Guidance cut prompts brokers to downgrade Amplitude stock; shares down 20%

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Amplitude reported a loss per share of 4 cents for the first quarter, better than the expected loss per share of 6 cents. Revenue rose 25% year-over-year to $66.5 million, topping the $65.25M consensus.

“Every business with a digital product needs digital analytics,” said Spenser Skates, CEO and co-founder of Amplitude.

“Amplitude is just scratching the surface of that opportunity, and we’re systematically upleveling every part of our business to set us up for success long term. We’re now better positioned to navigate the current environment while fully leaning into the opportunities ahead.”

For this quarter, the company expects to report adjusted EPS of $0.01-0.02, ahead of the consensus that was expecting a loss per share of $0.09. Revenue is expected in the range of $66.5-67.2M, below the $69M that was expected.

Amplitude cut its FY revenue outlook so it now expects $267.5M, down from the prior $287M and below the $286.4M consensus. The adjusted EPS outlook is raised to $0.03 from the previous forecast which projected a loss per share of $0.135.

Analysts slashed their ratings on AMPL stock after the outlook cut. KeyBanc analysts downgraded to Sector Weight.

“While we remain bullish on the LT market opportunity for product analytics including as facilitator of “product-led” growth, we suggest investors wait for improved visibility into reacceleration given the macro impact on the priority of promising but still emerging product analytics spend, and on Amplitude’s marketing analytics use cases,” they said in a note.

William Blair analysts also cut the stock as they see “a challenging operating environment for the company over the next several quarters as it battles through churn and downsell in its base with a lack of new catalysts to offset these headwinds.”