Box(BOX) - 2026 Q3 - Earnings Call Transcript

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In Q3, the company reported revenue of $301 million, representing a 9% year-over-year growth, exceeding guidance [21][22] - Operating margin was 28.6%, surpassing guidance, with gross margin at 81.7%, also exceeding expectations [23][24] - Net retention rate improved to 104%, up from 103% in Q2 and 102% year-over-year, driven by strong demand for Box AI and Enterprise Advanced [23][24] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Billings grew by 12% year-over-year to $296 million, exceeding guidance of approximately 10% [22][23] - Remaining performance obligations (RPO) reached $1.5 billion, growing 18% year-over-year, indicating strong customer demand for Box AI [22][23] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company noted that approximately one-third of revenue is generated outside the U.S., with 65% of international revenue coming from Japan [25] - The strengthening of the U.S. dollar against the yen is expected to impact future revenue guidance [25] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on driving adoption of its AI-powered solutions, particularly through the Enterprise Advanced platform [16][17] - Strategic partnerships, such as with AWS and Tata Consultancy Services, are aimed at enhancing AI capabilities and expanding market reach [14][18] - The company is positioning itself as a trusted platform for unstructured data with built-in AI governance and security [16][17] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the ongoing demand for Box AI and the potential for continued growth in net retention rates and seat expansion [46][60] - The company anticipates delivering strong results in Q4, with revenue expected to be approximately $304 million, representing 9% year-over-year growth [25][26] Other Important Information - The company repurchased 2.4 million shares for approximately $77 million in Q3, with an additional $150 million authorized for share repurchase [24] - The company plans to settle $205 million of convertible notes due in January 2026 with cash [24][25] Q&A Session Summary Question: Growth levers since March Analyst Day - Management indicated that all growth levers are tracking well, with strong adoption of Enterprise Advanced and AI capabilities exceeding expectations [32][34] Question: Sales and marketing efficiency - Management noted improvements in sales and marketing efficiency, attributing it to investments in sales capacity and partnerships [37][39] Question: Federal vertical performance and pipeline - The company is seeing good momentum in the federal vertical, with FedRAMP High authorization enabling more complex government deals [42][43] Question: Seat growth dynamics - Management stated that seat growth is primarily driven by AI-enabled workflows rather than macroeconomic recovery [44][46] Question: Competitive landscape and AI impact - Management highlighted that AI is driving new use cases and increasing interest in migrating from legacy systems to Box [49][51] Question: Impact of Enterprise Advanced on pricing and seat growth - Management confirmed that both pricing and seat growth are contributing positively to net retention rate improvements [59][60] Question: Go-to-market investment priorities - Management emphasized the importance of investing in the partner ecosystem and verticalization of the sales force to drive growth [75][76]