What occurred
Shares of Freshworks ( FRSH -3.52% ) fell 15.8% in February, based on knowledge from S&P World Market Intelligence. The enterprise software program firm’s inventory misplaced floor following its fourth-quarter earnings launch.
Freshworks revealed its fourth-quarter outcomes on Feb. 10, delivering gross sales that topped the market’s expectations and earnings that had been in step with analyst targets. The client-relationship-management (CRM) software program firm posted a non-GAAP (adjusted) loss per share of $0.06 on income of $105.5 million. In the meantime, the common analyst estimate had referred to as for income of $95.34 million within the interval.
So what
Freshworks’ income climbed 44.5% 12 months over 12 months within the fourth quarter, and the enterprise posted a net-dollar-based retention price of 114%, which signifies that current clients elevated their spending 14% in comparison with the prior-year interval on common. For the total 12 months, income was up 49% and reached $371 million.
The corporate even delivered better-than-expected steerage with its fourth-quarter report, however it nonetheless wasn’t sufficient to stop a double-digit sell-off as buyers moved out of growth-dependent software program firms final month.

Picture supply: Getty Photos.
Now what
Freshworks inventory has continued to fall in March. The corporate’s share worth is now down 7.1% within the month to date.
FRSH knowledge by YCharts.
For the present quarter, Freshworks’ midpoint steerage requires income of $108 million, a determine that got here in considerably forward of the $106.5 million common goal from analysts previous to the corporate’s fourth-quarter report. Administration’s midpoint goal for the present fiscal 12 months requires gross sales of $490.7 million, which was additionally forward of the earlier common goal from analysts.
Following current sell-offs, Freshworks now has a market capitalization or roughly $4.7 billion and is valued at roughly 9.6 occasions this 12 months’s anticipated gross sales. That is nonetheless a growth-dependent valuation, and the inventory may see extra turbulence within the close to time period if buyers proceed to maneuver out of unprofitable firms that commerce at comparatively excessive price-to-sales multiples.
Freshworks accomplished its preliminary public providing final September and now trades down roughly 64% from market shut on the day of its public debut. For long-term buyers who see promise within the firm’s CRM software program, the large pullback might need created a worthwhile shopping for alternative, however it’s in all probability finest to maneuver ahead with the understanding that buying and selling might be rocky within the close to time period.
This text represents the opinion of the author, who could disagree with the “official” advice place of a Motley Idiot premium advisory service. We’re motley! Questioning an investing thesis – even considered one of our personal – helps us all assume critically about investing and make selections that assist us grow to be smarter, happier, and richer.