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VERINT SYSTEMS INC (VRNT)·Q4 2025 Earnings Summary
Executive Summary
- Q4 FYE 2025 revenue and non-GAAP EPS missed Street as several new unbundled SaaS deals slipped, while ARR, cash generation, and cash contribution were ahead of guidance; subscription ARR reached $712M (+5% YoY), record new-deal SaaS ACV was $32M (+30% YoY), and bundled SaaS revenue grew 23% YoY .
- Management raised FY 2026 subscription ARR guidance to $768M (from $760M), introduced ratable guidance ranges (ARR/cash generation/cash contribution at ±1%) and widened revenue guidance to ±3% given ASC 606 variability; FY 2026 non-GAAP EPS guided to $2.93 at the revenue midpoint .
- The core narrative is accelerating AI adoption via hybrid cloud with more than 90 Fortune 500 using Verint AI bots; customers report tangible outcomes and larger deployments, supporting ARR growth acceleration into FY 2026 .
- Catalysts: raised ARR outlook and record new-deal bookings; headwind was unbundled SaaS revenue timing shifting deals beyond Q4, driving headline revenue/EPS miss despite strong ratable metrics and AI momentum .
What Went Well and What Went Wrong
What Went Well
- Strong ratable metrics: subscription ARR of $712M beat guidance by $8M; cash generation beat by $8M and cash contribution beat by $16M, underscoring underlying growth quality .
- Record bookings and AI consumption: SaaS ACV from new deals hit a quarterly record of $32M (+30% YoY), with bundled SaaS revenue up 23% YoY; management highlighted large TCV wins and Fortune 500 adoption .
- Clear FY 2026 framework: raised ARR guidance to $768M with narrow ranges for ratable metrics and reiterated a focus on hybrid cloud to deliver faster ROI without disruptive rip-and-replace initiatives .
What Went Wrong
- Revenue/EPS miss vs expectations: Q4 revenue was $253.5M vs ~$277M guided and consensus, with non-GAAP EPS $0.99 vs ~1.27 consensus, driven by a few new unbundled SaaS deals slipping; renewals were in line .
- Unbundled SaaS variability: ASC 606 recognition and deal mix made quarterly revenue trends less meaningful; management widened revenue guidance ±3% for FY 2026 to reflect ongoing variability .
- Professional services softness: nonrecurring professional services revenue declined YoY ($25.7M vs $28.7M), limiting total revenue growth in the quarter .
Financial Results
Headline Actuals vs Prior Periods
Actuals vs Wall Street Consensus (S&P Global)
Values retrieved from S&P Global.*
Segment Revenue Breakdown
KPIs and Operating Metrics
Margins
Guidance Changes
Earnings Call Themes & Trends
Management Commentary
- “In Q4, ARR came in at $712 million, up 5% year-over-year, ahead of our 4% guidance… For the year, we are raising our outlook to $768 million of ARR, representing 8% growth.” — Grant Highlander, CFO .
- “We delivered record SaaS ACV bookings for new deals with 30% growth year-over-year… a $27 million TCV order (insurance) and a $10 million TCV order (telecom).” — Dan Bodner, CEO .
- “More than 90 of the Fortune 500 are using Verint’s AI-powered bots to automate workflows… reporting strong AI business outcomes and expanding with us.” — Dan Bodner, CEO .
- “Unbundled SaaS revenue came in below… renewals in line; a few new unbundled deals did not materialize… we will guide revenue with a wider ±3% range.” — Grant Highlander, CFO .
- “Hybrid cloud enables faster AI outcomes without disruption… customers can start small, prove outcomes, then scale quickly.” — Dan Bodner, CEO .
Q&A Highlights
- Unbundled SaaS timing: Miss driven by a few expansion deals at existing customers pushing out; renewals were in line; revenue guidance widened to ±3% to reflect ongoing variability under ASC 606 .
- Confidence in slipped deals: Predominantly large U.S. financial services customers; expected to materialize during FY 2026; mix does not affect ARR (ratable) .
- Q1 2026 outlook: Revenue range $190–$200M; non-GAAP EPS ~$0.13; ARR YoY growth ~6% .
- Channels: Mostly cross-sold with Verint teams; partners gaining capability on select bots; contribution expected to rise over time .
- Cohort strength: Top 100 customers grew ARR 17% and top 25 grew 24% YoY in Q4, highlighting deepening AI adoption among largest accounts .
Estimates Context
- Q4 miss vs Street: Revenue $253.5M vs $276.8M consensus; non-GAAP EPS $0.99 vs $1.27 consensus; driven by unbundled SaaS deal timing while bundled SaaS and ARR were strong . Consensus values retrieved from S&P Global.*
- FY25 miss vs Street: Revenue $909.2M vs $932.6M consensus; non-GAAP EPS $2.62 vs $2.90 consensus; margins expanded but revenue shortfall from unbundled SaaS weighed on EPS . Consensus values retrieved from S&P Global.*
- FY26 setup: Company guides revenue ~$960M (±3%) and non-GAAP EPS ~$2.93; consensus for FY26 revenue ~$960.1M* and EPS ~$2.94*, implying alignment; Street likely to focus on ARR trajectory and bundled momentum amid unbundled variability . Consensus values retrieved from S&P Global.*
Key Takeaways for Investors
- AI momentum is the core driver: record new-deal bookings, accelerating bundled SaaS revenue, and raised ARR guidance reinforce an improving ratable growth profile; focus on ARR and cash metrics rather than quarterly revenue noise .
- Revenue/EPS volatility likely persists: ASC 606 and unbundled mix create quarterly variability; management’s wider revenue guidance acknowledges this; expect Street to lean more on ARR/cash contribution .
- Deployment model de-risks adoption: hybrid cloud enables “AI first” outcomes without infrastructure changes, shortening sales cycles and expanding cohorts, particularly among largest accounts (top 25/100) .
- Capital allocation supportive: enhanced $500M revolver with intent to prioritize buybacks; net debt well under 1x LTM EBITDA; FCF up YoY, underpinning equity-friendly stance .
- Watch Q1 dynamics: guided ARR growth ~6% YoY and revenue $190–$200M with lower unbundled renewals; judge progress on bundled growth and ratable metrics vs guidance .
- Longer-term thesis: expanding bot portfolio, customer references, and channel leverage support sustained double-digit ARR growth potential and margin expansion, consistent with the company’s automation leadership narrative .
- Trade setup: near-term weakness from headline misses can reverse on ratable beats and visible bundled strength; catalysts include large AI TCV wins, ARR acceleration milestones, and continued guidance credibility on ratable metrics .