Workday Q3 Earnings Beat on Strength in Subscription Services

Core Insights - Workday Inc. reported better-than-expected fiscal third-quarter results with non-GAAP earnings of $2.32 per share, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 19 cents. Revenues increased by 12.6% year over year to $2.43 billion, surpassing estimates by $17 million [1] Segment Performance - Subscription revenues for the fiscal third quarter reached $2.244 billion, reflecting a 15% year-over-year growth. The company consistently outperformed estimates, with net sales exceeding the expected $2.23 billion [2] AI Integration and Growth Drivers - The adoption of AI solutions is significantly boosting Workday's offerings, with over 75% of customers utilizing Workday Illuminate AI, leading to over 1 billion AI actions on the platform. More than 75% of new deals and 35% of expansion deals included AI products, highlighting the importance of digital transformation across sectors [3] Industry Traction - Workday experienced strong growth in sectors such as technology, media, healthcare, and financial services. Healthcare has become the sixth industry to generate $1 billion in annual recurring revenue for Workday, with notable customer acquisitions including Ardent Health and Bayer [4] Financial Metrics - The 12-month subscription revenue backlog stood at $8.21 billion, up 17.6% year over year, while total subscription backlog reached $25.96 billion, increasing by 17%. Gross revenue retention remained high at 97% [5] Cost Structure - Sales and marketing expenses rose to $677 million from $620 million year-over-year, while general and administrative expenses increased to $234 million from $198 million. Subscription service costs also grew to $395 million from $329 million [6] Cash Flow and Debt - Workday generated $588 million in cash from operations in the fiscal third quarter, compared to $406 million in the previous year. The company had $2.6 billion in cash and cash equivalents and $2.98 billion in long-term debt as of October 31, 2024 [7] Share Buyback Program - In fiscal 2025, Workday repurchased 3.4 million shares for $803 million, with $4.4 billion remaining under its buyback program [8] Future Guidance - For the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026, Workday anticipates subscription service revenues of $2.35 billion, indicating a 15% growth. The company expects a non-GAAP operating margin of 28.5% [11] - For fiscal 2026, subscription revenues are projected to reach $8.82 billion, reflecting a 14% year-over-year growth, with a non-GAAP operating margin of 29% [12] - The company expects AI-driven investments and the first phase of delivery to the Department of Intelligence to contribute significantly to growth [13]