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Pegasystems 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. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue grew 17% for the year: Full-year total revenue was $1,745.8 million, up 17% from $1,497.2 million. Fourth-quarter revenue was $504.3 million, up 3% from $490.8 million. Source
  • Full-year EPS up, fourth quarter down: Full-year diluted EPS was $2.13 GAAP and $2.10 non-GAAP, the non-GAAP figure up 39%. Fourth-quarter diluted EPS was $1.27 GAAP and $0.76 non-GAAP, the non-GAAP figure down 5%. Source
  • Subscription services rose 18% in quarter: Subscription services revenue was $272.8 million in the fourth quarter, up 18%, and $1,010.5 million for the year, up 15%, or 58% of full-year revenue. Source
  • Pega Cloud backlog up 36%: Backlog for Pega Cloud rose 36% and maintenance 15% since December 31, 2024. Subscription license backlog fell 12% and consulting rose 1%. Source
  • Free cash flow rose 45% for year: Cash from operations was $505.2 million for 2025, up 46%. Free cash flow was $490.7 million, up 45%, after $14.5 million of property and equipment investment. Source
  • Non-GAAP net income up 42%: Full-year non-GAAP net income was $385.4 million, up 42%. Fourth-quarter non-GAAP net income was $139.6 million, down 6%. Source

“2025 was an extraordinary year of progress and execution,”

Alan Trefler, founder and CEO, Pega

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
ACV growth Source202615%New
Revenue (GAAP and non-GAAP) Source2026$2.0 billionNew
Diluted EPS Source2026$1.87 GAAP; $2.75 non-GAAPNew
Cash provided by operating activities Source2026$595 millionNew
Free cash flow Source2026$575 millionNew
Net income Source2026GAAP $344 million; non-GAAP $506 millionNew
Diluted weighted-average shares (GAAP) Source2026184 millionNew
Supplemental 2026 items Source2026$115 million totalNew

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: The release gives 2026 guidance for the first time; the prior release contained no 2026 guidance. Source
  • New: Share repurchase authorization was increased by $1 billion. Source
  • Ended: The separate perpetual license revenue line is no longer shown; perpetual revenue is combined with subscription license for all periods. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue grew 17% for the year: Full-year total revenue was $1,745.8 million, up 17% from $1,497.2 million. Fourth-quarter revenue was $504.3 million, up 3% from $490.8 million. Source
  • Operating income fell in quarter: Fourth-quarter income from operations was $104.4 million, against $143.0 million a year earlier. Full-year operating income was $263.1 million, against $123.9 million. Source
  • Tax release lifted GAAP net income: Fourth-quarter GAAP net income was $234.6 million, against $119.1 million, reflecting a $175 million non-cash tax benefit from a valuation allowance release. Source
  • Full-year EPS up, fourth quarter down: Full-year diluted EPS was $2.13 GAAP and $2.10 non-GAAP, the non-GAAP figure up 39%. Fourth-quarter diluted EPS was $1.27 GAAP and $0.76 non-GAAP, the non-GAAP figure down 5%. Source

Products and revenue mix

  • Subscription services rose 18% in quarter: Subscription services revenue was $272.8 million in the fourth quarter, up 18%, and $1,010.5 million for the year, up 15%, or 58% of full-year revenue. Source
  • Subscription is 87% of revenue: Total subscription revenue was $1,517.9 million for the year, up 18%, and $451.0 million in the fourth quarter, or 89% of that quarter's revenue. Source
  • Subscription license fell in quarter: Subscription license revenue was $178.2 million in the fourth quarter, down 14%, after a 26% full-year rise to $507.4 million. Source
  • Maintenance down, consulting up: Full-year maintenance revenue was $314.6 million, down 3%. Consulting was $227.9 million for the year, up 7%, and $53.3 million in the fourth quarter, up 1%. Source

“Our recurring business model and our technology leadership position us to continue to accelerate ACV growth, expand margins, and increase free cash flow.”

Ken Stillwell, Pega COO & CFO

Costs and margins

  • Selling and G&A costs increased: Fourth-quarter selling and marketing expense was $153.3 million, up from $139.7 million. General and administrative expense was $41.0 million, up from $28.2 million. Source
  • Gross profit rose in quarter: Fourth-quarter gross profit was $400.9 million, against $388.5 million. Research and development expense was $80.9 million, against $76.4 million. Source
  • Stock compensation roughly flat: Stock-based compensation was $34.0 million in the fourth quarter, against $34.5 million, and $155.2 million for the year, against $142.7 million. Source

Demand and the order book

  • Deferred revenue rose to $509M: Deferred revenue was $509.3 million at December 31, 2025, against $423.9 million a year earlier. Source
  • Subscription license ACV up 6%: Subscription license ACV was $452.9 million, up 6% or 4% in constant currency, while subscription services ACV rose 22% to $1,155.5 million. Source
  • Pega Cloud backlog up 36%: Backlog for Pega Cloud rose 36% and maintenance 15% since December 31, 2024. Subscription license backlog fell 12% and consulting rose 1%. Source

“We’re entering a transformative era with bold ideas and compelling innovation.”

Alan Trefler, founder and CEO, Pega

Cash flow and balance sheet

  • Free cash flow rose 45% for year: Cash from operations was $505.2 million for 2025, up 46%. Free cash flow was $490.7 million, up 45%, after $14.5 million of property and equipment investment. Source
  • Cash and securities declined: Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities totaled $425.8 million at December 31, 2025, against $740.0 million a year earlier. Source
  • Convertible notes repaid at maturity: The convertible senior notes that stood at $467.5 million at end-2024 were repaid in their entirety at maturity; no notes are shown at December 31, 2025. Source
  • Receivables fell; long-term unbilled rose: Accounts receivable, net fell to $264.7 million from $305.5 million. Long-term unbilled receivables rose to $102.5 million from $61.4 million. Source

Capital and shareholder returns

  • Diluted share count fell in quarter: Fourth-quarter GAAP diluted weighted-average shares were 184.2 million, against 191.3 million. Full-year diluted shares were 184.8 million, up 3%. Source
  • Financing outflow was $834.6 million: Cash used in financing activities was $834.6 million in 2025, against $30.2 million in 2024. Source
  • Interest income declined: Interest income was $13.6 million for the year, against $25.8 million, and $2.4 million in the fourth quarter, against $6.9 million. Source

Tax and non-GAAP measures

  • GAAP tax rate negative for year: The full-year GAAP effective tax rate was (40)% in 2025 against 30% in 2024. The non-GAAP rate was 22% in both years. Source
  • Non-GAAP net income up 42%: Full-year non-GAAP net income was $385.4 million, up 42%. Fourth-quarter non-GAAP net income was $139.6 million, down 6%. Source
  • Non-GAAP excludes stock compensation: Management excludes stock-based compensation from non-GAAP operating expenses and profitability measures. Source

Legal and restructuring charges

  • Legal fees rose to $39.2 million: Legal fees for proceedings outside the ordinary course were $39.2 million for 2025, against $18.7 million, and $16.2 million in the fourth quarter. Source
  • Litigation settlement recorded in quarter: A $9.75 million litigation settlement, net of recoveries, was recorded in the fourth quarter. The 2024 full-year figure was $32.4 million. Source
  • Restructuring charges rose in quarter: Restructuring was $11.6 million in the fourth quarter, against $1.2 million, and $11.5 million for the year, against $4.5 million. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Annual contract value (ACV) Source$1,608.4 million, up 17% (14% in constant currency)
Pega Cloud ACV Source$866.6 million, up 33% (28% in constant currency)
Remaining performance obligations (backlog) Source$2,074.2 million, up 28% (23% in constant currency)
Pega Cloud revenue Source$695.9 million for 2025, up 25%

Risks management discussed

  • Regulatory: Management noted that evolving U.S. tax legislation may change the amount of tax payments, which the 2026 reconciliation footnotes. Source
  • Financial: The GAAP effective tax rate is subject to large swings from stock compensation plans, R&D credits and valuation allowances on U.S. and U.K. deferred tax assets. Source
  • External: Foreign exchange reduced 2025 ACV by $46 million, and foreign currency transaction gains and losses move with market rates. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management said its recurring model and technology leadership position it to keep accelerating ACV growth, expanding margins and raising free cash flow. No status is given. 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.