Aspen Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ: AZPN), the asset optimization software company, today announced financial results for its fourth quarter and fiscal year ended June 30, 2017.

“AspenTech reported fourth quarter and fiscal year 2017 financial results that exceeded expectations and were highlighted by a positive performance across all geographies and product suites,” said Antonio Pietri, President and Chief Executive Officer of AspenTech. “During the fourth quarter we made significant strides in bringing continued innovation to market.  We successfully launched aspenONE v10, which will deliver increased value to our customers through enhanced functionality and capabilities. In addition, we saw positive momentum with our APM suite as we closed several transactions and continued to generate strong customer interest.”

Pietri added, “We believe AspenTech enters fiscal year 2018 with a strong and expanded product portfolio and a substantial growth opportunity, which positions us to execute successfully against our strategic objectives and continue to deliver significant long-term value to our shareholders.”

Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2017 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 $460 million at the end of fiscal 2017, an increase of 1.8% from March 31, 2017 and 4.1% from the end of fiscal 2016.

GAAP operating margin was 39.6% in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017, compared to 43.1% in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016.  Non-GAAP operating margin was 46.1% in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017, compared to 46.1% in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016.

GAAP operating margin was 43.9% for fiscal year 2017, compared to 44.8% for fiscal year 2016.  Non-GAAP operating margin was 48.8% for fiscal year 2017, compared to 49.3% for fiscal year 2016.

AspenTech repurchased approximately 1.3 million shares of our common stock for $75.0 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017.

AspenTech repurchased approximately 7.3 million shares of common stock for $375.0 million in fiscal year 2017.

Summary of Fourth Quarter Fiscal Year 2017 Financial Results

AspenTech’s total revenue of $123.7 million increased 8.8% from $113.7 million in the fourth quarter of the prior fiscal year.

Subscription and software revenue was $115.4 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017, an increase from $106.7 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016.

Services and other revenue was $8.2 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017, an increase from $7.0 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016.

For the quarter ended June 30, 2017, AspenTech reported income from operations of $48.9 million, compared to income from operations of $49.0 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2016.

Net income was $54.4 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2017, leading to net income per share of $0.73, compared to net income per share of $0.41 in the same period last fiscal year.

Non-GAAP income from operations, which adds back stock-based compensation expense, amortization of intangibles associated with acquisitions, acquisition-related costs and non-capitalized acquired technology, was $57.0 million for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017, compared to non-GAAP income from operations of $52.4 million in the same period last fiscal year.  Non-GAAP net income was $59.1 million, or $0.79 per share, for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017, compared to non-GAAP net income of $35.5 million, or $0.44 per share, in the same period last fiscal year.

During the quarter ended June 30, 2017, the company realized a $19 million tax benefit primarily resulting from the release of contingent tax reserves. The tax benefit resulted in a $0.26 per share benefit for both GAAP and non-GAAP net income per share in the quarter ended June 30, 2017.

AspenTech had cash and marketable securities of $102.0 million at June 30, 2017, compared to $101.7 million at the end of the prior quarter.

During the fourth quarter, the company generated $73.3 million in cash flow from operations and $76.8 million in free cash flow.

Summary of Fiscal Year 2017 Financial Results

AspenTech’s total revenue of $482.9 million increased 2.2% from $472.3 million for fiscal year 2016.

Subscription and software revenue was $453.5 million, an increase from $440.4 million for fiscal year 2016.

Services and other revenue was $29.4 million, compared to $31.9 million for fiscal year 2016.

For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2017, AspenTech reported income from operations of $212.0 million, an improvement from income from operations of $211.4 million for fiscal year 2016.

Net income was $162.2 million for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2017, leading to net income per share of $2.11, compared to net income per share of $1.68 for fiscal year 2016.

Non-GAAP income from operations was $235.8 million for fiscal year 2017, an improvement compared to non-GAAP income from operations of $232.7 million for fiscal year 2016.  Non-GAAP net income was $177.4 million, or $2.30 per share, for fiscal year 2017, an improvement compared to non-GAAP net income of $155.8 million, or $1.87 per share, for fiscal year 2016.

For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2017, the company generated $182.4 million in cash flow from operations and $187.2 million in free cash flow.

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 AspenTech’s business.  As the result of adoption of new licensing models, management believes that a number of AspenTech’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 AspenTech’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 AspenTech’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

AspenTech will host a conference call and webcast today, August 10, 2017, at 4:30 p.m. (Eastern Time), to discuss the company's financial results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year 2017 as well as the company’s business outlook.

The live dial-in number is (866) 604-6127 or (443) 961-0460, conference ID code 60952917. Interested parties may also listen to a live webcast of the call by logging on to the Investor Relations section of AspenTech’s website, http://www.aspentech.com/corporate/investor.cfm, and clicking on the “webcast” link. A replay of the call will be archived on AspenTech’s website and will also be available via telephone at (855) 859-2056 or (404) 537-3406, conference ID code 60952917, through September 10, 2017.

About AspenTech

AspenTech is a leading software supplier for optimizing asset performance. Our products thrive in complex, industrial environments where it is critical to optimize the asset design, operation and maintenance lifecycle. AspenTech uniquely combines decades of process modeling expertise with big data machine-learning. Our 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 faster, safer, longer and greener. Visit AspenTech.com to find out more.

Forward-Looking Statements

The second and third paragraphs of this press release 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:  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; the demand for, or usage of, aspenONE software declines for any reason, including declines due to adverse changes in the capital-intensive process industries; unfavorable economic and market conditions or a lessening demand in the market for asset process optimization software; 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.

© 2017 Aspen Technology, Inc. AspenTech, aspenONE, the Aspen leaf logo, Aspen Basic Engineering, Aspen Fidelis Reliability, Aspen Mtell, Aspen Unified PIMS and OPTIMIZE are trademarks of Aspen Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.