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Appian Corp.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 5 November 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 4 raised, 4 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Total revenue rose 25%: Total revenue was $234.6 million, up 25% from the third quarter of 2025, when it was $187.0 million. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA reached $43.4 million: Adjusted EBITDA was $43.4 million, against $32.2 million. Nine-month adjusted EBITDA was $86.2 million, against $57.1 million. Source
  • Cloud subscriptions revenue rose 20%: Cloud subscriptions revenue was $136.4 million, up 20% from the third quarter of 2025 and up from $131.7 million in the second quarter. Source
  • Cloud net ARR expansion reached 120%: Cloud net ARR expansion was 120% as of September 30, 2026, up from 115% as of June 30, 2026, as stated in the second-quarter release. Source
  • Non-GAAP operating income rose: Non-GAAP operating income was $40.6 million, against $29.8 million. Nine-month non-GAAP operating income was $78.6 million, against $49.7 million. Source
  • Operating cash flow negative in quarter: Net cash used by operating activities was $(15.4) million for the quarter, compared with $18.7 million provided in the same period of 2025. Source
  • Share repurchases of $83.0 million: Repurchases of common stock were $83.0 million over nine months, against $20.0 million. Treasury shares were 3,157,662 at September 30, 2026. Source

“Cloud subscriptions revenue increased 20% year-over-year to $136.4 million.”

Appian Corp., press release

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Cloud subscriptions revenue Sourcefourth quarter 2026$143.0 million to $145.0 millionNew
Total revenue Sourcefourth quarter 2026$233.0 million to $237.0 millionNew
Adjusted EBITDA Sourcefourth quarter 2026$30.0 million to $33.0 millionNew
Non-GAAP earnings per share Sourcefourth quarter 2026$0.30 to $0.34New
Cloud subscriptions revenue Sourcefull year 2026$536.0 million to $538.0 million, growth of 23%Raised from $525.0 million to $529.0 million, growth of 20% to 21%
Total revenue Sourcefull year 2026$873.0 million to $877.0 million, an increase of 20% to 21%Raised from $845.0 million to $853.0 million, an increase of 16% to 17%
Adjusted EBITDA Sourcefull year 2026$116.0 million to $119.0 millionRaised from $104.0 million to $110.0 million
Non-GAAP earnings per share Sourcefull year 2026$1.20 to $1.24, assuming 73.5 million weighted average common sharesRaised from $1.04 to $1.12, assuming 73.2 million weighted average common shares

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Full-year 2026 guidance raised for cloud subscriptions revenue, total revenue, adjusted EBITDA and non-GAAP EPS, compared with the August 6, 2026 release. Source
  • New guidance: Fourth-quarter 2026 guidance is given in this release; the August 6, 2026 release gave third-quarter guidance only. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Total revenue rose 25%: Total revenue was $234.6 million, up 25% from the third quarter of 2025, when it was $187.0 million. Source
  • GAAP operating income increased: GAAP operating income was $21.3 million, against $13.1 million a year earlier. Nine-month GAAP operating income was $19.0 million, against $1.3 million. Source
  • GAAP diluted EPS rose: GAAP net income was $12.3 million, or $0.17 per diluted share, against $7.8 million, or $0.10. Nine-month GAAP result was a net loss of $(1.0) million. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA reached $43.4 million: Adjusted EBITDA was $43.4 million, against $32.2 million. Nine-month adjusted EBITDA was $86.2 million, against $57.1 million. Source

Revenue mix and cloud growth

  • Total subscriptions revenue grew 28%: Total subscriptions revenue was $187.8 million. Nine-month subscriptions revenue was $505.7 million, against $414.2 million. Source
  • Cloud subscriptions revenue rose 20%: Cloud subscriptions revenue was $136.4 million, up 20% from the third quarter of 2025 and up from $131.7 million in the second quarter. Source
  • Professional services revenue grew 18%: Professional services revenue was $46.9 million, up 18%. Nine-month professional services revenue was $134.3 million, against $109.9 million. Source
  • Cloud net ARR expansion reached 120%: Cloud net ARR expansion was 120% as of September 30, 2026, up from 115% as of June 30, 2026, as stated in the second-quarter release. Source

“Cloud net annualized recurring revenue (“ARR”) expansion was 120% as of September 30, 2026.”

Appian Corp., press release

Operating costs and non-GAAP items

  • Total operating expenses increased: Total GAAP operating expenses were $149.9 million, against $123.2 million. Sales and marketing was $65.8 million and research and development was $50.6 million. Source
  • Stock-based compensation rose: Stock-based compensation expense was $12.6 million in the quarter, against $10.3 million. Litigation Expense was $4.7 million, against $2.1 million. Source
  • Professional services costs increased: Professional services cost of revenue was $37.3 million, against $29.0 million. Total cost of revenue was $63.5 million, against $50.7 million. Source
  • JPI and lease charges declined: JPI Amortization was $1.7 million, against $3.2 million. Lease Impairment and Lease-Related Charges were $0.3 million, against $1.1 million. Source

Non-GAAP profit measures

  • Non-GAAP operating income rose: Non-GAAP operating income was $40.6 million, against $29.8 million. Nine-month non-GAAP operating income was $78.6 million, against $49.7 million. Source
  • Non-GAAP EPS was $0.51: Non-GAAP net income was $37.1 million, or $0.51 per share, against $24.4 million, or $0.32 per share a year earlier. Source
  • Nine-month non-GAAP net income reported: Nine-month non-GAAP net income was $66.1 million, or $0.90 per diluted share, against $34.4 million, or $0.46 per diluted share. Source

Deferred revenue and receivables

  • Deferred revenue at quarter-end: Deferred revenue was $337.0 million current and $6.5 million non-current at September 30, 2026, against $314.3 million and $7.2 million at June 30, 2026. Source
  • Receivables rose from June: Accounts receivable, net, was $244.0 million at September 30, 2026, against $171.2 million at June 30, 2026. Source
  • Stockholders' deficit narrowed: Total stockholders' deficit was $(97.9) million at September 30, 2026, against $(105.2) million at June 30, 2026 and $(47.0) million at December 31, 2025. Source

Cash flow and debt

  • Operating cash flow negative in quarter: Net cash used by operating activities was $(15.4) million for the quarter, compared with $18.7 million provided in the same period of 2025. Source
  • Nine-month operating cash flow lower: Nine-month net cash provided by operating activities was $45.5 million, against $61.7 million in the prior-year period. Source
  • Cash balance fell through nine months: Cash and cash equivalents were $47.3 million at September 30, 2026, against $135.8 million at December 31, 2025. Source
  • Borrowings and repayments in nine months: Borrowings of $200.0 million were offset by $241.6 million of debt repayments over nine months. Long-term debt was $196.6 million at quarter-end. Source

Capital returns and share count

  • Share repurchases of $83.0 million: Repurchases of common stock were $83.0 million over nine months, against $20.0 million. Treasury shares were 3,157,662 at September 30, 2026. Source
  • Diluted share count declined: Diluted weighted average shares were 72.7 million for the quarter, against 74.6 million a year earlier. Source
  • Option exercise proceeds rose: Proceeds from exercise of common stock options were $1.4 million over nine months, against $0.8 million in the prior-year period. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Cloud net ARR expansion Source120% as of September 30, 2026
Cloud subscriptions revenue Source$136.4 million
Total subscriptions revenue Source$187.8 million

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.