--- ticker: PTC company: PTC Inc. filing_type: 10-K year_current: 2023 year_prior: 2022 risks_added: 1 risks_removed: 2 risks_modified: 8 risks_unchanged: 11 source: SEC EDGAR url: https://riskdiff.com/ptc/2023-vs-2022/ markdown_url: https://riskdiff.com/ptc/2023-vs-2022/index.md generated: 2026-05-11 --- # PTC Inc.: 10-K Risk Factor Changes 2023 vs 2022 > Source: U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (EDGAR) > Generated: 2026-05-11 > All data extracted directly from official filings. No hallucinated content. > **[AI-Generated Summary]** The paragraph below was produced by a language > model and may contain errors. All other content on this page is deterministically > extracted from the original SEC filing. > PTC consolidated its risks related to operating results volatility and stock price decline into a single, more direct formulation focused on meeting market expectations. The company substantively modified 8 of 22 risks, with particular emphasis on intellectual property and proprietary rights protections, suggesting heightened concern about these competitive vulnerabilities. Net additions were minimal (1 new risk offset by 2 removals), indicating PTC refined existing risk disclosures rather than identifying materially new threat categories. --- ## Summary | Status | Count | |--------|-------| | New risks added | 1 | | Risks removed | 2 | | Risks modified | 8 | | Unchanged | 11 | --- ## New in Current Filing: If our results of operations do not meet market or analysts' expectations, our stock price could decline. Our quarterly operating results fluctuate depending on many factors, including the effect of ASC 606 on revenue recognition for the on-premises software subscriptions we offer, variability in the timing of start dates for our subscription and SaaS offerings, length of contracts, and renewals, and significant unexpected expenses in a quarter. Accordingly, our quarterly results are difficult to predict and we may 15 Table of Contents Table of Contents be unable to confirm or adjust expectations with respect to our operating results for a quarter until that quarter has closed. If our quarterly operating results do not meet market or analysts' expectations, our stock price could decline. --- ## No Match in Current: Our credit facility has variable interest tied to LIBOR and we could become subject to higher interest rates if the replacement rate we agree on with our banks is higher. *This section from the 2022 filing does not have a high-confidence textual match in 2023. It may have been removed, merged, or substantially reworded.* Borrowings under our revolving credit facility use the London Interbank Offering Rate (LIBOR) as a benchmark for establishing the interest rate. On March 5, 2021, the Intercontinental Exchange Benchmark Administration, the U.K. Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) regulated and authorized administrator of LIBOR, announced, and the FCA confirmed, that one week and two-month USD LIBOR settings will cease on December 31, 2021, and that the USD LIBOR panel for all other tenors will cease on June 30, 2023. 16 Table of Contents Table of Contents The credit facility provides a mechanism pursuant to which we and the administrative agent may agree, under certain circumstances, to transition to an alternate base rate borrowing or amend the credit facility to establish an alternate interest rate to LIBOR that includes consideration of the then-prevailing market convention for determining interest rates for syndicated loans in the United States at that time. Although we believe the alternative rates will not materially increase the rates on our credit facility, the final agreed rate may increase the cost of our variable rate indebtedness. --- ## No Match in Current: Our operating results fluctuate from quarter to quarter, making future operating results difficult to predict; failure to meet market expectations could cause the price of our securities to decline. *This section from the 2022 filing does not have a high-confidence textual match in 2023. It may have been removed, merged, or substantially reworded.* Our quarterly operating results historically have fluctuated and are likely to continue to fluctuate depending on many factors, including: •our adoption of Accounting Standards Update 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers: Topic 606 in 2019 creates significant revenue volatility; our adoption of Accounting Standards Update 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers: Topic 606 in 2019 creates significant revenue volatility; •variability in our contracts, including timing of start dates, length of contracts, and mix of on-premises and cloud-based purchases, which would impact our revenue and earnings; variability in our contracts, including timing of start dates, length of contracts, and mix of on-premises and cloud-based purchases, which would impact our revenue and earnings; •the rate at which our existing contracts renew or churn; the rate at which our existing contracts renew or churn; •a significant percentage of our orders comes from transactions with large customers, which tend to have long lead times that are less predictable; a significant percentage of our orders comes from transactions with large customers, which tend to have long lead times that are less predictable; •because our operating expenses are largely fixed in the short term and are based on expected bookings, any failure to achieve our bookings targets could cause us to miss our near term earnings and cash flow targets; because our operating expenses are largely fixed in the short term and are based on expected bookings, any failure to achieve our bookings targets could cause us to miss our near term earnings and cash flow targets; •because a significant portion of our revenue and expenses are generated from outside the U.S., shifts in foreign currency exchange rates have had and could continue to have an adverse effect on our reported results; and because a significant portion of our revenue and expenses are generated from outside the U.S., shifts in foreign currency exchange rates have had and could continue to have an adverse effect on our reported results; and •we may incur significant expenses in a quarter in connection with corporate development initiatives, restructuring efforts or the investigation, defense or settlement of legal actions that would increase our operating expenses and reduce our earnings for the quarter in which those expenses are incurred. we may incur significant expenses in a quarter in connection with corporate development initiatives, restructuring efforts or the investigation, defense or settlement of legal actions that would increase our operating expenses and reduce our earnings for the quarter in which those expenses are incurred. Accordingly, our quarterly results are difficult to predict prior to the end of the quarter and we may be unable to confirm or adjust expectations with respect to our operating results for a quarter until that quarter has closed. Any failure to meet our quarterly revenue or earnings expectations could adversely impact the market price of our securities. --- ## Modified: Intellectual property infringement claims could be asserted against us, which could be expensive to defend, could result in limitations on our use of the claimed intellectual property, and could adversely affect our business and prospects. **Key changes:** - Reworded sentence: "We have faced such lawsuits from time to time." - Removed sentence: "14 Table of Contents Table of Contents" **Prior (2022):** The software industry is characterized by frequent litigation regarding copyright, patent and other intellectual property rights. If a lawsuit of this type is filed, it could result in significant expense to us and divert the efforts of our technical and management personnel. We cannot be sure that we would prevail against any such asserted claims. If we did not prevail, we could be prevented from using the claimed intellectual property or be required to enter into royalty or licensing agreements, which might not be available on terms acceptable to us. In addition to possible claims with respect to our proprietary products, some of our products contain technology developed by and licensed from third parties and we may likewise be susceptible to infringement claims with respect to these third-party technologies. 14 Table of Contents Table of Contents **Current (2023):** The software industry is characterized by frequent litigation regarding copyright, patent and other intellectual property rights. We have faced such lawsuits from time to time. Any such claim could result in significant expense to us and divert the efforts of our technical and management personnel. We cannot be sure that we would prevail against any such asserted claims. If we did not prevail, we could be prevented from using the claimed intellectual property or be required to enter into royalty or licensing agreements, which might not be available on terms acceptable to us. In addition to possible claims with respect to our proprietary products, some of our products contain technology developed by and licensed from third parties and we may likewise be susceptible to infringement claims with respect to these third-party technologies. --- ## Modified: We may be unable to adequately protect our proprietary rights, which could adversely affect our business and our prospects. **Key changes:** - Reworded sentence: "If our measures to protect our intellectual property rights fail, others may be able to use those rights, which could reduce our competitiveness and adversely affect our business, financial condition, operating results, and prospects." **Prior (2022):** Our software products are proprietary. We protect our intellectual property rights in these items by relying on copyrights, trademarks, patents and common law safeguards, including trade secret protection, as well as restrictions on disclosures and transferability contained in our agreements with other parties. Despite these measures, the laws of all relevant jurisdictions may not afford adequate protection to our products and other intellectual property. In addition, we frequently encounter attempts by individuals and companies to pirate our software. If our measures to protect our intellectual property rights fail, others may be able to use those rights, which could reduce our competitiveness and revenues. In addition, any legal action to protect our intellectual property rights that we may bring or be engaged in could be costly, may distract management from day-to-day operations and may lead to additional claims against us, and we may not succeed, all of which would materially adversely affect our operating results. **Current (2023):** Our software products are proprietary. We protect our intellectual property rights in these items by relying on copyrights, trademarks, patents and common law safeguards, including trade secret protection, as well as restrictions on disclosures and transferability contained in our agreements with other parties. Despite these measures, the laws of all relevant jurisdictions may not afford adequate protection to our products and other intellectual property. In addition, we frequently encounter attempts by individuals and companies to pirate our software. If our measures to protect our intellectual property rights fail, others may be able to use those rights, which could reduce our competitiveness and adversely affect our business, financial condition, operating results, and prospects. In addition, any legal action to protect our intellectual property rights that we may bring or be engaged in could be costly, may distract management from day-to-day operations and may lead to additional claims against us, and we may not succeed, all of which could adversely affect our business, financial condition, operating results, and prospects. --- ## Modified: We may incur significant debt or issue a material amount of debt or equity securities to finance an acquisition, which could adversely affect our operating flexibility, business and prospects. **Key changes:** - Reworded sentence: "The increases in these expenses and in our leverage could constrain our ability to operate as we might otherwise or to borrow additional amounts and could adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, and prospects." **Prior (2022):** If we were to incur a significant amount of debt - whether by borrowing funds under our credit facility or otherwise or issuing new debt securities - to finance an acquisition, our interest expense, debt service requirements and leverage would increase significantly. The increases in these expenses and in our leverage could constrain our ability to operate as we might otherwise or to borrow additional amounts. If we were to issue a significant amount of equity securities in connection with an acquisition, existing stockholders would be diluted and earnings per share could decrease. **Current (2023):** If we were to incur a significant amount of debt - whether by borrowing funds under our credit facility or otherwise or issuing new debt securities - to finance an acquisition, our interest expense, debt service requirements and leverage would increase significantly. The increases in these expenses and in our leverage could constrain our ability to operate as we might otherwise or to borrow additional amounts and could adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, and prospects. If we were to issue a significant amount of equity securities in connection with an acquisition, existing stockholders would be diluted and our stock price could decline. --- ## Modified: Businesses we acquire may not generate the sales and earnings we anticipate and may otherwise adversely affect our business and prospects. **Key changes:** - Reworded sentence: "If we fail to successfully integrate and manage the businesses and technologies we acquire, if an acquisition does not further our business strategy or return a level of sales as we expect, or if a business we acquire has unexpected legal or financial liabilities, our business, financial condition, results of operations, and prospects could be adversely affected." - Reworded sentence: "Further, if we do not achieve the expected return on our investments, it could impair the intangible assets and goodwill that we recorded as part of an acquisition, which could require us to record a reduction to the value of those assets." **Prior (2022):** We have acquired, and intend to continue to acquire, new businesses and technologies. If we fail to successfully integrate and manage the businesses and technologies we acquire, if an acquisition does not further our business strategy as we expect, or if a business we acquire has unexpected legal or financial liabilities, our operating results will be adversely affected. The types of issues that we may face in integrating and operating the acquired business include: •difficulties managing an acquired company's technologies or lines of business or entering new markets where we have limited or no prior experience or where competitors may have stronger market positions; difficulties managing an acquired company's technologies or lines of business or entering new markets where we have limited or no prior experience or where competitors may have stronger market positions; •unanticipated operating difficulties in connection with the acquired entities, including potential declines in revenue of the acquired entity; unanticipated operating difficulties in connection with the acquired entities, including potential declines in revenue of the acquired entity; •complications relating to the assumption of pre-existing contractual relationships of an acquired company that we would not have otherwise entered into, the termination or modification of which may be costly or disruptive to our business; complications relating to the assumption of pre-existing contractual relationships of an acquired company that we would not have otherwise entered into, the termination or modification of which may be costly or disruptive to our business; •issuing equity awards to, or assuming existing equity awards of, acquired employees, which may more rapidly deplete share reserves available under our shareholder-approved equity incentive plans; issuing equity awards to, or assuming existing equity awards of, acquired employees, which may more rapidly deplete share reserves available under our shareholder-approved equity incentive plans; •litigation arising from the transaction, including potential intellectual property claims or disputes following our acquisition; litigation arising from the transaction, including potential intellectual property claims or disputes following our acquisition; •diversion of management and employee attention; diversion of management and employee attention; •challenges with implementing adequate and appropriate controls, procedures and policies in an acquired business; challenges with implementing adequate and appropriate controls, procedures and policies in an acquired business; •potential loss of key personnel in connection with an acquisition; and potential loss of key personnel in connection with an acquisition; and •potential incompatibility of business cultures. potential incompatibility of business cultures. 13 Table of Contents Table of Contents Further, if we do not achieve the expected return on our investments, it could impair the intangible assets and goodwill that we recorded as part of an acquisition, which could require us to record a reduction to the value of those assets. **Current (2023):** We have acquired, and intend to continue to acquire, new businesses and technologies. If we fail to successfully integrate and manage the businesses and technologies we acquire, if an acquisition does not further our business strategy or return a level of sales as we expect, or if a business we acquire has unexpected legal or financial liabilities, our business, financial condition, results of operations, and prospects could be adversely affected. The types of issues that we may face in integrating and operating the acquired business include: •difficulties managing an acquired company's technologies or lines of business or entering new markets where we have limited or no prior experience or where competitors may have stronger market positions; difficulties managing an acquired company's technologies or lines of business or entering new markets where we have limited or no prior experience or where competitors may have stronger market positions; •unanticipated operating difficulties in connection with the acquired entities, including potential declines in sales of the acquired entity; unanticipated operating difficulties in connection with the acquired entities, including potential declines in sales of the acquired entity; •complications relating to the assumption of pre-existing contractual relationships of an acquired company that we would not have otherwise entered into, the termination or modification of which may be costly or disruptive to our business; complications relating to the assumption of pre-existing contractual relationships of an acquired company that we would not have otherwise entered into, the termination or modification of which may be costly or disruptive to our business; •litigation arising from the transaction, including potential intellectual property claims or disputes following an acquisition; litigation arising from the transaction, including potential intellectual property claims or disputes following an acquisition; •diversion of management and employee attention; diversion of management and employee attention; •challenges with implementing adequate and appropriate controls, procedures and policies in an acquired business; challenges with implementing adequate and appropriate controls, procedures and policies in an acquired business; •potential loss of key personnel in connection with an acquisition; and potential loss of key personnel in connection with an acquisition; and •potential incompatibility of business cultures. potential incompatibility of business cultures. Further, if we do not achieve the expected return on our investments, it could impair the intangible assets and goodwill that we recorded as part of an acquisition, which could require us to record a reduction to the value of those assets. --- ## Modified: Our international businesses present economic and operating risks, which could adversely affect our business and prospects. **Key changes:** - Reworded sentence: "Other risks inherent in our international operations include, but are not limited to, the following: •difficulties in staffing and managing foreign sales and development operations; difficulties in staffing and managing foreign sales and development operations; •exposure of our operations and employees to political instability and armed conflict in the countries and regions in which we operate, including Israel; exposure of our operations and employees to political instability and armed conflict in the countries and regions in which we operate, including Israel; •increased financial accounting and reporting burdens and complexities; increased financial accounting and reporting burdens and complexities; •increased regulatory and compliance risks; increased regulatory and compliance risks; •inadequate local infrastructure; and inadequate local infrastructure; and •greater difficulty in protecting our intellectual property." **Prior (2022):** We expect that our international operations will continue to expand and to account for a significant portion of our total revenue. Because we transact business in various foreign currencies, the volatility of foreign exchange rates has had and may in the future have a material adverse effect on our revenue, expenses and operating results. Other risks inherent in our international operations include, but are not limited to, the following: •difficulties in staffing and managing foreign sales and development operations; difficulties in staffing and managing foreign sales and development operations; •increased financial accounting and reporting burdens and complexities; increased financial accounting and reporting burdens and complexities; •increased regulatory and compliance risks; increased regulatory and compliance risks; •inadequate local infrastructure; and inadequate local infrastructure; and •greater difficulty in protecting our intellectual property. greater difficulty in protecting our intellectual property. **Current (2023):** We expect that our international operations will continue to expand and to account for a significant portion of our total revenue. Because we transact business in various foreign currencies, the volatility of foreign exchange rates has had and may in the future have a material adverse effect on our revenue, expenses and operating results. Other risks inherent in our international operations include, but are not limited to, the following: •difficulties in staffing and managing foreign sales and development operations; difficulties in staffing and managing foreign sales and development operations; •exposure of our operations and employees to political instability and armed conflict in the countries and regions in which we operate, including Israel; exposure of our operations and employees to political instability and armed conflict in the countries and regions in which we operate, including Israel; •increased financial accounting and reporting burdens and complexities; increased financial accounting and reporting burdens and complexities; •increased regulatory and compliance risks; increased regulatory and compliance risks; •inadequate local infrastructure; and inadequate local infrastructure; and •greater difficulty in protecting our intellectual property. greater difficulty in protecting our intellectual property. --- ## Modified: We may be unable to hire or retain employees with the necessary skills to operate and grow our business, which could adversely affect our ability to compete and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, and prospects. **Key changes:** - Reworded sentence: "Our success depends upon our ability to attract and retain highly skilled employees to develop our products and solutions and to operate and grow our business." **Prior (2022):** Our success depends upon our ability to attract and retain highly skilled managerial, sales and marketing, technical, financial and administrative personnel to operate and grow our business. Competition for such personnel in our industry is intense, particularly in the Boston, Massachusetts area where our global headquarters is located. The technical personnel required to develop our products and solutions are in high demand. If we are unable to attract and retain technical personnel with the requisite skills, our product and solution development efforts could be delayed, which could adversely affect our ability to compete and thereby adversely affect our revenues and profitability. The managerial, sales and marketing, financial and administrative personnel necessary to guide our operations, market and sell our solutions and support our business operations are also in high demand due to intense competition in our industry. If we are unable to attract and retain the personnel we need to develop compelling products and solutions, and guide, operate and support our business, we may be unable to successfully compete, which would adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. **Current (2023):** Our success depends upon our ability to attract and retain highly skilled employees to develop our products and solutions and to operate and grow our business. Competition for such employees in our industry is intense worldwide, and particularly in the Boston, Massachusetts area where our global headquarters is located. If we are unable to attract and retain employees with the requisite skills to develop our products and solutions, or to guide, operate and support our business, we may be unable to compete successfully, which would adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, and prospects. 10 Table of Contents Table of Contents --- ## Modified: We face significant competition, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition, operating results, and prospects if we are unable to successfully compete. **Key changes:** - Reworded sentence: "If we are unable to provide products and solutions that address customers' needs as well as our competitors' products and solutions do, or to align our pricing, licensing and delivery models with customer preferences, we could lose customers and/or fail to attract new customers, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition, operating results, and prospects." **Prior (2022):** The markets for our products and solutions are rapidly changing and characterized by intense competition, disruptive technology developments, evolving distribution models and increasingly lower barriers to entry. If we are unable to provide products and solutions that address customers' needs as well as our competitors' products and solutions do, or to align our pricing, licensing and delivery models with customer preferences, we could lose customers and/or fail to attract new customers, which could cause us to lose revenue and market share. For example, the COVID-19 pandemic caused companies worldwide to close their offices and their employees to have to work remotely from their homes, and there remains uncertainty about the extent to which employees will return to the office in the long term. This has focused companies on the need for solutions that empower and support remote work by employees. We believe customers and potential customers will increasingly seek software solutions that support remote work by employees. Although many of our solutions support remote work, others are less efficient at doing so. We have embarked on an effort to make our solutions available on a SaaS platform; however, this will require significant effort and investment and we cannot be sure that we will be able to make our solutions available as SaaS solutions as quickly as we expect or that customers will adopt them as we expect. If we are unable to compete successfully with competitors offering SaaS solutions, we could lose customers and/or fail to attract new customers, which could cause us to lose revenue and market share, which would adversely affect our business and financial results. In addition, competitive pressures could cause us to reduce our prices, which could reduce our revenue and margins. Our current and potential competitors range from large and well-established companies to emerging start-ups. Some of our competitors and potential competitors have greater name recognition in the markets we serve and greater financial, technical, sales and marketing, and other resources, which could limit our ability to gain customer recognition and confidence in our products and solutions and successfully sell our products and solutions, which could adversely affect our ability to grow our business. **Current (2023):** The markets for our products and solutions are rapidly changing and characterized by intense competition, disruptive technology developments, evolving distribution models and increasingly lower barriers to entry. If we are unable to provide products and solutions that address customers' needs as well as our competitors' products and solutions do, or to align our pricing, licensing and delivery models with customer preferences, we could lose customers and/or fail to attract new customers, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition, operating results, and prospects. For example, customer demand for SaaS solutions is increasing. While our Arena, ServiceMax, and Onshape solutions are cloud-native SaaS solutions, and we have introduced our Windchill+, Creo+, and Kepware+ SaaS solutions, customers may not adopt them as we expect. If we are unable to compete successfully with competitors offering SaaS solutions, we could lose customers and/or fail to attract new customers, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition, operating results, and prospects. Our current and potential competitors range from large and well-established companies to emerging start-ups. Some of our competitors and potential competitors have greater name recognition in the markets we serve and greater financial, technical, sales and marketing, and other resources, which could limit our ability to gain customer recognition and confidence in our products and solutions and successfully sell our products and solutions, which could adversely affect our ability to grow our business. --- ## Modified: If we fail to successfully transform our operations to support the sale of SaaS solutions and to develop competitive SaaS solutions, our business and prospects could be adversely affected. **Key changes:** - Reworded sentence: "Transforming our business to offer and support SaaS solutions requires considerable additional investment in our organization." **Prior (2022):** Becoming a SaaS company requires considerable additional investment in our organization. Whether our transition will be successful and will accomplish our business and financial objectives is subject to uncertainties, including but not limited to: customer demand, attach and renewal rates, channel adoption, our ability to further develop and scale infrastructure, our ability to include functionality and usability in such offerings that address customer requirements, and our costs. If we are unable to successfully establish these new offerings and navigate our business transition due to these risks and uncertainties, our business and financial results could be adversely impacted. **Current (2023):** Transforming our business to offer and support SaaS solutions requires considerable additional investment in our organization. Whether we will be successful and will accomplish our business and financial objectives is subject to risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to: customer demand, attach and renewal rates, channel adoption, our ability to further develop and scale infrastructure, our ability to include functionality and usability in such offerings that address customer requirements, our ability and the ability of our partners to transition existing customer implementations and subscriptions to SaaS, and our costs. If we are unable to successfully establish these new offerings and navigate our business transition, our business, financial condition, results of operations, and prospects could be adversely affected. --- *Data sourced from SEC EDGAR. Last updated 2026-05-11.*