Autodesk (ADSK +0.56%) is forecasting free cash flow of over $2 billion. Should investors add it to their portfolio? In this clip from "3 Minute Stocks Updates" on Motley Fool Live, recorded on June 22, Motley Fool contributor Brian Withers discusses Autodesk's recent quarterly performance and why it's a mature business that investors should have on their radar.
Brian Withers: This sticky software solution for design, manufacturing, and architecture is solidly growing and a massive cash-flow machine. Let's take a look at some of the recent results. I love the way the company presents its financial results, and in really just one slide. The overall revenue when looking at the quarterly, so you may need some help with these acronyms here. AEC, their largest segment is architecture, engineering, and construction, the programs and software that's specifically tailored to that segment. This AutoCAD and AutoCAD Lite, is the original AutoCAD software that isn't necessarily tied to one of the other segments. MFG is manufacturing, and M&E is media and entertainment. All of these segments are up. The lowest to growth one is the manufacturing at 14%, and media and entertainment is growing at a solid 27%. Then, the business is incredibly global with more than 50% of its sales outside the U.S., although the Americas are growing faster than these other segments. These other segments certainly are carrying a large portion of the revenue, which is always nice to see that global diversity. Looking out to forecast, Q2 here, $1.2-ish billion in revenue is about a 16% top-line growth, and for the full-year, they're seeing billings at 18-21%, and revenue up 13-15%. What, to me, is the most exciting number on this whole page, is this free cash flow that they're forecasting is a bit over $2 billion, and the last fiscal year ending this January, it was $1.5 billion. They're seeing cash-flow grow considerably faster than its overall revenue and even billing. Pretty exciting, and a mature business that is certainly a cash flow machine.
