Blackbaud Partners with Student First to Enhance Higher Education Solutions
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 3 days ago
0mins
Should l Buy BLKB?
Source: PRnewswire
- Strategic Investment: Blackbaud announces a strategic investment in Student First, aiming to integrate its modern student information system with leading financial management and fundraising solutions, thereby simplifying administrative workflows and enhancing the student experience for higher education institutions.
- Unified Campus Experience: By integrating enrollment, financial aid, scholarships, and financial management, the partnership will create a best-in-class connected campus experience, enabling institutions to operate smarter and enhance visibility in resource allocation to drive student success.
- Collaborative Product Direction: The two companies will collaborate on product direction and go-to-market strategies to expand and enhance their services to higher education institutions, replicating Blackbaud's success with its Total School Solution approach for independent K-12 schools, offering a complete suite of integrated products tailored to educational needs.
- Cloud-Native Platform Advantage: The cloud-native student information system provided by Student First will seamlessly integrate with Blackbaud's industry-leading solutions, helping educational institutions achieve compliance and long-term sustainability in a challenging financial environment while enhancing the overall student experience.
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Analyst Views on BLKB
Wall Street analysts forecast BLKB stock price to rise
1 Analyst Rating
0 Buy
1 Hold
0 Sell
Hold
Current: 35.320
Low
70.00
Averages
70.00
High
70.00
Current: 35.320
Low
70.00
Averages
70.00
High
70.00
About BLKB
Blackbaud, Inc. provides software for powering social impact. It enhances its software with a range of payment processing, analytic and business intelligence services, consulting, training and professional services, and maintenance and technical support. Its specific solutions and services include fundraising and engagement, financial management, grant and award management, education solutions, social responsibility, employee giving and volunteering, payment services, data intelligence, customer success, customer support, professional and managed services and training. Its fundraising and engagement include Blackbaud Raiser's Edge NXT, Blackbaud CRM, Blackbaud eTapestry, Blackbaud Luminate Online, Blackbaud TeamRaiser, JustGiving from Blackbaud, Blackbaud Fundraiser Performance Management, Blackbaud Altru, and Blackbaud Guided Fundraising and Blackbaud Volunteer Network Fundraising. Its grant and award management solutions include Blackbaud Grantmaking and Blackbaud Award Management.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Blackbaud Partners with Student First to Enhance Higher Education Solutions
- Strategic Investment: Blackbaud announces a strategic investment in Student First, aiming to integrate its modern student information system with leading financial management and fundraising solutions, thereby simplifying administrative workflows and enhancing the student experience for higher education institutions.
- Unified Campus Experience: By integrating enrollment, financial aid, scholarships, and financial management, the partnership will create a best-in-class connected campus experience, enabling institutions to operate smarter and enhance visibility in resource allocation to drive student success.
- Collaborative Product Direction: The two companies will collaborate on product direction and go-to-market strategies to expand and enhance their services to higher education institutions, replicating Blackbaud's success with its Total School Solution approach for independent K-12 schools, offering a complete suite of integrated products tailored to educational needs.
- Cloud-Native Platform Advantage: The cloud-native student information system provided by Student First will seamlessly integrate with Blackbaud's industry-leading solutions, helping educational institutions achieve compliance and long-term sustainability in a challenging financial environment while enhancing the overall student experience.
See More
Wall Street's Latest Rating Upgrades Summary
- Equinix Upgrade: Raymond James upgraded Equinix from Market Perform to Strong Buy, citing a robust recovery driven by AI-based demand after last year's adjustments, indicating a strong market rebound potential for the company.
- SiteOne's Positive Outlook: Deutsche Bank upgraded SiteOne from Hold to Buy, anticipating a guidance beat with a price target of $160, implying a 32% upside, reflecting market recognition of its attractive low valuation.
- Mistras Initiation: Roth Capital initiated coverage on Mistras with a Buy rating and a $22 target, highlighting significant improvements in operational efficiency that have driven margin expansion and free cash flow conversion, showcasing strong growth potential.
- Nutrien Upgrade: Bank of America upgraded Nutrien from Neutral to Buy, viewing the agricultural market's outlook as increasingly bullish, positioning Nutrien as a best-in-class operator with sustained growth capabilities.
See More
Blackbaud Q1 2026 Earnings Highlights
- Revenue Growth: Blackbaud's organic revenue increased by 4.2% to $281 million in Q1, demonstrating strong execution in efficiency and product innovation, which is expected to enhance future market competitiveness.
- New Product Launch: The company introduced its first 'Agent For Good' solution, marking a new revenue stream with an expected annual subscription fee in the tens of thousands, aimed at cross-selling to existing customers to further diversify revenue.
- Profitability Improvement: Non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA reached $99 million, up $7 million year-over-year, with an approximately 1 percentage point increase in adjusted EBITDA margin, indicating steady progress in profitability and cash flow.
- Shareholder Returns: In Q1, Blackbaud repurchased approximately 4.5% of its outstanding shares, reflecting the company's commitment to capital return while laying a foundation for future growth.
See More
Blackbaud Reports Mixed Q1 Results Amid AI Insights
- Revenue Beat: Blackbaud's Q1 revenue reached $281.1 million, surpassing the consensus estimate of $279.33 million and reflecting a 4.2% year-over-year growth, which bolsters investor confidence in the company's performance in the social impact sector.
- Earnings Miss: The adjusted EPS of $1.14 fell short of the $1.18 analyst estimate, although the non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA rose to $98.7 million with margins expanding by 100 basis points to 35.1%, indicating effective cost management.
- AI Strategic Advantage: CEO Mike Gianoni emphasized in an interview that Blackbaud's AI technology is a tailwind rather than a threat, with the company's proprietary data ecosystem providing a strong competitive moat that ensures customer trust and effective data utilization.
- Full-Year Guidance Reaffirmed: Blackbaud reaffirmed its full-year revenue guidance of $1.173 billion to $1.179 billion and non-GAAP EPS guidance of $5.15 to $5.25, both broadly in line with consensus, demonstrating the company's confidence in its future performance.
See More
Blackbaud Q1 Earnings Beat Expectations, Reaffirms 2026 Guidance
- Earnings Highlights: Blackbaud reported Q1 non-GAAP EPS of $1.14, beating expectations by $0.02, with revenue of $281.1 million reflecting a 3.9% year-over-year increase, indicating the company's stable market performance.
- Sustained Growth: GAAP recurring revenue reached $276.5 million, up 5.0% and representing 98.3% of total revenue, showcasing strong growth potential in the company's core business.
- Future Outlook: Blackbaud reaffirmed its 2026 financial guidance, projecting GAAP revenue between $1.173 billion and $1.179 billion, with non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA expected to be between $430 million and $438 million, reflecting confidence in future growth.
- Cash Flow and Buybacks: The company anticipates non-GAAP free cash flow between $280 million and $290 million, and plans to achieve over 13% CAGR in EPS through aggressive AI rollout, enhancing shareholder returns.
See More
Blackbaud Q1 Earnings Announcement Scheduled
- Earnings Announcement Schedule: Blackbaud (BLKB) is set to announce its Q1 earnings on April 29 before market open, with consensus EPS estimate at $1.12, reflecting a 16.7% year-over-year increase, and revenue estimate at $280.12 million, up 3.5% year-over-year.
- Historical Performance Review: Over the past two years, Blackbaud has exceeded EPS estimates 88% of the time and revenue estimates 50% of the time, indicating a strong track record of meeting or surpassing market expectations.
- Expectation Revision Dynamics: In the last three months, EPS estimates have seen two upward revisions and two downward revisions, while revenue estimates have experienced no upward revisions but five downward revisions, suggesting market caution regarding future growth.
- Growth Targets and Strategy: Blackbaud aims for a 13%+ CAGR in EPS through 2030, leveraging aggressive AI rollouts and targeting over 50% free cash flow for buybacks, demonstrating its ambition for future growth.
See More
Blackbaud Partners with Student First to Enhance Higher Education Solutions
- Strategic Investment: Blackbaud announces a strategic investment in Student First, aiming to integrate its modern student information system with leading financial management and fundraising solutions, thereby simplifying administrative workflows and enhancing the student experience for higher education institutions.
- Unified Campus Experience: By integrating enrollment, financial aid, scholarships, and financial management, the partnership will create a best-in-class connected campus experience, enabling institutions to operate smarter and enhance visibility in resource allocation to drive student success.
- Collaborative Product Direction: The two companies will collaborate on product direction and go-to-market strategies to expand and enhance their services to higher education institutions, replicating Blackbaud's success with its Total School Solution approach for independent K-12 schools, offering a complete suite of integrated products tailored to educational needs.
- Cloud-Native Platform Advantage: The cloud-native student information system provided by Student First will seamlessly integrate with Blackbaud's industry-leading solutions, helping educational institutions achieve compliance and long-term sustainability in a challenging financial environment while enhancing the overall student experience.
See More
Wall Street's Latest Rating Upgrades Summary
- Equinix Upgrade: Raymond James upgraded Equinix from Market Perform to Strong Buy, citing a robust recovery driven by AI-based demand after last year's adjustments, indicating a strong market rebound potential for the company.
- SiteOne's Positive Outlook: Deutsche Bank upgraded SiteOne from Hold to Buy, anticipating a guidance beat with a price target of $160, implying a 32% upside, reflecting market recognition of its attractive low valuation.
- Mistras Initiation: Roth Capital initiated coverage on Mistras with a Buy rating and a $22 target, highlighting significant improvements in operational efficiency that have driven margin expansion and free cash flow conversion, showcasing strong growth potential.
- Nutrien Upgrade: Bank of America upgraded Nutrien from Neutral to Buy, viewing the agricultural market's outlook as increasingly bullish, positioning Nutrien as a best-in-class operator with sustained growth capabilities.
See More
Blackbaud Q1 2026 Earnings Highlights
- Revenue Growth: Blackbaud's organic revenue increased by 4.2% to $281 million in Q1, demonstrating strong execution in efficiency and product innovation, which is expected to enhance future market competitiveness.
- New Product Launch: The company introduced its first 'Agent For Good' solution, marking a new revenue stream with an expected annual subscription fee in the tens of thousands, aimed at cross-selling to existing customers to further diversify revenue.
- Profitability Improvement: Non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA reached $99 million, up $7 million year-over-year, with an approximately 1 percentage point increase in adjusted EBITDA margin, indicating steady progress in profitability and cash flow.
- Shareholder Returns: In Q1, Blackbaud repurchased approximately 4.5% of its outstanding shares, reflecting the company's commitment to capital return while laying a foundation for future growth.
See More
Blackbaud Reports Mixed Q1 Results Amid AI Insights
- Revenue Beat: Blackbaud's Q1 revenue reached $281.1 million, surpassing the consensus estimate of $279.33 million and reflecting a 4.2% year-over-year growth, which bolsters investor confidence in the company's performance in the social impact sector.
- Earnings Miss: The adjusted EPS of $1.14 fell short of the $1.18 analyst estimate, although the non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA rose to $98.7 million with margins expanding by 100 basis points to 35.1%, indicating effective cost management.
- AI Strategic Advantage: CEO Mike Gianoni emphasized in an interview that Blackbaud's AI technology is a tailwind rather than a threat, with the company's proprietary data ecosystem providing a strong competitive moat that ensures customer trust and effective data utilization.
- Full-Year Guidance Reaffirmed: Blackbaud reaffirmed its full-year revenue guidance of $1.173 billion to $1.179 billion and non-GAAP EPS guidance of $5.15 to $5.25, both broadly in line with consensus, demonstrating the company's confidence in its future performance.
See More
Blackbaud Q1 Earnings Beat Expectations, Reaffirms 2026 Guidance
- Earnings Highlights: Blackbaud reported Q1 non-GAAP EPS of $1.14, beating expectations by $0.02, with revenue of $281.1 million reflecting a 3.9% year-over-year increase, indicating the company's stable market performance.
- Sustained Growth: GAAP recurring revenue reached $276.5 million, up 5.0% and representing 98.3% of total revenue, showcasing strong growth potential in the company's core business.
- Future Outlook: Blackbaud reaffirmed its 2026 financial guidance, projecting GAAP revenue between $1.173 billion and $1.179 billion, with non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA expected to be between $430 million and $438 million, reflecting confidence in future growth.
- Cash Flow and Buybacks: The company anticipates non-GAAP free cash flow between $280 million and $290 million, and plans to achieve over 13% CAGR in EPS through aggressive AI rollout, enhancing shareholder returns.
See More
Blackbaud Q1 Earnings Announcement Scheduled
- Earnings Announcement Schedule: Blackbaud (BLKB) is set to announce its Q1 earnings on April 29 before market open, with consensus EPS estimate at $1.12, reflecting a 16.7% year-over-year increase, and revenue estimate at $280.12 million, up 3.5% year-over-year.
- Historical Performance Review: Over the past two years, Blackbaud has exceeded EPS estimates 88% of the time and revenue estimates 50% of the time, indicating a strong track record of meeting or surpassing market expectations.
- Expectation Revision Dynamics: In the last three months, EPS estimates have seen two upward revisions and two downward revisions, while revenue estimates have experienced no upward revisions but five downward revisions, suggesting market caution regarding future growth.
- Growth Targets and Strategy: Blackbaud aims for a 13%+ CAGR in EPS through 2030, leveraging aggressive AI rollouts and targeting over 50% free cash flow for buybacks, demonstrating its ambition for future growth.
See More
