Commvault Announces Fiscal 2025 First Quarter Financial Results

Investor Relations Contact
Michael J. Melnyk, CFA 732-870-4581 mmelnyk@commvault.com

(Download Financial Tables)

Tinton Falls, N.J. – July  30, 2024 – Commvault [Nasdaq: CVLT] today announced its financial results for the fiscal first quarter ended June  30, 2024.   

“The need for resilience is paramount and we are leading the charge,” said Sanjay Mirchandani, Commvault’s President and CEO. “Our ability to empower customers globally, to regularly test their readiness and quickly recover their data and applications is not only a differentiator, but enabled Commvault to start the fiscal year strong, generating 13% total revenue growth and 17% annualized recurring revenue growth in fiscal Q1.” 

Fiscal 2025 First Quarter Highlights – 

• Total revenues were $224.7 million, up 13% year over year  
• Total annualized recurring revenue (“ARR”)¹ grew to $803 million, up 17% year over year 
• Subscription revenue was $124.1 million, up 28% year over year 
• Subscription ARR¹ grew to $636 million, up 27% year over year 
• Income from operations (EBIT) was $18.4 million, an operating margin of 8.2% 
• Non-GAAP EBIT² was $48.3 million, an operating margin of 21.5% 
• Operating cash flow was $44.7 million, with free cash flow² of $43.8 million 
• First quarter share repurchases were $51.4 million, or approximately 471,000 shares of common stock  

Financial Outlook for Second Quarter and Full Year Fiscal 2025³ – 

We are providing the following guidance for the second quarter of fiscal year 2025: 

• Total revenues are expected to be between $218 million and $222 million 
• Subscription revenue is expected to be between $120 million and $124 million 
• Non-GAAP operating margin² is expected to be between 19% and 20% 

We are providing the following updated guidance for the full fiscal year 2025: 

• Total revenues are expected to be between $915 million and $925 million 
• Total ARR¹ is expected to grow 15% year over year 
• Subscription revenue is expected to be between $522 million and $527 million 
• Subscription ARR¹ is expected to grow between 23% and 25% year over year 
• Non-GAAP operating margin² is expected to be between 20% and 21% 
• Free cash flow² is expected to be at least $200 million

The above statements are based on the incorporation of actual first quarter results and current targets. These statements are forward looking and made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions discussed in detail below. We do not undertake any obligation to update these forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ materially from anticipated results. 

(Download Financial Tables)

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Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures 

Commvault has provided in this press release the following non-GAAP financial measures: non-GAAP income from operations (EBIT), non-GAAP income from operations margin, non-GAAP net income, non-GAAP diluted earnings per share, non-GAAP free cash flow, annualized recurring revenue (ARR) and subscription ARR. This financial information has not been prepared in accordance with GAAP. Commvault uses these non-GAAP financial measures internally to understand, manage and evaluate its business and make operating decisions. In addition, Commvault believes these non-GAAP operating measures are useful to investors, when used as a supplement to GAAP financial measures, in evaluating Commvault’s ongoing operational performance. Commvault believes that the use of these non-GAAP financial measures provides an additional tool for investors to use in evaluating ongoing operating results and trends, and in comparing its financial results with other companies in Commvault’s industry, many of which present similar non-GAAP financial measures to the investment community. Commvault has also provided its revenues on a constant currency basis. Commvault analyzes revenue growth on a constant currency basis in order to provide a comparable framework for assessing how the business performed excluding the effect of foreign currency fluctuations.  

All of these non-GAAP financial measures should be considered as a supplement to, and not as a substitute for, financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP. Investors are encouraged to review the reconciliation of these non-GAAP measures to their most directly comparable GAAP financial measures, which are included in this press release.  

Non-GAAP income from operations and non-GAAP income from operations margin. These non-GAAP financial measures exclude noncash stock-based compensation charges and additional Federal Insurance Contribution Act (FICA) and related payroll tax expense incurred by Commvault when employees exercise in-the-money stock options or vest in restricted stock awards. Commvault has also excluded restructuring costs, noncash amortization of intangible assets, litigation settlement, and business combination costs from its non-GAAP results. These expenses are further discussed in Table IV. Commvault believes that these non-GAAP financial measures are useful metrics for management and investors because they compare Commvault’s core operating results over multiple periods.  When evaluating the performance of Commvault’s operating results and developing short- and long-term plans, Commvault does not consider such expenses.   

Although noncash stock-based compensation and the additional FICA and related payroll tax expenses are necessary to attract and retain employees, Commvault places its primary emphasis on stockholder dilution as compared to the accounting charges related to such equity compensation plans. Commvault believes that providing non-GAAP financial measures that exclude noncash stock-based compensation expense and the additional FICA and related payroll tax expenses incurred on stock option exercises and vesting of restricted stock awards allow investors to make meaningful comparisons between Commvault’s operating results and those of other companies. 

There are a number of limitations related to the use of non-GAAP income from operations and non-GAAP income from operations margin.  The most significant limitation is that these non-GAAP financial measures exclude certain operating costs, primarily related to noncash stock-based compensation, which is of a recurring nature. Noncash stock-based compensation has been, and will continue to be for the foreseeable future, a significant recurring expense in Commvault’s operating results.  In addition, noncash stock-based compensation is an important part of Commvault’s employees’ compensation and can have a significant impact on their performance. The following table presents the stock-based compensation expense included in cost of revenues, sales and marketing, research and development and general and administrative ($ in thousands):    

The table above excludes stock-based compensation expense related to the Company’s restructuring activities described in Note 6. 

The components that Commvault excludes in its non-GAAP financial measures may differ from the components that its peer companies exclude when they report their non-GAAP financial measures. Due to the limitations related to the use of non-GAAP measures, Commvault’s management assists investors by providing a reconciliation of each non-GAAP financial measure to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure. Commvault’s management uses non-GAAP financial measures only in addition to, and in conjunction with, results presented in accordance with GAAP.   

Non-GAAP net income and non-GAAP diluted earnings per share (EPS).  In addition to the adjustments discussed in non-GAAP income from operations, non-GAAP net income and non-GAAP diluted EPS incorporates a non-GAAP effective tax rate of 24%. Beginning in fiscal 2025, Commvault lowered its estimated non-GAAP effective tax rate from 27% to 24%. 

Commvault anticipates that in any given period its non-GAAP tax rate may be either higher or lower than the GAAP tax rate as evidenced by historical fluctuations. The GAAP tax rates in recent fiscal years were not meaningful percentages due to the dollar amount of GAAP pre-tax income.  For the same reason as the GAAP tax rates, the estimated cash tax rates in recent fiscal years are not meaningful percentages. Commvault defines its cash tax rate as the total amount of cash income taxes payable for the fiscal year divided by consolidated GAAP pre-tax income. Over time, Commvault believes its GAAP and cash tax rates will align.  

Commvault considers non-GAAP net income and non-GAAP diluted EPS useful metrics for Commvault management and its investors for the same basic reasons that Commvault uses non-GAAP income from operations and non-GAAP income from operations margin. In addition, the same limitations as well as management actions to compensate for such limitations described above also apply to Commvault’s use of non-GAAP net income and non-GAAP diluted EPS. 

Non-GAAP free cash flow.  Commvault defines this non-GAAP financial measure as net cash provided by operating activities less purchases of property and equipment. Commvault considers non-GAAP free cash flow a useful metric for Commvault management and its investors in evaluating Commvault’s ability to generate cash from its business operations. In addition, the same limitations as well as management actions to compensate for such limitations described above also apply to Commvault’s use of non-GAAP free cash flow. 

Forward-looking non-GAAP measures. In this press release, Commvault presents certain forward-looking non-GAAP metrics. Commvault cannot provide a reconciliation to the comparable GAAP metric without unreasonable efforts, as certain financial information, the probable significance of which may be material, is not available and cannot be reasonably estimated. 

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Conference Call Information 

Commvault will host a conference call today, July 30, 2024 at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time (5:30 a.m. Pacific Time) to discuss quarterly results. The live webcast and call dial-in numbers can be accessed by registering under the “Events” section of Commvault’s website. An archived webcast of this conference call will also be available following the call. 

About Commvault 

Commvault (NASDAQ: CVLT) is the gold standard in cyber resilience, helping more than 100,000 organizations keep data safe and businesses resilient and moving forward. Today, Commvault offers the only cyber resilience platform that combines the best data security and rapid recovery at enterprise scale across any workload, anywhere—at the lowest TCO.  

Safe Harbor Statement 

This press release may contain forward-looking statements, including statements regarding financial projections, which are subject to risks and uncertainties, such as competitive factors, difficulties and delays inherent in the development, manufacturing, marketing and sale of software products and related services, general economic conditions, outcome of litigation and others. For a discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties affecting Commvault’s business, see “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our annual report on Form 10-K and “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our most recent quarterly report on Form 10-Q. Statements regarding Commvault’s beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future are forward-looking statements, within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ materially from anticipated results. Commvault does not undertake to update its forward-looking statements.  

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Notes 

1. Annualized recurring revenue (ARR) is defined as the annualized recurring value of all active contracts at the end of a reporting period.  It includes the following contract types: subscription (including term license contracts, SaaS and utility software), maintenance contracts related to perpetual licenses, other extended maintenance contracts (enterprise support), and managed services. It excludes any element of the arrangement that is not expected to recur, primarily perpetual licenses and most professional services. Subscription ARR includes only term license contracts, SaaS and utility software arrangements. Contracts are annualized by dividing the total contract value by the number of days in the contract term, then multiplying by 365.
   
   ARR should be viewed independently of GAAP revenue, deferred revenue and unbilled revenue and is not intended to be combined with or to replace those items. ARR is not a forecast of future revenue. Management believes that reviewing this metric, in addition to GAAP results, helps investors and financial analysts understand the value of Commvault’s recurring revenue streams presented on an annualized basis. 

2. A reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP results has been provided in Financial Statement Table IV included in this press release. An explanation of these measures is also included under the heading “Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures.” 

3. Commvault does not provide forward-looking guidance on a GAAP basis as certain financial information, the probable significance of which cannot be determined, is not available and cannot be reasonably estimated. See “Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” for additional explanation.