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Aspen Technology, Inc. (AZPN)·Q2 2025 Earnings Summary

Executive Summary

  • Strong print: revenue $303.6M and non‑GAAP EPS $2.06 beat consensus ($294.5M revenue, $1.85 EPS) and topped prior intra‑quarter revenue guide ($290–$300M). License & Solutions grew 23.5% YoY; bookings rose to $307.5M; ACV up 9.2% YoY and 2.5% QoQ .
  • No call/guidance: Due to Emerson’s $265/share tender offer, AZPN did not host an earnings call or provide updated guidance this quarter; watch deal process as the near‑term stock driver .
  • Operating leverage improved: GAAP swung to income from operations ($9.0M) vs. loss prior year; non‑GAAP operating income up to $149.0M; free cash flow improved to $36.4M (vs. $29.2M) .
  • Merger dynamics/activism: Post‑results, Elliott publicly opposed the tender as unfair to minorities, adding process uncertainty and potential price/disclosure pressure .

What Went Well and What Went Wrong

  • What Went Well

    • Beat on revenue and EPS: $303.6M revenue and $2.06 non‑GAAP EPS vs. ~$294.5M/$1.85 consensus; exceeded the earlier Q2 revenue guide high end ($290–$300M) .
    • Mix and bookings strength: License & Solutions revenue grew 23.5% YoY to $188.2M; bookings rose to $307.5M (from $233.4M) .
    • Profitability/FCF: GAAP operating income turned positive ($9.0M vs. $(49.2)M); non‑GAAP operating income to $149.0M; FCF improved to $36.4M (from $29.2M) .
  • What Went Wrong

    • No updated guidance/call: Management withheld guidance and skipped the earnings call due to the Emerson tender, limiting fundamental transparency this quarter .
    • Cash declined sequentially: Cash and cash equivalents fell to $181.8M (from $237.0M at FY24 end) reflecting buybacks and the Open Grid Systems acquisition outflow .
    • Collections cadence remains a watch item: Management previously flagged collection timing issues in certain geographies and heavier H2 cash seasonality; investors lack a Q2 call update on remediation progress .

Financial Results

Revenue, earnings and cash flow vs prior periods and estimates

MetricQ2 FY2024Q1 FY2025Q2 FY2025
Total Revenue ($M)257.2 215.9 303.6
GAAP Diluted EPS ($)(0.34) (0.96) 0.32
Non‑GAAP Diluted EPS ($)1.37 0.85 2.06
GAAP Operating Income ($M)(49.2) (96.0) 9.0
Non‑GAAP Operating Income ($M)88.7 48.6 149.0
GAAP Net Income ($M)(21.5) (60.5) 20.3
Non‑GAAP Net Income ($M)87.8 53.9 131.1
Cash From Operations ($M)29.8 (4.4) 38.1
Free Cash Flow ($M)29.2 (6.4) 36.4

Segment revenue breakdown

Segment Revenue ($M)Q2 FY2024Q1 FY2025Q2 FY2025
License & Solutions152.5 101.7 188.2
Maintenance85.1 90.7 90.6
Services & Other19.6 23.5 24.7
Total Revenue257.2 215.9 303.6

KPIs and bookings

KPIQ2 FY2024Q1 FY2025Q2 FY2025
Annual Contract Value (ACV, $M)941.4 964.9
Bookings ($M)233.4 151.4 307.5

Estimates vs. actuals

MetricConsensusActual
Q2 FY2025 Revenue ($M)294.5 303.6
Q2 FY2025 Non‑GAAP EPS ($)1.85 2.06

Note: S&P Global consensus was unavailable via tool mapping this quarter; consensus figures above reference public Zacks/Nasdaq reporting.

Guidance Changes

MetricPeriodPrevious Guidance (Q1 FY25, 11/4/24)Current (Q2 FY25)Change
Total RevenueFY2025~$1.19B Not provided (no guidance) Withdrawn
Non‑GAAP EPSFY2025~$7.52 Not provided Withdrawn
GAAP EPSFY2025~$0.82 Not provided Withdrawn
Free Cash FlowFY2025~$340M Not provided Withdrawn
Operating Cash FlowFY2025~$357M Not provided Withdrawn
BookingsFY2025~$1.17B Not provided Withdrawn
ACV GrowthFY2025~9% YoY (from $932.9M base) Not provided Withdrawn
Q2 Revenue (quarterly)Q2 FY2025$290–$300M (set on Q1 call) Actual $303.6M Above range

Earnings Call Themes & Trends

(There was no Q2 FY25 call; themes below reference prior two quarters)

TopicQ4 FY2024 (Q‑2)Q1 FY2025 (Q‑1)Current Period (Q2 FY2025)Trend
AI/technology initiativesIndustrial AI emphasized; microgrid solution planned in v14.4 v14.5 shipped with gen‑AI features; microgrid launched No call; product cadence intact in PR backdrop Continued innovation cadence
Digital Grid (DGM) momentum~40% FY24 ACV growth; large EU/LatAm wins Robust pipeline; Open Grid Systems tuck‑in announced Open Grid Systems closed; cash outflow noted Regulatory/data model tailwinds
Macro/supply chainChemicals downcycle; cautious spend Collections timing in some geos; H2‑weighted FCF No call update; FCF improved YoY Mixed; watch chemicals/collections
Product performance (MSC/SSE)MSC wins despite chemicals; SSE tokenization traction SSE displacements; MSC ROI examples (GDOT) License & Solutions up 23.5% YoY Positive mix to L&S
Regulatory/legalEU push for network model mgmt drives OGS rationale Merger process dominates; no guidance/call Deal process supersedes ops narrative

Management Commentary

  • “We integrated more industrial AI and sustainability capabilities into our portfolio and launched our new microgrid solution…” – Antonio Pietri, Q1 FY25 .
  • “We remain confident in our year 2025 guidance… ACV growth of approximately 9% and free cash flow generation of approximately $340 million.” – Antonio Pietri, Q1 FY25 .
  • “We expect Q2 revenue to be between $290 million and $300 million…” – David Baker, Q1 FY25 .
  • “As a result of… the Merger Agreement… AspenTech will not host an earnings conference call for its second quarter fiscal 2025 results nor provide future guidance.” – Q2 PR .

Q&A Highlights

(From Q1 FY25 call; no Q2 call held)

  • ACV cadence and seasonality: Expect historical pattern; potential variability from large deals; growth largely mid‑term contracts rather than renewals .
  • Microgrid and DGM opportunity: Microgrid opens non‑utility TAM (chemicals/refining, mining, transport); EU regulation accelerates network model management demand (OGS) .
  • Collections timing: Administrative delays in certain geos drove softer Q1 cash; processes strengthened; FCF still H2‑weighted .
  • Emerson channel: Joint go‑to‑market producing faster deals in APM; expect increasing contribution .

Estimates Context

  • Consensus beat: Q2 FY25 non‑GAAP EPS $2.06 vs. $1.85; revenue $303.6M vs. $294.5M consensus, per public Zacks/Nasdaq reporting .
  • S&P Global consensus was unavailable via tool mapping this quarter; thus, third‑party public consensus sources are cited instead.

Key Takeaways for Investors

  • Fundamental beat with quality mix: License & Solutions growth (+23.5% YoY) and bookings strength ($307.5M) underpinned revenue/EPS upside; ACV rose 9.2% YoY/2.5% QoQ, sustaining mid‑to‑high single‑digit ACV trajectory .
  • Execution leverage: GAAP operating income turned positive; non‑GAAP operating income expanded sharply; FCF improved YoY despite no call to elaborate on drivers .
  • Guidance vacuum: With guidance withheld and no call, the near‑term narrative is deal‑driven (tender process, potential competing views from activists), not new fundamentals—monitor tender milestones and any supplemental disclosures .
  • DGM structural tailwinds intact: EU regulatory requirements for network model management and broader electrification/microgrid adoption support medium‑term growth, with OGS now integrated (cash outlay recognized) .
  • Watchlists: Chemicals downcycle and collection timing risks remain watch items; cash generation expected to skew to H2 based on prior commentary; absence of Q2 call leaves less color on near‑term resolution .
  • Tactical: Results topped prior intra‑quarter revenue guide high end ($303.6M vs. $290–$300M), a positive data point if deal timing elongates and fundamentals re‑assert as a secondary driver .