PagerDuty(PD) - 2026 Q3 - Earnings Call Transcript

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - PagerDuty reported Q3 revenue of $125 million, a 5% year-over-year increase [3][19] - Non-GAAP operating margin reached 29%, expanding 750 basis points from the previous year [3] - GAAP net income for Q3 was $160 million, including a one-time tax benefit of $154 million [19] - Annual recurring revenue (ARR) grew 3% year-over-year to $497 million [3][19] - Gross margin was 87%, exceeding the target range of 84%-86% [20][21] - Cash from operations was $25 million, representing 20% of revenue [21] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - New and expansion bookings were consistent with the first half of the year, but impacted by customers rightsizing seat licenses [3][5] - Customer retention and growth remain a top priority, with efforts to increase average transaction size through new usage-based products [5][6] - The number of customers spending over $100,000 annually increased by 5% year-over-year to 867 [20] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - International revenue increased by 7% year-over-year, contributing 29% of total revenue [19] - Total paid customers grew to 15,398, a 2% year-over-year increase [20] - Paid and free customers on the platform grew to over 34,000, an increase of approximately 13% compared to the previous year [20] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on three objectives: expanding operating and free cash flow margins, extending product advantage in AI operations, and scaling go-to-market transformation [3][4] - PagerDuty aims to transition from a single-year seat-based license model to a multi-year platform usage model [11] - The company is investing in operational efficiency and product innovation to maintain leadership in digital and AI operations [4][8] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management acknowledged challenges with seat license compression due to budget caution among large enterprises [5][20] - There is confidence in long-term growth despite current pressures, with a focus on proactive customer engagement and flexible pricing [29][40] - The company expects to be GAAP profitable for the full fiscal year [19][24] Other Important Information - Howard Wilson, CFO, announced plans to retire in the next financial year after nine years with the company [17][18] - The company has made significant investments in AI and operational resilience, positioning itself as a leader in the market [10][14] Q&A Session Summary Question: Trends in dollar-based net retention (DBNR) and gross churn - Management noted that while DBNR was 100%, it was negatively impacted by lower gross retention and expects pressure to continue in Q4 [20][28] Question: Evaluation of current customer spending and organizational changes - Management indicated that improvements in logo retention were observed, but larger downgrades were tied to significant reorganizations [28][30] Question: Proactive measures for customer renewals - The company is taking a multi-quarter view on renewal planning and offering flexible pricing to mitigate risks [29][39] Question: Impact of AI on customer investments and headcount - Management observed a focus on improving operating margins and reducing costs, with automation becoming more integrated into the platform [44] Question: Guidance for Q4 and renewal expectations - The guidance for Q4 reflects visibility around renewals, with expectations for stabilization in customer downgrades [48][49] Question: Performance of the agentic suite and competitive differentiation - Positive responses to the agentic suite were noted, with expectations for increased usage and adoption as customers engage with the new offerings [52][55]