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Open Text Corp.: Q1 FY2027 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2027, from the documents filed with the SEC on 5 November 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Total revenue fell 4.0%: Total revenues were $1.237 billion, down 4.0% Y/Y. Excluding divestitures and in constant currency, the decline was 1.7%. Source
  • Core revenue grew 2.4%: Core revenues, covering Content, Business Network, ITOM and Cybersecurity (Enterprise), were $864 million, up 2.4% Y/Y and 2.7% in constant currency. Source
  • Core Cloud revenue up 11.2%: Core Cloud revenues were $339 million, up 11.2% Y/Y and 11.7% in constant currency. Source
  • Annual recurring revenue down 3.0%: Annual recurring revenues, cloud plus client support, were $1.040 billion, down 3.0% Y/Y and 2.9% in constant currency. Source
  • Free cash flow up 36.8%: Operating cash flow was $172 million, up 16.6%. Free cash flow was $139 million after $33.8 million of capital expenditures. Source
  • Debt down about $949 million: Including October 2026 repayments, debt fell about $949 million over the past twelve months. The net leverage ratio was 2.55x at September 30, 2026. Source

“Our first quarter reflects the strength of our core portfolio and the value we deliver for clients”

Ayman Antoun, OpenText CEO

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Quarterly dividend Sourcequarter ending December 2026$0.280 per common shareKept

What changed from last quarter

  • New: In October the company completed a $1.0 billion senior secured notes offering, with proceeds used to retire its 2027 notes. Source
  • New: A partnership with Cohere was announced to combine trusted data with agentic AI. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Total revenue fell 4.0%: Total revenues were $1.237 billion, down 4.0% Y/Y. Excluding divestitures and in constant currency, the decline was 1.7%. Source
  • Revenue down 8.3% from prior quarter: Revenues were $1,236.6 million, against $1,349.0 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026, a sequential decline of 8.3%. Source
  • Core revenue grew 2.4%: Core revenues, covering Content, Business Network, ITOM and Cybersecurity (Enterprise), were $864 million, up 2.4% Y/Y and 2.7% in constant currency. Source
  • Core Cloud revenue up 11.2%: Core Cloud revenues were $339 million, up 11.2% Y/Y and 11.7% in constant currency. Source
  • Non-GAAP EPS flat year on year: GAAP diluted EPS was $0.64, up 10.3%. Non-GAAP diluted EPS was $1.05, flat Y/Y and $1.03 in constant currency. Non-GAAP net income was $254 million, down 4.5%. Source

Recurring revenue and products

  • Cloud revenue up 4.3%: Cloud services and subscriptions revenue was $505 million, up 4.3% Y/Y, with 23 consecutive quarters of cloud organic growth reported. Source
  • Client support down 9.0%: Client support revenue was $534 million, down 9.0% Y/Y, or 8.8% in constant currency. Source
  • Annual recurring revenue down 3.0%: Annual recurring revenues, cloud plus client support, were $1.040 billion, down 3.0% Y/Y and 2.9% in constant currency. Source
  • License and services revenue fell: License revenue was $124 million, down 8.0% Y/Y. Professional service and other revenue was $73 million, down 11.0%. Source

“As clients move to AI, they need trusted context and connected data for outcomes they can rely on.”

Ayman Antoun, OpenText CEO

Costs and margins

  • GAAP gross margin up year on year: GAAP gross margin was 73.2%, up 40 basis points Y/Y and down 180 basis points from the prior quarter's 75.0%. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA margin at 35.8%: Adjusted EBITDA was $442 million, a 35.8% margin. The year-earlier figure was $467 million, a 36.3% margin. Source
  • Sales and marketing expense rose: Sales and marketing expense was $277.6 million, against $257.1 million. Research and development was $142.1 million, against $169.1 million. Source
  • Special charges rose: Special charges were $33.3 million, against $20.1 million. The company excludes them from non-GAAP operating income. Source
  • Interest expense lower: Interest and other related expense, net was $67.9 million, against $81.1 million. Other income, net was $16.1 million. Source

Cash flow and balance sheet

  • Free cash flow up 36.8%: Operating cash flow was $172 million, up 16.6%. Free cash flow was $139 million after $33.8 million of capital expenditures. Source
  • Debt down about $949 million: Including October 2026 repayments, debt fell about $949 million over the past twelve months. The net leverage ratio was 2.55x at September 30, 2026. Source
  • Cash balance higher: Cash and cash equivalents were $983.3 million at September 30, 2026, up from $956.0 million at June 30, 2026. Long-term debt was $5,730.5 million. Source
  • Current deferred revenue lower: Current deferred revenues were $1,378.6 million, down from $1,483.2 million at June 30, 2026. Source

“The durability of our operating model enables us to execute our capital allocation priorities through the remainder of Fiscal 2027.”

Steve Rai, OpenText EVP, CFO

Capital returns to shareholders

  • $23 million of shares repurchased: The company repurchased $23 million of common shares for cancellation in the quarter. Source
  • Cash paid for buybacks lower: Cash paid for repurchases was $30.0 million, against $107.6 million a year earlier. Dividend payments were $66.5 million. Source
  • Shares outstanding lower: Common shares outstanding were 241.5 million at September 30, 2026, against 242.1 million at June 30, 2026. Source

Strategy and AI

  • Aviator agents across core portfolio: Management said Aviator AI agents are infused across the core portfolio, with a go-to-market model built around clients' success. Source
  • Cohere partnership on agentic AI: The Cohere partnership combines trusted data with agentic AI, listed among the quarter's business highlights. Source
  • Support for clients' AI journeys: Management said the company is supporting clients at every step of their AI journey. Source

Client wins

  • Americas client win named: Workplace Safety & Insurance Board (WSIB) was named as a key client win in the Americas. Source
  • EMEA and rest-of-world wins: Named key wins in EMEA and the rest of the world were Commerz Real AG, Gruppo CAP, Insurance Australia Group and Sumitomo Electric Wiring Systems. Source

Coming up, as management said on 5 November 2026

  • Investor Day in Toronto, February 2027: Investor Day is scheduled for February 10, 2027 in Toronto, with an audio webcast. Management will discuss the Enterprise Assessment outcome, strategic priorities and financial framework. Source
  • Dividend record and payment dates: The dividend declared November 3, 2026 has a record date of December 4, 2026 and a payment date of December 18, 2026. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Annual recurring revenues (ARR) Source$1.040 billion, down 3.0% Y/Y
Cloud services and subscriptions revenue Source$505 million, up 4.3% Y/Y
Core Cloud revenues Source$339 million, up 11.2% Y/Y

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: Special charges are linked to restructuring, including headcount reductions and facility consolidation, most recently tied to return to office planning. Source
  • External: Reported revenue fell 4.0%. Excluding divestitures and in constant currency, the decline was 1.7%, so divestitures and currency affected the reported figure. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management said the Investor Day would cover the outcome of the earlier Enterprise Assessment. Source
  • Not stated: The CFO said the operating model enables execution of capital allocation priorities through the rest of fiscal 2027. 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.