Vertex (VERX) FY Conference Summary Company Overview - Vertex has been operating for 47 years, initially focusing on sales and use tax in the US and evolving to handle all indirect taxes globally, including VAT [3][4] - The company serves approximately 60% of the Fortune 500 and has over 4,000 customers worldwide, addressing challenges in indirect tax compliance as companies expand into new geographies [4] Core Business Insights - **Pricing Model**: Vertex raises prices annually, typically realizing a 4% to 5% increase. Customers on three-year contracts may see larger increases upon renewal [6][7][8] - **Market Exposure**: Vertex operates across various sectors, including manufacturing, retail, technology, and oil and gas, providing a diversified revenue stream that mitigates risks from market anomalies [12] - **Product Mix**: The largest revenue source is sales and use tax determination, followed by VAT and compliance services. The company employs a "land and expand" strategy to increase wallet share over time [15][19] E-Invoicing Market Development - E-invoicing has become a regulatory requirement in many jurisdictions, initially gaining traction in Latin America and now expanding into Europe. Governments are adopting e-invoicing to close the VAT gap [27][30] - Vertex aims to be a global provider for e-invoicing, addressing the needs of multinationals that currently use multiple point solutions [30][31] - The company anticipates significant growth opportunities as more countries adopt e-invoicing regulations, with a focus on providing comprehensive solutions that integrate with existing systems [32][33] AI Integration and Opportunities - Vertex views AI as a tool to enhance its offerings but does not see it as a threat to its value proposition due to the unique manual processes involved in tax compliance [42][47] - The company has launched AI-driven features like SmartCat to improve product categorization, which is crucial for accurate tax determination [48][49] Financial Performance and Growth Drivers - Vertex targets over 20% growth in software subscriptions and aims for high EBITDA margins, with a focus on leveraging investments made in recent years [83][84] - Key growth drivers include the ongoing migration to cloud-based ERP systems and the expansion of e-invoicing capabilities [86][88] - The company expects to see improved EBITDA margins as it moves past its current investment phase, with projections of around 21% for 2025 [93] Competitive Landscape - Vertex differentiates itself through its extensive tax content library, strong relationships with major accounting firms, and the ability to integrate multiple systems into a cohesive tax solution [78][81] - The company emphasizes the importance of referenceability and the ability to customize solutions for complex enterprise needs [81][82] Conclusion - Vertex is well-positioned for growth in the evolving landscape of tax compliance, particularly with the increasing regulatory focus on e-invoicing and the migration to cloud-based solutions. The company's strategic investments and diversified product offerings are expected to drive future performance and profitability [98][99]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In Q1 2025, revenue was $177.1 million, up 12.9% year over year, with subscription revenue growing 14.4% and cloud revenue increasing 29.6% [6][22] - Adjusted EBITDA was $37.2 million, representing an EBITDA margin of 21.3%, exceeding the high end of guidance [6][28] - Annual recurring revenue (ARR) grew 17.9% to $618.5 million, with net recurring revenue (NRR) remaining strong at 109% [6][22] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Subscription revenue increased to $150.8 million, while services revenue grew 5.4% to $26.3 million [23] - Cloud revenue was $80.2 million, up 29.6% from the previous year, with Ecosio contributing approximately 3.5 points to this growth [23][22] - Average annual revenue per customer for Vertex standalone increased 16% year over year to $141,000 [7][25] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Gross recurring revenue (GRR) was 95%, within the targeted range of 94% to 96% [8][24] - The company noted a growing pipeline for its e-invoicing solution, particularly with upcoming mandates in France and Germany [9] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company announced an equity investment in Kintsugi, a startup focused on AI technology for indirect tax compliance in the small business sector, indicating a strategic move towards enhancing AI capabilities [5][16] - The management emphasized the importance of providing a single solution that combines VAT compliance and e-invoicing, which is expected to be a game changer for companies facing e-invoicing mandates [9][20] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about the market for indirect tax technology, noting no signs of a slowdown in buyer behavior or changes in indirect tax momentum [31][21] - The company highlighted the ongoing cloud migration cycle and business changes from mergers and acquisitions as persistent tailwinds for growth [20][21] Other Important Information - The company ended Q1 with over $270.4 million in unrestricted cash and cash equivalents, along with $300 million of unused availability under its line of credit [29] - For Q2 2025, the company expects total revenue in the range of $182 million to $187 million, representing 14.5% year-over-year growth at the midpoint [29][30] Q&A Session Summary Question: What is driving larger customers to migrate to packaged software solutions? - Management noted that the increasing complexity of e-invoicing and audit pressures are prompting organizations to seek more sustainable solutions [35][36] Question: Why did direct customers decline sequentially? - The decline was attributed to lower-end customers migrating away, while the focus remains on scaled customers, which grew by about 15% [37][38] Question: What is the impact of macro volatility on the business? - Management indicated that tax is becoming a higher priority in strategic discussions, and they have not seen any negative impact on deal flow or pipeline [44][45] Question: How applicable is Kintsugi's technology to the Vertex tax business? - Management sees potential for Kintsugi's technology to enhance offerings for small and mid-sized businesses and to integrate AI into their workflows [46][48] Question: What is the company's position on tariff-related products? - Management clarified that they focus on indirect tax solutions and do not have dedicated tariff products, but they are seeing increased discussions around compliance due to supply chain changes [51][54] Question: How has the Ecosio product performed since its general availability? - The integration of Ecosio's e-invoicing with Vertex's VAT compliance has created a seamless process, leading to positive early results [57][58] Question: How is the competitive environment in e-invoicing compared to indirect tax? - Management highlighted that most competitors focus solely on e-invoicing without VAT compliance, which differentiates Vertex's comprehensive offering [70][72] Question: What is the outlook for new logo growth? - Management reported solid growth across key ecosystems, with a focus on enterprise customers, while also seeing some success in the mid-market [80][82]