Pure CEO bigs up channel as revenues soar 50 per cent in Q3

Net losses narrowed over 30 per cent last quarter to $20m

Pure Storage's CEO Scott Dietzen praised channel partners for bringing in over three quarters of the vendor's net new customers this quarter, on its Q3 earnings call yesterday.

For the three months to 31 October 2016, non-GAAP net losses narrowed 31 per cent year on year to $20m (£15m), on revenue which over the same period rose 50 per cent to $197m.

Pure's CFO Timothy Riitters said that this year is a "turning point" for the vendor's operating losses, which - on a non-GAAP basis - narrowed from $28.1m to $19.4m year on year, a 31 per cent decrease.

He said: "We are making significant progress in making this fiscal year our turning point in terms of absolute operating losses. Operating losses in absolute dollars have decreased by $27m year-to-date over the same period last year, 23 per cent ahead of our flat year on year operating loss guidance from the beginning of the year."

However, on a GAAP basis, operating and net losses hit $78.2m and $78.8m respectively. The non-GAAP figures did not include a $30m legal settlement charge.

In Q3, partners contributed 76 per cent of the flash vendor's net new customers, according to Dietzen.

"Pure's growth has been supported by strong channel partners," he explained. "In the latest quarter, 76 per cent of our net new logos came through the channel. That expanding partner leverage which now includes key global systems integrators is essential to extending our reach."

Riitters added: "Our partner momentum remains strong, fuelled by a geographically diverse combination of partners who are increasing their commitments with Pure."

In January, Dietzen told CRN that he was making international growth a priority this year. In this quarter, 77 per cent of Pure's revenues came from the US, with 23 per cent of revenues being international.

"[The split is] compared to an 80-20 split in the prior fiscal year. We are seeing notable success in regions across the board," he added.

For its Q4, Pure expects to reach revenues of between $219m and $227m, due in part, Riitter claims, to a seasonally strong period approaching, and "excellent" repeat purchase rates.

"We are entering a seasonally strong period for our business," he said. "We have excellent repeat purchase rate across our entire customer base, we are now one of the Top 10 vendors in storage and we are seeing many more deals today than we were a year ago. Our Q4 guidance implies for our current year that we will drive nearly 65 per cent year on year revenue growth while cutting our absolute operating losses by over 20 per cent."