Kyndryl (KD) - 2025 Q4 - Earnings Call Transcript

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Kyndryl reported a 48% increase in signings in constant currency, totaling over $18 billion for fiscal year 2025 [6] - Adjusted pretax income rose by $317 million to $482 million, with adjusted free cash flow increasing by 53% to $446 million [6][27] - The fourth quarter revenue reached $3.8 billion, reflecting a 1.3% year-over-year increase in constant currency [22] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Kyndryl Consult's revenue grew by more than 25% for the year, with consult signings increasing by 50% in constant currency [7][14] - Hyperscaler-related revenue more than doubled to $1.2 billion for the year, significantly exceeding the target of nearly $1 billion [26] - The adjusted EBITDA margin for the fourth quarter was 18.4%, up 370 basis points year-over-year [24] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company secured 55 contracts valued at over $50 million in fiscal year 2025, an increase from 40 contracts in the prior year [10] - Nearly half of these contracts were valued over $100 million, indicating strong demand across various geographies and verticals [10] - The revenue book-to-bill ratio remained above one, indicating future revenue growth from committed contracts [10] Company Strategy and Development Direction - Kyndryl's strategy focuses on building capabilities, partnerships, and innovation to drive sustainable growth, particularly in mission-critical technology services [5] - The company aims to leverage its expanded capabilities and strong customer relationships to win higher value opportunities [12] - The 3A initiatives have shifted from turnaround drivers to pillars of profitable growth, with expectations for substantial earnings and cash flow growth in fiscal year 2026 [8][17] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the company's ability to navigate macroeconomic uncertainties, emphasizing the essential nature of its technology services [20][21] - The outlook for fiscal year 2026 includes expectations for approximately $550 million in adjusted free cash flow and at least $725 million in adjusted pretax income [19][34] - Management highlighted the importance of continued investment in innovation and capabilities to maintain growth momentum [46] Other Important Information - Kyndryl's cash balance was $1.8 billion, with nearly $5 billion in liquidity at quarter end [31] - The company has a target to keep net leverage below one times adjusted EBITDA, ending the quarter at 0.6 times [32] - The fiscal year 2026 outlook assumes a 1% revenue growth in constant currency, with hyperscaler-related revenue expected to reach $1.8 billion [33][34] Q&A Session Summary Question: Accomplishments in 2025 and positioning for 2026 - Management reflected on the successful execution of their strategy and expressed confidence in their ability to control their own destiny through continued investment in innovation [44][46] Question: Progress with focus accounts - Management indicated they are approximately 75% through their focus accounts, having achieved 90% of targeted savings, with a revised target of $1 billion in annualized benefits [50][52] Question: Book to bill ratio and backlog duration - Management confirmed expectations to maintain a book to bill ratio above one, driven by strong performance in consult and hyperscaler-related services [58] Question: Revenue growth guidance - Management explained that while signings growth was strong, they are not relying solely on revenue growth to achieve profit improvement, as a significant portion of revenue is already contracted [70][72] Question: Impact of macro uncertainties on strategic accounts - Management noted that uncertainty tends to be a tailwind for their business, as clients seek to optimize their infrastructure in response to macro conditions [82][84] Question: Role of Kyndryl Bridge in uncertain conditions - Management affirmed that Kyndryl Bridge can help uncover unused resources and provide actionable insights, aiding clients in optimizing their operations [88][90]