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CrowdStrike(CRWD) - 2026 Q1 - Earnings Call Transcript
CRWDCrowdStrike(CRWD)2025-06-03 22:00

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company achieved net new ARR of $194 million, exceeding expectations and bringing total ending ARR to over $4.4 billion, a 22% increase year-over-year [5][32] - Subscription gross margin was reported at 80%, indicating strong efficiency of the AI platform [5][34] - Free cash flow reached $279 million, representing 25% of revenue, with a quarter-on-quarter growth of double digits [5][35] - Total revenue for the quarter was $1.1 billion, reflecting a 20% growth compared to the same quarter last year [33] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The Falcon Flex model has shown significant success, with a total account value of $3.2 billion across 820 accounts, growing 31% sequentially and more than six times year-over-year [5][6] - The company reported a sustained gross retention rate of 97%, indicating strong customer commitment to the Falcon platform [5][34] - The next-gen SIEM business delivered triple-digit ending ARR growth, showcasing its disruptive impact on legacy products [23] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The geographic revenue mix consisted of approximately 67% from the U.S. and 33% from international markets, indicating a balanced global presence [33] - The MSSP business has grown rapidly, now representing over 15% of total deal value, highlighting the increasing importance of managed service providers [26] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focusing on consolidating point products and enhancing the Falcon platform to meet evolving market demands, particularly in AI and cybersecurity [4][29] - The strategic realignment plan aims to optimize investments in key growth areas such as cloud, identity, exposure management, and next-gen SIEM [38] - The company has authorized up to $1 billion in share repurchases, reflecting confidence in long-term growth prospects and cash flow generation capabilities [31][30] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in improving sequential net new ARR growth in Q2 and accelerating growth in the back half of FY 2026, driven by strong demand for the Falcon platform [31][36] - The company anticipates a divergence between ARR and subscription revenue due to the impact of the CCP program, which is expected to normalize in the future [37] - The management highlighted the necessity of cybersecurity in the AI age, positioning the company as a leader in protecting autonomous AI agents [15][29] Other Important Information - The company launched new technologies such as AI model scanning and AI security dashboard to address the growing demand for AI tools while managing associated risks [20] - The Falcon platform's capabilities are being enhanced to provide better protection for identities, workloads, and data, aligning with market needs [100] Q&A Session Summary Question: Insights on Falcon Flex and its impact on sales - Management noted that Falcon Flex has significantly changed the sales approach, focusing on outcomes rather than module-by-module sales, leading to increased customer adoption and spending [47][50] Question: Divergence between revenue growth and ARR growth - The divergence is attributed to the amortization impacts of the CCP program, which affects revenue recognition differently than ARR [54][55] Question: Budgeting for reflex deals - Customers typically reassess their budgets based on the value received from Falcon Flex, leading to discussions on replacing point products and planning phased rollouts [58][60] Question: Changes in sales compensation and market response - The salesforce has responded positively to the new compensation structures and the focus on innovation, leading to increased customer engagement and adoption rates [64][67] Question: Free cash flow margin expectations - The company expects to achieve a free cash flow margin of over 30% next year, driven by the success of Falcon Flex and larger deals [83][85] Question: Trends in the macro environment - The company has executed well despite market noise, with strong demand for next-gen SIEM and overall positive customer engagement [88][89] Question: Competitive positioning in the MSSP channel - The company has strengthened its relationships with managed service providers, leading to significant growth in this channel and improved competitive positioning [96][98] Question: Vision for identity management space - The company aims to deepen its capabilities in identity management, responding to customer demand for more comprehensive solutions [100][101]