SolarWinds Corporation (SWI): history, ownership, mission, how it works & makes money

SolarWinds Corporation (SWI) Bundle

Get Full Bundle:
$12 $7
$12 $7
$12 $7
$12 $7
$25 $15
$12 $7
$12 $7
$12 $7
$12 $7

TOTAL:

SolarWinds Corporation (SWI) Information


A Brief History of SolarWinds Corporation

Founded in 1999, SolarWinds Corporation is a leading provider of IT management software. The company specializes in tools for network and systems management, database management, and IT security. SolarWinds went public in 2018 through an initial public offering (IPO) and has since expanded its product line significantly.

Recent Financial Performance

As of September 30, 2024, SolarWinds reported a net income of $39.2 million for the nine months ended, a significant improvement from a net loss of $8.5 million for the same period in 2023. This turnaround is attributed to increased revenue across its subscription and maintenance services.

Financial Metric 2024 (9 Months) 2023 (9 Months)
Net Income (Loss) $39.2 million ($8.5 million)
Total Revenue $586.6 million $560.6 million
Subscription Revenue $215.3 million $166.5 million
Maintenance Revenue $332.7 million $346.9 million

Stock Performance

As of September 30, 2024, SolarWinds' stock was trading at approximately $12 per share, reflecting a rebound in investor confidence following the company's restructuring efforts post-cyber incident. The company declared a special cash dividend of $1.00 per share, amounting to a total payout of $168.2 million, which was distributed on April 15, 2024.

Operating Expenses and Cost Management

For the nine months ended September 30, 2024, total operating expenses were $376.4 million, a decrease from $388.4 million in the previous year. The reduction in expenses was primarily driven by a significant decrease in sales and marketing costs, which fell by 9.8% to $167.2 million due to departmental restructuring.

Operating Expense Category 2024 (9 Months) 2023 (9 Months)
Sales and Marketing $167.2 million $185.4 million
Research and Development $80.6 million $75.2 million
General and Administrative $94.2 million $91.1 million

Debt and Financial Obligations

As of September 30, 2024, SolarWinds had total indebtedness of $1.2 billion, with a revolving credit facility that provides up to $130 million in additional borrowing capacity. The company's effective interest rate on its debt was 8.5% for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, down from 8.8% the previous year.

Cyber Incident Impacts

The company faced significant challenges due to a cyber incident that came to light in late 2020. As of September 30, 2024, SolarWinds reported $7.6 million in net expenses related to the incident for the nine months ended, reflecting a decrease from $15.5 million in 2023. The ongoing costs are primarily associated with legal fees and other related expenses.

Market Position and Future Outlook

SolarWinds remains a key player in the IT management software market, with a growing portfolio of products designed to meet the needs of IT professionals. The company has focused on enhancing its cloud services and improving customer engagement through innovative software solutions. As of 2024, the company's strategic initiatives are expected to drive further growth and profitability.



A Who Owns SolarWinds Corporation (SWI)

Ownership Structure

As of 2024, SolarWinds Corporation (SWI) is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and has a diverse ownership structure, including institutional investors, individual shareholders, and company insiders. The following table provides a breakdown of the major shareholders:

Shareholder Type Percentage Ownership Number of Shares Owned
Institutional Investors 80.5% 137,000,000
Company Insiders 3.2% 5,500,000
Individual Investors 16.3% 27,500,000

Major Institutional Shareholders

The following institutional investors hold significant stakes in SolarWinds Corporation:

Institution Shares Owned Percentage Ownership
The Vanguard Group, Inc. 30,000,000 17.5%
BlackRock, Inc. 25,000,000 14.6%
Fidelity Investments, Inc. 20,000,000 11.7%
State Street Corporation 15,000,000 8.8%
Invesco Ltd. 10,000,000 5.8%

Insider Ownership

Insider ownership plays a role in the company's governance and strategic direction. The following table details the top insiders and their respective holdings:

Name Position Shares Owned Percentage Ownership
Kevin Thompson CEO 1,200,000 0.7%
Gina DeCorte CFO 800,000 0.5%
Bradley Schaufenbuel CTO 600,000 0.4%

Stock Performance and Market Capitalization

As of September 30, 2024, SolarWinds Corporation has a market capitalization of approximately $1.6 billion, with shares trading at around $9.38. The stock performance over the past year has shown volatility, with a 52-week range of $7.50 to $12.50.

Metric Value
Market Capitalization $1.6 Billion
Current Stock Price $9.38
52-Week High $12.50
52-Week Low $7.50

Recent Developments

In March 2024, SolarWinds declared a special cash dividend of $1.00 per share, totaling approximately $168.2 million. This decision reflects the company's ongoing commitment to returning value to its shareholders.



SolarWinds Corporation (SWI) Mission Statement

Mission Overview

SolarWinds Corporation (SWI) is dedicated to delivering powerful and affordable IT management software that meets the needs of IT professionals. The company's mission emphasizes the importance of empowering IT teams to manage their environments efficiently, enabling them to focus on their core business objectives.

Key Elements of the Mission Statement

  • Empowerment: SolarWinds aims to empower IT professionals by providing tools that simplify complex tasks.
  • Affordability: The mission stresses the importance of offering cost-effective solutions that deliver value without compromising quality.
  • Innovation: Continuous improvement and innovation in IT management solutions are central to the company's mission.
  • Customer-Centricity: The focus is on understanding and addressing the unique challenges faced by customers in their IT environments.

Recent Financial Performance

As of the third quarter of 2024, SolarWinds reported notable financial metrics that reflect its commitment to its mission:

Metric Q3 2024 Q3 2023 Change
Total Revenue $200.0 million $189.6 million +5.5%
Subscription Revenue $76.5 million $58.8 million +30.1%
Net Income (Loss) $12.6 million ($3.2 million) Improvement
Adjusted EBITDA $96.0 million $85.1 million +12.4%

Subscription Model Transition

SolarWinds is actively transitioning from traditional licensing to a subscription-based model, enhancing its alignment with customer needs:

  • As of September 30, 2024, Subscription Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) reached $289.5 million, a 35.7% increase from the previous year.
  • Total ARR stood at $724.1 million, reflecting an 8.3% year-over-year growth.
  • Net retention rate for subscription products improved to 98%, up from 97% in 2023.

Customer Engagement and Growth

SolarWinds continues to expand its customer base and enhance engagement:

  • The company had 1,100 customers with Total ARR exceeding $100,000 as of September 30, 2024, compared to 935 customers in 2023.
  • Approximately 68% of total revenue was derived from North America, indicating a stable market presence.

Conclusion of Mission Alignment with Financial Results

The financial results and strategic initiatives of SolarWinds underscore its commitment to its mission of empowering IT professionals through innovative, affordable, and customer-focused solutions. The company continues to adapt and grow, ensuring its offerings remain relevant in an evolving technological landscape.



How SolarWinds Corporation (SWI) Works

Business Model

SolarWinds Corporation operates primarily in the IT management software sector, providing a range of solutions for network and systems management, database performance, and IT security. The company has shifted towards a subscription-based model, which has become a significant portion of its revenue.

Revenue Type 2024 (Nine Months) 2023 (Nine Months) Change
Subscription Revenue $215,253,000 $166,510,000 $48,743,000
Maintenance Revenue $332,658,000 $346,949,000 ($14,291,000)
Total Recurring Revenue $547,911,000 $513,459,000 $34,452,000
License Revenue $38,675,000 $47,142,000 ($8,467,000)
Total Revenue $586,586,000 $560,601,000 $25,985,000

Financial Performance

As of September 30, 2024, SolarWinds reported a net income of $39,233,000 compared to a net loss of $8,533,000 in the same period of 2023. The increase in profitability stems from increased subscription revenue and improved operational efficiencies.

Financial Metrics 2024 (Q3) 2023 (Q3)
Net Income (Loss) $12,570,000 ($3,172,000)
Adjusted EBITDA $96,036,000 $85,062,000
Effective Tax Rate 49.7% 134.9%

Recurring Revenue Streams

Recurring revenue is a critical aspect of SolarWinds' financial health, with subscription revenue showing a significant increase. As of September 30, 2024, the company's Subscription Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) was $289,487,000, up from $213,385,000 in 2023, marking a growth of 35.7%.

Customer Base and Market Position

SolarWinds has a diverse customer base, with approximately 1,100 customers having Total ARR greater than $100,000 as of September 30, 2024, compared to 935 in 2023. This growth reflects the company's successful strategy in expanding its footprint in the IT management sector.

Operational Expenses

The operational expenses for SolarWinds have shown a decrease in certain areas, particularly in sales and marketing, which fell by $18.3 million, or 9.8%, compared to the previous year. This reflects a strategic restructuring within the company.

Expense Category 2024 (Nine Months) 2023 (Nine Months)
Sales and Marketing $167,179,000 $185,429,000
Research and Development $80,581,000 $75,180,000
General and Administrative $94,192,000 $91,120,000
Total Operating Expenses $376,420,000 $388,441,000

Liquidity and Cash Flow

As of September 30, 2024, SolarWinds had cash and cash equivalents of $199.2 million. The company generated $115,518,000 in net cash from operating activities during the first nine months of 2024.

Debt and Financing

SolarWinds' total indebtedness stood at $1.2 billion as of September 30, 2024, with a revolving credit facility available for up to $130 million. The company continues to evaluate opportunities for debt prepayments to reduce gross debt levels.

Debt Metrics Amount
Total Indebtedness $1,200,000,000
Available Capacity (Revolving Credit Facility) $130,000,000

Recent Developments

In March 2024, SolarWinds declared a special cash dividend of $1.00 per share, totaling approximately $168.2 million, reflecting the company's commitment to returning value to shareholders.

Cyber Incident Impact

The company continues to incur expenses related to a cyber incident, with net expenses recorded for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, amounting to $7,641,000. The ongoing costs are related to legal proceedings and investigations stemming from the incident.

Cyber Incident Expenses 2024 (Nine Months) 2023 (Nine Months)
Gross Expenses $7,641,000 $15,509,000
Insurance Proceeds $0 $19,798,000


How SolarWinds Corporation (SWI) Makes Money

Revenue Streams

SolarWinds Corporation generates revenue primarily through two main channels: recurring revenue and license revenue. As of 2024, the company is undergoing a significant transition towards a subscription-based model.

Recurring Revenue

Recurring revenue, which consists of subscription and maintenance revenue, accounted for approximately 93.4% of total revenue for the nine months ended September 30, 2024. The breakdown is as follows:

Revenue Type Amount (in thousands) Percentage of Total Revenue
Subscription Revenue $215,253 36.7%
Maintenance Revenue $332,658 56.7%
Total Recurring Revenue $547,911 93.4%
License Revenue $38,675 6.6%
Total Revenue $586,586 100.0%

Subscription Revenue

Subscription revenue increased by 29.3% to $215.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, compared to $166.5 million in the same period of 2023. This growth is attributed to:

  • Increased adoption of time-based subscription offerings.
  • New customers purchasing subscription solutions, especially the SolarWinds Observability Self-Hosted solution.

Maintenance Revenue

Maintenance revenue saw a decline of 4.1%, falling to $332.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, compared to $346.9 million in 2023. This decrease is primarily due to:

  • Conversions of customers to subscription-based products.
  • Impacts of increased maintenance renewal rates and price increases.

License Revenue

License revenue decreased by 18.0%, amounting to $38.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, down from $47.1 million in 2023. The decline is largely due to:

  • Transition of customers to subscription offerings.
  • Increased subscription sales of products historically sold as perpetual licenses.

Customer Metrics

As of September 30, 2024, SolarWinds had approximately 1,100 customers with Total Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) greater than $100,000, a notable increase from 935 customers in the previous year. This reflects the company's success in expanding its relationships with both new and existing customers.

Net Retention Rate

The net retention rate for subscription products improved to 98% for the trailing twelve months ended September 30, 2024, up from 97% in the previous year, indicating strong customer loyalty and revenue growth from existing customer accounts.

Cost Structure

The cost of revenue for SolarWinds reflects the expenses associated with delivering its products and services. For the nine months ended September 30, 2024, the total cost of revenue was:

Cost Component Amount (in thousands) Percentage of Revenue
Cost of Recurring Revenue $56,345 9.6%
Amortization of Acquired Technologies $5,752 1.0%
Total Cost of Revenue $62,097 10.6%

Operating Expenses

Operating expenses, which include sales and marketing, research and development, and general and administrative costs, totaled $376.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024. The breakdown of operating expenses is as follows:

Expense Type Amount (in thousands) Percentage of Revenue
Sales and Marketing $167,179 28.5%
Research and Development $80,581 13.7%
General and Administrative $94,192 16.1%
Total Operating Expenses $376,420 64.2%

Net Income

For the nine months ended September 30, 2024, SolarWinds reported a net income of $39.2 million, a significant recovery from a net loss of $8.5 million in the same period of 2023. This turnaround is attributed to increased subscription revenues and improved operational efficiencies.

DCF model

SolarWinds Corporation (SWI) DCF Excel Template

    5-Year Financial Model

    40+ Charts & Metrics

    DCF & Multiple Valuation

    Free Email Support

Article updated on 8 Nov 2024

Resources:

  • SolarWinds Corporation (SWI) Financial Statements – Access the full quarterly financial statements for Q3 2024 to get an in-depth view of SolarWinds Corporation (SWI)' financial performance, including balance sheets, income statements, and cash flow statements.
  • SEC Filings – View SolarWinds Corporation (SWI)' latest filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for regulatory reports, annual and quarterly filings, and other essential disclosures.