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Synopsys Inc.: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 10 December 2025: press release. Guidance figures: 23 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Q4 revenue exceeded guidance midpoint: Fourth-quarter revenue was $2.255 billion, against $1.636 billion a year earlier. Ansys contributed $667.7 million of it. Management said revenue exceeded the midpoint of its guidance. Source
  • Non-GAAP EPS exceeded guidance: Fourth-quarter non-GAAP diluted EPS was $2.90, against $3.40. Full-year non-GAAP diluted EPS was $12.91, against $13.20. Management said both exceeded guidance. Source
  • Design Automation revenue and margin rose: Design Automation revenue was $1,847.7 million in the fourth quarter, against $1,118.2 million, or 81.9% of total. Adjusted operating margin was 41.5%, against 37.0%. Source
  • Design IP revenue and margin fell: Design IP revenue was $407.2 million in the fourth quarter, against $517.8 million. Adjusted operating margin was 13.8%, against 36.7%. Source
  • Operating income fell in Q4: Operating income was $121.4 million in the fourth quarter, against $310.8 million. Interest expense was $194.8 million, against $16.3 million. Source
  • Acquisitions used $16.7 billion: Acquisitions, net of cash acquired, used $16.681 billion in fiscal 2025, against $156.9 million in fiscal 2024. Source
  • Focus on sustainable growth and margins: CEO Sassine Ghazi said the company enters fiscal 2026 focused on sustainable growth and margin expansion, through continued innovation and disciplined execution. Source

“The Synopsys team delivered a solid finish to a year that redefined our company as the leader in engineering solutions from silicon to systems,”

Sassine Ghazi, president and CEO of Synopsys

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Revenue Sourcethree months ending January 31, 2026$2,365 million to $2,415 millionNew
Revenue Sourcefiscal year ending October 31, 2026$9,560 million to $9,660 million; midpoint $9.610 billionNew
GAAP expenses Sourcethree months ending January 31, 2026$2,165 million to $2,230 millionNew
GAAP expenses Sourcefiscal year ending October 31, 2026$8,468 million to $8,608 millionNew
Non-GAAP expenses Sourcethree months ending January 31, 2026$1,395 million to $1,425 millionNew
Non-GAAP expenses Sourcefiscal year ending October 31, 2026$5,690 million to $5,750 millionNew
Non-GAAP interest and other income (expense), net Sourcethree months ending January 31, 2026$(154) million to $(150) millionNew
Non-GAAP interest and other income (expense), net Sourcefiscal year ending October 31, 2026$(515) million to $(505) millionNew
Non-GAAP tax rate Sourcethree months ending January 31, 202618%
Non-GAAP tax rate Sourcefiscal year ending October 31, 202618%
Fully diluted shares outstanding Sourcethree months ending January 31, 2026190 million to 192 millionNew
Fully diluted shares outstanding Sourcefiscal year ending October 31, 2026192 million to 194 millionNew
GAAP EPS Sourcethree months ending January 31, 2026$0.22 to $0.41New
GAAP EPS Sourcefiscal year ending October 31, 2026$2.49 to $2.90New
Non-GAAP EPS Sourcethree months ending January 31, 2026$3.52 to $3.58New
Non-GAAP EPS Sourcefiscal year ending October 31, 2026$14.32 to $14.40New
Operating cash flow Sourcefiscal year 2026 (single figure in the targets table)~$2,200 millionNew
Free cash flow Sourcefiscal year 2026 (single figure in the targets table)~$1,900 millionNew
Capital expenditures Sourcefiscal year 2026 (single figure in the targets table)~$300 millionNew
Restructuring charges Sourcethree months ending January 31, 2026$110 million to $130 millionNew
Restructuring charges Sourcefiscal year ending October 31, 2026$200 million to $250 millionNew
Amortization of acquired intangible assets Sourcethree months ending January 31, 2026$400 million to $405 millionNew
Amortization of acquired intangible assets Sourcefiscal year ending October 31, 2026$1,608 million to $1,618 millionNew
Stock-based compensation Sourcethree months ending January 31, 2026$260 million to $270 millionNew
Stock-based compensation Sourcefiscal year ending October 31, 2026$970 million to $990 millionNew

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: Targets for the first quarter and fiscal 2026 are new; the prior release gave targets for the fourth quarter and fiscal 2025. Source
  • New: The non-GAAP tax rate moves from an annual rate to a three-year normalized rate, starting in fiscal 2026. Source
  • Ended: Optical Solutions Group and PowerArtist RTL are now described as divested; the prior release listed their sales to Keysight as pending. Source

Fourth-quarter and full-year results

  • Q4 revenue exceeded guidance midpoint: Fourth-quarter revenue was $2.255 billion, against $1.636 billion a year earlier. Ansys contributed $667.7 million of it. Management said revenue exceeded the midpoint of its guidance. Source
  • Full-year revenue reached $7.054 billion: Full-year 2025 revenue was $7.054 billion, about 15% above $6.127 billion in fiscal 2024. Ansys contributed $756.6 million across the year. Source
  • Non-GAAP EPS exceeded guidance: Fourth-quarter non-GAAP diluted EPS was $2.90, against $3.40. Full-year non-GAAP diluted EPS was $12.91, against $13.20. Management said both exceeded guidance. Source
  • Q4 GAAP net income and EPS rose: Fourth-quarter GAAP net income was $448.7 million, or $2.39 per diluted share, against $279.3 million, or $1.79 per diluted share. Source

Segment results

  • Design Automation revenue and margin rose: Design Automation revenue was $1,847.7 million in the fourth quarter, against $1,118.2 million, or 81.9% of total. Adjusted operating margin was 41.5%, against 37.0%. Source
  • Design IP revenue and margin fell: Design IP revenue was $407.2 million in the fourth quarter, against $517.8 million. Adjusted operating margin was 13.8%, against 36.7%. Source
  • Design IP full-year margin fell: Full-year Design IP adjusted operating margin was 23.9%, against 38.3%. Source
  • Design IP adjusted profit fell: Design IP adjusted operating income was $56.2 million in the fourth quarter, against $189.9 million. Source
  • Ansys products sit in Design Automation: The company defines the Design Automation segment to include Ansys products, alongside its silicon design, verification and system integration products. Source

“We finished the year with record revenue and strong backlog of $11.4 billion dollars, which underscores the resilience of business,”

Shelagh Glaser, CFO of Synopsys

Products and maintenance revenue

  • Time-based and upfront products grew: Time-based product revenue was $940.7 million in the fourth quarter, against $834.4 million. Upfront product revenue was $615.4 million, against $520.9 million. Source
  • Maintenance and service revenue rose sharply: Maintenance and service revenue was $698.8 million in the fourth quarter, against $280.7 million. For the year it was $1.554 billion, against $1.101 billion. Source

Costs, margins and tax

  • Gross margin rose with revenue: Gross margin was $1.600 billion in the fourth quarter, against $1.261 billion. Total cost of revenue was $654.7 million, against $375.0 million. Source
  • R&D and sales spending rose: Research and development expense was $746.8 million, against $554.8 million. Sales and marketing was $390.5 million, against $219.2 million. Source
  • Operating income fell in Q4: Operating income was $121.4 million in the fourth quarter, against $310.8 million. Interest expense was $194.8 million, against $16.3 million. Source
  • Other income rose to $589.9 million: Other income, net was $589.9 million in the fourth quarter, against $28.4 million. Certain divestiture items recorded there are excluded from non-GAAP results. Source
  • Amortization and stock pay excluded from non-GAAP: Amortization of acquired intangible assets was $405.2 million in the fourth quarter, and stock-based compensation was $237.4 million. Both are excluded from non-GAAP results. Source
  • Full-year GAAP tax rate was 4.0%: The full-year GAAP effective tax rate was 4.0%. After stock-based compensation and a 13.3% income tax adjustment, the non-GAAP effective tax rate was 16.0%. Source

Demand, deferred revenue and receivables

  • Deferred revenue rose to $2.246 billion: Current deferred revenue was $2.246 billion at October 31, 2025, against $1.392 billion a year earlier. Source
  • Receivables rose to $1.505 billion: Accounts receivable, net was $1.505 billion at year-end, against $934.5 million a year earlier. Source
  • Inventories roughly unchanged: Inventories were $365.2 million at October 31, 2025, against $361.8 million. Source

Cash, debt and shares

  • Cash and investments fell to $2.961 billion: Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments were $2.961 billion at October 31, 2025, against $4.050 billion. Source
  • Debt proceeds and repayments in fiscal 2025: Proceeds from debt, net of issuance costs, were $14.329 billion in fiscal 2025, and debt repayments were $863.6 million. Long-term debt was $13.462 billion. Source
  • Acquisitions used $16.7 billion: Acquisitions, net of cash acquired, used $16.681 billion in fiscal 2025, against $156.9 million in fiscal 2024. Source
  • Operating cash flow was $1.519 billion: Net cash provided by operating activities was $1.519 billion in fiscal 2025, against $1.407 billion in fiscal 2024. Source
  • Capital spending was $169.5 million: Purchases of property and equipment, net were $169.5 million in fiscal 2025, against $139.5 million in fiscal 2024. Source
  • Shares outstanding rose to 186 million: Shares outstanding were 185.994 million at October 31, 2025, against 154.112 million a year earlier. Source

Strategy and integration

  • Focus on sustainable growth and margins: CEO Sassine Ghazi said the company enters fiscal 2026 focused on sustainable growth and margin expansion, through continued innovation and disciplined execution. Source
  • Ansys integration and efficiency in 2026: CFO Shelagh Glaser said the company expects another revenue record in 2026 while fully integrating Ansys and driving further operational efficiency. Source

Coming up, as management said on 10 December 2025

  • FY2025 Form 10-K filing: Final fiscal 2025 financial statements are to be included in the Form 10-K, to be filed on or before December 30, 2025. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Remaining performance obligations (backlog) Source$11.4 billion

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.