Cognyte Starts as a Separate Public Company with Strong First Quarter Results

Double-Digit Revenue Growth with Significant Gross Margin Expansion

Strong Results Reflect Momentum from Security Analytics Platform

HERZLIYA, Israel–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Cognyte Software Ltd. (NASDAQ: CGNT) (the “Company,” “Cognyte,” “we,” “us” and “our”), a global leader in security analytics software, today announced results for the three months ended April 30, 2021 (“Q1 FYE22”), its first quarter as a pure play security analytics public company.

“We are pleased with our first quarter results which came in ahead of our expectations. We are particularly pleased with our strong top line growth – more than 12% revenue growth – and more than 18% gross profit growth. During the quarter, we received multiple seven-digit and eight-digit orders and we continue to see strong market demand for security analytics. Following a strong start to the year, we believe we are well positioned for a strong second quarter and full year,” said Elad Sharon, Cognyte’s Chief Executive Officer.

Q1 Highlights

• Revenue: $114.7 million (GAAP^(A), up 13.1% y-o-y) and $115.2 million (non-GAAP, up 12.3% y-o-y)
• Gross Margin: 71.4% (GAAP, up 380bps y-o-y) and 72.6% (non-GAAP, up 400bps y-o-y)
• Gross Profit: $81.9 million (GAAP, up 19.5% y-o-y) and $83.6 million (non-GAAP, up 18.8% y-o-y)
• Diluted EPS: ($0.07) (GAAP) and $0.20 (non-GAAP)

“Our first quarter results reflect our successful transition to a software model. In addition to strong revenue growth and gross margin expansion, we are pleased that around 50% of our revenue was recurring and nearly 90% of our revenue came from software as we continue to see strong demand for an open platform with lower professional services,” said David Abadi, Cognyte’s Chief Financial Officer.

FYE22 Outlook

Our non-GAAP outlook for the quarter ending July 31, 2021, is as follows:

• Revenue: Up ~9% Y-O-Y
• Diluted EPS: ~$0.14

^(A) U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.

Our non-GAAP outlook for the year ending January 31, 2022 (“FYE22”) remains as follows:

• Revenue: Up ~10% to $490 million with a range of +/- 2%
• Diluted EPS: $0.80 at the midpoint of our revenue outlook

Our non-GAAP outlook for the three months ending July 31, 2021, and FYE22 excludes the following GAAP measures which we are able to quantify with reasonable certainty, as described further below under “Supplemental Information About non-GAAP Financial Measures and Operating Metrics”:

• Revenue adjustments are expected to be approximately $0.4 million and $1.6 million for the three months ending July 31, 2021, and FYE22, respectively.
• Amortization of intangible assets of approximately $0.5 million and $1.8 million for the three months ending July 31, 2021, and FYE22, respectively.

Our non-GAAP outlook for the three months ending July 31, 2021, and FYE22 excludes the following GAAP measures for which we are able to provide a range of probable significance:

• Costs to complete separation of Cognyte from Verint Systems Inc. (hereafter “Verint”) and establish Cognyte as an independent public company of between approximately $0.5 million and $1.5 million and between approximately $10 million and $11 million for the three months ending July 31, 2021, and FYE22, respectively.
• Stock-based compensation is expected to be between approximately $9 million and $10 million and $33 million and $36 million, for the three months ending July 31, 2021, and FYE22, respectively, assuming market prices for our ordinary shares are generally consistent with current levels.

Our non-GAAP outlook does not include the potential impact of any in-process business acquisitions that may close after the date hereof, and, unless otherwise specified, reflects foreign currency exchange rates approximately consistent with current rates.

We are unable, without unreasonable effort, to provide a reconciliation for other GAAP measures which are excluded from our non-GAAP outlook, including the impact of future business acquisitions or acquisition expenses, future restructuring expenses, and non-GAAP income tax adjustments due to the level of unpredictability and uncertainty associated with these items. For these same reasons, we are unable to assess the probable significance of these excluded items. While historical results may not be indicative of future results, actual amounts for the three months ended April 30, 2021, and 2020, respectively, for the GAAP measures excluded from our non-GAAP outlook appear in Table 4 of this press release.

Conference Call Information

We will conduct a conference call today at 8:30 a.m. ET to discuss our results for the three months ended April 30, 2021, outlook, and long-term targets. An online, real-time webcast of the conference call and webcast slides will be available on our website at www.Cognyte.com. The conference call can also be accessed live via telephone at (800) 708-4540 (United States and Canada) and (847) 619-6397 (International) and the passcode is 50181080. Please dial in 5-10 minutes prior to the scheduled start time. An archived webcast of the conference call will also be available in the “Investors” section of the company’s website.

About Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This press release and the accompanying tables include non-GAAP financial measures. For a description of these non-GAAP financial measures, including the reasons management uses each measure, and reconciliations of non-GAAP financial measures presented for completed periods to the most directly comparable financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP, please see the tables below as well as “Supplemental Information About Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Operating Metrics” at the end of this press release.

About Cognyte Software Ltd.

We are a global leader in security analytics software that empowers governments and enterprises with Actionable Intelligence for a Safer World™. Our open software fuses, analyzes and visualizes disparate data sets at scale to help security organizations find the needles in the haystacks. Over 1,000 government and enterprise customers in more than 100 countries rely on our solutions to accelerate security investigations and connect the dots to successfully identify, neutralize, and prevent national security, personal safety, business continuity and cyber threats. Our government customers consist of governments around the world, including national, regional, and local government agencies. Our enterprise customers consist of commercial customers and physical security customers.

Cautions About Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and Section 21E of the Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding expectations, predictions, views, opportunities, plans, strategies, beliefs, and statements of similar effect relating to Cognyte. These forward-looking statements do not guarantee future performance, and are based on management’s expectations that involve a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other important factors, any of which could cause our actual results or conditions to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by the forward-looking statements. Some of the factors that could cause our actual results or conditions to differ materially from current expectations include, among others: uncertainties regarding the impact of changes in macroeconomic and/or global conditions, including as a result of slowdowns, recessions, economic instability, political unrest, armed conflicts, natural disasters or outbreaks of disease, such as the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, as well as the resulting impact on information technology spending and government budgets in both developed countries and developing countries, on our business; risks that our customers may delay, cancel, or refrain from placing orders, refrain from renewing subscriptions or service contracts, or are unable to honor contractual commitments or payment obligations due to liquidity issues or other challenges in their budgets and business, due to the COVID-19 pandemic or otherwise; risks that continuing restrictions resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic or actions taken in response to the pandemic adversely impact our operations or our ability to fulfill orders, complete implementations, or recognize revenue; risks associated with our ability to keep pace with technological advances and challenges and evolving industry standards, to adapt to changing market potential from area to area within our markets; and to successfully develop, launch, and drive demand for new, innovative, high-quality products that meet or exceed customer needs, while simultaneously preserving our legacy businesses; risks due to aggressive competition in all of our markets, including with respect to maintaining revenue, margins, and sufficient levels of investment in our business and operations, and competitors with greater resources than we have; risks relating to the regulatory constraints to which we are subject, including our dependency on export and marketing licenses from the governments of Israel and other countries where we operate; risks relating to our ability to properly manage investments in our business and operations, execute on growth or strategic initiatives, such as our software model transition, and enhance our existing operations and infrastructure, including the proper prioritization and allocation of limited financial and other resources; risks associated with our ability to identify suitable targets for acquisition or investment or successfully compete for, consummate, and implement mergers and acquisitions, including risks associated with valuations, reputational considerations, capital constraints, costs and expenses, maintaining profitability levels, expansion into new areas, management distraction, post-acquisition integration activities, and potential asset impairments; challenges associated with selling sophisticated solutions, including with respect to longer sales cycles, more complex sales processes, and assisting customers in understanding and realizing the benefits of our solutions, as well as with developing, offering, implementing, and maintaining a broad solution portfolio; risks associated with larger orders and customer concentration, including risk of volatility of our operating results from period to period, and challenges associated with our ability to accurately forecast revenue and expenses; risks associated with a significant amount of our business coming from government customers around the world and associated procurement processes, and limitations on investor visibility due to classification or contractual restrictions; risks associated with political and reputational factors related to our business or operations, including with respect to the nature of our solutions or our Israeli identity, and our ability to maintain security clearances where required; risks that we may be unable to establish and maintain relationships with key resellers, partners, and systems integrators and risks associated with our reliance on third-party suppliers for certain components, products, or services, including companies that may compete with us or work with our competitors; risks associated with our ability to retain, recruit, and train qualified personnel in regions in which we operate, including in new markets and growth areas we may enter; risks associated with our significant international operations, including due to our Israeli operations, fluctuations in foreign exchange rates, and exposure to regions subject to political or economic instability; risk of security vulnerabilities or lapses, including cyber-attacks, information technology system breaches, failures or disruptions; risks that our products or services, or those of third-party suppliers, partners, or original equipment manufacturers which we use in or with our offerings or otherwise rely on, including third-party hosting platforms, may contain defects, develop operational problems, or be vulnerable to cyber-attacks; risks associated with the mishandling or perceived mishandling of sensitive, confidential or classified information, including personally identifiable information or other information that may belong to our customers or other third parties; risks associated with complex and changing regulatory environments relating to our operations, the products and services we offer, and/or the use of our solutions by our customers, including with respect to applicable classification and confidentiality restrictions, and data privacy and protection; risks associated with our failure to comply with anti-corruption, trade compliance, anti-money-laundering and economic sanctions laws and regulations; risks that our intellectual property rights may not be adequate to protect our business or assets or that others may make claims on our intellectual property, claim infringement on their intellectual property rights, or claim a violation of their license rights, including relative to free or open source components we may use; risks associated with our credit facilities or that we may experience liquidity or working capital issues and related risks that financing sources may be unavailable to us on reasonable terms or at all; risks associated with changing tax laws and regulations, tax rates, and the continuing availability of expected tax benefits in the countries in which we operate; risks relating to the adequacy of our existing infrastructure, systems, processes, policies, procedures, internal controls, and personnel for our current and future operations and reporting needs, including related risks of financial statement omissions, misstatements, restatements, or filing delays; risks that the spin-off does not achieve the benefits anticipated, does not qualify as a tax-free transaction, or exposes us to unexpected claims or liabilities, or that it negatively impacts our operations or stock price, including as a result of management distraction from our business or costs associated with transitioning to a standalone public company; risks associated with the agreements with Verint entered into in connection with the spin-off, including our reliance on the transition services agreement and our indemnification obligations to Verint; risks associated with market volatility in the price of our shares based on our performance, third-party publications or speculation, future sales or dispositions of our shares by significant shareholders or officers and directors, or factors and risks associated with actions of activist shareholders; risks associated with different corporate governance requirements applicable to Israeli companies and risks associated with being a foreign private issuer and an emerging growth company; and other risks detailed from time to time in filings that we make with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). We assume no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statement, except as otherwise required by law. For a detailed discussion of these risk factors, see our annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2021, and our other SEC filings. Any forward-looking statement made in this press release speaks only as of the date hereof. Except as otherwise required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, changed circumstances, or any other reason.

Table 1 COGNYTE SOFTWARE LTD. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited)
		Three Months Ended April 30,
(in thousands except share and per share data)		2021				2020
Revenue:
Software		$	51,664			$	38,979
Software service			50,767				47,160
Professional service and other			12,303				15,291
Total revenue			114,734				101,430
Cost of revenue:
Software			7,890				6,576
Software service			11,953				12,045
Professional service and other			12,792				13,990
Amortization of acquired technology			171				253
Total cost of revenue			32,806				32,864
Gross profit			81,928				68,566
Operating expenses:
Research and development, net			33,412				31,188
Selling, general and administrative			50,818				40,289
Amortization of other acquired intangible assets			304				301
Total operating expenses			84,534				71,778
Operating loss			(2,606	)			(3,212	)
Other income, net:
Interest income			23				536
Interest expense			(4	)			(47	)
Other income (expenses), net			133				(408	)
Total other income, net			152				81
Loss before provision for income taxes			(2,454	)			(3,131	)
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes			829				(2,470	)
Net loss			(3,283	)			(661	)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest			1,106				1,799
Net loss attributable to Cognyte Software Ltd.		$	(4,389	)		$	(2,460	)
Net loss per share attributable to Cognyte Software Ltd.:
Basic		$	(0.07	)		$	(0.04	)
Diluted		$	(0.07	)		$	(0.04	)
Weighted-average shares outstanding:
Basic			65,842				65,773
Diluted			65,842				65,773

Table 2 COGNYTE SOFTWARE LTD. Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited)
(in thousands)		April 30, 2021				January 31, 2021
Assets
Current Assets
Cash and cash equivalents		$	54,710			$	78,570
Restricted cash and cash equivalents, and restricted bank time deposits			23,034				27,042
Short-term investments			14,360				4,713
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $4.2 million and $4.6 million, respectively			160,729				175,001
Contract assets, net			22,156				20,317
Inventories			13,641				14,542
Prepaid expenses and other current assets			37,459				30,051
Total current assets			326,089				350,236
Property and equipment, net			32,702				37,595
Operating lease right-of-use assets			30,145				32,126
Goodwill			158,229				158,183
Intangible assets, net			4,823				5,299
Deferred income taxes			7,140				3,303
Other assets			34,228				42,076
Total assets		$	593,356			$	628,818
Liabilities and equity
Current liabilities
Accounts payable		$	39,703			$	41,552
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities			99,996				91,692
Contract liabilities			111,798				127,012
Current notes payable			—				38,772
Total current liabilities			251,497				299,028
Long-term contract liabilities			21,551				22,037
Operating lease liabilities			3,287				4,049
Deferred income taxes			22,233				24,135
Other liabilities			9,424				9,198
Total liabilities			307,992				358,447
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders’ Equity:
Common stock – $0 par value; authorized 300,000,000 shares. Issued 65,995,167 and 65,773,335 at April 30, 2021 and January 31, 2021, respectively; outstanding 65,993,554 and 65,773,335 shares at April 30, 2021 and January 31, 2021, respectively			—				—
Additional paid-in capital			291,146				—
Treasury stock, at cost 1,613 at April 30, 2021			(41	)			—
Accumulated deficit			(4,389	)			—
Former net parent investment			—				273,006
Accumulated other comprehensive loss			(15,392	)			(15,505	)
Total Cognyte Software Ltd. stockholders’ equity			271,324				257,501
Noncontrolling interest			14,040				12,870
Total stockholders’ equity			285,364				270,371
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity		$	593,356			$	628,818

Table 3 COGNYTE SOFTWARE LTD. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)
		Three Months Ended April 30,
(in thousands)		2021				2020
Cash flows from operating activities
Net loss		$	(3,283	)		$	(661	)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities
Depreciation and amortization			7,151				4,844
(Benefit from) provision for doubtful accounts			(73	)			370
Stock-based compensation, excluding cash-settled awards			9,221				6,292
Benefit from deferred income taxes			(19	)			(1,398	)
Non-cash losses (gains) on derivative financial instruments, net			84				(1,013	)
Change in fair value of contingent consideration for business combinations			55				(404	)
Other non-cash items, net			(1,172	)			228
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable			14,525				33,844
Contract assets			(1,889	)			(3,979	)
Inventories			446				(1,297	)
Prepaid expenses and other assets			(1,089	)			(932	)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses			3,779				(8,611	)
Contract liabilities			(15,754	)			(7,618	)
Other liabilities			483				705
Other, net			759				1,813
Net cash provided by operating activities			13,224				22,183
Cash flows from investing activities
Purchases of property and equipment			(2,417	)			(4,634	)
Purchases of investments			(14,360	)			(15,198	)
Maturities and sales of investments			4,713				6,648
Settlements of derivative financial instruments not designated as hedges			(309	)			274
Cash paid for capitalized software development costs			(2,256	)			(859	)
Change in restricted bank time deposits, including long-term portion			5,296				20,539
Other investing activities			512				—
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities			(8,821	)			6,770
Cash flows from financing activities
Net transfers to former parent			—				(4,445	)
Dividend paid to former parent			(35,000	)			—
Other financing activities			—				(157	)
Net cash used in financing activities			(35,000	)			(4,602	)
Foreign currency effects on cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, and restricted cash equivalents			132				(1,617	)
Net (decrease) increase in cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, and restricted cash equivalents			(30,465	)			22,734
Cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, and restricted cash equivalents, beginning of period			114,657				233,409
Cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, and restricted cash equivalents, end of period		$	84,192			$	256,143
Reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, and restricted cash equivalents at end of period
Cash and cash equivalents		$	54,710			$	204,445
Restricted cash and cash equivalents included in restricted cash and cash equivalents, and restricted bank time deposits			22,582				38,004
Restricted cash and cash equivalents included in other assets			6,900				13,694
Total cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, and restricted cash equivalents		$	84,192			$	256,143

Table 4 COGNYTE SOFTWARE LTD. Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Measures (Unaudited)
		Three Months Ended April 30,
(in thousands, except per share data)		2021				2020
Revenue
Total GAAP revenue		$	114,734			$	101,430
Revenue adjustments			433				1,092
Total non-GAAP revenue		$	115,167			$	102,522
Gross profit and gross margin
GAAP gross profit		$	81,928			$	68,566
GAAP gross margin			71.4	%			67.6	%
Revenue adjustments			433				1,092
Amortization of acquired technology			171				252
Stock-based compensation expenses (1)			1,036				446
Restructuring expenses (2)			—				(3	)
Separation expenses (2)			31				—
Non-GAAP gross profit		$	83,599			$	70,353
Non-GAAP gross margin			72.6	%			68.6	%
Research and development, net
GAAP research and development, net		$	33,412			$	31,188
As a percentage of GAAP revenue			29.1	%			30.7	%
Stock-based compensation expenses (1)			(2,049	)			(1,163	)
Acquisition expenses, net (2)			—				(94	)
Separation expenses (2)			(67	)			—
Other adjustments			29				1
Non-GAAP research and development, net		$	31,325			$	29,932
As a percentage of non-GAAP revenue			27.2	%			29.2	%
Selling, general and administrative expenses
GAAP selling, general and administrative expenses		$	50,818			$	40,289
As a percentage of GAAP revenue			44.3	%			39.7	%
Stock-based compensation expenses (1)			(6,136	)			(4,682	)
Acquisition (expenses) benefit, net (2)			(656	)			56
Restructuring expenses (2)			(455	)			(921	)
Separation expenses (2)			(8,613	)			(2,914	)
Other adjustments			(6	)			8
Non-GAAP selling, general and administrative expenses		$	34,952			$	31,836
As a percentage of non-GAAP revenue			30.3	%			31.1	%
Operating (loss) income, operating margin and adjusted EBITDA
GAAP operating loss		$	(2,606	)		$	(3,212	)
GAAP operating margin			(2.3	)%			(3.2	)%
Revenue adjustments			433				1,092
Amortization of acquired technology			171				252
Amortization of other acquired intangible assets			304				301
Stock-based compensation expenses (1)			9,221				6,292
Acquisitions expenses, net (2)			656				38
Restructuring expenses (2)			455				918
Separation expenses (2)			8,711				2,914

Contacts

Matthew Frankel, CFA

Cognyte Software Ltd.

[email protected]

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