Low code software development platform provider Appian (Nasdaq: NASDAQ:APPN) reported results in line with analysts' expectations in Q1 CY2024, with revenue up 10.8% year on year to $149.8 million. On the other hand, next quarter's revenue guidance of $142 million was less impressive, coming in 2.7% below analysts' estimates. It made a non-GAAP loss of $0.24 per share, improving from its loss of $0.27 per share in the same quarter last year.
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Appian (APPN) Q1 CY2024 Highlights:
- Revenue: $149.8 million vs analyst estimates of $149.8 million (small beat)
- EPS (non-GAAP): -$0.24 vs analyst estimates of -$0.16 (-$0.08 miss)
- Revenue Guidance for Q2 CY2024 is $142 million at the midpoint, below analyst estimates of $146 million
- The company reconfirmed its revenue guidance for the full year of $616 million at the midpoint
- Gross Margin (GAAP): 74.6%, up from 73.3% in the same quarter last year
- Free Cash Flow of $16.67 million is up from -$9.60 million in the previous quarter
- Net Revenue Retention Rate: 120%, in line with the previous quarter
- Market Capitalization: $2.65 billion
Founded by Matt Calkins and his three friends out of an apartment in Northern Virginia, Appian (NASDAQ:APPN) sells a software platform that lets its users build applications without using much code, allowing them to create new software more quickly.
Automation SoftwareThe whole purpose of software is to automate tasks to increase productivity. Today, innovative new software techniques, often involving AI and machine learning, are finally allowing automation that has graduated from simple one- or two-step workflows to more complex processes integral to enterprises. The result is surging demand for modern automation software.
Sales GrowthAs you can see below, Appian's revenue growth has been strong over the last three years, growing from $88.86 million in Q1 2021 to $149.8 million this quarter.
This quarter, Appian's quarterly revenue was once again up 10.8% year on year. However, its growth did slow down compared to last quarter as the company's revenue increased by just $4.52 million in Q1 compared to $8.23 million in Q4 CY2023. While we'd like to see revenue increase by a greater amount each quarter, a one-off fluctuation is usually not concerning.
Next quarter's guidance suggests that Appian is expecting revenue to grow 11.2% year on year to $142 million, slowing down from the 16% year-on-year increase it recorded in the same quarter last year. Looking ahead, analysts covering the company were expecting sales to grow 13.7% over the next 12 months before the earnings results announcement.
Product SuccessOne of the best parts about the software-as-a-service business model (and a reason why SaaS companies trade at such high valuation multiples) is that customers typically spend more on a company's products and services over time.
Appian's net revenue retention rate, a key performance metric measuring how much money existing customers from a year ago are spending today, was 120% in Q1. This means that even if Appian didn't win any new customers over the last 12 months, it would've grown its revenue by 20%.
Trending up over the last year, Appian has a good net retention rate, proving that customers are satisfied with its software and getting more value from it over time, which is always great to see.
Key Takeaways from Appian's Q1 Results While revenue beat slightly, billings (often analyzed in addition to revenue because it's cash in the door rather than recognized revenue dictated by accounting rules) missed Wall Street's estimates. Also, revenue guidance for next quarter missed analysts' expectations while full year revenue guidance was roughly in line. Overall, this was a mixed quarter for Appian. The company is down 7.3% on the results and currently trades at $34.03 per share.
