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Autodesk, Inc.: Q4 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 26 February 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 10 new, 1 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Fourth quarter revenue rose 19 percent: Q4 revenue was $1,957 million, up 19 percent as reported and in constant currency, from $1,639 million a year earlier. Source
  • Diluted EPS rose in both measures: Q4 GAAP diluted EPS was $1.48, up $0.08; non-GAAP diluted EPS was $2.85, up $0.56. Full-year GAAP diluted EPS was $5.23 and non-GAAP $10.43, up $1.96. Source
  • AECO was largest family, up 22 percent: Q4 AECO revenue was $975 million, up 22 percent, the largest product family. Fiscal 2026 AECO revenue was $3,583 million, also up 22 percent. Source
  • Margins: GAAP flat, non-GAAP higher: Q4 GAAP operating margin was 22 percent, unchanged. Non-GAAP operating margin was 38 percent, up 1 point. Full-year non-GAAP operating margin was 38 percent, up 2 points. Source
  • Q4 billings rose 33 percent: Q4 billings were $2,804 million, up 33 percent, faster than revenue growth in the same quarter. Source
  • Remaining performance obligations grew 20 percent: Remaining performance obligations were $8,300 million, up 20 percent. Current RPO, revenue expected within twelve months, was $5,479 million, up 23 percent. Source
  • Q4 operating cash flow rose 43 percent: Q4 operating cash flow was $989 million, up 43 percent, and free cash flow was $972 million, up 43 percent, after $17 million of capital expenditures. Source

“Few companies have all these advantages. Autodesk does. It is not a coincidence.”

Andrew Anagnost, CEO of Autodesk

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Revenue SourceQ1 FY27 (ending April 30, 2026)$1,885 - $1,900 millionNew
EPS GAAP SourceQ1 FY27 (ending April 30, 2026)$1.68 - $1.83New
EPS non-GAAP SourceQ1 FY27 (ending April 30, 2026)$2.82 - $2.86New
Billings SourceFY27 (ending January 31, 2027)$8,480 - $8,580 millionNew
Revenue SourceFY27 (ending January 31, 2027)$8,100 - $8,170 millionNew
GAAP operating margin SourceFY27 (ending January 31, 2027)26% - 28%New
Non-GAAP operating margin SourceFY27 (ending January 31, 2027)38.5% - 39%New
EPS GAAP SourceFY27 (ending January 31, 2027)$7.76 - $8.39New
EPS non-GAAP SourceFY27 (ending January 31, 2027)$12.29 - $12.56New
Free cash flow SourceFY27 (ending January 31, 2027)$2,700 - $2,800 millionNew
Capital expenditures SourceFY27 (ending January 31, 2027)approximately $50 millionKept

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: Full-year fiscal 2027 guidance was given for billings, revenue, operating margins, EPS and free cash flow. Source
  • New guidance: First-quarter fiscal 2027 guidance was given for revenue and EPS. Source
  • Ended: The fiscal 2026 guidance period ended January 31, 2026; this release reports actual results for it.
  • New: The key performance metrics list now adds subscriptions, which the prior release's list did not include. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Fourth quarter revenue rose 19 percent: Q4 revenue was $1,957 million, up 19 percent as reported and in constant currency, from $1,639 million a year earlier. Source
  • Full-year revenue rose 18 percent: Fiscal 2026 revenue was $7,206 million, up 18 percent as reported and in constant currency, from $6,131 million in fiscal 2025. Source
  • Diluted EPS rose in both measures: Q4 GAAP diluted EPS was $1.48, up $0.08; non-GAAP diluted EPS was $2.85, up $0.56. Full-year GAAP diluted EPS was $5.23 and non-GAAP $10.43, up $1.96. Source
  • Operating income rose on both bases: Q4 income from operations was $431 million, against $366 million. Non-GAAP income from operations was $750 million, against $608 million. Source

Segments and regions

  • Design, Make and Other all grew: Q4 Design revenue was $1,609 million, up 19 percent. Make was $218 million, up 24 percent as reported and 23 percent in constant currency. Other was $130 million, up 21 percent. Source
  • EMEA led quarterly regional growth: EMEA revenue was $777 million, up 25 percent as reported and 23 percent in constant currency. Americas was $847 million, up 16 percent; APAC was $333 million, up 16 percent. Source
  • APAC full-year growth trailed other regions: Fiscal 2026 APAC revenue was $1,234 million, up 11 percent as reported and 14 percent in constant currency, against 17 percent for Americas and 21 percent for EMEA. Source

“We delivered another strong quarter, highlighted by outperformance in AECO, particularly in construction and emerging markets”

Janesh Moorjani, Autodesk CFO

Products and product families

  • AECO was largest family, up 22 percent: Q4 AECO revenue was $975 million, up 22 percent, the largest product family. Fiscal 2026 AECO revenue was $3,583 million, also up 22 percent. Source
  • AutoCAD, MFG and M&E quarterly growth: Q4 AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT revenue was $478 million, up 17 percent. MFG was $381 million, up 20 percent. M&E was $90 million, up 7 percent, or 8 percent in constant currency. Source
  • Full-year AutoCAD and MFG growth: Fiscal 2026 AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT revenue was $1,787 million, up 14 percent. MFG was $1,379 million, up 16 percent, or 17 percent in constant currency. Source

Costs, margins and taxes

  • Margins: GAAP flat, non-GAAP higher: Q4 GAAP operating margin was 22 percent, unchanged. Non-GAAP operating margin was 38 percent, up 1 point. Full-year non-GAAP operating margin was 38 percent, up 2 points. Source
  • Restructuring charges increased: Restructuring, other exit costs, and facility reductions were $100 million in Q4, against $15 million a year earlier, and $216 million for fiscal 2026. Source
  • Marketing and sales spend increased: Marketing and sales expense was $636 million in Q4, against $526 million, and $2,373 million for fiscal 2026, against $2,000 million. Research and development was $420 million, against $393 million. Source
  • Tax provision increased: The GAAP provision for income taxes was $129 million in Q4, against $69 million, and $479 million for fiscal 2026, against $272 million. Source

Demand and order book

  • Q4 billings rose 33 percent: Q4 billings were $2,804 million, up 33 percent, faster than revenue growth in the same quarter. Source
  • Fiscal billings rose 30 percent: Fiscal 2026 billings were $7,771 million, up 30 percent. Source
  • Remaining performance obligations grew 20 percent: Remaining performance obligations were $8,300 million, up 20 percent. Current RPO, revenue expected within twelve months, was $5,479 million, up 23 percent. Source

Cash flow and shareholder returns

  • Q4 operating cash flow rose 43 percent: Q4 operating cash flow was $989 million, up 43 percent, and free cash flow was $972 million, up 43 percent, after $17 million of capital expenditures. Source
  • Full-year free cash flow rose 54 percent: Fiscal 2026 operating cash flow was $2,452 million, up 53 percent, and free cash flow was $2,409 million, up 54 percent, after $43 million of capital expenditures. Source
  • Share repurchases rose in fiscal 2026: Repurchase and retirement of common stock totaled $1,402 million in fiscal 2026, against $852 million a year earlier. Source
  • Debt issued and repaid in year: Cash and cash equivalents were $2,249 million, up from $1,599 million. The company issued $499 million of debt and repaid $300 million in fiscal 2026. Source

Strategy and AI

  • Agentic AI needs data and expertise: Management said building agentic AI for the real world requires specialized data, context and expertise. Source
  • Scaling AI needs platform and models: Management said scaling and monetizing that AI requires a platform, next-generation business models and go-to-market. Source
  • Building the future and path: Management said Autodesk is building the future and the path to it. Source

Coming up, as management said on 26 February 2026

  • First quarter fiscal 2027 closes April 30: The first quarter of fiscal 2027 ends April 30, 2026, and the company gave revenue and EPS guidance for it in this release. Source
  • Investor materials available on website: An investor presentation, Excel financials and supplemental materials are posted on the investor relations website. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Deferred revenue Source$4,693 million, up 14 percent
Unbilled deferred revenue Source$3,607 million, up 28 percent
Subscription revenue SourceQ4 $1,819 million (prior year $1,522 million); fiscal 2026 $6,743 million (prior year $5,717 million)

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: Management said fiscal 2027 guidance includes prudence for temporary risk to billings and revenue as the sales optimization plan is operationalized. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Ahead: Management said EBA and product subscription billings, billings linearity and up-front revenue exceeded expectations during the quarter. Source
  • Not stated: Management referred to preparing for and working toward the cloud and AI for more than a decade. 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.