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Blackbaud 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: 8 new, 1 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Fourth-quarter revenue fell on divestiture: Fourth-quarter GAAP total revenue was $295.3 million, down 2.3%, reflecting the EVERFI divestiture, while non-GAAP organic revenue rose 4.3%. Source
  • Full-year organic revenue grew 5.5%: For full-year 2025, GAAP total revenue was $1.1 billion, down 2.3% on the EVERFI divestiture; non-GAAP organic revenue increased 5.5%. Source
  • Non-GAAP operating margin reached 30.0%: Fourth-quarter non-GAAP operating margin was 30.0%, up 270 basis points. Full-year non-GAAP operating margin was 30.5%. Source
  • Operating cash flow fell in 2025: Full-year GAAP operating cash flow was $265.6 million, a decrease of $30.4 million. Fourth-quarter operating cash flow was $58.0 million, down $15.6 million. Source
  • Free cash flow fell to $203.5 million: Full-year non-GAAP free cash flow was $203.5 million, down $25.2 million. Fourth-quarter non-GAAP free cash flow was $41.1 million, down $15.4 million. Source

“We enter 2026 with tremendous optimism and confidence in our long-term strategy and a proven ability to execute.”

Mike Gianoni, president, CEO and vice chairman of the board of directors

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Revenue SourceFull year 2026$1.173 billion to $1.179 billionNew
Non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA SourceFull year 2026$430 million to $438 millionNew
Non-GAAP diluted EPS SourceFull year 2026$5.15 to $5.25New
Non-GAAP free cash flow SourceFull year 2026$280 million to $290 millionNew
Effective tax rate SourceFull year 2026approximately 24.5%Kept
Interest expense SourceFull year 2026$62 million to $66 millionNew
Fully diluted shares SourceFull year 202645.0 million to 46.0 millionNew
Capital expenditures SourceFull year 2026$60 million to $70 millionNew
Stock repurchases SourceFull year 20265.0% to 10.0% of outstanding common stockNew

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: The company issued full-year 2026 financial guidance. The prior release gave guidance for 2025 only. Source
  • New: The repurchase program was reauthorized, expanded and replenished to $1 billion in December 2025. The prior release referred to a July 2024 authorization. Source
  • Ended: From 2026 the company stops adding back Security Incident cash outflows to adjusted free cash flow and keeps free cash flow as its measure. Source
  • New: The company announced a partnership with Anthropic on purpose-built AI. The prior release's highlights did not include it. Source

Fourth quarter and full-year results

  • Fourth-quarter revenue fell on divestiture: Fourth-quarter GAAP total revenue was $295.3 million, down 2.3%, reflecting the EVERFI divestiture, while non-GAAP organic revenue rose 4.3%. Source
  • Full-year organic revenue grew 5.5%: For full-year 2025, GAAP total revenue was $1.1 billion, down 2.3% on the EVERFI divestiture; non-GAAP organic revenue increased 5.5%. Source
  • Operating income rose on prior-year charge: Fourth-quarter GAAP income from operations was $59.1 million, compared with a loss of $367.3 million in the prior-year quarter, which included the EVERFI disposition charge. Source
  • Non-GAAP EPS rose to $1.19: Fourth-quarter non-GAAP diluted EPS was $1.19, up $0.12. Full-year non-GAAP diluted EPS was $4.45, up $0.39. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA rose; Rule of 40 at 41.4%: Fourth-quarter non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA was $104.5 million, up $2.3 million, at a 35.4% margin. The full-year Rule of 40 score was 41.4%. Source
  • Organic recurring revenue grew 5.8%: Non-GAAP organic recurring revenue grew 4.8% in the fourth quarter and 5.8% for full-year 2025. At constant currency the rates were 4.5% and 5.4%. Source

Margins and cost base

  • Non-GAAP operating margin reached 30.0%: Fourth-quarter non-GAAP operating margin was 30.0%, up 270 basis points. Full-year non-GAAP operating margin was 30.5%. Source
  • Intangible amortization fell sharply: Amortization of intangibles from business combinations in the gross profit reconciliation was $6.8 million in the fourth quarter, against $13.0 million a year earlier. Cost of revenue was $123.0 million, against $139.6 million. Source
  • G&A rose while sales expense fell: Full-year general and administrative expense was $154.6 million, up from $142.7 million. Fourth-quarter sales, marketing and customer success expense fell to $44.8 million from $50.1 million. Source
  • Interest expense rose on debt: Full-year interest expense was $68.0 million, against $55.6 million in 2024. Fourth-quarter interest expense was $15.8 million. Source

“We believe Blackbaud is well positioned to benefit from the next wave of technological change alongside our customers.”

Mike Gianoni, president, CEO and vice chairman of the board of directors

Cash flow and free cash flow

  • Operating cash flow fell in 2025: Full-year GAAP operating cash flow was $265.6 million, a decrease of $30.4 million. Fourth-quarter operating cash flow was $58.0 million, down $15.6 million. Source
  • Free cash flow fell to $203.5 million: Full-year non-GAAP free cash flow was $203.5 million, down $25.2 million. Fourth-quarter non-GAAP free cash flow was $41.1 million, down $15.4 million. Source
  • Adjusted free cash flow $208.2 million: Full-year non-GAAP adjusted free cash flow was $208.2 million, down $36.5 million, after adding back Security Incident cash flows of $4.6 million. Source

Capital and shareholder returns

  • About $961 million left under repurchase program: About $961 million remained under the repurchase program at December 31, 2025. Source
  • Treasury stock purchases were $217.2 million: Purchases of treasury stock, including excise tax payments, were $217.2 million for full-year 2025, against $418.0 million in 2024. Source
  • Shares outstanding fell to 46.7 million: Shares outstanding were 46.7 million at December 31, 2025, down from 49.2 million a year earlier. Source

AI strategy and product positioning

  • AI innovation shown at product briefings: The company's highlights list AI-powered innovation and intelligent workflows shown at its bi-annual product update briefings. Source
  • Positioned as leader in AI: The company describes itself as the leader in AI for social impact. Source
  • Confidence tied to AI-powered solutions: The CEO links the company's confidence in 2026 to its mission critical solutions empowered by AI. Source

Security Incident and cybersecurity costs

  • Security Incident costs eased to $3.1 million: Security Incident-related costs were $3.1 million in 2025, against $13.7 million in 2024, including about $1.1 million of loss-contingency accruals. No loss-contingency liabilities were recorded at year-end. Source
  • Cyber program costs not excluded: Costs of enhancing the cybersecurity program are not included in the Security Incident adjustment to non-GAAP results. Source
  • Security Incident costs substantially complete: The company says Security Incident costs and cash outflows are now substantially complete. Source

Reporting presentation and non-GAAP measures

  • Revenue lines combined from 2025: Recurring and one-time services revenue lines are combined within revenue from 2025, because one-time services and other revenue is immaterial. Prior periods were conformed. Source
  • Full-year guidance not reconciled to GAAP: Forward-looking full-year non-GAAP figures are not reconciled to GAAP. The company says a reconciliation would need unreasonable efforts at this time. Source
  • Organic growth excludes divested revenue: Organic growth measures exclude prior-period revenue of divested businesses. Full-year 2024 divested revenue excluded from the comparison was $85.6 million. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Recurring revenue, fourth quarter 2025 Source$290.8 million, 98.5% of total revenue
Recurring revenue, full year 2025 Source$1.1 billion, 98.0% of total revenue

Risks management discussed

  • Regulatory: Legal costs and settlements of customer claims related to the Security Incident are recorded as expenses, with loss-contingency accruals. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Ahead: The company says the Rule of 40 was reached two years ahead of schedule. Source
  • Met: The CFO says 2025 results met or exceeded the company's financial guidance for the year. 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.