EPS of $0.17 decreased by 19.1% from previous year
Gross margin of 71.9%
Net income of 11.21M
"Revenue increased by 12%, marking our fourth consecutive quarter of double-digit growth." - Scott Howe
LiveRamp Holdings Inc (RAMP) Q3 FY2025 Earnings Analysis — Data Collaboration Network Delivers Double‑Digit Revenue Growth, ARR Expansion, and Margin Momentum Amid AI Enablement
Executive Summary
LiveRamp reported solid Q3 FY2025 results with continued double-digit revenue growth and a robust margin profile, underscored by strength in ARR, CRPO, and data marketplace momentum. Revenue reached $195.4 million, up 12% year over year, with operating income of $14.7 million and an expended quarterly operating margin of 23%. ARR stood at $491 million, up 10% YoY, while CRPO rose 16% QoQ, reflecting improved sales execution and expanded customer usage across the data collaboration network. Management emphasized the data collaboration flywheel, faster onboarding, and a disciplined cost structure as core drivers of profitability and long-term value creation. The company lifted FY2025 revenue guidance to $741–$743 million and maintained a path toward Rule of 40 progress (targeting 12–13% revenue growth and 18% operating margin) with a longer‑term objective of 20–25% operating margin in FY2026. The quarter also highlighted meaningful progress in upsells, new logos, and platform enhancements (speed, usability, and cross‑media measurement). Looking ahead, LiveRamp remains positioned to monetize data collaboration through broader adoption of clean rooms, identity connectivity, and data marketplace activations, while navigating a still‑uncertain macroeconomic environment and integration of new assets from acquisitions (e.g., Habu). Overall, the QQ3 print supports a constructive, if nuanced, growth and profitability trajectory for investors, anchored in network effects, scalable SaaS economics, and an expanding addressable market for data‑driven advertising outcomes.
Key Performance Indicators
Revenue
195.41M
QoQ: 5.35% | YoY:12.39%
Gross Profit
140.41M
71.86% margin
QoQ: 4.59% | YoY:8.90%
Operating Income
14.67M
QoQ: 95.98% | YoY:-3.47%
Net Income
11.21M
QoQ: 547.23% | YoY:-19.80%
EPS
0.17
QoQ: 551.34% | YoY:-19.05%
Revenue Trend
Margin Analysis
Key Insights
Revenue: $195.412 million in Q3, up 12.39% YoY and 5.35% QoQ. - Gross profit: $140.414 million; gross margin approximately 71.9% (rounded to ~72–74% range cited by management). - Operating income: $14.673 million; operating margin ~7.5% (record quarterly high of 23% in the non‑GAAP/GAAP framing; see note on adjustments). - EBITDA: $14.673 million; EBITDA margin ~7.5%. - Net income: $11.210 million; net margin ~5.74%. - EPS: $0.17 (diluted). - ARR: $491 million, up 10% YoY; quarterly ARR increase of $8 million driven by upsell. - CRPO: 16% QoQ rebound (seasonally strong third quarter). - RPO: Total backlog $579 million; current RPO $434 million (+6% QoQ; +13% YoY); reflects multiyear renewals and upsells. - Marketplace revenue: $50.0 million, +20% YoY; data marketplace accounted for ~78% of marketplace revenue and grew ~18%. - Subscription revenue: $146 million, +10% YoY; usage represented ~16% of subscription revenue (above historic 10–15%). - Gross margin remained in the low‑70s; margin expansion aided by cost discipline and offshoring benefits. - Cash flow: Operating cash flow $45.0 million; free cash flow ~$47.3 million; net change in cash $35.8 million; cash balance ~$377.4 million; net debt remains negative (net cash position ~$(338.6) million). - Buybacks: Approximately $76 million year‑to‑date in 2025; ~ $282 million remains under the current authorization (through year‑end 2026). - Balance sheet: Total assets $1.253 billion; total liabilities $295.5 million; equity $957.7 million; current ratio ~2.78; cash and equivalents ~$376.8 million; net debt/ cash position robust. - Stock-based compensation: $27.0 million in Q3; note the year‑over‑year increase partly reflects Habu acquisition integration and vesting timing. - Outlook: FY2025 revenue guidance raised to $741–$743 million; non‑GAAP OI guidance $135 million (margin ~18%); Q4 revenue guided to $184–$186 million; gross margin ~73%; SBC ~ $26 million. Management targets 20–25% OPM in FY2026 and 300–400 basis point Rule of 40 improvement (reaching at least Rule of 30 in FY2025).
Financial Highlights
- Revenue: $195.412 million in Q3, up 12.39% YoY and 5.35% QoQ. - Gross profit: $140.414 million; gross margin approximately 71.9% (rounded to ~72–74% range cited by management). - Operating income: $14.673 million; operating margin ~7.5% (record quarterly high of 23% in the non‑GAAP/GAAP framing; see note on adjustments). - EBITDA: $14.673 million; EBITDA margin ~7.5%. - Net income: $11.210 million; net margin ~5.74%. - EPS: $0.17 (diluted). - ARR: $491 million, up 10% YoY; quarterly ARR increase of $8 million driven by upsell. - CRPO: 16% QoQ rebound (seasonally strong third quarter). - RPO: Total backlog $579 million; current RPO $434 million (+6% QoQ; +13% YoY); reflects multiyear renewals and upsells. - Marketplace revenue: $50.0 million, +20% YoY; data marketplace accounted for ~78% of marketplace revenue and grew ~18%. - Subscription revenue: $146 million, +10% YoY; usage represented ~16% of subscription revenue (above historic 10–15%). - Gross margin remained in the low‑70s; margin expansion aided by cost discipline and offshoring benefits. - Cash flow: Operating cash flow $45.0 million; free cash flow ~$47.3 million; net change in cash $35.8 million; cash balance ~$377.4 million; net debt remains negative (net cash position ~$(338.6) million). - Buybacks: Approximately $76 million year‑to‑date in 2025; ~ $282 million remains under the current authorization (through year‑end 2026). - Balance sheet: Total assets $1.253 billion; total liabilities $295.5 million; equity $957.7 million; current ratio ~2.78; cash and equivalents ~$376.8 million; net debt/ cash position robust. - Stock-based compensation: $27.0 million in Q3; note the year‑over‑year increase partly reflects Habu acquisition integration and vesting timing. - Outlook: FY2025 revenue guidance raised to $741–$743 million; non‑GAAP OI guidance $135 million (margin ~18%); Q4 revenue guided to $184–$186 million; gross margin ~73%; SBC ~ $26 million. Management targets 20–25% OPM in FY2026 and 300–400 basis point Rule of 40 improvement (reaching at least Rule of 30 in FY2025).
Income Statement
Metric
Value
YoY Change
QoQ Change
Revenue
195.41M
12.39%
5.35%
Gross Profit
140.41M
8.90%
4.59%
Operating Income
14.67M
-3.47%
95.98%
Net Income
11.21M
-19.80%
547.23%
EPS
0.17
-19.05%
551.34%
Key Financial Ratios
currentRatio
2.78
grossProfitMargin
71.9%
operatingProfitMargin
7.51%
netProfitMargin
5.74%
returnOnAssets
0.9%
returnOnEquity
1.17%
debtEquityRatio
0.04
operatingCashFlowPerShare
$0.72
freeCashFlowPerShare
$0.71
priceToBookRatio
2.1
priceEarningsRatio
44.9
Net Income vs. Revenue
Expense Breakdown
Management Commentary
- Strategy and market position: Scott Howe emphasizes LiveRamp as a scale leader with a data collaboration flywheel, arguing scale drives network value and the ability to measure outcomes across channels (CTV, commerce, social, etc.). He notes the network includes over 350 brand customers, 200+ ad tech platforms, 70+ agencies, and major streaming platforms, positioning LiveRamp to capture rising demand for first‑party data measures and AI‑fueled models. - Sales momentum and execution: Management cites a rebound in pipeline conversion and stronger renewal activity as drivers of revenue and ARR growth, with the percentage of data marketplace growth and new logo wins highlighted in the call. Lauren Dillard details improvements in conversion rates (nearly doubled in connectivity/clean room segments), larger average deal sizes (+>25%), and renewal rates at a 10‑quarter high, underscoring the durability of the commercial flywheel. - Product usability and AI enablement: Scott notes ongoing product iterations focused on usability (V2 clean rooms, simplified onboarding, standardized reporting) and deeper measurement capabilities across cross‑media and AI destinations, with an emphasis on integrations with AI partners (e.g., Perplexity, Chalice) to broaden the solved use cases for customers. He frames AI as an enabler for richer data collaboration and synthetic data testing, which can accelerate model development and deployment within client ecosystems. - Guidance and margin trajectory: The call highlights a path to Rule of 40 progress with 12–13% revenue growth and 18% operating margin for FY2025, and a long‑term target of 20–25% OPM by FY2026, supported by offshore efficiency gains and the revenue‑drop‑through inherent to the SaaS model. The data points in the transcript corroborate the Q3 beat versus guide and the favorable mix shift toward higher‑value ARR/CRPO contributions. - Macro and competitive context: Management attributes improved IT spending and a broader recognition of data collaboration as a measurable advertising outcome to the quarterly momentum, while acknowledging the lumpy nature of enterprise sales and the ongoing need to expand use cases and partnerships. They also signal potential volatility from the Habu integration and the broader ad‑tech market environment. Quotes: 1) Scott Howe – “Revenue increased by 12%, marking our fourth consecutive quarter of double‑digit growth.†2) Lauren Dillard – “ARR was $491 million, up 10% year‑on‑year and quarter‑on‑quarter grew by $8 million, driven primarily by upsell.â€
Revenue increased by 12%, marking our fourth consecutive quarter of double-digit growth.
— Scott Howe
ARR was $491 million, up 10% year‑over‑year and quarter‑over‑quarter grew by $8 million, driven primarily by upsell.
— Lauren Dillard
Forward Guidance
- FY2025 revenue guidance raised to $741–$743 million, representing 12–13% year‑over‑year growth; marketing and go‑to‑market investments to support data collaboration network scaling. - Subscription revenue expected to grow in the low‑ to mid‑double digits; subscription usage anticipated to rise high‑single digits; net subscription retention targeted at 100%–105%. - Marketplace and Other revenue growth projected at about 20%, with data marketplace contributing the majority; gross margin expected to be at the low end of 74%–75% due to platform reliability/Data processing investments. - Non‑GAAP operating income guided around $135 million (about 18% margin), with GAAP operating income around $10 million. - Q4 guidance: total revenue in the range of $184–$186 million; non‑GAAP operating income of approximately $22 million and operating margin around 12%. - Stock compensation forecast around $26 million for Q4. - Margin trajectory and Rule of 40: management targets reaching or exceeding Rule of 30 for FY2025, based on 12–13% revenue growth and 18% operating margin; long‑term objective of 20–25% OPM in FY2026. - Investment thesis for investors: focus on the data collaboration network’s growth, expanding CTV/commerce/media measurement applications, and AI integration to unlock higher value per customer while maintaining disciplined cost management and buyback execution. Key monitoring factors: trajectory of ARR/CRPO, new logo velocity, upsell mix (especially clean room and identity connectivity), expansion of data marketplace data providers, and progress on offshore/offshoring savings and platform reliability enhancements.
Competitive Position
Company
Gross Margin
Operating Margin
Return on Equity
P/E Ratio
RAMP Focus
71.86%
7.51%
1.17%
44.90%
PAGS
47.80%
31.80%
3.68%
7.08%
DAVA
21.30%
-1.05%
-0.28%
-252.48%
NTNX
84.80%
-2.21%
2.52%
-238.83%
SPLK
80.30%
7.75%
48.70%
63.78%
Gross Profit Margin
Operating Profit Margin
Return on Equity
P/E Ratio Comparison
Investment Outlook
Bottom line: LiveRamp is steadily progressing along its Rule of 40 pathway, leveraging a scalable data collaboration network to drive durable revenue growth, strong ARR expansion, and margin improvement. The QQ3 2025 results demonstrate a resilient demand environment for data-enabled measurement and a compelling value proposition for advertisers and publishers seeking first‑party data solutions and AI‑driven analytics. With FY2025 guidance raised and a clear plan for FY2026 margin expansion toward 20–25% OPM, the company appears well positioned to convert pipeline velocity into sustained back‑half growth, assuming continued strength in CTV/commerce media and data marketplace usage, plus measured investments to improve platform reliability and speed. Risks center on macro volatility, integration execution, and competitive dynamics, but the company’s balance sheet, buyback discipline, and multi‑year contract cadence provide a favorable risk‑adjusted backdrop. Key catalysts include ramp‑up events in February, ongoing data collaboration wins, and deeper AI integrations that unlock higher customer lifetime value. Based on the quantitative trajectory (12–13% revenue growth, 18% OPM in FY2025, 20–25% target in FY2026) and the qualitative tailwinds from AI and data collaboration, the stock presents a constructive, albeit disciplined, long‑duration growth opportunity for investors seeking exposure to data‑driven advertising ecosystems.
Key Investment Factors
Growth Potential
Medium‑to‑long‑term upside driven by expansion of the data collaboration network (clean rooms, identity connectivity, data marketplace usage), continued upsells and multi‑year contracts, and broader AI integration with partner ecosystems. Expect ARR growth to remain in the low‑double digits as usage expands across CTV, commerce media, and AI use cases, supported by increasing client adoption of additional data owner/consumer nodes within the network.
Profitability Risk
Key risks include macroeconomic volatility impacting IT spending, competition in data onboarding and ad‑tech platforms, integration risk from acquisitions (e.g., Habu), potential regulatory/privacy changes affecting data collaboration, and the pace of customer adoption of higher‑frequency data usage; execution risk around sustaining higher renewal rates and maintaining efficient sales capacity.
Financial Position
Robust liquidity and balance sheet strength with net cash position (net debt of approximately $(338.6) million), cash and equivalents around $376.8 million, and manageable current liabilities. The company also maintains a disciplined buyback program and improving operating efficiency via offshoring and SaaS economics, underpinning the ability to fund growth initiatives and sustain margins toward the 20–25% target by FY2026.
SWOT Analysis
Strengths
Large, scalable data collaboration network with 350+ brand customers and significant reach across publishers, ad tech platforms, and agencies.
High gross margins and an improving operating margin trajectory (Q3 2025: ~72–74% gross margin; 23% operating margin in non‑GAAP terms).
Strong ARR growth (10% YoY) and high renewal/retention signals (subscription net retention 108%).
Robust balance sheet with substantial liquidity and a net cash position, enabling buybacks and investment in growth initiatives.
Ongoing product improvements focused on usability, speed, and cross‑media measurement, plus AI‑related integrations to broaden use cases.
Weaknesses
Revenue growth is not perfectly linear; quarter can be lumpy due to contract timing and renewal cycles.
High reliance on the digital advertising markets and data‑driven measurement outcomes; cyclical demand tied to IT spend and ad market conditions.
Stock‑based compensation remains a notable expense component (high year‑over‑year and mix with acquisitions).
Some near‑term OpEx spikes in Q4 due to seasonality and one‑time investments; software as a service economics still require scale for fuller margin expansion.
Opportunities
Expanding data marketplace data providers and use cases (e.g., CTV, retail media, AI), increasing data collaboration network nodes and data owner/consumer participation.
Acceleration of AI integrations and synthetic data capabilities to de‑risk model development and expand partner ecosystems.
Further driving ARR through multi‑year deals and cross‑product upsells (connectivity, clean rooms, and data marketplace integrations).
Global expansion and partnerships with commerce/media networks and cloud providers to broaden distribution and usage.
Threats
Macro headwinds that could dampen IT spend and advertiser budgets; potential slowdown in digital advertising demand.
Competition from other data onboarding and identity solutions in SaaS/AdTech space; rapid evolution of AI landscape may favor larger platforms with broader ecosystems.
Regulatory/privacy developments and data governance requirements could complicate data collaboration and cross‑border usage.