NASDAQ$WDAY

Workday Inc A · Q4 2023 earnings

Q4 2023 earnings · · Investor relations

Briefing

Announced Q4 2023 and full year financial results, demonstrating growth in total revenues and subscription revenues.

Workday reported a solid Q4 2023 with total revenues of $1.65 billion, up 19.6% year-over-year, and subscription revenues of $1.50 billion, up 21.7% year-over-year. The company's 24-month subscription revenue backlog reached $9.68 billion, a 21.3% increase year-over-year, and the total subscription revenue backlog was $16.45 billion, up 28.4% year-over-year.

  • Total revenues increased by 19.6% year-over-year to $1.65 billion.
  • Subscription revenues grew by 21.7% year-over-year to $1.50 billion.
  • 24-month subscription revenue backlog increased by 21.3% year-over-year to $9.68 billion.
  • Total subscription revenue backlog increased by 28.4% year-over-year to $16.45 billion.

Headline financials

Total Revenue

$1.65B

Previous: $1.38B+19.6%
EPS (adj)

$0.99

Previous: $0.78+26.9%
Total subscription revenue backlog

$16.5B

Previous: $12.8B+28.4%
12-month subscription revenue backlog

$9.68B

Previous: $7.98B+21.3%
Net Income

-$126M

Previous: -$73.3M-71.6%
Operating Income

-$89M

Previous: -$101M+11.9%
Gross Profit

$1.19B

Previous: $986M+20.9%
Cash & Equivalents

$1.89B

Previous: $1.53B+23.0%
Total Assets

$13.5B

Previous: $10.5B+28.5%
Stock-Based Comp

$361M

Previous: $292M+23.5%

Revenue & EPS history

Workday · Revenue · Quarterly

$1.65B

Q4 2023+19.6%vs Q4 2022
Beat estimate in 14 of 15 quarters(93%)
ActualEstimate

Revenue by segment

Workday · $1.65B total across 2 segments · Q4 2023

  • Subscription services
    $1.5B+21.7%
  • Professional services
    $151M+2.6%

Forward guidance

Workday expects fiscal year 2024 subscription revenue to be between $6.525 billion and $6.575 billion, representing growth of 17% to 18%. The company also anticipates a non-GAAP operating margin of 23.0%, which includes a 150 basis point increase resulting from a change in their useful life policy for servers and network equipment.

Tailwinds

  • Maintaining the midpoint of preliminary fiscal year 2024 subscription revenue guidance.
  • Increasing fiscal year 2024 non-GAAP operating margin outlook to the high end.
  • Expecting subscription revenue of $6.525 billion to $6.575 billion, representing 17% to 18% growth.
  • Anticipating non-GAAP operating margin of 23.0%, including a 150 basis point increase from a change in useful life policy.
  • Strong fourth quarter execution.

Headwinds

  • The environment will remain uncertain in the near-term.
  • Unspecified risks related to macroeconomic events, security measures, service outages, competition, and regulatory factors.
  • Potential delays or reductions in information technology spending.
  • Changes in sales may not be immediately reflected in results due to the subscription model.
  • Any unreleased services, features, or functions are subject to change at Workday’s discretion and may not be delivered as planned or at all.

Historical earnings impact

How earnings announcements have historically affected this stock's price.

Avg. return before/after earnings

Based on 19 quarterly earnings reports · overlaid with Q4 2023

Historical avgQ4 2023

+0.5%

Avg return

Earnings day

-0.4%

Avg return

5 days after

-1.7%

Avg return

30 days after

41%

22 / 54 earnings

Positive

+20.5%

Q4 2016

Best reaction

-15.3%

Q3 2017

Worst reaction

Earnings price reactions
QuarterReport dateReaction (Day 0)+5 days+30 days
Q1 2027-4.6%-7.6%-12.9%
Q4 2026-0.2%+2.9%-4.6%
Q3 2026-3.0%-8.7%-5.6%
Q2 2026-2.8%+0.9%+2.7%
Q1 2026-12.4%-11.8%-12.5%
Q4 2025+6.2%-0.3%-6.6%
Q3 2025-5.3%-6.6%+0.6%
Q2 2025+11.3%+13.3%+6.3%
Q1 2025-15.0%-17.1%-15.7%
Q4 2024-3.5%-4.6%-10.5%
Q3 2024+11.7%+15.7%+17.1%
Q2 2024+2.9%+5.0%+0.3%
Q1 2024+10.1%+6.6%+13.3%
Q4 2023+1.3%+4.6%+8.3%
Q3 2023+15.6%+17.7%+15.5%
Q2 2023+3.8%+2.4%-5.7%
Q1 2023-3.5%-5.0%-7.6%
Q4 2022+6.7%+6.7%+7.3%
Q3 2022-4.8%-8.8%-9.0%
Q2 2022+9.4%+11.0%+9.1%
Q1 2022-3.1%-3.3%+2.7%
Q4 2021-6.7%-5.6%-5.0%
Q3 2021-6.4%-4.7%+8.0%
Q2 2021+14.2%+13.2%+1.0%
Q1 2021+8.4%+5.7%+11.4%
Q4 2020-1.2%-5.0%-22.3%
Q3 2020-3.8%-3.3%-2.6%
Q2 2020-4.3%-5.6%-9.0%
Q1 2020-3.6%-3.1%-2.1%
Q4 2019-4.2%-7.8%-2.3%
Q3 2019+12.5%+13.2%+9.4%
Q2 2019-8.0%-6.2%-9.6%
Q1 2019-4.2%-2.3%-8.1%
Q4 2018-0.9%+2.7%-0.5%
Q3 2018-10.2%-15.8%-11.3%
Q2 2018+5.1%+4.2%+0.9%
Q1 2018+4.4%+2.7%-3.0%
Q4 2017-7.5%-6.4%-5.7%
Q3 2017-15.3%-12.8%-21.6%
Q2 2017+6.7%+4.3%+12.0%
Q1 2017+1.8%+5.4%-1.8%
Q4 2016+20.5%
Q3 2016-0.7%
Q2 2016+7.6%
Q1 2016-11.0%
Q4 2015-4.7%
Q3 2015-6.1%
Q2 2015-5.4%
Q1 2015+7.3%
Q4 2014+16.9%
Q3 2014+11.5%
Q2 2014-1.6%
Q1 2014-3.4%
Q4 2013-3.2%
Q3 2013
Q2 2012
Q1 2012
Q4 2011
Q3 2011

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