BlackBerry(US:BB)2025-12-18 23:32Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total company revenue for Q3 was $141.8 million, exceeding the high end of guidance [5][16] - Adjusted EBITDA was $28.7 million, representing a 20% margin, with GAAP net income improving to $13.7 million, up $24.2 million year over year [5][17] - Operating cash flow was $17.9 million, up over 200% year over year, reflecting strong execution and disciplined cost management [5][19] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - QNX achieved record quarterly revenue of $68.7 million, a 10% year-over-year growth, driven by royalties and professional services [6][17] - Secure communications revenue was $67 million, exceeding guidance, with annual recurring revenue increasing to $216 million [10][11] - Licensing revenue was $6.1 million, in line with expectations, and adjusted EBITDA for the division was $5.3 million [14][18] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - QNX is now powering over 275 million vehicles on the road, a 20 million increase year over year, indicating significant market presence [9] - The secure communications division demonstrated a dollar-based net retention rate of 92%, indicating strong customer retention [11] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focusing on expanding its QNX business into automotive and general embedded markets, with strategic investments in go-to-market activities and partnerships [6][30] - The introduction of the QNX General Embedded Development Platform (GEDP) aims to accelerate time to market for developers, with positive feedback from customers [10] - The company is also targeting higher pricing per vehicle through a vehicle software platform co-developed with Vector, indicating a shift towards higher-value offerings [8][58] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the growth trajectory of QNX, expecting revenue for Q4 to be in the range of $71-$77 million, setting another record [21][22] - The secure communications division is expected to see increased revenue in Q4, with guidance raised for the full fiscal year [22][23] - Management highlighted the importance of mission-critical software solutions during the U.S. government shutdown, indicating resilience in the business model [49] Other Important Information - The company repurchased $5 million worth of shares, totaling 8.8 million shares bought back this fiscal year, to offset potential dilution [20] - The company expects to generate over $80 million in cash in Q4, further strengthening its balance sheet [25] Q&A Session Summary Question: Investment needs in GEM opportunity for fiscal 2027 - Management indicated that investments will focus on go-to-market activities and partnerships to gain critical mass in key end markets [30] Question: Factors leading to luxury China EV win - Cost savings, weight savings, and superior software functionality were highlighted as key factors in winning the deal [32] Question: Progress towards vehicle platform award - Management noted significant focus on integrating QNX and middleware, with more updates expected at CES [34] Question: Trends in QNX growth rates - Management expressed optimism about double-digit growth and strong backlog conversion into revenue [40][42] Question: Future of Secusmart business - Management acknowledged a strong pipeline within Secure Communications and expressed confidence in converting it into solid performance [44][45] Question: Government shutdown impact - Management noted that mission-critical software solutions were less impacted by the shutdown than initially feared [49] Question: Robotics technology demand - Management indicated that QNX technology is well-suited for high-performance robotics applications, with more details to be shared in the future [51]