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BLACKBERRY Ltd (BB)·Q3 2025 Earnings Summary

Executive Summary

  • Q3 FY25 was an inflection quarter: total company revenue was $162M, non-GAAP EPS was $0.02, adjusted EBITDA was $23M, and operating/free cash flow turned positive at $3M, all exceeding management’s guidance; GAAP basic loss per share improved to $(0.02) and gross margin reached 74% .
  • IoT revenue rose to $62M with 85% gross margin and segment EBITDA of $18M; Cybersecurity (Secure Communications + Cylance) reached $93M with 67% gross margin and $8M adjusted EBITDA; Licensing was $7M revenue and $6M EBITDA .
  • Guidance was reset to reflect continuing operations given the pending sale of Cylance to Arctic Wolf; FY25 IoT revenue range was raised at the low end to $230–$235M (from $225–$235M), and total company adjusted EBITDA (continuing ops) is now $60–$70M vs prior breakeven to +$10M (non-comparable due to methodology change) .
  • Management highlighted stronger top line, tighter cost control, and the Cylance divestiture as key profitability catalysts; they also flagged FedRAMP High progress for AtHoc as a near-term milestone and driver for Secure Communications growth .

What Went Well and What Went Wrong

  • What Went Well

    • “BlackBerry achieved a significant inflection… delivered stronger than expected profitability and a return to positive cash flow ahead of schedule,” driven by strength in both divisions and cost discipline (CEO) .
    • IoT posted 13% sequential growth to $62M, 85% gross margin (+3ppt q/q), and adjusted EBITDA of $18M (+38% q/q), with QNX traction highlighted by 255M vehicles and new wins (e.g., Hyundai Mobis) .
    • Cybersecurity improved profitability with gross margin +12ppt sequentially to 67% and adjusted EBITDA +$14M q/q to $8M; ARR ticked up to $281M and DBNRR rose to 90% (fifth straight q/q improvement) .
  • What Went Wrong

    • Total company revenue (including discontinued ops) declined year-over-year to $162M from $175M as legacy areas continue to normalize despite sequential gains .
    • GAAP results still show a net loss of $(11)M (driven by discontinued operations) even as adjusted profitability improved; non-GAAP excludes restructuring ($7M), stock comp ($6M), acquired intangibles amortization ($9M), and LLA impairment ($1M) in Q3 .
    • Segment re-baselining and the pending Cylance sale create comparability noise and forced the company to “stand down” prior Cybersecurity guidance and reset consolidated outlook to continuing operations only (CFO) .

Financial Results

Overall performance by quarter (oldest → newest)

MetricQ1 FY25Q2 FY25Q3 FY25
Total Company Revenue ($M)$144 $145 $162 (incl. discontinued)
Gross Margin % (non-GAAP/Company)67% 66% 74%
GAAP Basic EPS (Total)$(0.07) $(0.03) $(0.02)
Non-GAAP Basic EPS$(0.03) $0.00 $0.02
Adjusted EBITDA ($M)$(7) $0 $23
Operating Cash Flow ($M)$(15) $(13) $3

Q3 year-over-year context

MetricQ3 FY24Q3 FY25
Revenue, Continuing + Discontinued ($M)$175 $162
Non-GAAP Gross Margin % (Cont. + Disc.)74.3% 74.1%
Non-GAAP Basic EPS$0.01 $0.02
GAAP Basic EPS (Total)$(0.04) $(0.02)

Segment revenue trends (company segmentation used in each period)

Segment Revenue ($M)Q1 FY25Q2 FY25Q3 FY25
Cybersecurity (incl. Cylance)$85 $87 $93 (Secure Comms + Cylance)
IoT$53 $55 $62
Licensing$6 $3 $7

Q3 profitability by segment

Segment EBITDA ($M)Q3 FY25
IoT$18
Cybersecurity (incl. Cylance)$8
Licensing$6

Key KPIs

KPIQ1 FY25Q2 FY25Q3 FY25
Cybersecurity ARR ($M)$285 $279 $281
Cybersecurity DBNRR (%)87% 88% 90%
Secure Communications ARR ($M)N/AN/A$215
Secure Communications DBNRR (%)N/AN/A95%
Recurring Software Product Revenue (%)~80% ~80% 80%

Estimates vs. results (S&P Global)

  • S&P Global consensus EPS and revenue for Q3 FY25 could not be retrieved due to access limits; therefore, we cannot provide a Street vs. actual comparison at this time. Management stated the quarter beat its guidance for both non-GAAP EPS and consolidated revenue segments .
  • S&P Global consensus values unavailable.

Guidance Changes

MetricPeriodPrevious GuidanceCurrent GuidanceChange
Total BlackBerry Revenue ($M)FY25$591–$616 (pre-divestiture basis) $517–$526 (continuing ops) Re-baselined to continuing ops; not comparable
IoT Revenue ($M)FY25$225–$235 $230–$235 Raised bottom end
Cybersecurity/Secure Comms Revenue ($M)FY25Cybersecurity: $350–$365 Secure Comms: $267–$271 Re-segmented excl. Cylance
Licensing Revenue ($M)FY25~ $16 ~ $20 Increased
Total Adjusted EBITDA ($M)FY25Breakeven to +$10 (pre-divestiture) $60–$70 (continuing ops) Materially higher (methodology change)
Non-GAAP Basic EPSFY25$(0.05) to $(0.02) $(0.02) to Breakeven Tightened upward
Total BlackBerry Revenue ($M)Q4 FY25N/A$126–$135 New Q4 outlook
IoT Revenue ($M)Q4 FY25N/A$60–$65 New Q4 outlook
Secure Communications Revenue ($M)Q4 FY25N/A$62–$66 New Q4 outlook
Licensing Revenue ($M)Q4 FY25N/A~ $4 New Q4 outlook
IoT Segment EBITDA ($M)Q4 FY25N/A$8–$10 New Q4 outlook
Secure Comms Segment EBITDA ($M)Q4 FY25N/A$4–$6 New Q4 outlook
Licensing Segment EBITDA ($M)Q4 FY25N/A~ $3 New Q4 outlook
Total Adjusted EBITDA ($M)Q4 FY25N/A$10–$20 New Q4 outlook
Non-GAAP Basic EPSQ4 FY25N/A$(0.01) to +$0.01 New Q4 outlook

Note: Current guidance reflects continuing operations given the pending sale of Cylance; prior guidance included full company pre-divestiture .

Earnings Call Themes & Trends

TopicPrevious Mentions (Q1–Q2 FY25)Current Period (Q3 FY25)Trend
Profitability/Cash GenerationQ1: Targeting Q4 non-GAAP profitability and cash flow; free cash usage improving . Q2: Breakeven adjusted EBITDA and non-GAAP EPS; opex −24% y/y vs baseline .Returned to positive adjusted EBITDA ($23M), non-GAAP EPS ($0.02), and operating/free cash flow ($3M) ahead of schedule .Improving inflection
IoT/QNX momentumQ1: IoT +18% y/y revenue; QNX royalties “solid” . Q2: IoT +12% y/y; QNX strong royalties .IoT +13% q/q to $62M; 85% gross margin; QNX installed base at 255M vehicles; Hyundai Mobis win; Intel collaboration .Strengthening
Cybersecurity/Secure CommsQ1: ARR +2% q/q to $285M; DBNRR improving . Q2: ARR flat at $279M; DBNRR +7ppt y/y to 88% .Cybersecurity (incl. Cylance) revenue $93M; DBNRR up to 90%; segment adjusted EBITDA +$14M q/q to $8M .Sequential improvement
AI strategy (Cylance)Q1: Cylance Assistant, MDR launch . Q2: CylanceMDR Pro launch .Sale of Cylance endpoint security assets to Arctic Wolf as “transformational step” to accelerate profitability post-close .Portfolio pivot
FedRAMP/AtHoc (Secure Comms)AtHoc “in process” for FedRAMP High; timing likely to extend beyond Q4 per CEO Q&A .Positive progress; timing risk
Cost structureQ2: Opex down vs baseline; ongoing rationalization .Opex ~flat q/q at ~$101M, well below prior baseline; continued cost focus (CFO) .Sustained discipline

Management Commentary

  • CEO: “BlackBerry achieved a significant inflection… delivered stronger than expected profitability and a return to positive cash flow ahead of schedule,” citing strong divisional revenue and cost efficiency; the Cylance sale is a “transformational step” toward accelerating profitability post-close .
  • CFO: Stronger top line and tight cost control produced positive adjusted EBITDA above the guidance range ($23M), adjusted net income of $12M, non-GAAP EPS of $0.02, and positive operating/free cash flow of $3M; opex remained well below the historic baseline .
  • Non-GAAP adjustments this quarter included restructuring ($7M), stock comp ($6M), amortization of acquired intangibles ($9M), and LLA impairment ($1M), bridging GAAP net loss of $(11)M to adjusted net income of $12M .

Q&A Highlights

  • Guidance framework reset: With Cylance reported as discontinued operations, management “stood down” prior Cybersecurity and full-company guidance and provided Q4 and FY25 guidance for continuing operations, including Secure Communications and IoT; total adjusted EBITDA (continuing) expected at $60–$70M for FY25 .
  • FedRAMP High timeline: AtHoc is “in process” for FedRAMP High; CEO suggested heavy lifting is done but final approval may extend beyond Q4 given government timing .
  • Profitability cadence: Management emphasized continued cost control and strong mix (e.g., Secusmart licenses) driving margin expansion and EBITDA in Secure Communications (implied 30% EBITDA margin ex-Cylance) .

Estimates Context

  • We attempted to retrieve S&P Global consensus for Q3 FY25 EPS and revenue but were unable to access the data due to request limits; as a result, Street-vs-actual comparisons are not provided. Management indicated the company exceeded its guidance on both non-GAAP EPS and divisional revenues .
  • Where estimates may need to adjust: Given the step-up in adjusted EBITDA guidance to $60–$70M for FY25 on a continuing-operations basis, Street models may need to reflect higher profitability run-rate for Secure Communications and IoT and remove Cylance contributions post-close .

Other Relevant Press Releases (Q3 FY25)

  • AtHoc + Avathon integration: BlackBerry integrated Avathon’s computer vision AI into AtHoc, bolstering real-time incident response capabilities—supportive of Secure Communications growth and FedRAMP positioning .
  • Additional business highlights were included in the company’s Q3 press release: QNX to 255M vehicles, Hyundai Mobis cockpit selection, QNX functional safety platform with Intel, and the definitive agreement to sell Cylance endpoint assets to Arctic Wolf .

Key Takeaways for Investors

  • Profitability inflection appears durable: positive adjusted EBITDA, positive non-GAAP EPS, and positive operating/free cash flow, aided by cost control and mix; monitoring the continuation of 70%+ gross margins and opex discipline is key .
  • IoT momentum is tangible: sequential revenue growth, high gross margins, and wins (Hyundai Mobis; 255M vehicle installed base) underpin the segment’s raised FY25 outlook; QNX royalty trajectory remains a central driver .
  • Secure Communications strengthening: mix-driven margin expansion (e.g., Secusmart licenses) and improving DBNRR; FedRAMP High could unlock federal opportunities, though timing beyond Q4 is possible .
  • Portfolio simplification is a catalyst: divesting Cylance is positioned as a “transformational” step to accelerate profitability; investors should reframe models to continuing ops and focus on EBITDA conversion .
  • Guidance reset lifts EBITDA outlook materially on a continuing-ops basis; watch execution against Q4 ranges and the FY26 framework expected at Q4 results .
  • Near-term trading setup: momentum in profitability and cash generation, plus IoT strength, are supportive; headline risk tied to Cylance close timing and FedRAMP approval cadence remains.
  • Medium-term thesis: focus on operating leverage in Secure Communications, sustained QNX royalty growth, and disciplined capital allocation post-divestiture to drive durable cash generation .

Citations: All figures and statements are sourced from BlackBerry’s Q3 FY25 Form 8-K and press release and prior-quarter 8-Ks unless otherwise noted. Earnings call statements are cited to The Motley Fool transcript page and are used for management commentary and Q&A context.