cloudedjudgement.substack.com · 2021-02-19 · 1931d

Clouded Judgement: SaaS Valuation Metrics & Weekly Earnings Summary

This weekly SaaS earnings update provides comparative analysis of valuation multiples, operating metrics, and share price movements across 10 public SaaS companies, with detailed benchmarking of revenue multiples segmented by growth rates. The article highlights a dramatic expansion in median SaaS EV/NTM revenue multiples from 13.9x (3-month average) to 20.0x (current median), driven by high-growth cohorts trading at 35.8x multiples, while introducing growth-adjusted valuation metrics and the Rule of 40 framework for assessing business health.

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Metrics in this report

CAC Payback Period

22months

median

Public SaaS companies, gross profit basis

Customer Acquisition Cost Payback

22months

median

Public SaaS companies, gross margin adjusted

EV/NTM Revenue Multiple

20.0x

median

Public SaaS companies, February 2021

EV/NTM Revenue Multiple

35.8x

median

High-growth SaaS (>30% NTM growth)

EV/NTM Revenue Multiple

21.8x

median

Mid-growth SaaS (15-30% NTM growth)

EV/NTM Revenue Multiple

7.7x

median

Low-growth SaaS (<15% NTM growth)

EV/NTM Revenue Multiple

52.4x

average

Top 10 highest-valued SaaS companies

FCF Margin

6percent

median

Public SaaS companies

Free Cash Flow Margin

6percent

median

Public SaaS companies

G&A Expense as % of Revenue

18percent

median

Public SaaS companies

General & Administrative Expense

18percent of revenue

median

Public SaaS companies

Gross Margin

74percent

median

Public SaaS companies

Gross Margin

74percent

median

Public SaaS companies

LTM Revenue Growth Rate

30percent

median

Public SaaS companies

LTM Revenue Growth Rate

30percent

median

Public SaaS companies

NTM Revenue Growth Rate

23percent

median

Public SaaS companies

NTM Revenue Growth Rate

23percent

median

Public SaaS companies

Net Revenue Retention

115percent

median

Public SaaS companies

Net Revenue Retention

115percent

median

Public SaaS companies

Operating Margin

-15percent

median

Public SaaS companies

Operating Margin

-15percent

median

Public SaaS companies

R&D Expense as % of Revenue

25percent

median

Public SaaS companies

Research & Development Expense

25percent of revenue

median

Public SaaS companies

Revenue Multiple (EV/NTM Revenue)

20.0x

median

Public SaaS companies, February 2021

Revenue Multiple (EV/NTM Revenue)

35.8x

median

High-growth SaaS (>30% NTM growth)

Revenue Multiple (EV/NTM Revenue)

21.8x

median

Mid-growth SaaS (15-30% NTM growth)

Revenue Multiple (EV/NTM Revenue)

7.7x

median

Low-growth SaaS (<15% NTM growth)

Revenue Multiple (EV/NTM Revenue)

58.3x

median

Top 5 highest-valued SaaS companies by multiple

Revenue Multiple (EV/NTM Revenue)

18.0x

3-month trailing average

Public SaaS, as of Feb 2021

Revenue Multiple (EV/NTM Revenue)

13.9x

1-year trailing average

Public SaaS, as of Feb 2021

S&M Expense as % of Revenue

44percent

median

Public SaaS companies

Sales & Marketing Expense

44percent of revenue

median

Public SaaS companies