Core Insights - BlackLine (BL) reported revenue of $178.29 million for the quarter ended September 2025, marking a year-over-year increase of 7.5% and a slight surprise of +0.16% over the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $178.01 million [1] - The company's EPS for the same period was $0.51, which is a decrease from $0.60 a year ago, indicating no EPS surprise as it matched the consensus estimate [1] Financial Performance Metrics - Total customers stood at 4,424, slightly below the average estimate of 4,457 by two analysts [4] - The retention rate was reported at 103%, lower than the estimated 105% by two analysts [4] - Revenue from professional services was $10.08 million, exceeding the average estimate of $8.77 million, reflecting a year-over-year change of +13.3% [4] - Subscription and support revenues were $168.21 million, slightly below the average estimate of $169.23 million, with a year-over-year increase of +7.1% [4] - Gross profit from professional services was $2.82 million, significantly higher than the average estimate of $1.51 million [4] - Gross profit from subscription and support was $131.08 million, which fell short of the estimated $137.13 million [4] Stock Performance - Over the past month, BlackLine's shares have returned +12.1%, outperforming the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +1.3% change [3] - The stock currently holds a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold), suggesting it may perform in line with the broader market in the near term [3]

Core Insights - BlackLine (BL) reported quarterly earnings of $0.51 per share, matching the Zacks Consensus Estimate, but down from $0.60 per share a year ago [1] - The company achieved revenues of $178.29 million for the quarter ended September 2025, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.16% and up from $165.91 million year-over-year [2] - BlackLine shares have declined approximately 6.3% year-to-date, contrasting with the S&P 500's increase of 15.6% [3] Earnings Performance - The company has surpassed consensus EPS estimates two out of the last four quarters, with a surprise of +2% in the latest quarter [1] - BlackLine has topped consensus revenue estimates in all four of the last quarters [2] Future Outlook - The current consensus EPS estimate for the upcoming quarter is $0.65, with expected revenues of $183.07 million, and for the current fiscal year, the EPS estimate is $2.13 on revenues of $699.83 million [7] - The earnings outlook and management's commentary during the earnings call will be crucial for assessing the stock's immediate price movement [3][4] Industry Context - The Internet - Software industry, to which BlackLine belongs, is currently ranked in the top 35% of over 250 Zacks industries, indicating a favorable outlook compared to lower-ranked industries [8] - Empirical research suggests a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions, which can be tracked by investors [5]

Mergers & Acquisitions - Several investors are urging accounting software provider BlackLine to explore a potential sale [1] - This push follows reported takeover interest by SAP [1]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total revenue grew to over $178 million, up 7.5% year-over-year [28] - Subscription revenue increased by 7%, while services revenue grew by 13% due to accelerated project delivery [28] - Annual recurring revenue (ARR) reached $685 million, up 7.3% [28] - Non-GAAP operating margin was 21.4%, reflecting improved productivity [31] - Free cash flow was $57 million, driven by strong collections execution [31] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - New customer bookings increased by 45%, with the average new deal size more than doubling by 111% [6][7] - Strategic products accounted for 36% of sales, up from 32% last year [30] - Solex channel performance remained steady, accounting for 26% of total revenue [30] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Customer count reached 4,424, reflecting a strategic resegmentation away from lower-end customers [29] - Revenue renewal rate was 93%, up from the prior year, driven by strong enterprise performance [29] - Net retention rate for the quarter was 103%, despite a headwind from foreign exchange [29] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company has re-architected its leadership, go-to-market engine, and technology structures to drive revenue growth and margin expansion [5][6] - Focus on larger, more strategic platform deals, with a new platform-based pricing model accounting for nearly three-quarters of new customer bookings [9] - Continued investment in AI and automation to enhance product offerings and operational efficiency [19][22] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in delivering sustained, profitable growth, with expectations for accelerating revenue growth and margin expansion in 2026 [26][34] - The macro environment is currently stable, with potential tailwinds from corporate job layoffs creating opportunities for efficiency discussions with customers [87] - The strategic transition away from lower-end customers is nearing completion, expected to be largely finished in the first half of next year [11][29] Other Important Information - The company returned approximately $113 million to shareholders through share repurchases, underscoring confidence in long-term value [32] - The planned churn from the strategic de-emphasis of lower-end customers is nearing its conclusion [11] Q&A Session Summary Question: Impact of large customers pausing user adds - Management acknowledged that some deals slipped into Q4, costing a couple of million dollars, but noted an increase in interest and pipeline for larger deals [41][43] Question: Automation and customer attrition - Management explained that success-based attrition is occurring as customers achieve higher efficiency with fewer licenses, which is a positive trade-off for long-term growth [59][60] Question: Factors driving expected bookings growth - Management highlighted the shift in conversations to higher levels within organizations, deeper partnerships, and product-led growth as key drivers for the expected 20% bookings growth next year [71][74] Question: Competitive takeaways - Management confirmed an uptick in competitive wins, attributing it to the company's proven track record, improved implementation quality, and industry-specific expertise [75][76] Question: SAP relationship and pipeline - Management reported a solid relationship with SAP, focusing on joint customer success and reducing attrition through dedicated resources [82][84] Question: Macro environment considerations for 2026 - Management characterized the current macro environment as stable, with potential tailwinds from efficiency needs due to corporate layoffs [86][87]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total revenue grew to over $178 million, up 7.5% year-over-year [28] - Subscription revenue increased by 7%, while services revenue grew by 13% due to accelerated project delivery [28] - Annual recurring revenue (ARR) reached $685 million, up 7.3% [28] - Non-GAAP operating margin was 21.4%, and free cash flow margin was 32% [6][31] - Non-GAAP net income attributable to BlackLine was $38 million, representing a 21% margin [31] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - New customer bookings increased by 45%, with the average new deal size more than doubling by 111% [7] - Strategic products accounted for 36% of sales, up from 32% last year [30] - Solex channel performance accounted for 26% of total revenue, remaining steady [30] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Customer count reached 4,424, reflecting a strategic resegmentation away from lower-end customers [29] - Revenue renewal rate was 93%, up from the prior year, driven by strong enterprise performance [29] - Net retention rate for the quarter was 103%, despite a headwind from foreign exchange [29] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company has re-architected its leadership, go-to-market engine, and technology structures to drive revenue growth and margin expansion [5] - Focus on larger, more strategic platform deals, with a new platform-based pricing model accounting for nearly three-quarters of new customer bookings [9] - Continued progress in the public sector, with expectations for FedRAMP approval in early 2026 [9] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in delivering sustained, profitable growth, supported by a strong pipeline and operational improvements [26][34] - The strategic transition to platform pricing is expected to decouple revenue growth from seat count, aligning revenue with customer value [10] - Anticipated reduction in churn and improved gross bookings growth, projecting a 20% growth rate for the next year [63] Other Important Information - The company returned approximately $113 million to shareholders through share repurchases, totaling over $200 million year-to-date [32] - The migration to a modern technology stack is nearing completion, unlocking significant operating leverage [15][16] Q&A Session Summary Question: Impact of large customers pausing user adds - Management acknowledged that some deals slipped into the next quarter, costing a couple of million dollars, but noted an increase in interest and pipeline for larger deals [41][42] Question: Automation and customer attrition - Management explained that success-based attrition is occurring as customers achieve higher efficiency, requiring fewer licenses, and emphasized the importance of transitioning to platform pricing [59][60] Question: Factors driving expected bookings growth - Management highlighted the shift in conversations to higher organizational levels, deeper partnerships, and product-led growth as key drivers for the anticipated 20% bookings growth next year [71][74] Question: Competitive takeaways - Management confirmed an uptick in competitive wins, attributing it to the company's proven track record, improved implementation quality, and industry-specific expertise [75][76] Question: SAP relationship and pipeline - Management reported a solid relationship with SAP, focusing on joint customer success and reducing attrition through dedicated resources [82][84] Question: Macro environment considerations for 2026 - Management characterized the current macro environment as stable, with potential tailwinds from corporate job layoffs creating opportunities for efficiency discussions with customers [86][88]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total revenue grew to over $178 million, up 7.5% year-over-year [38] - Subscription revenue increased by 7%, while services revenue grew by 13% due to accelerated project delivery [38] - Annual recurring revenue (ARR) reached $685 million, up 7.3% [39] - Non-GAAP operating margin was 21.4%, reflecting improved productivity [43] - Non-GAAP net income attributable to BlackLine was $38 million, representing a 21% margin [44] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - New customer bookings increased by 45%, with the average new deal size more than doubling by 111% [7] - Strategic products accounted for 36% of sales, up from 32% last year [42] - SOLEX revenue accounted for 26% of total revenue, remaining steady [42] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Customer count reached 4,424, reflecting a strategic resegmentation away from lower-end customers [41] - Revenue renewal rate was 93%, up from the previous year, driven by strong enterprise performance [41] - Net retention rate for the quarter was 103%, despite a headwind from foreign exchange [41] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on accelerating revenue growth and margin expansion as it transitions to a platform-based pricing model [6][12] - Emphasis on winning larger, more strategic platform deals against major competitors [7] - Continued progress in the public sector, with expectations for FedRAMP approval in early 2026 [11] - The company is modernizing its technology stack to support scalable, efficient, and AI-powered innovation [18][20] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in delivering sustained profitable growth, supported by a strong pipeline and operational improvements [36][48] - The macro environment is currently stable, with potential tailwinds from corporate job layoffs creating opportunities for efficiency discussions with customers [100] - The strategic transition to platform pricing is expected to take time but is viewed positively for long-term customer commitment [13][72] Other Important Information - The company returned approximately $113 million to shareholders through share repurchases, reflecting confidence in long-term value [44] - The planned churn from the strategic de-emphasis of lower-end market customers is nearing completion [14] Q&A Session Summary Question: Impact of large customers pausing user ads - Management acknowledged that some deals slipped into Q4, costing a couple of million dollars, but noted an increase in larger enterprise deals [53][54] Question: Automation and customer attrition - Management explained that success-based attrition is occurring as customers achieve higher efficiency with fewer licenses, which is a positive long-term trade-off [72] Question: Factors driving expected bookings growth - Management highlighted the importance of changing conversations to focus on digital finance transformation and deepening relationships with partners [85][86] Question: Competitive takeaways - Management noted an uptick in competitive wins, attributing it to the company's proven track record and improved implementation quality [88][89] Question: SAP relationship and pipeline building - Management confirmed a solid relationship with SAP, focusing on joint customer success and reducing attrition [96][97] Question: Macro environment characterization - Management indicated that the current macro environment is stable, with no significant impacts from tariffs, and noted potential tailwinds from job layoffs [100]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total revenue grew to over $178 million, up 7.5% year-over-year [28] - Non-GAAP operating margin was 21.4% and free cash flow margin was 32% [5][31] - Annual recurring revenue (ARR) was $685 million, up 7.3% [28] - Non-GAAP net income attributable to BlackLine was $38 million, representing a 21% non-GAAP net income margin [31] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Subscription revenue grew 7%, while services revenue grew 13% due to accelerated project delivery [28] - New customer bookings increased by 45%, with the average new deal size more than doubling by 111% [6] - Strategic products accounted for 36% of sales this quarter, up from 32% last year [30] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Customer count reached 4,424, reflecting a strategic resegmentation of the market [29] - Revenue renewal rate in Q3 was 93%, up from the prior year and quarter [29] - Net retention rate for the quarter was 103%, including a headwind from foreign exchange [29] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company has re-architected its leadership team, go-to-market engine, and technology structures to drive revenue growth and margin expansion [5] - Focus on winning larger, more strategic platform deals against major competitors [6] - The transition to platform pricing is designed to decouple growth from seat count and align revenue with the value delivered [10] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in delivering sustained, profitable growth, supported by a strong pipeline and operational improvements [27][33] - The macro environment is currently stable, with no significant impacts from tariffs observed [63] - The company expects gross bookings growth of approximately 20% next year, driven by larger enterprise deals [42] Other Important Information - The company has approximately $804 million in cash and cash equivalents, with $895 million in debt [31] - A record quarter for cash flow was reported, with operating cash flow at $64 million and free cash flow at $57 million [31] - The company returned approximately $113 million to shareholders through share repurchases [32] Q&A Session Summary Question: Impact of large customers pausing user ads - Management acknowledged that some deals slipped into Q4, costing a couple of million dollars in late deals at the end of Q3, but noted an increase in interest in AI offerings [36][37] Question: Automation and customer seat versus platform - Management confirmed that they are experiencing success-based attrition, where customers achieve efficiency with fewer licenses, which is a positive trade-off for long-term growth [40][45] Question: Factors driving booking strength into next year - Key drivers include changing conversations to higher organizational levels, deepened partner relationships, and product-led growth [52][55] Question: Competitive takeaways - Management noted an uptick in competitive wins, attributing this to the company's proven track record and improved implementation quality [56][57] Question: SAP relationship and pipeline opportunities - The health of the SAP relationship is solid, with ongoing joint proof of concept work and dedicated customer success teams to reduce attrition [60][61] Question: Macro environment characterization for 2026 - The macro environment is stable, with potential tailwinds from corporate job layoffs creating opportunities for efficiency discussions with customers [63]

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Investor Presentation Third Quarter 2025 November 6th, 2025 Safe Harbor This presentation contains forward-looking statements. These statements may relate to, but are not limited to, expectations of future operating results or financial performance of BlackLine, Inc. ("BlackLine" or the "Company"), the calculation of certain key financial and operating metrics, capital expenditures, introduction of new solutions or products, expansion into new markets, plans for growth and future operations, technological c ...

Core Insights - BlackLine met Wall Street's revenue expectations for Q3 CY2025, reporting a 7.5% year-on-year sales increase to $178.3 million, with a forecast of approximately $183 million for the next quarter, aligning with analyst estimates [1][6] - The company's non-GAAP profit of $0.51 per share matched analysts' consensus [1][6] - CEO Owen Ryan highlighted the company's focus on improved execution, reflected in increasing revenue growth, solid margins, and strong free cash flow [3] Company Overview - BlackLine provides cloud-based software aimed at automating and streamlining financial processes for accounting departments, eliminating tedious manual spreadsheet work [4] Revenue Growth - Over the past five years, BlackLine achieved a compounded annual growth rate of 15.3% in sales, although this growth is slightly below the standards for the software sector [5][7] - The annualized revenue growth over the last two years was 9.4%, indicating a slowdown in demand compared to the five-year trend [7] Financial Performance - Q3 CY2025 revenue was $178.3 million, slightly above analyst estimates of $178.1 million, with an adjusted EPS of $0.51 also in line with expectations [6] - Adjusted operating income was $38.14 million, representing a 21.4% margin, exceeding analyst estimates [6] - Free cash flow margin improved to 35.8%, up from 14.8% in the previous quarter [6] - The company reported a net revenue retention rate of 103%, down from 105% in the previous quarter, and a decrease in customers from 4,451 to 4,424 [6]