AppFolio, a real estate software firm, has caught the attention of investors due to a sudden shift in profitability. The company’s stock has surged by 83% in 2023 and is now on track to become profitable.
This change coincided with the appointment of Shane Trigg, a former Salesforce executive, to the position of CEO on March 2. Trigg had previously served as AppFolio’s general manager of real estate. Additionally, AppFolio made changes to its board of directors at the same time.
The company had reported a significant increase in operating loss in 2022, prompting a series of layoffs. This focus on cost-cutting measures, along with a commitment to efficient technology and a reduction in office space, has led to three Wall Street analysts upgrading AppFolio stock to buy or outperform.
The push for greater profitability came from AppFolio’s largest shareholder, Maurice Duca, who owns 39% of the voting power in the company. Duca, a partner at Investment Group of Santa Barbara, urged the company to prioritize profitability in early November.
While analysts are optimistic about AppFolio’s prospects, there are concerns about its valuation if higher profitability does not materialize. However, the company is expected to post a profit in the current quarter, compared to a loss in the same period last year.
AppFolio offers a cloud-based property management platform that includes an artificial intelligence leasing assistant and various features for tenant management. The company has also introduced banking transaction fees for rent payments made through its platform, leading to a 3% increase in its revenue outlook for 2023.
Founded in 2006, AppFolio went public in 2015 and focuses on residential property management. It competes with other property management software providers such as Yardi, RealPage, MRI Software, and Entrata.
Overall, AppFolio’s recent focus on profitability, cost-cutting measures, and innovative technology has positioned the company for success in the real estate software industry.
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