Braze(BRZE) - 2026 Q3 - Earnings Call Transcript
BrazeBraze(US:BRZE)2025-12-09 22:30

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported revenue of $191 million for the fiscal third quarter 2026, representing a year-over-year increase of 25.5% and a 6% increase from the prior quarter [6][22] - Non-GAAP operating margins improved by over 400 basis points year-over-year, with non-GAAP operating income of $5 million, or 2.7% of revenue, compared to a non-GAAP operating loss of $2 million in the prior year quarter [6][26] - Free cash flow for the quarter was $18 million, a significant improvement from a negative free cash flow of $14 million in the prior year quarter [6][27] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Subscription revenue accounted for 95% of total revenue, with the remaining 5% from professional services and onboarding fees [22] - The company added 106 new customers sequentially and 317 year-over-year, bringing the total customer count to 2,528, a 14% increase [6][22] - Large customers, defined as those spending at least $500,000 annually, grew by 29% year-over-year to 303, contributing 63% to total ARR [23] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue outside the U.S. contributed 45% of total revenue, consistent with previous quarters [23] - The company achieved a dollar-based net retention rate of 108% across all customers and 110% for large customers [23][24] - The total remaining performance obligation was $891 million, up 24% year-over-year, indicating strong future revenue visibility [24] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to position itself as the global standard for omnichannel customer engagement, leveraging AI-driven solutions to enhance customer experiences [6][10] - The introduction of new AI capabilities, such as the Braze AI Decisioning Studio, is expected to drive future growth and customer engagement [19][22] - The company is focused on innovation and product development, particularly in AI, to maintain a competitive edge in the customer engagement landscape [10][14] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about continued market demand and strong bookings across various verticals and geographies [6] - The company anticipates a revenue range of $197.5-$198.5 million for the fourth quarter, reflecting a year-over-year growth rate of approximately 23% [28] - Management highlighted the importance of first-party data and customer engagement strategies in navigating the evolving market landscape [57] Other Important Information - The company delivered 102.5 billion messages during Cyber Week, showcasing the scalability and reliability of its platform [10] - The integration of AI into customer engagement strategies is seen as a key driver for future growth and operational efficiency [11][12] - The company is committed to maintaining a long-term profitability framework, targeting a non-GAAP operating income margin of 8% for fiscal year 2027 [29] Q&A Session Summary Question: Insights on the Braze healthcare customer using Braze Agent Console - Management highlighted the agility of deploying purpose-built agent frameworks into existing systems, enhancing customer interactions through AI [31][32] Question: Drivers of improving trends in key metrics - Management attributed improvements to ongoing productivity enhancements, effective mitigation of downsell activity, and strong sales organization performance [36] Question: Factors driving momentum in legacy replacement cycle - Management noted that the current market environment is conducive to enterprise replacement cycles, with increased awareness and differentiation for Braze [37][39] Question: Early reception of AI Decisioning Studio - Management reported strong pipeline generation and customer wins, indicating positive early traction for the AI Decisioning Studio [64]