E2open Parent Holdings, Inc. (ETWO) is a leading provider of cloud-based, end-to-end supply chain management software solutions. The company's comprehensive platform connects manufacturing, logistics, channel, and distribution partners, enabling businesses to transform the way they make, move, and sell goods and services.
Financials
In the fiscal year ended February 29, 2024, E2open reported annual revenue of $634,554,000 and a net loss of $1,070,024,000. The company's annual operating cash flow was $84,871,000, while its annual free cash flow stood at $55,619,000. These financial results reflect the challenges the company has faced in recent years, as it navigates a dynamic and competitive market landscape.
During the first quarter of fiscal year 2025, which ended on May 31, 2024, E2open reported subscription revenue of $131.4 million, a 2.6% decline compared to the same period in the prior year. Professional services and other revenue declined 21.6% year-over-year to $19.8 million. The company's total revenue for the quarter was $151.2 million, a 5.6% decrease from the first quarter of fiscal 2024.
The decline in revenue was primarily driven by delays in the timing of deal closures, which prevented the company from delivering upside in the quarter. Although E2open entered the quarter with a significant pipeline of late-stage deals scheduled for Q1 close, some large deals ended up slipping out of the quarter due to delays in client-specific decision and approval processes. However, the company has already made significant progress in June in closing those delayed deals, and management remains confident in the company's ability to meet its full-year targets.
In the professional services business, E2open chose to accelerate some unbilled professional services work into the first quarter, which required the company to redirect resources away from working through existing backlog, delaying some PS revenue into the future. Management expects PS revenues to normalize in subsequent quarters as the company rebalances PS activity toward billable work.
Despite the revenue challenges in the first quarter, E2open's adjusted EBITDA margin remained strong at 33.6%, consistent with the prior-year period. This reflects the company's disciplined cost management approach and focus on driving back-office efficiencies to reinvest in its clients, go-to-market efforts, and product development.
Recent Developments
One of the key highlights for E2open during the quarter was the progress made in addressing its retention challenges. Under the leadership of CEO Andrew Appel, the company has implemented a highly disciplined, account-by-account approach to managing renewals and client satisfaction. This has resulted in the company coming in ahead of its internal ARR retention targets for the first quarter by a meaningful margin, with no significant downside surprises.
Looking ahead, E2open is confident that the first quarter represented the peak level of churn and that the company will see a material sequential improvement in churn in the second quarter, followed by even larger reductions in the second half of the fiscal year and into the next. This improvement in retention is expected to provide a tailwind for revenue growth as the company moves forward.
Outlook
In terms of guidance, E2open is reaffirming its full-year fiscal 2025 outlook provided on April 29, 2024. The company expects subscription revenue to be in the range of $532 million to $542 million, with total revenue between $630 million and $645 million. Gross profit margin is expected to be within the range of 68% to 70%, and adjusted EBITDA is expected to be in the range of $215 million to $225 million, representing an adjusted EBITDA margin of 34% to 35%.
The company's commercial organization is now in full execution mode, with a clear mandate to provide value to clients and put E2open back on a sustainable growth path as quickly as possible. While the company encountered some temporary bookings delays in the first quarter, it has made significant progress in closing those deals in the second quarter and remains on track to meet its full-year plan.
Geographic Revenue Distribution
Geographically, E2open's revenue is primarily concentrated in the Americas, which accounted for 84% of total revenue during the first quarter of fiscal 2025. Europe and Asia-Pacific contributed 12% and 3% of revenue, respectively.
Revenue Breakdown
In terms of revenue breakdown, subscriptions accounted for 87% of total revenue in the first quarter, while professional services and other revenue made up the remaining 13%. The decline in professional services revenue was due to the company's decision to accelerate certain client investments into the first quarter, which temporarily impacted billable work and gross margin in that segment.
Business Overview
Looking ahead, E2open is well-positioned to capitalize on the growing demand for its comprehensive supply chain management solutions. The company's network-centric, AI-enabled platform provides a differentiated offering in a fragmented and competitive market, and its strong client relationships with many of the world's largest companies offer significant cross-sell and upsell opportunities.
Risks and Challenges
However, the company is not without its risks. E2open operates in a highly competitive industry, and it faces challenges in maintaining its market share and profitability in the face of evolving customer needs and the threat of new entrants. Additionally, the company's recent acquisition and integration activities, as well as its reliance on a small number of large customers, could pose risks to its financial performance and growth prospects.
Conclusion
Despite these challenges, E2open's management team, led by CEO Andrew Appel, is taking decisive steps to position the company for sustainable growth. By prioritizing client satisfaction, improving retention, and investing in its go-to-market and product capabilities, E2open is working to regain its momentum and capitalize on the significant market opportunity ahead.
As E2open navigates the current market environment, investors will be closely watching the company's ability to execute on its growth strategy, improve its financial performance, and deliver long-term value to shareholders. With a strong market position, a differentiated product offering, and a renewed focus on client success, E2open appears well-positioned to weather the current challenges and emerge as a stronger, more resilient player in the supply chain management software industry.