Autodesk(US:ADSK)2025-11-25 23:02Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total revenue in Q3 grew 18% as reported and in constant currency, with a contribution from the new transaction model of approximately $124 million [9][10] - Billings increased 21% as reported and 20% in constant currency, with a contribution from the new transaction model of approximately $135 million [10] - Third quarter GAAP and non-GAAP operating margins were 25% and 38% respectively, reflecting year-over-year increases of approximately 330 and 120 basis points [11][12] - Free cash flow for Q3 was $430 million, benefiting from earlier timing of billings and lower cash tax payments [11] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Strength was observed in AECO (architecture, engineering, construction, and operations), driven by sustained investment in data centers, infrastructure, and industrial buildings [9] - The Autodesk Store and billing linearity during the quarter were stronger than expected, contributing to overall revenue growth [9] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - RPO (Remaining Performance Obligations) of $7.4 billion and current RPO of $4.8 billion both grew 20%, benefiting from the new transaction model [10] - The macroeconomic environment appears broadly stable, but uncertainty remains elevated [13] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on the convergence of design and make in the cloud, leveraging AI and platform capabilities to enhance customer value [17][18] - Autodesk is building a vibrant third-party ecosystem to enhance its solutions and create new monetization opportunities [7][19] - The strategy includes redefining business models and go-to-market approaches to capture shared value through subscription and consumption-based models [7][24] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the long-term value being created for customers and shareholders, despite geopolitical and macroeconomic uncertainties [5][6] - The company raised its full-year guidance for billings and revenue, reflecting strong underlying business momentum [14][15] Other Important Information - The company plans to buy back approximately $1.3 billion of stock, a 50% increase compared to fiscal 2025 [15] - The transition to annual billing for most multi-year contracts is expected to significantly diminish tailwinds next year [11][14] Q&A Session Summary Question: Insights on seats versus consumption AI monetization - Management highlighted a capacity challenge in industries served and the balance between human engagement and machine execution in future projects [28][30] Question: Fiscal 2027 outlook - Management indicated that while the business is performing well, there are risks of disruption and macroeconomic uncertainty that will be considered in future guidance [32] Question: Autodesk Construction Cloud penetration - Management noted that there is still room for increased penetration within existing accounts and emphasized the unique value proposition of the Autodesk Construction Cloud [36][39] Question: PLM market opportunities - Management stated that many mid-market customers lack strong data management solutions and Autodesk aims to provide them with modern, cloud-based platforms [41][42] Question: Customer migration and packaging - Management discussed efforts to ensure customers are not left behind during transitions and emphasized the importance of seamless integration between existing and new products [47][48] Question: AI capabilities and retention - Management confirmed that AI-driven capabilities like auto-constraints are enhancing customer retention and creating opportunities for incremental monetization [68][70] Question: Margin expansion drivers - Management identified go-to-market optimization and operating leverage as key levers for achieving margin targets [72][73]