 to be between £181 million and £183 million, representing a constant currency decrease of 5% to 6% year-over-year [42] - Management highlighted that the current economic environment is causing delays in client decision-making, impacting growth [99] Other Important Information - Endava's adjusted free cash flow was negative £4 million for Q4 FY2025, impacted by delayed payments due to improved terms for a key client [33] - The company reported a decrease in headcount by 5% year-over-year, with a focus on recruitment in high-demand areas such as data, AI, and cloud [28] Q&A Session Summary Question: How to reconcile 2026 growth guidance with strong order book commentary? - Management indicated that the order book includes both renewal work and new business, with some new projects taking time to ramp up into revenue [45][46] Question: Can you provide details on margin projections? - Management explained that reinstating bonuses and investing in AI will impact adjusted PBT margins, projecting a decrease of about 3% in FY2026 [49][50] Question: What is the impact of client number decline? - The decline in client numbers is attributed to the loss of small clients, while net additions in other segments remain positive [54][56] Question: What are the expectations for sequential growth after Q1? - Management expressed confidence in achieving sequential growth, supported by a higher proportion of contracted and committed revenue compared to the previous year [72][73] Question: How does the shift to flexible pricing structures impact financial outlook? - Management views flexible pricing as an opportunity, with structured contracts that secure minimum volumes while allowing for upside as new products are developed [76][78]