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Blackline, Inc.: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 10 February 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 6 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue rose 8.1% in quarter: GAAP revenue was $183.2 million, up from $169.5 million a year earlier. Full-year revenue was $700.4 million, up 7.2%. Source
  • Billings rose 9.5% in quarter: Billings were $226.9 million in the fourth quarter, up 9.5%. The prior release reported third-quarter billings of $161.6 million, up 4.4%, including a four point timing impact. Source
  • Remaining obligations reached $1.1 billion: Remaining performance obligation was $1.1 billion at year-end, up 23.5%. The prior release gave $964.1 million at September 30, 2025. Source
  • Net revenue retention reached 105%: Dollar-based net revenue retention was 105% at year-end, against 103% at September 30, 2025. The prior release said that figure included a one point foreign exchange headwind. Source
  • Non-GAAP operating margin rose to 24.7%: Non-GAAP operating margin was 24.7% in the quarter, against 18.1%. Full-year non-GAAP operating margin was 22.3%, against 19.4%. Source
  • Quarterly operating cash flow fell: Operating cash flow was $26.7 million in the quarter, against $43.8 million, and free cash flow was $19.9 million, against $36.5 million. Source

“Our fourth-quarter performance, highlighted by record bookings, provides encouraging validation of the strategic transformation we initiated over two years ago,”

Owen Ryan, CEO of BlackLine

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
GAAP revenue SourceFirst quarter 2026$180 million to $182 millionNew
Non-GAAP operating margin SourceFirst quarter 202618.5% to 19.5%New
Non-GAAP net income attributable to BlackLine SourceFirst quarter 2026$31 million to $33 million, or $0.44 to $0.46 per share on 74.5 million diluted weighted average shares outstandingNew
GAAP revenue SourceFull year 2026$764 million to $768 millionNew
Non-GAAP operating margin SourceFull year 202623.7% to 24.3%New
Non-GAAP net income attributable to BlackLine SourceFull year 2026$172 million to $180 million, or $2.37 to $2.48 per share on 75.0 million diluted weighted average shares outstandingNew

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: Guidance was given for the first quarter and full year 2026. The prior release gave guidance only for the fourth quarter and full year 2025. Source
  • New: The company acquired WiseLayer, an AI-powered accounting and finance automation company. Source
  • New: Cloud footprint extended to Saudi Arabia. Source
  • New: The company secured an official listing on the FedRAMP Marketplace. Source
  • New: The company completed a multi-year migration to Google Cloud Platform. Source
  • Ended: Number of users is no longer among the operating metrics. Platform pricing ARR as a percentage of eligible ARR is reported alongside customers and net revenue retention.

Fourth quarter and full-year results

  • Revenue rose 8.1% in quarter: GAAP revenue was $183.2 million, up from $169.5 million a year earlier. Full-year revenue was $700.4 million, up 7.2%. Source
  • Subscription revenue grew in quarter: Subscription and support revenue was $173,229 thousand, against $160,988 thousand a year earlier. Professional services revenue was $9,952 thousand, against $8,472 thousand. Source
  • GAAP net income fell on prior-year benefit: The year-earlier quarter included a $50.4 million income tax benefit. Full-year GAAP net income was $24.5 million, or $0.39 a diluted share, against $1.45 in 2024. Source
  • Non-GAAP net income rose in quarter: Full-year non-GAAP net income was $157.0 million, or $2.13 a diluted share, against $162.1 million, or $2.18 in 2024. Source

Billings, bookings and remaining obligations

  • Billings rose 9.5% in quarter: Billings were $226.9 million in the fourth quarter, up 9.5%. The prior release reported third-quarter billings of $161.6 million, up 4.4%, including a four point timing impact. Source
  • Remaining obligations reached $1.1 billion: Remaining performance obligation was $1.1 billion at year-end, up 23.5%. The prior release gave $964.1 million at September 30, 2025. Source
  • Receivables absorbed operating cash: Accounts receivable used $62.2 million of operating cash in the quarter, against $43.3 million a year earlier. Deferred revenue added $43.6 million in the quarter. Source

“we remain focused on disciplined execution to drive revenue growth and operating margin expansion in 2026.”

Owen Ryan, CEO of BlackLine

Customers, pricing and retention

  • Customer count at 4,394: Customers totalled 4,394 at December 31, 2025, against 4,424 at September 30, 2025 in the prior release. Source
  • Net revenue retention reached 105%: Dollar-based net revenue retention was 105% at year-end, against 103% at September 30, 2025. The prior release said that figure included a one point foreign exchange headwind. Source
  • Platform pricing ARR share is 11%: Platform pricing ARR was 11% of eligible ARR, which excludes SAP solutions-extensions and public sector ARR. The prior release did not give this share. Source

Margins and cost lines

  • Non-GAAP operating margin rose to 24.7%: Non-GAAP operating margin was 24.7% in the quarter, against 18.1%. Full-year non-GAAP operating margin was 22.3%, against 19.4%. Source
  • GAAP operating margin flat in quarter: GAAP operating margin was 3.7% in both quarters. Full-year GAAP operating margin rose to 3.6% from 2.8%. Non-GAAP gross margin was 79.5%, against 79.6%. Source
  • Restructuring costs rose sharply: Restructuring costs were $6.0 million in the quarter and $14.6 million for the year, against $1.7 million in 2024. The company excludes restructuring and legal settlement costs from non-GAAP results. Source
  • Research and development spend increased: Research and development rose to $28.2 million from $24.6 million. Sales and marketing eased to $63.7 million from $64.8 million. General and administrative rose to $33.0 million from $32.5 million. Source
  • Stock-based compensation climbed: Stock-based compensation in the non-GAAP operating income reconciliation was $27.0 million in the quarter, against $20.1 million, and $96.3 million for the year, against $86.1 million. Source

Cash flow, buybacks and balance sheet

  • Quarterly operating cash flow fell: Operating cash flow was $26.7 million in the quarter, against $43.8 million, and free cash flow was $19.9 million, against $36.5 million. Source
  • Full-year free cash flow declined: Full-year operating cash flow was $169.6 million, against $190.8 million. Free cash flow was $134.9 million, against $164.0 million. Source
  • Share repurchases in quarter and year: About 0.6 million shares were repurchased for $33.8 million in the quarter. For the year, about 4.5 million shares were repurchased for $235.5 million. Source
  • Cash and securities at year-end: Cash and cash equivalents were $390.0 million at December 31, 2025, against $419.9 million at September 30, 2025. Marketable securities were $388.2 million. Source
  • Convertible notes split current and noncurrent: Convertible senior notes were $230.0 million current and $666.0 million noncurrent at December 31, 2025. Source

Strategy, AI and cloud expansion

  • Studio360 platform underpins Verity AI: The company describes Studio360 as the platform that delivers real-time insights through automation and intelligence powered by Verity. Source
  • WiseLayer acquisition adds AI: The company acquired WiseLayer to add AI accounting and finance automation. Cash flow shows $16.2 million for the acquisition, net of cash acquired. Source
  • Cloud and compliance steps completed: Cloud footprint extended to Saudi Arabia, a FedRAMP Marketplace listing was secured, and a multi-year Google Cloud Platform migration was completed. Source

Coming up, as management said on 10 February 2026

  • Final figures await Form 10-K: Figures are preliminary until the company files its Annual Report on Form 10-K for 2025. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Customers Source4,394 at December 31, 2025
Platform pricing ARR as a percentage of eligible ARR Source11%
Dollar-based net revenue retention rate Source105% at December 31, 2025
Remaining performance obligation Source$1.1 billion, up 23.5%
Billings Source$226.9 million, up 9.5% (fourth quarter)
Subscription and support revenue Source$173,229 thousand (fourth quarter); $662,928 thousand (full year)

Risks management discussed

  • Financial: Management said excluded items could cause GAAP operating margin and net income to vary significantly and unpredictably from non-GAAP guidance. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management says these steps taken to deliver customer outcomes are translating into results. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.