RI
Rapid7, Inc. (RPD)·Q3 2025 Earnings Summary
Executive Summary
- Q3 2025 was a modest top-line quarter with revenue up 2% YoY to $217.96M and non-GAAP diluted EPS of $0.57; both exceeded internal outlook and beat S&P Global consensus (rev +$1.8M; EPS +$0.11) as execution improved in MDR and spending timing favored profitability . Revenue Consensus Mean: $216.15M*; Primary EPS Consensus Mean: $0.456* (actual $0.57) .
S&P Global values marked with *. - Management reset ARR expectations, guiding Q4 and FY25 ARR to “approximately flat vs Q3” (reflecting reduced precision and a desire to rebuild guidance credibility amid ongoing GTM changes), while tightening FY25 revenue to $856–$858M and raising FY25 non-GAAP EPS to $2.02–$2.09 .
- Strategic vectors: AI-powered Command Platform, an expanded Microsoft security partnership (new MDR for Microsoft), and refocusing the sales engine under a new CCO; Rafe Brown named incoming CFO effective Dec 1, 2025 to drive operating rigor and growth scalability .
- Key narrative drivers: larger, strategic platform deals with longer cycles; MDR as majority of ARR with attractive margins and double‑digit growth; international outgrowing North America; incremental Q4 conservatism to rebaseline forecasting precision .
What Went Well and What Went Wrong
What Went Well
- Revenue and profitability topped outlook: Q3 revenue $217.96M (+2% YoY) and non‑GAAP operating income $36.9M (17% margin) were ahead of expectations; free cash flow was $30.1M . CEO: “Revenue for the quarter was $218 million, and operating income was $37 million, both ahead of our outlook… We once again delivered strong free cash flow of $30 million” .
- MDR momentum and unit economics: MDR is “more than half of ARR,” still growing double digits; management argues MDR can run at higher gross margins due to automation and AI SOC investments .
- Microsoft partnership and AI platform validation: new MDR for Microsoft and AI-generated risk intelligence reinforce the Command Platform differentiation and are expected to expand addressable opportunities .
What Went Wrong
- ARR target reset and forecasting precision: Management acknowledged “we have fallen short of the ARR guidance” and lowered precision to “approximately flat” for Q4/FY, citing GTM changes and longer deal cycles in larger platform consolidations .
- YoY compression in margins vs prior year: non‑GAAP operating margin declined to 17% (from 20% in Q3’24); non‑GAAP gross margin to 73% (from 74%); adjusted EBITDA $43.5M (down from $50.1M) as mix and timing weighed YoY .
- Professional services continued to contract (-14% YoY), consistent with a deemphasis on lower-margin services; North America declined 1% YoY as international carried growth (+8% YoY) .
Financial Results
Headline P&L vs prior periods (actuals) and S&P Global consensus
S&P Global values marked with *. Values retrieved from S&P Global.
Notes: Company “Adjusted EBITDA” differs from standardized S&P “EBITDA,” limiting comparability; management reports Adjusted EBITDA $43.51M vs S&P EBITDA actual $17.30M*, reflecting differing adjustments . S&P Global values marked with *. Values retrieved from S&P Global.
Segment and Geography
KPIs and Unit Economics
Guidance Changes
Reconciliations provided by the company indicate GAAP loss ranges offset by stock-based comp and amortization to arrive at non-GAAP ranges .
Earnings Call Themes & Trends
Management Commentary
- “We ended the third quarter with $838 million in ARR… Revenue for the quarter was $218 million, and operating income was $37 million, both ahead of our outlook.”
- “We… acknowledge that we have fallen short of the ARR guidance… we are today reducing our 2025 ARR target… and… embed a discount of the new business win benefits expected from Q4…”
- “MDR… we run at a higher… profitability than your average MDR companies… building… automation and now the AI capacity… we can… run modern managed services at higher quality… and higher gross margins.”
- “Our new MDR for Microsoft… brings together Rapid7's SOC expertise with Microsoft's security ecosystem to simplify operations, strengthen protection, and unlock new value…”
- “We… are managing active change during the fourth quarter… ARR to end Q4 approximately flat quarter over quarter… tightening our full-year revenue… raising our full-year operating income… and… non-GAAP EPS…”
Q&A Highlights
- MDR unit economics and margins: Management emphasized structurally better MDR margins enabled by automation/AI; justified scaling MDR as a profitable growth vector .
- International growth outpacing North America: 25% of revenue, faster growth than overall; continued investment and process alignment across regions .
- Pricing/competition in MDR: Despite competitive market, MDR growing double digits; value proposition is AI-driven SOC combining tech and expert service; retention rates remain strong .
- Forecasting and pipeline conversion: Larger platform deals extend cycles; Q4/FY ARR guided conservatively to rebuild credibility as CCO/CFO changes roll through; visibility expected to improve in 2026 .
- Exposure Command upgrade motion: Upgrades are larger than expected (>2x ASP) but with longer cycles; efforts underway to operationalize expansion playbooks .
Estimates Context
- Q3 2025 vs S&P Global consensus: revenue $217.96M vs $216.15M* (beat), non‑GAAP diluted EPS $0.57 vs $0.456* (beat) . S&P Global values marked with *. Values retrieved from S&P Global.
- Q4 2025 outlook vs consensus: Company revenue guide $214–$216M vs S&P consensus $215.17M* (in-line), company non‑GAAP EPS $0.37–$0.44 vs S&P consensus $0.416* (range brackets consensus midpoint) . S&P Global values marked with *. Values retrieved from S&P Global.
- EBITDA note: S&P “EBITDA” consensus $36.82M* vs S&P “actual” $17.30M* contrasts with company’s Adjusted EBITDA $43.51M due to differing definitions; investors should anchor EBITDA comparisons on consistent definitions . S&P Global values marked with *. Values retrieved from S&P Global.
- Implication: Estimate models likely raise FY25 EPS (company raised to $2.02–$2.09) and anchor Q4 revenue/EPS near guidance midpoints; ARR frameworks may reduce FY exit level/precision given “flat” commentary .
Key Takeaways for Investors
- The narrative is shifting from pure platform build to disciplined GTM execution: CCO/CFO transitions, standardization, and MDR prioritization are intended to compress deal cycles and improve forecasting reliability into 2026 .
- MDR remains the core growth and margin engine; management asserts structurally superior MDR unit economics via AI SOC—expect continued mix shift toward MDR with improving profitability .
- ARR conservatism near term (flat Q4/FY) is a reset to rebuild guidance credibility amid operational changes; watch Q4 pipeline conversion and 1H’26 expansion metrics for confirmation of re-acceleration .
- Product catalysts: AI-generated risk intelligence (Remediation Hub), MDR for Microsoft, and continued platform integration should support competitive wins and larger consolidation deals despite longer cycles .
- Geography: International growth (25% of revenue, +8% YoY) offsets NA softness; UAE expansion and certifications (DESC/FedRAMP) provide medium-term regional and federal pathways .
- 2025 financial frame: Revenue tightened to $856–$858M; non-GAAP EPS raised to $2.02–$2.09; FCF $125–$135M maintained—supporting a durable cash profile while investing in GTM and AI capabilities .
- Trading lens: Near-term stock drivers include confidence restoration in ARR trajectory, evidence of MDR-driven margin expansion, and early revenue contribution from Microsoft partnership; estimate revisions likely skew positive on EPS vs flattish ARR .
Additional Relevant Press Releases (Q3 period)
- AI-generated risk intelligence launched in Command Platform (Remediation Hub) to accelerate remediation prioritization; rollouts in late November .
- Recognized again in Gartner Magic Quadrant for SIEM; positioning supports AI-native SIEM (Incident Command) narrative .
- Strategic expansion into UAE with local platform instance and DESC certification, strengthening regional GTM .
Appendix: Q4 & FY25 Guidance Detail (Company)
S&P Global values marked with *. Values retrieved from S&P Global.