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Blackline Inc (BL)
NASDAQ:BL

BlackLine (BL) AI Stock Analysis

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BL

BlackLine

(NASDAQ:BL)

Rating:71Outperform
Price Target:
$61.00
▲(10.53%Upside)
BlackLine's overall score reflects solid financial health, positive technical momentum, and strategic growth opportunities, tempered by high valuation and operational challenges. The stock's strong revenue performance and strategic initiatives are significant positives, while macroeconomic risks and high leverage are key concerns.
Positive Factors
Operating Margin
A meaningful beat and raise to operating margin results in FCF estimates getting revised upwards.
Strategic Partnerships
Solid results have been observed as the Solex partnership and execution are improving.
Negative Factors
Market Demand
BlackLine has been experiencing a 'measured demand environment' and saw some deals slip as discussed on its earnings call.
Revenue Guidance
The company reduced the low end of its revenue guidance range for 2025, expecting 6.9% growth at the midpoint compared to prior expectations for 7.4% growth.

BlackLine (BL) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

BlackLine Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionBlackLine, Inc. provides cloud-based solutions to automate and streamline accounting and finance operations worldwide. It offers financial close management solutions, such as account reconciliations that provides a centralized workspace for users to collaborate on account reconciliations; transaction matching that analyzes and reconciles high volumes of individual transactions; and task management to create and manage processes and task lists. The company's financial close management solutions also include journal entry that allows users to generate, review, and post manual journal entries; variance analysis that monitors and identifies anomalous fluctuations in balance sheet and income statement account balances; consolidation integrity manager that manages the automated system-to-system tie-out process that occurs during the consolidation phase of the financial close; and compliance, an integrated solution that facilitates compliance-related initiatives, consolidates project management, and provides visibility over control self-assessments and testing. In addition, it offers accounts receivable automation solutions, which include cash application, credit and risk management, collections management, disputes and deductions, team and task management, and AR intelligence solutions. Further, the company provides intercompany workflow that stores permissions by entity and transaction type thereby ensuring both the initiator and the approver of the intercompany transaction are authorized to conduct business; intercompany processing, which records an organization's intercompany transactions; and netting and settlement that generates a real-time settlement matrix, which shows the balance of transactions. The company sells its solutions primarily through direct sales force to multinational corporations, large domestic enterprises, and mid-market companies across various industries. BlackLine, Inc. was incorporated in 2001 and is headquartered in Woodland Hills, California.
How the Company Makes MoneyBlackLine makes money primarily through a subscription-based revenue model. The company offers cloud-based software solutions on a subscription basis, which provides it with a recurring revenue stream. Customers typically pay annual or multi-year subscription fees to access BlackLine's accounting automation platform. Key revenue streams include subscriptions to its core products, such as the Financial Close Management solution, Account Reconciliations, Intercompany Hub, and other modules that address various accounting needs. Additionally, BlackLine may generate revenue from professional services, including consulting, implementation, and support services, which are often provided to help clients effectively deploy and use their software. Strategic partnerships with enterprise resource planning (ERP) providers and financial service firms also play a significant role in expanding BlackLine's market reach and customer base, indirectly contributing to its earnings.

BlackLine Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Any
Any
Customers
Customers
Counts the total number of customers, providing insight into market reach and the effectiveness of sales and marketing efforts.
Chart InsightsBlackLine's customer base has shown consistent growth, reaching 4,455 by Q1 2025. Despite macroeconomic challenges that could pressure customer retention, the company’s strategic partnerships and strong pipeline are driving momentum. The adoption of the Studio360 platform and expansion in AI capabilities are key growth drivers. However, the macro environment poses risks, and some large enterprises are reducing usage. BlackLine's focus on operational improvements and disciplined execution is crucial to maintaining growth and achieving its revenue targets for 2025.
Data provided by:Main Street Data

BlackLine Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:May 06, 2025
(Q1-2025)
|
% Change Since: 18.31%|
Next Earnings Date:Aug 12, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
Overall, BlackLine had a positive first quarter, demonstrating growth in revenue and operational efficiency, with strong performance in partnerships and the pipeline. However, challenges in the macro environment pose potential risks to future growth, and customer retention may face pressure due to economic conditions.
Q1-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Solid Q1 Performance and Growth
BlackLine delivered a 6% growth in the first quarter with a non-GAAP operating margin of 21%. The number of customers generating over $1 million in ARR increased from 71 to 79 this quarter.
Strong Pipeline and Partnership Performance
The SolEx partnership outperformed in Q1. BlackLine saw solid growth in the pipeline, and partner involvement was high, with partners involved in 81% of large deals.
Launch and Adoption of Studio360 Platform
There was momentum in the adoption of Studio360, with several key deals signed with companies like Tractor Supply and AGL.
Positive Revenue Renewal Rate
Revenue renewal rate was 94% this quarter, with a significant increase in multiyear renewals by 14 percentage points.
AI and Technological Advancements
BlackLine is expanding AI capabilities, with AI-powered features enhancing automation and efficiency for customers. Strategic investments are being made in AI technologies such as Agentic AI and predictive intelligence.
Negative Updates
Challenging Macro Environment
Uncertainties in the macro environment, such as recent policy announcements, pose potential risks to customer investment plans and BlackLine's future results.
Pressure on Customer Retention
There's potential pressure on customer retention due to ongoing economic conditions, with some large enterprise customers reducing usage due to corporate reorganizations.
Impact on Services Revenue
Services revenue came in slightly below expectations due to a higher-than-expected partner services mix.
Company Guidance
In the BlackLine Q1 2025 earnings call, the company provided guidance for Q2 and the full year, with an expected total GAAP revenue range of $170 million to $172 million for Q2, representing 6% to 7% growth. The full-year 2025 revenue is anticipated to be between $692 million and $705 million, reflecting a 6% to 8% growth. BlackLine also projected a non-GAAP operating margin of 20.5% to 21.5% for Q2 and 21.5% to 22.5% for the full year. The company highlighted a solid start to the year with a 6% revenue growth in Q1, a 21% non-GAAP operating margin, and a revenue renewal rate of 94%. The positive outlook was attributed to improved go-to-market execution, strategic partnerships, and pipeline growth, alongside operational improvements and disciplined execution across various geographies and market segments.

BlackLine Financial Statement Overview

Summary
BlackLine's financial performance is strong, marked by impressive revenue growth and profitability improvements. The income statement shows significant revenue increase and margin expansion, while the balance sheet indicates effective capital management despite high leverage risks. The cash flow statement underscores excellent cash generation, which supports growth initiatives.
Income Statement
78
Positive
BlackLine has demonstrated strong revenue growth, with a significant increase in total revenue from $589.996 million in 2023 to $653.336 million in the TTM (Trailing-Twelve-Months). The gross profit margin improved to 75.2% in the TTM, reflecting efficient cost management. The net profit margin also increased substantially to 24.7%, indicating improved profitability. EBIT and EBITDA margins have shown positive trends, although EBIT margin remains relatively low at 3.0%. Overall, the income statement reflects strong growth and improving profitability.
Balance Sheet
65
Positive
The balance sheet shows a high debt-to-equity ratio of 2.05, reflecting significant leverage, which could pose a risk. However, the return on equity (ROE) has improved to 36.1% in the TTM, indicating strong profitability relative to shareholders' equity. The equity ratio is 24.5%, suggesting moderate reliance on equity financing. Overall, the balance sheet shows a balance between growth and leverage, with some potential risks from high debt levels.
Cash Flow
83
Very Positive
Operating cash flow has increased significantly, resulting in a robust operating cash flow to net income ratio of 1.18 in the TTM. The free cash flow to net income ratio is also strong at 1.17, indicating efficient conversion of earnings into cash. Free cash flow growth rate from the previous year was impressive at 90.5%. Overall, the cash flow statement shows excellent cash generation and management, supporting the company's growth initiatives.
Breakdown
Dec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income StatementTotal Revenue
653.34M590.00M522.94M425.71M351.74M
Gross Profit
491.37M443.20M393.55M327.83M282.76M
EBIT
18.54M14.35M-37.72M-38.61M-15.39M
EBITDA
183.80M116.51M1.25M-13.29M5.50M
Net Income Common Stockholders
161.17M52.83M-33.89M-100.99M-39.40M
Balance SheetCash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments
885.91M1.20B1.08B1.20B542.62M
Total Assets
1.83B2.10B1.94B1.82B1.11B
Total Debt
916.60M1.41B1.40B1.13B418.54M
Net Debt
30.69M1.14B1.20B593.88M51.12M
Total Liabilities
1.34B1.81B1.81B1.46B678.91M
Stockholders Equity
446.67M260.88M111.87M325.04M422.07M
Cash FlowFree Cash Flow
188.71M99.02M25.83M56.83M35.31M
Operating Cash Flow
190.84M126.61M56.01M80.09M54.73M
Investing Cash Flow
924.44M-62.48M-395.62M-506.94M173.59M
Financing Cash Flow
-500.14M6.15M1.44M599.24M18.86M

BlackLine Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price55.19
Price Trends
50DMA
49.16
Positive
100DMA
52.56
Positive
200DMA
54.42
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
1.94
Negative
RSI
66.20
Neutral
STOCH
50.72
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For BL, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 55.19 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 52.20, above the 50-day MA of 49.16, and above the 200-day MA of 54.42, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 1.94 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 66.20 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 50.72 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for BL.

BlackLine Risk Analysis

BlackLine disclosed 57 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. BlackLine reported the most risks in the “Finance & Corporate” category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 3 New Risks
1.
financial condition, cash flows, and prospects could be materially and adversely affected. In that event, the market price of our common stock could decline, and you could lose part or all of your investment. Q4, 2024
2.
Investing in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties described below, together with all of the other information in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, including “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and our consolidated financial statements and related notes, before making a decision to invest in our common stock. The risks and uncertainties described below are not the only ones we face. Additional risk and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we presently deem less significant may also impair our business operations. If any of the events or circumstances described in the following risk factors actually occurs, our business, operating results, Q4, 2024
3.
l economy could limit our ability to grow our business and negatively affect our operating results. Q4, 2024

BlackLine Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (61)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
CXCXM
75
Outperform
$2.07B17.7018.83%8.74%150.66%
GTGTM
74
Outperform
$3.23B80.112.23%-3.12%-37.59%
PAPAY
73
Outperform
$4.65B93.8110.80%47.78%74.61%
BLBL
71
Outperform
$3.38B24.9544.83%8.93%102.77%
SWSWI
68
Neutral
$3.20B28.867.87%5.03%
62
Neutral
$3.11B-3.54%13.45%12.86%
61
Neutral
$11.29B10.17-6.88%2.97%7.41%-8.93%
* Technology Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
BL
BlackLine
55.19
6.47
13.28%
SWI
SolarWinds
18.49
6.61
55.64%
GTM
ZoomInfo Technologies
9.83
-3.01
-23.44%
NCNO
nCino
26.98
-3.53
-11.57%
PAY
Paymentus Holdings
37.45
18.34
95.97%
CXM
Sprinklr
8.31
-3.63
-30.40%

BlackLine Corporate Events

Executive/Board ChangesShareholder Meetings
BlackLine Appoints Scott Davidson to Key Committees
Neutral
May 13, 2025

On May 8, 2025, BlackLine, Inc. held its annual meeting of stockholders virtually, where Scott Davidson was appointed to the Audit and Technology and Cybersecurity Committees. The meeting also saw the election of Class III directors, ratification of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the independent auditor, and approval of executive compensation policies, including an annual advisory vote on executive compensation.

The most recent analyst rating on (BL) stock is a Sell with a $50.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on BlackLine stock, see the BL Stock Forecast page.

Executive/Board ChangesBusiness Operations and Strategy
BlackLine Appoints New Independent Director to Board
Positive
Mar 10, 2025

On March 9, 2025, BlackLine, Inc. entered into a cooperation agreement with Scalar Gauge Fund to appoint Scott Davidson as a new independent director to its Board, effective March 14, 2025. This move is part of BlackLine’s strategy to refresh its Board with new perspectives, aiming to accelerate growth and enhance shareholder value. Davidson, with over 25 years of experience in software companies, is expected to contribute significantly to BlackLine’s strategic positioning and value creation for stakeholders.

Executive/Board ChangesBusiness Operations and Strategy
BlackLine Announces Workforce Reduction Amid Strategic Shift
Negative
Mar 4, 2025

On February 27, 2025, William “Bill” Wagner announced his intention to resign from the board of directors of BlackLine, Inc., effective May 8, 2025, to focus on his new role as CEO at Semrush. On March 4, 2025, BlackLine announced plans to reduce its global workforce by approximately 7%, or 130 positions, as part of its organizational alignment and performance management initiatives. The company will also offer a voluntary departure program with severance packages. These actions are expected to be completed in the first half of fiscal year 2025, with estimated expenses of $5 million, primarily for severance. BlackLine intends to continue hiring for critical roles and does not anticipate these actions to materially impact its financial guidance.

Glossary
OutperformA stock rated as "Outperform" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests that the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to the average returns of other stocks in the same sector or market index. Investors might consider this stock a good buying opportunity.
NeutralA stock rated as "Neutral" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly attractive nor unattractive for investment. Investors may consider holding onto the stock, as it is not expected to either significantly outperform or underperform the market.
UnderperformA stock rated as "Underperform" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests that the stock may deliver lower returns compared to the average returns of other stocks in the same sector or market index. Investors might consider selling the stock or avoiding it as an investment.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.