Summary
ServiceNow, Inc. reported strong revenue growth in the third quarter and first nine months of 2015, with total revenues increasing by 46% and 49% year-over-year, respectively. Subscription revenue remains the primary driver, showing significant expansion. Despite revenue growth, the company continues to operate at a net loss, consistent with its strategy of investing heavily in sales, marketing, and research & development to fuel future growth. Operating expenses, particularly sales and marketing and R&D, saw substantial increases, largely driven by headcount expansion and stock-based compensation. Cash flow from operations has improved considerably, indicating efficient management of working capital and the benefits of non-cash adjustments. The company ended the period with a healthy cash and investment balance, sufficient for at least the next 12 months. Key performance indicators like renewal rates remain high, though upsell rates have seen a slight decrease. Investors should note the ongoing legal proceedings with Hewlett-Packard and BMC Software, which management believes are unlikely to have a material adverse effect but remain a point of vigilance.
Financial Highlights
48 data points| Revenue | $261.15M |
| Cost of Revenue | $81.89M |
| Gross Profit | $179.26M |
| R&D Expenses | $55.82M |
| Operating Expenses | $207.30M |
| Operating Income | -$28.04M |
| Interest Expense | $7.84M |
| Net Income | -$41.03M |
| EPS (Basic) | $-0.05 |
| Shares Outstanding (Basic) | 784.65M |
Key Highlights
- 1Total revenues grew by 46% to $261.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2015, and by 49% to $719.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015, compared to the prior year periods.
- 2Subscription revenue remains the dominant revenue stream, increasing by 48% to $223.2 million for the quarter and 51% to $603.6 million for the nine months.
- 3The company continues to invest aggressively in growth, with Sales & Marketing expenses up 40% and R&D up 41% for the quarter, reflecting increased headcount and stock-based compensation.
- 4Net loss for the quarter was $41.0 million, largely consistent with the prior year's $41.1 million, as the company prioritizes growth over immediate profitability.
- 5Net cash provided by operating activities significantly improved, reaching $210.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015, up from $91.3 million in the prior year.
- 6The company reported a strong renewal rate of 98% for the quarter, indicating high customer satisfaction and retention.
- 7ServiceNow is involved in ongoing patent litigation with Hewlett-Packard and BMC Software; management believes the ultimate resolution is unlikely to have a material adverse effect, but the outcomes remain uncertain.