Sign in

    Crexendo Inc (CXDO)

    CXDO Q1 2025: 10%+ Growth Guidance, Software Margins Jump to 78%

    Reported on May 7, 2025 (After Market Close)
    Pre-Earnings Price$5.35Last close (May 6, 2025)
    Post-Earnings Price$5.55Open (May 7, 2025)
    Price Change
    $0.20(+3.74%)
    • Sustainable Double-Digit Growth: The executives expressed confidence in achieving and maintaining double-digit year-over-year growth even with expected quarterly variances, indicating strong long‐term organic momentum and robust demand for their offerings.
    • Margin Expansion and Profitability: Q&A discussions highlighted significant improvements in software gross margins—driven by higher revenue growth and cost efficiencies—which bolster future profitability and demonstrate strong operating leverage.
    • Opportunities from Industry Disruption: With legacy telecom providers like Mitel and Avaya facing challenges, there is a clear opening for capturing market share. Combined with a growing ecosystem of partners focused on AI and advanced applications, this positions the company favorably to benefit from industry headwinds.
    • Seasonal Weakness: Q1 typically has lower sales bookings due to companies depleting their capital expenditures, which could lead to revenue challenges if the seasonal trend continues.
    • International Headwinds: Potential impacts from tariff and trade wars, along with growing indifference toward American offerings in Europe, could slow international growth prospects.
    • Lack of Large Contracts: The absence of any 7-figure contracts in Q1 raises concerns about securing high-value deals that are critical for significant revenue enhancements.
    MetricYoY ChangeReason

    Total Revenue

    +14% (+$7.6M)

    Total Revenue increased by 14% driven by a strong performance in multiple segments, notably a 30% increase in Software Solutions Revenue, a 7% increase in Service Revenue, and a minor 2% increase in Product Revenue compared to FY 2023.

    Software Solutions Revenue

    +30% (+$5.4M)

    Software Solutions Revenue surged by 30% due to higher recurring software license and maintenance subscriptions, along with increased perpetual software license and professional services revenue; this improvement played a key role in the overall revenue growth.

    Service Revenue

    +7% (+$2.1M)

    Service Revenue grew by 7%, reflecting enhanced demand and stronger customer engagement in the services segment relative to FY 2023, contributing to the diversified revenue growth.

    Product Revenue

    +2% (+$0.1M)

    Product Revenue experienced a modest 2% increase, indicating slight gains in this segment over FY 2023 despite its smaller contribution to the overall revenue profile.

    Net Income

    From a $(362K) loss to +$1.7M profit

    Net Income improved dramatically from a loss in FY 2023 to a profit in FY 2024, reflecting enhanced operational efficiency and cost management improvements, which turned around previously negative margins.

    Income Before Income Tax

    +816% (+$2.2M)

    Income Before Income Tax increased by 816%, a leap driven by the significant improvement in operational performance and better cost controls when compared to FY 2023.

    Total Operating Expenses

    +8% (+$4.1M)

    Operating Expenses rose by 8% largely because of increased spending in Selling and Marketing (+$1.9M) and additional investments in Research and Development (+$692K), with a minor increase in General and Administrative expenses, indicating intentional spending to drive future growth.

    Software Solutions Segment Operating Income

    From a $(206K) loss to +$1.57M profit

    The Software Solutions Segment turned profitable, with operating income moving from a loss of $206K in FY 2023 to a profit of $1.57M in FY 2024; this turnaround underscores a successful strategic shift in this segment.

    Cloud Telecommunications Services Segment Operating Income

    From a $(1.48M) loss to +$254K profit

    The Cloud Telecommunications Services Segment improved, reversing a sizable loss of $1.48M in FY 2023 to a modest profit of $254K in FY 2024, reflecting targeted efforts to optimize service performance and cost structures.

    Other Income/(Expense)

    -88% (-$1.2M)

    Other Income/(Expense) declined by 88% primarily due to the absence of a one-time gain from the sale of the corporate office building recorded in FY 2023 ($1.459M), highlighting the impact of non-recurring items on overall results.

    Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities

    +80% (+$2.8M)

    Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities increased by 80%, driven by improved profitability and more effective working capital management, indicating a healthier cash flow position over FY 2023.

    MetricPeriodPrevious GuidanceCurrent GuidanceChange

    Revenue Growth

    FY 2025

    Double-digit growth trajectory for FY 2025

    Minimum 10% year-over-year double-digit revenue growth

    no change

    Software Solutions Gross Margin

    FY 2025

    no prior guidance

    73% to 75%

    no prior guidance

    MetricPeriodGuidanceActualPerformance
    Revenue Growth
    Q1 2025
    The company expects to maintain a double-digit growth trajectory for FY 2025
    12% year-over-year growth from $14.29 millionTo $16.057 million
    Met
    TopicPrevious MentionsCurrent PeriodTrend

    Sustainable Organic Growth & Double‑Digit Revenue Expansion

    Q2, Q3, and Q4 2024 discussions emphasized organic growth rates ranging from 13% to 16% and consistent double‑digit revenue expansion (guidance around 10–15% growth).

    Q1 2025 highlighted a 12% year‑over‑year revenue increase along with a 300% year‑over‑year GAAP profitability leap and reiterated 10% minimum double‑digit growth guidance.

    Consistent focus on organic growth with slightly lower percentage numbers but markedly improved profitability, maintaining a positive sentiment.

    Software Solutions Segment Growth and Margin Dynamics

    Q2 2024 noted 35% organic growth and 73% gross margins; Q3 2024 reported 25–28% growth with stable margins around 71%; Q4 2024 showed 32% revenue growth with margin improvements.

    Q1 2025 reported 33% year‑over‑year growth and a significant increase in gross margin to 78%, driven by cost reductions and enhanced scalability.

    Robust growth and margin expansion have been maintained and even enhanced, reflecting strong operational performance and a bullish outlook.

    Industry Disruption and Competitive Landscape

    Q2–Q4 2024 discussed competitor challenges—Microsoft’s sale of its Metaswitch division, Cisco’s pricing/support changes, and legacy telecom turmoil—creating migration opportunities.

    Q1 2025 reinforced using these competitive disruptions to build a strong pipeline and attract prospects with a differentiated platform.

    The theme remains consistent with an opportunistic stance; the sentiment is positive as disruptions continue to be leveraged for growth.

    AI Integration and Advanced Applications Ecosystem Expansion

    Q2 through Q4 2024 detailed innovations in AI (such as enhanced API 2.0 and AI‑driven applications) and growing ecosystem partner programs.

    Q1 2025 emphasized groundbreaking AI features (video AI studio, voice AI studio, AI call recording, contact center AI) and noted awards that recognize these innovations.

    Continuing expansion in AI capabilities and ecosystem development, with increasingly strong and innovative offerings driving a very positive sentiment.

    Customer Acquisition, Contract Size, and Churn Challenges

    Q2–Q4 2024 described strong new logo acquisition (with new international wins and expansions) and healthy contract sizes (with some large deals noted), while mentioning minimal churn issues in some periods and a slight churn impact in Q3.

    Q1 2025 showcased strategic customer acquisitions and maintained contract sizes (6‑figure to 7‑figure on Software Solutions; average retail around $20 per user), with no new significant churn challenges noted.

    A consistent trend in proactive customer acquisition and robust contract values continues, while churn remains well managed, reflecting stable sentiment.

    Platform Migration Challenges and Opportunities

    Q2–Q4 2024 detailed challenges in migrating from the classic platform to the VIP system and transitioning from on‑premise to Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, including dual costs and long sales cycles.

    Q1 2025 announced nearing completion of the migration to the VIP system and OCI, with expected cost savings, improved margins, and resource redeployment.

    While migration challenges persisted in earlier quarters, progress in Q1 2025 signals a turning point with anticipated efficiency gains and an optimistic outlook.

    International Expansion and Market Headwinds

    Q2–Q4 2024 emphasized significant international revenue growth (notably 39% organic growth in Q4), strong performance in Europe, Australia, and Africa, and benefits from competitor disruptions.

    Q1 2025 confirmed continued strong demand in Europe but introduced caution regarding potential headwinds (tariffs, trade wars, and European indifference).

    Expansion remains strong, though emerging headwinds suggest a slightly more cautious sentiment compared to previous periods.

    Operating Expense Pressures and Cloud Migration Cost Issues

    Q2 and Q3 2024 noted rising operating expenses due to headcount increases and investments in OCI, while also highlighting the burden of maintaining dual cloud systems during migration, impacting margins temporarily.

    Q1 2025 focused on successful management of operating expenses through the near‑completion of the VIP migration and the OCI transition, expected to free up resources and generate cost savings.

    Efforts to control operating expenses and manage migration costs are showing progress, with a shift towards an optimistic, cost‑saving future outlook.

    Acquisition Strategy, Inorganic Growth, and Valuation Concerns

    Q2–Q4 2024 featured a cautious but active approach to acquisitions, leveraging a strong cash position, with discussions about rational valuation multiples and the pursuit of accretive, synergistic deals.

    Q1 2025 continued to evaluate strategic acquisitions with a focus on accretive opportunities in the coming quarters, noting a narrowing valuation gap.

    An increasingly opportunistic strategy with ongoing discussions supports inorganic growth, while a disciplined valuation approach maintains positive sentiment.

    Seasonal Demand Variability

    Not mentioned in Q2, Q3, or Q4 2024, leaving no prior context on seasonal trends.

    Q1 2025 explicitly acknowledged that Q1 is typically slower due to companies exhausting their year‑end capital, explaining lower sales bookings.

    A new topic introduced in Q1 2025, indicating standard seasonal slowdown; the sentiment is neutral as it reflects a known cyclical pattern.

    1. Growth Guidance
      Q: Sustainable double‑digit growth this quarter?
      A: Management confirmed year‑over‑year double‑digit guidance for 2025 despite quarterly variances, emphasizing a minimum 10% growth overall.

    2. Margin Outlook
      Q: Will software margins sustain improvement?
      A: They noted a 5% improvement this quarter to 78%, while full‑year guidance targets remain in the 73%–75% range.

    3. Telecom Growth
      Q: What drives telecom revenue growth?
      A: The team stressed that profitable telecom expansion will rely on superior service and product differentiation amid competitive pressures.

    4. Average Revenue
      Q: What are current ARPU levels and contract sizes?
      A: Retail ARPU is reported at $351 per account and software ARPU at $64.25, with no 7‑figure contracts in Q1.

    5. M&A Outlook
      Q: Is there new optimism on M&A prospects?
      A: Management expressed increased optimism for accretive acquisitions given more rational market valuations, without disclosing specific figures.

    6. Competitor Dynamics
      Q: Any changes post‑Metaswitch acquisition?
      A: They reported minimal changes, noting that competitors’ aggressive pricing tactics remain unsustainable.

    7. International Demand
      Q: How is European demand trending?
      A: Demand in Europe continues to be strong, despite potential tariff and trade challenges, underscoring international growth opportunities.