Bedford, Mass. – August 11, 2021 - Aspen Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ: AZPN), a global leader in asset optimization software, today announced financial results for its fourth-quarter and fiscal year 2021 ended June 30, 2021.

“AspenTech finished fiscal 2021 having generated record profitability and free cash flow, with 4.8% annual spend growth in the midst of unprecedented challenges for many of our customers. Our ability to achieve these results reflects the mission-critical role our solutions play in supporting the sustainability and efficiency requirements of our customers across the process and other capital-intensive industries,” said Antonio Pietri, President and Chief Executive Officer of Aspen Technology.

Pietri continued, “As we enter fiscal 2022, we are optimistic about the long-term opportunity for AspenTech.  The need for our customers to operate their assets safely, sustainably, reliably and profitably has never been greater. Our continued focus on innovation, including the recently released aspenONE v12.1 that embeds AI capabilities across our solutions, enables even more value creation by customers. We are confident in our ability to return to double-digit annual spend growth over time as economic conditions and industry budgets normalize.”

Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2021 Recent Business Highlights   

• Annual spend, which the company defines as the annualized value of all term license and maintenance contracts at the end of the quarter, was $621 million at the end of the fourth quarter of fiscal 2021, which increased 4.8% compared to the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020 and 1.9% sequentially.
• AspenTech repurchased approximately 361,000 shares of its common stock for $50 million in fiscal year 2021.

Summary of Fourth Quarter Fiscal Year 2021 Financial Results

AspenTech’s total revenue of $198.0 million included:

• License revenue, which represents the portion of a term license agreement allocated to the initial license, was $145.3 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2021, compared to $149.9 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020.
• Maintenance revenue, which represents the portion of the term license agreement related to ongoing support and the right to future product enhancements, was $45.6 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2021, compared to $45.7 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020.
• Services and other revenue was $7.0 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2021, compared to $6.4 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020.

For the quarter ended June 30, 2021, AspenTech reported income from operations of $105.9 million, compared to income from operations of $116.3 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020.

Net income was $95.4 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2021, leading to net income per share of $1.39, compared to net income per share of $1.39 in the same period last fiscal year.

Non-GAAP income from operations was $118.4 million for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2021, compared to non-GAAP income from operations of $125.5 million in the same period last fiscal year.  Non-GAAP net income was $105.3 million, or $1.53 per share, for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2021, compared to non-GAAP net income of $101.8 million, or $1.49 per share, in the same period last fiscal year. These non-GAAP results add back the impact of stock-based compensation expense, amortization of intangibles and acquisition-related fees. A reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP results is presented in the financial tables included in this press release.

AspenTech had cash and cash equivalents of $379.9 million and total borrowings, net of debt issuance costs, of $293.2 million at June 30, 2021. 

During the fourth quarter, the company generated $103.2 million in cash flow from operations and $103.7 million in free cash flow. Free cash flow is calculated as net cash provided by operating activities adjusted for the net impact of: purchases of property, equipment and leasehold improvements; payments for capitalized computer software development costs, and other nonrecurring items, such as acquisition-related payments.

Summary of Fiscal Year 2021 Financial Results

AspenTech’s total revenue of $709.4 million increased 18.5% from $598.7 million for fiscal year 2020.

• License revenue was $497.5 million, an increase from $388.2 million for fiscal year 2020.
• Maintenance revenue was $185.2 million, and increase from $178.1 million for fiscal year 2020.
• Services and other revenue was $26.7 million, a decrease from $32.4 million for fiscal year 2020.

For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2021, AspenTech reported income from operations of $358.4 million, compared to income from operations of $257.4 million for fiscal year 2020.

Net income was $319.8 million for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2021, leading to net income per share of $4.67, compared to net income per share of $3.34 for fiscal year 2020.

Non-GAAP income from operations was $404.3 million for fiscal year 2021, compared to non-GAAP income from operations of $295.6 million for fiscal year 2020.  Non-GAAP net income was $356.0 million, or $5.20 per share, for fiscal year 2021, compared to non-GAAP net income of $259.8 million, or $3.78 per share, for fiscal year 2020.

For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2021, the company generated $276.1 million in cash flow from operations and $277.5 million in free cash flow.

Business Outlook

Based on information as of today, August 11, 2021, Aspen Technology is issuing the following guidance for fiscal year 2022:

• Annual spend growth of 5-7% year-over-year
• Free cash flow of $275 to $285 million
• Total bookings of $766 to $819 million
• Total revenue of $702 to $737 million
• GAAP total expense of $386 to $391 million
• Non-GAAP total expense of $341 to $346 million
• GAAP operating income of $316 to $346 million
• Non-GAAP operating income of $361 to $391 million
• GAAP net income of $288 to $314 million
• Non-GAAP net income of $323 to $349 million
• GAAP net income pershare of $4.27 to $4.65
• Non-GAAP net income per share of $4.79 to $5.17

These statements are forward-looking and actual results may differ materially. Refer to the Forward-Looking Statements safe harbor below for information on the factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This press release contains “non-GAAP financial measures” under the rules of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Non-GAAP financial measures are not based on a comprehensive set of accounting rules or principles. This non-GAAP information supplements, and is not intended to represent a measure of performance in accordance with, disclosures required by generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP.  Non-GAAP financial measures should be considered in addition to, not as a substitute for or superior to, financial measures determined in accordance with GAAP.  A reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP results is included in the financial tables included in this press release.

Management considers both GAAP and non-GAAP financial results in managing Aspen Technology’s business.  As the result of adoption of new licensing models, management believes that a number of Aspen Technology’s performance indicators based on GAAP, including revenue, gross profit, operating income and net income, should be viewed in conjunction with certain non-GAAP and other business measures in assessing Aspen Technology’s performance, growth and financial condition. Accordingly, management utilizes a number of non-GAAP and other business metrics, including the non-GAAP metrics set forth in this press release, to track Aspen Technology’s business performance. None of these non-GAAP metrics should be considered as an alternative to any measure of financial performance calculated in accordance with GAAP.

Conference Call and Webcast

Aspen Technology will host a conference call and webcast today, August 11, 2021, at 4:30 p.m. (Eastern Time), to discuss the company's financial results for the fourth-quarter and fiscal year 2021 as well as the company’s business outlook. The live dial-in number is (866) 471-3828 or (678) 509-7573, conference ID code 7282409. Interested parties may also listen to a live webcast of the call by logging on to the Investor Relations section of Aspen Technology’s website, http://ir.aspentech.com/events-and-presentations, and clicking on the “webcast” link. A replay of the call will be archived on Aspen Technology’s website and will also be available via telephone at (855) 859-2056 or (404) 537-3406, conference ID code 7282409, through August 18, 2021.

About Aspen Technology

Aspen Technology (AspenTech) is a global leader in asset optimization software. Its solutions address complex, industrial environments where it is critical to optimize the asset design, operation and maintenance lifecycle. AspenTech uniquely combines decades of process modelling expertise with artificial intelligence. Its purpose-built software platform automates knowledge work and builds sustainable competitive advantage by delivering high returns over the entire asset lifecycle. As a result, companies in capital-intensive industries can maximize uptime and push the limits of performance, running their assets safer, greener, longer and faster. Visit AspenTech.com to find out more.

Forward-Looking Statements

The third paragraph of this press release as well as the Business Outlook section contain forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Actual results may vary significantly from AspenTech’s expectations based on a number of risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation: delays or reductions in demand for AspenTech solutions due to the COVID-19 pandemic; AspenTech’s failure to increase usage and product adoption of aspenONE offerings or grow the aspenONE APM business, and failure to continue to provide innovative, market-leading solutions; declines in the demand for, or usage of, aspenONE software for any reason, including declines due to adverse changes in the process or other capital-intensive industries and materially reduced industry spending budgets due to the drop in demand for oil due to the COVID-19 pandemic, unfavorable economic and market conditions or a lessening demand in the market for asset process optimization software, including materially reduced industry spending budgets due to the significant drop in oil prices arising from drop in demand due to the COVID-19 pandemic; risks of foreign operations or transacting business with customers outside the United States; risks of competition and other risk factors described from time to time in AspenTech’s periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  AspenTech cannot guarantee any future results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements.  AspenTech expressly disclaims any obligation to update forward-looking statements after the date of this press release.

© 2021 Aspen Technology, Inc. AspenTech, aspenONE, asset optimization and the Aspen leaf logo are trademarks of Aspen Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.

Source: Aspen Technology, Inc.