Workday (NASDAQ:WDAY) rose over 5% premarket on Wednesday after activist investor Elliott Investment Management said it has built a stake of more than $2 billion in the human resources software provider. “Elliott is one of Workday's largest investors, with an investment ...

格隆汇9月17日｜据路透，激进投资者Elliott Management周二宣布，已斥资逾20亿美元入股人力资源软 件供应商Workday，并公开支持该公司现有的领导团队。Elliott对Workday的首席执行官和首席财务官表 达赞赏，称公司近年来取得了长足的进步，并形容管理团队经验丰富且运作有效。Elliott同时表示，与 Workday的沟通十分顺畅，对公司在财务分析师日提出的多年发展计划充满信心，认为该计划将为股东 带来可观的长期价值。 ...

Group 1 - Activist investor Elliott Management has acquired a stake exceeding $2 billion in Workday, expressing support for the company's leadership [1][2] - Workday's stock experienced a 9% increase prior to the market opening on Wednesday [1] - Elliott Management commended Workday's CEO and CFO for their effective management and strong progress in recent years [1][2] Group 2 - Elliott Management is optimistic about the multi-year plan presented at Workday's Financial Analyst Day, believing it will create significant long-term value for shareholders [2] - Workday acknowledged Elliott's support but did not provide details on specific initiatives [2] Group 3 - Workday announced a $1.1 billion acquisition of AI firm Sana, marking its third AI-related acquisition in less than two months [3] - The company is facing increased competition in the HR software sector, with rivals actively pursuing acquisitions to enhance market share and integrate AI technology into their offerings [3]

Core Insights - Elliott Investment Management L.P. holds a significant investment of over $2 billion in Workday, Inc. and expresses confidence in the company's leadership and growth potential [1] - The firm believes that the plan announced at the Financial Analyst Day will enhance Workday's operating model and capital allocation framework, driving long-term value creation for shareholders [1] Company Overview - Workday is recognized as a unique software franchise with industry-leading growth potential and best-in-class customer retention [1] - The management team, including CEO Carl Eschenbach and CFO Zane Rowe, has made substantial progress in recent years [1] Investment Management Context - Elliott manages approximately $76.1 billion in assets as of June 30, 2025, and is one of the oldest funds under continuous management [2] - The investor base of Elliott includes pension plans, sovereign wealth funds, endowments, foundations, high net worth individuals, and employees of the firm [2]

Summary of Key Points from the Conference Call Company Overview - The company discussed its unique position in the software industry, particularly in the context of the transition from on-premises software to cloud-based solutions and SaaS models [1][2] - The company has seen significant growth in its user base, increasing from 46 million contracted users to 75 million over the past five years [4] AI and Software Growth - The company highlighted the expanding opportunities in AI, stating that 75% of existing customers are using AI features, and 75% of new customers are purchasing AI as their first product [6] - AI-related annual contract value (ACV) has grown from over $250 million to more than $450 million, representing a 50% year-over-year increase [7] - The company emphasized that AI is integral to its product offerings and is driving growth, contributing approximately 1.5 percentage points to overall annual recurring revenue (ARR) growth [8] Talent Acquisition and Leadership - The company has made significant hires in leadership positions to drive growth, including a new GM for the medium enterprise segment and a former Google executive to lead the platform business [12][13] - The collaboration between new and existing talent is noted as a key strength for future growth [12] Financial Performance and Projections - The company expects to achieve over $8.8 billion in revenue for the current year, up from just under $6 billion in 2023 [37] - Non-GAAP operating margins are projected to increase from just over 20% in FY2023 to 29% by the end of the current year [41] - The company has set a target for subscription revenue CAGR through FY2028 to range from 12% to 15% [54] Capital Allocation and Share Buybacks - The company announced a $5 billion share buyback program through FY2027, emphasizing its commitment to returning capital to shareholders [59][62] - The focus remains on organic investment, particularly in AI, while also considering M&A opportunities that align with its strategic goals [66][67] Market Expansion and New Offerings - The company is focusing on expanding its presence in the medium enterprise market and has launched Workday Go to cater to this segment [33][90] - A new consumption-based pricing model called flex credits was introduced, allowing customers to pay based on usage, which is expected to enhance customer value and capture revenue [88] Data Integrity and AI Differentiation - The company is investing in improving data integrity and context, which is crucial for effective AI implementation in enterprise settings [93][96] - The unique architecture of Workday allows for the integration of AI into business processes, enhancing operational efficiency and effectiveness [84][96] Conclusion - The company is optimistic about its future, citing strong customer loyalty, innovative capabilities, and a robust growth strategy [15][16] - The leadership team is committed to driving durable growth while expanding operating margins, positioning the company for long-term success in the evolving software landscape [15][41]

Growth & Financials - Workday expects to add $1 billion in net new subscription revenue each year from FY23 to FY26E, reaching $8.8 billion in FY26E[46] - The company anticipates a Non-GAAP operating margin of 29% in FY26E, a 3 percentage point increase from 20.1% in FY23[49] - Workday projects stock-based compensation expense as a percentage of revenue to be approximately 17% in FY26E, a decrease of ~1 percentage point from 21% in FY23[52] - The company aims for a subscription revenue CAGR of 13%-14% through FY28 and a Non-GAAP operating margin of ~35% in FY28[55] - Workday intends to execute $5 billion in share repurchases through FY27[55, 56] AI & Product Innovation - Over 75 million users are under contract on the Workday platform[23, 24, 149] - More than 75% of net-new customer wins include one or more AI products[26] - Over 30% of customer expansions include one or more AI products[26] - Emerging Agentic AI SKUs are experiencing growth exceeding 200% year-over-year[33, 35] Market Expansion - Medium Enterprise customers account for over 50% of new customer ACV[44, 174] - The company is seeing ~20% FINS+ subscription revenue growth[44]

Core Insights - Workday is acquiring AI company Sana for $1.1 billion to enhance its human resources platform with AI capabilities [1][2] - The acquisition aims to provide AI agents for automating repetitive tasks, creating presentations, and searching company data [2][3] - Sana's products, including Sana Learn and Sana Agents, have over 1 million users and will continue to be developed under Workday [3][4] Company Strategy - Workday's president highlighted that Sana's AI-native approach aligns with their vision to transform the future of work [2][3] - The acquisition is part of Workday's strategy to enhance user experience by delivering personalized and intelligent AI capabilities [3][4] - Recent collaborations, such as with Zuora, indicate Workday's focus on integrating advanced technologies to improve financial management and billing processes [4][5] Industry Trends - There is a growing belief among workers that generative AI can enhance productivity, with 82% of frequent users supporting this view [5] - Concerns about job displacement are rising, particularly among regular users of generative AI, with 50% fearing it could eliminate their jobs [6][7] - As familiarity with generative AI increases, workers are becoming more aware of its potential risks, impacting their perceptions of job security [6][7]

Core Insights - Workday Inc. has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Sana, an AI company, for approximately $1.1 billion, aiming to enhance its enterprise knowledge tools [1][4] - The acquisition is expected to accelerate Sana's growth and innovation, allowing it to continue developing its products, including Sana Learn and Sana Agents [2][4] - Workday plans to integrate knowledge, data, actions, and learning into a single interface, creating what it describes as the "work experience of the future" [3][4] Financial Details - Workday will acquire all outstanding shares of Sana for about $1.1 billion, with the deal expected to close in the fourth quarter of Workday's fiscal 2026 [4] - As of July 31, 2025, Workday reported cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities totaling $8.19 billion [5] Strategic Initiatives - The acquisition will leverage Workday's data on people and finances, along with its partner ecosystem, to provide a more personalized employee experience [3][4] - More than 15 portfolio companies from Workday Ventures have joined its Agent Partner Network, integrating AI agents into the Workday Marketplace [6]

SPECIAL REPORT: Here's The Most Trusted Company For Investing Workday (WDAY) on Tuesday said it has agreed to buy artificial intelligence startup Sana in a $1.1 billion deal. The software maker hosts an analyst day for Workday stock late Tuesday. Sana sells an AI-native platform for learning and knowledge management. Workday and other software makers are rolling out autonomous, goal-driven AI "agents" that complete tasks on their own. YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Software industry incumbents such as Workday, Servic ...

Group 1 - Workday, a human resources software provider, announced its acquisition of artificial intelligence firm Sana for approximately $1.1 billion [1]