PS
PROGRESS SOFTWARE CORP /MA (PRGS)·Q3 2025 Earnings Summary
Executive Summary
- Progress delivered a strong Q3 2025: revenue $250.0M up 40% YoY, non-GAAP EPS $1.50 up 19% YoY, and non-GAAP operating margin 40% while ARR reached $849M (+47% YoY constant currency) and net retention held at 100% .
- Results beat Wall Street: revenue beat by ~$9.7M and EPS beat by ~$0.20; Q4 consensus sits near the midpoint of company guidance, implying a stable exit rate and limited near-term estimate risk *.
- Full-year guidance raised across revenue ($975–$981M), non-GAAP EPS ($5.50–$5.56), GAAP EPS, and cash flow, with tax rate revised to 19% GAAP/20% non-GAAP; Q4 guidance: revenue $250–$256M, non-GAAP EPS $1.29–$1.35 .
- Catalysts: sustained ShareFile integration outperformance, broadened AI rollout (Agentic RAG, MarkLogic 12, OpenEdge MCP Connector), and enhanced balance sheet flexibility via a new $1.5B revolver; net leverage ~3.5x with continued debt paydown and buybacks .
What Went Well and What Went Wrong
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What Went Well
- Broad-based outperformance: revenue $250M vs prior guide $237–$243M; non-GAAP EPS $1.50 vs prior guide $1.28–$1.34; ARR +47% YoY; NRR 100% .
- ShareFile integration exceeding milestones and contributing meaningfully to top-line and ARR; improving NRR through AI features (AI document assistant, secure share recommender) and strong culture integration .
- AI momentum: product launches across Agentic RAG (Nuclia), MarkLogic 12 with RAG, and OpenEdge MCP Connector for ABL; management cites growing customer ROI from AI .
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What Went Wrong
- GAAP profitability pressured: GAAP operating margin down 500 bps YoY (18% vs 23%) and GAAP diluted EPS down 32% YoY ($0.44 vs $0.65), driven by higher amortization of acquired intangibles, stock-based comp, restructuring and acquisition-related costs .
- Higher other expense: other expense, net rose to $(17.7)M vs $(6.1)M YoY (debt-related costs), lifting net leverage to ~3.5x on trailing adjusted EBITDA; management expects continued debt repayment .
- DSO ticked up to 55 days vs 53 in Q2 and 45 in Q3’24; deferred revenue down sequentially reflecting normal seasonality and the ShareFile billing migration earlier in the year .
Financial Results
Segment/Component Revenue
KPIs and Cash Metrics
Vs Estimates (S&P Global consensus)
Values retrieved from S&P Global.*
Guidance Changes
Earnings Call Themes & Trends
Management Commentary
- “We reported another outstanding quarter… Net retention was solid at 100%, and ARR grew 47% year over year… ShareFile is meaningfully contributing… we continue to invest and innovate in AI capabilities, including agentic RAG technology” — Yogesh Gupta, CEO .
- “ARR… $849 million… 47% growth YoY and 3% pro forma YoY… revenue of $250 million meaningfully exceeded the high end of the guidance… operating margin was 40%” — Anthony Folger, CFO .
- “Over 3,000 customers have started using the new AI document assistant… secure share recommender has identified and protected nearly 15,000 files containing PII” — Yogesh Gupta on ShareFile AI features .
- “We increased our borrowing capacity from $900 million to $1.5 billion… repaid $40 million… available capacity of approximately $880 million” — Anthony Folger .
Q&A Highlights
- AI monetization: Near-term impact shows first in net retention and expansion; pricing lever via higher-edition features rather than broad price hikes .
- EBIT/operating margin guidance: Management “rolled through” Q3 beats into FY outlook; not being conservative, expect strong Q4 .
- ShareFile integration surprises: Positive customer reliance on product workflows and strong team engagement; carve-out created system migration challenges that were navigated well .
- Gross margin puts/takes: Blend of SaaS low-80s gross margins and higher-margin license; operational tweaks aiming to improve SaaS margins .
- M&A focus: Attractive opportunities across data platforms, digital experience, and infrastructure management; more open to SaaS given learned capabilities from ShareFile .
Estimates Context
- Q3 2025 earnings beat: revenue $249.8M vs consensus $240.1M*, EPS $1.50 vs $1.2967*; both were meaningful beats supporting FY guidance raise *.
- Q4 2025 consensus: revenue ~$252.9M*, EPS ~$1.3126* sits inside company guidance of $250–$256M and $1.29–$1.35, implying limited near-term estimate pressure *.
Values retrieved from S&P Global.*
Key Takeaways for Investors
- Execution remains robust with non-GAAP operating margins at 40% and broad-based product strength; ShareFile continues to be a top-line and ARR driver .
- The integration playbook is delivering: milestones met, improving NRR via embedded AI features; expect durable ARR trend and cash generation .
- Strong estimate beats and raised FY guide reduce downside risk into year-end; Q4 guide aligns with consensus, pointing to steadier cadence *.
- GAAP results are pressured by amortization of acquired intangibles, stock-based comp, and restructuring; non-GAAP metrics better reflect ongoing operations per company reconciliation .
- Liquidity and optionality improved via $1.5B revolver; capital allocation flexibility to balance debt repayment vs buybacks opportunistically .
- AI is increasingly embedded across the portfolio (Agentic RAG, MarkLogic 12, OpenEdge MCP Connector), supporting expansion and retention; watch for cross-sell traction over time .
- Near-term focus: maintain gross margin blend and operating discipline while leveraging AI-driven upsell; medium term: selective M&A across data platforms, digital experience, and infrastructure management with SaaS openness and margin rigor .