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Autodesk, Inc.: Q1 FY2027 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2027, from the documents filed with the SEC on 28 May 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 6 raised, 3 new, 1 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Q1 revenue grew 18 percent: First quarter revenue reached $1.934 billion, growing 18 percent year over year as reported and 16 percent on constant currency basis, driven by solid execution across all regions and products. Source
  • Operating cash flow surged 58 percent: Operating cash flow increased 58 percent year over year to $893 million, with free cash flow reaching $876 million, also up 58 percent, reflecting strong cash conversion. Source
  • AECO products led with 20 percent growth: Architecture, Engineering, Construction, and Operations product family revenue reached $970 million, growing 20 percent year over year and 18 percent in constant currency, outperforming other segments. Source
  • GAAP operating margin expanded 14 points: GAAP operating margin reached 28 percent, improving 14 percentage points year over year from 14 percent prior year, demonstrating operational leverage and cost discipline. Source
  • Remaining performance obligations grew 9 percent: Total remaining performance obligations reached $7.808 billion, growing 9 percent year over year, indicating contracted future revenue and business momentum. Source
  • MaintainX acquisition announced for operations: Autodesk announced acquisition of MaintainX to advance unified operations platform, supporting focus on durable long-term growth and shareholder value. Impact will be included in guidance after transaction closes. Source
  • AI strategy emphasizes data and expertise: CEO stated customers require AI with outputs accurate in real world, requiring data, context, and expertise that Autodesk possesses at scale through parametric and physics-based 3D technology. Source
  • Full-year guidance raised across metrics: Management raised fiscal 2027 guidance reflecting first quarter strength. FY27 revenue raised to $8.155 - $8.215 billion from $8.100 - $8.170 billion, and EPS guidance also increased. Source

“Our customers need AI that produces outputs that are accurate in the real world. That requires data, context, and expertise. Each one is scarce and what differentiates Autodesk is that we have all three at scale.”

Andrew Anagnost, CEO

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Revenue Sourcesecond quarter of fiscal 2027$2,005 - $2,015 millionNew
EPS (GAAP) Sourcesecond quarter of fiscal 2027$1.84 - $1.97New
EPS (non-GAAP) Sourcesecond quarter of fiscal 2027$3.10 - $3.14New
Billings Sourcefiscal 2027$8,505 - $8,580 millionRaised from $8,480 - $8,580 million
Revenue Sourcefiscal 2027$8,155 - $8,215 millionRaised from $8,100 - $8,170 million
GAAP operating margin Sourcefiscal 202726% - 28%Kept
Non-GAAP operating margin Sourcefiscal 2027~39%Raised from 38.5% - 39%
EPS (GAAP) Sourcefiscal 2027$8.07 - $8.63Raised from $7.76 - $8.39
EPS (non-GAAP) Sourcefiscal 2027$12.40 - $12.65Raised from $12.29 - $12.56
Free cash flow Sourcefiscal 2027$2,725 - $2,800 millionRaised from $2,700 - $2,800 million

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: FY27 revenue guidance raised to $8,155 - $8,215 million from $8,100 - $8,170 million. Source
  • Guidance raised: FY27 billings guidance raised to $8,505 - $8,580 million from $8,480 - $8,580 million. Source
  • Guidance raised: FY27 GAAP EPS guidance raised to $8.07 - $8.63 from $7.76 - $8.39. Source
  • Guidance raised: FY27 non-GAAP EPS guidance raised to $12.40 - $12.65 from $12.29 - $12.56. Source
  • New guidance: Q2 FY27 guidance provided for first time: revenue $2,005 - $2,015 million, GAAP EPS $1.84 - $1.97, non-GAAP EPS $3.10 - $3.14. Source
  • New: Autodesk announced acquisition of MaintainX to advance unified platform in operations and build strategic asset supporting long-term growth. Source
  • New: Management emphasized AI strategy centered on data, context, and expertise at scale with parametric and physics-based 3D foundation models. Source

Revenue and Billings Growth

  • Q1 revenue grew 18 percent: First quarter revenue reached $1.934 billion, growing 18 percent year over year as reported and 16 percent on constant currency basis, driven by solid execution across all regions and products. Source
  • Billings increased 18 percent YoY: Billings grew 18 percent year over year to $1.688 billion, reflecting strong customer spending and multi-year commitments during the quarter. Source
  • Operating cash flow surged 58 percent: Operating cash flow increased 58 percent year over year to $893 million, with free cash flow reaching $876 million, also up 58 percent, reflecting strong cash conversion. Source

Product and Service Performance

  • AECO products led with 20 percent growth: Architecture, Engineering, Construction, and Operations product family revenue reached $970 million, growing 20 percent year over year and 18 percent in constant currency, outperforming other segments. Source
  • Make products accelerating at 25 percent: Make category revenue of $224 million grew 25 percent year over year in reported terms and 24 percent in constant currency, showing fastest growth. Source
  • AutoCAD maintained strong 15 percent growth: AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT revenue of $474 million grew 15 percent year over year and 14 percent in constant currency, remaining core strength. Source

“Autodesk's assistants and MCP infrastructure provide the harness layer that makes frontier models more controllable, context-aware, and useful continuously through the full lifecycle.”

Andrew Anagnost, CEO

Geographic and Regional Performance

  • EMEA region grew 21 percent: Europe, Middle East, and Africa revenue of $761 million grew 21 percent year over year, representing strongest regional growth rate at 16 percent in constant currency. Source
  • Americas grew 16 percent reported: Americas revenue of $844 million grew 16 percent year over year and 17 percent in constant currency, driving largest absolute revenue contribution. Source
  • APAC region grew 17 percent: Asia-Pacific revenue of $329 million grew 17 percent year over year and 16 percent in constant currency, reflecting consistent emerging market strength. Source

Operating Margin Expansion

  • GAAP operating margin expanded 14 points: GAAP operating margin reached 28 percent, improving 14 percentage points year over year from 14 percent prior year, demonstrating operational leverage and cost discipline. Source
  • Non-GAAP margin held at 39 percent: Non-GAAP operating margin remained at 39 percent, increasing 2 percentage points year over year from 37 percent, reflecting consistent profitability on adjusted basis. Source
  • Diluted EPS grew significantly YoY: GAAP diluted EPS reached $2.32 compared to $1.62 prior year, while non-GAAP diluted EPS reached $2.99 from $0.70 prior year, demonstrating earnings leverage. Source

“Our guidance assumes that the underlying momentum of the business will remain strong and continues to reflect potential disruption from our sales restructuring consistent with the plan we set out in February.”

Janesh Moorjani, CFO

Deferred Revenue and Future Performance

  • Remaining performance obligations grew 9 percent: Total remaining performance obligations reached $7.808 billion, growing 9 percent year over year, indicating contracted future revenue and business momentum. Source
  • Current RPO surged 18 percent YoY: Current remaining performance obligations representing next 12 months grew 18 percent year over year to $5.383 billion, showing strong near-term revenue visibility. Source
  • Deferred revenue increased 13 percent: Deferred revenue totaled $4.457 billion, growing 13 percent year over year, while unbilled deferred revenue reached $3.351 billion, reflecting customer commitments. Source

MaintainX Acquisition and AI Strategy

  • MaintainX acquisition announced for operations: Autodesk announced acquisition of MaintainX to advance unified operations platform, supporting focus on durable long-term growth and shareholder value. Impact will be included in guidance after transaction closes. Source
  • AI strategy emphasizes data and expertise: CEO stated customers require AI with outputs accurate in real world, requiring data, context, and expertise that Autodesk possesses at scale through parametric and physics-based 3D technology. Source
  • Infrastructure enabling frontier AI models: Company building agentic AI through assistants and MCP infrastructure providing harness layer to make frontier models controllable, context-aware, and useful through full lifecycle. Source

Fiscal 2027 Guidance Raised

  • Full-year guidance raised across metrics: Management raised fiscal 2027 guidance reflecting first quarter strength. FY27 revenue raised to $8.155 - $8.215 billion from $8.100 - $8.170 billion, and EPS guidance also increased. Source
  • Billings guidance raised to midpoint: FY27 billings guidance raised to $8.505 - $8.580 billion from $8.480 - $8.580 billion, raising the low end to reflect strong momentum. Source
  • Free cash flow guidance raised: FY27 free cash flow guidance increased to $2.725 - $2.800 billion from $2.700 - $2.800 billion, reflecting cash generation strength. Source

Sales Reorganization and Execution

  • Sales reorganization proceeding as planned: CFO noted sales reorganization is proceeding as expected with underlying momentum remaining strong. Guidance continues to reflect potential disruption from sales restructuring consistent with February plan. Source
  • Strong execution on business momentum: Management delivered strong first quarter results with solid execution of plans and consistent momentum in markets, supporting confidence in raising full-year guidance. Source

Coming up, as management said on 28 May 2026

  • MaintainX acquisition to close: Autodesk expects MaintainX acquisition to close and will include transaction impact in guidance following completion of the deal. Source
  • Q2 FY27 results in August: Company provided Q2 FY27 guidance with revenue of $2.005 - $2.015 billion, GAAP EPS of $1.84 - $1.97, and non-GAAP EPS of $3.10 - $3.14. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Deferred revenue Source$4,457 million (13% YoY growth)
Unbilled deferred revenue Source$3,351 million (4% YoY growth)
Remaining Performance Obligations (RPO) Source$7,808 million (9% YoY growth)
Current RPO (next 12 months) Source$5,383 million (18% YoY growth)

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: Sales restructuring and transaction model implementation may cause temporary disruption to billings and revenue despite underlying business momentum. Source
  • Operational: Company must maintain security levels and service performance meeting customer expectations with resources and costs required to prevent downtime and detect breaches. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • On track: CFO confirmed sales reorganization is proceeding as expected with plans set out in February. Source
  • On track: Management assumes underlying business momentum will remain strong as reflected in raised fiscal 2027 guidance. Source
  • On track: Management noted MaintainX acquisition will bring strategic asset to support focus on durable long-term growth and shareholder value creation. 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.