Pegasystems Inc. (NASDAQ:PEGA) has delivered an impressive performance in the first half of 2024, showcasing its ability to drive profitable growth while continuing to deliver groundbreaking technology innovation. The company's annual net income stood at $67,808,000, with annual revenue reaching $1,432,616,000. Its annual operating cash flow was $217,785,000, and annual free cash flow amounted to $201,004,000.
Financials
In the second quarter of 2024, Pegasystems reported strong financial results, with revenue increasing 18% year-over-year to $351,153,000. The company's subscription services revenue grew 9% to $214,430,000, while subscription license revenue surged 105% to $84,647,000. Consulting revenue, however, declined 11% to $52,040,000 due to decreases in consultant billable hours.
Pegasystems' focus on profitable growth is evident in its impressive margin performance. Gross profit increased 26% year-over-year to $254,207,000, with the gross profit margin expanding to 72% from 68% in the prior-year period. The company's Pega Cloud business was a significant contributor to this margin expansion, with Pega Cloud gross margin increasing to 78% in the second quarter.
The company's annual contract value (ACV), a key metric for Pegasystems, grew 13% year-over-year in constant currency to exceed $1.3 billion. This reacceleration in ACV growth was driven by several factors, including increased client engagement, the company's latest AI innovations, and more balanced growth across the first two quarters of 2024.
Pega Cloud Performance
Pegasystems' Pega Cloud business continues to be a standout performer, with Pega Cloud ACV growing 19% year-over-year and Pega Cloud backlog passing $1 billion for the first time in the second quarter. The company's decision to permeate its product line with AI has been a game-changer, reinvigorating client enthusiasm and transforming the sales cycle.
Geographic Performance
Geographically, Pegasystems saw strong performance across its key regions. Revenue from the United States grew 55% year-over-year to $351,153,000, while revenue from the United Kingdom increased 10% to $70,745,000. The company also saw solid growth in the Other Americas region, with revenue up 6% to $43,100,000, and in the Asia-Pacific region, where revenue increased 12% to $82,051,000.
Operational Discipline
The company's focus on operational discipline has also paid dividends, with free cash flow totaling $218,386,000 in the first half of 2024, a 119% year-over-year increase. This robust cash flow generation provides Pegasystems with the flexibility to make strategic investments in innovation and execute its capital allocation strategy.
Recent Developments
Pegasystems' latest AI-powered offerings, particularly Pega GenAI Blueprint, have been a significant driver of the company's success. Blueprint is dramatically changing the way Pegasystems' field teams engage with clients and prospects, allowing them to design applications in hours rather than weeks or months. The company has seen tens of thousands of new Blueprints created, a strong indicator of the tool's transformative impact.
The company's vision for leveraging AI and GenAI is resonating with clients, driving deeper engagement and increased confidence among stakeholders. Pegasystems' unique architectural approach, which has been developed over decades, is a key differentiator that the company believes its competitors cannot easily replicate.
Outlook
Looking ahead, Pegasystems has provided guidance for the full year 2024, projecting 11% annual contract value growth. The company also reiterated its goal of achieving the Rule of 40 (revenue growth plus free cash flow margin greater than or equal to 40%) by the end of the year.
Conclusion
The company's strong performance in the first half of 2024, coupled with its transformative AI-powered offerings and disciplined execution, position Pegasystems well for continued success. As the enterprise software landscape evolves, Pegasystems' focus on driving profitable growth and delivering innovative solutions is likely to keep the company at the forefront of the industry.