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SKIL vs. DOCU: Which Tech Stock Holds More Promise for Investors?
ZACKSยท 2025-11-28 17:11
Core Insights - Both Skillsoft (SKIL) and Docusign (DOCU) are focusing on enterprise software and productivity solutions, with SKIL providing cloud-based learning and DOCU offering eSignature and contract lifecycle management solutions [1] Group 1: Skillsoft (SKIL) - SKIL's revenue trajectory has shown improvement, with a 4% increase in revenues after a 7.4% sequential dip in Q1 FY2026 [2] - The Talent Development Solutions (TDS) segment remained flat at $101 million, while the TDS Enterprise Solution has seen four consecutive quarters of revenue growth, contributing over 90% to the TDS segment [2] - The Global Knowledge segment reported $28 million in revenues, down 10% year-over-year but up 12% sequentially [2] - Adjusted EBITDA margin expanded by 70 basis points and 60 basis points, attributed to prudent expense management and operational enhancements [3] - SKIL experienced a 50% year-over-year increase in technology learners, with AI learners and AI learning hours surging 74% and 158% year-over-year, respectively [3] - Management has cut the revenue outlook to $510-$530 million from $530-$545 million due to macroeconomic and geopolitical instability [4] - SKIL reported a net loss of $23.8 million in Q2 FY2026, an improvement from a $39.6 million loss in the same quarter last year [4] - The company faces competition from established players like Coursera and Udemy, necessitating rapid investments that could lead to further losses [4] Group 2: Docusign (DOCU) - DOCU's revenue increased by 9% year-over-year and 4.8% sequentially in Q2 FY2026, reflecting strong subscription revenue growth [5] - Subscription revenues, which account for 98% of total revenues, rose 9% year-over-year and 5% sequentially, indicating robust customer retention [5] - Billing climbed 13% year-over-year, outpacing revenue growth, showcasing strong demand and pricing power [5] - Dollar net retention increased to 102%, reinforcing customer base retention [5] - Management raised the fiscal 2026 revenue guidance to $3.189-$3.201 billion from $3.151-$3.163 billion [5] - DOCU maintains a solid balance sheet with cash reserves of $844 million and no current debt, generating $218 million in free cash flow during Q2 FY2026 [6] - Despite strong revenue growth, DOCU faced a 20-basis point decline in adjusted gross margin and a 240-basis point drop in adjusted operating margin, raising concerns about sustainable profitability [7] - Competition from major players like Adobe Acrobat Sign poses additional risks to DOCU's growth potential [8] Group 3: Comparative Analysis - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for SKIL indicates a year-over-year decline of 2.8% in sales and 19.6% in EPS for fiscal 2026 [9] - In contrast, DOCU's estimates show a year-over-year increase of 7.3% in sales and 3.9% in EPS for fiscal 2026 [10] - SKIL is trading at a 12-month forward price-to-earnings ratio of 2.16, lower than its median of 3.95, suggesting it may be undervalued compared to DOCU, which has a forward P/E ratio of 17.26 [11] - Both companies present compelling growth narratives, with SKIL showing consistent growth and momentum in AI learning, while DOCU benefits from strong customer retention and a solid balance sheet [13] - SKIL is anticipated to offer better growth potential due to its undervaluation, providing a margin of safety that lowers downside risks [14]