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Autodesk, Inc.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 25 November 2025: press release. Guidance figures: 7 raised, 3 new, 2 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue grew 18 percent: Revenue was $1,853 million, up 18 percent as reported and in constant currency, compared with $1,570 million a year earlier. Source
  • Net income and EPS rose: GAAP diluted EPS was $1.60, up $0.33; net income was $343 million against $275 million. Non-GAAP EPS was $2.67, up $0.50. Source
  • AECO led the product families: AECO revenue was $921 million, up 23 percent in both reported and constant-currency terms, and was the largest of the four primary product families. Source
  • Operating margin rose to 25 percent: GAAP operating margin was 25 percent, up 3 points; non-GAAP operating margin was 38 percent, up 1 point. Stock-based compensation was 10 percent of revenue. Source
  • Unbilled deferred revenue grew fastest: Unbilled deferred revenue, covering contracted early renewals and multi-year billing plans not yet recognized, grew faster than deferred revenue and total RPO. Source
  • Operating cash flow rose to $439 million: Operating cash flow was $439 million, up 110 percent. Free cash flow was $430 million, up 116 percent, after $9 million of capital expenditures. Source
  • Repurchases more than doubled over nine months: Repurchases of common stock totaled $1,071 million for the nine months, against $443 million a year earlier. Source

“We're defining the AI revolution for design and make, empowering customers with new task, workflow and system automations, and capturing shared value through subscription, consumption, and outcomes-based business models that blend human and machine capabilities,”

Andrew Anagnost, Autodesk president and CEO

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Revenue SourceQ4 FY26 (ending January 31, 2026)$1,901 - $1,917 millionNew
EPS GAAP SourceQ4 FY26 (ending January 31, 2026)$1.40 - $1.57New
EPS non-GAAP SourceQ4 FY26 (ending January 31, 2026)$2.59 - $2.67New
Billings SourceFY26 (ending January 31, 2026)$7,465 - $7,525 millionRaised from $7,355 - $7,445 million
Revenue SourceFY26 (ending January 31, 2026)$7,150 - $7,165 millionRaised from $7,025 - $7,075 million
GAAP operating margin SourceFY26 (ending January 31, 2026)~23%Raised from 21% - 22%
Non-GAAP operating margin SourceFY26 (ending January 31, 2026)~37.5%Raised from ~37%
EPS GAAP SourceFY26 (ending January 31, 2026)$5.16 - $5.33Raised from $4.68 - $5.09
EPS non-GAAP SourceFY26 (ending January 31, 2026)$10.18 - $10.25Raised from $9.80 - $9.98
Free cash flow SourceFY26 (ending January 31, 2026)$2,260 - $2,290 millionRaised from $2,200 - $2,275 million
Capital expenditures SourceFY26 (ending January 31, 2026)approximately $50 millionKept
Non-GAAP tax rate SourceFY26 and Q4 FY2619 percentKept
Restructuring and related cash outflows SourceFY26 (ending January 31, 2026)approximately $115 million

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Full-year FY26 guidance raised for billings, revenue, GAAP and non-GAAP margins, EPS, and free cash flow, with a higher discrete cash benefit. Source
  • New guidance: Fourth-quarter FY26 guidance given for revenue and EPS; the previous release gave only third-quarter guidance. Source

Quarter results and growth drivers

  • Revenue grew 18 percent: Revenue was $1,853 million, up 18 percent as reported and in constant currency, compared with $1,570 million a year earlier. Source
  • Net income and EPS rose: GAAP diluted EPS was $1.60, up $0.33; net income was $343 million against $275 million. Non-GAAP EPS was $2.67, up $0.50. Source
  • Operating income rose to $470 million: Income from operations was $470 million against $346 million a year earlier. Interest and other was a $2 million loss in the quarter. Source

Regions and product types

  • EMEA grew 23 percent: EMEA revenue was $715 million, up 23 percent (22 percent in constant currency). Americas was $820 million, up 16 percent; APAC was $318 million, up 12 percent. Source
  • Constant-currency effects differed by region: Constant-currency growth was above reported growth in Americas and APAC and below reported growth in EMEA. Source
  • Design revenue rose 19 percent: Design revenue was $1,537 million, up 19 percent, and Make revenue was $205 million, up 20 percent. Other revenue was $111 million, up 7 percent. Source

“The macroeconomic environment has been broadly stable though uncertainty remains elevated, and we have so far successfully executed our sales and marketing optimization plan.”

Janesh Moorjani, Autodesk CFO

Product families and customers

  • AECO led the product families: AECO revenue was $921 million, up 23 percent in both reported and constant-currency terms, and was the largest of the four primary product families. Source
  • AutoCAD and MFG grew 15 and 16 percent: AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT revenue was $458 million, up 15 percent. Manufacturing (MFG) revenue was $355 million, up 16 percent. Source
  • Media and Entertainment grew 4 percent: Media and Entertainment revenue was $86 million, up 4 percent (3 percent in constant currency). Other product family revenue was $33 million, up 6 percent. Source

Costs, margins and expenses

  • Operating margin rose to 25 percent: GAAP operating margin was 25 percent, up 3 points; non-GAAP operating margin was 38 percent, up 1 point. Stock-based compensation was 10 percent of revenue. Source
  • Marketing and sales expense rose: Marketing and sales expense was $612 million against $525 million a year earlier. Research and development was $416 million against $378 million. Source
  • Restructuring costs were $5 million: Restructuring, other exit costs, and facility reductions were $5 million in the quarter and $116 million for the nine months, against none a year earlier. Source
  • Cost of revenue rose to $165 million: Total cost of revenue was $165 million against $147 million; total operating expenses were $1,218 million against $1,077 million. Source

Billings, deferred revenue and order book

  • Unbilled deferred revenue grew fastest: Unbilled deferred revenue, covering contracted early renewals and multi-year billing plans not yet recognized, grew faster than deferred revenue and total RPO. Source
  • Current RPO covers twelve months: Current RPO is defined as the revenue the company expects to recognize in the next twelve months. Source
  • Unbilled deferred revenue sits off balance sheet: Under ASC Topic 606, unbilled deferred revenue is not included as a receivable or deferred revenue on the Consolidated Balance Sheet. Source

Cash flow, debt and buybacks

  • Operating cash flow rose to $439 million: Operating cash flow was $439 million, up 110 percent. Free cash flow was $430 million, up 116 percent, after $9 million of capital expenditures. Source
  • Repurchases more than doubled over nine months: Repurchases of common stock totaled $1,071 million for the nine months, against $443 million a year earlier. Source
  • Debt raised and partly repaid: The company received $499 million of debt proceeds and repaid $300 million over the nine months. Long-term notes payable, net, were $2,482 million. Source
  • Cash balance rose over nine months: Cash and cash equivalents were $1,989 million at October 31, 2025, against $1,599 million at January 31, 2025. Source

Coming up, as management said on 25 November 2025

  • Fourth quarter and full-year figures: Guidance for the fourth quarter and fiscal 2026, ending January 31, 2026, takes account of current economic and currency conditions. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Remaining performance obligations Source$7,361 million, up 20%
Current remaining performance obligations Source$4,830 million, up 20%
Deferred revenue Source$3,846 million, up 5%
Unbilled deferred revenue Source$3,515 million, up 43%
Billings Source$1,855 million, up 21%
Subscription revenue Source$1,734 million in the quarter; $1,457 million a year earlier
Make (cloud-based) revenue Source$205 million, up 20%

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Ahead: Management said up-front revenue, the Autodesk Store and billings linearity exceeded expectations in the quarter. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.