Release Date: April 14, 2025
For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.
Positive Points
- Skillsoft Corp (SKIL, Financial) delivered solid fourth-quarter and fiscal-year results, with revenue exceeding the high end of guidance and adjusted EBITDA at the upper end of the range.
- The company achieved a dollar retention rate (DRR) of 105% in the fourth quarter, bringing the last 12 months DRR to 100%, meeting expectations.
- Skillsoft Corp (SKIL) is focusing on transforming its go-to-market strategy and product offerings, targeting the enterprise market segment for growth.
- The company has made significant progress in its transformation strategy, achieving $45 million in annualized expense reduction, with a portion reinvested into the business.
- Skillsoft Corp (SKIL) is well-positioned in a large and growing market, estimated at over $400 billion, with differentiated offerings in global skills development and AI-powered learning experiences.
Negative Points
- Global Knowledge revenue declined by 13% year over year in the fourth quarter and 15% for the full year, indicating challenges in this business unit.
- Total revenue for the fourth quarter was down approximately 2.8% year over year, and full-year revenue was down 4%, reflecting ongoing revenue challenges.
- The company faces macroeconomic uncertainties, including potential impacts from evolving government policies, which could affect future performance.
- Despite improvements, the Global Knowledge business unit still faces margin challenges due to varying margins between tech partners and the mix of trainers used.
- Skillsoft Corp (SKIL) is in the early stages of its transformation journey, with ongoing efforts needed to fully realize the benefits of its strategic initiatives.
Q & A Highlights
Q: Can you provide insights into how the recent tariff news is impacting Skillsoft's business, particularly in terms of customer reactions and market segments?
A: Ronald Hovsepian, CEO, explained that as a federal contractor, Skillsoft is directly involved with the federal government and has not seen any material impact from the tariffs. Customers are reacting in three ways: some want to continue receiving materials, others are complying with regulations even if not directly affected, and some are adopting a wait-and-see approach. Skillsoft is well-prepared to handle these scenarios, but the overall uncertainty could affect decision-making over time.
Q: How does the FY26 growth outlook account for potential impacts from the current uncertain environment?
A: Richard Walker, CFO, stated that the FY26 outlook reflects the current business environment without assuming any significant impact from uncertainties. The company acknowledges the fluid situation and will adjust if necessary, but the current guidance is based on the business as it stands.
Q: Why does the EBITDA guidance for FY26 not show significant margin expansion despite revenue growth?
A: Richard Walker explained that while there is modest margin expansion, the focus is on reinvesting in growth. The company is prioritizing strategic investments to drive future growth rather than immediate margin expansion. The reinvestment is expected to yield better profitability in the latter half of FY26.
Q: Can you elaborate on the progress and impact of the go-to-market transformation and large deal activity?
A: Ronald Hovsepian highlighted that the company is seeing positive results from its go-to-market transformation, with significant large deal activity, including $22 million in total contract value from the top 10 deals in the Talent Development Solutions segment. The focus is on enhancing enterprise sales capabilities and leveraging subject matter expertise to drive growth.
Q: What is the engagement level and potential monetization of the CAISY AI simulator among test customers?
A: Ronald Hovsepian noted strong engagement from the 100 test customers, with many using the simulator for customer-facing revenue activities. About a third of these customers engaged Skillsoft's professional services, indicating high interest and potential for monetization through cross-sell and upsell opportunities. The company is working on packaging and pricing strategies for broader rollout.
For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.
