Core Insights - Workday, Inc. plans to announce its fiscal 2026 first quarter financial results on May 22, 2025, after market close [1] - A conference call will be held at 1:30 p.m. Pacific Time to discuss the financial results and business outlook [1] Company Overview - Workday is an AI platform designed for managing people, money, and agents, with AI at its core [3] - The platform serves over 11,000 organizations globally, including more than 60% of the Fortune 500 [3]

Core Viewpoint - Workday's stock performance has shown resilience, with a recent increase and positive projections for upcoming financial results, indicating potential growth opportunities in the human resources software sector [1][2]. Company Performance - Workday's stock closed at $243.39, reflecting a +1.49% change from the previous day, outperforming the S&P 500's gain of 0.58% [1]. - Over the past month, Workday shares have appreciated by 2.69%, surpassing the Computer and Technology sector's gain of 0.6% and the S&P 500's loss of 0.84% [1]. Financial Projections - The upcoming EPS for Workday is projected at $1.99, representing a 14.37% increase year-over-year [2]. - Revenue is expected to reach $2.22 billion, marking an 11.34% increase from the same quarter last year [2]. - For the full year, analysts anticipate earnings of $8.41 per share and revenue of $9.48 billion, reflecting changes of +15.21% and +12.21% respectively from the previous year [3]. Analyst Estimates - Changes in analyst estimates for Workday are crucial as they reflect short-term business trends and analysts' confidence in the company's performance [4]. - The Zacks Consensus EPS estimate has decreased by 1% in the past month, and Workday currently holds a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold) [6]. Valuation Metrics - Workday has a Forward P/E ratio of 28.51, which is higher than the industry average of 25.98 [6]. - The PEG ratio for Workday stands at 1.46, indicating a favorable growth outlook compared to the Internet - Software industry average PEG ratio of 2.2 [7]. Industry Context - The Internet - Software industry, part of the Computer and Technology sector, has a Zacks Industry Rank of 143, placing it in the bottom 43% of over 250 industries [8].

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported Q1 2025 adjusted EPS of $1.57 and adjusted EBITDA of $102 million, which fell below guidance due to higher than expected benefits costs [5][6] - The average number of paid worksite employees increased by 0.7% year-over-year to 306,023, but growth was slightly below guidance due to delays and cancellations in new client starts [5][6] - Gross profit per worksite employee decreased to $338 per month from $378 in Q1 2024, attributed to an 8.4% increase in benefits costs per covered employee [6][9] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Client retention improved to 91% in Q1 2025 from 88% in Q1 2024, indicating strong client loyalty despite market challenges [20] - Client net hiring was slightly positive but significantly weaker compared to historical norms [6][20] - The company experienced a 3% increase in worksite employees paid from new client sales compared to Q1 2024, despite overall hiring challenges [5][6] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - A client survey indicated that 66% of respondents expect the economic climate to negatively affect their business, up from 29% in January [16] - The percentage of clients expecting to add employees in the coming quarter decreased to 34% from 43% [16] - The Northeast region showed better results compared to other areas, but overall trends were consistent across the nation [70] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focusing on mitigating benefits cost challenges through pricing adjustments and plan design changes, with a forecasted benefits cost per covered employee range of 6.5% to 7.5% for the full year [10][35] - The strategic partnership with Workday is a key focus, with a go-to-market plan established to target mid-market businesses, which is expected to significantly drive growth starting in 2026 [30][31] - The company aims to leverage the Workday partnership to enhance service offerings and client engagement, particularly for businesses with 150 to 5,000 employees [88] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed disappointment over the unexpected rise in benefits costs but remains optimistic about future profitability improvements in 2026 [10][64] - The company anticipates a modest improvement in worksite employee growth throughout the year, barring significant changes in the macroeconomic environment [36] - Management noted that the current period of uncertainty is less likely to be a temporary spike, suggesting a more cautious approach to forecasting [86] Other Important Information - Operating expenses were managed slightly below budget, with a 2% increase year-over-year, primarily due to investments in the Workday partnership [11][12] - The company returned $23 million in cash dividends and repurchased 224,000 shares at a cost of $19 million in Q1 [12] - The effective tax rate for the quarter was 29%, consistent with the previous year [12] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you elaborate on the onboarding pauses mentioned in Q1? - Management noted a dramatic reversal in small business optimism due to government actions, leading to delays and cancellations in onboarding new clients [40][41] Question: What is the expected cadence of spending for the Workday partnership? - The company anticipates stable spending throughout the year, with costs expected to decrease in subsequent years as the project matures [45][48] Question: What actions from Washington could improve customer sentiment? - Management believes that stabilizing the tax system and regulatory environment could significantly boost confidence among clients [53][54] Question: How quickly can pricing adjustments be made in response to healthcare costs? - Pricing changes are already being implemented, with expectations for improved margins as the year progresses [63][64] Question: Are there regional or industry differences in healthcare costs and hiring hesitancy? - The company has observed better results in the Northeast, but overall trends are consistent across the nation [70] Question: What is the expected profitability from the Workday partnership? - Management anticipates higher upfront pricing and ongoing revenue contributions from the new joint solution, though specific figures are still being analyzed [78][79]

Core Insights - Tech companies are increasingly investing in cloud software vendors, showcasing a trend of collaboration among them [1] - Veza has successfully raised $108 million in a financing round, with a valuation exceeding $800 million [2] - Snowflake has utilized Veza's software for access management, highlighting the importance of controlling data access to mitigate security risks [3] Group 1: Investment Trends - Major tech firms like Google, Amazon, Microsoft, and Nvidia are making significant investments in AI startups, while cloud software vendors are also becoming aggressive in corporate investing [1] - The collaboration among software vendors, as seen in Veza's funding round, indicates a strategic shift towards collective investment efforts [1] Group 2: Veza's Business Model - Veza's software assists companies in managing employee access to various internal technologies, which is crucial for maintaining security [2][3] - The company has integrated with over 250 technologies, enhancing its value proposition in the market [4] Group 3: Security and Access Management - Snowflake's use of Veza emphasizes the need for effective access management to prevent over-provisioning, which can lead to increased security risks [3] - The ability to manage permissions for new hires and departures is a key feature of Veza's software, allowing for better control over corporate data access [3]

Company Performance - Workday's stock closed at $224.87, reflecting a +1.76% change from the previous trading day's close, outperforming the S&P 500's daily gain of 1.67% [1] - Over the past month, Workday shares have decreased by 12.59%, which is worse than the Computer and Technology sector's loss of 9.93% and the S&P 500's loss of 6.57% [1] Upcoming Earnings - Workday's upcoming EPS is projected at $1.99, indicating a 14.37% increase compared to the same quarter last year [2] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenue is $2.22 billion, representing an 11.34% increase from the year-ago period [2] Annual Estimates - For the annual period, earnings are anticipated at $8.42 per share and revenue at $9.48 billion, reflecting increases of +15.34% and +12.28% respectively from the previous year [3] Analyst Estimates - Recent changes to analyst estimates for Workday often reflect shifting short-term business dynamics, with upward revisions indicating analysts' positive outlook on the company's operations [4] Zacks Rank - Workday currently holds a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold), with a 0.9% decline in the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate over the past month [6] Valuation Metrics - Workday's Forward P/E ratio is 26.25, which is higher than the industry average of 24.08 [7] - The PEG ratio for Workday is 1.35, compared to the average PEG ratio of 1.96 for Internet - Software stocks [7] Industry Ranking - The Internet - Software industry, part of the Computer and Technology sector, has a Zacks Industry Rank of 79, placing it in the top 32% of all industries [8]

Group 1 - The article expresses a positive view on Workday's business and its growth in the cloud software sector [1] - The author highlights the importance of identifying high-quality companies with strong competitive advantages and solid management for long-term investment [1] - The focus is on companies that have a history of creating shareholder value, indicating a preference for sustainable growth [1] Group 2 - The author has a beneficial long position in Workday, ServiceNow, and HubSpot, indicating confidence in these companies' future performance [1]

Group 1 - The article discusses a positive outlook on Workday (WDAY), highlighting a recommendation for a buy rating based on expected higher multiples due to the company's growth potential [1] - The author emphasizes a fundamentals-based approach to value investing, arguing against the misconception that low multiple stocks are inherently cheap [1] - The focus is on identifying companies with long-term durability, steady growth, and strong balance sheets, while acknowledging the risks associated with overpaying for successful companies [1] Group 2 - The article does not contain any disclosures regarding stock positions or plans to initiate positions in the mentioned companies [2] - It clarifies that the opinions expressed are personal and not influenced by any business relationships with the companies mentioned [2] - The article also notes that past performance does not guarantee future results and that no specific investment advice is being provided [3]

Company Overview - Workday, Inc. (WDAY) shares increased by 10% to close at $231.42, following a period of 13.4% loss over the past four weeks, indicating a strong recovery backed by solid trading volume [1] - The company is experiencing growth due to a diversified product portfolio, particularly in human capital management and financial management solutions across sectors like healthcare, education, and financial services [2] Growth Drivers - Demand for Workday's solutions is rising, and management is focusing on integrating advanced AI and machine learning capabilities, which are expected to enhance operational efficiencies [2] - Ongoing cost discipline and improved efficiencies are contributing positively to the company's performance [2] - Workday is gaining traction in international markets, aided by the U.S. Government's decision to suspend higher tariffs for 90 days for most countries except China, which reduces uncertainty for near-term growth prospects [2] Financial Performance Expectations - Workday is projected to report quarterly earnings of $1.99 per share, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 14.4%, with revenues expected to reach $2.22 billion, up 11.3% from the previous year [3] - The consensus EPS estimate has been revised 1.1% higher over the last 30 days, indicating a positive trend that typically correlates with stock price appreciation [4] Industry Context - Workday operates within the Zacks Internet - Software industry, where other companies like Getty Images Holdings, Inc. (GETY) have shown significant volatility, with GETY's stock closing 13.5% higher recently but having a -33.2% return over the past month [4] - The contrasting performance of companies within the same industry highlights the potential for investment opportunities based on individual company fundamentals [4][5]

Core Insights - Productive Day has launched the NEW Powerhouse Program to enhance workday productivity using its proprietary system, Taskology [1][2] - The initiative aims to help corporate executives, teams, and professionals streamline their work processes and achieve better results [1][2] - Taskology is designed to simplify workload management and improve efficiency by providing straightforward methods for managing tasks, time, email, and information [3][4] Company Overview - Productive Day, founded in 2003, specializes in consulting and training for corporate leaders, teams, and motivated professionals [5] - The company has a track record of helping clients reclaim 1-2 hours of their day and reduce email time by up to 50% [5] - The Powerhouse Program builds on the success of Taskology, which has been effective in delivering lasting results for over two decades [2][5]

Group 1 - Scrumconnect Consulting has signed a partnership agreement with Workday, Inc. to enhance Workday's presence in local government, academia, and the NHS in the UK [2] - Scrumconnect currently supports 16 of the CDDO's top 75 government services, demonstrating its effective user-centered approach [3] - A dedicated Workday Centre of Excellence is being established in Newcastle to assist customers in optimizing their Workday investments [3] Group 2 - As a Workday Partner, Scrumconnect will provide Application Management Services (AMS) in three areas: Build, Run, and Enhance [4] - The company aims to help organizations without in-house Workday expertise by supporting configuration, integration, and data management [4] - Scrumconnect has published a new guide for public sector leaders managing Workday, offering practical advice for post-implementation management [5] Group 3 - Workday Financial Management and Human Capital Management (HCM) provide comprehensive support for financial and people-based processes, enhancing operational visibility and adaptability [6] - Scrumconnect is committed to improving public sector digital services, focusing on user experience and delivering value [7]