BlackLine Management
Management criteria checks 3/4
BlackLine's CEO is Owen Ryan, appointed in Oct 2025, has a tenure of less than a year. total yearly compensation is $11.61M, comprised of 4.5% salary and 95.5% bonuses, including company stock and options. directly owns 0.19% of the company’s shares, worth $3.44M. The average tenure of the management team and the board of directors is 2.3 years and 6.6 years respectively.
Key information
Owen Ryan
Chief executive officer
US$11.6m
Total compensation
| CEO salary percentage | 4.51% |
| CEO tenure | less than a year |
| CEO ownership | 0.2% |
| Management average tenure | 2.3yrs |
| Board average tenure | 6.6yrs |
Recent management updates
Recent updates
Narrative Update • May 10
BL: AI Operations, Governance Changes And Buybacks Will Shape Balanced Outlook
Analysts have trimmed their price target on BlackLine from $35.00 to $32.00 as updated assumptions incorporate slightly different revenue growth, profit margin, and future P/E expectations. What's in the News BlackLine issued earnings guidance for the first quarter of 2026, with expected total GAAP revenue between $180 million and $182 million, and full year 2026 GAAP revenue guidance between $764 million and $768 million.Narrative Update • Apr 24
BL: AI Agentic Operations Will Unlock Undervalued Upside Over Time
Analysts have reduced their price target on BlackLine from $44.00 to $35.00. They cited updated assumptions around a slightly higher discount rate, a modestly different revenue growth outlook, a small shift in expected profit margins and a lower future P/E multiple.
Narrative Update • Apr 10
BL: Share Repurchases And Board Changes Will Support Stronger Future Returns
Analysts have trimmed their BlackLine price target from about $61.83 to $55.23. The revised target reflects updated views on higher discount rates, slightly different revenue growth expectations, a higher projected profit margin, and a lower assumed future P/E multiple.
Narrative Update • Mar 26
BL: Expanded Buybacks And Activist Cooperation Will Support Future Shareholder Upside
Analysts have kept BlackLine's price target steady at $70.00, citing small adjustments to assumptions around the discount rate, revenue growth, profit margins, and future P/E that offset each other in their updated models. What's in the News BlackLine increased its equity buyback authorization by US$100 million to a total of US$500 million as of March 13, 2026, expanding its capacity to repurchase shares (Key Developments).Narrative Update • Mar 11
BL: Activist Board Challenge And Buybacks Will Unlock Undervalued Upside
Analysts have lowered their price target on BlackLine from $48.00 to $44.00, reflecting updated assumptions for revenue growth, profit margins, discount rate, and future P/E multiples in their models. What's in the News BlackLine updated its share repurchase activity, buying 600,000 shares, about 1% of shares, for US$33.8 million between October 1, 2025 and December 31, 2025, bringing total buybacks under the November 19, 2024 authorization to 4,464,000 shares, about 7.22% of shares, for US$235.61 million (company filing).Seeking Alpha • Mar 09
BlackLine: RPO Growth And Margin Lifts (Rating Upgrade)
Summary BlackLine has seen a 30% YTD share price decline, but its fundamentals remain resilient amid sector-wide SaaS pessimism. BL's complex, AI-resistant platform, recent FedRAMP certification, and strong enterprise retention support a balanced bull-bear case. FY26 guidance calls for 9% revenue growth and pro forma operating margins of 23.7-24.3%, with billings and RPO trends indicating demand acceleration. Despite the attractive 3.0x EV/FY26 revenue valuation, the lack of near-term catalysts and sector headwinds justify a neutral rating. Read the full article on Seeking AlphaNarrative Update • Feb 25
BL: Activist Board Challenge And Repurchases Will Support Future Shareholder Upside
Analysts have lowered their price target on BlackLine from $73 to $70, citing updated assumptions for revenue growth, profitability and future P/E levels. They still see room for meaningful margins over time.Analysis Article • Feb 17
BlackLine's (NASDAQ:BL) Soft Earnings Are Actually Better Than They Appear
BlackLine, Inc.'s ( NASDAQ:BL ) earnings announcement last week didn't impress shareholders. Despite the soft profit...Narrative Update • Feb 11
BL: Activist Campaign And Board Changes Will Unlock Future Shareholder Upside
Analysts have trimmed their fair value estimate for BlackLine from US$80.00 to US$73.00, citing updated assumptions that include a slightly higher discount rate, a higher revenue growth outlook, a lower profit margin profile, and a higher future P/E multiple. What's in the News Engaged Capital LLC formally submitted a nomination notice on February 2, 2026 to put three director candidates, including Storm Duncan, Christopher Hallenbeck and Christopher L.Narrative Update • Jan 26
BL: Activist Sale Push And Modest Margins Will Constrain Future Returns
Analysts have kept their price target for BlackLine steady at US$48.00. They point to only small updates in assumptions for discount rate, revenue growth, profit margin and future P/E as justification for maintaining their view.Narrative Update • Jan 12
BL: Activist Push For Sale And Modest Margins Will Pressure Shares
Analysts have kept their fair value target for BlackLine steady at US$48.00. This reflects slightly different assumptions around discount rate, revenue growth, profit margin and future P/E that broadly offset one another in their models.Analysis Article • Jan 05
BlackLine (NASDAQ:BL) Is Doing The Right Things To Multiply Its Share Price
If you're not sure where to start when looking for the next multi-bagger, there are a few key trends you should keep an...Narrative Update • Dec 26
BL: Activist Pressure And Modest Profitability Will Weigh On Shares
Analysts have maintained their BlackLine price target at $48.00. This reflects modestly improved assumptions for long-term revenue growth and profitability, which are largely offset by a slightly lower future earnings multiple.Narrative Update • Dec 12
BL: Softer Margins And Higher Risk Will Pressure Share Price
Analysts have modestly lowered their price target on BlackLine to $48.00. This reflects slightly softer expectations for revenue growth and profit margins, along with a small uptick in the assumed discount rate.Analysis Article • Sep 01
Is Now An Opportune Moment To Examine BlackLine, Inc. (NASDAQ:BL)?
While BlackLine, Inc. ( NASDAQ:BL ) might not have the largest market cap around , it saw a decent share price growth...Analysis Article • Jul 24
BlackLine (NASDAQ:BL) Could Easily Take On More Debt
The external fund manager backed by Berkshire Hathaway's Charlie Munger, Li Lu, makes no bones about it when he says...Analysis Article • Jun 29
Returns At BlackLine (NASDAQ:BL) Are On The Way Up
To find a multi-bagger stock, what are the underlying trends we should look for in a business? Typically, we'll want to...Analysis Article • Jun 17
We Ran A Stock Scan For Earnings Growth And BlackLine (NASDAQ:BL) Passed With Ease
Investors are often guided by the idea of discovering 'the next big thing', even if that means buying 'story stocks...Analysis Article • Feb 18
BlackLine's (NASDAQ:BL) Shareholders Should Assess Earnings With Caution
Strong earnings weren't enough to please BlackLine, Inc.'s ( NASDAQ:BL ) shareholders over the last week. We did some...Seeking Alpha • Feb 13
BlackLine: Worrying Growth Trends (Rating Downgrade)
Summary BlackLine shares slid nearly 20% after the company reported disastrous Q4 results, showing continued deceleration in revenue growth while also suffering large slips in operating margin. The company's FY25 implies growth slowing further to a mere 7-8% range, well below the company's target goal of recovering growth to the mid-teens. BlackLine may be subject to vendor consolidation as its niche finance software faces sharp competition from broader platforms like SAP and Workday. Despite its cheap valuation at <5x forward revenue, BlackLine's consistent deceleration and market challenges lead me to downgrade my rating to a sell. Read the full article on Seeking AlphaAnalysis Article • Feb 02
Returns Are Gaining Momentum At BlackLine (NASDAQ:BL)
If we want to find a stock that could multiply over the long term, what are the underlying trends we should look for...Seeking Alpha • Jan 24
BlackLine: On Stronger Footing With Richer Margins (Upgrade)
Summary I'm upgrading BlackLine to a neutral rating, driven by evidence that the company's growth rates are stabilizing. The company recently issued a press release to note that it expects to meet or exceed the high end of its guidance for Q4. BlackLine's strategic shift to the mid-market segment has helped the company focus on spending, leading to large jumps in operating margins and FCF. The stock trades at a reasonable ~20x forward FCF multiple, which balances out its competitive risks. Read the full article on Seeking AlphaAnalysis Article • Jan 20
Is BlackLine (NASDAQ:BL) Using Too Much Debt?
Legendary fund manager Li Lu (who Charlie Munger backed) once said, 'The biggest investment risk is not the volatility...Analysis Article • Jan 06
Is There Now An Opportunity In BlackLine, Inc. (NASDAQ:BL)?
While BlackLine, Inc. ( NASDAQ:BL ) might not have the largest market cap around , it saw a decent share price growth...Seeking Alpha • Dec 19
BlackLine: Acceleration To Mid-Teens Revenue Growth Is Possible
Summary I reiterate my buy rating for BlackLine due to its potential to accelerate growth to mid-teens, triggering an upward valuation rerating. BL's strategic shift towards larger enterprise customers and the launch of the Studio360 platform are key drivers for achieving mid-teens revenue growth. The new pricing model, allowing unlimited users and consumption-based components, should significantly boost blended pricing as the mix of larger customers grows. Read the full article on Seeking AlphaAnalysis Article • Nov 06
If EPS Growth Is Important To You, BlackLine (NASDAQ:BL) Presents An Opportunity
It's common for many investors, especially those who are inexperienced, to buy shares in companies with a good story...Seeking Alpha • Oct 31
BlackLine Is Expanding Net Profit Margins Fast
Summary BlackLine, a financial automation software firm, targets enterprise customers, automating financial close processes to improve cash flows and financial reporting accuracy. Founded by Therese Tucker, BL has grown significantly, achieving profitability and strong financial metrics like 79% gross margins and 105% net revenue retention. The company’s stock is trending upwards, driven by a sticky customer base and potential increased demand due to year-end taxes and the presidential election. BlackLine's partnerships with accounting firms and focus on digital self-service and generative AI enhance its go-to-market strategy and profitability prospects. Read the full article on Seeking AlphaAnalysis Article • Oct 25
BlackLine (NASDAQ:BL) Might Have The Makings Of A Multi-Bagger
If we want to find a potential multi-bagger, often there are underlying trends that can provide clues. One common...Analysis Article • Oct 13
Are Investors Undervaluing BlackLine, Inc. (NASDAQ:BL) By 23%?
Key Insights The projected fair value for BlackLine is US$72.97 based on 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity BlackLine is...Analysis Article • Oct 01
Getting In Cheap On BlackLine, Inc. (NASDAQ:BL) Is Unlikely
It's not a stretch to say that BlackLine, Inc.'s ( NASDAQ:BL ) price-to-sales (or "P/S") ratio of 5.5x right now seems...Seeking Alpha • Sep 21
BlackLine: Slightly Improved Execution Still Doesn't Warrant My Investment
Summary BlackLine has benefited from the recent rally but struggles with weak fundamentals, remaining down over 10% YTD and underperforming the S&P 500. I'm slightly upgrading the company to a sell rating (from a prior strong sell) due to the company noting stronger pipeline creation, but a number of challenges still remain ahead. The company's ~5x revenue multiple is unfavorable compared to peer software companies growing at a similar pace. Read the full article on Seeking Alpha
New Narrative • Sep 05
Decisive Expansions And AI Integration Promise Growth Amid Market Risks And Margin Pressure
BlackLine's integration of solutions and focus on strong partnerships, like with SAP, aim to boost revenue through upselling and new acquisitions.Analysis Article • Aug 14
BlackLine's (NASDAQ:BL) Promising Earnings May Rest On Soft Foundations
Unsurprisingly, BlackLine, Inc.'s ( NASDAQ:BL ) stock price was strong on the back of its healthy earnings report. We...CEO Compensation Analysis
| Date | Total Compensation | Salary | Company Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 31 2026 | n/a | n/a | US$27m |
| Dec 31 2025 | US$12m | US$524k | US$25m |
| Sep 30 2025 | n/a | n/a | US$76m |
| Jun 30 2025 | n/a | n/a | US$88m |
| Mar 31 2025 | n/a | n/a | US$156m |
| Dec 31 2024 | US$10m | US$496k | US$161m |
| Sep 30 2024 | n/a | n/a | US$127m |
| Jun 30 2024 | n/a | n/a | US$122m |
| Mar 31 2024 | n/a | n/a | US$76m |
| Dec 31 2023 | US$7m | US$399k | US$53m |
| Sep 30 2023 | n/a | n/a | US$42m |
| Jun 30 2023 | n/a | n/a | US$10m |
| Mar 31 2023 | n/a | n/a | -US$31m |
| Dec 31 2022 | US$268k | n/a | -US$29m |
| Sep 30 2022 | n/a | n/a | -US$78m |
| Jun 30 2022 | n/a | n/a | -US$71m |
| Mar 31 2022 | n/a | n/a | -US$86m |
| Dec 31 2021 | US$249k | n/a | -US$115m |
| Sep 30 2021 | n/a | n/a | -US$95m |
| Jun 30 2021 | n/a | n/a | -US$90m |
| Mar 31 2021 | n/a | n/a | -US$73m |
| Dec 31 2020 | US$249k | n/a | -US$47m |
| Sep 30 2020 | n/a | n/a | -US$39m |
| Jun 30 2020 | n/a | n/a | -US$40m |
| Mar 31 2020 | n/a | n/a | -US$37m |
| Dec 31 2019 | US$243k | n/a | -US$33m |
Compensation vs Market: Owen's total compensation ($USD11.61M) is above average for companies of similar size in the US market ($USD5.47M).
Compensation vs Earnings: Owen's compensation has been consistent with company performance over the past year.
CEO
Owen Ryan (62 yo)
less than a year
Tenure
US$11,614,676
Compensation
Mr. Owen M. Ryan, C.P.A., is Co-CEO & Chairman of the Board of Fourq Systems Inc. Mr. Ryan serves as an Independent Director of Lincoln National Corporation since September 11, 2023. He served as Chief Exe...
Leadership Team
| Name | Position | Tenure | Compensation | Ownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chairman & CEO | less than a year | US$11.61m | 0.19% $ 3.4m | |
| Founder & Executive Director | 25.3yrs | US$9.59m | 7.36% $ 132.2m | |
| Chief Financial Officer | 1.2yrs | US$4.23m | 0.064% $ 1.2m | |
| Chief Technology Officer | 2.1yrs | US$4.64m | 0.043% $ 776.7k | |
| Chief Legal & Administrative Officer and Secretary | 10.8yrs | US$4.56m | 0.12% $ 2.2m | |
| Chief Commercial Officer | 1.3yrs | US$6.62m | 0.028% $ 506.2k | |
| Chief Accounting Officer | 1.2yrs | no data | 0.011% $ 202.1k | |
| Chief Information Officer | 2.3yrs | no data | no data | |
| Vice President of Investor Relations | no data | no data | no data | |
| Vice President of Global Corporate Communications | 11.2yrs | no data | no data | |
| Chief Marketing Officer | 2.3yrs | no data | no data | |
| Chief People Officer | 2.7yrs | no data | no data |
2.3yrs
Average Tenure
51yo
Average Age
Experienced Management: BL's management team is considered experienced (2.3 years average tenure).
Board Members
| Name | Position | Tenure | Compensation | Ownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chairman & CEO | 7.8yrs | US$11.61m | 0.19% $ 3.4m | |
| Founder & Executive Director | 24.8yrs | US$9.59m | 7.36% $ 132.2m | |
| Member of Advisory Board | 15.2yrs | US$269.00k | 0.16% $ 2.9m | |
| Member of Advisory Board | 15.2yrs | no data | no data | |
| Lead Independent Director | 1.7yrs | US$262.54k | 0.021% $ 380.2k | |
| Independent Director | 1.2yrs | US$275.03k | 0.0011% $ 20.1k | |
| Member of Advisory Board | 15.2yrs | no data | no data | |
| Independent Director | 5.1yrs | US$247.98k | 0.011% $ 204.5k | |
| Independent Director | 7.1yrs | US$254.98k | 0.016% $ 286.6k | |
| Independent Director | 3.3yrs | US$264.86k | 0.013% $ 239.0k | |
| Independent Director | 6.2yrs | US$259.98k | 0.026% $ 475.2k | |
| Independent Director | 2.2yrs | US$254.39k | 0.20% $ 3.5m |
6.6yrs
Average Tenure
59yo
Average Age
Experienced Board: BL's board of directors are considered experienced (6.6 years average tenure).
Company Analysis and Financial Data Status
| Data | Last Updated (UTC time) |
|---|---|
| Company Analysis | 2026/05/11 08:46 |
| End of Day Share Price | 2026/05/11 00:00 |
| Earnings | 2026/03/31 |
| Annual Earnings | 2025/12/31 |
Data Sources
The data used in our company analysis is from S&P Global Market Intelligence LLC. The following data is used in our analysis model to generate this report. Data is normalised which can introduce a delay from the source being available.
| Package | Data | Timeframe | Example US Source * |
|---|---|---|---|
| Company Financials | 10 years |
| |
| Analyst Consensus Estimates | +3 years |
|
|
| Market Prices | 30 years |
| |
| Ownership | 10 years |
| |
| Management | 10 years |
| |
| Key Developments | 10 years |
|
* Example for US securities, for non-US equivalent regulatory forms and sources are used.
Unless specified all financial data is based on a yearly period but updated quarterly. This is known as Trailing Twelve Month (TTM) or Last Twelve Month (LTM) Data. Learn more.
Analysis Model and Snowflake
Details of the analysis model used to generate this report is available on our Github page, we also have guides on how to use our reports and tutorials on Youtube.
Learn about the world class team who designed and built the Simply Wall St analysis model.
Industry and Sector Metrics
Our industry and section metrics are calculated every 6 hours by Simply Wall St, details of our process are available on Github.
Analyst Sources
BlackLine, Inc. is covered by 25 analysts. 14 of those analysts submitted the estimates of revenue or earnings used as inputs to our report. Analysts submissions are updated throughout the day.
| Analyst | Institution |
|---|---|
| Robert Oliver | Baird |
| Daniel Jester | BMO Capital Markets Equity Research |
| null null | BMO Capital Markets Equity Research |