Udemy(UDMY) - 2024 Q3 - Earnings Call Transcript

Financial Data and Key Metrics - Revenue grew 6% YoY to $195 million, with a 2-percentage point headwind from FX [9][35] - Adjusted EBITDA margin reached a new record, significantly higher than anticipated [9] - Udemy Business ARR surpassed$ 500 million, up 14% YoY [10][36] - Gross margin for Udemy Business improved to 74%, up 600 basis points YoY [39] - Consumer revenue declined 8% YoY to $69 million, impacted by FX and lower individual course purchases [39] - Adjusted EBITDA was$ 12 million, or 6% of revenue, with a 200 basis point expansion YoY [44] Business Line Performance - Udemy Business revenue grew 16% YoY to $126 million, despite a 2-percentage point FX headwind [35] - Large enterprise customers (1,000+ employees) contributed 75% of Udemy Business revenue, with ARR growing 15% YoY [16][36] - SMB ARR grew 11% YoY, but resources are being reallocated to focus on large enterprises [16][36] - Consumer segment saw a decline in revenue, but personal plan subscriptions showed growth [39] Market Performance - Over 60% of total revenue came from outside the US, with FX negatively impacting growth by 2 percentage points [35] - EMEA region showed muted growth, while APAC and LATAM regions performed stronger [105] - The company serves 17,000 Udemy Business customers and 75 million learners across 180 countries [12] Strategy and Industry Competition - The company is shifting focus to large enterprise customers, de-emphasizing SMBs, to optimize resource allocation for higher growth and margins [16] - AI-powered skills mapping and AI Assistant were launched to enhance personalized learning experiences [10][28] - The company aims to achieve$ 130- $150 million in adjusted EBITDA by 2026 and a 20% adjusted EBITDA margin by 2027 [57] - Generative AI and digital transformation are driving the need for upskilling, presenting a significant market opportunity [19][20] Management Commentary on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - The operating environment remains stable but subdued, with continued scrutiny on corporate budgets [11][65] - The company expects to deliver$ 70 million in adjusted EBITDA in 2025, with a clear path to its 2026 target [52] - Management is confident in the long-term opportunity for enterprise and individual skills development, particularly in the age of AI [58] Other Important Information - The company achieved $50 million in annualized cost savings, exceeding the initial target of$ 25 million [13][50] - A $150 million share repurchase program is nearing completion, with$ 51 million used in Q3 [46] - The company expects restructuring charges of $18 million, primarily related to personnel expenses [44][45] Q&A Session Summary Question: Impact of AI-enabled capabilities on enterprise growth [60] - AI capabilities like skills mapping and AI Assistant are already improving sales cycles and customer engagement, with over 1,000 enterprises adopting these features [61][63] Question: Corporate L&D spending environment [65] - The L&D spending environment remains subdued, but the company sees opportunities to consolidate L&D content and strategy, as evidenced by a 40,000-seat deal with a Fortune 100 tech company [65][67] Question: Growth expectations for Udemy Business in 2025 [71] - The company expects headwinds in 2025 due to reduced SMB capacity and EMEA weakness, but remains confident in long-term double-digit growth for Udemy Business [72][73] Question: Integration with Workday [76] - The integration with Workday maps Udemy Business content to Workday's Skills Cloud, promoting internal mobility and requiring customers to use both platforms [78][80] Question: Impact of new CRO on sales processes [88] - The new CRO is focused on enhancing sales capabilities, particularly in key verticals, with expected impact on growth in 2025 [89][91] Question: Geographical performance and net dollar retention [104][106] - EMEA showed muted growth, while APAC and LATAM performed stronger Net dollar retention is pressured by longer sales cycles and smaller deal sizes, but the company remains focused on driving customer value [105][107] Question: Product roadmap beyond AI [115] - The return of the CTO is expected to accelerate product innovation, with more details to be shared in future announcements [116][117] Question: Expansion within Udemy Business [120] - The company is leveraging its expanded product portfolio, including AI capabilities, to drive larger deals and strategic conversations with enterprise customers [121][123] Question: Sequential net add decline in Udemy Business customers [125] - The decline in net adds is primarily due to the strategic reallocation of resources from SMB to large enterprise customers [126]