Appian Announces First Quarter 2021 Financial Results

Rhea-AI Summary

Appian (Nasdaq: APPN) reported its Q1 2021 financial results, showing a 38% year-over-year increase in cloud subscription revenue to $39.1 million and a 26% rise in total subscriptions revenue to $63.8 million. Total revenue reached $88.9 million, up 13% from the previous year. Despite a GAAP net loss of $(13.6) million, non-GAAP metrics improved with a net loss of $(4.0) million. The second quarter guidance projects cloud subscription revenue between $41.0 million and $41.5 million, reflecting a growth of 39-40%.

Positive

• Cloud subscription revenue increased 38% year-over-year to $39.1 million.
• Total subscriptions revenue rose 26% year-over-year to $63.8 million.
• Adjusted EBITDA improved to $0.4 million, compared to a $(3.6) million loss in Q1 2020.
• Cloud subscription revenue retention rate was 118%.

Negative

• GAAP operating loss was $(10.5) million, worse than $(8.6) million in Q1 2020.
• GAAP net loss widened to $(13.6) million from $(11.7) million in Q1 2020.
• Expected adjusted EBITDA loss for Q2 2021 between $(16.0) million and $(14.0) million.

Cloud subscription revenue increased 38% year-over-year to $39.1 million
Subscriptions revenue increased 26% year-over-year to $63.8 million

MCLEAN, Va., May 06, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Appian (Nasdaq: APPN) today announced financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2021.

“Once again, we exceeded our guidance, grew cloud subscription revenue by 38%, and set a new high mark for gross profit margin. Appian leads in unifying the Low-code Automation market and providing agility to our customers,” said Matt Calkins, CEO & Founder.

First Quarter 2021 Financial Highlights:

• Revenue: Cloud subscription revenue was $39.1 million for the first quarter of 2021, up 38% compared to the first quarter of 2020. Total subscriptions revenue, which includes sales of our SaaS subscriptions, on-premises term license subscriptions, and maintenance and support, increased 26% year-over-year to $63.8 million for the first quarter of 2021. Professional services revenue was $25.1 million for the first quarter of 2021, compared to $28.4 million for the first quarter of 2020. Total revenue was $88.9 million for the first quarter of 2021, up 13% compared to the first quarter of 2020. Cloud subscription revenue retention rate was 118% as of March 31, 2021.
• Operating loss and non-GAAP operating loss: GAAP operating loss was $(10.5) million for the first quarter of 2021, compared to $(8.6) million for the first quarter of 2020. Non-GAAP operating loss was $(0.9) million for the first quarter of 2021, compared to $(5.1) million for the first quarter of 2020.
• Net loss and non-GAAP net loss: GAAP net loss was $(13.6) million for the first quarter of 2021, compared to $(11.7) million for the first quarter of 2020. GAAP net loss per share was $(0.19) for the first quarter of 2021, based on 70.7 million weighted-average shares outstanding, compared to $(0.17) for the first quarter of 2020, based on 67.5 million weighted-average shares outstanding. Non-GAAP net loss was $(4.0) million for the first quarter of 2021, compared to $(8.2) million for the first quarter of 2020. Non-GAAP net loss per share was $(0.06) for the first quarter of 2021, based on 70.7 million basic and diluted shares outstanding, compared to the $(0.12) net loss per share for the first quarter of 2020, based on 67.5 million basic and diluted shares outstanding.
• Adjusted EBITDA: Adjusted EBITDA was $0.4 million for the first quarter of 2021, compared to adjusted EBITDA loss of $(3.6) million for the first quarter of 2020.
• Balance sheet and cash flows: As of March 31, 2021, Appian had total cash, cash equivalents, and investments of $255.1 million. Net cash used in operating activities was $(2.8) million for the three months ended March 31, 2021 compared to $(3.9) million of net cash used in operating activities for the same period in 2020.
  

A reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP financial measures has been provided in the tables following the financial statements in this press release. An explanation of these measures is also included below under the heading “Non-GAAP Financial Measures.”

First Quarter 2021 Business Highlights:

• Appian announced the appointment of Denise Broady as Chief Marketing Officer.
• Accenture selected Appian as a Core Partner in the INTIENT Network for Life Sciences.
• Appian named a 2021 Gartner Peer Insights customers' choice for enterprise low-code application platforms.
• HP Hood deployed Appian Workforce Safety Solution with Vaccination Insights.
• The University of Texas at Dallas integrated the Appian platform into the core curriculum of its new Intelligent Automation course.
  

Financial Outlook:

As of May 6, 2021, guidance for 2021 is as follows:

• Second Quarter 2021 Guidance:
  
  
  • Cloud subscription revenue is expected to be in the range of $41.0 million and $41.5 million, representing year-over-year growth of between 39% and 40%.
    
  • Total revenue is expected to be in the range of $77.0 million and $78.0 million, representing a year-over-year increase of between 15% and 17%.
  • Adjusted EBITDA loss is expected to be in the range of $(16.0) million and $(14.0) million.
  • Non-GAAP net loss per share is expected to be in the range of $(0.26) and $(0.23), assuming weighted average common shares outstanding of 71.0 million.

• Full Year 2021 Guidance:
  
  
  • Cloud subscription revenue is expected to be in the range of $171.0 million and $172.0 million, representing year-over-year growth of between 32% and 33%.
    
  • Total revenue is expected to be in the range of $353.0 million and $355.0 million, representing a year-over-year increase of between 16% and 17%.
  • Adjusted EBITDA loss is expected to be in the range of $(38.0) million and $(36.0) million.
  • Non-GAAP net loss per share is expected to be in the range of $(0.68) and $(0.65), assuming weighted average common shares outstanding of 71.2 million.

Conference Call Details:

Appian will host a conference call today, May 6, 2021, at 5:00 p.m. ET to discuss Appian's financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2021 and business outlook.

The live webcast of the conference call can be accessed on the Investor Relations page of Appian’s website at http://investors.appian.com. To access the call, please dial (877) 407-0792 in the U.S. or (201) 689-8263 internationally. Following the call, an archived webcast will be available at the same location on the Investor Relations page. A telephone replay will be available for one week at (844) 512-2921 in the U.S. or (412) 317-6671 internationally with recording access code 13717973.

Management will also present at the following investor conference:

• 16th Annual Needham Virtual Technology & Media Conference. The presentation is scheduled for Monday, May 17th at 8:45 a.m. ET.
  

About Appian

Appian helps organizations build apps and workflows rapidly, with a low-code automation platform. Combining people, technologies, and data in a single workflow, Appian can help companies maximize their resources and improve business results. Many of the world’s largest organizations use Appian applications to improve customer experience, achieve operational excellence, and simplify global risk management and compliance. For more information, visit www.appian.com.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

To supplement its consolidated financial statements, which are prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP, Appian provides investors with certain non-GAAP financial measures, including non-GAAP operating loss, non-GAAP net loss, non-GAAP net loss per share, non-GAAP weighted average shares outstanding, and adjusted EBITDA. These non-GAAP financial measures exclude the effect of stock-based compensation expense, gains or losses on disposals of assets, and certain litigation-related expenses consisting of legal and other professional fees which are not indicative of our core operating performance and are not part of our normal course of business.

The presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for, or superior to, the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP, and Appian’s non-GAAP measures may be different from non-GAAP measures used by other companies. For more information on these non-GAAP financial measures, please see the reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures to their nearest comparable GAAP measures at the end of this press release. A reconciliation of non-GAAP guidance measures to the most comparable GAAP measures is not available on a forward-looking basis without unreasonable efforts due to the high variability, complexity, and low visibility with respect to the charges excluded from these non-GAAP measures.

Appian uses these non-GAAP financial measures for financial and operational decision-making and as a means to evaluate period-to-period comparisons. Appian’s management believes these non-GAAP financial measures provide meaningful supplemental information regarding Appian’s performance by excluding certain expenses that may not be indicative of its recurring core business operating results. Appian believes both management and investors benefit from referring to these non-GAAP financial measures in assessing Appian’s performance and when planning, forecasting, and analyzing future periods. These non-GAAP financial measures also facilitate management’s internal comparisons to historical performance as well as comparisons to competitors’ operating results. Appian believes these non-GAAP financial measures are useful to investors both because (1) they allow for greater transparency with respect to measures used by management in its financial and operational decision-making and (2) they are used by Appian’s institutional investors and the analyst community to help them analyze the health of Appian’s business.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes forward-looking statements. All statements contained in this press release other than statements of historical facts, including statements regarding Appian’s future financial and business performance for the second quarter and full year 2021, the impact of COVID-19 on our business and on the global economy, future investment by Appian in its go-to-market initiatives, increased demand for the Appian platform, market opportunity and plans and objectives for future operations, including Appian’s ability to drive continued subscriptions revenue and total revenue growth, are forward-looking statements. The words "anticipate," believe," "continue," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "will," and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Appian has based these forward-looking statements on its current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that Appian believes may affect its financial condition, results of operations, business strategy, short-term and long-term business operations and objectives, and financial needs. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including the risks and uncertainties associated with Appian’s ability to grow its business and manage its growth, Appian’s ability to sustain its revenue growth rate, continued market acceptance of Appian’s platform and adoption of low-code solutions to drive digital transformation, the fluctuation of Appian’s operating results due to the length and variability of its sales cycle, competition in the markets in which Appian operates, risks and uncertainties associated with the composition and concentration of Appian’s customer base and their demand for its platform and satisfaction with the services provided by Appian, the potential fluctuation of Appian’s future quarterly results of operations, Appian’s ability to shift its revenue towards subscriptions and away from professional services, Appian’s ability to operate in compliance with applicable laws and regulations, Appian’s strategic relationships with third parties and use of third-party licensed software and its platform’s compatibility with third-party applications, the timing of Appian’s recognition of subscriptions revenue which may delay the effect of near term changes in sales on its operating results, and the additional risks and uncertainties set forth in the "Risk Factors" section of Appian’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 18, 2021 and other reports that Appian has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Moreover, Appian operates in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment. New risks emerge from time to time. It is not possible for Appian’s management to predict all risks, nor can Appian assess the impact of all factors on its business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements Appian may make. In light of these risks, uncertainties, and assumptions, Appian cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance, achievements, or events and circumstances reflected in the forward-looking statements will occur. Appian is under no duty to update any of these forward-looking statements after the date of this press release to conform these statements to actual results or revised expectations, except as required by law.

Investor Contact
Mark Lynch
Chief Financial Officer
703-442-8844
mark.lynch@appian.com

Media Contact
Ben Farrell
Vice President, Corporate Communications
703-442-1067
ben.farrell@appian.com

APPIAN CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands, except share and per share data)
	As of
	March 31,				December 31,
		2021				2020
	(unaudited)
Assets
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$	114,752			$	112,462
Short-term investments and marketable securities		118,012				109,826
Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $1,400 as of each of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020		87,424				97,278
Deferred commissions, current		18,749				17,899
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		28,484				27,955
Total current assets		367,421				365,420
Property and equipment, net		34,682				35,404
Long-term investments		22,317				36,120
Goodwill		4,651				4,862
Intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization of $513 and $429 as of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively		1,566				1,744
Operating right-of-use assets		30,610				30,659
Deferred commissions, net of current portion		35,991				34,198
Deferred tax assets		482				489
Other assets		2,875				3,625
Total assets	$	500,595			$	512,521
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
Current liabilities
Accounts payable	$	4,194			$	2,967
Accrued expenses		5,777				5,821
Accrued compensation and related benefits		20,919				22,981
Deferred revenue, current		107,893				116,256
Operating lease liabilities, current		7,664				6,923
Other current liabilities		509				940
Total current liabilities		146,956				155,888
Operating lease liabilities, net of current portion		50,572				51,194
Deferred revenue, net of current portion		2,698				3,886
Deferred tax liabilities		65				70
Other non-current liabilities		4,744				4,878
Total liabilities		205,035				215,916
Stockholders’ equity
Class A common stock - par value $0.0001; 500,000,000 shares authorized and 39,321,079 shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2021; 500,000,000 shares authorized and 38,971,324 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2020		4				4
Class B common stock - par value $0.0001; 100,000,000 shares authorized and 31,503,666 shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2021; 100,000,000 shares authorized and 31,707,866 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2020		3				3
Additional paid-in capital		479,017				470,498
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(987	)			(5,010	)
Accumulated deficit		(182,477	)			(168,890	)
Total stockholders’ equity		295,560				296,605
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	500,595			$	512,521

APPIAN CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(unaudited, in thousands, except share and per share data)
	Three Months Ended March 31,
		2021				2020
Revenue
Subscriptions	$	63,766			$	50,436
Professional services		25,089				28,428
Total revenue		88,855				78,864
Cost of revenue
Subscriptions		5,854				5,383
Professional services		17,675				18,736
Total cost of revenue		23,529				24,119
Gross profit		65,326				54,745
Operating expenses
Sales and marketing		35,984				34,172
Research and development		20,690				16,038
General and administrative		19,142				13,141
Total operating expenses		75,816				63,351
Operating loss		(10,490	)			(8,606	)
Other expense
Other expense, net		2,893				3,114
Interest expense		81				143
Total other expense		2,974				3,257
Loss before income taxes		(13,464	)			(11,863	)
Income tax expense (benefit)		123				(194	)
Net loss	$	(13,587	)		$	(11,669	)
Net loss per share:
Basic and diluted	$	(0.19	)		$	(0.17	)
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic and diluted		70,730,235				67,528,331

APPIAN CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
STOCK BASED COMPENSATION EXPENSE
(unaudited, in thousands)
	Three Months Ended March 31,
		2021			2020
Cost of revenue
Subscriptions	$	297		$	213
Professional services		641			212
Operating expenses
Sales and marketing		1,108			753
Research and development		1,015			553
General and administrative		4,833			1,745
Total stock-based compensation expense	$	7,894		$	3,476

APPIAN CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(unaudited, in thousands)
	Three Months Ended March 31,
		2021				2020
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net loss	$	(13,587	)		$	(11,669	)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		1,278				1,511
Bad debt expense	―					200
Loss on disposal of property and equipment	―					7
Change in fair value of available-for-sale securities		(8	)		―
Deferred income taxes		(448	)			―
Stock-based compensation		7,894				3,476
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable		12,651				5,751
Prepaid expenses and other assets		(279	)			37
Deferred commissions		(2,642	)			525
Accounts payable and accrued expenses		1,159				(1,800	)
Accrued compensation and related benefits		(1,955	)			(399	)
Other current and non-current liabilities		151				(154	)
Deferred revenue		(7,192	)			(2,503	)
Operating lease liabilities		168				1,159
Net cash used in operating activities		(2,810	)			(3,859	)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Proceeds from sale of investments		5,625				―
Payments for acquisitions, net of cash acquired		―				(6,138	)
Purchases of property and equipment		(468	)			(202	)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities		5,157				(6,340	)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Principal payments on finance leases		―				(357	)
Proceeds from exercise of common stock options		625				670
Net cash provided by financing activities		625				313
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents		(682	)			(706	)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents		2,290				(10,592	)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period		112,462				159,755
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$	114,752			$	149,163
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest	$	88			$	49
Cash paid for income taxes	$	148			$	43

APPIAN CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
RECONCILIATION OF GAAP MEASURES TO NON-GAAP MEASURES
(unaudited, in thousands, except share and per share data)
	Three Months Ended March 31,
		2021				2020
Reconciliation of non-GAAP operating loss:
GAAP operating loss	$	(10,490	)		$	(8,606	)
Add back:
Stock-based compensation expense		7,894				3,476
Litigation expenses(1)		1,687				―
Non-GAAP operating loss	$	(909	)		$	(5,130	)
Reconciliation of non-GAAP net loss:
GAAP net loss	$	(13,587	)		$	(11,669	)
Add back:
Stock-based compensation expense		7,894				3,476
Litigation expenses(1)		1,687				―
Loss on disposal of property and equipment		―				7
Non-GAAP net loss	$	(4,006	)		$	(8,186	)
Non-GAAP earnings per share:
Non-GAAP net loss	$	(4,006	)		$	(8,186	)
Non-GAAP weighted average shares used to compute net loss per share, basic and diluted		70,730,235				67,528,331
Non-GAAP net loss per share, basic and diluted	$	(0.06	)		$	(0.12	)
Reconciliation of non-GAAP net loss per share, basic and diluted:
GAAP net loss per share, basic and diluted	$	(0.19	)		$	(0.17	)
Add back:
Non-GAAP adjustments to net loss per share		0.13				0.05
Non-GAAP net loss per share, basic and diluted	$	(0.06	)		$	(0.12	)
Reconciliation of adjusted EBITDA:
GAAP net loss	$	(13,587	)		$	(11,669	)
Other expense, net		2,893				3,114
Interest expense		81				143
Income tax expense (benefit)		123				(194	)
Depreciation and amortization expense		1,278				1,511
Stock-based compensation expense		7,894				3,476
Litigation expenses(1)		1,687				―
Adjusted EBITDA	$	369			$	(3,619	)
(1) Consists of professional fees and other costs incurred in connection with two separate lawsuits, one involving reciprocal false advertising and related claims with a competitor and one involving an effort to enforce our intellectual property. We believe the costs incurred related to these cases are outside of our ordinary course of business; therefore, exclusion of such costs aids to provide supplemental information and comparable financial results from period to period.

FAQ

What were Appian's Q1 2021 revenue figures?

Appian reported total revenue of $88.9 million for Q1 2021, a 13% increase year-over-year.

How did Appian's cloud subscription revenue perform in Q1 2021?

Cloud subscription revenue grew 38% year-over-year to $39.1 million.

What is Appian's guidance for cloud subscription revenue in Q2 2021?

Appian expects cloud subscription revenue to be between $41.0 million and $41.5 million in Q2 2021.

What was the adjusted EBITDA for Appian in Q1 2021?

Adjusted EBITDA was $0.4 million for Q1 2021, compared to a loss of $(3.6) million in Q1 2020.

What are the projected losses for Appian in 2021?

Appian projects a non-GAAP net loss per share between $(0.68) and $(0.65) for the full year 2021.