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Vertex (VERX)
NASDAQ:VERX

Vertex (VERX) AI Stock Analysis

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Vertex

(NASDAQ:VERX)

Rating:68Neutral
Price Target:
$43.00
▲(4.70%Upside)
Vertex's overall stock score is driven by strong revenue growth and strategic initiatives, particularly in AI and cloud services, but is tempered by ongoing profitability challenges and valuation concerns. While technical indicators suggest short-term bullishness, longer-term uncertainty remains.
Positive Factors
Financial Performance
Cloud revenue grew 30% year-over-year, indicating strong growth in this segment.
Growth Opportunities
Vertex's significant opportunity in the e-invoicing market presents a catalyst for future growth.
Strategic Investments
The company's investment in AI-driven sales tax compliance startup Kintsugi is seen as a strategic move to expand capabilities and market reach.
Negative Factors
Cash Flow
FCF was less than consensus estimates, falling to negative $12mm, the first negative FCF margin in two years.
Market Expectations
Vertex's ARR in the first quarter grew ~18% year-over-year to $619mm, but was slightly softer than investors were anticipating.
Revenue Growth
Organic revenue growth decelerated to 10.9% from 12.9% year-over-year.

Vertex (VERX) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Vertex Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionVertex, Inc. provides tax technology solutions for corporations in retail, communication, leasing, and manufacturing industries in the United States and internationally. It offers tax determination, compliance and reporting, tax data management, document management, pre-built integration, and industry-specific solutions. The company sells its software products through software license and software as a service subscriptions. It also provides implementation and training services in connection with its software license and cloud subscriptions, transaction tax returns outsourcing, and other tax-related services. Vertex, Inc. was founded in 1978 and is headquartered in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania.
How the Company Makes MoneyVertex generates revenue primarily through the sale of its software and services, which include both cloud-based and on-premise solutions. The company's key revenue streams involve subscription fees for its software-as-a-service (SaaS) offerings, professional services, and customer support. Vertex's SaaS model provides recurring revenue as clients subscribe to use their automated tax solutions. Additionally, the company earns income through consulting services that help businesses implement and optimize their tax management systems. Partnerships with major ERP and financial software providers, such as SAP, Oracle, and Microsoft, enhance Vertex's market reach and integration capabilities, contributing to its revenue growth.

Vertex Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:May 07, 2025
(Q1-2025)
|
% Change Since: 6.12%|
Next Earnings Date:Aug 06, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
The earnings call reflects a strong financial performance with notable revenue and ARR growth, strategic investments in AI, and new customer wins. However, there are concerns about NRR pressure, decreased services margins, and negative cash flow.
Q1-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Strong Revenue Growth
Revenue for Q1 2025 was $177.1 million, up 12.9% year-over-year, with subscription revenue growing 14.4% and cloud revenue increasing by 29.6%.
Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) Increase
ARR grew 17.9% to $618.5 million. Organic ARR growth was 15.1%, excluding contributions from acquisitions.
Successful Customer Engagements
Several notable customer wins across different ecosystems, including a 7-figure deal with a major electronic payments processor and a major real estate investment trust.
Investment in AI and Strategic Partnerships
Equity investment in Kintsugi, an AI startup, to enhance sales tax compliance solutions for SMBs and explore AI applications for enterprise markets.
E-Invoicing Solution Launch
The joint e-invoicing solution with ecosio achieved general availability, positioning Vertex well in anticipation of regulatory changes in major European markets.
Negative Updates
Net Revenue Retention (NRR) Pressure
NRR was 109%, down from 112% in the same quarter last year, though expected to rebound above 110% by year-end.
Decreased Services Gross Margin
Gross margin on services was 31.1%, down from 40.5% in the previous year’s first quarter, due to higher compensation expenses and lower-margin ecosio services.
Negative Free Cash Flow
Free cash flow was negative $12.3 million due to seasonal patterns, including annual bonus payments and accelerated investments.
Impact of Ecosystem Migration
Decline in direct customers, primarily low-end customers, though mitigated by focus on scaled customers.
Company Guidance
During the Vertex, Inc. First Quarter 2025 Earnings Conference Call, the company provided strong financial guidance with revenue for the quarter reaching $177.1 million, a 12.9% increase year-over-year, and subscription revenue growing 14.4%. Cloud revenue growth was notably robust at 29.6%. The company reported an adjusted EBITDA of $37.8 million, yielding an EBITDA margin of 21.3%, which exceeded the high-end of their guidance range. Furthermore, annual recurring revenue (ARR) rose by 17.9% to $618.5 million, while net recurring revenue (NRR) remained strong at 109%, with expectations of it surpassing 110% by year-end. Gross recurring revenue (GRR) was stable at 95%, within the targeted range of 94% to 96%. The company anticipates continued growth in 2025, supported by strategic initiatives like e-invoicing and AI, and highlighted an equity investment in the AI-focused startup Kintsugi.

Vertex Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Vertex shows strong revenue growth and effective cash management, but struggles with profitability due to negative net income and EBIT margins. The balanced capital structure is challenged by high liabilities relative to assets.
Income Statement
72
Positive
Vertex has shown a consistent revenue growth trajectory over the years, with a significant increase in revenue from 2020 to TTM 2025. Despite the positive revenue growth, the company struggles with profitability, as indicated by negative net income margins across all periods. The gross profit margin remains healthy, suggesting good control over production costs, but the negative EBIT and net income margins indicate challenges in managing operating and other expenses.
Balance Sheet
65
Positive
The balance sheet reflects a stable equity base with a moderate debt-to-equity ratio, which suggests a balanced capital structure. Stockholders' equity has been gradually increasing, indicating a positive financial health trajectory. However, the company’s liabilities are high compared to its assets, which could pose risks if not managed properly.
Cash Flow
78
Positive
Vertex's cash flow statement shows strong operating cash flows, which consistently cover the net income, indicating good cash management. The free cash flow has also improved over time, showing efficient capital expenditure management. However, fluctuations in investing and financing cash flows suggest variability in investment and funding strategies.
Breakdown
TTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income StatementTotal Revenue
687.06M666.78M572.39M491.62M425.55M374.67M
Gross Profit
436.53M426.13M348.58M298.49M263.66M209.28M
EBIT
3.42M-2.23M-7.42M-8.08M-2.94M-104.76M
EBITDA
75.68M102.01M56.95M53.07M41.84M-72.54M
Net Income Common Stockholders
-44.28M-52.73M-13.09M-12.30M-1.48M-78.94M
Balance SheetCash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments
98.70M305.21M77.72M102.98M73.33M303.05M
Total Assets
759.93M1.17B759.93M719.19M670.21M554.93M
Total Debt
66.97M351.89M66.97M73.52M28.61M1.11M
Net Debt
-22.18M55.84M-1.21M-18.29M-44.73M-301.94M
Total Liabilities
506.95M987.44M506.95M489.47M440.12M329.44M
Stockholders Equity
252.98M179.35M252.98M229.72M230.08M225.49M
Cash FlowFree Cash Flow
77.31M99.05M6.10M3.43M46.92M26.74M
Operating Cash Flow
155.06M164.82M74.33M76.85M91.97M59.54M
Investing Cash Flow
-156.46M-158.15M-66.17M-85.05M-296.46M-44.38M
Financing Cash Flow
220.19M231.26M-26.48M17.09M-9.10M213.63M

Vertex Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price41.07
Price Trends
50DMA
38.49
Positive
100DMA
41.92
Negative
200DMA
43.64
Negative
Market Momentum
MACD
0.73
Negative
RSI
60.76
Neutral
STOCH
85.10
Negative
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For VERX, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 41.07 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 39.21, above the 50-day MA of 38.49, and below the 200-day MA of 43.64, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of 0.73 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 60.76 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 85.10 is Negative, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for VERX.

Vertex Risk Analysis

Vertex disclosed 41 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Vertex 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.
Provisions in the Indenture could delay or prevent an otherwise beneficial takeover of us. Q4, 2024
2.
The Capped Call Transactions may affect the value of our Class A common stock. Q4, 2024
3.
The accounting method for the Notes could adversely affect our reported financial condition and results. Q4, 2024

Vertex Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (62)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
81
Outperform
$6.77B14.3658.14%23.21%
80
Outperform
$8.77B49.8239.29%0.12%14.29%151.38%
75
Outperform
$8.32B111.7725.23%18.63%-55.09%
QXQXO
75
Outperform
$10.99B1.44%0.22%48.10%
UU
73
Outperform
$10.45B-14.15%-16.74%49.75%
68
Neutral
$6.51B235.54-19.65%15.20%-666.94%
62
Neutral
$11.81B10.34-7.44%2.91%7.41%-7.93%
* Technology Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
VERX
Vertex
40.67
6.26
18.19%
CVLT
CommVault Systems
190.99
77.96
68.97%
PEGA
Pegasystems
102.04
43.78
75.15%
QXO
QXO Inc
20.13
-152.86
-88.36%
U
Unity Software
24.69
7.12
40.52%
CWAN
Clearwater Analytics Holdings
23.91
3.81
18.96%

Vertex Corporate Events

Business Operations and StrategyFinancial Disclosures
Vertex Highlights Growth Strategies at Investor Day
Positive
Mar 19, 2025

On March 19, 2025, Vertex, Inc. held an Investor Day at its Philadelphia headquarters, presenting key financial highlights and strategic insights. The event emphasized Vertex’s commitment to driving growth by solving indirect tax complexities and highlighted its strong market position, with a focus on expanding customer revenues and maintaining strategic partnerships. The presentation included discussions on the company’s financial outlook and growth strategies, reflecting its robust performance and future potential in the tax technology sector.

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.