PEGA(US:PEGA)2026-02-11 14:00Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total Annual Contract Value (ACV) grew 17% year-over-year, with a 14% increase in constant currency, surpassing guidance [5][10] - Pega Cloud ACV increased by 33% year-over-year as reported, and 28% in constant currency, significantly up from last year's growth of 18% as reported and 21% in constant currency [5][10] - Free cash flow rose 45% year-over-year to $491 million, exceeding guidance by $51 million [8][10] - Contractually committed backlog grew 28% year-over-year, now exceeding $2 billion for the first time in Pega's history [9][10] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Pega Cloud backlog represented 74% of total backlog, with a 36% year-over-year increase [9][10] - Net new ACV increased by 37% year-over-year in constant currency, driven by strong demand for Pega's AI agents [7][10] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company noted a strong demand for its AI solutions integrated into enterprise workflows, indicating a positive market response [6][10] - The competitive landscape is shifting, with Pega positioned as a leader in enterprise transformation through its unique offerings [16][20] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on a cloud-first strategy and the integration of AI through its Blueprint platform, which has transformed its sales approach [6][10] - Pega aims to achieve $2 billion in total revenue for 2026, marking a significant milestone for the firm [10][11] - The company is committed to disciplined capital allocation, prioritizing organic growth and product innovation [8][10] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the durability of ACV growth due to the strength of Pega's integration within clients' core operations [7][10] - The company anticipates continued acceleration in Pega Cloud revenue, projecting growth above 30% in 2026 [13][10] - Management highlighted the importance of transitioning from experimentation to execution in leveraging AI for business transformation [36][10] Other Important Information - The Supreme Court of Virginia affirmed a verdict that eliminated a $2 billion liability for the company, positively impacting its financial outlook [9][10] - The company has authorized an additional $1 billion in share buyback capacity, reflecting confidence in cash flow durability [11][10] Q&A Session Summary Question: What is the current deal environment and how is it affecting 2026 outlook? - Management noted that the Blueprint approach reduces friction in client engagement, leading to an advanced pipeline [40][41] Question: What gives confidence in achieving the 15% ACV growth target? - The company highlighted consistent growth rates and an expanding net retention rate, alongside successful targeting of new logos [44][45] Question: How is the app modernization journey progressing with Blueprint? - Management indicated significant interest from clients in app modernization, with expectations for success stories to emerge in the near future [66][10] Question: What is the status of the partnership with AWS? - The partnership is aligned on transforming legacy workflows, leveraging both AWS and Pega's tools for effective modernization [77][10]