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Bentley Systems Inc.: Q3 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 5 November 2025: press release. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Total revenue grew 12.0%: Total revenues were $375.5 million, up 12.0% year-over-year, or 10.6% on a constant currency basis. Source
  • ARR up 10.5% in constant currency: ARR was $1,405.2 million at September 30, 2025, against $1,270.7 million a year earlier, a constant currency growth rate of 10.5%. Source
  • Operating margin up to 22.5%: Operating income margin was 22.5%, against 20.5% a year earlier. AOI less SBC margin was 27.7%, against 26.7%. Source
  • Free cash flow up to $110.7 million: Free cash flow was $110.7 million, against $84.3 million. Cash flows from operations were $116.4 million, against $86.1 million. Source
  • Infrastructure engineering demand robust: The CEO said demand for infrastructure engineering remains robust, and project pipelines are full. Source
  • Programmatic API consumption added: Executive Chair Greg Bentley described adding programmatic API consumption to attended use, with accounts and prospects gaining as asset consumption reaches critical mass. Source

“To start with, I commend our management for 25Q3 execution which continues the steady progression within our annual outlook.”

Executive Chair Greg Bentley

What changed from last quarter

  • New: AI capabilities were unveiled across the portfolio during the quarter, according to the CEO. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Total revenue grew 12.0%: Total revenues were $375.5 million, up 12.0% year-over-year, or 10.6% on a constant currency basis. Source
  • Subscriptions drove growth: Subscriptions revenues were $344.3 million, up 13.5%. The CFO said subscription revenue is now 92% of total revenues and grew 12% in constant currency. Source
  • Nine-month revenue grew 10.7%: Nine-month total revenues were $1,110.2 million, up 10.7% or 10.3% on a constant currency basis. Nine-month subscriptions revenues rose 12.4%. Source
  • Diluted EPS rose to $0.18: Net income per diluted share was $0.18, against $0.13 a year earlier. Adjusted EPS was $0.27, against $0.24. Source

Recurring revenue and retention

  • ARR up 10.5% in constant currency: ARR was $1,405.2 million at September 30, 2025, against $1,270.7 million a year earlier, a constant currency growth rate of 10.5%. Source
  • ARR growth below June reading: The second-quarter release reported constant currency ARR growth of 11.5%, so the rate in this quarter was lower.
  • Net retention steady at 109%: Last twelve-month dollar-based net retention was 109%, the same as a year earlier, the company reported. Source

“Our third quarter results reflected strong execution and consistent growth drivers across commercial models, regions, and infrastructure sectors.”

CEO Nicholas Cumins

Margins and operating costs

  • Operating margin up to 22.5%: Operating income margin was 22.5%, against 20.5% a year earlier. AOI less SBC margin was 27.7%, against 26.7%. Source
  • Second-quarter margin was 23.2%: The second-quarter release reported operating income margin of 23.2%, against 24.3% a year earlier.
  • Nine-month operating margin rose: Nine-month operating income margin was 25.6%, against 24.0%. Nine-month AOI less SBC margin was 30.2%, against 29.6%. Source
  • Subscription and license costs rose: Cost of subscriptions and licenses was $53.8 million, against $44.2 million. Research and development was $78.8 million, against $70.1 million. Source

Cash flow and balance sheet

  • Free cash flow up to $110.7 million: Free cash flow was $110.7 million, against $84.3 million. Cash flows from operations were $116.4 million, against $86.1 million. Source
  • Nine-month free cash flow higher: Nine-month free cash flow was $384.0 million, against $345.2 million a year earlier. Source
  • Cash rose to $165.4 million: Cash and cash equivalents were $165.4 million at September 30, 2025, against $64.0 million at December 31, 2024. Source

“Solid 25Q3 results, in line with our expectations, position us well with respect to our full-year financial outlook.”

CFO Werner Andre

Share repurchases and dividends

  • Buybacks of $65.0 million: Nine-month repurchases of Class B common stock under the approved program were $65.0 million, against $45.8 million a year earlier. Source
  • Dividend payments rose: Nine-month dividend payments were $63.8 million, against $54.0 million a year earlier. Source
  • Diluted share count little changed: Diluted weighted average shares were 333.3 million for the quarter, against 333.8 million a year earlier. Source

Demand and consumption model

  • Infrastructure engineering demand robust: The CEO said demand for infrastructure engineering remains robust, and project pipelines are full. Source
  • Programmatic API consumption added: Executive Chair Greg Bentley described adding programmatic API consumption to attended use, with accounts and prospects gaining as asset consumption reaches critical mass. Source
  • Engineering capacity gap framed AI: At the Year in Infrastructure conference, management said AI's potential to help close the engineering capacity gap was a central theme. Source

Infrastructure AI and products

  • Users applying AI, Going Digital: Going Digital Award submissions illustrated how users are already applying AI in meaningful ways, according to the CEO. Source
  • Strategic AI developments ongoing: Executive Chair Greg Bentley linked the quarter's product announcements and ongoing Infrastructure AI developments to new ways of broadening consumption and value generation. Source

Coming up, as management said on 5 November 2025

  • Repurchases and dividend capacity: Management said the balance sheet and cash flow provide capacity for buybacks offsetting stock-based compensation dilution, the dividend, and potential acquisitions. Source
  • Maturing convertible debt to be addressed: The CFO said the company will address its maturing convertible debt, alongside the balance sheet capacity described for buybacks and acquisitions. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Annualized Recurring Revenues (ARR) Source$1,405.2 million as of September 30, 2025
Net revenue retention, last twelve months, dollar-based Source109%
Subscriptions share of total revenues Source92%
Cloud Services Subscription deposits (balance sheet) Source$427.8 million at September 30, 2025

Earlier plans management reported on

  • On track: Management said the company is on track for another year of compounding for both margin and cash flow metrics. Source
  • Met: The CFO said third-quarter results were in line with the company's expectations. 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.