Summary of GitLab Conference Call Company Overview - **Company**: GitLab - **Industry**: Software Development and DevSecOps Key Points and Arguments Company Performance and Strategy - GitLab has made significant progress in the past year, with a focus on developer tools and platforms, particularly in the DevSecOps space, which is dominated by few players like Microsoft and GitHub [5][7] - GitLab's unified platform approach is a key strength, providing a comprehensive solution from planning to deployment, resulting in a payback period of six months and an ROI of over 480% over three years [8][10] - The company serves over 10,000 paying customers, including large organizations like UBS, and has a strong presence in both self-managed and cloud environments [9][10] AI Integration and Market Impact - AI is expected to expand GitLab's Total Addressable Market (TAM) and enhance human-AI collaboration in software engineering [12][14] - AI coding tools are creating more demand for GitLab's platform, with CI/CD deployments growing over 35% year-over-year [20] - Despite increased code generation through AI, software innovation has not accelerated, leading to the identification of an "AI paradox" [22] - GitLab is launching the Duo Agent Platform to address the software lifecycle tasks with an agentic approach, allowing engineers to delegate work to agents [22][36] Market Position and Competitive Landscape - GitLab competes with major players like Microsoft and has successfully maintained its position despite the entry and exit of other hyperscalers [25][29] - The company emphasizes the importance of context and capability in achieving high-quality outcomes with AI, leveraging its comprehensive platform to integrate security and compliance into the software development pipeline [31][68] Financial Metrics and Growth - GitLab reported a net dollar retention rate of 119%, indicating strong customer value and expansion [54] - In Q3, seat contribution to revenue growth was slightly over 80%, reflecting continued strength in enterprise seat expansions [55] - The company plans to introduce a hybrid pricing model with the Duo Agent Platform, transitioning to a usage-based billing model alongside existing seat-based subscriptions [57][60] Challenges and Future Outlook - GitLab faces challenges from SMB budget pressures and disruptions in the go-to-market strategy, particularly in the public sector due to the U.S. government shutdown [82][84] - The company anticipates a backlog in renewals and deals as government agencies resume operations [85] - GitLab is focused on long-term growth in gross profit dollars while balancing investments in R&D and sales capacity [92][100] Consolidation in the Developer Tool Market - There is potential for further consolidation in the developer tool market, with GitLab positioned to leverage its integrated platform advantage over niche players [66][68] Additional Important Insights - GitLab's approach to AI and software development emphasizes the need for human oversight to ensure quality and security, as AI-generated code can still contain bugs and vulnerabilities [16][18] - The company is optimistic about the future of software development, believing that AI will enhance rather than reduce the need for developers [40][52] - GitLab's Duo Agent Platform is expected to unlock new capabilities for both human and AI agents across the software lifecycle, enhancing overall productivity [36][76]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue for Q3 FY26 reached $244 million, representing a 25% year-over-year growth, exceeding guidance by two points [5][25] - Non-GAAP operating margin improved to 18%, five points above Q3 guidance [5] - Non-GAAP gross margin was reported at 89% for the quarter [26] - Dollar-based net retention rate (DBNRR) stood at 119% [25] - Total remaining performance obligations (RPO) grew 27% year-over-year to $1 billion [25] - Cash and investments at the end of the quarter totaled $1.2 billion [28] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - GitLab Ultimate now accounts for 54% of total annual recurring revenue (ARR) and was involved in seven of the top ten net ARR deals this quarter [14] - SaaS revenue represented approximately 31% of total revenue, growing 36% year-over-year [26] - The larger customer cohort (ARR of $100,000+) increased by 23% year-over-year, reaching 1,405 [25] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Strong international results were noted, although there was softness in the U.S. public sector due to slower decision-making related to the government shutdown [15] - GitLab was recognized as a Leader in the 2025 Gartner Magic Quadrant for DevOps Platforms and AI Code Assistants [15] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to expand its customer base, particularly in mid-market and enterprise segments, leveraging AI mandates to attract new clients [15][18] - GitLab is focusing on enhancing its platform capabilities, particularly through the Duo Agent platform, which is expected to drive new revenue streams [12][14] - The strategy includes transitioning from a pure seat-based model to a hybrid model that incorporates usage-based pricing [49][81] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the company's position to capitalize on the growing demand for AI in software development [6][18] - The lingering effects of the U.S. government shutdown are anticipated to impact deal dynamics in the federal business into Q4 [29] - The company remains optimistic about long-term growth despite current market challenges, particularly in the SMB segment [28][95] Other Important Information - The company is preparing for the general availability of the Duo Agent platform, which is expected to enhance customer engagement and operational efficiency [14][72] - A new Chief Financial Officer, Jessica Ross, will join the company in January [24] Q&A Session Summary Question: Insights on fourth quarter guidance and subscription revenue growth - Management acknowledged a deceleration in subscription revenue growth and highlighted ongoing challenges in the public sector impacting guidance [33][35] Question: Progress on first-order business and expected timeline for results - Management indicated that hiring a global leader for new business acquisition is underway, with expected results in the latter half of FY 2027 [39][40] Question: Impact of federal sector challenges on revenue retention - Management confirmed that public sector challenges are ongoing but emphasized the long-term potential of their public sector strategy [44][45] Question: Customer activity and AI tool usage - Management noted that AI tool usage is widespread among customers, enhancing their overall engagement with GitLab [98] Question: SMB segment performance and strategies - Management highlighted that SMB weakness is a small part of their overall revenue and attributed it to price sensitivity and scrutiny during renewals [95]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue for Q3 FY26 grew 25% year over year to $244 million, exceeding guidance by two points [5][25] - Non-GAAP operating margin reached 18%, five points above guidance [5] - Non-GAAP gross margin was 89% for the quarter, with non-GAAP operating income of $43.7 million compared to $25.9 million in Q3 of the previous year [26][27] - Dollar-based net retention rate (DBNRR) was 119%, with total remaining performance obligations (RPO) growing 27% year over year to $1 billion [25][26] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - GitLab Ultimate now represents 54% of total annual recurring revenue (ARR) and was involved in seven of the top ten net ARR deals this quarter [14] - SaaS revenue grew 36% year over year, now representing approximately 31% of total revenue [26] - The larger customer cohort of $100,000+ in ARR increased 23% year over year, reaching 1,405 [25] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Stronger international results were noted, although there was softness in the U.S. public sector due to slower decision-making related to the government shutdown [15] - GitLab was recognized as a Leader in the 2025 Gartner Magic Quadrant for DevOps Platforms and AI Code Assistants [15] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to add more new paying customers, particularly in the mid-market and enterprise segments, leveraging AI mandates to drive demand [15][18] - GitLab is focusing on a hybrid seat plus usage-based business model with the introduction of the Duo Agent platform [49][50] - The company is investing in core DevOps, security, and AI to accelerate customer-focused innovation [21][22] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the company's position to capitalize on the growing importance of AI in software development [6][7] - The lingering effects of the U.S. government shutdown are expected to impact deal dynamics in the federal business into Q4 [29][66] - The company anticipates total revenue of $251-$252 million for Q4 FY26, representing a year-over-year growth rate of approximately 19% [29] Other Important Information - The company ended the quarter with $1.2 billion in cash and investments, providing flexibility for continued investment in AI capabilities and platform enhancements [28] - A new Chief Financial Officer, Jessica Ross, will join the company in January [24] Q&A Session Summary Question: Insights on fourth quarter guidance and subscription revenue growth - Management acknowledged the deceleration in subscription revenue growth and the impact of public sector softness on guidance [33][35] Question: Progress on first-order business and expected timeline for results - Management indicated that a new global leader focused on acquiring new business has been hired, with results expected in the latter half of FY27 [39][40] Question: Impact of federal sector on revenue and retention rates - Management confirmed that public sector remains a significant part of ARR, with ongoing challenges due to the government shutdown affecting deal dynamics [44][66] Question: Convergence of platform activity and revenue growth - Management noted that the shift to a hybrid business model with Duo Agent platform is expected to help align activity with revenue growth [49][50] Question: SMB market weakness and potential strategies - Management stated that SMB represents a small portion of revenue, with ongoing scrutiny affecting renewals, but emphasized the importance of a strong free offering [95] Question: Customer usage of AI tools and its impact on growth - Management confirmed that AI tool usage is widespread among customers, with many implementing multiple AI tools alongside GitLab [99]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue grew 25% year over year to $244 million, exceeding Q3 guidance by two points [4] - Non-GAAP operating margin reached 18%, five points above Q3 guidance [4] - Non-GAAP gross margin was 89% for the quarter, with a non-GAAP operating income of $43.7 million compared to $25.9 million in Q3 of the previous year [22] - Dollar-based net retention rate (DBNRR) was 119%, with total remaining performance obligations (RPO) growing 27% year over year to $1 billion [21][22] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - GitLab Ultimate now represents 54% of total annual recurring revenue (ARR) and was involved in seven of the top ten net ARR deals this quarter [11] - SaaS revenue grew 36% year over year, now representing approximately 31% of total revenue [22] - The larger customer cohort of $100,000 plus in ARR increased 23% year over year, reaching 1,405 [21] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Engagement metrics across GitLab.com SaaS customer base increased significantly, with CI pipelines, deployments, and releases up about 35%-45% year over year [8] - The company experienced stronger international results, although there was softness in the U.S. public sector due to slower decision-making related to the government shutdown [12] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to add more new paying customers, particularly in the mid-market and enterprise segments, leveraging AI mandates to drive demand [12] - GitLab is focused on a cohesive workflow across developer, security, and operations teams, enhancing its platform to provide intelligent orchestration across the software lifecycle [10][12] - The Duo Agent platform is positioned as a solution to the AI paradox, aiming to drive new revenue streams beyond traditional seat-based models [10][19] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the company's ability to deliver high-quality, secure software, emphasizing the critical nature of their offerings in a rapidly evolving AI landscape [5][6] - The lingering effects of the U.S. government shutdown are expected to impact deal dynamics in the federal business into Q4, but the long-term public sector thesis remains intact [24][32] - The company is optimistic about its growth trajectory, with a forecast of total revenue for FY26 expected to be between $946-$947 million, representing a growth rate of approximately 25% year over year [24] Other Important Information - GitLab was named a Leader in the 2025 Gartner Magic Quadrant for DevOps Platforms and AI Code Assistants for the third and second consecutive years, respectively [12] - The company ended the quarter with $1.2 billion in cash and investments, providing flexibility for continued investment in AI capabilities and platform enhancements [23] Q&A Session Summary Question: Subscription revenue growth guidance for Q4 - Management acknowledged the deceleration in subscription revenue growth from 30% to 27% and discussed the impact of public sector softness and the government shutdown on the demand environment [27][28] Question: Progress on first-order business - Management noted that while progress is being made, it is still not at the desired level, with a new global leader hired to focus on acquiring new business [29][30] Question: Impact of federal sector on license line and retention rate - Management confirmed that public sector remains a significant part of ARR and acknowledged disruptions from the government shutdown affecting deal dynamics [32] Question: AI tool usage among customers - Management indicated that AI tool usage is pervasive across the customer base, with many implementing multiple AI tools as part of their strategy [57] Question: SMB market weakness - Management stated that SMB represents a small portion of revenue and highlighted price sensitivity and scrutiny during renewals as contributing factors to the observed weakness [56]

Financial Performance - The company reported revenue of $244 million, representing a 25% year-over-year growth rate[7, 41] - The Q3 FY26 Non-GAAP operating margin was 18%[7, 41] - The Q3 FY26 Non-GAAP adjusted free cash flow margin was 11%[7, 41] - Adjusted Free Cash Flow was $27 million[41] - The company's dollar-based net retention rate was 119%[7] - The company has provided revenue guidance for Q4 FY2026 of $2510 million to $2520 million and full fiscal year 2026 revenue guidance of $946 million to $947 million[52] Customer Base - The company has 10,475 base customers[7] - The company has 1,405 customers with over $100K in ARR[7] - 54% of total ARR is from GitLab Ultimate as of Q3 FY26[15] Product and Recognition - GitLab Ultimate is the company's AI-native enterprise-grade DevSecOps solution[15] - GitLab received Gartner recognition in the 2025 Magic Quadrant for DevOps Platforms and AI Code Assistants[20, 21]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue for Q2 2026 reached $236 million, representing a 29% year-over-year increase [36] - Non-GAAP operating margin improved to 17%, up from 10% in Q2 of the previous year [36][40] - Adjusted free cash flow for Q2 was $46 million, with a margin of 20%, compared to $10.8 million in the prior year [41] - Total remaining performance obligations (RPO) grew 32% year-over-year to $988.2 million [39] - Non-GAAP gross margin was 90% for the quarter [39] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - SaaS revenue grew 39% year-over-year, now representing approximately 30% of total revenue [40] - GitLab Ultimate now accounts for 53% of total annual recurring revenue (ARR) [14] - GitLab Dedicated contributed approximately $50 million in ARR, growing 92% year-over-year [15] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The dollar-based net retention rate (DBNRR) for Q2 was 121%, driven by seat expansion (approximately 80%) and increased customer yield (approximately 5%) [36][37] - The customer base includes 10,338 customers with ARR of at least $5,000, contributing over 95% of total ARR [36] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to balance expansion efforts with a focus on new customer acquisition through sales-led and product-led growth strategies [9][11] - A new business division is being established to focus on first-order acquisition and post-sales support [60] - The company is enhancing its product offerings and customer experience, particularly in AI and security [17][20] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the company's ability to navigate market fluctuations while investing in AI capabilities and platform enhancements [41][44] - There is an expectation of incremental softness in the small and medium-sized business (SMB) segment, which is anticipated to persist through the year [43][74] - The company is maintaining its full-year revenue guidance while raising profit outlook due to strong operating leverage [43][44] Other Important Information - Brian Robbins, the CFO, announced his departure, with James Shen expected to serve as interim CFO [31][32] - The company is focusing on integrating AI tools into its platform, positioning itself as a leader in the AI-native DevSecOps space [27][30] Q&A Session Summary Question: Changes in management and their impact - Bill Staples addressed the executive turnover, emphasizing stability and scale as key focuses moving forward [49][50] Question: Growth forecast for the second half of the year - Brian Robbins noted that the guidance for the second half reflects a conservative approach due to market conditions and organizational changes [51][52] Question: SMB segment softness and its drivers - Brian Robbins indicated that the SMB segment accounts for about 8% of total revenue and has been more price-sensitive post-price increase [73][74] Question: Competitive landscape and platform defensibility - Bill Staples explained that GitLab's platform focuses on change management across the software lifecycle, differentiating it from AI code generation tools [80][82] Question: New customer acquisition strategy - Bill Staples highlighted the need for specialized sales teams focused on first-order acquisition to counteract the trend of decelerating new customer ads [87][88]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue for Q2 FY 2026 reached $236 million, representing a 29% year-over-year increase [5][38] - Non-GAAP operating margin improved to 17%, up from 10% in the same quarter last year [5][42] - Adjusted free cash flow was $46 million, with a margin of 20%, compared to $10.8 million in the prior year [43] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - SaaS revenue grew 39% year-over-year, now representing approximately 30% of total revenue [41][42] - GitLab Ultimate now accounts for 53% of total ARR, with significant adoption in security capabilities [14][15] - GitLab Dedicated contributed approximately $50 million in ARR, growing 92% year-over-year [15] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The dollar-based net retention rate (DBNRR) for Q2 was 121%, driven by seat expansion and increased customer yield [38][39] - The larger customer cohort (ARR of $100,000+) increased by 25% year-over-year, reaching 1,344 [38] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to balance expansion efforts with a focus on new customer acquisition through sales-led and product-led growth strategies [7][10] - A new Chief Product and Marketing Officer has been appointed to enhance product-led growth initiatives [11] - The company is focusing on accelerating customer-focused innovation in core DevOps, security, and AI areas [18] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in maintaining revenue guidance while raising profit outlook, despite softness in the SMB segment [44][46] - The company is positioned uniquely as a cloud-agnostic DevSecOps platform with comprehensive AI capabilities [46][47] - Management highlighted the importance of adapting to the AI cycle as both an opportunity and a risk [52] Other Important Information - The company plans to evolve its business model from a purely seat-based model to a hybrid model that includes usage-based charges [27] - A leadership transition is underway, with the CFO stepping down and an interim CFO being appointed [33][35] Q&A Session Summary Question: Changes in management and their impact - Management changes are aimed at bringing stability and scaling the company, with a focus on capitalizing on the AI cycle [51][52] Question: Guidance for the second half of the year - Guidance was held steady due to strong first-month bookings and a mix of SaaS versus self-managed revenue [54][56] Question: SMB segment softness - The SMB segment accounts for about 8% of total revenue and is experiencing price sensitivity post-price increase [75] Question: Competitive conditions and platform defensibility - GitLab differentiates itself from AI code generation tools by focusing on change management across the software lifecycle [81][83] Question: New customer acquisition strategy - The company is implementing a specialized sales force focused on first-order customer acquisition to address previous deceleration in new customer ads [88][89] Question: Compensation and sales incentives - Current compensation models remain largely unchanged, but there are light touches to incentivize new customer growth [104]

Financial Performance - GitLab's Q2 FY26 revenue reached $236 million, demonstrating a 29% year-over-year growth rate[7, 56] - The company achieved a 17% Non-GAAP operating margin in Q2 FY26[7, 56] - GitLab's Non-GAAP adjusted free cash flow margin was 20% in Q2 FY26, translating to $46 million in adjusted free cash flow[7, 56] - The dollar-based net retention rate was 121%[7] Customer Growth and ARR - GitLab has 10,338 base customers[7] - The number of customers with over $100K in ARR reached 1,344[7] - GitLab Dedicated accounts for $50 million of total ARR[26] Strategic Objectives - GitLab aims to acquire new customers through sales-led growth, focusing on first-order lands and module adoption[10, 12] - The company is accelerating customer value realization through sales excellence and faster value demonstration[18, 19] - GitLab is shifting towards depth-first innovation, investing in core DevOps, security, and AI growth levers[32] Product and AI - GitLab Ultimate contributes 53% of the company's total ARR[22] - 56% of startups joining the GitLab Startup Program in Q2 FY26 are AI companies[14] - Customer surveys indicate that 91% believe AI-native dev tools will increase their GitLab usage[43]

Core Insights - GitLab (GTLB) and Pegasystems (PEGA) are significant players in the enterprise automation sector, each providing unique platforms for enhancing software development and business operations [1][2] Market Overview - The global autonomous enterprise market was valued at $49.25 billion in 2024 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 16.2% from 2025 to 2030, presenting substantial growth opportunities for both GitLab and Pegasystems [2] GitLab (GTLB) Analysis - GitLab is experiencing strong demand for its DevSecOps platform, with solutions like GitLab Ultimate and GitLab Duo driving customer adoption [3] - In Q1 of fiscal 2026, GitLab reported a 13% year-over-year increase in customers with over $5K in Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR), totaling 10,104, and a 26% increase in customers with over $100K in ARR, reaching 1,288 [4] - GitLab's recent product launch, GitLab 18, includes significant innovations in DevOps workflows, security, compliance, and AI capabilities, which are expected to enhance its market presence [5] Pegasystems (PEGA) Analysis - Pegasystems is benefiting from the rising demand for its GenAI Blueprint solution, which integrates AI to create enterprise workflow applications, with over 1,000 new Blueprints being developed weekly [6] - In Q2 of 2025, Pegasystems reported a 16% year-over-year increase in Annual Contract Value (ACV) to $1.51 billion, driven by the popularity of its GenAI Blueprint [7] - The introduction of the Powered by Pega Blueprint solution allows system integrators to incorporate their expertise into Pega's AI-driven workflow designer, enhancing client success [8] Stock Performance and Valuation - Year-to-date, GitLab shares have decreased by 16.4%, while Pegasystems shares have increased by 23.5%, attributed to macroeconomic challenges for GitLab and strong demand for PEGA's products [9][10] - Valuation metrics indicate that both GTLB and PEGA shares are currently overvalued, with GitLab trading at a forward Price/Sales ratio of 7.55X compared to PEGA's 5.68X [13] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for GTLB's 2025 earnings is $0.75 per share, reflecting a 1.35% year-over-year increase, while PEGA's estimate is $1.84 per share, indicating a 21.85% year-over-year increase [15] Earnings Performance - GitLab has consistently beaten earnings estimates over the past four quarters, with an average surprise of 37.64%, while Pegasystems has also exceeded estimates with a higher average surprise of 66.66% [16] Conclusion - Both GitLab and Pegasystems are well-positioned to capitalize on the growth in enterprise automation, but Pegasystems currently shows stronger momentum, higher earnings growth, and broader adoption of its GenAI solutions [17]

Core Insights - GitLab (GTLB) shares have declined by 16.8% year-to-date, underperforming the broader Zacks Computer & Technology sector, which has risen by 7%, and the Zacks Internet - Software industry, which has increased by 16.2% [1][2][10] - The underperformance is attributed to macroeconomic uncertainties and heightened competition in AI-enabled DevSecOps, particularly from larger competitors like Microsoft [2][10] - Despite challenges, GitLab is experiencing strong demand for its DevSecOps platform, with significant growth in its customer base [4][5] Stock Performance - GitLab's stock has lagged behind Microsoft, which has gained 19.4% year-to-date [2][10] - The company reported a 13% year-over-year increase in customers with over $5K in Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) and a 26% increase in customers with over $100K in ARR in Q1 FY26 [5][10] Product and Portfolio Expansion - GitLab launched GitLab 18 in May 2025, introducing AI-native features and integrated tools for Premium and Ultimate customers at no additional cost [6][7] - The company achieved FedRAMP Moderate Authority to Operate status for GitLab Dedicated for Government, enhancing its offerings for federal agencies [8] Partnerships and Collaborations - GitLab is leveraging partnerships with major cloud platforms like Google Cloud and Amazon to expand its reach among large enterprise customers [11][12] - The integration of Amazon Q's AI agents into GitLab's platform aims to accelerate development and streamline security processes [11] Financial Guidance - For Q2 FY26, GitLab expects revenues between $226 million and $227 million, reflecting a growth of approximately 24% year-over-year [13] - For the full fiscal year 2026, the revenue forecast is between $936 million and $942 million, indicating a similar growth rate [14] Earnings Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for GTLB's Q2 FY26 earnings is 16 cents per share, with a year-over-year increase of 6.67% [15] - The consensus for fiscal 2026 earnings is pegged at 75 cents per share, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 1.35% [16] Valuation Metrics - GTLB is currently trading at a forward price/sales ratio of 7.57X, which is higher than the sector average of 6.57X, indicating a stretched valuation [17]