Progress(PRGS) - 2025 Q4 - Earnings Call Transcript

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - For fiscal year 2025, the company reported annual revenue of $978 million, representing a 30% increase year-over-year, and earnings per share of $5.72, up 16% from fiscal year 2024 [6][19] - The fourth quarter revenue was $253 million, an 18% increase year-over-year, with earnings of $1.51, exceeding the high end of guidance [7][20] - The company achieved a 100% net retention rate and a 2% year-over-year growth in annual recurring revenue (ARR) to $852 million, which now constitutes over 87% of total revenue [6][18] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The growth in ARR was driven by multiple products, including ShareFile, OpenEdge, WhatsUp Gold, and DevTools [18] - The strong performance of ShareFile and OpenEdge contributed significantly to revenue growth, with ShareFile being a major driver of the overall 30% revenue increase for the year [19][20] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company noted that its investment in AI projects by customers has been a significant factor in driving business momentum, particularly in the second half of fiscal year 2025 [9][12] - The U.S. Department of Defense added Progress Federal Solutions Group to its list of pre-approved providers of AI products, enhancing the company's market position [12] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company completed the integration of ShareFile and Nuclia, which has been well-received and is adding significant functionality to its product offerings [9][10] - The company is focused on maintaining a total growth strategy, with an emphasis on selective M&A opportunities in infrastructure software [15][16] - The company plans to continue investing in AI innovations to enhance its product portfolio and meet customer needs [9][34] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the fiscal year 2026 guidance, projecting revenue between $986 million and $1 billion, with an operating margin of 39% [24] - The management highlighted that fears regarding AI disruption in the software industry are overblown, emphasizing the continued need for reliable software solutions [28][32] - The company expects to maintain ARR growth consistent with the 2% growth seen in fiscal year 2025 [22][34] Other Important Information - The company ended the fiscal year with cash and cash equivalents of $95 million and a net debt position of $1.3 billion, with a net leverage ratio of approximately 3.4 times [20] - The company repurchased $40 million in stock during the fourth quarter and $105 million for the full fiscal year 2025 [21] Q&A Session Summary Question: How does Progress view the evolution of software in the context of AI? - Management believes that fears regarding AI disruption are overblown, as businesses will continue to rely on established software solutions rather than developing their own [28][32] Question: Why hasn't there been a more significant uptick in net retention rates despite AI investments? - Management indicated that most AI investments are currently limited to a small number of tech companies, and broader business spending on AI is still developing [43] Question: What is the outlook for free cash flow and its seasonality in fiscal 2026? - Management expects free cash flow to grow significantly in 2026, with no major changes in seasonality compared to historical trends [47] Question: What drove the strong sequential increase in SaaS revenues in Q4? - The increase was attributed to strong performance in ShareFile and other SaaS offerings, although management cautioned that this growth is not expected to be dramatically different in 2026 [54] Question: Have retention rates changed for potential acquisition targets in light of AI fears? - Management noted that smaller companies are facing challenges with customer retention as clients question their stability, leading to a more selective acquisition strategy [57]