5 Insightful Analyst Questions From BlackLine's Q1 Earnings Call
BlackLine's first quarter saw a positive market response following steady revenue growth and a notable margin improvement. Management attributed these results to operational enhancements in sales execution, customer expansion, and the adoption of its Studio360 platform. The leadership team emphasized increased average deal size, especially among enterprise clients, and highlighted the successful rollout of a new pricing model. Co-CEO Owen Ryan pointed to deepening relationships with key partners and customer wins in both North America and international markets as important contributors to quarterly performance. The company also credited faster implementation timelines and improved go-to-market alignment for helping drive customer satisfaction and top-of-funnel activity.
Is now the time to buy BL? Find out in our full research report (it's free).
Revenue: $166.9 million vs analyst estimates of $166.7 million (6% year-on-year growth, in line)
Adjusted EPS: $0.49 vs analyst estimates of $0.38 (28% beat)
Adjusted Operating Income: $34.95 million vs analyst estimates of $28.67 million (20.9% margin, 21.9% beat)
The company reconfirmed its revenue guidance for the full year of $698.5 million at the midpoint
Management raised its full-year Adjusted EPS guidance to $2.17 at the midpoint, a 6.6% increase
Operating Margin: 2.1%, up from 1.1% in the same quarter last year
Customers: 4,455, up from 4,443 in the previous quarter
Annual Recurring Revenue: $656 million at quarter end, up 8.4% year on year
Billings: $159 million at quarter end, up 9.2% year on year
Market Capitalization: $3.52 billion
While we enjoy listening to the management's commentary, our favorite part of earnings calls are the analyst questions. Those are unscripted and can often highlight topics that management teams would rather avoid or topics where the answer is complicated. Here is what has caught our attention.
Rob Oliver (Baird) asked about the sustainability of margin expansion amid ongoing growth investments. CFO Patrick Villanova responded that margin gains were achieved without delaying planned investments and that flexibility remains to adjust spending if macro conditions deteriorate.
Koji Ikeda (Bank of America) inquired about adoption trends for the new platform pricing model and its impact on user metrics. Villanova clarified that adoption was ahead of plan, especially among large enterprises, and explained how the model shifts user counts to zero for those customers.
Patrick Walravens (Citizens) questioned BlackLine's approach to AI compared to competitors. Co-CEO Therese Tucker emphasized the company's focus on delivering 'responsible AI' with strong audit trails and leveraging decades of SaaS data for deeper insights.
Pinjalim Bora (JPMorgan) probed the drivers behind changes in renewal rates and potential headwinds. Co-CEO Owen Ryan noted enterprise renewal rates remain strong, with mid-market churn linked to legacy customers and corporate restructuring, while Villanova said the new pricing model supports retention.
Dominique Manansala (Truist Securities) asked about public sector traction and expectations for meaningful contribution. Ryan replied that the focus is on building pipelines with partners and SAP, with material impact expected primarily in future periods.
Looking forward, our analysts will be watching (1) the pace of AI feature adoption and the impact of expanded Studio360 capabilities on customer engagement, (2) progress on deepening the SAP partnership and the uptake of bundled solutions in cloud ERP migrations, and (3) the effectiveness of the new pricing model in driving renewal rates and reducing churn. Developments in public sector and industry-specific solutions will also be important signposts.
BlackLine currently trades at $56.53, up from $46.65 just before the earnings. Is there an opportunity in the stock?The answer lies in our full research report (it's free).
The market surged in 2024 and reached record highs after Donald Trump's presidential victory in November, but questions about new economic policies are adding much uncertainty for 2025.
While the crowd speculates what might happen next, we're homing in on the companies that can succeed regardless of the political or macroeconomic environment. Put yourself in the driver's seat and build a durable portfolio by checking out our Top 5 Strong Momentum Stocks for this week. This is a curated list of our High Quality stocks that have generated a market-beating return of 183% over the last five years (as of March 31st 2025).
Stocks that made our list in 2020 include now familiar names such as Nvidia (+1,545% between March 2020 and March 2025) as well as under-the-radar businesses like the once-small-cap company Comfort Systems (+782% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
17 minutes ago
- Yahoo
5.4 million patient records exposed in healthcare data breach
Over the past decade, software companies have built solutions for nearly every industry, including healthcare. One term you might be familiar with is software as a service (SaaS), a model by which software is accessed online through a subscription rather than installed on individual machines. In healthcare, SaaS providers are now a common part of the ecosystem. But, recently, many of them have made headlines for the wrong reasons. Several data breaches have been traced back to vulnerabilities at these third-party service providers. The latest incident comes from one such firm, which has now confirmed that hackers stole the health information of over 5 million people in the United States during a cyberattack in January. Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy ReportGet my best tech tips, urgent security alerts and exclusive deals delivered straight to your inbox. Plus, you'll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide — free when you join. Ascension Healthcare Data Breach Exposes 430,000 Patient Records Episource, a big name in healthcare data analytics and coding services, has confirmed a major cybersecurity incident (via Bleeping Computer). The breach involved sensitive health information belonging to over 5 million people in the United States. The company first noticed suspicious system activity Feb. 6, 2025, but the actual compromise began ten days earlier. Read On The Fox News App An internal investigation revealed that hackers accessed and copied private data between Jan. 27 and Feb. 6. The company insists that no financial information was taken, but the stolen records do include names, contact details, Social Security numbers, Medicaid IDs and full medical histories. Episource claims there's no evidence the information has been misused, but because they haven't seen the fallout yet doesn't mean it isn't happening. Once data like this is out, it spreads fast, and the consequences don't wait for official confirmation. Over 8 Million Patient Records Leaked In Healthcare Data Breach The healthcare industry has embraced cloud-based services to improve efficiency, scale operations and reduce overhead. Companies like Episource enable healthcare payers to manage coding and risk adjustment at a much larger scale. But this shift has also introduced new risks. When third-party vendors handle patient data, the security of that data becomes dependent on their infrastructure. Healthcare data is among the most valuable types of personal information for hackers. Unlike payment card data, which can be changed quickly, medical and identity records are long-term assets on the dark web. These breaches can lead to insurance fraud, identity theft and even blackmail. Episource is not alone in facing this kind of attack. In the past few years, several healthcare SaaS providers have faced breaches, including Accellion and Blackbaud. These incidents have affected millions of patients and have led to class-action lawsuits and stricter government scrutiny. What Is Artificial Intelligence (Ai)? 5.5 Million Patients Exposed By Major Healthcare Data Breach If your information was part of the healthcare breach or any similar one, it's worth taking a few steps to protect yourself. 1. Consider identity theft protection services: Since the healthcare data breach exposed personal and financial information, it's crucial to stay proactive against identity theft. Identity theft protection services offer continuous monitoring of your credit reports, Social Security number and even the dark web to detect if your information is being misused. These services send you real-time alerts about suspicious activity, such as new credit inquiries or attempts to open accounts in your name, helping you act quickly before serious damage occurs. Beyond monitoring, many identity theft protection companies provide dedicated recovery specialists who assist you in resolving fraud issues, disputing unauthorized charges and restoring your identity if it's compromised. See my tips and best picks on how to protect yourself from identity theft. 2. Use personal data removal services: The healthcare data breach leaks loads of information about you, and all this could end up in the public domain, which essentially gives anyone an opportunity to scam you. One proactive step is to consider personal data removal services, which specialize in continuously monitoring and removing your information from various online databases and websites. While no service promises to remove all your data from the internet, having a removal service is great if you want to constantly monitor and automate the process of removing your information from hundreds of sites continuously over a longer period of time. Check out my top picks for data removal services here. Get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web. 3. Have strong antivirus software: Hackers have people's email addresses and full names, which makes it easy for them to send you a phishing link that installs malware and steals all your data. These messages are socially engineered to catch them, and catching them is nearly impossible if you're not careful. However, you're not without defenses. The best way to safeguard yourself from malicious links is to have strong antivirus software installed on all your devices. This protection can also alert you to phishing emails and ransomware scams, keeping your personal information and digital assets safe. Get my picks for the best 2025 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices. 4. Enable two-factor authentication: While passwords weren't part of the data breach, you still need to enable two-factor authentication (2FA). It gives you an extra layer of security on all your important accounts, including email, banking and social media. 2FA requires you to provide a second piece of information, such as a code sent to your phone, in addition to your password when logging in. This makes it significantly harder for hackers to access your accounts, even if they have your password. Enabling 2FA can greatly reduce the risk of unauthorized access and protect your sensitive data. 5. Be wary of mailbox communications: Bad actors may also try to scam you through snail mail. The data leak gives them access to your address. They may impersonate people or brands you know and use themes that require urgent attention, such as missed deliveries, account suspensions and security alerts. Windows 10 Security Flaws Leave Millions Vulnerable What makes this breach especially alarming is that many of the affected patients may have never even heard of Episource. As a business-to-business vendor, Episource operates in the background, working with insurers and healthcare providers, not with patients directly. The people affected were customers of those companies, yet it's their most sensitive data now at risk because of a third party they never chose or trusted. This kind of indirect relationship muddies the waters when it comes to responsibility and makes it even harder to demand transparency or hold anyone accountable. Do you think healthcare companies are investing enough in their cybersecurity infrastructure? Let us know by writing us at For more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Ask Kurt a question or let us know what stories you'd like us to cover Follow Kurt on his social channels Facebook YouTube Instagram Answers to the most asked CyberGuy questions: What is the best way to protect your Mac, Windows, iPhone and Android devices from getting hacked? What is the best way to stay private, secure and anonymous while browsing the web? How can I get rid of robocalls with apps and data removal services? How do I remove my private data from the internet? New from Kurt: Try CyberGuy's new games (crosswords, word searches, trivia and more!) CyberGuy's Exclusive Coupons and Deals Copyright 2025 All rights reserved. Original article source: 5.4 million patient records exposed in healthcare data breach
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
With QS Stock Up 83% in a Month, Analysts Flag Key Risks for QuantumScape
QuantumScape (QS) shares have been on a tear this week after the battery maker successfully integrated its advanced Cobra separator process into baseline cell production. While that marks a significant milestone for the San Jose-headquartered firm, Baird recommends that investors tread with caution on QS shares since they remain entangled in several risks. Dear Nvidia Stock Fans, Watch This Event Today Closely 3 ETFs Offering Juicy Dividend Yields of 15% or Higher AMD Stock Is in the 'Middle of a Historic Run.' Is It Too Late to Buy Shares Here? Markets move fast. Keep up by reading our FREE midday Barchart Brief newsletter for exclusive charts, analysis, and headlines. Including recent gains, QuantumScape stock is up nearly 100% versus its year-to-date low. Baird's senior analyst Ben Kallo believes that QS shares may have overreacted to the Cobra news this week and, therefore, run the risk of losing their gains and returning to their early June levels in the coming sessions. Kallo recommends against chasing the rally in this battery stock partly because QuantumScape is a pre-revenue company, indicating heightened uncertainty, execution risks, and vulnerability to sentiment-driven volatility. 'We seek additional details on the go-to-market strategy before becoming more constructive' on QuantumScape stock, the analyst added in his research note. Baird maintained its 'Neutral' rating on QuantumScape stock this morning with a price target of $6 indicating potential downside of nearly 15% from current levels. According to Ben Kallo, a slower production ramp could stand in the way of the company managing to sustain its recent gains as well. Moreover, QS shares remain unattractive also because the battery-maker is narrowing its loss at a rather unimpressive pace. In Q1, the NYSE-listed firm lost $114.4 million on a GAAP basis – down less than 5% on a year-over-year basis. Kallo's call on QuantumScape arrives only days after his peers at William Blair also downplayed its Cobra milestone, saying it was a well-telegraphed development and not a pleasant surprise for investors. Wall Street's consensus 'Hold' rating on QuantumScape stock at writing is also not impressive. Analysts currently have mean target of $4.79 on QS shares, which signals potential downside of more than 30% from here. On the date of publication, Wajeeh Khan did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. This article was originally published on
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Yahoo
Nike price target raised to $85 from $73 at Truist
Truist raised the firm's price target on Nike (NKE) to $85 from $73 and keeps a Buy rating on the shares after its Q4 results. The company's turnaround efforts are yielding more rapid improvements than investors were anticipating as channel inventories are getting cleaned up and with holiday orderbooks rising y/y, the analyst tells investors in a research note. While visibility into a return to sales growth and margin recovery appears meaningfully stronger, the stock is still down 15% from where it traded prior to the initial announcement that Elliott Hill was taking over as CEO in September, but with the worst of fundamental pressures appearing to be in the rear-view, there is plenty of room to run, the firm added. Easily unpack a company's performance with TipRanks' new KPI Data for smart investment decisions Receive undervalued, market resilient stocks right to your inbox with TipRanks' Smart Value Newsletter Published first on TheFly – the ultimate source for real-time, market-moving breaking financial news. Try Now>> See the top stocks recommended by analysts >> Read More on NKE: Disclaimer & DisclosureReport an Issue Nike's Strategic Positioning and Growth Potential Earns Buy Rating Despite Revenue Decline Nike price target raised to $88 from $80 at Baird Nike price target raised to $80 from $70 at Piper Sandler Options Volatility and Implied Earnings Moves Today, June 27, 2025 Nike price target raised to $64 from $56 at JPMorgan Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data