Key Takeaways PTC launches the Arena AI Engine to embed AI into core PLM and QMS processes.New AI features boost accuracy with file summaries, comparisons and improved SCI checks.Upgrades include a multilingual AI Assistant and enhanced component compliance monitoring.PTC Inc. ((PTC) recently launched the Arena PLM and QMS AI Engine, a cutting-edge solution designed to bring AI-powered intelligence directly into core product lifecycle and quality workflows. Built on Amazon Bedrock, this new capability aims ...

Core Insights - The company has recently announced divestitures, specifically regarding Kepware and ThingWorx, which have raised questions about the strategic rationale behind these decisions [1] Group 1: Divestitures - The divestitures of Kepware and ThingWorx were influenced by a shift in the direction of these businesses, which has diverged from the company's core focus [1] - There was significant effort invested in these deals in the past, indicating that the decision to divest is strategic rather than impulsive [1]

Core Insights - PTC Inc. has shown strong financial performance with a significant increase in revenue and earnings per share, indicating robust growth potential in the technology sector [3] - Institutional investors have been actively increasing their stakes in PTC, reflecting confidence in the company's future prospects [1][6] Financial Performance - PTC reported earnings per share of $3.47 for the latest quarter, surpassing the consensus estimate of $2.26 by $1.21 [3] - The company's revenue reached $893.80 million, exceeding analyst expectations of $752.05 million, marking a 42.7% increase compared to the same quarter last year [3] - PTC's net margin stands at 20.74% and return on equity at 17.09% [3] Stock Performance - PTC's stock opened at $179.61, with a 1-year low of $133.38 and a high of $219.69 [2] - The company has a market capitalization of $21.52 billion, a P/E ratio of 42.36, and a P/E/G ratio of 1.90 [2] Analyst Ratings and Price Targets - Analysts have varied price targets for PTC, with BMO Capital Markets lowering their target from $231.00 to $219.00, while Robert W. Baird set a target of $255.00 [4] - The average price target for PTC is currently $205.92, with a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" [4] Institutional Ownership - Hedge funds and institutional investors own 95.14% of PTC's stock, indicating strong institutional support [1] - Notable increases in stakes include Allworth Financial LP, which boosted its holdings by 887.0% in the second quarter [6]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In Q4, the company achieved 8.5% constant currency ARR growth and 16% free cash flow growth year-over-year [7][24] - The company generated $100 million of free cash flow in Q4, with total free cash flow for Fiscal 2025 reaching $857 million, up 16% [23][24] - The operating efficiency percentage expanded by 310 basis points to 45% in Fiscal 2025 compared to 42% in Fiscal 2024 [24] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - ARR attributable to Kepware and ThingWorx was approximately $160 million, with constant currency ARR growth of -1% [16] - The company closed its largest Codebeamer deal ever and the largest Onshape deal ever, indicating strong performance in the automotive and medtech verticals [8][9] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company ended the year with record-deferred ARR under contract, providing strong visibility into Fiscal 2026 and beyond [9] - The average term length for contracts increased from approximately two years in Q4 of 2024 to approximately three years in Q4 of 2025 [21] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company has reached a definitive agreement for TPG to acquire its Kepware and ThingWorx businesses, allowing it to focus on CAD, PLM, ALM, and SLM, with an emphasis on SaaS and AI [5][6] - The company is enhancing its offerings in CAD, PLM, ALM, and SLM to facilitate the building of product data foundations and embedding more AI capabilities [12] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in Fiscal 2026, guiding for ARR growth of 7%-9% including Kepware and ThingWorx, and 7.5%-9.5% excluding them [11][26] - The company anticipates a strong pipeline and deferred ARR balance, which is heavily skewed to Q4, indicating a positive outlook for net new ARR growth [30] Other Important Information - The company plans to return excess cash to shareholders, expecting to buy back between $150 million and $250 million worth of shares per quarter during Fiscal 2026 [13] - The transaction for Kepware and ThingWorx is expected to close in the first half of calendar 2026, with potential cash consideration of up to $725 million [15] Q&A Session Summary Question: Context behind the decision to divest ThingWorx and Kepware - Management emphasized the focus on core priorities and the intelligent product lifecycle vision, stating that the divestiture allows for greater concentration on strategic areas [33][34] Question: OBBA benefit expected in free cash flow guidance - Management confirmed that the $1 billion free cash flow guidance includes some tailwind from the new Section 174 decision, but also noted the impact of increased CapEx related to transitioning an R&D facility [39][40] Question: Characterization of deal structures this quarter - Management clarified that ramp deals were contracted commitments, indicating strong customer demand and a focus on capturing that demand [43][44] Question: Impact of divestiture on CAM business - Management expressed confidence in the addressable market for the intelligent product lifecycle, stating that the divestiture allows for a stronger focus on existing strategies [49][50] Question: Plans for go-to-market changes in Q1 - Management highlighted the successful vertical alignment and the importance of consistent messaging, with plans to integrate AI into industry-specific communications [58][62] Question: Roadmap execution and RPO comments - Management discussed improvements in product execution and the importance of aligning teams to deliver customer value, with approximately 55% of total RPO expected to be recognized over the next 12 months [66][70] Question: Growth potential and key levers for the business - Management indicated that the foundation for sustainable growth is being established, with a focus on executing the intelligent product lifecycle vision and capturing customer demand [74][75]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In Q4 of Fiscal 2025, the company achieved 8.5% constant currency ARR growth and 16% free cash flow growth year over year [5][22] - The total constant currency ARR at the end of Q4 was $2.446 billion, reflecting an 8.5% increase year over year [19] - Free cash flow for the full fiscal year was $857 million, up 16% from the previous year [22][23] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - ARR attributable to Kepware and ThingWorx was approximately $160 million, with constant currency ARR growth at negative 1% [16] - The revenue contribution from Kepware and ThingWorx, including perpetual licenses and professional services, was approximately $200 million [16] - The average term length for contracts increased from approximately two years in Q4 of 2024 to approximately three years in Q4 of 2025 [20] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company closed its largest Codebeamer deal in the automotive vertical and a significant Windchill competitive displacement win in the medtech vertical [6] - The company reported a record increase in RPO, which was up more than $550 million both sequentially and year over year [21][68] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company has reached a definitive agreement for TPG to acquire its Kepware and ThingWorx businesses, allowing it to focus on CAD, PLM, ALM, and SLM, with an emphasis on SaaS and AI [4][5] - The strategic decision to divest from Kepware and ThingWorx aligns with the company's focus on the intelligent product lifecycle vision [32][34] - The company plans to return excess cash to shareholders and expects to buy back between $150 million and $250 million worth of shares per quarter during Fiscal 2026 [12] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in achieving $1 billion of free cash flow in Fiscal 2026, with ARR growth guidance of 7-9% including Kepware and ThingWorx [10][25] - The company anticipates that the divestiture will not significantly disrupt operations and expects to maintain momentum in its go-to-market strategy [10][53] - Management highlighted the importance of structured product data foundations and the role of AI in enhancing customer offerings [11][72] Other Important Information - The company appointed John Stevenson as Chief Product Officer to enhance product operating rhythm and improve roadmap execution [9] - The transaction for the divestiture is expected to close in the first half of calendar 2026, with potential cash consideration of up to $725 million [14][15] Q&A Session Summary Question: Context behind the decision to divest from ThingWorx and Kepware - Management emphasized the focus on core priorities and the intelligent product lifecycle vision, stating that the divestiture allows for greater concentration on these areas [32][33] Question: Impact of cash tax implications on free cash flow guidance - Management confirmed that the $1 billion free cash flow guidance includes some tailwind from the new Section 174 decision, but also factors in increased CapEx related to transitioning an R&D facility [38][39] Question: Characterization of deal structures in Q4 - Management clarified that the majority of large transactions were closed, with ramp deals being contracted commitments rather than uncertain spending [42][44] Question: Thoughts on the CAM business post-divestiture - Management expressed confidence in the addressable market for intelligent product lifecycle and the potential for AI to enhance product data foundations [47][49] Question: Guidance for net new ARR growth - Management indicated a disciplined approach to guidance, factoring in strong deferred ARR and the potential impact of the divestiture on future performance [50][53] Question: Future go-to-market changes - Management highlighted the importance of vertical alignment and the integration of AI into messaging to improve traction and win rates [56][60] Question: Improvements in roadmap execution - Management discussed the focus on aligning teams to execute on AI initiatives and the importance of delivering customer value through product enhancements [64][66][68] Question: Growth potential and key levers for the business - Management noted that building momentum and focusing on the intelligent product lifecycle vision are critical for achieving sustainable growth [71][74]

Financial Performance & Guidance - Q4'25 ARR as reported reached $2478 million, a 10% YoY increase[22] - FY'25 Free Cash Flow was $857 million, a 16% YoY increase[23] - FY'26 Free Cash Flow guidance is approximately $1000 million[19,29] - FY'26 constant currency ARR growth guidance, excluding Kepware and ThingWorx, is 75% to 95%[16,29] - Q1'26 Free Cash Flow guidance is $265 million to $270 million[29] Kepware and ThingWorx Divestiture - The divestiture involves Kepware industrial connectivity and ThingWorx IoT businesses[9] - Estimated net transaction proceeds from the divestiture are approximately $365 million[12,14] - Kepware and ThingWorx contribute approximately $160 million of ARR and $200 million of revenue[15] - Kepware and ThingWorx contribute an estimated $70 million of free cash flow[17] Capital Allocation - The company intends to repurchase between $150 million and $250 million of its common stock per quarter in FY'26[40,80]

Core Insights - TPG has reached a definitive agreement to acquire PTC's Kepware and ThingWorx businesses, aiming to enhance their growth and leadership in industrial connectivity and IoT solutions [1][2][7] - The transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2026, pending regulatory approvals and other conditions [4] Company Focus - PTC is shifting its focus towards its Intelligent Product Lifecycle vision, concentrating resources on core offerings such as CAD, PLM, ALM, and SLM, while leveraging AI and SaaS technologies [3][7] - The sale of Kepware and ThingWorx will allow PTC to better address customer challenges by optimizing product data utilization throughout the product lifecycle [3][7] Investment and Growth Potential - TPG plans to invest in the acquired businesses through its U.S. and European private equity platform, providing additional capital and expertise to accelerate growth [2][3] - The acquisition is seen as a generational opportunity to enhance manufacturing processes by bridging operational and information technology [3][7] Business Operations - Kepware serves as a communication platform that facilitates data exchange across various industries, including manufacturing and utilities, while ThingWorx is an IoT platform that enables remote device management and data analysis [3][7] - The partnership with TPG is expected to support the scaling and evolution of these software platforms to meet the changing needs of customers [3][7]

Group 1: Breakthrough in Power Analysis - Cadence Design Systems and NVIDIA Corporation have achieved hardware-accelerated dynamic power analysis for billion-gate AI designs, completing the process in just a few hours with up to 97% accuracy [1][4] - The new Cadence Dynamic Power Analysis App, integrated with the Palladium Z3 Enterprise Emulation Platform, allows for accurate power consumption estimates in real-world workloads, enhancing energy efficiency and preventing delays in chip design [4][5] - Traditional power analysis tools are limited to processing a few hundred thousand cycles, but the collaboration between Cadence and NVIDIA has enabled unprecedented accuracy across billions of cycles [3][4] Group 2: Market Opportunities and Growth - There is broad-based demand for Cadence's solutions, particularly in AI-driven portfolios, driven by trends such as 5G, hyperscale computing, and autonomous driving [5][7] - Cadence is collaborating with major tech companies like Qualcomm and NVIDIA on next-generation AI designs, and is targeting new markets such as Life Sciences with its OpenEye drug discovery software [6][7] - The company is expanding partnerships with foundry partners like Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, Intel, and Arm Holdings, positioning itself to benefit from increased R&D spending on AI-driven automation [7] Group 3: Competitive Landscape - Cadence faces intensifying competition and challenges related to international exposure and a high level of goodwill and intangible assets [8] - In the broader software space, competitors like PTC Inc. and Adobe Inc. are also leveraging AI technologies, indicating a competitive environment for Cadence [9][13]

Core Insights - PTC Inc. has introduced two significant features to its Onshape platform: Onshape AI Advisor and Onshape Government, aimed at enhancing product development and regulatory compliance for engineers and organizations [1][8] - Onshape is recognized for its rapid innovation cycle, with a three-week release schedule that includes various new features, positioning it as a leading platform in the CAD and PDM sectors [2] - The platform is also making strides in education, with over 1.5 million new signups annually from students and educators, indicating its growing influence in academic settings [3] Onshape AI Advisor - Onshape AI Advisor is a generative AI tool designed to improve the design experience by providing real-time guidance and automating CAD workflows [5] - The AI Advisor utilizes Onshape's resources to deliver accurate answers and recommendations based on user queries, enhancing efficiency [6] - However, it does not create designs or handle complex engineering decisions, emphasizing the need for users to rely on their expertise for critical tasks [7] Onshape Government - Onshape Government is tailored for government agencies and defense contractors, ensuring compliance with ITAR and EAR regulations while providing secure design workflows [8][9] - The platform reduces overhead by minimizing IT costs and eliminating lengthy audits associated with traditional CAD systems, allowing teams to focus on design quality [10] - PTC is pursuing FedRAMP Moderate authorization for Onshape Government to meet federal data security standards [10] PTC's Strategic Developments - PTC's diversified product portfolio, including Creo, Windchill, ThingWorx, and Vuforia Studio, is driving growth and efficiency across industries [12] - A strategic collaboration with Amazon Web Services aims to enhance Onshape's features and increase customer adoption, although PTC has revised its 2025 sales forecast down to $2,430-$2,530 million due to challenging market conditions [13] - PTC's stock has seen a decline of 17.2% over the past year, contrasting with a 2.9% drop in the broader Computer-Software industry [14]