Sprinklr, Inc. (CXM)
SIC breadcrumb: Services > Business Services > SIC 7372 Services-Prepackaged Software
SEC company page: https://www.sec.gov/edgar/browse/?CIK=1569345. Latest filing source: 0001569345-26-000015.
Informational only - descriptive public-record data, not investment advice.
Business
Read CXM's verbatim Item 1 Business section from its latest 10-K: Business.
Risk Factors
Read CXM's verbatim Item 1A Risk Factors from its latest 10-K: Risk Factors.
Selected Fundamentals
| Metric | Value | Unit | FY | Filed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue | 857,200,000 | USD | 2026 | 2026-03-19 |
| Net income | 22,905,000 | USD | 2026 | 2026-03-19 |
| Assets | 1,205,061,000 | USD | 2026 | 2026-03-19 |
Financials
Annual standardized facts from SEC companyfacts as of latest extracted filing date 2026-03-19. Source: https://data.sec.gov/api/xbrl/companyfacts/CIK0001569345.json. Derived margins, ratios, and free cash flow are computed from the extracted annual SEC facts.
| Metric | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue | 324,276,000 | 386,930,000 | 492,394,000 | 618,190,000 | 732,360,000 | 796,394,000 | 857,200,000 |
| Net income | -39,754,000 | -37,970,000 | -111,470,000 | -55,742,000 | 51,403,000 | 121,609,000 | 22,905,000 |
| Operating income | -35,529,000 | -25,577,000 | -99,470,000 | -51,224,000 | 33,945,000 | 23,970,000 | 40,239,000 |
| Gross profit | 201,117,000 | 264,848,000 | 344,843,000 | 454,465,000 | 552,959,000 | 574,638,000 | 577,783,000 |
| Diluted EPS | -0.47 | -0.42 | -0.57 | -0.21 | 0.18 | 0.44 | 0.09 |
| Operating cash flow | 18,966,000 | 7,311,000 | -32,922,000 | 26,660,000 | 71,465,000 | 77,590,000 | 159,193,000 |
| Capital expenditures | 2,633,000 | 2,701,000 | 6,148,000 | 6,091,000 | 8,548,000 | 5,802,000 | 1,379,000 |
| Share buybacks | 0.00 | 5,874,000 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 26,684,000 | 273,873,000 | 152,263,000 |
| Assets | 597,013,000 | 920,046,000 | 1,024,991,000 | 1,223,110,000 | 1,184,199,000 | 1,205,061,000 | |
| Liabilities | 403,160,000 | 404,197,000 | 475,659,000 | 543,406,000 | 572,136,000 | 612,418,000 | |
| Stockholders' equity | 193,853,000 | 515,849,000 | 549,332,000 | 679,704,000 | 612,063,000 | 592,643,000 | |
| Cash and cash equivalents | 68,037,000 | 321,426,000 | 188,387,000 | 164,024,000 | 145,270,000 | 162,969,000 | |
| Free cash flow | 16,333,000 | 4,610,000 | -39,070,000 | 20,569,000 | 62,917,000 | 71,788,000 | 157,814,000 |
Ratios
| Metric | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net margin | -12.26% | -9.81% | -22.64% | -9.02% | 7.02% | 15.27% | 2.67% |
| Operating margin | -10.96% | -6.61% | -20.20% | -8.29% | 4.64% | 3.01% | 4.69% |
| Return on equity | -19.59% | -21.61% | -10.15% | 7.56% | 19.87% | 3.86% | |
| Return on assets | -6.36% | -12.12% | -5.44% | 4.20% | 10.27% | 1.90% | |
| Liabilities / equity | 2.08 | 0.78 | 0.87 | 0.80 | 0.93 | 1.03 | |
| Current ratio | 1.65 | 2.04 | 1.88 | 1.97 | 1.65 | 1.60 |
Industry Peer Context
Net margin peer context
Operating margin peer context
ROE peer context
ROA peer context
Financial Bridges
Income statement bridge from reported figures
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts FY 2026. Revenue: accession 0001569345-26-000015; concept RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax; source concepts us-gaap:RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax | Gross profit: accession 0001569345-26-000015; concept GrossProfit; source concepts us-gaap:GrossProfit | Operating income: accession 0001569345-26-000015; concept OperatingIncomeLoss; source concepts us-gaap:OperatingIncomeLoss | Net income: accession 0001569345-26-000015; concept NetIncomeLoss; source concepts us-gaap:NetIncomeLoss
Free cash flow = operating cash flow - capital expenditures
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts FY 2026. Operating cash flow: accession 0001569345-26-000015; concept NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities; source concepts us-gaap:NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities | Capital expenditures: accession 0001569345-26-000015; concept PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment; source concepts us-gaap:PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment | Free cash flow: accession 0001569345-26-000015; concept NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities - PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment; source concepts us-gaap:NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities; us-gaap:PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment
Financial Charts
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2026 ended 2026-01-31; accession 0001569345-26-000015; filed 2026-03-19. Concept: RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax. Source concepts: us-gaap:RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax.
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2026 ended 2026-01-31; accession 0001569345-26-000015; filed 2026-03-19. Concept: NetIncomeLoss. Source concepts: us-gaap:NetIncomeLoss.
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2026 ended 2026-01-31; accession 0001569345-26-000015; filed 2026-03-19. Concept: OperatingIncomeLoss. Source concepts: us-gaap:OperatingIncomeLoss.
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2026 ended 2026-01-31; accession 0001569345-26-000015; filed 2026-03-19. Concept: GrossProfit. Source concepts: us-gaap:GrossProfit.
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2026 ended 2026-01-31; accession 0001569345-26-000015; filed 2026-03-19. Concept: EarningsPerShareDiluted. Source concepts: us-gaap:EarningsPerShareDiluted.
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2026 ended 2026-01-31; accession 0001569345-26-000015; filed 2026-03-19. Concept: NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities. Source concepts: us-gaap:NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities.
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2026 ended 2026-01-31; accession 0001569345-26-000015; filed 2026-03-19. Concept: PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment. Source concepts: us-gaap:PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment.
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2026 ended 2026-01-31; accession 0001569345-26-000015; filed 2026-03-19. Concept: PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock. Source concepts: us-gaap:PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock.
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2026 ended 2026-01-31; accession 0001569345-26-000015; filed 2026-03-19. Concept: Assets. Source concepts: us-gaap:Assets.
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2026 ended 2026-01-31; accession 0001569345-26-000015; filed 2026-03-19. Concept: Liabilities. Source concepts: us-gaap:Liabilities.
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2026 ended 2026-01-31; accession 0001569345-26-000015; filed 2026-03-19. Concept: StockholdersEquity. Source concepts: us-gaap:StockholdersEquity.
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2026 ended 2026-01-31; accession 0001569345-26-000015; filed 2026-03-19. Concept: CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue. Source concepts: us-gaap:CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue.
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2026 ended 2026-01-31; accession 0001569345-26-000015; filed 2026-03-19. Concept: NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities - PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment. Source concepts: us-gaap:NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities; us-gaap:PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment.
Quarterly
Quarterly standardized facts from SEC companyfacts as of latest extracted filing date 2026-06-04. Source: https://data.sec.gov/api/xbrl/companyfacts/CIK0001569345.json.
| Quarter | End Date | Revenue | Net Income | Diluted EPS | Method |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-Q2 | 2022-07-31 | -0.09 | reported discrete quarter | ||
| 2023-Q3 | 2022-10-31 | -0.02 | reported discrete quarter | ||
| 2024-Q1 | 2023-04-30 | 0.01 | reported discrete quarter | ||
| 2024-Q2 | 2023-07-31 | 178,465,000 | 10,485,000 | 0.04 | reported discrete quarter |
| 2024-Q3 | 2023-10-31 | 186,325,000 | 16,967,000 | 0.06 | reported discrete quarter |
| 2024-Q4 | 2024-01-31 | 194,207,000 | 21,143,000 | derived Q4 = FY annual - nine-month YTD | |
| 2025-Q1 | 2024-04-30 | 195,958,000 | 10,634,000 | 0.04 | reported discrete quarter |
| 2025-Q2 | 2024-07-31 | 197,208,000 | 1,841,000 | 0.01 | reported discrete quarter |
| 2025-Q3 | 2024-10-31 | 200,689,000 | 10,455,000 | 0.04 | reported discrete quarter |
| 2025-Q4 | 2025-01-31 | 202,539,000 | 98,679,000 | derived Q4 = FY annual - nine-month YTD | |
| 2026-Q1 | 2025-04-30 | 205,500,000 | -1,568,000 | -0.01 | reported discrete quarter |
| 2026-Q2 | 2025-07-31 | 212,040,000 | 12,615,000 | 0.05 | reported discrete quarter |
| 2026-Q3 | 2025-10-31 | 219,068,000 | 2,904,000 | 0.01 | reported discrete quarter |
| 2026-Q4 | 2026-01-31 | 220,592,000 | 8,954,000 | derived Q4 = FY annual - nine-month YTD | |
| 2027-Q1 | 2026-04-30 | 219,479,000 | 4,181,000 | 0.02 | reported discrete quarter |
Quarterly Charts
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2027 ended 2026-04-30; accession 0001569345-26-000028; filed 2026-06-04. Concept: RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax. Source concepts: us-gaap:RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax.
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2027 ended 2026-04-30; accession 0001569345-26-000028; filed 2026-06-04. Concept: NetIncomeLoss. Source concepts: us-gaap:NetIncomeLoss.
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2027 ended 2026-04-30; accession 0001569345-26-000028; filed 2026-06-04. Concept: EarningsPerShareDiluted. Source concepts: us-gaap:EarningsPerShareDiluted.
Macro Cross-References
- CPIAUCSL - Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: All Items in U.S. City Average
- UNRATE - Unemployment Rate
- FEDFUNDS - Federal Funds Effective Rate
- CES0500000003 - Average Hourly Earnings of All Employees, Total Private
- DFEDTARU - Federal Funds Target Range - Upper Limit
- DFEDTARL - Federal Funds Target Range - Lower Limit
- DGS3MO - Market Yield on U.S. Treasury Securities at 3-Month Constant Maturity
- DGS2 - Market Yield on U.S. Treasury Securities at 2-Year Constant Maturity
- DGS10 - Market Yield on U.S. Treasury Securities at 10-Year Constant Maturity
- DGS30 - Market Yield on U.S. Treasury Securities at 30-Year Constant Maturity
- T10Y2Y - 10-Year Treasury Constant Maturity Minus 2-Year Treasury Constant Maturity
- CPILFESL - Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: All Items Less Food and Energy
- CPIUFDSL - Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: Food
- CPIENGSL - Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: Energy
- CUSR0000SAH1 - Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: Shelter
- PCEPI - Personal Consumption Expenditures: Chain-type Price Index
- PCEPILFE - Personal Consumption Expenditures Excluding Food and Energy: Chain-type Price Index
- PPIACO - Producer Price Index by Commodity: All Commodities
- T10YIE - 10-Year Breakeven Inflation Rate
- U6RATE - Total Unemployed, Plus All Marginally Attached Workers Plus Total Employed Part Time for Economic Reasons
- PAYEMS - All Employees, Total Nonfarm
- CIVPART - Labor Force Participation Rate
- EMRATIO - Employment-Population Ratio
- UNEMPLOY - Unemployed
- CE16OV - Employment Level
- ICSA - Initial Claims
- JTSJOL - Job Openings: Total Nonfarm
- JTSQUR - Quits: Total Nonfarm
- GDPC1 - Real Gross Domestic Product
- A191RL1Q225SBEA - Real Gross Domestic Product: Percent Change from Preceding Period
- INDPRO - Industrial Production: Total Index
- TCU - Capacity Utilization: Total Index
- HOUST - New Privately-Owned Housing Units Started: Total Units
- PERMIT - New Privately-Owned Housing Units Authorized in Permit-Issuing Places: Total Units
- RSAFS - Advance Retail Sales: Retail Trade
- PCE - Personal Consumption Expenditures
- DSPIC96 - Real Disposable Personal Income
- PSAVERT - Personal Saving Rate
- M2SL - M2
- BOPGSTB - U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services: Balance
- MSPUS - Median Sales Price of Houses Sold for the United States
- HSN1F - New One Family Houses Sold: United States
- RHORUSQ156N - Homeownership Rate in the United States
- TTLCONS - Total Construction Spending: Total Construction in the United States
- RRVRUSQ156N - Rental Vacancy Rate in the United States
- TOTALSL - Total Consumer Credit Owned and Securitized
- REVOLSL - Revolving Consumer Credit Owned and Securitized
- DRCCLACBS - Delinquency Rate on Credit Card Loans, All Commercial Banks
- GDP - Gross Domestic Product
- GPDI - Gross Private Domestic Investment
- GCE - Government Consumption Expenditures and Gross Investment
- PCEC - Personal Consumption Expenditures
- NETEXP - Net Exports of Goods and Services
- GFDEBTN - Federal Debt: Total Public Debt
- GFDEGDQ188S - Federal Debt: Total Public Debt as Percent of Gross Domestic Product
- FYFSD - Federal Surplus or Deficit
- FGRECPT - Federal Government Current Receipts
- FGEXPND - Federal Government: Current Expenditures
- MANEMP - All Employees, Manufacturing
- USCONS - All Employees, Construction
- USTRADE - All Employees, Retail Trade
- USFIRE - All Employees, Financial Activities
- USGOVT - All Employees, Government
- AWHAETP - Average Weekly Hours of All Employees, Total Private
- DGORDER - Manufacturers' New Orders: Durable Goods
- NEWORDER - Manufacturers' New Orders: Nondefense Capital Goods Excluding Aircraft
- BUSINV - Total Business Inventories
- EXPGS - Exports of Goods and Services
- IMPGS - Imports of Goods and Services
- IR - Import Price Index (End Use): All Commodities
- PPIFIS - Producer Price Index by Commodity: Final Demand
Latest quarter (10-Q)
Latest 10-Q source: 0001569345-26-000028.
Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (this “Form 10-Q”), and our audited consolidated financial statements and the related notes included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2026 (the “2026 10-K”), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on March 19, 2026. This discussion, particularly information with respect to our future results of operations or financial condition, business strategy, and plans and objectives of management for future operations, includes forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties as described under the heading “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” in this Form 10-Q. You should review the disclosure under the heading “Risk Factors” in this Form 10-Q for a discussion of important factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements.
Overview
Sprinklr provides a Unified Customer Experience Management (“Unified-CXM”) platform designed to help organizations manage customer interactions across multiple channels and teams. Our AI-native platform enables customer-facing teams, from Customer Service to Marketing, to collaborate across internal silos, communicate with customers across digital and traditional channels, and leverage AI to deliver improved customer experiences at scale.
Sprinklr has four main product suites: Sprinklr Social, Sprinklr Insights, Sprinklr Marketing, and Sprinklr Service. We believe that these four suites enable large and leading brands to more effectively reach, engage, and listen to their customers on the channel of their choice. We continue to invest in our Unified-CXM platform and develop new features and enhancements for each suite in response to evolving customer needs.
Our Unified-CXM platform utilizes an architecture purpose-built for managing Customer Experience Management (“CXM”) data and is powered by proprietary AI, collaborative workflow, automation, broad-based listening, and customer-led governance. This architecture is designed to help enterprises analyze massive amounts of unstructured and structured data.
We generate revenue primarily from the sale of subscriptions to our Unified-CXM platform and related professional services. Our platform includes products that are licensed on a per-user basis as well as products that are licensed based on different volume tiers.
Our customer base is diverse, spanning global enterprises across a broad array of industries and geographies, as well as marketing agencies, government departments, non-profit, and educational institutions. As of April 30, 2026, we have customers in more than 90 countries, with our platform supporting over 150 languages.
Key Business Metrics
We review a number of operating and financial metrics, including the following key metrics, to evaluate our business, measure our performance, identify trends affecting our business, formulate business plans, and make strategic decisions.
RPO and cRPO
Remaining Performance Obligation (“RPO”) represents contracted revenue that has not yet been recognized and includes deferred revenue and amounts that will be invoiced and recognized in future periods. Current RPO (“cRPO”) represents contracted revenue that has not yet been recognized and includes deferred revenue and amounts that will be invoiced and recognized in the next 12 months. As of April 30, 2026, our RPO was $1,038.3 million, and our cRPO was $627.1 million.
Net Dollar Expansion Rate
We believe that net dollar expansion rate (“NDE”) is an indicator of the value that our platform delivers to customers. We calculate NDE to measure our ability to retain and expand subscription revenue from our existing customers. NDE compares our subscription revenue from the same set of customers across comparable periods and reflects customer renewals, expansion, contraction, and churn. We calculate NDE by dividing (i) subscription revenue in the trailing 12-month period from those customers who were on our platform during the most recent prior 12-month period by (ii) subscription revenue from the same customers in the preceding prior 12-month period. This calculation is net of upsells, contraction, cancellation, or expansion during the period, but excludes subscription revenue from new customers. Our NDE, on a trailing 12-month basis, was 103.5% and 101.8% for the 12-month periods ended April 30, 2026 and 2025, respectively.
23
Macroeconomic and Geopolitical Considerations
Unfavorable economic conditions in the United States (“U.S.”) and abroad may negatively affect the growth of our business and our results of operations. For example, macroeconomic and geopolitical events, including fluctuations in inflation, interest, and foreign currency rates, the imposition of tariffs in the U.S. and abroad, the Russia-Ukraine war, the 2026 Iran conflict and other military conflicts in the Middle East, and the 2025 U.S. government shutdown, have led to economic uncertainty both in the U.S. and globally. Historically, during periods of economic and geopolitical uncertainty and downturns, businesses may slow spending on information technology, which may impact our business and our customers’ businesses.
While we have experienced growing inflationary pressures on the cost of wages, rent, and data, the net result of inflationary impacts and our efforts to mitigate these impacts have not been material to us during the periods included in this report. In addition, general economic weakness may lead to longer collection cycles for payments due from our customers and an increase in customer provision for credit losses, as well as restructuring initiatives and associated expenses, and customers and potential customers may require extended financial concessions, which could result in adjustments to revenue recognition.
Further, geopolitical events, such as Russia-Ukraine war, the 2026 Iran conflict, and other military or security-related events globally, may adversely affect our business. For example, our operations in the Middle East have been affected by the 2026 Iran conflict, including disruptions to our business activities in the region and inaccessibility, and potential loss, of certain customer data in connection with a third-party data center infrastructure in the United Arab Emirates on which we relied. Such events may result in a decrease in customer demand for our services, increased scrutiny from customers and regulators, and damage our reputation, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations. Further, we may incur significant and unanticipated expenses to mitigate the possibility of further harm, including through emergency data transfers, temporary changes to data processing locations, increased infrastructure costs, or as through the relocation of our employees or data to other regions not affected by the conflict.
The effect of macroeconomic and geopolitical conditions may not be fully reflected in our results of operations until future periods. If, however, economic uncertainty increases or the global economy worsens, our business, financial condition, and results of operations may be harmed. For further discussion of the potential impacts of macroeconomic events on our business, financial condition, and operating results, see “Part II. Item 1A. Risk Factors” in this Form 10-Q and “Part I. Item 1A. Risk Factors” of the 2026 10-K.
Components of Results of Operations
Revenue
We generate revenue from the sale of subscriptions to our Unified-CXM cloud-based software platform and related professional services.
Subscription revenue consists primarily of fees for accessing our proprietary Unified-CXM platform, as well as related stand-ready services, and is generally recognized ratably over the committed subscription term. The majority of our subscription contracts have a term of two to three years. Historically, we have experienced seasonality in our sales cycle, as a large percentage of our customers make their purchases in the fourth quarter of a given fiscal year and pay us in the first quarter of the subsequent year. This seasonality may be reflected to a much lesser extent, and sometimes may not be immediately apparent, in our revenue, due to the fact that we recognize subscription revenue over the term of the applicable subscription agreement.
Professional services revenue consists primarily of fixed-fee arrangements to provide implementation and managed services for our Unified-CXM platform. For managed services, our consultants work alongside our customers’ teams to help them realize their CXM goals, including platform configuration, ongoing education and ad-hoc support.
Cost of Revenue
Cost of subscription revenue consists primarily of costs to host our software platform; data costs, including cost of third-party data utilized in our platform; personnel-related expenses for our subscription and support operations personnel, including salaries, benefits, bonuses and stock-based compensation; professional fees; software costs; travel expenses; the amortization of our capitalized internal-use software; and allocated overhead expenses, including facilities costs for our subscription and support operations. We expect that cost of subscription revenue will increase in absolute dollars as we expand our customer base and make continued investments in our cloud infrastructure and support organization. Furthermore, we estimate that data and hosting costs with various partners may rise in the near term.
Cost of professional services revenue consists primarily of personnel-related expenses for our professional services personnel, including salaries, benefits, bonuses and stock-based compensation; professional fees; software costs; subcontractor costs; travel expenses; and allocated overhead expenses, including facilities costs, for our professional services organization. We expect that our cost of professional services may vary from period to period based on the project-based nature of this work, which could include increased use of partners and additional headcount for the delivery of implementation services.
24
Gross Profit and Gross Margin
Gross profit is defined as total revenue less total cost of revenue. Gross margin is gross profit expressed as a percentage of total revenue. We expect that gross profit and gross margin will continue to be affected by various factors, including our pricing, revenue mix and the costs required to deliver those revenues.
Our gross margin on subscription revenue is significantly higher than our gross margin on professional services revenue, and as a result, our gross margin may vary from period to period if our mix of revenue or cost of revenue fluctuates. In addition, because personnel-related expenses represent the largest component of cost of professional services revenue, we may experience changes in our professional services gross margin due to the timing of delivery of those services. We expect that our gross margin will decline in the near term due to higher data and hosting costs, coupled with higher service delivery costs, and, in the long term, will vary from period to period.
Operating Expenses
Our operating expenses consist of research and development, sales and marketing, general and administrative and restructuring expenses.
Research and Development Expenses
Research and development expenses consist primarily of costs relating to the maintenance, continued development and enhancement of our cloud-based software platform and includes personnel-related expense for our research and development or
[Excerpt truncated for page length; source filing is linked above.]
Latest 10-K MD&A
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this Form 10-K. This discussion, particularly information with respect to our future results of operations or financial condition, business strategy and plans and objectives of management for future operations, includes forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties as described under the heading “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” in this Form 10-K. You should review the disclosure under the heading “Risk Factors” in this Form 10-K for a discussion of important factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements.
This section of our Form 10-K discusses our financial condition and results of operations for the fiscal years ended January 31, 2026, 2025, and 2024 and year-to-year comparisons between fiscal year 2026 and fiscal year 2025. Year-to-year comparisons between fiscal year 2025 and fiscal year 2024 that are not included in this Form 10-K can be found in “Part II, Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” of our Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2025, filed on March 21, 2025.
Certain prior quarterly and annual amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation.
Overview
Sprinklr provides a Unified Customer Experience Management (“Unified-CXM”) platform designed to help organizations manage customer interactions across multiple channels and teams. Our AI-native platform enables customer-facing teams, from Customer Service to Marketing, to collaborate across internal silos, communicate with customers across digital and traditional channels and leverage AI to deliver improved customer experiences at scale.
Sprinklr has four main product suites: Sprinklr Social, Sprinklr Insights, Sprinklr Marketing and Sprinklr Service. We believe that these four suites enable large and leading brands to more effectively reach, engage and listen to their customers on the channel of their choice. We continue to invest in the unified platform and develop new features and enhancements to each suite in response to evolving customer needs.
Our Unified-CXM platform utilizes an architecture purpose-built for managing Customer Experience Management (“CXM”) data and is powered by proprietary AI, collaborative workflow, automation, broad-based listening and customer-led governance. This architecture is designed to help enterprises analyze massive amounts of unstructured and structured data.
We generate revenue primarily from the sale of subscriptions to our Unified-CXM platform and related professional services. Our platform includes products that are licensed on a per-user basis as well as products that are licensed based on different tiers of volume.
Our customer base is diverse, spanning global enterprises across a broad array of industries and geographies, as well as marketing agencies, government departments, non-profit and educational institutions. As of January 31, 2026, we had 1,677 customers in more than 90 countries, with our platform supporting over 150 languages. This compares to 1,930 customers as of January 31, 2025. The decrease in total customers year-over-year was primarily due to a strategic refinement of our customer profile and an increased focus on top-tier enterprise customers. We define our large customers as those with at least $1.0 million in subscription revenue on a trailing 12-month basis. As of January 31, 2026, we had 141 large customers, compared to 149 as of January 31, 2025. While the number of large customers decreased, the average subscription revenue per customer in this cohort increased, reflecting our focus on higher-value relationships.
We primarily target large global enterprises, as we believe that our Unified-CXM platform’s breadth and depth of capabilities are well-suited to address the complex needs of these organizations. Our customers include 59% of the Fortune 100 companies.
Key Business Metrics
We review a number of operating and financial metrics, including the following key metrics, to evaluate our business, measure our performance, identify trends affecting our business, formulate business plans and make strategic decisions.
RPO and cRPO
Remaining Performance Obligation (“RPO”) represents contracted revenue that has not yet been recognized and includes deferred revenue and amounts that will be invoiced and recognized in future periods. Current RPO (“cRPO”) represents contracted revenue that has not yet been recognized and includes deferred revenue and amounts that will be invoiced and recognized in the next 12 months. As of January 31, 2026, our RPO was $986.5 million, and our cRPO was $618.8 million. As of January 31, 2025, our RPO was $987.7 million, and our cRPO was $612.5 million.
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Net Dollar Expansion Rate
We believe that net dollar expansion rate (“NDE”) is an indicator of the value that our platform delivers to customers. We calculate NDE to measure our ability to retain and expand subscription revenue from our existing customers. NDE compares our subscription revenue from the same set of customers across comparable periods and reflects customer renewals, expansion, contraction and churn. We calculate NDE by dividing (i) subscription revenue in the trailing 12-month period from those customers who were on our platform during the most recent prior 12-month period by (ii) subscription revenue from the same customers in the preceding prior 12-month period. This calculation is net of upsells, contraction, cancellation or expansion during the period but excludes subscription revenue from new customers. Our NDE, on a trailing 12-month basis, was 103.0% and 103.6% for the 12-month periods ended January 31, 2026 and 2025, respectively. NDE was stable year-over-year despite continued churn and down-selling of certain existing customers, which was partially driven by the current macroeconomic environment.
Macroeconomic and Geopolitical Considerations
Unfavorable conditions in the economy both in the United States and abroad may negatively affect the growth of our business and our results of operations. For example, macroeconomic and geopolitical events, including fluctuations in inflation and interest rates, the imposition of tariffs in the United States and abroad, the Russia-Ukraine war and military conflicts in the Middle East and the 2025 U.S. government shutdown, have led to economic uncertainty both in the United States and globally. Historically, during periods of economic and geopolitical uncertainty and downturns, businesses may slow spending on information technology, which may impact our business and our customers’ businesses.
While we have experienced growing inflationary pressures on the cost of wages, rent and data, the net result of inflationary impacts and our efforts to mitigate these impacts have not been material to us during the periods included in this report. In addition, general economic weakness may lead to longer collection cycles for payments due from our customers and an increase in customer provision for credit losses, as well as restructuring initiatives and associated expenses, and customers and potential customers may require extended financial concessions, which could result in adjustments to revenue recognition.
Further, geopolitical events, such as Russia-Ukraine war, the 2026 Iran conflict and other military or security related events globally, may adversely affect our business. For example, our operations in the Middle East have been adversely impacted by the 2026 Iran conflict, including disruptions to our business activities in the region and inaccessibility, and potential loss, of certain customer data in connection with a third-party data center infrastructure in the United Arab Emirates on which we relied. Such events may result in a decrease in customer demand for our services, increased scrutiny from customers and regulators, and damage our reputation, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. Further, we may incur significant and unanticipated expenses to mitigate the possibility of further harm, including through emergency data transfers, temporary changes to data processing locations, increased infrastructure costs, or as through the relocation of our employees or data to other regions not affected by the conflict.
The effect of macroeconomic and geopolitical conditions may not be fully reflected in our results of operations until future periods. If, however, economic uncertainty increases or the global economy worsens, our business, financial condition and results of operations may be harmed. For further discussion of the potential impacts of macroeconomic events on our business, financial condition, and operating results, see “Part I. Item 1A. Risk Factors” in this Form 10-K.
Components of Results of Operations
Revenue
We generate revenue from the sale of subscriptions to our Unified-CXM cloud-based software platform and related professional services.
Subscription revenue consists primarily of fees for accessing our proprietary Unified-CXM platform, as well as related stand-ready services, and is generally recognized ratably over the committed subscription term. The majority of our subscription contracts have a term of two to three years. Historically, we have experienced seasonality in our sales cycle, as a large percentage of our customers make their purchases in the fourth quarter of a given fiscal year and pay us in the first quarter of the subsequent year. This seasonality may be reflected to a much lesser extent, and sometimes may not be immediately apparent, in our revenue, due to the fact that we recognize subscription revenue over the term of the applicable subscription agreement.
Professional services revenue consists primarily of fixed-fee arrangements to provide implementation and managed services for our Unified-CXM Platform. For managed services, our consultants work alongside our customers’ teams to help them realize their CXM goals, including platform configuration, ongoing education and ad-hoc support.
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Costs of Revenue
Costs of Subscription Revenue
Costs of subscription revenue consist primarily of costs to host our software platform; data costs, including cost of third-party data utilized in our platform; personnel-related expenses for our subscription and support operations personnel, including salaries, benefits, bonuses and stock-based compensation; professional fees; software costs; travel expenses, the amortization of our capitalized internal-use software; and allocated overhead expenses, including facilities costs for our subscription and support operations. We expect that costs of subscription revenue will increase in absolute dollars as we expand our customer base and make continued investments in our cloud infrastructure and support organization. Furthermore, we estimate that data and hosting costs with various partners may rise in the near term.
Costs of Professional Services Revenue
Costs of professional services revenue consist primarily of personnel-related expenses for our professional services personnel, including salaries, benefits, bonuses and stock-based compensation; professional fees; software costs; subcontractor costs; travel expenses; and allocated overhead expenses, including facilities costs, for our professional services organization. We expect that our costs of professional services may vary from period to period based on the project-based nature of this work, our increased use of partners and additional headcount for the delivery of implementation services.
Gross Profit and Gross Margin
Gross profit is defined as total revenue less total costs of revenue. Gross margin is gross profit expressed as a percentage of total revenue. We expect that gross profit and gross margin will continue to be affected by various factors, including our pricing, our mix of revenues and the costs required to deliver those revenues.
Our gross margin on subscription revenue is significantly higher than our gross margin on professional services revenue, and as a result, our gross margin may vary from period to period if our mix of revenue or costs of revenue fluctuates. In addition, because personnel-related expenses represent the largest component of costs of professional services revenue, we may experience changes in our professional services gross margin due to the timing of delivery of those services. We expect that our gross margin will decline in the near term due to higher data and hosting costs, coupled with higher service delivery costs, and, in the long term, will vary from period to period.
Operating Expenses
Our operating expenses consist of research and development, sales and marketing, general and administrative and restructuring expenses.
Research and Development Expense
Research and development expense consists primarily of costs relating to the maintenance, continued development and enhancement of our cloud-based software platform and includes personnel-related expense for our research and development organization, including salaries, benefits, bonuses and stock-based compensation, professional fees, travel expenses and allocated overhead expenses, including facilities costs. Research and development expenses are expensed as incurred, except for internal-use software development costs that qualify for capitalization. We expect research and development expense to generally increase in absolute dollars as we continue to innovate and invest in enhancing and expanding the capabilities of our Unified-CXM platform.
Sales and Marketing Expense
Sales and marketing expense consists primarily of personnel-related expenses for our sales and marketing organization, including salaries, benefits, bonuses and stock-based compensation, professional fees, software costs, advertising, marketing, promotional and brand awareness activities, travel expenses and allocated overhead expense, including facilities costs. Sales commissions earned by our sales force are considered incremental and recoverable costs of obtaining a contract with a customer and are deferred and amortized on a straight-line basis over the expected period of benefit. We expect sales and marketing expense to generally increase in absolute dollars as we continue to drive the growth of our business. We continue to optimize our sales and marketing expense and seek efficiencies in our investments.
General and Administrative Expense
General and administrative expense includes personnel-related expenses associated with administrative services, such as legal, human resources, information technology, accounting, and finance functions, as well as professional fees, software costs, travel expenses, provision for credit losses and allocated overhead expense, including facilities costs and any corporate overhead expenses not allocated to other expense categories.
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Restructuring Expense
Restructuring expense includes costs associated with the global workforce reductions implemented in fiscal years 2026 and 2025. The majority of these costs consist of severance, benefits and the acceleration of equity awards. We do not expect to incur any further restructuring expense with respect to the workforce reductions implemented in fiscal years 2026 and 2025.
Other Income, Net
Other income, net, consists of interest income on invested cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities, foreign currency transaction gains and losses and other expenses and gains.
Provision for Income Taxes
Provision for income taxes consists primarily of income taxes related to foreign and U.S. jurisdictions in which we conduct business. Our annual estimated effective tax rate differed from the U.S. federal statutory rate in fiscal year 2026 primarily due to the impact of non-deductible items, stock-based compensation expense and the foreign tax rate differential on non-U.S. income and withholding taxes, as well as changes in our uncertain tax positions.
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Results of Operations
The following table sets forth our consolidated statements of operations data for the periods indicated:
| Year Ended January 31, | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (in thousands) | 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | |||||||
| Revenue: | ||||||||||
| Subscription | $ | 756,339 | $ | 717,923 | $ | 668,541 | ||||
| Professional services | 100,861 | 78,471 | 63,819 | |||||||
| Total revenue | 857,200 | 796,394 | 732,360 | |||||||
| Costs of revenue: | ||||||||||
| Costs of subscription (1) | 178,634 | 140,730 | 116,032 | |||||||
| Costs of professional services (1) | 100,783 | 81,026 | 63,369 | |||||||
| Total costs of revenue | 279,417 | 221,756 | 179,401 | |||||||
| Gross profit | 577,783 | 574,638 | 552,959 | |||||||
| Operating expense: | ||||||||||
| Research and development (1) | 96,001 | 91,621 | 91,292 | |||||||
| Sales and marketing (1) | 287,639 | 319,615 | 317,779 | |||||||
| General and administrative (1) | 137,119 | 136,611 | 105,673 | |||||||
| Restructuring (1) | 16,785 | 2,821 | 4,270 | |||||||
| Total operating expense | 537,544 | 550,668 | 519,014 | |||||||
| Operating income | 40,239 | 23,970 | 33,945 | |||||||
| Other income, net | 26,550 | 24,322 | 26,577 | |||||||
| Income before provision (benefit) for income taxes | 66,789 | 48,292 | 60,522 | |||||||
| Provision (benefit) for income taxes | 43,884 | (73,317) | 9,119 | |||||||
| Net income | $ | 22,905 | $ | 121,609 | $ | 51,403 |
| (1) Includes stock-based compensation expense, net of amounts capitalized, as follows: | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year Ended January 31, | ||||||||||
| (in thousands) | 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | |||||||
| Costs of subscription | $ | 1,127 | $ | 1,323 | $ | 1,130 | ||||
| Costs of professional services | 2,936 | 1,387 | 1,450 | |||||||
| Research and development | 16,843 | 11,404 | 11,566 | |||||||
| Sales and marketing | 24,536 | 21,331 | 24,477 | |||||||
| General and administrative | 38,126 | 24,072 | 17,134 | |||||||
| Restructuring | 866 | — | — | |||||||
| Stock-based compensation expense, net of amounts capitalized | $ | 84,434 | $ | 59,517 | $ | 55,757 |
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The following table sets forth our consolidated statements of operations data expressed as a percentage of total revenue (1):
| Year Ended January 31, | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | ||||||
| Revenue: | ||||||||
| Subscription | 88 | % | 90 | % | 91 | % | ||
| Professional services | 12 | % | 10 | % | 9 | % | ||
| Total revenue | 100 | % | 100 | % | 100 | % | ||
| Costs of revenue: | ||||||||
| Costs of subscription | 21 | % | 18 | % | 16 | % | ||
| Costs of professional services | 12 | % | 10 | % | 9 | % | ||
| Total costs of revenue | 33 | % | 28 | % | 24 | % | ||
| Operating expense: | ||||||||
| Research and development | 11 | % | 12 | % | 12 | % | ||
| Sales and marketing | 34 | % | 40 | % | 43 | % | ||
| General and administrative | 16 | % | 17 | % | 14 | % | ||
| Restructuring | 2 | % | 0 | % | 1 | % | ||
| Total operating expense | 63 | % | 69 | % | 71 | % | ||
| Operating income | 5 | % | 3 | % | 5 | % | ||
| Other income, net | 3 | % | 3 | % | 4 | % | ||
| Income before provision (benefit) for income taxes | 8 | % | 6 | % | 8 | % | ||
| Provision (benefit) for income taxes | 5 | % | (9) | % | 1 | % | ||
| Net income | 3 | % | 15 | % | 7 | % |
(1) Totals may not foot due to rounding.
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Comparison of Fiscal Years Ended January 31, 2026 and 2025
Revenue
| Year Ended January 31, | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (in thousands) | 2026 | 2025 | $ Change | % Change | ||||||||||
| Subscription | $ | 756,339 | $ | 717,923 | $ | 38,416 | 5 | % | ||||||
| Professional services | 100,861 | 78,471 | 22,390 | 29 | % | |||||||||
| Total revenue | $ | 857,200 | $ | 796,394 | $ | 60,806 | 8 | % |
The increase in subscription revenue was primarily due to increased revenue from existing customers driven by the purchase of additional quantities of current subscription solutions and additional add-on solutions within our platform, as well as demand for our solutions from new customers. Such growth was partially offset by certain existing customers purchasing fewer quantities of current subscription solutions within our platform, as well as certain customers no longer subscribing to our platform, partially driven by challenging macroeconomic conditions.
The increase in professional services revenue was primarily due to growth in both implementations and managed services related to Contact Center as a Service (“CCaaS”) delivery capabilities.
Costs of Revenue and Gross Margin
| Year Ended January 31, | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (in thousands) | 2026 | 2025 | $ Change | % Change | ||||||||||
| Costs of subscription revenue | $ | 178,634 | $ | 140,730 | $ | 37,904 | 27 | % | ||||||
| Costs of professional services revenue | 100,783 | 81,026 | 19,757 | 24 | % | |||||||||
| Total costs of revenue | $ | 279,417 | $ | 221,756 | $ | 57,661 | 26 | % | ||||||
| Gross margin - subscription | 76 | % | 80 | % | ||||||||||
| Gross margin - professional services | 0 | % | (3) | % |
The increase in costs of subscription revenue was primarily due to an increase of $33.3 million in third-party data, cloud and network infrastructure costs, partially attributable to increased customer demand as well as higher rates from our third-party providers.
The increase in costs of professional services revenue was primarily due to (i) an $11.0 million increase in subcontractor costs as a result of higher partner delivery costs and (ii) higher personnel-related costs of $7.7 million, partially driven by increased bonus expense compared to prior year.
Gross margin for subscription decreased by four percentage points, primarily driven by increased costs associated with third-party data, cloud and network infrastructure. Gross margin for professional services increased by three percentage points, largely driven by the timing of project initiation and the completion of delivery milestones, including the implementation of CCaaS projects.
Research and Development Expense
| Year Ended January 31, | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (in thousands) | 2026 | 2025 | $ Change | % Change | ||||||||||
| Research and development | $ | 96,001 | $ | 91,621 | $ | 4,380 | 5 | % | ||||||
| % of revenue | 11 | % | 12 | % |
The increase in research and development expense was primarily due to (i) a $3.0 million increase in personnel costs, resulting from higher stock compensation, which was primarily driven by new grants during fiscal year 2026, (ii) a $2.7 million increase in subcontractor and consulting costs, as a result of quality improvement projects implemented in the current fiscal year, and (iii) a $2.1 million increase in software subscription costs. These increases were partially offset by a $3.5 million decrease as a result of an increase in capitalized research and development costs.
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Sales and Marketing Expense
| Year Ended January 31, | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (in thousands) | 2026 | 2025 | $ Change | % Change | ||||||||||
| Sales and marketing | $ | 287,639 | $ | 319,615 | $ | (31,976) | (10) | % | ||||||
| % of revenue | 34 | % | 40 | % |
The decrease in sales and marketing expense was primarily due to (i) a decrease in personnel costs of $25.2 million, primarily due to lower sales headcount as a result of the restructuring activities we implemented in the first quarter of fiscal year 2026, partially offset by an increase in commissions expense of $4.2 million, and (ii) a decrease in other marketing-related costs of $5.9 million.
General and Administrative Expense
| Year Ended January 31, | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (in thousands) | 2026 | 2025 | $ Change | % Change | ||||||||||
| General and administrative | $ | 137,119 | $ | 136,611 | $ | 508 | — | % | ||||||
| % of revenue | 16 | % | 17 | % |
The increase in general and administrative expense was primarily due to (i) a $19.2 million increase in personnel-related costs driven by increased stock compensation expense, primarily related to new grants during fiscal year 2026 and (ii) an increase in professional and related fees of $1.9 million. These increases were partially offset by (i) lower consulting costs of $11.3 million and (ii) lower provision for expected credit losses of $9.3 million as a result of increased reserves for certain customers that we deemed to be uncollectible accounts during the second quarter of fiscal year 2025.
Restructuring Expense
| Year Ended January 31, | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (in thousands) | 2026 | 2025 | $ Change | % Change | ||||||||||
| Restructuring | $ | 16,785 | $ | 2,821 | $ | 13,964 | 495 | % | ||||||
| % of revenue | 2 | % | — | % |
The increase in restructuring expense was due to the reduction in global workforce implemented in the first quarter of fiscal year 2026 impacting 12% of our workforce versus a 3% impact to the workforce as a result of the reduction in global workforce implemented in the second quarter of fiscal year 2025. Refer to Note 14, Restructuring Charges, included in “Part II, Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” in this Form 10-K for additional information.
Other Income, Net
| Year Ended January 31, | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (in thousands) | 2026 | 2025 | $ Change | % Change | ||||||||||
| Other income, net | $ | 26,550 | $ | 24,322 | $ | 2,228 | 9 | % | ||||||
| % of revenue | 3 | % | 3 | % |
The increase in other income, net was primarily attributable to an $8.2 million increase in net foreign currency gains, partially offset by a $5.8 million decrease in interest income from our money market and short-term investment accounts as a result of lower interest rates and lower average balances in these accounts.
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Provision (Benefit) for Income Taxes
| Year Ended January 31, | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (in thousands) | 2026 | 2025 | $ Change | % Change | ||||||||||
| Provision (benefit) for income taxes | $ | 43,884 | $ | (73,317) | $ | 117,201 | 160 | % | ||||||
| % of revenue | 5 | % | (9) | % |
The increase in provision (benefit) for income taxes was primarily due to the impact of including U.S. profit before tax in the annual effective tax rate computation for the year ended January 31, 2026. For the year ended January 31, 2025, we recorded a net reduction of $96.3 million in our valuation allowance, primarily reflecting the release of our valuation allowance associated with our U.S. federal and state deferred tax assets, and recorded a tax benefit of $2.0 million for non-deductible stock-based compensation. The provision for income tax for the year ended January 31, 2026 also includes (i) a $7.0 million income tax charge for changes to our uncertain tax positions related to our non-U.S. entities and (ii) a $5.1 million income tax charge for non-deductible stock-based compensation.
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Non-GAAP Financial Measures
In addition to our results determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP, we believe that the following non-GAAP financial measures associated with our consolidated statements of operations are useful in evaluating our operating performance:
•Non-GAAP gross profit and non-GAAP gross margin
•Non-GAAP operating income and non-GAAP operating margin; and
•Non-GAAP net income and non-GAAP net income per share
We define these non-GAAP financial measures as the respective U.S. GAAP measures, excluding, as applicable, stock-based compensation expense and related charges, amortization of stock-based compensation expense associated with capitalized internal-use software, amortization of acquired intangible assets, release of U.S. federal and state valuation allowances, and the estimated tax effect related to the non-GAAP items, as well as other one-time charges, such as restructuring charges, costs associated with acquisitions, non-recurring litigation costs and facility exit costs. We believe that it is useful to exclude these items in order to better understand the long-term performance of our core business and to facilitate comparison of our results to those of peer companies over multiple periods.
In addition, we believe that free cash flow is also a useful non-GAAP financial measure. Free cash flow is defined as net cash provided by operating activities less cash used for purchases of property and equipment and capitalized internal-use software. We believe that free cash flow is a useful indicator of liquidity as it measures our ability to generate cash, or our need to access additional sources of cash, to fund operations and investments. We expect our free cash flow to fluctuate in future periods with changes in our operating expenses and as we continue to invest in our growth. We typically experience higher billings in the fourth quarter compared to other quarters and experience higher collections of accounts receivable in the first half of the year, which results in a decrease in accounts receivable in the first half of the year.
However, non-GAAP financial measures have limitations in their usefulness to investors because they have no standardized meaning prescribed by U.S. GAAP and are not prepared under any comprehensive set of accounting rules or principles. In addition, other companies, including companies in our industry, may calculate similarly titled non-GAAP financial measures differently or may use other measures to evaluate their performance, all of which could reduce the usefulness of our non-GAAP financial measures as tools for comparison. As a result, our non-GAAP financial measures are presented for supplemental informational purposes only and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for our consolidated financial statements presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP.
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A reconciliation is provided below for each non-GAAP financial measure to the most directly comparable financial measure stated in accordance with GAAP:
| Year Ended January 31, | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (in thousands) | 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | |||||||
| Non-GAAP gross profit and gross margin: | ||||||||||
| U.S. GAAP gross profit | $ | 577,783 | $ | 574,638 | $ | 552,959 | ||||
| Stock-based compensation expense and related charges(1) | 4,115 | 2,750 | 2,625 | |||||||
| Amortization of stock-based compensation expense - capitalized internal-use software | 2,596 | 2,216 | 1,488 | |||||||
| Non-GAAP gross profit | $ | 584,494 | $ | 579,604 | $ | 557,072 | ||||
| Gross margin | 67 | % | 72 | % | 76 | % | ||||
| Non-GAAP gross margin | 68 | % | 73 | % | 76 | % | ||||
| Non-GAAP operating income and operating margin: | ||||||||||
| U.S. GAAP operating income | $ | 40,239 | $ | 23,970 | $ | 33,945 | ||||
| Stock-based compensation expense and related charges(2) | 84,539 | 60,663 | 57,902 | |||||||
| Amortization of acquired intangible assets | — | 118 | 200 | |||||||
| Amortization of stock-based compensation expense - capitalized internal-use software | 2,596 | 2,216 | 1,488 | |||||||
| Non-recurring litigation costs(3) | 2,076 | — | — | |||||||
| Restructuring costs(4) | 16,785 | 2,821 | 4,270 | |||||||
| Non-GAAP operating income | $ | 146,235 | $ | 89,788 | $ | 97,805 | ||||
| Operating margin | 5 | % | 3 | % | 5 | % | ||||
| Non-GAAP operating margin | 17 | % | 11 | % | 13 | % |
(1) Employer payroll tax related to stock-based compensation for the years ended January 31, 2026, 2025, and 2024 was immaterial as to the impact to gross profit.
(2) Includes employer payroll tax related to stock-based compensation expense of $1.0 million, $1.1 million and $2.1 million for the years ended January 31, 2026, 2025 and 2024, respectively.
(3) Relates to costs associated with litigation that arise outside of the ordinary course of business.
(4) Includes employer payroll tax related to restructuring expense of $0.8 million, $0.4 million and $0.4 million for the years ended January 31, 2026, 2025 and 2024, respectively. Refer to Note 14, Restructuring Charges, included in “Part II, Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” in this Form 10-K for additional information.
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| Year Ended January 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (in thousands) | Per Share-Basic | Per Share-Diluted | (in thousands) | Per Share-Basic | Per Share-Diluted | (in thousands) | Per Share-Basic | Per Share-Diluted | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Non-GAAP net income and earnings per share: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| U.S. GAAP net income | $ | 22,905 | $ | 0.09 | $ | 0.09 | $ | 121,609 | $ | 0.47 | $ | 0.44 | $ | 51,403 | $ | 0.19 | $ | 0.18 | ||||||||||||||||
| Stock-based compensation expense and related charges(1) | 84,539 | 0.34 | 0.33 | 60,663 | 0.23 | 0.22 | 57,902 | 0.21 | 0.20 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amortization of acquired intangible assets | — | — | — | 118 | — | — | 200 | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amortization of stock-based compensation expense - capitalized internal-use software | 2,596 | 0.01 | 0.01 | 2,216 | 0.01 | 0.01 | 1,488 | 0.01 | 0.01 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Income tax expense(2) | (1,731) | (0.01) | (0.01) | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Non-recurring litigation costs(3) | 2,076 | 0.01 | 0.01 | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Restructuring costs(4) | 16,785 | 0.07 | 0.06 | 2,821 | 0.01 | 0.01 | 4,270 | 0.02 | 0.01 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Release of U.S. federal and state valuation allowances | — | — | — | (87,058) | (0.33) | (0.31) | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Non-GAAP net income | $ | 127,170 | $ | 0.51 | $ | 0.49 | $ | 100,369 | $ | 0.39 | $ | 0.37 | $ | 115,263 | $ | 0.43 | $ | 0.40 | ||||||||||||||||
| Weighted-average shares outstanding | 250,834 | 257,965 | 260,241 | 274,773 | 269,974 | 287,093 |
(1) Includes employer payroll tax related to stock-based compensation expense of $1.0 million, $1.1 million and $2.1 million of for the years ended January 31, 2026, 2025 and 2024, respectively.
(2) Represents the Company’s current and deferred income tax expense commensurate with the non-GAAP measure of profitability using a non-GAAP tax rate of 26.4% for the year ended January 31, 2026. The Company uses an annual tax rate in its computation of the non-GAAP income tax provision and excludes the direct impact of stock-based compensation expense, employer tax costs related to stock-based compensation, intangible amortization expense, amortization of stock-based compensation expense associated with capitalized internal-use software, non-recurring litigation costs, restructuring costs and settlement of prior year tax provisions.
(3) Relates to costs associated with litigation that arise outside of the ordinary course of business.
(4) Includes employer payroll tax related to restructuring expense of $0.8 million, $0.4 million and $0.4 million for the years ended January 31, 2026, 2025 and 2024, respectively. Refer to Note 14, Restructuring Charges, included in “Part II, Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” in this Form 10-K for additional information.
| Year Ended January 31, | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (in thousands) | 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | |||||||
| Free cash flow: | ||||||||||
| Net cash provided by operating activities | $ | 159,193 | $ | 77,590 | $ | 71,465 | ||||
| Purchases of property and equipment | (1,379) | (5,802) | (8,548) | |||||||
| Capitalized internal-use software | (15,911) | (12,631) | (11,777) | |||||||
| Free cash flow | $ | 141,903 | $ | 59,157 | $ | 51,140 |
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Overview
As of January 31, 2026, our principal sources of liquidity were $163.0 million of cash and cash equivalents and $339.5 million of highly liquid marketable securities. We believe that our existing cash and cash equivalents, marketable securities and cash from operations will be sufficient to meet our working capital needs, capital expenditures and financing obligations for at least the next 12 months and over the long-term. The majority of our cash is held in the United States and we do not anticipate a need to repatriate cash held outside of the United States. Further, it is our intent to indefinitely reinvest these funds outside the United States, and, therefore, we have not provided for any United States income taxes.
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Cash Collateral Agreements and Restricted Cash
In April 2023, we entered into cash collateral agreements with Silicon Valley Bank in lieu of a letter of credit facility, which are associated with certain leases. Approximately $1.1 million is outstanding on these cash collateral agreements as of January 31, 2026, which we have therefore classified within restricted cash. As of January 31, 2026, $0.7 million and $0.4 million of this restricted cash is recorded within prepaid expenses and other current assets and within non-current assets, respectively, on the consolidated balance sheets.
Starting in 2023, we entered into cash collateral agreements with J.P. Morgan Bank in lieu of a credit facility, through which approximately $7.4 million is outstanding as of January 31, 2026. As of January 31, 2026, $1.4 million and $6.0 million of this restricted cash is recorded within prepaid expenses and other current assets and within non-current assets, respectively, on the consolidated balance sheets.
Share Repurchase Programs
On June 4, 2025, we announced that our board of directors had authorized and approved a share repurchase plan (the “2025 Share Repurchase Program”), whereby we were authorized to repurchase up to $150 million of Class A common stock. During the year ended January 31, 2026, we repurchased 17,616,548 shares of our Class A common stock for an aggregate cost of $150.4 million. All of the shares repurchased have been returned to our authorized but unissued share reserve. During the third quarter of fiscal year 2026, we completed the full purchase authorization of $150 million under the 2025 Share Repurchase Program.
On March 11, 2026, we announced that our board of directors had authorized and approved a share repurchase plan (the “2026 Share Repurchase Program”), whereby we were authorized to periodically repurchase up to $200 million of Class A common stock through March 15, 2027. On March 13, 2026, the Company entered into an accelerated share repurchase transaction for $125 million under the 2026 Share Repurchase Program, with the remaining authorization to be utilized at the Company’s discretion over the next year, subject to market conditions and other factors. Repurchases under the program are expected to be funded using cash on hand, cash equivalents, and marketable securities.
For additional information regarding our share repurchase programs, see Note 10, Stockholders’ Equity, included in “Part II, Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” in this Form 10-K.
Material Cash Requirements
Our expected material cash requirements include obligations under data and service provider agreements, operating leases and the 2026 Share Repurchase Program. We have agreements in place with data and service providers that require us to make certain minimum guaranteed purchase commitments through fiscal year 2029, which totaled $117.2 million as of January 31, 2026, of which $70.9 million is due within twelve months from January 31, 2026. In the normal course of business we may renew existing contracts throughout the year. In addition, we lease certain office facilities under operating lease arrangements that expire on various dates through fiscal year 2036. Refer to Note 8, Leases, to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in “Part II, Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of this Form 10-K for a discussion of our leases. For additional information regarding the 2026 Share Repurchase Program and its expected funding sources, see “Share Repurchase Programs” above. There were no other significant changes in our material cash requirements during fiscal year 2026.
Future Funding Requirements
Our future capital requirements will depend on many factors, including our growth rate, the expansion of our direct sales force, strategic relationships and international operations, the timing and extent of spending to support research and development efforts and the continuing market acceptance of our solutions. We historically have expanded our business in part by investing in strategic growth initiatives, including acquisitions of products, technologies and businesses. We may finance such acquisitions using cash, debt, stock or a combination of the foregoing; however, we have used cash and stock as consideration for substantially all of our historical business acquisitions. We continually examine our options with respect to terms and sources of existing and future short-term and long-term capital resources to enhance our operating results and to ensure that we retain financial flexibility, and may from time to time elect to raise capital through the issuance of additional equity or the incurrence of debt. Sales of additional equity could result in dilution to our stockholders. If we raise funds by borrowing from third parties, the terms of those financing arrangements would require us to incur interest expense and may include negative covenants or other restrictions on our business that could impair our operating flexibility. We can provide no assurance that financing will be available at all or, if available, that we would be able to obtain financing on terms favorable to us. If we are unable to raise additional capital when needed, we would be required to curtail our operating activities and capital expenditures, and our business operating results and financial condition would be adversely affected.
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Cash Flows
The following table shows a summary of our cash flows for the periods indicated:
| Year Ended January 31, | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (in thousands) | 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | |||||||
| Net cash provided by operating activities | $ | 159,193 | $ | 77,590 | $ | 71,465 | ||||
| Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities | $ | (12,470) | $ | 154,126 | $ | (110,570) | ||||
| Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities | $ | (131,847) | $ | (248,158) | $ | 24,086 |
Our net income and cash flows provided by operating activities are influenced significantly by our investments in headcount to support growth and in costs of revenue to deliver our services. Non-cash charges primarily include depreciation and amortization, provision for credit losses, stock-based compensation, non-cash lease expense, deferred income taxes and accretion on marketable securities. Our largest source of operating cash is cash collections from customers using our Unified-CXM platform and related services. Our primary uses of cash from operating activities are for employee-related costs, costs to deliver our revenue and marketing expenses.
We expect our free cash flow to fluctuate in future periods with changes in our operating expenses and as we continue to invest in our growth. We typically experience higher billings in the fourth quarter compared to other quarters, primarily due to higher renewal activity, and experience higher collections of accounts receivable in the first half of the year, which results in a decrease in accounts receivable in the first half of the year.
Operating Activities
For the fiscal year 2026, cash provided by operating activities was $159.2 million, which consisted of net income of $22.9 million, adjusted for non-cash expenses of $127.6 million and $8.7 million of net cash flows provided as a result of changes in operating assets and liabilities. The $8.7 million of net cash flows provided as a result of changes in our operating assets and liabilities reflected (i) a $22.7 million increase in deferred revenue as a result of billings exceeding recognized revenue, (ii) an $11.1 million increase in accrued expenses and other current liabilities primarily due to higher bonus and withholding tax accruals, (iii) a $5.9 million increase in accounts payable due to timing of payments made, and (iv) a $5.7 million decrease in accounts receivable due to collections outpacing billings. These increases to cash flows from operations were partially offset by (i) a $21.6 million increase in prepaid expenses and other current assets due to higher capitalized commissions, (ii) an $8.4 million decrease in operating lease liabilities due to ongoing payments for leased properties, and (iii) a $6.4 million increase in other non-current assets due to higher capitalized commissions.
For the fiscal year 2025, cash provided by operating activities was $77.6 million, which consisted of net income of $121.6 million, adjusted for non-cash expenses of $2.5 million and $41.6 million of net cash flows used as a result of changes in operating assets and liabilities. The $41.6 million of net cash flows used as a result of changes in our operating assets and liabilities reflected (i) a $30.0 million increase in accounts receivable due to billings outpacing collections, (ii) a $15.5 million increase in prepaid expenses and other current assets due to higher prepaid hosting and data costs, (iii) a $12.5 million decrease in accrued expenses and other current liabilities primarily due to lower bonus and commission accruals, (iv) a $9.6 million increase in other non-current assets due to higher capitalized commissions, and (v) a $7.0 million decrease in accounts payable due to timing of payments made. These decreases to cash flows from operations were partially offset by a $37.5 million increase in deferred revenue as a result of billings exceeding recognized revenue.
For the fiscal year 2024, cash provided by operating activities was $71.5 million, which consisted of net income of $51.4 million, adjusted for non-cash expenses of $65.9 million and $45.8 million net cash flows used as a result of changes in operating assets and liabilities. The $45.8 million of net cash flows used as a result of changes in operating assets and liabilities reflected (i) a $68.7 million increase in accounts receivable due to increased billings and the timing of invoices billed, (ii) a $25.6 million increase in other non-current assets driven by an increase in capitalized commissions, and (iii) an $8.0 million decrease in operating lease liabilities due to ongoing payments for leased properties. These decreases to cash flows from operations were partially offset by (i) a $49.8 million increase in deferred revenue resulting primarily from increased billings for subscriptions, (ii) an $8.7 million decrease in prepaid expenses and other current assets driven by larger prepaid contracts in the prior fiscal year and (iii) a $3.3 million increase in accounts payable largely due to an overall increase in spend and the timing of payments due.
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Investing Activities
For the fiscal year 2026, net cash used in investing activities was $12.5 million and primarily consisted of $516.8 million of purchases of marketable securities and $15.9 million in capitalized internal-use software costs. These decreases in cash flows from investing activities was partially offset by $521.9 million of sales and maturities of marketable securities.
For the fiscal year 2025, net cash provided by investing activities was $154.1 million and primarily consisted of $568.7 million of sales and maturities of marketable securities, partially offset by $396.2 million of purchases of marketable securities.
For the fiscal year 2024, net cash used in investing activities was $110.6 million and primarily consisted of $604.6 million of purchases of marketable securities, partially offset by $514.4 million of sales and maturities of marketable securities.
Financing Activities
For the fiscal year 2026, net cash used in financing activities was $131.8 million, which consisted of payments for the 2025 Share Repurchase Program of $152.3 million, offset by $15.3 million of proceeds from the exercise of stock options and $5.1 million of proceeds from the purchase of stock under our 2021 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (“ESPP”).
For the fiscal year 2025, net cash used in financing activities was $248.2 million, which consisted of payments for the 2024 Share Repurchase Program of $273.9 million, offset by $19.9 million of proceeds from the exercise of stock options and $5.8 million of proceeds from the purchase of stock under our 2021 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (“ESPP”).
For the fiscal year 2024, cash provided by financing activities was $24.1 million, which consisted of proceeds from the exercise of stock options of $43.3 million and proceeds from the purchase of stock under our ESPP of $7.4 million, partially offset by payments for the repurchase of Class A common shares of $26.7 million.
Critical Accounting Estimates
Our consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting periods.
Critical accounting estimates are those estimates that, in accordance with U.S. GAAP, involve a significant level of estimation uncertainty and have had or are reasonably likely to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements. Management has determined that our most critical accounting estimates are those relating to revenue recognition and stock-based compensation expense, including historical common stock valuations and performance-based award valuations. We evaluate our estimates and assumptions on an ongoing basis using historical experience and other factors and adjust those estimates and assumptions when facts and circumstances dictate. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates and assumptions.
Our significant accounting policies are more fully described in Note 2, Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in “Part II, Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” in this Form 10-K.
Revenue Recognition
At times, revenue recognition requires judgment, especially for our arrangements that include multiple performance obligations, or deliverables, such as arrangements that include promises to transfer multiple subscription services, premium support, professional services and managed services. A performance obligation is a promise in a contract with a customer to transfer products or services that are distinct. Determining whether products and services are distinct performance obligations that should be accounted for separately or combined as one unit of accounting may require judgment.
Subscription services are distinct as such offerings are often sold separately. In determining whether professional services are distinct, we consider the following factors for each professional services agreement: availability of the services from other vendors, the nature of the professional services, the timing of when the professional services contract was signed in comparison to the subscription start date and the contractual dependence of the service on the customer’s satisfaction with the professional services work. To date, we have concluded that professional services included in contracts with multiple performance obligations are generally distinct.
The determination of standalone selling price (“SSP”) for each distinct performance obligation requires judgment. We rarely sell our enterprise cloud software products and services as readily observable standalone sales, so we are required to estimate the SSP for each performance obligation. In the determination of the SSP, we may use information that includes contractually stated prices, size of the arrangement, list prices and other observable inputs. Based on these results, the estimated SSP is set for each distinct product or service delivered to customers. As our go-to-market strategies evolve, we may modify our pricing strategies in the future, which could result in changes to SSP.
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There were no material changes in the estimates or assumptions used to recognize revenue during the year ended January 31, 2026.
Stock-Based Compensation
We measure and record the expense related to stock-based awards based upon the fair value at the date of grant. We estimate the grant date fair value of each common stock option using the Black-Scholes Merton method, which requires the input of subjective assumptions and management’s best estimates. The assumptions used, including (i) fair value of the underlying common stock, (ii) expected volatility, (iii) expected term, (iv) risk-free interest rate and (v) dividend yield, and how they are estimated is detailed within Note 11, Stock-Based Compensation, to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in “Part II, Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” in this Form 10-K.
Performance and Market-Based Award Valuations
For awards granted that vest upon the achievement of market conditions, we estimate the grant date fair value of these units using a Monte Carlo Simulation. The simulation models multiple stock price paths in order to estimate the grant date fair value of those with market conditions. For those awards with market conditions, stock-based compensation is recognized regardless of whether the market targets were achieved. However, if the grantee does not continue their employment through the derived service period, all related stock-based compensation for that individual is reversed in the period of termination.
For awards granted that vest upon the achievement of certain performance conditions, we estimate the fair value of these units using the Company’s share price on the date of grant. Once the performance conditions are deemed probable, stock-based compensation recognition begins and is recognized over the service period. If at any point the performance conditions are deemed not probable, any expense recognized to date is reversed.
Income Taxes
We determined that it is more likely than not that our U.S. federal and state deferred tax assets were realizable as of January 31, 2025, and we reaffirmed this conclusion as of January 31, 2026. In determining the need, or continued need, for a valuation allowance, we considered the weighting of the positive and negative evidence, which includes, among other things, recent historical income and losses, future growth, forecasted earnings and future taxable income. As of January 31, 2025, we achieved three years of cumulative U.S. income when considering pre-tax income adjusted for permanent differences and other comprehensive losses. Based on all available positive and negative evidence, having demonstrated sustained profitability, which is objective and verifiable, and taking into account anticipated future earnings, we concluded that it is more likely than not that our U.S. federal and state deferred tax assets are realizable. See Note 13, Income Taxes, to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in “Part II, Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” in this Form 10-K for additional information.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
Refer to Note 2, Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in “Part II, Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” in this Form 10-K for more information regarding recently issued accounting pronouncements.
MD&A history
Prior-year 10-K MD&A spans are extracted from SEC filings with the same bounded parser used for the latest filing. The latest 10-K appears above; prior years are below.
FY 2025 10-K MD&A
SEC filing source: 0001569345-25-000019.
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this Form 10-K. This discussion, particularly information with respect to our future results of operations or financial condition, business strategy and plans and objectives of management for future operations, includes forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties as described under the heading “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” in this Form 10-K. You should review the disclosure under the heading “Risk Factors” in this Form 10-K for a discussion of important factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements.
This section of our Form 10-K discusses our financial condition and results of operations for the fiscal years ended January 31, 2025, 2024, and 2023 and year-to-year comparisons between fiscal 2025 and fiscal 2024. Year-to-year comparisons between fiscal 2024 and fiscal 2023 that are not included in this Form 10-K can be found in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in Part II, Item 7 of our Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2024, filed on March 29, 2024.
Overview
Sprinklr is redefining the world’s ability to make every customer experience extraordinary.
We do this with our evolving enterprise software – Unified Customer Experience Management (“Unified-CXM”) – that enables customer-facing teams, from Customer Service to Marketing, to collaborate across internal silos, communicate across digital channels, and leverage AI to deliver better customer experiences at scale – all on one unified, AI-based platform. Sprinklr has four main product suites: Sprinklr Social, Sprinklr Insights, Sprinklr Marketing and our newest offering, Sprinklr Service. We believe that these four suites enable the world’s largest and leading brands to better reach, engage and listen to their customers on the channel of their choice. We continue to invest in the unified platform and develop new features and enhancements to each suite as our customers’ needs evolve.
Our Unified-CXM platform utilizes an architecture purpose-built for managing Customer Experience Management (“CXM”) data and is powered by proprietary AI, collaborative workflow, seamless automation, broad-based listening and customer-led governance to help enterprises analyze massive amounts of unstructured and structured data.
We generate revenue from the sale of subscriptions to our Unified-CXM platform and related professional services. Our platform includes products that are licensed on a per-user basis as well as products that are licensed based on different tiers of volume.
We believe that our Unified-CXM platform is highly effective for organizations of all sizes, and we have a highly diverse group of customers across a broad array of industries and geographies. We focus primarily on selling our platform to large global enterprises, as we believe that we have significant competitive advantages attracting and serving such organizations given their complex needs and the broad capabilities our platform offers.
Our customers include global enterprises across a broad array of industries and geographies, as well as marketing agencies and government departments along with non-profit and educational institutions. Our customers are located in over 80 countries, and our AI-based CXM platform recognizes over 150 languages. As of January 31, 2025, we had 1,930 customers spanning organizations of a broad range of sizes and industries, including 60% of the Fortune 100 companies, compared to 1,735 customers as of January 31, 2024. We define our large customers as customers with greater than or equal to $1.0 million in subscription revenue on a trailing 12-month basis, as of the period presented. As of January 31, 2025, we had 149 large customers compared to 126 as of January 31, 2024.
Key Business Metrics
We review a number of operating and financial metrics, including the following key metrics, to evaluate our business, measure our performance, identify trends affecting our business, formulate business plans and make strategic decisions.
RPO and cRPO
Remaining Performance Obligation (“RPO”) represents contracted revenue that has not yet been recognized and includes deferred revenue and amounts that will be invoiced and recognized in future periods. Current RPO (“cRPO”) represents contracted revenue that has not yet been recognized and includes deferred revenue and amounts that will be invoiced and recognized in the next 12 months. As of January 31, 2025, our RPO was $987.7 million and our cRPO was $612.5 million. As of January 31, 2024, our RPO was $966.6 million and our cRPO was $587.0 million.
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Net Dollar Expansion Rate
We believe that net dollar expansion rate (“NDE”) is an indicator of the value that our platform delivers to customers. We calculate NDE to measure our ability to retain and expand subscription revenue from our existing customers. NDE compares our subscription revenue from the same set of customers across comparable periods and reflects customer renewals, expansion, contraction and churn. We calculate NDE by dividing (i) subscription revenue in the trailing 12-month period from those customers who were on our platform during the most recent prior 12-month period by (ii) subscription revenue from the same customers in the preceding prior 12-month period. This calculation is net of upsells, contraction, cancellation or expansion during the period but excludes subscription revenue from new customers. Our NDE, on a trailing 12-month basis, was 103.6% and 117.7% for the 12-month periods ended January 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively. The decrease year-over-year was driven by elevated churn, exacerbated by the current macroeconomic environment.
Macroeconomic Considerations
Unfavorable conditions in the economy both in the United States and abroad may negatively affect the growth of our business and our results of operations. For example, macroeconomic events, including fluctuations in inflation and interest rates and the Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Hamas wars, have led to economic uncertainty globally. Historically, during periods of economic uncertainty and downturns, businesses may slow spending on information technology, which may impact our business and our customers’ businesses. While we have experienced growing inflationary pressures on the cost of wages, rent and data, the net result of inflationary impacts and our efforts to mitigate these impacts have not been material to us during the periods included in this report. In addition, general economic weakness may lead to longer collection cycles for payments due from our customers and an increase in customer provision for credit losses, as well as restructuring initiatives and associated expenses, and customers and potential customers may require extended financial concessions, which could result in adjustments to revenue recognition.
The effect of macroeconomic conditions may not be fully reflected in our results of operations until future periods. If, however, economic uncertainty increases or the global economy worsens, our business, financial condition and results of operations may be harmed. For further discussion of the potential impacts of macroeconomic events on our business, financial condition, and operating results, see the section titled “Risk Factors” included in Part I, Item 1A of this Form 10-K.
Components of Results of Operations
Revenue
We generate revenue from the sale of subscriptions to our Unified-CXM cloud-based software platform and related professional services.
Subscription revenue consists primarily of fees from customers accessing our proprietary Unified-CXM platform, as well as related support services. Subscription revenue is generally recognized ratably over the related contract term beginning on the commencement date of each contract, which is generally the date our service is made available to customers. Our subscriptions typically have a term of one to three years. Historically, we have experienced seasonality in our sales cycle, as a large percentage of our customers make their purchases in the fourth quarter of a given fiscal year and pay us in the first quarter of the subsequent year. This seasonality may be reflected to a much lesser extent, and sometimes may not be immediately apparent, in our revenue, due to the fact that we recognize subscription revenue over the term of the applicable subscription agreement.
Professional services revenue consists of fees associated with providing services that assist our customers with the configuration and optimization of our Unified-CXM software. These fees also include managed services fees where our consultants work as part of our customers’ teams to help leverage the subscription services to execute on their customer experience management goals and enablement services, which consist of initial design, configuration and education services.
Costs of Revenue
Costs of Subscription Revenue
Costs of subscription revenue consists primarily of costs to host our software platform, data costs, including cost of third-party data utilized in our platform, personnel-related expenses for our subscription and support operations personnel, including salaries, benefits, bonuses and stock-based compensation, professional fees, software costs, travel expenses, the amortization of our capitalized internal-use software and allocated overhead expenses, including facilities costs for our subscription and support operations. We expect that costs of subscription revenue will increase in absolute dollars as we expand our customer base and make continued investments in our cloud infrastructure and support organization.
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Costs of Professional Services Revenue
Costs of professional services revenue consists primarily of personnel-related expenses for our professional services personnel. including salaries, benefits, bonuses and stock-based compensation, professional fees, software costs, subcontractor costs, travel expenses and allocated overhead expenses, including facilities costs, for our professional services organization. We expect that our costs of professional services revenue will increase in absolute dollars as we continue to increase our use of partners in the delivery of implementation services and expand our customer base.
Gross Profit and Gross Margin
Gross profit is total revenue less total costs of revenue. Gross margin is gross profit expressed as a percentage of total revenue. We expect that gross profit and gross margin will continue to be affected by various factors, including our pricing, our mix of revenues and the costs required to deliver those revenues.
Our gross margin on subscription revenue is significantly higher than our gross margin on professional services revenue, and as a result our gross margin may vary from period to period if our mix of revenue or costs of revenue fluctuates. In addition, because personnel-related expenses represent the largest component in costs of professional services revenue, we may experience changes in our professional services gross margin due to the timing of delivery of those services. We expect that our gross margin will decline in the near term due to higher data and hosting costs and, in the long term, will vary from period to period.
Operating Expenses
Our operating expenses consist of research and development, sales and marketing and general and administrative expenses.
Research and Development Expense
Research and development expense consists primarily of costs relating to the maintenance, continued development and enhancement of our cloud-based software platform and includes personnel-related expense for our research and development organization, including salaries, benefits, bonuses and stock-based compensation, professional fees, travel expenses and allocated overhead expenses, including facilities costs. Research and development expenses are expensed as incurred, except for internal-use software development costs that qualify for capitalization. We expect research and development expense to generally increase in absolute dollars as we continue to invest in enhancing and expanding the capabilities of our Unified-CXM platform.
Sales and Marketing Expense
Sales and marketing expense consists primarily of personnel-related expenses for our sales and marketing organization, including salaries, benefits, bonuses and stock-based compensation, professional fees, software costs, advertising, marketing, promotional and brand awareness activities, travel expenses and allocated overhead expense, including facilities costs. Sales commissions earned by our sales force are considered incremental and recoverable costs of obtaining a contract with a customer and are deferred and amortized on a straight-line basis over the expected period of benefit. In the near term, we expect sales and marketing expense to decrease as we work to right size our costs. In the long term, we expect sales and marketing expense to generally increase in absolute dollars as we continue to drive the growth of our business. We continue to optimize our sales and marketing expense and seek efficiencies in our investments.
General and Administrative Expense
General and administrative expense includes personnel-related expenses associated with administrative services, such as legal, human resources, information technology, accounting, and finance functions, as well as professional fees, software costs, travel expenses, provision for credit losses and allocated overhead expense, including facilities costs and any corporate overhead expenses not allocated to other expense categories.
We expect that our general and administrative expense will decrease in the near term as a result of cost saving initiatives and generally increase in absolute dollars in the long term as we continue to grow our business. We also anticipate that we will incur additional costs for employees and third-party consulting services, which may cause our general and administrative expense to fluctuate as a percentage of revenue from period to period.
Other Income, Net
Other income, net, consists of interest income on invested cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities, foreign currency transaction gains and losses and other expenses and gains.
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Provision for Income Taxes
Provision for income taxes consists primarily of income taxes related to foreign and U.S. jurisdictions in which we conduct business. Our annual estimated effective tax rate differed from the U.S. federal statutory rate in fiscal 2025 primarily due to the valuation allowance release on our U.S. federal and state deferred tax assets.
Results of Operations
The following table sets forth our consolidated statements of operations data for the periods indicated:
| Year Ended January 31, | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (in thousands) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | |||||||
| Revenue: | ||||||||||
| Subscription | $ | 717,923 | $ | 668,541 | $ | 548,649 | ||||
| Professional services | 78,471 | 63,819 | 69,541 | |||||||
| Total revenue | 796,394 | 732,360 | 618,190 | |||||||
| Costs of revenue: | ||||||||||
| Costs of subscription (1) | 140,730 | 116,032 | 102,276 | |||||||
| Costs of professional services (1) | 81,348 | 63,369 | 61,449 | |||||||
| Total costs of revenue | 222,078 | 179,401 | 163,725 | |||||||
| Gross profit | 574,316 | 552,959 | 454,465 | |||||||
| Operating expense: | ||||||||||
| Research and development (1) | 91,999 | 91,292 | 76,658 | |||||||
| Sales and marketing (1) | 321,658 | 321,849 | 336,719 | |||||||
| General and administrative (1) | 136,689 | 105,873 | 92,312 | |||||||
| Total operating expense | 550,346 | 519,014 | 505,689 | |||||||
| Operating income (loss) | 23,970 | 33,945 | (51,224) | |||||||
| Other income, net | 24,322 | 26,577 | 3,756 | |||||||
| Income (loss) before provision for income taxes | 48,292 | 60,522 | (47,468) | |||||||
| (Benefit) provision for income taxes | (73,317) | 9,119 | 8,274 | |||||||
| Net income (loss) | $ | 121,609 | $ | 51,403 | $ | (55,742) |
| (1) Includes stock-based compensation expense, net of amounts capitalized, as follows: | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year Ended January 31, | ||||||||||
| (in thousands) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | |||||||
| Costs of subscription | $ | 1,323 | $ | 1,130 | $ | 1,528 | ||||
| Costs of professional services | 1,387 | 1,450 | 2,249 | |||||||
| Research and development | 11,404 | 11,566 | 10,678 | |||||||
| Sales and marketing | 21,331 | 24,477 | 26,651 | |||||||
| General and administrative | 24,072 | 17,134 | 14,411 | |||||||
| Stock-based compensation expense, net of amounts capitalized | $ | 59,517 | $ | 55,757 | $ | 55,517 |
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The following table sets forth our consolidated statements of operations data expressed as a percentage of total revenue (1):
| Year Ended January 31, | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | ||||||
| Revenue: | ||||||||
| Subscription | 90 | % | 91 | % | 89 | % | ||
| Professional services | 10 | % | 9 | % | 11 | % | ||
| Total revenue | 100 | % | 100 | % | 100 | % | ||
| Costs of revenue: | ||||||||
| Costs of subscription | 18 | % | 16 | % | 17 | % | ||
| Costs of professional services | 10 | % | 9 | % | 10 | % | ||
| Total costs of revenue | 28 | % | 24 | % | 26 | % | ||
| Operating expense: | ||||||||
| Research and development | 12 | % | 12 | % | 12 | % | ||
| Sales and marketing | 40 | % | 44 | % | 54 | % | ||
| General and administrative | 17 | % | 14 | % | 15 | % | ||
| Total operating expense | 69 | % | 71 | % | 82 | % | ||
| Operating income (loss) | 3 | % | 5 | % | (8) | % | ||
| Other income, net | 3 | % | 4 | % | 1 | % | ||
| Income (loss) before provision for income taxes | 6 | % | 8 | % | (8) | % | ||
| (Benefit) provision for income taxes | (9) | % | 1 | % | 1 | % | ||
| Net income (loss) | 15 | % | 7 | % | (9) | % |
(1) Totals may not foot due to rounding.
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Comparison of Fiscal Years Ended January 31, 2025 and 2024
Revenue
| Year Ended January 31, | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (in thousands) | 2025 | 2024 | $ Change | % Change | ||||||||||
| Subscription | $ | 717,923 | $ | 668,541 | $ | 49,382 | 7 | % | ||||||
| Professional services | 78,471 | 63,819 | 14,652 | 23 | % | |||||||||
| Total revenue | $ | 796,394 | $ | 732,360 | $ | 64,034 | 9 | % |
The increase in subscription revenue was primarily due to increased revenue from existing customers driven by the purchase of additional quantities of current subscription solutions and additional add-on solutions within our platform, as well as demand for our solutions from new customers. Such growth was partially offset by certain existing customers purchasing fewer quantities of current subscription solutions within our platform as well as certain customers no longer subscribing to our platform, partially driven by macroeconomic conditions.
The increase in professional services revenue was primarily due to growth in both implementations and managed services related to CCaaS delivery capabilities.
Costs of Revenue and Gross Margin
| Year Ended January 31, | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (in thousands) | 2025 | 2024 | $ Change | % Change | ||||||||||
| Costs of subscription revenue | $ | 140,730 | $ | 116,032 | $ | 24,698 | 21 | % | ||||||
| Costs of professional services revenue | 81,348 | 63,369 | 17,979 | 28 | % | |||||||||
| Total costs of revenue | $ | 222,078 | $ | 179,401 | $ | 42,677 | 24 | % | ||||||
| Gross margin - subscription | 80 | % | 83 | % | ||||||||||
| Gross margin - professional services | (4) | % | 1 | % |
The increase in costs of subscription revenue was primarily due to (i) higher costs related to third-party cloud infrastructure necessary to meet our increased customer demand, which included a $19.8 million increase in our data and hosting costs and (ii) a $3.2 million increase in the amortization of capitalized research and development costs.
The increase in costs of professional services revenue was primarily due to (i) an $11.7 million increase in subcontractor costs as a result of higher partner delivery costs associated with increased professional services revenue and (ii) higher personnel-related costs of $5.0 million as a result of increased headcount.
Gross margin for subscription decreased by three percentage points, primarily driven by increased costs associated with third-party cloud infrastructure and data. Gross margin for professional services decreased by five percentage points as we increased our investment in CCaaS delivery partners and personnel in fiscal year 2025 to support future growth in our CCaaS solution.
Research and Development Expense
| Year Ended January 31, | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (in thousands) | 2025 | 2024 | $ Change | % Change | ||||||||||
| Research and development | $ | 91,999 | $ | 91,292 | $ | 707 | 1 | % | ||||||
| % of revenue | 12 | % | 12 | % |
The increase in research and development expense was primarily due to (i) an increase in software subscription costs of $1.3 million and (ii) an increase in rent and facilities expenses of $0.5 million. These increases were partially offset by (i) a $0.8 million decrease in travel and entertainment costs and (ii) a $0.5 million decrease in other research and development costs.
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Sales and Marketing Expense
| Year Ended January 31, | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (in thousands) | 2025 | 2024 | $ Change | % Change | ||||||||||
| Sales and marketing | $ | 321,658 | $ | 321,849 | $ | (191) | — | % | ||||||
| % of revenue | 40 | % | 44 | % |
Sales and marketing expense remained relatively flat during the year ended January 31, 2025 as compared to the prior-year period. However, the change included a $2.0 million decrease in severance and related costs as a result of fewer sales and marketing employees being included in the restructuring implemented during the year ended January 31, 2025 than the restructuring program implemented during the prior year, which was offset by an increase in travel and related costs of $1.9 million.
General and Administrative Expense
| Year Ended January 31, | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (in thousands) | 2025 | 2024 | $ Change | % Change | ||||||||||
| General and administrative | $ | 136,689 | $ | 105,873 | $ | 30,816 | 29 | % | ||||||
| % of revenue | 17 | % | 14 | % |
The increase in general and administrative expense was primarily due to (i) a $15.5 million increase in personnel-related costs driven by higher general and administrative headcount, as well as increased stock compensation expense, primarily related to new grants during fiscal year 2025, (ii) a $10.3 million increase in consulting costs primarily related to strategic projects and (iii) a $5.7 million increase in provision for credit losses due to increased reserves for certain customers that we deemed to be uncollectible accounts, as well as higher calculated loss rates applied to outstanding receivables.
Other Income, Net
| Year Ended January 31, | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (in thousands) | 2025 | 2024 | $ Change | % Change | ||||||||||
| Other income, net | $ | 24,322 | $ | 26,577 | $ | (2,255) | (8) | % | ||||||
| % of revenue | 3 | % | 4 | % |
The decrease in other income, net was primarily attributable to a $4.2 million decrease in interest income from our money market and short-term investment accounts as a result of lower average balances in these accounts, partially offset by higher average interest rates. This decrease was partially offset by a $2.0 million increase in net foreign currency gains.
(Benefit) Provision for Income Taxes
| Year Ended January 31, | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (in thousands) | 2025 | 2024 | $ Change | % Change | ||||||||||
| (Benefit) provision for income taxes | $ | (73,317) | $ | 9,119 | $ | (82,436) | (904) | % | ||||||
| % of revenue | (9) | % | 1 | % |
The decrease in (benefit) provision for income taxes was primarily related to the impact of an $87.1 million valuation allowance release of the Company’s U.S. federal and state deferred tax assets recorded in the year ended January 31, 2025.
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Non-GAAP Financial Measures
In addition to our results determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP, we believe that the following non-GAAP financial measures associated with our consolidated statements of operations are useful in evaluating our operating performance:
•Non-GAAP gross profit and non-GAAP gross margin
•Non-GAAP operating income and non-GAAP operating margin; and
•Non-GAAP net income and non-GAAP net income per share
We define these non-GAAP financial measures as the respective U.S. GAAP measures, excluding, as applicable, stock-based compensation expense and related charges, amortization of acquired intangible assets and release of U.S. federal and state valuation allowances, as well as other one-time charges and benefits, such as restructuring charges, costs associated with acquisitions, litigations and facility exit costs. We believe that it is useful to exclude these items in order to better understand the long-term performance of our core business and to facilitate comparison of our results to those of peer companies over multiple periods. In periods of net loss, we calculate non-GAAP net income per share by using non-GAAP net income divided by basic weighted average shares for the period regardless of whether we are in a non-GAAP net income or loss position and assuming that all potentially dilutive securities are anti-dilutive.
In addition, we believe that free cash flow is also a useful non-GAAP financial measure. Free cash flow is defined as net cash provided by operating activities less cash used for purchases of property and equipment and capitalized internal-use software. We believe that free cash flow is a useful indicator of liquidity as it measures our ability to generate cash, or our need to access additional sources of cash, to fund operations and investments. We expect our free cash flow to fluctuate in future periods with changes in our operating expenses and as we continue to invest in our growth. We typically experience higher billings in the fourth quarter compared to other quarters and experience higher collections of accounts receivable in the first half of the year, which results in a decrease in accounts receivable in the first half of the year.
However, non-GAAP financial measures have limitations in their usefulness to investors because they have no standardized meaning prescribed by U.S. GAAP and are not prepared under any comprehensive set of accounting rules or principles. In addition, other companies, including companies in our industry, may calculate similarly titled non-GAAP financial measures differently or may use other measures to evaluate their performance, all of which could reduce the usefulness of our non-GAAP financial measures as tools for comparison. As a result, our non-GAAP financial measures are presented for supplemental informational purposes only and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for our consolidated financial statements presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP.
A reconciliation is provided below for each non-GAAP financial measure to the most directly comparable financial measure stated in accordance with GAAP:
| Year Ended January 31, | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (in thousands) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | |||||||
| Non-GAAP gross profit and non-GAAP gross margin: | ||||||||||
| U.S. GAAP gross profit | $ | 574,316 | $ | 552,959 | $ | 454,465 | ||||
| Stock-based compensation expense and related charges (1) | 2,750 | 2,625 | 3,861 | |||||||
| Non-GAAP gross profit | $ | 577,066 | $ | 555,584 | $ | 458,326 | ||||
| Gross margin | 72 | % | 76 | % | 74 | % | ||||
| Non-GAAP gross margin | 72 | % | 76 | % | 74 | % | ||||
| Non-GAAP operating income: | ||||||||||
| U.S. GAAP operating income (loss): | $ | 23,970 | $ | 33,945 | $ | (51,224) | ||||
| Stock-based compensation expense and related charges (2) | 60,663 | 57,902 | 56,704 | |||||||
| Amortization of acquired intangible assets | 118 | 200 | 475 | |||||||
| Non-GAAP operating income | $ | 84,751 | $ | 92,047 | $ | 5,955 | ||||
| Operating margin | 3 | % | 5 | % | (8) | % | ||||
| Non-GAAP operating margin | 11 | % | 13 | % | 1 | % |
(1) Employer payroll tax related to stock-based compensation for the years ended January 31, 2025, 2024, and 2023 was immaterial as to the impact to gross profit.
(2) Includes $1.1 million, $2.1 million and $1.2 million of employer payroll tax related to stock-based compensation expense for the years ended January 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
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| Year Ended January 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (in thousands) | Per Share-Basic | Per Share-Diluted | (in thousands) | Per Share-Basic | Per Share-Diluted | (in thousands) | Per Share-Basic | Per Share-Diluted | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Non-GAAP net income reconciliation to net income (loss) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income (loss) | $ | 121,609 | $ | 0.47 | $ | 0.44 | $ | 51,403 | $ | 0.19 | $ | 0.18 | $ | (55,742) | $ | (0.21) | $ | (0.21) | ||||||||||||||||
| Add: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stock-based compensation expense and related charges | 60,663 | 0.23 | 0.22 | 57,902 | 0.22 | 0.20 | 56,704 | 0.22 | 0.22 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amortization of acquired intangible assets | 118 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 200 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 475 | 0.00 | 0.00 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Release of U.S. federal and state valuation allowances | (87,058) | (0.33) | (0.31) | — | 0.00 | 0.00 | — | 0.00 | 0.00 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total additions, net | (26,277) | (0.10) | (0.09) | 58,102 | 0.22 | 0.20 | 57,179 | 0.22 | 0.22 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Non-GAAP net income | $ | 95,332 | $ | 0.37 | $ | 0.35 | $ | 109,505 | $ | 0.41 | $ | 0.38 | $ | 1,437 | $ | 0.01 | $ | 0.01 | ||||||||||||||||
| Weighted-average shares outstanding | 260,241 | 274,773 | 269,974 | 287,093 | 259,530 | 259,530 |
| Year Ended January 31, | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (in thousands) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | |||||||
| Free cash flow: | ||||||||||
| Net cash provided by operating activities | $ | 77,590 | $ | 71,465 | $ | 26,660 | ||||
| Purchases of property and equipment | (5,802) | (8,548) | (6,091) | |||||||
| Capitalized internal-use software | (12,631) | (11,777) | (10,358) | |||||||
| Free cash flow | $ | 59,157 | $ | 51,140 | $ | 10,211 |
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Overview
As of January 31, 2025, our principal sources of liquidity were $145.3 million of cash and cash equivalents and $338.2 million of highly liquid marketable securities. We believe that our existing cash and cash equivalents, marketable securities and cash from operations will be sufficient to meet our working capital needs, capital expenditures and financing obligations for at least the next 12 months and over the long-term. The majority of our cash is held in the United States and we do not anticipate a need to repatriate cash held outside of the United States. Further, it is our intent to indefinitely reinvest these funds outside the United States, and, therefore, we have not provided for any United States income taxes.
Cash Collateral Agreements and Restricted Cash
In April 2023, we entered into cash collateral agreements with Silicon Valley Bank in lieu of a letter of credit facility, which are associated with certain leases. Approximately $1.3 million is outstanding on these cash collateral agreements as of January 31, 2025, which we have therefore classified within restricted cash. As of January 31, 2025, $0.7 million of this restricted cash is recorded within prepaid expenses and other current assets and $0.6 million is recorded within other non-current assets on the consolidated balance sheets.
Starting in 2023, we entered into cash collateral agreements with J.P. Morgan Bank in lieu of a credit facility, through which approximately $6.9 million is outstanding as of January 31, 2025. As of January 31, 2025, $1.0 million of this restricted cash is recorded within prepaid expenses and other current assets and $5.9 million is recorded within other non-current assets on the condensed consolidated balance sheets.
Share Repurchase Program
On January 8, 2024, we entered into an approved share repurchase program (the “2024 Share Repurchase Program”), whereby we could repurchase up to $100 million of our Class A common stock. On both March 26, 2024 and June 3, 2024, our board of directors approved an additional $100 million of repurchases under the 2024 Share Repurchase Program, bringing the total amount authorized for purchase under the 2024 Share Repurchase Program to $300 million.
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During the year ended January 31, 2024, we repurchased 2,400,338 shares of our Class A common stock for an aggregate cost of $29.6 million, including commissions. Additionally, we repurchased 25,460,052 shares of our Class A common stock for an aggregate cost of $271.0 million, including commissions, during year ended January 31, 2025. All of the shares repurchased have been returned to our authorized but unissued share reserve. During the second quarter of fiscal year 2025, we completed the full purchase authorization of $300 million under the 2024 Share Repurchase Program. For additional information regarding the 2024 Share Repurchase Program, see Note 10, Stockholders’ Equity, to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in “Part II, Item 8. Financial Statements” of this Form 10-K.
Material Cash Requirements
Our expected material cash requirements consist of contractually obligated expenditures. We have agreements in place with data and service providers that require us to make certain minimum guaranteed purchase commitments through fiscal year 2030, which totaled $324.8 million as of January 31, 2025, of which $107.1 million is due within twelve months from January 31, 2025. In the normal course of business we may renew existing contracts throughout the year. In addition, we lease certain office facilities under operating lease arrangements that expire on various dates through fiscal year 2035. Refer to Note 8, Leases, to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in “Part II, Item 8. Financial Statements” of this Form 10-K for a discussion of our leases. There were no other significant changes in our material cash requirements during fiscal 2025.
Future Funding Requirements
Our future capital requirements will depend on many factors, including our growth rate, the expansion of our direct sales force, strategic relationships and international operations, the timing and extent of spending to support research and development efforts and the continuing market acceptance of our solutions. We historically have expanded our business in part by investing in strategic growth initiatives, including acquisitions of products, technologies and businesses. We may finance such acquisitions using cash, debt, stock or a combination of the foregoing; however, we have used cash and stock as consideration for substantially all of our historical business acquisitions. We continually examine our options with respect to terms and sources of existing and future short-term and long-term capital resources to enhance our operating results and to ensure that we retain financial flexibility, and may from time to time elect to raise capital through the issuance of additional equity or the incurrence of debt. Sales of additional equity could result in dilution to our stockholders. If we raise funds by borrowing from third parties, the terms of those financing arrangements would require us to incur interest expense and may include negative covenants or other restrictions on our business that could impair our operating flexibility. We can provide no assurance that financing will be available at all or, if available, that we would be able to obtain financing on terms favorable to us. If we are unable to raise additional capital when needed, we would be required to curtail our operating activities and capital expenditures, and our business operating results and financial condition would be adversely affected.
Cash Flows
The following table shows a summary of our cash flows for the periods indicated:
| Year Ended January 31, | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (in thousands) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | |||||||
| Net cash provided by operating activities | $ | 77,590 | $ | 71,465 | $ | 26,660 | ||||
| Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities | $ | 154,126 | $ | (110,570) | $ | (193,494) | ||||
| Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities | $ | (248,158) | $ | 24,086 | $ | 34,971 |
Our net income (loss) and cash flows provided by operating activities are influenced significantly by our investments in headcount to support growth and in costs of revenue to deliver our services. Non-cash charges primarily include depreciation and amortization, provision for credit losses, stock-based compensation, non-cash lease expense, deferred income taxes and amortization/accretion on marketable securities. Our largest source of operating cash is cash collections from customers using our Unified-CXM platform and related services. Our primary uses of cash from operating activities are for employee-related costs, costs to deliver our revenue and marketing expenses.
We expect our free cash flow to fluctuate in future periods with changes in our operating expenses and as we continue to invest in our growth. We typically experience higher billings in the fourth quarter compared to other quarters, primarily due to higher renewal activity, and experience higher collections of accounts receivable in the first half of the year, which results in a decrease in accounts receivable in the first half of the year.
Operating Activities
For the fiscal year 2025, cash provided by operating activities was $77.6 million, which consisted of net income of $121.6 million, adjusted for non-cash expenses of $2.5 million and $41.6 million of net cash flows used as a result of changes in operating assets and liabilities. The $41.6 million of net cash flows used as a result of changes in our operating assets and liabilities reflected a (i) $30.0
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million increase in accounts receivable due to billings outpacing collections, (ii) a $15.5 million increase in prepaid expenses and other current assets due to higher prepaid hosting and data costs, (iii) a $12.5 million decrease in accrued expenses and other current liabilities primarily due to lower bonus and commission accruals, (iv) a $9.6 million increase in other non-current assets due to higher capitalized commissions, and (v) a $7.0 million decrease in accounts payable due to timing of payments made. These decreases to cash flows from operations was partially offset by a $37.5 million increase in deferred revenue as a result of billings exceeding recognized revenue.
For the fiscal year 2024, cash provided by operating activities was $71.5 million, which consisted of net income of $51.4 million, adjusted for non-cash expenses of $65.9 million and $45.8 million net cash flows used as a result of changes in operating assets and liabilities. The $45.8 million of net cash flows used as a result of changes in operating assets and liabilities reflected (i) a $68.7 million increase in accounts receivable due to increased billings and the timing of invoices billed, (ii) a $25.6 million increase in other non-current assets driven by an increase in capitalized commissions, and (iii) an $8.0 million decrease in operating lease liabilities due to ongoing payments for leased properties. These decreases to cash flows from operations were partially offset by (i) a $49.8 million increase in deferred revenue resulting primarily from increased billings for subscriptions, (ii) an $8.7 million decrease in prepaid expenses and other current assets driven by larger prepaid contracts in the prior fiscal year and (iii) a $3.3 million increase in accounts payable largely due to an overall increase in spend and the timing of payments due.
For the fiscal year 2023, cash provided by operating activities was $26.7 million resulting from net loss of $55.7 million offset by non-cash expenses of $75.7 million and $6.7 million net cash flow provided as a result of changes in operating assets and liabilities. The $6.7 million of net cash flows provided as a result of changes in our operating assets and liabilities reflected (i) a $41.5 million increase in deferred revenue resulting primarily from increased billings for subscriptions, (ii) a $29.1 million decrease in prepaid expenses and other current assets driven by larger prepaid contracts in the prior fiscal year, (iii) a $14.5 million increase in accounts payable largely due to the timing of payments due, and (iv) a $6.7 million increase in accrued expenses and other current liabilities. These changes were partially offset by (i) a $44.8 million increase in accounts receivable due to increased billings, (ii) a $24.4 million increase in other non-current assets driven by an increase in capitalized commissions, and (iii) the $12.0 million litigation settlement paid in March 2022.
Investing Activities
For the fiscal year 2025, net cash provided by investing activities was $154.1 million and primarily consisted of $568.7 million of sales and maturities of marketable securities, partially offset by $396.2 million of purchases of marketable securities.
For the fiscal year 2024, net cash used in investing activities was $110.6 million and primarily consisted of $604.6 million of purchases of marketable securities, partially offset by $514.4 million of sales and maturities of marketable securities.
For the fiscal year 2023, net cash used in investing activities was $193.5 million and primarily consisted of $816.7 million of purchases of marketable securities, partially offset by $639.7 million of sales and maturities of marketable securities.
Financing Activities
For the fiscal year 2025, net cash used in financing activities was $248.2 million, which consisted of payments for the 2024 Share Repurchase Program of $273.9 million, offset by $19.9 million of proceeds from the exercise of stock options and $5.8 million of proceeds from the purchase of stock under our 2021 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (“ESPP”).
For the fiscal year 2024, net cash provided by financing activities was $24.1 million, which consisted of proceeds from the exercise of stock options of $43.3 million and proceeds from the purchase of stock under our ESPP of $7.4 million, partially offset by payments for the repurchase of Class A common shares of $26.7 million.
For the fiscal year 2023, cash provided by financing activities was $35.0 million, which consisted of proceeds from the exercise of stock options of $24.7 million and proceeds from the purchase of stock under our ESPP of $10.2 million.
Critical Accounting Estimates
Our consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting periods.
Critical accounting estimates are those estimates that, in accordance with GAAP, involve a significant level of estimation uncertainty and have had or are reasonably likely to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements. Management has determined that our most critical accounting estimates are those relating to revenue recognition and stock-based compensation expense, including historical common stock valuations and performance-based award valuations. We evaluate our estimates and assumptions on an ongoing basis using historical experience and other factors and adjust those estimates and assumptions when facts and circumstances dictate. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates and assumptions.
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Our significant accounting policies are more fully described in Note 2, Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in “Part II, Item 8. Financial Statements” of this Form 10-K.
Revenue Recognition
At times, revenue recognition requires judgment, especially for our arrangements that include multiple performance obligations, or deliverables, such as arrangements that include promises to transfer multiple subscription services, premium support, professional services and managed services. A performance obligation is a promise in a contract with a customer to transfer products or services that are distinct. Determining whether products and services are distinct performance obligations that should be accounted for separately or combined as one unit of accounting may require judgment.
Subscription services are distinct as such offerings are often sold separately. In determining whether professional services are distinct, we consider the following factors for each professional services agreement: availability of the services from other vendors, the nature of the professional services, the timing of when the professional services contract was signed in comparison to the subscription start date and the contractual dependence of the service on the customer’s satisfaction with the professional services work. To date, we have concluded that professional services included in contracts with multiple performance obligations are generally distinct.
The determination of standalone selling price (“SSP”) for each distinct performance obligation requires judgement. We rarely sell our enterprise cloud software products and services as readily observable standalone sales, so we are required to estimate the SSP for each performance obligation. In the determination of the SSP, we may use information that includes contractually stated prices, size of the arrangement, list prices and other observable inputs. Based on these results, the estimated SSP is set for each distinct product or service delivered to customers. As our go-to-market strategies evolve, we may modify our pricing strategies in the future, which could result in changes to SSP.
There were no material changes in the estimates or assumptions used to recognize revenue during the year ended January 31, 2025.
Stock-Based Compensation
We measure and record the expense related to stock-based awards based upon the fair value at the date of grant. We estimate the grant date fair value of each common stock option using the Black-Scholes Merton method, which requires the input of subjective assumptions and management’s best estimates. The assumptions used, including (i) fair value of the underlying common stock, (ii) expected volatility, (iii) expected term, (iv) risk-free interest rate and (v) dividend yield, and how they are estimated is detailed within Note 11, Stock-Based Compensation, to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in “Part II, Item 8. Financial Statements” of this Form 10-K.
Historical Common Stock Valuations
For all periods prior to the Initial Public Offering (“IPO”), the fair values of our common stock were determined by our board of directors, with input from management and taking into account our most recent valuations from an independent third-party valuation specialist. Given the absence of a public trading market for our common stock, our board of directors exercised reasonable judgment and considered a number of objective and subjective factors to determine the best estimate of the fair value of our common stock, including our stage of development; the rights, preferences and privileges of our convertible preferred stock relative to those of our common stock; our financial condition and operating results, including our levels of available capital resources; equity market conditions affecting comparable public companies; general U.S. market conditions; recent secondary stock sales and a tender offer and the lack of marketability of our common stock. Valuations of our common stock were determined in accordance with the guidelines outlined in the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants Practice Guide, Valuation of Privately-Held-Company Equity Securities Issued as Compensation.
Performance and Market-Based Award Valuations
For awards granted that vest upon the achievement of market conditions, we estimate the grant date fair value of these units using a Monte Carlo Simulation. The simulation models multiple stock price paths in order to estimate the grant date fair value of those with market conditions. For those awards with market conditions, stock-based compensation will be recognized regardless of if the market targets were achieved. However, if the grantee does not continue their employment through the derived service period, all related stock-based compensation for that individual was reversed in the period of termination. For awards granted that vest upon the achievement of certain performance conditions, we estimate the fair value of these units using the Company share price on the date of grant. Once the performance conditions are deemed probable, stock-based compensation recognition begins and is recognized over the service period. If at any point the performance conditions are deemed not probable, any expense recognized to date will be reversed.
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Income Taxes
We have determined that it is more likely than not that our U.S. federal and state deferred tax assets will be realizable as of January 31, 2025. In determining the need, or continued need, for a valuation allowance, we considered the weighting of the positive and negative evidence, which includes, among other things, recent historical income and losses, future growth, forecasted earnings and future taxable income. As of January 31, 2025, we achieved three years cumulative U.S. income when considering pre-tax income adjusted for permanent differences and other comprehensive losses. Based on all available positive and negative evidence, having demonstrated sustained profitability, which is objective and verifiable, and taking into account anticipated future earnings, we concluded that it is more likely than not that our U.S. federal and state deferred tax assets will be realizable. See Note 13, Income Taxes, to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in “Part II, Item 8. Financial Statements” of this Form 10-K for additional information.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
Refer to Note 2, Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in “Part II, Item 8. Financial Statements” of this Form 10-K for more information regarding recently. issued accounting pronouncements.
FY 2024 10-K MD&A
SEC filing source: 0001569345-24-000019.
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this Form 10-K. This discussion, particularly information with respect to our future results of operations or financial condition, business strategy and plans and objectives of management for future operations, includes forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties as described under the heading “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” in this Form 10-K. You should review the disclosure under the heading “Risk Factors” in this Form 10-K for a discussion of important factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements.
This section of our Form 10-K discusses our financial condition and results of operations for the fiscal years ended January 31, 2024, 2023, and 2022 and year-to-year comparisons between fiscal 2024 and fiscal 2023. Year-to-year comparisons between fiscal 2023 and fiscal 2022 that are not included in this Form 10-K can be found in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in Part II, Item 7 of our Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2023, filed on April 3, 2023.
Overview
Sprinklr empowers the world’s largest and most loved brands to make their customers happier.
We do this with a new category of enterprise software – Unified Customer Experience Management (“Unified-CXM”) – that enables every customer-facing function across the front office, from Customer Service to Marketing, to collaborate across internal silos, communicate across digital channels, and leverage a complete suite of capabilities to deliver better, more human customer experiences at scale – all on one unified, AI-powered platform.
Our Unified-CXM platform utilizes an architecture purpose-built for managing Customer Experience Management (“CXM”) data and is powered by proprietary AI, collaborative workflow, seamless automation, broad-based listening and customer-led governance to help enterprises analyze massive amounts of unstructured and structured data.
We generate revenue from the sale of subscriptions to our Unified-CXM platform and related professional services. Our platform includes products that are licensed on a per-user basis as well as products that are licensed based on different tiers of volume.
We believe that our Unified-CXM platform is highly effective for organizations of all sizes, and we have a highly diverse group of customers across a broad array of industries and geographies. We focus primarily on selling our platform to large global enterprises, as we believe that we have significant competitive advantages attracting and serving such organizations given their complex needs and the broad capabilities our platform offers.
Our customers include global enterprises across a broad array of industries and geographies, as well as marketing agencies and government departments along with non-profit and educational institutions. Our customers are located in over 80 countries, and our AI-powered CXM platform recognizes over 150 languages. As of January 31, 2024, we had 1,735 customers spanning organizations of a broad range of sizes and industries, including more than 60% of the Fortune 100 companies, compared to 1,428 customers as of January 31, 2023. We define our large customers as customers with greater than or equal to $1.0 million in subscription revenue on a trailing 12-month basis, as of the period presented. As of January 31, 2024, we had 126 large customers compared to 108 as of January 31, 2023.
Key Business Metrics
We review a number of operating and financial metrics, including the following key metrics, to evaluate our business, measure our performance, identify trends affecting our business, formulate business plans and make strategic decisions.
RPO and cRPO
Remaining Performance Obligation (“RPO”) represents contracted revenue that had not yet been recognized and includes deferred revenue and amounts that will be invoiced and recognized in future periods. Current RPO (“cRPO”) represents contracted revenue that has not yet been recognized and includes deferred revenue and amounts that will be invoiced and recognized in the next 12 months. As of January 31, 2024, our RPO was $966.6 million and our cRPO was $587.0 million. As of January 31, 2023, our RPO was $719.5 million and our cRPO was $485.2 million.
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Net Dollar Expansion Rate
We believe that net dollar expansion rate (“NDE”) is an indicator of the value that our platform delivers to customers. We calculate NDE to measure our ability to retain and expand subscription revenue from our existing customers. NDE compares our subscription revenue from the same set of customers across comparable periods and reflects customer renewals, expansion, contraction and churn. We calculate NDE by dividing (i) subscription revenue in the trailing 12-month period from those customers who were on our platform during the most recent prior 12-month period by (ii) subscription revenue from the same customers in the preceding prior 12-month period. This calculation is net of upsells, contraction, cancellation or expansion during the period but excludes subscription revenue from new customers. Our NDE, on a trailing 12-month basis, was 117.7% and 123.9% for the 12-month periods ending January 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The decrease year-over-year was driven by a combination of elevated churn exacerbated by the macroeconomic environment during fiscal 2024.
Macroeconomic Considerations
Unfavorable conditions in the economy both in the United States and abroad may negatively affect the growth of our business and our results of operations. For example, macroeconomic events, including the COVID-19 pandemic, rising inflation, the U.S. Federal Reserve raising interest rates, recent bank closures, and the Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Hamas wars (including any escalation or geographical expansion of these conflicts), have led to economic uncertainty globally. Historically, during periods of economic uncertainty and downturns, businesses may slow spending on information technology, which may impact our business and our customers’ businesses. While we have experienced growing inflationary pressures on the cost of wages, rent, and data, the net result of inflationary impacts and our efforts to mitigate these impacts have not been material to us during the periods included in this report.
The effect of macroeconomic conditions may not be fully reflected in our results of operations until future periods. If, however, economic uncertainty increases or the global economy worsens, our business, financial condition and results of operations may be harmed. For further discussion of the potential impacts of macroeconomic events on our business, financial condition, and operating results, see the section titled “Risk Factors” included in Part I, Item 1A of this Form 10-K and the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2023.
Components of Results of Operations
Revenue
We generate revenue from the sale of subscriptions to our Unified-CXM cloud-based software platform and related professional services.
Subscription revenue consists primarily of fees from customers accessing our proprietary Unified-CXM platform, as well as related support services. Subscription revenue is generally recognized ratably over the related contract term beginning on the commencement date of each contract, which is generally the date our service is made available to customers. Our subscriptions typically have a term of one to three years. Historically, we have experienced seasonality in our sales cycle, as a large percentage of our customers make their purchases in the fourth quarter of a given fiscal year and pay us in the first quarter of the subsequent year. This seasonality may be reflected to a much lesser extent, and sometimes may not be immediately apparent, in our revenue, due to the fact that we recognize subscription revenue over the term of the applicable subscription agreement.
Professional services revenue consists of fees associated with providing services that assist our customers with the configuration and optimization of our Unified-CXM software. These fees also include managed services fees where our consultants work as part of our customers’ teams to help leverage the subscription services to execute on their customer experience management goals and enablement services, which consist of initial design, configuration and education services.
Costs of Revenue
Costs of Subscription Revenue
Costs of subscription revenue consists primarily of costs to host our software platform, data costs, including cost of third-party data utilized in our platform, personnel-related expenses for our subscription and support operations personnel, including salaries, benefits, bonuses, stock-based compensation, professional fees, software costs, travel expenses, the amortization of our capitalized internal-use software and allocated overhead expenses, including facilities costs for our subscription and support operations. We expect that costs of subscription revenue will increase in absolute dollars as we expand our customer base and make continued investments in our cloud infrastructure and support organization.
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Costs of Professional Services Revenue
Costs of professional services revenue consists primarily of personnel-related expenses for our professional services personnel, professional fees, software costs, subcontractor costs, travel expenses and allocated overhead expenses, including facilities costs, for our professional services organization. We expect that our costs of professional services revenue will increase in absolute dollars as we expand our customer base.
Gross Profit and Gross Margin
Gross profit is total revenue less total costs of revenue. Gross margin is gross profit expressed as a percentage of total revenue. We expect that gross profit and gross margin will continue to be affected by various factors, including our pricing, our mix of revenues and the costs required to deliver those revenues.
Our gross margin on subscription revenue is significantly higher than our gross margin on professional services revenue, and as a result our gross margin may vary from period to period if our mix of revenue or costs of revenue fluctuates. In addition, because personnel-related expenses represent the largest component in costs of professional services revenue, we may experience changes in our professional services gross margin due to the timing of delivery of those services. We expect that our gross margin may vary from period to period and increase modestly in the long term.
Operating Expenses
Our operating expenses consist of research and development, sales and marketing and general and administrative expenses.
Research and Development Expense
Research and development expense consists primarily of costs relating to the maintenance, continued development and enhancement of our cloud-based software platform and includes personnel-related expense for our research and development organization, professional fees, travel expenses and allocated overhead expenses, including facilities costs. Research and development expenses are expensed as incurred, except for internal-use software development costs that qualify for capitalization. We expect research and development expense to increase in absolute dollars as we continue to invest in enhancing and expanding the capabilities of our Unified-CXM platform.
Sales and Marketing Expense
Sales and marketing expense consists primarily of personnel-related expenses for our sales and marketing organization, professional fees, software costs, advertising, marketing, promotional and brand awareness activities, travel expenses and allocated overhead expense, including facilities costs. Sales commissions earned by our sales force are considered incremental and recoverable costs of obtaining a contract with a customer and are deferred and amortized on a straight-line basis over the expected period of benefit. We expect sales and marketing expense to increase in absolute dollars as we continue to drive the growth of our business. We continue to optimize our sales and marketing expense and seek efficiencies in our investments.
General and Administrative Expense
General and administrative expense includes personnel costs associated with administrative services, such as legal, human resources, information technology, accounting, and finance functions, as well as professional fees, software costs, travel expenses and allocated overhead expense, including facilities costs and any corporate overhead expenses not allocated to other expense categories.
We expect our general and administrative expense to increase in absolute dollars as we continue to grow our business. We also anticipate that we will incur additional costs for employees and third-party consulting services, which may cause our general and administrative expense to fluctuate as a percentage of revenue from period to period.
Other Income (Expense), Net
Other income (expense), net, consists of interest income on invested cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities, interest expense, foreign currency transaction gains and losses and other expenses and gains.
Provision for Income Taxes
Provision for income taxes consists primarily of income taxes related to foreign and U.S. jurisdictions in which we conduct business. Our annual estimated effective tax rate differed from the U.S. federal statutory rate primarily due to a full valuation allowance related to our U.S. deferred tax assets, partially offset by U.S. current state taxes and foreign tax rate differential on non-U.S. income and discrete items relating to releases of valuation allowances in certain foreign jurisdictions.
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Results of Operations
The following table sets forth our consolidated statements of operations data for the periods indicated:
| Year Ended January 31, | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (in thousands) | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |||||||
| Revenue: | ||||||||||
| Subscription | $ | 668,541 | $ | 548,649 | $ | 427,713 | ||||
| Professional services | 63,819 | 69,541 | 64,681 | |||||||
| Total revenue | 732,360 | 618,190 | 492,394 | |||||||
| Costs of revenue: | ||||||||||
| Costs of subscription (1) | 116,032 | 102,276 | 89,896 | |||||||
| Costs of professional services (1) | 63,369 | 61,449 | 57,655 | |||||||
| Total costs of revenue | 179,401 | 163,725 | 147,551 | |||||||
| Gross profit | 552,959 | 454,465 | 344,843 | |||||||
| Operating expense: | ||||||||||
| Research and development (1) | 91,292 | 76,658 | 60,591 | |||||||
| Sales and marketing (1) | 321,849 | 336,719 | 286,963 | |||||||
| General and administrative (1) | 105,873 | 92,312 | 84,759 | |||||||
| Litigation settlement | — | — | 12,000 | |||||||
| Total operating expense | 519,014 | 505,689 | 444,313 | |||||||
| Operating income (loss) | 33,945 | (51,224) | (99,470) | |||||||
| Other income (expense), net | 26,577 | 3,756 | (5,084) | |||||||
| Income (loss) before provision for income taxes | 60,522 | (47,468) | (104,554) | |||||||
| Provision for income taxes | 9,119 | 8,274 | 6,916 | |||||||
| Net income (loss) | $ | 51,403 | $ | (55,742) | $ | (111,470) |
| (1) Includes stock-based compensation expense, net of amounts capitalized, as follows: | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year Ended January 31, | ||||||||||
| (in thousands) | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |||||||
| Costs of subscription | $ | 1,130 | $ | 1,528 | $ | 1,794 | ||||
| Costs of professional services | 1,450 | 2,249 | 2,448 | |||||||
| Research and development | 11,566 | 10,678 | 6,417 | |||||||
| Sales and marketing | 24,477 | 26,651 | 19,929 | |||||||
| General and administrative | 17,134 | 14,411 | 19,543 | |||||||
| Stock-based compensation expense, net of amounts capitalized | $ | 55,757 | $ | 55,517 | $ | 50,131 |
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The following table sets forth our consolidated statements of operations data expressed as a percentage of total revenue (1):
| Year Ended January 31, | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | ||||||
| Revenue: | ||||||||
| Subscription | 91 | % | 89 | % | 87 | % | ||
| Professional services | 9 | % | 11 | % | 13 | % | ||
| Total revenue | 100 | % | 100 | % | 100 | % | ||
| Costs of revenue: | ||||||||
| Costs of subscription | 16 | % | 17 | % | 18 | % | ||
| Costs of professional services | 9 | % | 10 | % | 12 | % | ||
| Total costs of revenue | 24 | % | 26 | % | 30 | % | ||
| Operating expense: | ||||||||
| Research and development | 12 | % | 12 | % | 12 | % | ||
| Sales and marketing | 44 | % | 54 | % | 58 | % | ||
| General and administrative | 14 | % | 15 | % | 17 | % | ||
| Litigation settlement | 0 | % | 0 | % | 2 | % | ||
| Total operating expense | 71 | % | 82 | % | 88 | % | ||
| Operating income (loss) | 5 | % | (8) | % | (20) | % | ||
| Other income (expense), net | 4 | % | 1 | % | (1) | % | ||
| Income (loss) before provision for income taxes | 8 | % | (8) | % | (21) | % | ||
| Provision for income taxes | 1 | % | 1 | % | 1 | % | ||
| Net income (loss) | 7 | % | (9) | % | (23) | % |
(1) Totals may not foot due to rounding.
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Comparison of Fiscal Years Ended January 31, 2024 and 2023
Revenue
| Year Ended January 31, | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (in thousands) | 2024 | 2023 | $ Change | % Change | ||||||||||
| Subscription | $ | 668,541 | $ | 548,649 | $ | 119,892 | 22 | % | ||||||
| Professional services | 63,819 | 69,541 | (5,722) | (8) | % | |||||||||
| Total revenue | $ | 732,360 | $ | 618,190 | $ | 114,170 | 18 | % |
The increase in subscription revenue was primarily due to (i) an increase in revenue from existing customers driven by the purchase of additional quantities of current subscription solutions and additional add-on solutions within our platform and (ii) an increase in demand for our solutions from new customers.
The decrease in professional services revenue was primarily due to decreases in implementation and managed services performed in the year ended January 31, 2024 compared to the prior year period.
Costs of Revenue and Gross Margin
| Year Ended January 31, | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (in thousands) | 2024 | 2023 | $ Change | % Change | ||||||||||
| Costs of subscription revenue | $ | 116,032 | $ | 102,276 | $ | 13,756 | 13 | % | ||||||
| Costs of professional services revenue | 63,369 | 61,449 | 1,920 | 3 | % | |||||||||
| Total costs of revenue | $ | 179,401 | $ | 163,725 | $ | 15,676 | 10 | % | ||||||
| Gross margin - subscription | 83 | % | 81 | % | ||||||||||
| Gross margin - professional services | 1 | % | 12 | % |
The increase in costs of subscription revenue was primarily due to (i) higher costs related to third-party cloud infrastructure necessary to meet our increased customer demand, which included a $10.3 million increase in our data and hosting costs and (ii) a $3.6 million increase in the amortization of capitalized research and development costs.
The increase in costs of professional services revenue was partially due to (i) higher personnel-related costs of $2.7 million resulting from an increase in headcount, (ii) increased travel and entertainment expenses of $0.8 million and (iii) an increase in rent and facilities-related costs of $0.7 million. These increases were partially offset by a $2.6 million decline in subcontractor costs.
Gross margin for subscription increased by 2 percentage points, primarily driven by the growth in subscription revenue. Gross margin for professional services decreased by 11 percentage points as we increased our investment in CCaaS service delivery personnel in fiscal 2024 to support future growth in our CCaaS solutions.
Research and Development Expense
| Year Ended January 31, | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (in thousands) | 2024 | 2023 | $ Change | % Change | ||||||||||
| Research and development | $ | 91,292 | $ | 76,658 | $ | 14,634 | 19 | % | ||||||
| % of revenue | 12 | % | 12 | % |
The increase in research and development expense was primarily due to (i) a $11.3 million increase in research and development personnel-related costs resulting from an increase in headcount of research and development employees as we continue to add to and enhance our product and (ii) a $1.8 million increase in rent and facilities-related costs.
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Sales and Marketing Expense
| Year Ended January 31, | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (in thousands) | 2024 | 2023 | $ Change | % Change | ||||||||||
| Sales and marketing | $ | 321,849 | $ | 336,719 | $ | (14,870) | (4) | % | ||||||
| % of revenue | 44 | % | 54 | % |
The decrease in sales and marketing expense was primarily due to (i) a $15.1 million decline in personnel costs as a result of lower headcount and (ii) a $1.6 million reduction in recruiting fees. These decreases were partially offset by a $3.4 million increase in costs associated with trade shows and other events.
General and Administrative Expense
| Year Ended January 31, | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (in thousands) | 2024 | 2023 | $ Change | % Change | ||||||||||
| General and administrative | $ | 105,873 | $ | 92,312 | $ | 13,561 | 15 | % | ||||||
| % of revenue | 14 | % | 15 | % |
The increase in general and administrative expense was primarily due to (i) $5.9 million in bad debt expense, largely related to one customer, as well as an overall increase in accounts receivable, (ii) an increase of $3.9 million associated with personnel-related costs driven by increased stock compensation expense primarily related to new grants during fiscal year 2024 and (iii) an increase of $2.0 million related to consulting and professional fees.
Other Income (Expense), Net
| Year Ended January 31, | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (in thousands) | 2024 | 2023 | $ Change | % Change | ||||||||||
| Other income, net | $ | 26,577 | $ | 3,756 | $ | 22,821 | 608 | % | ||||||
| % of revenue | 4 | % | 1 | % |
The increase in other income, net was primarily attributable to a $22.0 million increase in interest income from our money market and short-term investment accounts as a result of higher interest rates and higher average balances in our money market and short-term investment accounts.
Provision for Income Taxes
| Year Ended January 31, | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (in thousands) | 2024 | 2023 | $ Change | % Change | ||||||||||
| Provision for income taxes | $ | 9,119 | $ | 8,274 | $ | 845 | 10 | % | ||||||
| % of revenue | 1 | % | 1 | % |
The increase in the tax provision for the year ended January 31, 2024 compared to the year ended January 31, 2023 was primarily related to an increase in foreign tax provisions of approximately $4.0 million relating to higher taxable income in our non-US jurisdictions, offset by a $3.3 million release of the valuation allowance in certain foreign subsidiaries.
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Non-GAAP Financial Measures
In addition to our results determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP, we believe that the following non-GAAP financial measures associated with our consolidated statement of operations are useful in evaluating our operating performance:
•Non-GAAP gross profit and non-GAAP gross margin
•Non-GAAP operating income (loss) and non-GAAP operating margin; and
•Non-GAAP net income (loss) and non-GAAP net income (loss) per share
We define these non-GAAP financial measures as the respective U.S. GAAP measures, excluding, as applicable, stock-based compensation expense-related charges, charges on litigation settlements, and amortization of acquired intangible assets. We believe that it is useful to exclude stock-based compensation expense-related charges and amortization of acquired intangible assets in order to better understand the long-term performance of our core business and to facilitate comparison of our results to those of peer companies over multiple periods. We also exclude charges on litigation settlements that are considered to be non-ordinary course as we do not consider such losses to be indicative of our core business. In periods of net loss, we calculate non-GAAP net income (loss) per share by using non-GAAP net income (loss) divided by basic weighted average shares for the period regardless of whether we are in a non-GAAP net income or (loss) position and assuming that all potentially dilutive securities are anti-dilutive.
In addition, we believe that free cash flow is also a useful non-GAAP financial measure. Free cash flow is defined as net cash provided by (used in) operating activities less cash used for purchases of property and equipment and capitalized internal-use software. We believe that free cash flow is a useful indicator of liquidity as it measures our ability to generate cash, or our need to access additional sources of cash, to fund operations and investments. We expect our free cash flow to fluctuate in future periods with changes in our operating expenses and as we continue to invest in our growth. We typically experience higher billings in the fourth quarter compared to other quarters and experience higher collections of accounts receivable in the first half of the year, which results in a decrease in accounts receivable in the first half of the year.
However, non-GAAP financial measures have limitations in their usefulness to investors because they have no standardized meaning prescribed by U.S. GAAP and are not prepared under any comprehensive set of accounting rules or principles. In addition, other companies, including companies in our industry, may calculate similarly titled non-GAAP financial measures differently or may use other measures to evaluate their performance, all of which could reduce the usefulness of our non-GAAP financial measures as tools for comparison. As a result, our non-GAAP financial measures are presented for supplemental informational purposes only and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for our consolidated financial statements presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP.
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A reconciliation is provided below for each non-GAAP financial measure to the most directly comparable financial measure stated in accordance with GAAP:
| Year Ended January 31, | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (in thousands) | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |||||||
| Non-GAAP gross profit and non-GAAP gross margin: | ||||||||||
| U.S. GAAP gross profit | $ | 552,959 | $ | 454,465 | $ | 344,843 | ||||
| Stock-based compensation expense and related charges (1) | 2,625 | 3,861 | 4,355 | |||||||
| Non-GAAP gross profit | $ | 555,584 | $ | 458,326 | $ | 349,198 | ||||
| Gross margin | 76 | % | 74 | % | 70 | % | ||||
| Non-GAAP gross margin | 76 | % | 74 | % | 71 | % | ||||
| Non-GAAP operating income (loss): | ||||||||||
| U.S. GAAP operating income (loss): | $ | 33,945 | $ | (51,224) | $ | (99,470) | ||||
| Stock-based compensation expense and related charges (2) | 57,902 | 56,704 | 51,552 | |||||||
| Litigation settlement (3) | — | — | 12,000 | |||||||
| Amortization of acquired intangible assets | 200 | 475 | 412 | |||||||
| Non-GAAP operating income (loss) | $ | 92,047 | $ | 5,955 | $ | (35,506) | ||||
| Operating margin | 5 | % | (8) | % | (20) | % | ||||
| Non-GAAP operating margin | 13 | % | 1 | % | (7) | % |
(1) Employer payroll tax related to stock-based compensation for the years ended January 31, 2024, 2023, and 2022 was immaterial as to the impact to gross profit.
(2) Includes $2.1 million, $1.2 million and $1.4 million of employer payroll tax related to stock-based compensation expense for the years ended January 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
(3) On February 25, 2022, we and Opal agreed to settle all outstanding claims with respect to Opal’s complaints alleging breach of contract and violation of Oregon’s Uniform Trade Secrets Act, among other claims. The settlement amount was recorded as a one-time operating expense charge in fiscal year 2022, which was paid in fiscal year 2023.
| Year Ended January 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (in thousands) | Per Share-Basic | Per Share-Diluted | (in thousands) | Per Share-Basic | Per Share-Diluted | (in thousands) | Per Share-Basic | Per Share-Diluted | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Non-GAAP net income reconciliation to net income (loss) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income (loss) | $ | 51,403 | $ | 0.19 | $ | 0.18 | $ | (55,742) | $ | (0.21) | $ | (0.21) | $ | (111,470) | $ | (0.57) | $ | (0.57) | ||||||||||||||||
| Add: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stock-based compensation expense-related charges | 57,902 | 0.22 | 0.20 | 56,704 | 0.22 | 0.22 | 51,552 | 0.26 | 0.26 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Litigation settlement | — | 0.00 | 0.00 | — | 0.00 | 0.00 | 12,000 | 0.07 | 0.07 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amortization of acquired intangible assets | 200 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 475 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 412 | 0.00 | 0.00 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total additions, net | 58,102 | 0.22 | 0.20 | 57,179 | 0.22 | 0.22 | 63,964 | 0.33 | 0.33 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Non-GAAP net income (loss) | $ | 109,505 | $ | 0.41 | $ | 0.38 | $ | 1,437 | $ | 0.01 | $ | 0.01 | $ | (47,506) | $ | (0.24) | $ | (0.24) | ||||||||||||||||
| Weighted-average shares outstanding used in computing net income (loss) per share, basic | 269,974 | 259,530 | 195,020 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weighted average shares outstanding used in computing net income (loss) per share, diluted | 287,093 | 259,530 | 195,020 |
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| Year Ended January 31, | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (in thousands) | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |||||||
| Free cash flow: | ||||||||||
| Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities | $ | 71,465 | $ | 26,660 | $ | (32,922) | ||||
| Purchases of property and equipment | (8,548) | (6,091) | (6,148) | |||||||
| Capitalized internal-use software | (11,777) | (10,358) | (6,258) | |||||||
| Free cash flow | $ | 51,140 | $ | 10,211 | $ | (45,328) |
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Overview
As of January 31, 2024, our principal sources of liquidity were $164.0 million of cash and cash equivalents and $498.5 million of highly liquid marketable securities. We believe that our existing cash and cash equivalents, marketable securities and cash from operations will be sufficient to meet our working capital needs, capital expenditures and financing obligations for at least the next 12 months and over the long-term. The majority of our cash is held in the United States and we do not anticipate a need to repatriate cash held outside of the United States. Further, it is our intent to indefinitely reinvest these funds outside the United States, and, therefore, we have not provided for any United States income taxes.
Letters of Credit and Restricted Cash
In April 2023, we terminated our credit facility with Silicon Valley Bank (“SVB”), while keeping our existing letters of credit in lieu of deposits on certain leases. As we no longer have a credit facility with SVB, we were required to collateralize these letters of credit with cash, totaling approximately $1.3 million, which we therefore have classified within restricted cash. Due to its long-term nature, this restricted cash is recorded within other non-current assets on the consolidated balance sheets.
During 2023, we entered into cash collateral agreements with J.P. Morgan Bank in lieu of a credit facility, through which approximately $5.4 million is outstanding as of January 31, 2024. Due to its long-term nature, this restricted cash is recorded within other non-current assets on the consolidated balance sheets.
Material Cash Requirements
Our expected material cash requirements consist of contractually obligated expenditures. We have agreements in place with data and service providers that require us to make certain minimum guaranteed purchase commitments through fiscal year 2028, which totaled $131.1 million as of January 31, 2024, of which $69.5 million is due within twelve months. We had no material changes to these purchase commitments during fiscal 2024. In addition, we lease certain office facilities under operating lease arrangements that expire on various dates through fiscal year 2029. Refer to Note 9, Leases, to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in “Part II, Item 8. Financial Statements” of this Form 10-K for a discussion of our leases. In August 2023, we signed a 10-year lease for a new corporate headquarters in New York, NY, which has not yet commenced. The annual lease payments will be approximately $2.6 million once the lease commences.
On January 8, 2024, we entered into the 2024 Share Repurchase Program, whereby we may repurchase up to $100 million of Class A common stock. During the year ended January 31, 2024 we repurchased approximately 2.4 million shares of our Class A common stock for a cost of $29.6 million. As of January 31, 2024, the remaining amount authorized for share repurchase under the 2024 Share Repurchase Program was $70.4 million. Between February 1, 2024 and March 22, 2024, we purchased an additional 2,041,729 shares of Class A common stock for a cost of $26.0 million. For additional information regarding the 2024 Share Repurchase Program, see “Part II, Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities” and Note 11, Stockholders’ Equity, to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in “Part II, Item 8, Financial Statements” of this Form 10-K.
Future Funding Requirements
Our future capital requirements will depend on many factors, including our growth rate, the expansion of our direct sales force, strategic relationships and international operations, the timing and extent of spending to support research and development efforts and the continuing market acceptance of our solutions. We historically have expanded our business in part by investing in strategic growth initiatives, including acquisitions of products, technologies and businesses. We may finance such acquisitions using cash, debt, stock or a combination of the foregoing; however, we have used cash and stock as consideration for substantially all of our historical business acquisitions. We continually examine our options with respect to terms and sources of existing and future short-term and long-term capital resources to enhance our operating results and to ensure that we retain financial flexibility, and may from time to time elect to raise capital through the issuance of additional equity or the incurrence of debt. Sales of additional equity could result in dilution to our stockholders. If we raise funds by borrowing from third parties, the terms of those financing arrangements would
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require us to incur interest expense and may include negative covenants or other restrictions on our business that could impair our operating flexibility. We can provide no assurance that financing will be available at all or, if available, that we would be able to obtain financing on terms favorable to us. If we are unable to raise additional capital when needed, we would be required to curtail our operating activities and capital expenditures, and our business operating results and financial condition would be adversely affected.
Cash Flows
The following table shows a summary of our cash flows for the periods indicated:
| Year Ended January 31, | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (in thousands) | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |||||||
| Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities | $ | 71,465 | $ | 26,660 | $ | (32,922) | ||||
| Net cash used in investing activities | $ | (110,570) | $ | (193,494) | $ | (15,650) | ||||
| Net cash provided by financing activities | $ | 24,086 | $ | 34,971 | $ | 303,132 |
Our net income (loss) and cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities are influenced significantly by our investments in headcount to support growth and in costs of revenue to deliver our services. In fiscal year 2024, our shift into net income was the result of our increased subscription revenue and related billings and increased interest income from our marketable securities, as well as the amount of non-cash charges that we incur. Non-cash charges primarily include depreciation and amortization, amortization/accretion on marketable securities, stock-based compensation, and non-cash lease expense. Our largest source of operating cash is cash collections from customers using our Unified-CXM platform and related services. Our primary uses of cash from operating activities are for employee-related costs, costs to deliver our revenue and marketing expenses.
We expect our free cash flow to fluctuate in future periods with changes in our operating expenses and as we continue to invest in our growth. We typically experience higher billings in the fourth quarter compared to other quarters, primarily due to higher renewal activity, and experience higher collections of accounts receivable in the first half of the year, which results in a decrease in accounts receivable in the first half of the year.
Operating Activities
For the fiscal year 2024, cash provided by operating activities was $71.5 million, which consisted of net income of $51.4 million, adjusted for non-cash expenses of $65.9 million and $45.8 million of net cash flows used as a result of changes in operating assets and liabilities. The $45.8 million of net cash flows used as a result of changes in our operating assets and liabilities reflected a (i) $68.7 million increase in accounts receivable due to increased billings and the timing of invoices billed, (ii) a $25.6 million increase in other non-current assets driven by an increase in capitalized commissions, and (iii) an $8.0 million decrease in operating lease liabilities due to ongoing payments for leased properties. These decreases to cash flows from operations were partially offset by (i) a $49.8 million increase in deferred revenue resulting primarily from increased billings for subscriptions, (ii) a $8.7 million decrease in prepaid expenses and other current assets driven by larger prepaid contracts in the prior fiscal year, and (iii) a $3.3 million increase in accounts payable largely due to an overall increase in spend and the timing of payments due.
For the fiscal year 2023, cash provided by operating activities was $26.7 million resulting from net loss of $55.7 million offset by net non-cash expenses of $75.7 million and $6.7 million net cash flow provided as a result of changes in operating assets and liabilities. The $6.7 million of net cash flows provided as a result of changes in operating assets and liabilities reflected (i) a $41.5 million increase in deferred revenue resulting primarily from increased billings for subscriptions, (ii) a $29.1 million decrease in prepaid expenses and other current assets driven by larger prepaid contracts in the prior fiscal year, (iii) a $14.5 million increase in accounts payable largely due to the timing of payments due, and (iv) a $6.7 million increase in accrued expenses and other current liabilities. These changes were partially offset by (i) a $44.8 million increase in accounts receivable due to increased billings, (ii) a $24.4 million increase in other non-current assets driven by an increase in capitalized commissions, and (iii) the $12.0 million litigation settlement paid in March 2022.
For the fiscal year 2022, cash used in operating activities was $32.9 million resulting from net loss of $111.5 million offset by non-cash expenses of $72.2 million and $6.3 million net cash flow provided as a result of changes in operating assets and liabilities. The $6.3 million of net cash flows used as a result of changes in our operating assets and liabilities reflected a $43.4 million increase in deferred revenue resulting primarily from increased billings for subscriptions and a $25.5 million increase in accrued expenses and other current liabilities, partially offset by a $47.1 million increase in accounts receivable due to increased billings and a $6.8 million increase in other non-current assets.
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Investing Activities
For the fiscal year 2024, net cash used in investing activities was $110.6 million and primarily consisted of $604.6 million of purchases of marketable securities, partially offset by $514.4 million of sales and maturities of marketable securities.
For the fiscal year 2023, net cash used in investing activities was $193.5 million and primarily consisted of $816.7 million of purchases of marketable securities, partially offset by $639.7 million of sales and maturities of marketable securities.
For the fiscal year 2022, net cash used in investing activities was $15.7 million and consisted of $267.8 million of purchases of marketable securities, $6.3 million in capitalized internal-use software costs, $6.1 million in capital expenditures, and $3.6 million of cash paid to acquire a privately held company. These cash outflows were largely offset by $268.2 million of sales and maturities of marketable securities.
Financing Activities
For the fiscal year 2024, net cash provided by financing activities was $24.1 million, which consisted of proceeds from the exercise of stock options of $43.3 million and proceeds from the purchases of stock under our ESPP of $7.4 million, partially offset by payments for the repurchase of Class A common shares of $26.7 million.
For the fiscal year 2023, cash provided by financing activities was $35.0 million, which consisted of proceeds from the exercise of stock options of $24.7 million and proceeds from the purchase of stock under our ESPP of $10.2 million.
For the fiscal year 2022, cash provided by financing activities was $303.1 million, which consisted of proceeds from our IPO of $276.0 million, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and other offering expenses, proceeds from the exercise of stock options of $20.1 million, and proceeds from the purchase of stock under our ESPP of $7.1 million.
Critical Accounting Estimates
Our consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting periods.
Critical accounting estimates are those estimates that, in accordance with GAAP, involve a significant level of estimation uncertainty and have had or are reasonably likely to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements. Management has determined that our most critical accounting estimates are those relating to revenue recognition and stock-based compensation expense, including historical common stock valuations and performance-based award valuations. We evaluate our estimates and assumptions on an ongoing basis using historical experience and other factors and adjust those estimates and assumptions when facts and circumstances dictate. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates and assumptions.
Our significant accounting policies are more fully described in Note 2, Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in “Part II, Item 8. Financial Statements” of this Form 10-K.
Revenue Recognition
At times, revenue recognition requires judgment, especially for our arrangements that include multiple performance obligations, or deliverables, such as arrangements that include promises to transfer multiple subscription services, premium support, professional services and managed services. A performance obligation is a promise in a contract with a customer to transfer products or services that are distinct. Determining whether products and services are distinct performance obligations that should be accounted for separately or combined as one unit of accounting may require judgment.
Subscription services are distinct as such offerings are often sold separately. In determining whether professional services are distinct, we consider the following factors for each professional services agreement: availability of the services from other vendors, the nature of the professional services, the timing of when the professional services contract was signed in comparison to the subscription start date and the contractual dependence of the service on the customer’s satisfaction with the professional services work. To date, we have concluded that professional services included in contracts with multiple performance obligations are generally distinct.
The determination of standalone selling price (“SSP”) for each distinct performance obligation requires judgement. We rarely sell our enterprise cloud software products and services as readily observable standalone sales, so we are required to estimate the SSP for each performance obligation. In the determination of the SSP, we may use information that includes contractually stated prices, size of the arrangement, list prices and other observable inputs. Based on these results, the estimated SSP is set for each distinct product or service delivered to customers. As our go-to-market strategies evolve, we may modify our pricing strategies in the future, which could result in changes to SSP.
There were no material changes in the estimates or assumptions used to recognize revenue during the year ended January 31, 2024.
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Stock-Based Compensation
We measure and record the expense related to stock-based awards based upon the fair value at the date of grant. We estimate the grant date fair value of each common stock option using the Black-Scholes Merton method, which requires the input of subjective assumptions and management’s best estimates. The assumptions used, including (i) fair value of the underlying common stock, (ii) expected volatility, (iii) expected term, (iv) risk-free interest rate and (v) dividend yield, and how they are estimated is detailed within Note 12, Stock-Based Compensation, to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in “Part II, Item 8. Financial Statements” of this Form 10-K.
Historical Common Stock Valuations
For all periods prior to the IPO, the fair values of our common stock were determined by our board of directors, with input from management and taking into account our most recent valuations from an independent third-party valuation specialist. Given the absence of a public trading market for our common stock, our board of directors exercised reasonable judgment and considered a number of objective and subjective factors to determine the best estimate of the fair value of our common stock, including our stage of development; the rights, preferences and privileges of our convertible preferred stock relative to those of our common stock; our financial condition and operating results, including our levels of available capital resources; equity market conditions affecting comparable public companies; general U.S. market conditions; recent secondary stock sales and a tender offer and the lack of marketability of our common stock. Valuations of our common stock were determined in accordance with the guidelines outlined in the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants Practice Guide, Valuation of Privately-Held-Company Equity Securities Issued as Compensation.
Performance-Based Award Valuations
For awards granted that vest upon the achievement of certain performance conditions and market conditions, we estimated the grant date fair value of these units using a Monte Carlo Simulation. The simulation modeled multiple stock price paths in order to estimate the grant date fair value of those with market conditions . Once the performance conditions were deemed probable, stock-based compensation recognition began and was recognized over the derived service period produced by the model, unless otherwise accelerated as noted within Note 12, Stock-Based Compensation, to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in “Part II, Item 8. Financial Statements” of this Form 10-K. For those awards with market conditions, stock-based compensation will be recognized regardless of if the market targets were achieved. However, if the grantee does not continue their employment through the derived service period, all related stock-based compensation for that individual was reversed in the period of termination.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
Refer to Note 2, Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in “Part II, Item 8. Financial Statements” of this Form 10-K for more information regarding recently issued accounting pronouncements.
FY 2023 10-K MD&A
SEC filing source: 0001569345-23-000023.
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this Form 10-K. This discussion, particularly information with respect to our future results of operations or financial condition, business strategy and plans and objectives of management for future operations, includes forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties as described under the heading “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” in this Form 10-K. You should review the disclosure under the heading “Risk Factors” in this Form 10-K for a discussion of important factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements.
This section of our Form 10-K discusses our financial condition and results of operations for the fiscal years ended January 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021 and year-to-year comparisons between fiscal 2023 and fiscal 2022. Year-to-year comparisons between fiscal 2022 and fiscal 2021 that are not included in this Form 10-K can be found in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in Part II, Item 7 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2022, filed on April 11, 2022.
Overview
Sprinklr empowers the world’s largest and most loved brands to make their customers happier.
We do this with a new category of enterprise software – Unified Customer Experience Management (“Unified-CXM”) – that enables every customer-facing function across the front office, from Customer Service to Marketing, to collaborate across internal silos, communicate across digital channels, and leverage a complete suite of capabilities to deliver better, more human customer experiences at scale – all on one unified, AI-powered platform.
Our Unified-CXM platform utilizes an architecture purpose-built for managing CXM data and is powered by proprietary AI, collaborative workflow, seamless automation, broad-based listening and customer-led governance to help enterprises analyze massive amounts of unstructured and structured data.
We generate revenue from the sale of subscriptions to our Unified-CXM platform and related professional services. Our platform includes products that are licensed on a per-user basis as well as products that are licensed based on different tiers of volume.
We believe that our Unified-CXM platform is highly effective for organizations of all sizes, and we have a highly diverse group of customers across a broad array of industries and geographies. We focus primarily on selling our platform to large global enterprises, as we believe that we have significant competitive advantages attracting and serving such organizations given their complex needs and the broad capabilities our platform offers.
Our customers include global enterprises across a broad array of industries and geographies, as well as marketing agencies and government departments along with non-profit and educational institutions. Our customers are located in over 70 countries and use our platform in over 100 languages. As of January 31, 2023, we had 1,428 customers spanning organizations of a broad range of sizes and industries, including more than two-thirds of the Fortune 100 companies, compared to 1,166 customers as of January 31, 2022. We define our large customers as customers with greater than or equal to $1.0 million in subscription revenue on a trailing 12-month basis, as of the period presented. As of January 31, 2023, we had 108 large customers compared to 82 as of January 31, 2022.
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Key Business Metrics
We review a number of operating and financial metrics, including the following key metrics, to evaluate our business, measure our performance, identify trends affecting our business, formulate business plans and make strategic decisions.
RPO and cRPO
Remaining Performance Obligation (“RPO”) represents contracted revenues that had not yet been recognized, and include deferred revenues and amounts that will be invoiced and recognized in future periods. Current RPO (“cRPO”) represents contracted revenue that has not yet been recognized and includes deferred revenue and amounts that will be invoiced and recognized in the next 12 months. The aggregate transaction price of RPO expected to be recognized as revenue was $719.5 million and $569.5 million as of January 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The transaction price of cRPO to be recognized as revenue in the next 12 months was $485.2 million and $395.0 million as of January 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
RPO as of January 31, 2022 has been reduced from $586.4 million previously reported to $569.5 million in order to correct the treatment of an immaterial number of contracts included in the calculation of RPO.
Net Dollar Expansion Rate
We believe that net dollar expansion rate (“NDE”) is an indicator of the value that our platform delivers to customers. We calculate NDE to measure our ability to retain and expand subscription revenue from our existing customers. NDE compares our subscription revenue from the same set of customers across comparable periods and reflects customer renewals, expansion, contraction and churn. We calculate NDE by dividing (i) subscription revenue in the trailing 12-month period from those customers who were on our platform during the most recent prior 12-month period by (ii) subscription revenue from the same customers in the preceding prior 12-month period. This calculation is net of upsells, contraction, cancellation or expansion during the period but excludes subscription revenue from new customers. NDE, on a trailing 12-month basis, was 123.9% and 119.8% for the 12-month periods ending January 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
Macroeconomic Considerations
Unfavorable conditions in the economy both in the United States and abroad may negatively affect the growth of our business and our results of operations. For example, macroeconomic events, including the COVID-19 pandemic, rising inflation, the U.S. Federal Reserve raising interest rates and the Russia-Ukraine war, have led to economic uncertainty globally. Historically, during periods of economic uncertainty and downturns, businesses may slow spending on information technology, which may impact our business and our customers’ businesses.
The effect of macroeconomic conditions may not be fully reflected in our results of operations until future periods. If, however, economic uncertainty increases or the global economy worsens, our business, financial condition and results of operations may be harmed. For further discussion of the potential impacts of macroeconomic events on our business, financial condition, and operating results, see the section titled “Risk Factors.”
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Components of Results of Operations
Revenue
We generate revenue from the sale of subscriptions to our Unified-CXM cloud-based software platform and related professional services.
Subscription revenue consists primarily of fees from customers accessing our proprietary Unified-CXM platform, as well as related support services. Subscription revenue is generally recognized ratably over the related contract term beginning on the commencement date of each contract, which is generally the date our service is made available to customers. Our subscriptions typically have a term of one to three years. Historically, we have experienced seasonality in our sales cycle, as a large percentage of our customers make their purchases in the fourth quarter of a given fiscal year and pay us in the first quarter of the subsequent year. This seasonality may be reflected to a much lesser extent, and sometimes may not be immediately apparent, in our revenue, due to the fact that we recognize subscription revenue over the term of the applicable subscription agreement.
Professional services revenue consists of fees associated with providing services that assist our customers with the configuration and optimization of our Unified-CXM software. These fees also include managed services fees where our consultants work as part of our customers’ teams to help leverage the subscription services to execute on their customer experience management goals and enablement services which consist of initial design, configuration and education services.
Costs of Revenue
Costs of Subscription Revenue
Costs of subscription revenue consists primarily of costs to host our software platform, data costs, including cost of third-party data utilized in our platform, personnel-related expenses for our subscription and support operations personnel, including salaries, benefits, bonuses, stock-based compensation, professional fees, software costs, travel expenses, the amortization of our capitalized internal-use software and allocated overhead expenses, including facilities costs for our subscription and support operations. We expect that costs of subscription revenue will increase in absolute dollars as we expand our customer base and make continued investments in our cloud infrastructure and support organization.
Costs of Professional Services Revenue
Costs of professional services revenue consists primarily of personnel-related expenses for our professional services personnel, professional fees, software costs, subcontractor costs, travel expenses and allocated overhead expenses, including facilities costs, for our professional services organization. We expect that our costs of professional services revenue will increase in absolute dollars as we expand our customer base.
Gross Profit and Gross Margin
Gross profit is total revenue less total costs of revenue. Gross margin is gross profit expressed as a percentage of total revenue. We expect that gross profit and gross margin will continue to be affected by various factors, including our pricing, our mix of revenues and the costs required to deliver those revenues.
Our gross margin on subscription revenue is significantly higher than our gross margin on professional services revenue, and as a result our gross margin may vary from period to period if our mix of revenue or costs of revenue fluctuates. In addition, because personnel-related expenses represent the largest component in costs of professional services revenue, we may experience changes in our professional services gross margin due to the timing of delivery of those services. We expect that our gross margin may vary from period to period and increase modestly in the long term.
Operating Expense
Our operating expense consists of research and development, sales and marketing and general and administrative expense.
Research and Development Expense
Research and development expense consists primarily of costs relating to the maintenance, continued development and enhancement of our cloud-based software platform and includes personnel-related expense for our research and development organization, professional fees, travel expenses and allocated overhead expenses, including facilities costs. Research and development expenses are expensed as incurred, except for internal-use software development costs that qualify for capitalization. We expect research and development expenses to increase in absolute dollars as we continue to invest in enhancing and expanding the capabilities of our Unified-CXM platform.
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Sales and Marketing Expense
Sales and marketing expense consists primarily of personnel-related expenses for our sales and marketing organization, professional fees, software costs, advertising, marketing, promotional and brand awareness activities, travel expenses and allocated overhead expense, including facilities costs. Sales commissions earned by our sales force are considered incremental and recoverable costs of obtaining a contract with a customer and are deferred and amortized on a straight-line basis over the expected period of benefit. We intend to continue to invest in sales and marketing to help drive the growth of our business. We continue to optimize our sales and marketing expense and seek efficiencies in our investments.
General and Administrative Expense
General and administrative expense includes personnel costs associated with administrative services, such as legal, human resources, information technology, accounting, and finance functions, as well as professional fees, software costs, travel expenses and allocated overhead expense, including facilities costs and any corporate overhead expenses not allocated to other expense categories.
We expect our general and administrative expense to increase in absolute dollars as we continue to grow our business. We also anticipate that we will incur additional costs for employees and third-party consulting services, which may cause our general and administrative expense to fluctuate as a percentage of revenue from period to period.
Other Income (Expense), Net
Other income (expense), net, consists of interest income on invested cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities, interest expense, foreign currency transaction gains and losses and other expenses and gains.
Provision for Income Taxes
Provision for income taxes consists primarily of income taxes related to foreign and U.S. jurisdictions in which we conduct business. Our annual estimated effective tax rate differed from the U.S. federal statutory rate primarily due to a full valuation allowance related to our U.S. deferred tax assets, partially offset by U.S. current state taxes and foreign tax rate differential on non-U.S. income.
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Results of Operations
The following table sets forth our consolidated statements of operations data for the periods indicated:
| Year Ended January 31, | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (in thousands) | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |||||||
| Revenue: | ||||||||||
| Subscription | $ | 548,649 | $ | 427,713 | $ | 339,586 | ||||
| Professional services | 69,541 | 64,681 | 47,344 | |||||||
| Total revenue | 618,190 | 492,394 | 386,930 | |||||||
| Costs of revenue: | ||||||||||
| Costs of subscription (1) | 102,276 | 89,896 | 77,033 | |||||||
| Costs of professional services (1) | 61,449 | 57,655 | 45,049 | |||||||
| Total costs of revenue | 163,725 | 147,551 | 122,082 | |||||||
| Gross profit | 454,465 | 344,843 | 264,848 | |||||||
| Operating expense: | ||||||||||
| Research and development (1) | 76,658 | 60,591 | 40,280 | |||||||
| Sales and marketing (1)(2) | 336,719 | 286,963 | 185,797 | |||||||
| General and administrative (1) | 92,312 | 84,759 | 64,348 | |||||||
| Litigation settlement | — | 12,000 | — | |||||||
| Total operating expense | 505,689 | 444,313 | 290,425 | |||||||
| Operating loss | (51,224) | (99,470) | (25,577) | |||||||
| Other income (expense), net | 3,756 | (5,084) | (8,616) | |||||||
| Loss before provision for income taxes | (47,468) | (104,554) | (34,193) | |||||||
| Provision for income taxes | 8,274 | 6,916 | 3,777 | |||||||
| Net loss | (55,742) | (111,470) | (37,970) | |||||||
| Deemed dividend in relation to tender offer | — | — | (600) | |||||||
| Net loss attributable to Sprinklr common stockholders | $ | (55,742) | $ | (111,470) | $ | (38,570) |
| (1) Includes stock-based compensation, net of amounts capitalized, as follows: | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year Ended January 31, | ||||||||||
| (in thousands) | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |||||||
| Cost of subscription | $ | 1,528 | $ | 1,794 | $ | 2,012 | ||||
| Cost of professional services | 2,249 | 2,448 | 1,658 | |||||||
| Research and development | 10,678 | 6,417 | 4,804 | |||||||
| Sales and marketing | 26,651 | 19,929 | 14,976 | |||||||
| General and administrative | 14,411 | 19,543 | 21,619 | |||||||
| Stock-based compensation, net of amounts capitalized | $ | 55,517 | $ | 50,131 | $ | 45,069 | ||||
| (2) Includes amortization of acquired intangible assets as follows: | ||||||||||
| Year Ended January 31, | ||||||||||
| (in thousands) | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |||||||
| Sales and marketing | $ | 475 | $ | 412 | $ | 626 | ||||
| Amortization of acquired intangible assets | $ | 475 | $ | 412 | $ | 626 |
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The following table sets forth our consolidated statements of operations data expressed as a percentage of total revenue:
| Year Ended January 31, | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | ||||||
| Revenue: | ||||||||
| Subscription | 89 | % | 87 | % | 88 | % | ||
| Professional services | 11 | % | 13 | % | 12 | % | ||
| Total revenue | 100 | % | 100 | % | 100 | % | ||
| Costs of revenue: | ||||||||
| Costs of subscription | 17 | % | 18 | % | 20 | % | ||
| Costs of professional services | 10 | % | 12 | % | 12 | % | ||
| Total costs of revenue | 26 | % | 30 | % | 32 | % | ||
| Operating expense: | ||||||||
| Research and development | 12 | % | 12 | % | 10 | % | ||
| Sales and marketing | 54 | % | 58 | % | 48 | % | ||
| General and administrative | 15 | % | 17 | % | 17 | % | ||
| Litigation settlement | 0 | % | 2 | % | 0 | % | ||
| Total operating expense | 82 | % | 88 | % | 75 | % | ||
| Operating loss | (8) | % | (20) | % | (7) | % | ||
| Other income (expense), net | 1 | % | (1) | % | (2) | % | ||
| Loss before provision for income taxes | (8) | % | (21) | % | (9) | % | ||
| Provision for income taxes | 1 | % | 1 | % | 1 | % | ||
| Net loss | (9) | % | (23) | % | (10) | % | ||
| Deemed dividend in relation to tender offer | 0 | % | 0 | % | 0 | % | ||
| Net loss attributable to Sprinklr common stockholders | (9) | % | (23) | % | (10) | % |
Comparison of Fiscal Years Ended January 31, 2023 and 2022
Revenue
| Year Ended January 31, | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (in thousands) | 2023 | 2022 | $ Change | % Change | ||||||||||
| Subscription | $ | 548,649 | $ | 427,713 | $ | 120,936 | 28 | % | ||||||
| Professional services | 69,541 | 64,681 | 4,860 | 8 | % | |||||||||
| Total revenue | $ | 618,190 | $ | 492,394 | $ | 125,796 | 26 | % |
Total revenue increased $125.8 million, or 26%, in fiscal year 2023, compared to fiscal year 2022, and was comprised of an increase in subscription revenue of $120.9 million, or 28%, and an increase in professional services of $4.9 million, or 8%.
The increase in subscription revenue for the fiscal year 2023, compared to the fiscal year 2022, was due primarily to (i) increased demand for our solutions from new customers and (ii) an increase in revenue from existing customers driven by the purchase of additional quantities of current subscription solutions and additional add-on solutions within our platform.
The increase in professional services revenues for the fiscal year 2023, compared to the fiscal year 2022, was primarily due to an increase in implementation and managed services performed during the fiscal year 2023, compared to the fiscal year 2022.
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Costs of Revenue and Gross Margin
| Year Ended January 31, | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (in thousands) | 2023 | 2022 | $ Change | % Change | ||||||||||
| Costs of subscription revenue | $ | 102,276 | $ | 89,896 | $ | 12,380 | 14 | % | ||||||
| Costs of professional services revenue | 61,449 | 57,655 | 3,794 | 7 | % | |||||||||
| Total costs of revenue | $ | 163,725 | $ | 147,551 | $ | 16,174 | 11 | % | ||||||
| Gross margin - subscription | 81 | % | 79 | % | ||||||||||
| Gross margin - professional services | 12 | % | 11 | % |
Total costs of revenue increased $16.2 million, or 11%, in fiscal year 2023, compared to fiscal year 2022, and was comprised of an increase in costs of subscription revenue of $12.4 million, or 14%, and an increase in costs of professional services of $3.8 million, or 7%.
Costs of subscription revenue was $102.3 million for the fiscal year 2023, compared to $89.9 million for the fiscal year 2022. The increase in cost of subscription revenue was due primarily to higher costs related to third-party cloud infrastructure necessary to meet our increased customer demand, which included a combined $10.6 million increase in costs to host our software platform and our data costs. Also contributing to this increase in costs of subscription revenue was an increase of $2.5 million in amortization of capitalized research and development costs.
Costs of professional services revenue was $61.4 million for the fiscal year 2023, compared to $57.7 million for the fiscal year 2022. The increase in cost of professional services revenue was due primarily to increases in personnel costs of $1.7 million due to increased headcount of professional services employees and a $1.1 million increase in subcontractor costs.
Gross margin for subscription increased by 2 percentage points, primarily driven by the year-over-year growth in subscription revenue. Gross margin for professional services remained flat year-over-year as professional services revenue moved in-line with cost of services.
Research and Development Expense
| Year Ended January 31, | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (in thousands) | 2023 | 2022 | $ Change | % Change | ||||||||||
| Research and development | $ | 76,658 | $ | 60,591 | $ | 16,067 | 27 | % | ||||||
| % of revenue | 12 | % | 12 | % |
Research and development expense increased $16.1 million, or 27%, in fiscal year 2023, compared to fiscal year 2022. The increase was primarily due to a $18.6 million increase in research and development personnel costs driven by increased headcount of research and development employees as we continue to add to and enhance our product, which included a $6.1 million increase in stock-based compensation. The increase to research and development personnel costs was partially offset by a $4.1 million increase in research and development costs that were capitalized.
Sales and Marketing Expense
| Year Ended January 31, | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (in thousands) | 2023 | 2022 | $ Change | % Change | ||||||||||
| Sales and marketing | $ | 336,719 | $ | 286,963 | $ | 49,756 | 17 | % | ||||||
| % of revenue | 54 | % | 58 | % |
Sales and marketing expense increased $49.8 million, or 17%, in fiscal year 2023, compared to fiscal year 2022. The increase was primarily due to a $38.1 million increase in personnel costs driven by increased headcount of sales and marketing employees to support growth, which included a $7.2 million increase in benefits, a $6.7 million increase in stock-based compensation and a $4.5 million increase in commissions and bonuses associated with an increase in customer contracts and revenue growth. Also contributing to the increase in sales and marketing expense was a combined increase of $8.6 million associated with increases in rent and facilities costs due to new leases entered into in fiscal 2023 and travel-related costs due to return to office and in-person meetings.
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General and Administrative Expense
| Year Ended January 31, | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (in thousands) | 2023 | 2022 | $ Change | % Change | ||||||||||
| General and administrative | $ | 92,312 | $ | 84,759 | $ | 7,553 | 9 | % | ||||||
| % of revenue | 15 | % | 17 | % |
General and administrative expenses increased $7.6 million, or 9%, in fiscal year 2023, compared to fiscal year 2022. The increase was primarily due to a $8.2 million increase in general and administrative employee personnel costs, including benefits, as well as a combined increase of $4.0 million in insurance and software-related costs. These increases were partially offset by a $5.1 million decrease in stock-based compensation related to a one-time acceleration of stock-based compensation in fiscal year 2022. There was not a corresponding acceleration of stock-based compensation recognized in fiscal year 2023.
Litigation Settlement
| Year Ended January 31, | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (in thousands) | 2023 | 2022 | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||
| Litigation settlement | $ | — | $ | 12,000 | $ | (12,000) | N/M | ||||||
| % of revenue | — | % | 2 | % |
In 2022 we agreed to settle all outstanding claims for a total amount of $12.0 million with Opal Labs Inc. (“Opal”) with respect to Opal’s complaints alleging breach of contract and violation of Oregon’s Uniform Trade Secrets Act. The settlement was recorded as a one-time operating expense charge in the fiscal year 2022. There were no litigation settlements accrued for during fiscal year 2023.
Other Income (Expense), Net
| Year Ended January 31, | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (in thousands) | 2023 | 2022 | $ Change | % Change | ||||||||||
| Other income (expense), net | $ | 3,756 | $ | (5,084) | $ | 8,840 | (174) | % | ||||||
| % of revenue | 1 | % | (1) | % |
Other income of $3.8 million in fiscal year 2023 was primarily attributable to $8.2 million of interest income, net earned on money market and short-term investment accounts, partially offset by $4.7 million in net foreign currency transaction losses. Other expense in fiscal year 2022 was primarily attributable to $3.2 million of paid in kind interest expense related to the historical senior subordinated convertible notes and $1.6 million in foreign currency transaction losses.
Provision for Income Taxes
| Year Ended January 31, | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (in thousands) | 2023 | 2022 | $ Change | % Change | ||||||||||
| Provision for income taxes | $ | 8,274 | $ | 6,916 | $ | 1,358 | 20 | % |
Provision for income taxes increased $1.4 million, or 20%, in fiscal year 2023, compared to fiscal year 2022. The increase was related to higher foreign income tax liability on our non-U.S. subsidiaries.
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Non-GAAP Financial Measures
In addition to our results determined in accordance with GAAP, we believe the following non-GAAP financial measures are useful in evaluating our operating performance:
•Non-GAAP gross profit and non-GAAP gross margin
•Non-GAAP operating (loss) income and non-GAAP operating margin
•Non-GAAP net (loss) income and non-GAAP net (loss) income per share
We define these non-GAAP financial measures as the respective GAAP measures, excluding, as applicable, stock-based compensation expense-related charges, charges on litigation settlements and amortization of acquired intangible assets. We believe that it is useful to exclude stock-based compensation expense-related charges and amortization of acquired intangible assets in order to better understand the long-term performance of our core business and to facilitate comparison of our results to those of peer companies over multiple periods. We also exclude charges on litigation settlements that are considered to be non-ordinary course as we do not consider such losses to be indicative of our core business. We calculate non-GAAP net (loss) income per share by using non-GAAP net (loss) income divided by basic weighted average shares for the period regardless of whether we are in a non-GAAP net (loss) or income position and assuming that all potentially dilutive securities are anti-dilutive.
In addition, we believe free cash flow and adjusted free cash flow are also useful non-GAAP financial measures. Free cash flow is defined as net cash provided by (used in) operating activities less cash used for purchases of property and equipment and capitalized internal-use software. Adjusted free cash flow is defined as free cash flow adjusted for litigation settlement costs. We believe that free cash flow and adjusted free cash flow are useful indicators of liquidity as they measure our ability to generate cash, or our need to access additional sources of cash, to fund operations and investments. We expect our free cash flow to fluctuate in future periods with changes in our operating expenses and as we continue to invest in our growth. We typically experience higher billings in the fourth quarter compared to other quarters and experience higher collections of accounts receivable in the first half of the year, which results in a decrease in accounts receivable in the first half of the year.
However, non-GAAP financial measures have limitations in their usefulness to investors because they have no standardized meaning prescribed by GAAP and are not prepared under any comprehensive set of accounting rules or principles. In addition, other companies, including companies in our industry, may calculate similarly titled non-GAAP financial measures differently or may use other measures to evaluate their performance, all of which could reduce the usefulness of our non-GAAP financial measures as tools for comparison. As a result, our non-GAAP financial measures are presented for supplemental informational purposes only and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for our consolidated financial statements presented in accordance with GAAP.
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A reconciliation is provided below for each non-GAAP financial measure to the most directly comparable financial measure stated in accordance with GAAP:
| Year Ended January 31, | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (in thousands) | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |||||||
| Non-GAAP gross profit: | ||||||||||
| GAAP gross profit | $ | 454,465 | $ | 344,843 | $ | 264,848 | ||||
| Stock-based compensation expense and related charges (1) | 3,861 | 4,355 | 3,670 | |||||||
| Non-GAAP gross profit | $ | 458,326 | $ | 349,198 | $ | 268,518 | ||||
| Gross margin | 74 | % | 70 | % | 68 | % | ||||
| Non-GAAP gross margin | 74 | % | 71 | % | 69 | % | ||||
| Non-GAAP operating (loss) income: | ||||||||||
| GAAP operating loss | $ | (51,224) | $ | (99,470) | $ | (25,577) | ||||
| Stock-based compensation expense and related charges (2) | 56,704 | 51,552 | 45,069 | |||||||
| Litigation settlement (3) | — | 12,000 | — | |||||||
| Amortization of acquired intangible assets | 475 | 412 | 626 | |||||||
| Non-GAAP operating (loss) income | $ | 5,955 | $ | (35,506) | $ | 20,118 | ||||
| Operating margin | (8) | % | (20) | % | (7) | % | ||||
| Non-GAAP operating margin | 1 | % | (7) | % | 5 | % | ||||
| Non-GAAP net (loss) income and net (loss) income per share: | ||||||||||
| GAAP net loss: | $ | (55,742) | $ | (111,470) | $ | (38,570) | ||||
| Stock-based compensation expense and related charges (2) | 56,704 | 51,552 | 45,069 | |||||||
| Litigation settlement (3) | — | 12,000 | — | |||||||
| Amortization of acquired intangible assets | 475 | 412 | 626 | |||||||
| Non-GAAP net (loss) income | $ | 1,437 | $ | (47,506) | $ | 7,125 | ||||
| Less: amounts allocated to participating securities | — | — | (3,884) | |||||||
| Non-GAAP net (loss) income attributable to Class A and Class B common stockholders | $ | 1,437 | $ | (47,506) | $ | 3,241 | ||||
| Weighted-average shares outstanding used in computing net (loss) income per share attributable to Class A and Class B common stockholders, basic and diluted | 259,530 | 195,020 | 90,378 | |||||||
| Non-GAAP net (loss) income per common share attributable to Class A and Class B common stockholders, basic and diluted | $ | 0.01 | $ | (0.24) | $ | 0.04 | ||||
| Free cash flow: | ||||||||||
| Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities | $ | 26,660 | $ | (32,922) | $ | 7,311 | ||||
| Purchases of property and equipment | (6,091) | (6,148) | (2,701) | |||||||
| Capitalized internal-use software | (10,358) | (6,258) | (3,783) | |||||||
| Free cash flow | $ | 10,211 | $ | (45,328) | $ | 827 | ||||
| Litigation settlement (3) | 12,000 | — | — | |||||||
| Adjusted free cash flow | $ | 22,211 | $ | (45,328) | $ | 827 |
(1) Includes $0.1 million and $0.1 million of employer payroll tax related to stock-based compensation expense for the years ended January 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
(2) Includes $1.2 million and $1.4 million of employer payroll tax related to stock-based compensation expense for the years ended January 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
(3) On February 25, 2022, we and Opal agreed to settle all outstanding claims with respect to Opal’s complaints alleging breach of contract and violation of Oregon’s Uniform Trade Secrets Act, among other claims. The settlement amount was recorded as a one-time operating expense charge in fiscal year 2022, which was paid in fiscal year 2023.
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Liquidity and Capital Resources
Overview
As of January 31, 2023, our principal sources of liquidity were $188.4 million of cash and cash equivalents, $390.2 million of highly liquid marketable securities and an available line of credit of $50.0 million under our revolving credit facility. We believe that our existing cash and cash equivalents, marketable securities and cash from operations will be sufficient to meet our working capital needs, capital expenditures and financing obligations for at least the next 12 months and over the long-term. The majority of our cash is held in the United States and we do not anticipate a need to repatriate cash held outside of the United States. Further, it is our intent to indefinitely reinvest these funds outside the United States, and, therefore, we have not provided for any United States income taxes.
On June 25, 2021, we completed our IPO, in which we issued and sold 16,625,000 shares of our Class A common stock at a public offering price of $16.00 per share. On July 1, 2021, the underwriters’ option to purchase 1,662,500 additional shares of Class A common stock was exercised in full. We received net proceeds of $276.0 million after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and other offering expenses.
SVB Credit Facility
We maintain a credit agreement with Silicon Valley Bank (the “SVB Credit Facility”). Under the most recent amended terms of the SVB Credit Facility, we can borrow up to $50.0 million on our revolving credit loan facility at the higher of prime interest rate or federal funds effective rate plus 0.50%, provided that in no event shall the total interest rate be less than 5.50%. The SVB Credit Facility, which expires on January 31, 2026, requires that we maintain a monthly adjusted quick ratio of no less than 1.25:1.00. As of January 31, 2023, we had a sub-limit of $15.0 million letters of credit available under the SVB Credit Facility, of which $4.6 million was issued.
On March 23, 2023, we provided notice to Silicon Valley Bank of our intent to terminate the SVB Credit Facility. The $4.6 million in letters of credit that were previously issued under the SVB Credit Facility as of January 31, 2023 will remain outstanding if the SVB Credit Facility is terminated.
Material Cash Requirements
Our expected material cash requirements comprise of contractually obligated expenditures. We have agreements in place with data and service providers that require us to make certain minimum guaranteed purchase commitments through fiscal year 2026 which totaled $220.9 million as of January 31, 2023. This amount includes a new purchase commitment entered into in June 2022 with a data and service provider for total minimum guaranteed purchase commitment of $60.0 million over 5 years. As of January 31, 2023, the remaining purchase commitment on this agreement was $52.0 million. We had no other material changes to the purchase commitments during fiscal 2023. In addition, we lease certain office facilities under operating lease arrangements that expire on various dates through fiscal year 2027.
Future Funding Requirements
Our future capital requirements will depend on many factors, including our growth rate, the expansion of our direct sales force, strategic relationships and international operations, the timing and extent of spending to support research and development efforts and the continuing market acceptance of our solutions. We historically have expanded our business in part by investing in strategic growth initiatives, including acquisitions of products, technologies and businesses. We may finance such acquisitions using cash, debt, stock or a combination of the foregoing; however, we have used cash and stock as consideration for substantially all of our historical business acquisitions. We continually examine our options with respect to terms and sources of existing and future short-term and long-term capital resources to enhance our operating results and to ensure that we retain financial flexibility, and may from time to time elect to raise capital through the issuance of additional equity or the incurrence of additional debt. Sales of additional equity could result in dilution to our stockholders. If we raise funds by borrowing from third parties, the terms of those financing arrangements would require us to incur interest expense and may include negative covenants or other restrictions on our business that could impair our operating flexibility. We can provide no assurance that financing will be available at all or, if available, that we would be able to obtain financing on terms favorable to us. If we are unable to raise additional capital when needed, we would be required to curtail our operating activities and capital expenditures, and our business operating results and financial condition would be adversely affected.
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Cash Flows
The following table shows a summary of our cash flows for the periods indicated:
| Year Ended January 31, | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (in thousands) | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |||||||
| Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities | $ | 26,660 | $ | (32,922) | $ | 7,311 | ||||
| Net cash used in investing activities | $ | (193,494) | $ | (15,650) | $ | (219,457) | ||||
| Net cash provided by financing activities | $ | 34,971 | $ | 303,132 | $ | 269,784 |
Our net loss and cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities are influenced significantly by our investments in headcount to support growth and in costs of revenue to deliver our services. In fiscal year 2023, our net loss improved as a result of our increased subscription revenue and related billings, as well as the amount of non-cash charges that we incur. Non-cash charges primarily include depreciation and amortization, stock-based compensation, and non-cash lease expense. Our largest source of operating cash is cash collections from customers using our Unified-CXM Platform and related services. Our primary uses of cash from operating activities are for employee-related costs, costs to deliver our revenue and marketing expenses.
We expect our free cash flow to fluctuate in future periods with changes in our operating expenses and as we continue to invest in our growth. We typically experience higher billings in the fourth quarter compared to other quarters, primarily due to higher renewal activity, and experience higher collections of accounts receivable in the first half of the year, which results in a decrease in accounts receivable in the first half of the year.
Operating Activities
For the fiscal year 2023, cash provided by operating activities was $26.7 million resulting from net loss of $55.7 million offset by net non-cash expenses of $75.7 million and $6.7 million net cash flows provided as a result of changes in operating assets and liabilities. The $6.7 million of net cash flows provided as a result of changes in operating assets and liabilities reflected a $41.5 million increase in deferred revenue resulting primarily from increased billings for subscriptions, a $29.1 million decrease in prepaid expenses and other current assets driven by larger prepaid contracts in the prior fiscal year and a $14.5 million increase in accounts payable largely due to the timing of payments due. These changes were partially offset by a $44.8 million increase in accounts receivable due to increased billings, a $24.4 million increase in other non-current assets driven by an increase in capitalized commissions and the $12.0 million litigation settlement paid in March 2022.
For the fiscal year 2022, cash used in operating activities was $32.9 million resulting from net loss of $111.5 million offset by net non-cash expenses of $72.2 million and $6.3 million net cash flow provided as a result of changes in operating assets and liabilities. The $6.3 million of net cash flows provided as a result of changes in operating assets and liabilities reflected a $43.4 million increase in deferred revenue resulting primarily from increased billings for subscriptions and a $25.5 million increase in accrued expenses and other current liabilities, partially offset by a $47.1 million increase in accounts receivable due to increased billings and a $6.8 million increase in other non-current assets.
For the fiscal year 2021, cash provided by operating activities was $7.3 million resulting from net non-cash expenses of $55.2 million largely offset by net loss of $38.0 million and $9.9 million net cash flow used as a result of changes in operating assets and liabilities. The $9.9 million of net cash flows used as a result of changes in our operating assets and liabilities reflected a $28.7 million increase in prepaid expenses primarily associated with higher prepayments for data center operations costs and data costs and a $9.8 million increase in accounts receivable due to increased billings, partially offset by a $17.5 million increase in deferred revenue resulting primarily from increased billings for subscriptions and a $12.3 million increase in accrued expenses and other current liabilities.
Investing Activities
For the fiscal year 2023, net cash used in investing activities of $193.5 million was related to $816.7 million of purchases of marketable securities, $10.4 million in capitalized internal-use software costs and $6.1 million in capital expenditures. These cash outflows were largely offset by $636.8 million of cash from maturities of marketable securities and $2.8 million of sales of marketable securities.
For the fiscal year 2022, net cash used in investing activities of $15.7 million was related to $267.8 million of purchases of marketable securities, $6.3 million in capitalized internal-use software costs, $6.1 million in capital expenditures, and $3.6 million of cash paid to acquire a privately held company. These cash outflows were largely offset by $211.6 million of cash from maturities of marketable securities and $56.7 million of sales of marketable securities.
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For the fiscal year 2021, net cash used in investing activities of $219.5 million was related to $213.0 million of cash paid for marketable securities, purchase of property and equipment of $2.7 million and the capitalization of internal-use software of $3.8 million.
Financing Activities
Our financing activities consist primarily of proceeds from debt and equity financings and exercises of stock options, offset by repayments of debt and repurchase of capital stock.
For the fiscal year 2023, net cash provided by financing activities was primarily due to proceeds from the exercise of stock options of $24.7 million as well as $10.2 million from the purchase of common stock through our ESPP.
For the fiscal year 2022, net cash provided by financing activities of $303.1 million was primarily due to our IPO in which we received total net proceeds of $276.0 million, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and other offering expenses. In addition, there were proceeds from the exercise of stock options of $20.1 million as well as $7.1 million from the purchase of common stock through our ESPP.
For the fiscal year 2021, net cash provided by financing activities of $269.8 million was due to $191.8 million of proceeds from issuance of convertible preferred stock, $73.4 million of proceeds from the convertible note, $16.3 million of proceeds from exercises of stock options and $7.6 million of proceeds from issuance of stock warrants, partially offset by preferred and common stock repurchases of $12.4 million and $5.9 million, respectively, each in connection with a tender offer transaction, and payment of debt and equity issuance costs of $0.5 million.
Critical Accounting Estimates
Our consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with GAAP. The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting periods.
Critical accounting estimates are those estimates that, in accordance with GAAP, involve a significant level of estimation uncertainty and have had or are reasonably likely to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements. Management has determined that our most critical accounting estimates are those relating to revenue recognition and stock-based compensation expense, including historical common stock valuations and performance-based award valuations. We evaluate our estimates and assumptions on an ongoing basis using historical experience and other factors and adjust those estimates and assumptions when facts and circumstances dictate. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates and assumptions.
Our significant accounting policies are more fully described in Note 2, Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, in our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Form 10-K.
Revenue Recognition
At times, revenue recognition requires judgment, especially for our arrangements that include multiple performance obligations, or deliverables, such as arrangements that include promises to transfer multiple subscription services, premium support, professional services and managed services. A performance obligation is a promise in a contract with a customer to transfer products or services that are distinct. Determining whether products and services are distinct performance obligations that should be accounted for separately or combined as one unit of accounting may require judgment.
Subscription services are distinct as such offerings are often sold separately. In determining whether professional services are distinct, we consider the following factors for each professional services agreement: availability of the services from other vendors, the nature of the professional services, the timing of when the professional services contract was signed in comparison to the subscription start date and the contractual dependence of the service on the customer’s satisfaction with the professional services work. To date, we have concluded that professional services included in contracts with multiple performance obligations are generally distinct.
The determination of standalone selling price (“SSP”) for each distinct performance obligation requires judgement. We rarely sell our enterprise cloud software products and services as readily observable standalone sales, so we are required to estimate the SSP for each performance obligation. In the determination of the SSP, we use information that includes contractually stated prices, size of the arrangement, renewal contracts, list prices and internal discounting tables. Based on these results, the estimated SSP is set for each distinct product or service delivered to customers. As our go-to-market strategies evolve, we may modify our pricing strategies in the future, which could result in changes to SSP.
There were no material changes in the estimates or assumptions used to recognize revenue during the year ended January 31, 2023.
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Stock-Based Compensation
We measure and record the expense related to stock-based awards based upon the fair value at the date of grant. We estimate the grant date fair value of each common stock option using the Black-Scholes Merton method, which requires the input of subjective assumptions and management’s best estimates. The assumptions used, including (i) fair value of the underlying common stock, (ii) expected volatility, (iii) expected term, (iv) risk-free interest rate and (v) dividend yield, and how they are estimated is detailed within Note 12, Stock-Based Compensation, to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in “Part II, Item 8. Financial Statements” of this Form 10-K. There were no options granted during fiscal 2023.
Historical Common Stock Valuations
For all periods prior to the IPO, the fair values of our common stock were determined by our board of directors, with input from management and taking into account our most recent valuations from an independent third-party valuation specialist. Given the absence of a public trading market for our common stock, our board of directors exercised reasonable judgment and considered a number of objective and subjective factors to determine the best estimate of the fair value of our common stock, including our stage of development; the rights, preferences and privileges of our convertible preferred stock relative to those of our common stock; our financial condition and operating results, including our levels of available capital resources; equity market conditions affecting comparable public companies; general U.S. market conditions; recent secondary stock sales and a tender offer and the lack of marketability of our common stock. Valuations of our common stock were determined in accordance with the guidelines outlined in the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants Practice Guide, Valuation of Privately-Held-Company Equity Securities Issued as Compensation.
Performance-Based Award Valuations
For awards granted that vest upon the achievement of certain performance conditions and market conditions, we estimated the grant date fair value of these units using a Monte Carlo Simulation. The simulation modeled multiple stock price paths in order to estimate the grant date fair value of those with market conditions while the estimated grant date fair value of those with performance conditions was based on the probability of those conditions being met. Once the performance conditions were deemed probable, stock-based compensation recognition began and was recognized over the derived service period produced by the model, unless otherwise accelerated as noted within Note 12, Stock-Based Compensation, to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in “Part II, Item 8. Financial Statements” of this Form 10-K. For those awards with market conditions, stock-based compensation will be recognized regardless of if the market targets were achieved. However, if the grantee does not continue their employment through the derived service period, all related stock-based compensation for that individual was reversed in the period of termination. There were no performance-based awards granted during fiscal 2023.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
Refer to Note 2, Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, included elsewhere in this Form 10-K for more information regarding recently issued accounting pronouncements.
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FY 2022 10-K MD&A
SEC filing source: 0001569345-22-000006.
Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this Form 10-K. This discussion, particularly information with respect to our future results of operations or financial condition, business strategy and plans and objectives of management for future operations, includes forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties as described under the heading “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” in this Form 10-K. You should review the disclosure under the heading “Risk Factors” in this Form 10-K for a discussion of important factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements.
Overview
Sprinklr empowers the world’s largest and most loved brands to make their customers happier.
We do this with a new category of enterprise software – Unified Customer Experience Management (“Unified-CXM”) – that enables every customer-facing function across the front office, from Customer Care to Marketing, to collaborate across internal silos, communicate across digital channels, and leverage a complete suite of modern capabilities to deliver better, more human customer experiences at scale – all on one unified, AI-powered platform.
Our Unified-CXM platform utilizes an architecture purpose-built for managing CXM data and is powered by proprietary AI, collaborative workflow, seamless automation, broad-based listening, and customer-led governance to help enterprises analyze massive amounts of unstructured and structured data.
We generate revenue from the sale of subscriptions to our Unified-CXM platform and related professional services. Our platform includes products that are licensed on a per-user basis as well as products that are licensed based on different tiers of volume.
We believe that our Unified-CXM platform is highly effective for organizations of all sizes, and we have a highly diverse group of customers across a broad array of industries and geographies. We focus primarily on selling our platform to large global enterprises, as we believe that we have significant competitive advantages attracting and serving such organizations given their complex needs and the broad capabilities our platform offers.
Our customers include global enterprises across a broad array of industries and geographies, as well as marketing agencies and government departments along with non-profit and educational institutions. Our customers are located in over 60 countries and use our AI powered CXM platform in over 50 languages. As of January 31, 2022, we had 1,166 customers spanning organizations of a broad range of sizes and industries, including more than 50% of the Fortune 100 companies, compared to 1,014 customers as of January 31, 2021. We define our large customers as customers with greater than or equal to $1.0 million in subscription revenue on a trailing 12-month basis, as of the period presented. As of January 31, 2022, we had 82 large customers compared to 65 as of January 31, 2021.
Key Business Metrics
We review a number of operating and financial metrics, including the following key metrics, to evaluate our business, measure our performance, identify trends affecting our business, formulate business plans and make strategic decisions.
Remaining Performance Obligation
Remaining Performance Obligation ("RPO") represents contracted revenues that had not yet been recognized, and include deferred revenues and amounts that will be invoiced and recognized in future periods. The aggregate transaction price of RPO expected to be recognized as revenue were $586.4 million and $431.8 million as of January 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
Net Dollar Expansion Rate
We believe that net dollar expansion rate ("NDE") is an indicator of the value that our platform delivers to customers. We calculate NDE to measure our ability to retain and expand subscription revenue from our existing customers. NDE compares our subscription revenue from the same set of customers across comparable periods and reflects customer renewals, expansion, contraction and churn. We calculate NDE by dividing (i) subscription revenue in the trailing 12-month period from those customers who were on our
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platform during the prior 12-month period by (ii) subscription revenue from the same customers in the prior 12-month period. NDE, on a trailing 12-month basis, was 119.8% and 118.4% for the 12-month periods ending January 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
Impact of COVID-19
In response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we have taken broad actions to mitigate the impact of this public health crisis on our business, including, among other measures, implementing a temporary work from home policy across all offices globally, new operating guidelines for our offices based on local conditions, restrictions on work-related travel, and additional wellness benefits for employees. In addition, our customers and partners have similarly been impacted, all of which have the potential to result in a significant disruption to how we operate our business. Although we believe that our business is well-suited to navigate the current environment, the ultimate duration and extent of the COVID-19 pandemic, including with respect to variants of COVID-19, cannot be accurately predicted at this time, and the direct or indirect impact on our business, results of operations, and financial condition will depend on future developments that are highly uncertain. We have experienced, and may continue to experience, an adverse impact on certain parts of our business. The conditions caused by the pandemic have adversely affected or may in the future adversely affect, among other things, demand, spending by new customers, renewal and retention rates of existing customers, the length of our sales cycles, sales productivity, the value and duration of subscriptions, collections of accounts receivable, our IT and other expenses, our ability to recruit, and the ability of our employees to travel, all of which could adversely affect our business, results of operations, and financial condition. We also have experienced, and may continue to experience, a positive impact on other aspects of our business, including a reduction in certain operating expenses due to reduced business travel and the virtualization or cancellation of customer and employee events. See the section titled “Risk Factors” for further discussion of the challenges and risks we have encountered and could encounter related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to our subscription-based business model, the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic may not be fully reflected in our revenue until future periods.
Components of Results of Operations
Revenue
We generate revenue from the sale of subscriptions to our Unified-CXM cloud-based software platform and related professional services.
Subscription revenue consists primarily of fees from customers accessing our proprietary Unified-CXM platform, as well as related support services. Subscription revenue is generally recognized ratably over the related contract term beginning on the commencement date of each contract, which is generally the date our service is made available to customers. Our subscriptions typically have a term of one to three years with an average term of approximately 18 months. We generally invoice our customers in annual installments at the beginning of each year in the subscription period. Historically, we have experienced seasonality in our sales cycle, as a large percentage of our customers make their purchases in the fourth quarter of a given fiscal year and pay us in the first quarter of the subsequent year. This seasonality may be reflected to a much lesser extent, and sometimes may not be immediately apparent, in our revenue, due to the fact that we recognize subscription revenue over the term of the applicable subscription agreement.
Professional services revenue consists of fees associated with providing services that assist our customers with the configuration and optimization of our Unified-CXM software. These fees also include managed services fees where our consultants work as part of our customers’ teams to help leverage the subscription services to execute on their customer experience management goals and enablement services which consist of initial design, configuration and education services.
Costs of Revenue
Costs of Subscription Revenue
Costs of subscription revenue consists primarily of costs to host our software platform, data costs, including cost of third-party data utilized in our platform, personnel-related expenses for our subscription and support operations personnel, including salaries, benefits, bonuses, and stock-based compensation professional fees, software costs, travel expenses, the amortization of our capitalized internal-use software and allocated overhead expenses, including facilities costs for our subscription and support operations. We expect that costs of subscription revenue will increase in absolute dollars as we expand our customer base and make continued investments in our cloud infrastructure and support organization.
Costs of Professional Services Revenue
Costs of professional services revenue consists primarily of personnel-related expenses for our professional services personnel, professional fees, software costs, subcontractor costs, travel expenses and allocated overhead expenses, including facilities costs, for
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our professional services organization. We expect that our costs of professional services revenue will increase in absolute dollars as we expand our customer base.
Gross Profit and Gross Margin
Gross profit is total revenue less total costs of revenue. Gross margin is gross profit expressed as a percentage of total revenue. We expect that gross profit and gross margin will continue to be affected by various factors, including our pricing, our mix of revenues and the costs required to deliver those revenues.
Our gross margin on subscription revenue is significantly higher than our gross margin on professional services revenue, so our gross margin may vary from period to period if our mix of revenue or costs of revenue fluctuates. In addition, because personnel-related expenses represent the largest component in costs of professional services revenue, we may experience changes in our professional services gross margin due to the timing of delivery of those services. We expect that our gross margin may vary from period to period and increase modestly in the long term. The level and timing of investment in our professional services business could affect our costs of revenue in the future and cause our gross margin to fluctuate.
Operating Expenses
Our operating expenses consist of research and development, sales and marketing, and general and administrative expenses.
Research and Development Expenses
Research and development expenses consist primarily of costs relating to the maintenance, continued development and enhancement of our cloud-based software platform and include personnel-related expenses for our research and development organization, professional fees, travel expenses and allocated overhead expenses, including facilities costs. Research and development expenses are expensed as incurred, except for internal-use software development costs that qualify for capitalization. We expect research and development expenses to increase in absolute dollars as we continue to invest in enhancing and expanding the capabilities of our Unified-CXM platform.
Sales and Marketing Expenses
Sales and marketing expenses consist primarily of personnel-related expenses for our sales and marketing organization, professional fees, software costs, advertising, marketing, promotional and brand awareness activities, travel expenses and allocated overhead expense, including facilities costs. Sales commissions earned by our sales force are considered incremental and recoverable costs of obtaining a contract with a customer and are deferred and amortized on a straight-line basis over the expected period of benefit. We intend to continue to invest in sales and marketing to help drive the growth of our business. During the short term, we expect travel expenses to remain lower than our historical norms as we focus our marketing and sales activities on virtual platforms. However, we expect that our sales and marketing expenses will increase in absolute dollars as we continue to invest in sales and marketing activities to acquire new customers and increase sales to existing customers. In the long term, we expect that sales and marketing expenses will decline as a percentage of revenue.
General and Administrative Expenses
General and administrative expenses include personnel costs associated with administrative services, such as legal, human resources, information technology, accounting, and finance functions, as well as professional fees, software costs, travel expenses and allocated overhead expense, including facilities costs and any corporate overhead expenses not allocated to other expense categories.
We expect our general and administrative expenses to increase in absolute dollars as we continue to grow our business. We also anticipate that we will incur additional costs for employees and third-party consulting services as we operate as a public company, which may cause our general and administrative expenses to fluctuate as a percentage of revenue from period to period.
Other Expense, Net
Other expense, net, consists of interest expense, interest income on invested cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities, foreign currency transaction gains and losses and other expenses and gains.
Provision for Income Taxes
Provision for income taxes consists primarily of income taxes related to foreign and U.S. jurisdictions in which we conduct business. Our annual estimated effective tax rate differed from the U.S. federal statutory rate primarily due to a full valuation allowance related to our U.S. deferred tax assets, partially offset by U.S. current state taxes and foreign tax rate differential on non-U.S. income.
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Results of Operations
Our historical results have been retroactively revised to reflect immaterial corrections related to capitalized costs to obtain customer contracts. These revisions ensure comparability across all periods reflected herein. Refer to Note 2, Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, included elsewhere in this Form 10-K for more information regarding immaterial corrections to prior periods.
The following table sets forth our consolidated statements of operations data for the periods indicated:
| Year Ended January 31, | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | ||||||||
| (in thousands) | ||||||||||
| Revenue: | ||||||||||
| Subscription | $ | 427,713 | $ | 339,586 | $ | 278,459 | ||||
| Professional services | 64,681 | 47,344 | 45,817 | |||||||
| Total revenue: | 492,394 | 386,930 | 324,276 | |||||||
| Costs of revenue: | ||||||||||
| Costs of subscription (1) | 89,896 | 77,033 | 77,796 | |||||||
| Costs of professional services (1) | 57,655 | 45,049 | 45,363 | |||||||
| Total costs of revenue | 147,551 | 122,082 | 123,159 | |||||||
| Gross profit | 344,843 | 264,848 | 201,117 | |||||||
| Operating expenses: | ||||||||||
| Research and development (1) | 60,591 | 40,280 | 32,481 | |||||||
| Sales and marketing (1)(2) | 286,963 | 185,797 | 163,994 | |||||||
| General and administrative (1) | 84,759 | 64,348 | 40,171 | |||||||
| Litigation settlement | 12,000 | — | — | |||||||
| Total operating expenses | 444,313 | 290,425 | 236,646 | |||||||
| Operating loss | (99,470) | (25,577) | (35,529) | |||||||
| Other expense, net | (5,084) | (8,616) | (927) | |||||||
| Loss before provision for income taxes | (104,554) | (34,193) | (36,456) | |||||||
| Provision for income taxes | 6,916 | 3,777 | 3,325 | |||||||
| Net loss | (111,470) | (37,970) | (39,781) | |||||||
| Net loss attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interests | — | — | 27 | |||||||
| Net loss attributable to Sprinklr | (111,470) | (37,970) | (39,754) | |||||||
| Deemed dividend in relation to tender offer | — | (600) | — | |||||||
| Net loss attributable to Sprinklr common stockholders | $ | (111,470) | $ | (38,570) | $ | (39,754) |
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| (1) Includes stock-based compensation expense, net of amounts capitalized, as follows: | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year Ended January 31, | ||||||||||
| 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | ||||||||
| (in thousands) | ||||||||||
| Cost of subscription | $ | 1,794 | $ | 2,012 | $ | 156 | ||||
| Cost of professional services | 2,448 | 1,658 | 357 | |||||||
| Research and development | 6,417 | 4,804 | 1,430 | |||||||
| Sales and marketing | 19,929 | 14,976 | 4,173 | |||||||
| General and administrative | 19,543 | 21,619 | 4,050 | |||||||
| Stock-based compensation expense, net of amounts capitalized | $ | 50,131 | $ | 45,069 | $ | 10,166 | ||||
| (2) Includes amortization of acquired intangible assets as follows: | ||||||||||
| Year Ended January 31, | ||||||||||
| 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | ||||||||
| (in thousands) | ||||||||||
| Sales and marketing | $ | 412 | $ | 626 | $ | 203 | ||||
| Amortization of acquired intangible assets | $ | 412 | $ | 626 | $ | 203 |
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The following table sets forth our consolidated statements of operations data expressed as a percentage of total revenue:
| Year Ended January 31, | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | ||||||
| (in thousands) | ||||||||
| Revenue: | ||||||||
| Subscription | 87 | % | 88 | % | 86 | % | ||
| Professional services | 13 | % | 12 | % | 14 | % | ||
| Total revenue: | 100 | % | 100 | % | 100 | % | ||
| Costs of revenue: | ||||||||
| Costs of subscription | 18 | % | 20 | % | 24 | % | ||
| Costs of professional services | 12 | % | 12 | % | 14 | % | ||
| Total costs of revenue | 30 | % | 32 | % | 38 | % | ||
| Gross profit | ||||||||
| Operating expenses: | ||||||||
| Research and development | 12 | % | 10 | % | 10 | % | ||
| Sales and marketing | 58 | % | 48 | % | 51 | % | ||
| General and administrative | 17 | % | 17 | % | 12 | % | ||
| Litigation settlement | 2 | % | 0 | % | 0 | % | ||
| Total operating expenses | 88 | % | 75 | % | 73 | % | ||
| Operating loss | (20) | % | (7) | % | (11) | % | ||
| Other expense, net | (1) | % | (2) | % | 0 | % | ||
| Loss before provision for income taxes | (21) | % | (9) | % | (11) | % | ||
| Provision for income taxes | 1 | % | 1 | % | 1 | % | ||
| Net loss | (23) | % | (10) | % | (12) | % | ||
| Net loss attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interests | 0 | % | 0 | % | 0 | % | ||
| Net loss attributable to Sprinklr | (23) | % | (10) | % | (12) | % | ||
| Deemed dividend in relation to tender offer | 0 | % | 0 | % | 0 | % | ||
| Net loss attributable to Sprinklr common stockholders | (23) | % | (10) | % | (12) | % |
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Comparison of Fiscal Years Ended January 31, 2022, and 2021
Revenue
| Year Ended January 31, | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2021 | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||
| (dollars in thousands) | ||||||||||||||
| Subscription | $ | 427,713 | $ | 339,586 | $ | 88,127 | 26 | % | ||||||
| Professional services | 64,681 | 47,344 | 17,337 | 37 | % | |||||||||
| Total Revenues: | $ | 492,394 | $ | 386,930 | $ | 105,464 | 27 | % |
Total revenues increased $105.5 million, or 27%, in fiscal year 2022, compared to fiscal year 2021, and was comprised of an increase in subscription revenue of $88.1 million, or 26%, and an increase in professional services of $17.3 million, or 37%.
The increase in subscription revenue for the fiscal year 2022, compared to the fiscal year 2021, was due primarily to increased demand for our solutions from new customers and an increase in revenue from existing customers driven by the purchase of additional quantities of current subscription solutions and the purchase of additional solutions within our platform.
The increase in professional services revenues for the fiscal year 2022, compared to the fiscal year 2021, was primarily due to an increase in enablement and managed services performed during the fiscal year 2022, compared to the fiscal year 2021.
Costs of Revenue and Gross Margin
| Year Ended January 31, | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2021 | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||
| (dollars in thousands) | ||||||||||||||
| Costs of subscription revenue | $ | 89,896 | $ | 77,033 | $ | 12,863 | 17 | % | ||||||
| Costs of professional services revenue | 57,655 | 45,049 | 12,606 | 28 | % | |||||||||
| Total costs of revenues | $ | 147,551 | $ | 122,082 | $ | 25,469 | 21 | % | ||||||
| Gross margin - subscription | 79 | % | 77 | % | ||||||||||
| Gross margin - professional services | 11 | % | 5 | % |
Total costs of revenues increased $25.5 million, or 21%, in fiscal year 2022, compared to fiscal year 2021, and was comprised of an increase in costs of subscription revenue of $12.9 million, or 17%, and an increase in costs of professional services of $12.6 million, or 28%.
Costs of subscription revenue was $89.9 million for the fiscal year 2022, compared to $77.0 million for the fiscal year 2021. The increase in cost of subscription revenue was due primarily to higher costs related to third-party cloud infrastructure necessary to meet our increased customer demand, which included a $6.5 million increase in the costs to host our software platform, and a $3.7 million increase in our data costs, as well as a $1.8 million increase in personnel costs.
Costs of professional services were $57.7 million for the fiscal year 2022, compared to $45.0 million for the fiscal year 2021. The increase in cost of professional services was due primarily to increases in personnel costs of $9.9 million due to increased headcount of professional services employees and a $1.5 million increase in subcontractor costs.
Gross margin for subscription and professional services increased by 2 percentage points and 6 percentage points, respectively, primarily driven by the year-over-year growth in revenue.
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Research and Development Expenses
| Year Ended January 31, | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2021 | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||
| (dollars in thousands) | ||||||||||||||
| Research and development | $ | 60,591 | $ | 40,280 | $ | 20,311 | 50 | % | ||||||
| % of revenue | 12 | % | 10 | % |
Research and development expenses increased $20.3 million, or 50%, in fiscal year 2022, compared to fiscal year 2021. The increase was primarily due to a $21.0 million increase in research and development personnel costs primarily due to increased headcount of research and development employees as we continue to add to and enhance our product, which included as $2.3 million increase in stock-based compensation, as well as a $1.0 million increase in software-related expenses. These increases were partially offset by a $3.2 million increase in research and development costs that were capitalized.
Sales and Marketing Expenses
| Year Ended January 31, | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2021 | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||
| (dollars in thousands) | ||||||||||||||
| Sales and marketing | $ | 286,963 | $ | 185,797 | $ | 101,166 | 54 | % | ||||||
| % of revenue | 58 | % | 48 | % |
Sales and marketing expenses increased $101.2 million, or 54%, in fiscal year 2022, compared to fiscal year 2021. The increase was primarily due to a $60.5 million increase in personnel costs primarily due to increased headcount of sales and marketing employees to support growth, which included a $5.0 million increase in stock-based compensation, a $12.4 million increase in commissions expense associated with an increase in customer contracts and revenue growth, a $15.3 million increase in marketing expenses, a $3.6 million increase in software-related expenses, a $3.0 million increase in recruiting-related costs, $2.3 million increase in insurance costs and a $1.7 million increase in meetings and travel-related expenses.
General and Administrative Expenses
| Year Ended January 31, | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2021 | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||
| (dollars in thousands) | ||||||||||||||
| General and administrative | $ | 84,759 | $ | 64,348 | $ | 20,411 | 32 | % | ||||||
| % of revenue | 17 | % | 17 | % |
General and administrative expenses increased $20.4 million, or 32%, in in fiscal year 2022, compared to fiscal year 2021. The increase was primarily due to a $11.3 million increase in general and administrative employee personnel costs, a $5.6 million increase in legal costs, as a result of costs incurred in connection with an outstanding legal matter and increased professional service costs as a result of becoming a public company, a $1.2 million increase in software-related costs, and a $0.8 million increase in travel-related costs.
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Litigation Settlement
| Year Ended January 31, | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2021 | $ Change | % Change | ||||||||||
| (dollars in thousands) | |||||||||||||
| Litigation settlement | $ | 12,000 | $ | — | $ | 12,000 | n/m | ||||||
| % of revenue | 2 | % | — | % |
On February 25, 2022, we agreed to settle all outstanding claims with Opal Labs Inc. (“Opal”) with respect to Opal’s complaints alleging breach of contract and violation of Oregon’s Uniform Trade Secrets Act, among other claims, and the matter was dismissed with prejudice on March 1, 2022. The settlement was in the amount of $12.0 million, which we recorded as a one-time operating expense charge in fiscal year 2022.
Other Expense, net
| Year Ended January 31, | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2021 | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||
| (dollars in thousands) | ||||||||||||||
| Other expense, net | $ | (5,084) | $ | (8,616) | $ | 3,532 | (41) | % | ||||||
| % of revenue | (1) | % | (2) | % |
Other expense, net decreased $3.5 million, or 41%, in fiscal year 2022, compared to fiscal year 2021. The decrease was primarily attributable to a $4.0 million decrease in foreign currency transaction losses.
Provision for Income Taxes
| Year Ended January 31, | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2021 | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||
| (dollars in thousands) | ||||||||||||||
| Provision for income taxes | $ | 6,916 | $ | 3,777 | $ | 3,139 | 83 | % |
Provision for income taxes increased $3.1 million, or 83%, in fiscal year 2022, compared to fiscal year 2021. The increase was related to higher foreign income tax liability on our non-U.S. subsidiaries and a reserve associated with uncertain tax positions for tax years that remain open for examination.
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Comparison of Fiscal Years Ended January 31, 2021 and 2020
Revenue
| Year Ended January 31, | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2020 | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||
| (dollars in thousands) | ||||||||||||||
| Subscription | $ | 339,586 | $ | 278,459 | $ | 61,127 | 22 | % | ||||||
| Professional services | 47,344 | 45,817 | 1,527 | 3 | % | |||||||||
| Total Revenues: | $ | 386,930 | $ | 324,276 | $ | 62,654 | 19 | % |
Total revenues increased $62.7 million, or 19%, in the fiscal year 2021, compared to fiscal year 2020, and was comprised of an increase in subscription revenue of $61.1 million, or 22%, and an increase in professional services of $1.5 million, or 3%.
The increase in subscription revenue for the fiscal year 2021, compared to the fiscal year 2020, was due primarily to increased demand for our solutions from new and existing customers. Of the increase in subscription revenue for the fiscal year 2021, compared to the fiscal year 2020, approximately $40.9 million was attributable to existing customers and approximately $20.2 million was attributable to new customers. The increase in revenue from existing customers was driven by upgrades of current subscription solutions and the purchase of additional solutions within our platform.
We delivered a similar amount of professional services in the fiscal year 2021, compared to fiscal year 2020.
Costs of Revenue and Gross Margin
| Year Ended January 31, | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2020 | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||
| (dollars in thousands) | ||||||||||||||
| Costs of subscription revenue | $ | 77,033 | $ | 77,796 | $ | (763) | (1) | % | ||||||
| Costs of professional services revenue | 45,049 | 45,363 | (314) | (1) | % | |||||||||
| Total costs of revenues | $ | 122,082 | $ | 123,159 | $ | (1,077) | (1) | % | ||||||
| Gross margin - subscription | 77 | % | 72 | % | ||||||||||
| Gross margin - professional services | 5 | % | 1 | % |
Total costs of revenues decreased $1.1 million in the fiscal year 2021, compared to fiscal year 2020, and was comprised of a decrease in costs of subscription revenue of $0.8 million and a decrease in costs of professional services of $0.3 million.
Costs of subscription revenue was $77.0 million for the fiscal year 2021, compared to $77.8 million for the fiscal year 2020, a decrease of $0.8 million. The decrease in cost of subscription revenue was due primarily due to a reduction in the cost to host our software platform driven by economies obtained from renegotiating vendor contracts due to the scale of our business.
Our subscription gross margin increased by 5 percentage points in the fiscal year 2021, compared to fiscal year 2020 primarily as a result of increased revenue and cost savings from our third-party cloud infrastructure providers.
Costs of professional services was $45.0 million for the fiscal year 2021, compared to $45.4 million for the fiscal year 2020, a decrease of $0.3 million. Within cost of professional services revenue, there was a $2.2 million decrease in travel-related expenses due to COVID-19 global restrictions and a $2.3 million decrease in subcontractor costs. These decreases were partially offset by increases in personnel costs of $2.7 million due to an increase in services employees headcount and a $1.3 million increase in stock-based compensation expense attributable to services employees.
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Research and Development Expenses
| Year Ended January 31, | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2020 | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||
| (dollars in thousands) | ||||||||||||||
| Research and development | $ | 40,280 | $ | 32,481 | $ | 7,799 | 24 | % | ||||||
| % of revenue | 10 | % | 10 | % |
Research and development expenses increased $7.8 million, or 24%, in the fiscal year 2021, compared to fiscal year 2020. The increase was primarily due to an $8.0 million increase in research and development personnel costs primarily due to an increase in headcount of research and development employees and a $3.4 million increase in stock-based compensation associated with research and development employees, $1.2 million of which was attributable to a stock-based compensation charge in connection with the sale of common stock by any employee to our Series G investors and a $1.0 million stock-based compensation charge in connection with a tender offer transaction. These increases were partially offset by a $1.3 million decrease in travel-related expenses, a $1.3 million increase in research and development costs that were capitalized and a $0.7 million decrease in technology costs associated with our development and quality assurance environment.
Sales and Marketing Expenses
| Year Ended January 31, | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2020 | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||
| (dollars in thousands) | ||||||||||||||
| Sales and marketing | $ | 185,797 | $ | 163,994 | $ | 21,803 | 13 | % | ||||||
| % of revenue | 48 | % | 51 | % |
Sales and marketing expenses increased $21.8 million, or 13%, in the fiscal year 2021, compared to fiscal year 2020. The increase was primarily due to a $23.1 million increase in personnel costs due to increased headcount of sales and marketing employees to support growth, a $5.4 million increase in commissions expense associated with an increase in customer contracts and revenue growth and a $10.8 million increase in stock-based compensation associated with sales and marketing employees, $2.5 million of which is attributable to stock-based compensation charge in connection with the sale of common stock by certain employees to our Series G investors and a $1.2 million stock-based compensation charge in connection with a tender offer transaction. These increases were partially offset by a $9.4 million decrease in meeting and travel-related expenses due to COVID-19 global travel restrictions, a $3.9 million decrease in marketing expenses, a $1.2 million decrease in professional fees and a $1.2 million decrease in employee recruitment costs, all associated with a precautionary spending moratorium associated with the COVID-19 virus.
General and Administrative Expenses
| Year Ended January 31, | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2020 | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||
| (dollars in thousands) | ||||||||||||||
| General and administrative | $ | 64,348 | $ | 40,171 | $ | 24,177 | 60 | % | ||||||
| % of revenue | 17 | % | 12 | % |
General and administrative expenses increased $24.2 million, or 60%, in the fiscal year 2021, compared to fiscal year 2020. The increase was primarily due to a $17.6 million increase in stock-based compensation expense, $13.7 million of which is attributable to a stock-based compensation charge in connection with the sale of common stock by certain employees to the Company and certain of our investors. Additionally, general and administrative employee personnel costs increased $4.0 million due to increased headcount to support growth and a $2.2 million increase in legal and other professional service costs. These increases were partially offset by a decrease in meeting and travel-related expenses due to COVID-19 global travel restrictions.
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Other Expense, Net
| Year Ended January 31, | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2020 | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||
| (dollars in thousands) | ||||||||||||||
| Other expense, net | $ | (8,616) | $ | (927) | $ | (7,689) | 829 | % | ||||||
| % of revenue | (2) | % | 0 | % |
Other expense, net increased $7.7 million, or 829%, in the fiscal year 2021, compared to fiscal year 2020. The increase was primarily attributable to a $5.7 million increase in interest expense primarily due to non-cash interest expense incurred on our senior subordinated convertible notes issued in May 2020 and a $0.9 million increase in foreign currency translation losses. Other expense, net in the fiscal year 2020 included a $0.5 million of income associated with indirect tax refunds received and a $0.4 million gain on early termination of an operating lease, with no comparable gains in the fiscal year 2021.
Provision for Income Taxes
| Year Ended January 31, | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2020 | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||
| (dollars in thousands) | ||||||||||||||
| Provision for income taxes | $ | 3,777 | $ | 3,325 | $ | 452 | 14 | % | ||||||
| % of revenue | 1 | % | 1 | % |
Provision for income taxes increased $0.5 million, or 14%, in the fiscal year 2021, compared to fiscal year 2020. The increase was related to a higher foreign income tax liability on our non-U.S. subsidiaries.
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Non-GAAP Financial Measures
In addition to our results determined in accordance with GAAP, we believe the following non-GAAP financial measures are useful in evaluating our operating performance:
•Non-GAAP gross profit and non-GAAP gross margin
•Non-GAAP operating (loss) income and non-GAAP operating margin
•Non-GAAP net (loss) income and non-GAAP net (loss) income per share
We define these non-GAAP financial measures as the respective GAAP measures, excluding, as applicable, stock-based compensation expense-related charges, charges on litigation settlements and amortization of acquired intangible assets. We believe that it is useful to exclude stock-based compensation expense-related charges and amortization of acquired intangible assets in order to better understand the long-term performance of our core business and to facilitate comparison of our results to those of peer companies over multiple periods. We also exclude charges on litigation settlements that are considered to be non-ordinary course as we do not consider such losses to be indicative of our core business.
In addition, we believe free cash flow is also a useful non-GAAP financial measure. Free cash flow is defined as net cash used in operating activities less cash used for purchases of property and equipment and capitalized internal-use software. We believe that free cash flow is a useful indicator of liquidity as it measures our ability to generate cash, or our need to access additional sources of cash, to fund operations and investments. We expect our free cash flow to fluctuate in future periods with changes in our operating expenses and as we continue to invest in our growth. We typically experience higher billings in the fourth quarter compared to other quarters and experience higher collections of accounts receivable in the first half of the year, which results in a decrease in accounts receivable in the first half of the year.
However, non-GAAP financial measures have limitations in their usefulness to investors because they have no standardized meaning prescribed by GAAP and are not prepared under any comprehensive set of accounting rules or principles. In addition, other companies, including companies in our industry, may calculate similarly titled non-GAAP financial measures differently or may use other measures to evaluate their performance, all of which could reduce the usefulness of our non-GAAP financial measures as tools for comparison. As a result, our non-GAAP financial measures are presented for supplemental informational purposes only and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for our consolidated financial statements presented in accordance with GAAP.
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A reconciliation is provided below for each non-GAAP financial measure to the most directly comparable financial measure stated in accordance with GAAP:
| Year Ended January 31, | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | ||||||||
| (in thousands) | ||||||||||
| Non-GAAP gross profit: | ||||||||||
| GAAP gross profit | $ | 344,843 | $ | 264,848 | $ | 201,117 | ||||
| Stock-based compensation expense-related charges (1) | 4,355 | 3,670 | 513 | |||||||
| Non-GAAP gross profit | $ | 349,198 | $ | 268,518 | $ | 201,630 | ||||
| Gross margin | 70 | % | 68 | % | 62 | % | ||||
| Non-GAAP gross margin | 71 | % | 69 | % | 62 | % | ||||
| Non-GAAP operating (loss) income: | ||||||||||
| GAAP operating loss | $ | (99,470) | $ | (25,577) | $ | (35,529) | ||||
| Stock-based compensation expense-related charges (2) | 51,552 | 45,069 | 10,166 | |||||||
| Litigation settlement (3) | 12,000 | — | — | |||||||
| Amortization of acquired intangible assets | 412 | 626 | 203 | |||||||
| Non-GAAP operating (loss) income | $ | (35,506) | $ | 20,118 | $ | (25,160) | ||||
| Operating margin | (20) | % | (7) | % | (11) | % | ||||
| Non-GAAP operating margin | (7) | % | 5 | % | (8) | % | ||||
| Non-GAAP net (loss) income and net (loss) income per share: | ||||||||||
| GAAP net loss: | $ | (111,470) | $ | (38,570) | $ | (39,754) | ||||
| Stock-based compensation expense-related charges (2) | 51,552 | 45,069 | 10,166 | |||||||
| Litigation settlement (3) | 12,000 | — | — | |||||||
| Amortization of acquired intangible assets | 412 | 626 | 203 | |||||||
| Non-GAAP net (loss) income | $ | (47,506) | $ | 7,125 | $ | (29,385) | ||||
| Less: amounts allocated to participating securities | — | (3,884) | — | |||||||
| Non-GAAP net (loss) income attributable to Class A and Class B common stockholders | $ | (47,506) | $ | 3,241 | $ | (29,385) | ||||
| Weighted-average shares outstanding used in computing net (loss) income per share attributable to Class A and Class B common stockholders - basic | 195,020 | 90,378 | 84,343 | |||||||
| Non-GAAP net (loss) income per common share attributable to Class A and Class B common stockholders | $ | (0.24) | $ | 0.04 | $ | (0.35) | ||||
| Free cash flow: | ||||||||||
| Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities | $ | (32,922) | $ | 7,311 | $ | 18,966 | ||||
| Purchases of property and equipment | (6,148) | (2,701) | (2,633) | |||||||
| Capitalized internal-use software | (6,258) | (3,783) | (2,533) | |||||||
| Free cash flow | $ | (45,328) | $ | 827 | $ | 13,800 |
(1) Includes $0.1 million of employer payroll tax related to stock-based compensation expense for the year ended January 31, 2022.
(2) Includes $1.4 million of employer payroll tax related to stock-based compensation expense for the year ended January 31, 2022.
(3) On February 25, 2022, we and Opal agreed to settle all outstanding claims with respect to Opal’s complaints alleging breach of contract and violation of Oregon’s Uniform Trade Secrets Act, among other claims. The settlement amount was recorded as a one-time operating expense charge in fiscal year 2022.
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Liquidity and Capital Resources
Overview
As of January 31, 2022, our principal sources of liquidity were $321.4 million of cash and cash equivalents, $211.0 million of highly liquid marketable securities and an available line of credit of $50.0 million under our revolving credit facility. We believe that our existing cash and cash equivalents, marketable securities and cash from operations will be sufficient to meet our working capital needs, capital expenditures and financing obligations for at least the next 12 months and over the long-term. The majority of our cash is held in the United States and we do not anticipate a need to repatriate cash held outside of the United States. Further, it is our intent to indefinitely reinvest these funds outside the United States, and, therefore, we have not provided for any United States income taxes.
On June 25, 2021, we completed our IPO, in which we issued and sold 16,625,000 shares of our Class A common stock at a public offering price of $16.00 per share. On July 1, 2021, underwriters’ option to purchase 1,662,500 additional shares of Class A common stock was exercised in full. We received net proceeds of $276.0 million after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and other offering expenses.
In May 2020, we issued senior subordinated convertible notes for an aggregate principal amount of $75.0 million, with an initial maturity date of May 20, 2025 (the “Initial Notes”). Under the terms of the agreement, we had the ability to issue additional senior subordinated convertible notes for an aggregate principal amount of $75 million until May 20, 2021 (the “Delayed Draw Notes”, and the Initial Notes, together with the Delayed Draw Notes, hereinafter the “Notes”). We did not draw any additional amounts under the Delayed Draw Notes. The Initial Notes were issued for face amount net of a closing fee of 1.05% on the entire $150.0 million commitment for all Notes (corresponding to an original issue discount of 2.1% on the Initial Notes) and carried a fixed rate of 9.875% per annum. The interest was to be paid in kind by increasing the principal amount of the Initial Notes. We utilized the proceeds of the Notes to pay all amounts outstanding under the credit facility. Upon the closing of the IPO, the Notes automatically converted into an aggregate of 9,694,004 shares of Class B common stock.
On October 7, 2020, we closed on an agreement for a private placement and issuance of 10,810,810 shares of our Series G-1 convertible preferred stock at a price per share of $9.25 and 9,090,909 shares of our Series G-2 convertible preferred stock at a price per share of $11.00 for total gross proceeds of $200.0 million, before deducting placement agent fees and offering expenses.
SVB Credit Facility
We maintain a credit agreement with Silicon Valley Bank (the “SVB Credit Facility”). Under the terms of the SVB Credit Facility, we can borrow up to $50.0 million on our revolving credit loan facility at the higher of prime interest rate plus 0.25% or federal funds effective rate plus 0.50% plus 0.25%. SVB Credit Facility, which expires on June 21, 2022, requires that we maintain certain monthly adjusted quick ratio and quarterly minimum consolidated adjusted earnings before income taxes, depreciation and amortization. As of January 31, 2022, we had no amounts outstanding under the SVB Credit Facility.
Material Cash Requirements
Our expected material cash requirements comprise of contractually obligated expenditures. We have agreements in place with data and service providers which require us to make certain minimum guaranteed purchase commitments through fiscal year 2026 which totaled $156.3 million as of January 31, 2022. In addition, we lease certain office facilities under operating lease arrangements that expire on various dates through fiscal year 2027. Under the terms of the leases, we are responsible for certain operating expenses, such as insurance, property taxes, and maintenance expenses. Future minimum lease payments under non-cancelable operating leases totaled $24.6 million as of January 31, 2022.
Future Funding Requirements
Our future capital requirements will depend on many factors, including our growth rate, the expansion of our direct sales force, strategic relationships and international operations, the timing and extent of spending to support research and development efforts and the continuing market acceptance of our solutions. We historically have expanded our business in part by investing in strategic growth initiatives, including acquisitions of products, technologies and businesses. We may finance such acquisitions using cash, debt, stock or a combination of the foregoing; however, we have used cash and stock as consideration for substantially all of our historical business acquisitions. We continually examine our options with respect to terms and sources of existing and future short-term and long-term capital resources to enhance our operating results and to ensure that we retain financial flexibility, and may from time to time elect to raise capital through the issuance of additional equity or the incurrence of additional debt. Sales of additional equity could
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result in dilution to our stockholders. If we raise funds by borrowing from third parties, the terms of those financing arrangements would require us to incur interest expense and may include negative covenants or other restrictions on our business that could impair our operating flexibility. We can provide no assurance that financing will be available at all or, if available, that we would be able to obtain financing on terms favorable to us. If we are unable to raise additional capital when needed, we would be required to curtail our operating activities and capital expenditures, and our business operating results and financial condition would be adversely affected.
Cash Flows
The following table shows a summary of our cash flows for the periods indicated:
| Year Ended January 31, | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | ||||||||
| Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities | $ | (32,922) | $ | 7,311 | $ | 18,966 | ||||
| Net cash used in investing activities | (15,650) | (219,457) | (11,666) | |||||||
| Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities | 303,132 | 269,784 | (7,529) |
Our net loss and cash flows provided by operating activities are influenced significantly by our investments in headcount to support growth and in costs of revenue to deliver our services. In recent periods, our net loss generally has been greater than our use of cash for operating activities due to our subscription-based revenue model in which billings occur in advance of revenue recognition, as well as the amount of non-cash charges that we incur. Non-cash charges primarily include depreciation and amortization, stock-based compensation, non-cash interest associated with our convertible debt and deferred taxes. Our largest source of operating cash is cash collections from customers using our Unified-CXM Platform and related services. Our primary uses of cash from operating activities are for employee-related costs, costs to deliver our revenue and marketing expenses.
We expect our free cash flow to fluctuate in future periods with changes in our operating expenses and as we continue to invest in our growth. We typically experience higher billings in the fourth quarter compared to other quarters, primarily due to higher renewal activity, and experience higher collections of accounts receivable in the first half of the year, which results in a decrease in accounts receivable in the first half of the year.
Operating Activities
For the fiscal year 2022, cash used in operating activities was $32.9 million resulting from net loss of $111.5 million offset by net non-cash expenses of $72.2 million and $6.3 million net cash flow provided as a result of changes in operating assets and liabilities. The $6.3 million of net cash flows provided as a result of changes in operating assets and liabilities reflected a $43.4 million increase in deferred revenue resulting primarily from increased billings for subscriptions and a $25.5 million increase in accrued expenses and other current liabilities, partially offset by a $47.1 million increase in accounts receivable due to increased billings and a $6.8 million increase in other non-current assets.
For the fiscal year 2021, cash provided by operating activities was $7.3 million resulting from net non-cash expenses of $55.2 million largely offset by net loss of $38.0 million and $9.9 million net cash flow used as a result of changes in operating assets and liabilities. The $9.9 million of net cash flows used as a result of changes in our operating assets and liabilities reflected a $28.7 million increase in prepaid expenses primarily associated with higher prepayments for data center operations costs and data costs and a $9.8 million increase in accounts receivable due to increased billings, partially offset by a $17.5 million increase in deferred revenue resulting primarily from increased billings for subscriptions and a $12.3 million increase in accrued expenses and other current liabilities.
For the fiscal year 2020, cash provided by operating activities was $19.0 million resulting from $42.9 million net cash flow provided as a result of changes in operating assets and liabilities and net non-cash expenses of $15.8 million, partially offset by net loss of $39.8 million. The $42.9 million of net cash flows provided as a result of changes in our operating assets and liabilities reflected an $88.9 million increase in deferred revenue resulting primarily from increased billings for subscriptions and an increase of $7.0 million in accrued expenses and other current liabilities. These increases were partially offset by a $11.6 million increase in accounts receivable due to increased billings, a $22.3 million increase in prepaid expenses primarily associated with higher prepayments for data center operations costs and data costs, a $10.2 million decrease in accounts payable and a $9.9 million increase in other noncurrent assets.
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Investing Activities
For the fiscal year 2022, net cash used in investing activities of $15.7 million was related to $267.8 million of purchases of marketable securities, $6.3 million in capitalized internal-use software costs, $6.1 million in capital expenditures, and $(3.6) million of cash paid to acquire a privately held company. These cash outflows were largely offset by $211.6 million of cash from maturities of marketable securities and $56.7 million of sales of marketable securities.
For the fiscal year 2021, net cash used in investing activities of $219.5 million was related to $213.0 million of cash paid for marketable securities, purchase of property and equipment of $2.7 million and the capitalization of internal-use software of $3.8 million.
For the fiscal year 2020, net cash used in investing activities of $11.7 million was related to $6.5 million of cash paid to acquire a privately held company, purchases of property and equipment of $2.6 million and the capitalization of internal-use software costs of $2.5 million.
Financing Activities
Our financing activities consist primarily of proceeds from debt and equity financings and exercises of stock options, offset by repayments of debt and repurchase of capital stock.
For the fiscal year 2022, net cash provided by financing activities of $303.1 million was primarily due to our IPO in which we received total net proceeds of $276.0 million, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and other offering expenses. In addition, there were proceeds from the exercise of stock options of $20.1 million as well as $7.1 million from the purchase of common stock through our ESPP.
For the fiscal year 2021, net cash provided by financing activities of $269.8 million was due to $191.8 million of proceeds from issuance of convertible preferred stock, $73.4 million of proceeds from the convertible note, $16.3 million of proceeds from exercises of stock options and $7.6 million of proceeds from issuance of stock warrants, partially offset by preferred and common stock repurchases of $12.4 million and $5.9 million, respectively, each in connection with a tender offer transaction, and payment of debt and equity issuance costs of $0.5 million.
For the fiscal year 2020, net cash used in financing activities of $7.5 million was related to net short-term debt repayments of $9.5 million partially offset by $2.0 million of proceeds from exercises of stock options.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
Our consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with GAAP. The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting periods.
Critical accounting estimates are those estimates that, in accordance with GAAP, involve a significant level of estimation uncertainty and have had or are reasonably likely to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements. Management has determined that our most critical accounting estimates are those relating to revenue recognition, stock-based compensation expense, common stock valuations and income taxes. We evaluate our estimates and assumptions on an ongoing basis using historical experience and other factors and adjust those estimates and assumptions when facts and circumstances dictate. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates and assumptions.
Our significant accounting policies are more fully described in Note 2, Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, in our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Form 10-K.
Revenue Recognition
At times, revenue recognition requires significant judgment, especially for our arrangements that include multiple performance obligations, or deliverables, such as arrangements that include promises to transfer multiple subscription services, premium support, professional services and managed services. A performance obligation is a promise in a contract with a customer to transfer products or services that are distinct. Determining whether products and services are distinct performance obligations that should be accounted for separately or combined as one unit of accounting may require significant judgment.
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Subscription services are distinct as such offerings are often sold separately. In determining whether professional services are distinct, we consider the following factors for each professional services agreement: availability of the services from other vendors, the nature of the professional services, the timing of when the professional services contract was signed in comparison to the subscription start date and the contractual dependence of the service on the customer’s satisfaction with the professional services work. To date, we have concluded that professional services included in contracts with multiple performance obligations are generally distinct.
The determination of standalone selling price (“SSP”) for each distinct performance obligation requires judgement. We rarely sell our enterprise cloud software products and services as readily observable standalone sales, so we are required to estimate the SSP for each performance obligation. In the determination of the SSP, we use information that includes contractually stated prices, size of the arrangement, market conditions, costs, renewal contracts, list prices, internal discounting tables and other observable inputs. In making these judgments, we analyze various factors, including our pricing methodology and consistency, size of the arrangement, length of term, customer demographics and overall market and economic conditions. Based on these results, the estimated SSP is set for each distinct product or service delivered to customers. As our go-to-market strategies evolve, we may modify our pricing strategies in the future, which could result in changes to SSP.
There were no material changes in the estimates or assumptions used to recognize revenue during the year ended January 31, 2022.
Stock-Based Compensation
Our stock-based compensation for stock-based awards, including stock options, performance share units and restricted stock units, is accounted for in accordance with the authoritative guidance and is estimated at the grant date based on the fair value of the award. Determining the appropriate fair value of the stock-based awards requires judgment. For awards with service only condition, expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the vesting period of the award, net of estimated forfeitures. For awards with performance conditions, expense is recognized only if it is probable that the performance will be achieved, at which point we will record a cumulative one-time stock-based compensation expense determined using the grant date fair values and the accelerated attribution method. For further information on stock-based compensation, see Note 11 to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in “Part II, Item 8. Financial Statements” of this Form 10-K.
We will continue to use judgment in evaluating the assumptions related to our stock-based compensation on a prospective basis.
Common Stock Valuations
For all periods prior to the IPO, the fair values of the shares of common stock underlying our share-based awards were determined on each grant date by our board of directors, which typically occurred at least once every three months during the fiscal years ended January 31, 2020 and 2021 and on a monthly basis commencing in March 2021. Given the absence of a public trading market for our common stock, our board of directors exercised reasonable judgment and considered a number of objective and subjective factors to determine the best estimate of the fair value of our common stock, including our stage of development; the rights, preferences and privileges of our convertible preferred stock relative to those of our common stock; our financial condition and operating results, including our levels of available capital resources; equity market conditions affecting comparable public companies; general U.S. market conditions; recent secondary stock sales and a tender offer and the lack of marketability of our common stock. Valuations of our common stock were prepared by an unrelated third-party valuation firm in accordance with the guidance provided by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants Practice Guide, Valuation of Privately-Held-Company Equity Securities Issued as Compensation.
We determined the fair value of our common stock for financial reporting purposes, taking into account the factors described above, using a combination of valuation methodologies with varying weighting applied to each methodology.
Income Taxes
Accounting for income taxes requires significant judgments in the development of estimates used in income tax calculations. The most significant of those estimates for us include the likelihood that we would realize the benefits of net operating loss carryforwards and/or foreign tax credit carryforwards and the adequacy of valuation allowances. As part of the process of preparing our consolidated financial statements, we are required to estimate our income taxes in each of the jurisdictions in which we operate.
To the extent recovery of deferred tax assets is not more likely than not, we record a valuation allowance to reduce our deferred tax assets to the amount that is more likely than not to be realized. Although we have considered future taxable income along with prudent and feasible tax planning strategies in assessing the need for a valuation allowance, if we should determine we would not be able to realize all or part of our deferred tax assets in the future, an adjustment to deferred tax assets would be charged to income in the period any such determination was made. Likewise, in the event that we are able to realize our deferred tax assets in the future in excess of the net recorded amount, an adjustment to deferred tax assets would increase income in the period any such determination was made.
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Recent Accounting Pronouncements
Refer to Note 2, Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, included elsewhere in this Form 10-K for more information regarding recently issued accounting pronouncements.
JOBS Act Accounting Election
We are an emerging growth company, as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (the “JOBS Act”). Under the JOBS Act, emerging growth companies can delay adopting new or revised accounting standards issued subsequent to the enactment of the JOBS Act until such time as those standards apply to private companies. We have elected to use this extended transition period for complying with new or revised accounting standards that have different effective dates for public and private companies until the earlier of the date that we (i) are no longer an emerging growth company or (ii) affirmatively and irrevocably opt out of the extended transition period provided in the JOBS Act. As a result, our financial statements may not be comparable to companies that comply with new or revised accounting pronouncements as of public company effective dates.