GDDY Q1 Earnings Call: AI Initiatives and Bundling Drive Margin Expansion Amid Customer Base Stability
Domain registrar and web services company GoDaddy (NYSE:GDDY) beat Wall Street's revenue expectations in Q1 CY2025, with sales up 7.7% year on year to $1.19 billion. The company expects next quarter's revenue to be around $1.21 billion, close to analysts' estimates. Its non-GAAP profit of $2.10 per share was 12.8% above analysts' consensus estimates.
Is now the time to buy GDDY? Find out in our full research report (it's free).
Revenue: $1.19 billion vs analyst estimates of $1.19 billion (7.7% year-on-year growth, 0.6% beat)
Adjusted EPS: $2.10 vs analyst estimates of $1.86 (12.8% beat)
Adjusted Operating Income: $247.3 million vs analyst estimates of $241.7 million (20.7% margin, 2.3% beat)
The company reconfirmed its revenue guidance for the full year of $4.9 billion at the midpoint
Operating Margin: 20.7%, up from 15.9% in the same quarter last year
Free Cash Flow Margin: 34.4%, up from 28.7% in the previous quarter
Customers: 20.48 million, down from 20.51 million in the previous quarter
Net Revenue Retention Rate: 85.4%, in line with the previous quarter
Annual Recurring Revenue: $4.05 billion at quarter end, up 7.5% year on year
Billings: $1.35 billion at quarter end
Market Capitalization: $27.07 billion
GoDaddy's first quarter results were shaped by operational progress on pricing, bundling, and product innovation, particularly within its Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered tools. CEO Aman Bhutani highlighted the ongoing shift from product-centric to customer cohort-driven strategies—especially in pricing and bundling—as a core factor driving higher average order sizes and improved customer retention. Notably, GoDaddy's seamless experience initiative and expanded commerce offerings, including GoDaddy Capital and same-day payouts, contributed to higher engagement and renewal rates.
Looking ahead, management reaffirmed its full-year revenue outlook, citing continued confidence in the company's ability to attract higher lifetime value customers and expand free cash flow. CFO Mark McCaffrey emphasized that the company's operational discipline, investments in marketing for the Airo platform, and continued innovation in AI and automation remain central to their margin expansion targets. While GoDaddy acknowledged modest headwinds in small business sentiment, management stated that customer resilience and a favorable product mix underpin their guidance for the remainder of the year.
GoDaddy's management attributed the quarter's revenue and margin gains to progress on its AI-driven product suite, disciplined execution on pricing and bundling, and ongoing efforts to attract higher value customers. The company also extended its share repurchase program, reflecting confidence in its capital return framework.
AI-powered product engagement: The rollout of Airo, GoDaddy's generative AI platform, continued to drive increased product attachment and customer engagement. Management noted that Airo customers are purchasing more products and demonstrating higher renewal rates. Early results from Airo Plus, the premium tier, are encouraging but still in the initial testing phase.
Bundling and pricing strategy: Management's shift from product-based to customer cohort-based pricing and bundling delivered ahead of internal expectations. The company is testing new bundles across segments, leveraging its platform to quickly integrate both proprietary and third-party products, which is expanding average order size and customer retention.
Commerce and payments growth: GoDaddy's commerce segment saw healthy annualized gross payments volume growth, primarily from deeper conversion within its existing customer base. New offerings such as GoDaddy Capital (merchant cash advance) and same-day payouts are gaining traction, broadening the company's one-stop-shop value proposition.
Operational efficiency and margin expansion: The company expanded its normalized EBITDA margin, crediting favorable product mix, infrastructure simplification, and disciplined marketing spend, especially around AI-driven products. Management reiterated that product mix—not one-off cost savings—was the primary driver of margin gains.
Capital allocation and buybacks: With the prior $4 billion repurchase program completed, GoDaddy's board approved a new $3 billion share repurchase authorization through 2027. Management reiterated its focus on returning value to shareholders within a disciplined capital allocation framework.
GoDaddy's management outlined a future focused on expanding its high-intent customer base, further AI integration, and disciplined capital deployment, with ongoing macroeconomic monitoring.
AI and automation rollout: The company expects continued improvements in customer engagement and retention as Airo and Agentic AI features automate more tasks for small businesses, supporting lifetime value growth.
Bundling and pricing optimization: Further testing of customer cohort-driven bundles and rapid integration of third-party solutions are expected to sustain higher average order size and lower churn rates, supporting both revenue and margin expansion.
Customer base and macro resilience: Management is watching for stabilization and return to customer growth as the company laps prior divestitures, while monitoring small business sentiment for potential economic headwinds.
Elizabeth Porter (Morgan Stanley): Asked about small business sentiment and potential macro pressures; management noted resilience but acknowledged some pressure, relying on strong retention and value delivered to customers.
Ygal Arounian (Citigroup): Inquired about trends in average order size and Airo/Airo Plus adoption; management said average order size gains persist, with Airo driving faster product attachment and improved retention, while Airo Plus remains early-stage.
Vikram Kesavabhotla (Baird): Sought details on Agentic AI and bundling; CEO Bhutani explained Agentic AI's future role in automating tasks for microbusinesses and described ongoing bundling tests as key to value creation.
Trevor Young (Barclays): Asked about the path to renewed customer growth and gross margin drivers; management emphasized a strategy of focusing on higher-intent customers and attributed margin expansion to favorable product mix rather than cost reductions.
Brad Erickson (RBC): Probed the relative impact of pricing vs. bundling; management said the highest customer lifetime value comes from well-integrated bundles, making it difficult to separate the two.
In coming quarters, the StockStory team will be watching (1) the adoption and monetization of Airo Plus and its impact on customer engagement, (2) results from ongoing bundling and pricing experiments across customer cohorts, and (3) whether GoDaddy can achieve a return to customer growth as it laps prior divestitures. The pace of uptake for new commerce and payments offerings will also be a critical indicator of progress.
GoDaddy currently trades at a forward price-to-sales ratio of 5.5×. Should you load up, cash out, or stay put? See for yourself in our free research report.
Market indices reached historic highs following Donald Trump's presidential victory in November 2024, but the outlook for 2025 is clouded by new trade policies that could impact business confidence and growth.
While this has caused many investors to adopt a "fearful" wait-and-see approach, we're leaning into our best ideas that can grow regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate. Take advantage of Mr. Market by checking out our Top 9 Market-Beating Stocks. This is a curated list of our High Quality stocks that have generated a market-beating return of 176% over the last five years.
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
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Lemonade Inc (LMND) Q1 2025 Earnings Call Highlights: Strong Revenue Growth Amidst Challenges
Revenue: Increased 27% year-on-year to $151 million in Q1 2025. In Force Premium (IFP): Grew 27% to just above $1 billion. Customer Count: Increased by 21% to 2.5 million. Premium per Customer: Increased 4% to $396. Annual Retention Rate (ADR): Decreased to 84% from 86% in the prior quarter. Gross Earned Premium: Increased 24% to $234 million. Gross Loss Ratio: 78% for Q1, compared to 79% in Q1 2024. Adjusted Gross Profit: Improved 25% year-on-year. Net Loss: $62 million, or a loss of $0.86 per share. Adjusted EBITDA Loss: $47 million in Q1. Total Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Investments: Approximately $996 million. Growth Spend: $38 million in Q1, nearly double the prior year quarter. Technology Development Expense: Increased 5% to $22 million. General and Administrative (G&A) Expense: Increased 20% to $36 million. Warning! GuruFocus has detected 3 Warning Signs with LMND. Release Date: May 06, 2025 For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. Lemonade Inc (NYSE:LMND) reported a 27% year-on-year growth in Q1 2025, marking the sixth consecutive quarter of accelerating top-line growth. The company achieved a 25% year-on-year improvement in adjusted gross profit, despite the impact of California wildfires. Lemonade Car's quarter-over-quarter in-force premium (IFP) growth outpaced the rest of the business for the first time, signaling strong momentum. The company is on track to achieve EBITDA breakeven by the end of 2026, with expectations of generating positive adjusted free cash flow in 2025. Lemonade Inc (NYSE:LMND) has successfully leveraged AI to maintain or reduce fixed costs while significantly increasing its book size, demonstrating strong operational efficiency. The California wildfires had a notable impact on Q1 results, contributing 16 percentage points to the gross loss ratio. Annual dollar retention (ADR) decreased to 84%, down from 86% in the prior quarter, partly due to efforts to improve profitability in the home insurance book. The gross loss ratio for Q1 was 78%, slightly higher than the previous year's 79%, indicating ongoing challenges in managing claims costs. Operating expenses, excluding loss and loss adjustment expense, increased by 29% year-on-year, driven by growth spend and the impact of the FAIR plan assessment. Net loss for Q1 was $62 million, or $0.86 per share, compared to a net loss of $47 million or $0.67 per share in the prior year, reflecting ongoing financial challenges. Q: Can you elaborate on the timeline for reaching EBITDA profitability and what levers will drive this? A: Daniel Schreiber, CEO, explained that Lemonade aims to achieve adjusted EBITDA breakeven by the end of 2026, with 2027 being the first full year of positive adjusted EBITDA. The company expects gross profit to grow faster than fixed costs, driven by AI efficiencies, bringing them closer to profitability. Q: What impact did the California wildfires have on gross profit, and how are tariffs affecting your full-year guidance? A: Tim Bixby, CFO, noted that the California wildfires had a $44 million gross impact, aligning with prior estimates. The tariff impact is expected to be modest, with single-digit percentage effects on claims. Lemonade is comfortable with its full-year guidance, assuming a modest headwind from tariffs. Q: How is Lemonade's Car business performing, and what are the plans for geographic expansion? A: Daniel Schreiber, CEO, highlighted that Lemonade Car is growing faster than the rest of the business, with a focus on refining the product before expanding geographically. The company is currently available to 40% of the U.S. market and plans to expand further once the product is optimized. Q: How is AI impacting Lemonade's competitive position in the insurance industry? A: Daniel Schreiber, CEO, emphasized that Lemonade's AI capabilities allow for better data utilization and risk assessment compared to traditional insurers. The company's digital infrastructure enables it to connect data points effectively, providing a competitive advantage in pricing and customer acquisition. Q: What percentage of new car sales are cross-sales from existing Lemonade customers? A: Tim Bixby, CFO, stated that about half of new car sales are cross-sales from existing customers, up from a third previously. This trend is expected to continue, leveraging Lemonade's existing customer base for more efficient growth. For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. This article first appeared on GuruFocus.
Business Insider
2 hours ago
- Business Insider
CEG, OKLO, and SMR Get Set to Power the AI Boom via Nuclear Energy
The nuclear energy sector is experiencing a resurgence unseen in decades, driven largely by its potential to power the burgeoning AI revolution. Major technology companies such as Meta (META), Microsoft (MSFT), and Alphabet (GOOGL) are competing to secure reliable energy sources for their expanding data centers, and nuclear power's clean, consistent output has positioned it as a key player in this race. Confident Investing Starts Here: Leading this revival are three companies—Constellation Energy (CEG), Oklo (OKLO), and NuScale Power (SMR) —each bringing a distinct approach to the nuclear landscape. Over the past year, all three have outperformed the market, capturing investor attention amid rising energy demand. Constellation Energy (NASDAQ:CEG) | The Nuclear Titan Locking in Tech Giants Constellation Energy is the 800-pound gorilla of U.S. nuclear power, and it's just landed a deal that's got everyone's attention. Just two days ago, CEG signed a 20-year power purchase agreement with Meta to deliver 1.1 gigawatts from its Clinton Clean Energy Center in Illinois, starting in 2027. This isn't an ordinary contract, but rather a lifeline for a plant that was on the verge of closure when its zero-emissions credits expire. The deal, which also boosts Clinton's output by 30 megawatts, underscores CEG's ability to secure tech giants. Microsoft is already on board with a Three Mile Island restart. What makes CEG a one-of-a-kind destination for tech titans is its scale. With 94 reactors across the U.S., they're a one-stop shop for tech companies chasing net-zero goals while powering AI workloads. Their shift away from co-located data center plans to grid-connected projects, as noted in last month's update, indicates they're adapting to regulatory hurdles, such as FERC's rejection of expanded co-location deals. Moreover, the Meta deal demonstrates that CEG can pivot and still secure massive contracts. Sure, their stock's run-up makes it a bit daunting to be bullish on today, but with AI data centers projected to eat up 9% of U.S. electricity by 2030, CEG's infrastructure could be a cash cow in waiting. Is Constellation Energy Stock a Good Buy? Currently, most analysts are bullish on CEG stock. The stock features a Moderate Buy consensus rating based on eight Buy and five Hold ratings assigned in the past three months. No analyst rates the stock a sell. CEG's average stock price target of $319.45 implies ~10% upside over the next twelve months, despite shares having already rallied 30% year-to-date. Oklo (NYSE:OKLO) | The Startup with a Nuclear Vision Oklo, the newest entrant in the nuclear energy space and backed by OpenAI's Sam Altman, is focused on small modular reactors (SMRs)—compact, flexible power plants ideally suited for data centers. The company's stock has surged 440% over the past year, fueled by high-profile agreements such as its December deal with Switch to supply 12 gigawatts through 2044. Additionally, a recent memorandum with Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power to advance their 75-megawatt Aurora Powerhouse fast reactor has further accelerated momentum. While Oklo remains pre-revenue and is currently investing heavily in technology development, with commercial operations still several years away, its 'power-as-a-service' model—where the company builds, owns, and operates reactors—could revolutionize how data centers secure reliable power without significant upfront costs. Recent executive orders easing nuclear regulations have also provided a regulatory boost. However, significant risks remain, including ongoing R&D challenges and the high costs of scaling production. For investors who believe SMRs are key to powering the AI revolution, Oklo's long-term vision holds considerable promise. Is OKLO Stock a Good Buy? On Wall Street, Oklo stock carries a Moderate Buy consensus rating based on six Buy and three Hold ratings. No analyst rates the stock a sell. Oklo's average stock price target of $54.40 implies about 15% upside potential over the next twelve months. NuScale Power (NYSE:SMR) | The SMR Pioneer with a Head Start NuScale Power holds a distinct advantage as the first U.S. company to secure Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) approval for its small modular reactor (SMR) design—the 77-megawatt VOYGR module. But the company isn't resting on this milestone; it is rapidly advancing a 2-gigawatt agreement with Standard Power to supply data centers in Pennsylvania and Ohio. Despite posting losses as it invests in expanding its supply chain, NuScale's Q1 report revealed an impressive 857% year-over-year revenue increase. The recent Meta-Constellation Energy deal also boosted NuScale's stock, signaling strong market confidence in its role in nuclear's resurgence. What distinguishes NuScale from its competitors is its pragmatic approach. Its light-water reactor technology is more established and less experimental than Oklo's fast reactors, making it a safer candidate for near-term deployment. However, supply chain constraints and complex project coordination remain significant challenges that could delay progress. Still, with tech giants like Google and Amazon entering SMR agreements, NuScale's first-mover advantage positions it well to meet growing energy demands. Its factory-built, modular design aligns perfectly with data centers' requirements for scalable, reliable power. Is NuScale Power a Good Stock to Buy? NuScale Power is currently covered by eight Wall Street analysts, who generally hold a bullish outlook. The stock carries a Moderate Buy consensus rating, reflecting five Buy ratings, two Holds, and one Sell over the past three months. However, SMR's average price target of $27.42 suggests approximately 12% downside potential over the next twelve months. Why Nuclear Energy Is the Smart Bet for AI's Future The resurgence of the nuclear sector is no coincidence, as the soaring energy demands of AI are reshaping the industry landscape. Constellation Energy (CEG) brings scale, Oklo (OKLO) leads with innovation, and NuScale Power (SMR) holds a regulatory advantage. Each faces its own challenges—CEG's stock trades at a premium valuation, Oklo is still managing significant cash burn, and NuScale navigates operational risks. Nevertheless, the potential upside is substantial. With tech giants committing to multi-gigawatt agreements and nuclear capacity projected to quadruple by 2050, these companies are at the forefront of a transformative energy revolution and merit close attention.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Why Greif Stock Triumphed on Thursday
The company published its second earnings release of the current fiscal year. This pleased investors largely because of a sizable earnings beat. 10 stocks we like better than Greif › Veteran industrial company Greif (NYSE: GEF) was a standout on the stock exchange Thursday. Investors, captivated by a very convincing earnings beat in the company's freshly reported second quarter of fiscal 2025, pushed the industrial packing specialist's share price up by nearly 16%. In doing so, Greif not only crushed the S&P 500 index's performance on the day (it landed in the red by 0.5%), but also that of many blue chip stocks. Greif published those quarterly results just after market close on Wednesday, divulging that its net sales inched up by 1% on a year-over-year basis to hit nearly $1.39 billion. The dynamic was similar on the bottom line, with GAAP net income bumping 0.5% higher to $54.5 million, or $1.22 per share. Although the consensus analyst estimate for revenue was higher, at $1.42 billion, pundits tracking the stock underestimated profitability. Collectively, they were anticipating Greif would only earn $1.12 per share in net income. In its earnings release, Greif management indicated a steady-as-she-goes approach to its business. It quoted CEO Ole Rosgaard as saying that "The resilience of our results, supported by deliberate portfolio moves and operational discipline, demonstrates that Greif is well-positioned for success and value creation now and in the future." Greif cautiously proffered selected guidance for the entirety of this fiscal year, raising the low end of its projection for non-GAAP (adjusted) earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) to $725 million and its adjusted free cash flow to $280 million. Both estimates compare positively to the actual fiscal 2024 results of $694 million and just under $190 million, respectively. Greif isn't the most exciting company on the scene, but at times, it's the unexciting businesses that produce the most dependably pleasing results. This one does what it does well, and what's more it knows how to keep its investors happy with a relatively high-yield dividend. I think it' s a fine stock to own, even after the post-earnings pop. Before you buy stock in Greif, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the for investors to buy now… and Greif wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $668,538!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $869,841!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 789% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 172% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join . See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of June 2, 2025 Eric Volkman has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Why Greif Stock Triumphed on Thursday was originally published by The Motley Fool 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
