Pros
This company has maintained product technology leadership for over 4 decades in the Industrial Space. Their strategy of having close relationships with Key Industrial Executives is also an outstanding one. The move in 2009 to opening up tokens to the entire portfolio was a brilliant move that revolutionized the business. Mark Fusco, former CEO, was an awesome talent that turned the company around from one that had in prior years had ethical challenges and was delisted from the exchange, to a re-listing with NASDAQ. He Opened up the tokens to the portfolio and as a result, both cash flow and market cap exploded.
Cons
Their sales turnover has always been a de-motivator and indeed, it has not helped their business either, as customers do not like constant churn of their key sales contacts. They always, for decades, over-do the plan/target numbers for sales (each year) and many times they are simply not achievable and sales people who are selling and doing a good job, but either without the account base or a sold-out account base, are unable to hit plan and even lose their jobs. That is a losing strategy. The Plan/target numbers should be led by bottoms up, not top down head-in-the-clouds dreaming that are not in touch with market reality. Top talent has left many times for this reason. Hurting AspenTech's success, because this is -if nothing else- a SELLER's company. Given the base of outstanding products, the Sellers keep this company alive more than any other facet and should be paid, cared for, and looked after as the existential asset they are. AspenTech has always been top-heavy with regards to titles and leaders, and they need more do-ers, and less 'leaders'.