The News: Splunk, a cybersecurity and observability leader, announced its fiscal fourth quarter (Q4) and full year (FY) 2024 earnings on February 27, 2024. For full details, check out the press release here.
By the numbers:
Key takeaways from the earnings include:
- Total ARR: Splunk reported total ARR of $4.208 billion for the quarter, up 15% year-over-year (YoY), with cloud ARR reaching $2.186 billion, up 23%.
- Total Revenue: The company’s total revenue was $1.486 billion for the quarter, up 19%, with cloud revenue at $503 million, up 22%.
- Net Income: GAAP net income was $427 million, with non-GAAP net income at $579 million.
- Operating Cash Flow: Operating cash flow was $421 million, up 53%, with adjusted free cash flow at $418 million, up 56%.
- Customer Growth: Splunk added 109 customers with total ARR greater than $1 million, bringing the total to 899 customers.
- Operating Margin: The GAAP operating margin was 29.1%, with non-GAAP operating margin at 47.8%.
Key Takeaways from Splunk’s Q4 and FY 2024 Earnings Report
Analyst Take: The observability space, critical for monitoring, analyzing, and optimizing the performance and health of IT systems, is currently experiencing a notable shift due to the emergence and adoption of technologies such as OpenTelemetry. OTel, an open-source project designed to provide standardized APIs, libraries, and agents for collecting and transmitting telemetry data (metrics, traces, and logs), is reshaping the market by offering a unified, vendor-agnostic approach to observability, thus enabling organizations to achieve more comprehensive and flexible monitoring solutions.
The recently announced acquisition of Splunk by Cisco, which is set to close later this year, represents a significant move poised to disrupt the market landscape. By integrating advanced observability capabilities into its already extensive network and security solutions portfolio, Cisco is not only expanding its reach into the burgeoning field of IT operations management but also setting new standards for holistic, end-to-end monitoring solutions that promise enhanced visibility and control over increasingly complex digital ecosystems.
The field of observability is experiencing a shift toward cloud-native architectures (as seen through Splunk’s 26% increase in cloud revenue YoY), microservices, and containers, which is driving the need for real-time insights and AI/ML integration. Splunk distinguishes itself as a leading vendor because of its comprehensive platform, scalability, AI/ML features, real-time insights, and dedication to open standards and interoperability. Boasting a strong customer base, with 109 more customers with total ARR greater than $1 million than in FY 2023, and a commitment to adapt to organizations’ changing requirements, Splunk is well positioned to be at the forefront of the observability market.
Future Outlook
Splunk’s strong fiscal performance, characterized by notable growth in total ARR, revenue, and operating cash flow, highlights its continued dominance in the cybersecurity and observability market. The 15% annual growth in total ARR, which reached $4.208 billion, and the 19% growth in total revenue, reaching $1.486 billion, showcase Splunk’s capacity to cater to the changing requirements of organizations across the globe. The significant rise of 53% YoY in operating cash flow—reaching $421 million—and the 56% increase in adjusted free cash flow—reaching $418 million—stands testament to Splunk’s financial health and ability to drive innovation.
Because of the pending acquisition of Splunk by Cisco, there was not a quarterly earnings call to discuss Q4 and FY 2024 earnings, so we were not provided with Splunk’s input on future outlook. What we do know is that the pending acquisition carries substantial implications for innovation and expansion in the observability space. Cisco’s resources and proficiency in networking, security, and cloud technologies will equip Splunk with a solid platform to enhance its security and observability offerings. This tactical move will allow Splunk to take advantage of Cisco’s cutting-edge technologies and global presence to create innovative solutions that cater to changing demands of organizations worldwide.
Furthermore, the acquisition will allow Splunk to gain access to Cisco’s extensive network of partners and customers, increasing its market reach and fueling expansion. By joining together, Splunk and Cisco will have the capability to build holistic solutions that deliver end-to-end visibility and security in diverse, multi-cloud environments. This capability will provide organizations with deeper insights of their systems and applications, identify and address threats more efficiently, and reinforce the resilience of their digital infrastructures.
Moreover, the acquisition will empower Splunk to fast track its AI and ML capabilities, utilizing Cisco’s expertise in these fields to create advanced analytics and automation solutions. These solutions will allow organizations to automate the process of detecting anomalies, conducting predictive analytics, and performing root cause analysis, enabling them to proactively identify and resolve issues before they negatively affect operations.
In general, Cisco’s acquisition of Splunk presents a major opportunity for future innovation and expansion in the observability field. By joining resources, Splunk and Cisco can create ground-breaking solutions that cater to the changing demands of organizations globally, stimulating growth and reinforcing their standing as pioneers in the cybersecurity and observability industry.
Looking Ahead
The earnings report of Splunk for Q4 and FY 2024, coupled with its pending acquisition by Cisco, serve as a testament to its continued leadership within the cybersecurity and observability field. The upcoming acquisition by Cisco carries substantial weight for potential innovation and expansion within the observability space. Through the combination of their resources and capabilities, Splunk and Cisco are poised to produce progressive solutions that adapt to changing organizational needs, promoting growth and cementing their status as pioneers within the cybersecurity and observability market.
Splunk is in a strong position to capitalize on the increasing need for resilient digital systems and advanced observability solutions. Splunk’s continual focus on product innovation, strategic partnerships, and customer-focused approach will keep driving growth and success. With a solid customer base and a dedication to serving the changing requirements of organizations, Splunk is set for ongoing expansion in the cybersecurity and observability market.
Disclosure: The Futurum Group is a research and advisory firm that engages or has engaged in research, analysis, and advisory services with many technology companies, including those mentioned in this article. The author does not hold any equity positions with any company mentioned in this article.
Analysis and opinions expressed herein are specific to the analyst individually and data and other information that might have been provided for validation, not those of The Futurum Group as a whole.
Other Insights from The Futurum Group:
Cisco Q2 2024: Security, Collaboration, and Observability Shine
Cisco’s Strategic Move: The $28 Billion Splunk Acquisition Unpacked
Author Information
Regarded as a luminary at the intersection of technology and business transformation, Steven Dickens is the Vice President and Practice Leader for Hybrid Cloud, Infrastructure, and Operations at The Futurum Group. With a distinguished track record as a Forbes contributor and a ranking among the Top 10 Analysts by ARInsights, Steven's unique vantage point enables him to chart the nexus between emergent technologies and disruptive innovation, offering unparalleled insights for global enterprises.
Steven's expertise spans a broad spectrum of technologies that drive modern enterprises. Notable among these are open source, hybrid cloud, mission-critical infrastructure, cryptocurrencies, blockchain, and FinTech innovation. His work is foundational in aligning the strategic imperatives of C-suite executives with the practical needs of end users and technology practitioners, serving as a catalyst for optimizing the return on technology investments.
Over the years, Steven has been an integral part of industry behemoths including Broadcom, Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE), and IBM. His exceptional ability to pioneer multi-hundred-million-dollar products and to lead global sales teams with revenues in the same echelon has consistently demonstrated his capability for high-impact leadership.
Steven serves as a thought leader in various technology consortiums. He was a founding board member and former Chairperson of the Open Mainframe Project, under the aegis of the Linux Foundation. His role as a Board Advisor continues to shape the advocacy for open source implementations of mainframe technologies.
Bringing more than a decade of varying experience crossing multiple sectors such as legal, financial, and tech, Sam Holschuh is an accomplished professional that excels in ensuring success across various industries. Currently, Sam serves as an Industry Analyst at The Futurum Group, where collaborates closely with practice leads in the areas of application modernization, DevOps, storage, and infrastructure. With a keen eye for research, Sam produces valuable insights and custom content to support strategic initiatives and enhance market understanding.
Rooted in the fields of tech, law, finance operations and marketing, Sam provides a unique viewpoint to her position, fostering innovation and delivering impactful solutions within the industry.
Sam holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Management Information Systems and Business Analytics from Colorado State University and is passionate about leveraging her diverse skill set to drive growth and empower clients to succeed in today's rapidly evolving landscape.
