PEGA(PEGA) - 2022 Q4 - Earnings Call Transcript
PEGAPEGA(US:PEGA)2023-02-16 01:21

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported a 16% year-over-year growth in annual contract value (ACV) in constant currency, reaching $1.1 billion, with a reported growth of 13% [18] - Non-GAAP EPS reached $0.72, an increase of over 200% year-over-year, driven by disciplined expense management, particularly in sales and marketing [19][55] - Pega Cloud gross margin improved approximately 300 basis points to 70%, attributed to increased scale and innovation in cloud architecture [19][56] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Subscription revenue exceeded $1 billion in 2022, representing 81% of total revenue, up from around 50% a few years ago [52] - Pega Cloud ACV reached $455 million, an increase of over $90 million, with over 60% of new client commitments coming from Pega Cloud deals in 2022 [53] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The worldwide market for low-code development technologies is projected to total $27 billion in 2023, an increase of nearly 20% from 2022 [9] - The company is focusing on existing clients, with over 90% of ACV growth expected to come from this segment in 2023 [75] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to become a Rule of 40 company, focusing on balancing ACV growth and free cash flow margin [38][64] - The strategy emphasizes digital transformation and enterprise automation, which are critical for clients in the current economic environment [24][25] - The company is enhancing its low-code platform and has introduced Pega LaunchPad, a new cloud-based low-code application development platform [32][91] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management anticipates a challenging year in 2023 due to economic indicators but believes the company's focus on existing clients will provide resilience [26][34] - The company expects significant improvements in free cash flow in 2023 and 2024, with a projection of $150 million in free cash flow for 2023 [40][59] Other Important Information - The company announced a 4% reduction in its global workforce, expected to result in over $75 million in net savings [39] - The annual Investor Day is scheduled for June 12, 2023, during PegaWorld, where updates on strategy and financials will be provided [63] Q&A Session Summary Question: How much of the ACV growth is due to the sales reorganization? - Management noted that the sales reorganization has led to better engagement with existing clients, which is crucial for future growth [44][45] Question: What are the assumptions behind the ACV growth guidance? - The guidance reflects a cautious approach due to economic uncertainties, with expectations of longer deal cycles and lower close rates [58][92] Question: Have there been any changes in market dynamics? - Management indicated that larger companies are focusing on vendor consolidation, which could benefit Pega as clients seek to streamline their technology stack [110][116]