SaaS update November 2022: Danish ARR sector median multiple stabilized – the US SaaS sector continued down

Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) update – November 2022: Danish ARR sector median multiple stabilized – the US SaaS sector continued down
The SaaS HCA Index, measured on a simple ARR multiple (median) across 19 listed Danish SaaS companies, stabilized at 4.6x ARR by the end of November from 4.5x ARR by the end of October. Note the index shows the development over time for the sector, using the latest reported ARR numbers for 19 companies, and almost all companies have been tracked for at least a year (the latest SaaS IPO was in December 2021).
The larger and more liquid US-listed SaaS companies - measured by The SaaS Capital Index, yet there are always some comparison issues like any other benchmark data - declined to 6.3x ARR by the end of November from 6.8x ARR by the end of October.
From a macroeconomic perspective, the US 10Y bond yield decreased from approx. 4.05% by the end of October to approx. 3.60% by the end of November. Following larger increases in earlier months with negative effects on growth shares, the recent decline in the yield has had a positive effect on the stock market in general, yet not the US SaaS sector according to The SaaS Capital Index. The negative development in November can be explained by the Q3 earnings season, as most US SaaS companies’ new expectations were below market expectations, leading to larger share price declines across the sector.
Across the Danish SaaS sector, we have seen cost adjuments and more cautious management comments due to the macroeconomic uncertainty as well as the limited access to raise new capital. With more focus on capital allocation, growth rates for both Q4 2022 and 2023 are more uncertain. Furthermore, we have seen that some of the Danish-listed SaaS companies have to deliver strong Q4 results to reach their 2022 guidance range.
Disclaimer: HC Andersen Capital receives payment for a Corporate Visibility/Digital IR subscription agreement from SaaS companies included in The SaaS HCA Index. /Kasper Lihn 7 December 2022, 16:47.