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Blackline, Inc.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 5 May 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 3 raised, 3 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue grew 9.7% year over year: Total GAAP revenue was $183.2 million, up 9.7% from the first quarter of 2025, including $9.4 million of professional services. Source
  • Non-GAAP EPS rose to $0.56: Non-GAAP net income attributable to BlackLine was $39.6 million, or $0.56 per diluted share, against $36.3 million, or $0.49, a year earlier. Source
  • Non-GAAP operating margin rose to 21.6%: Non-GAAP operating margin was 21.6%, against 20.9% in the first quarter of 2025. Source
  • Free cash flow rose to $35.8 million: Free cash flow was $35.8 million, against $32.6 million; operating cash flow was $46.3 million, against $46.7 million. Source
  • Share buybacks totaled $47.1 million: About 1.2 million shares were repurchased for $47.1 million, leaving about $217.4 million of buyback capacity at March 31, 2026. Source
  • Financial close framed around Agentic model: Management said it is defining the future of the financial close with Agentic Financial Operations and making trusted, auditable AI commercial. Source

“BlackLine delivered a solid first quarter with accelerating revenue growth, operating leverage, and momentum from our platform strategy,”

Owen Ryan, CEO of BlackLine

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Total GAAP revenue Sourcesecond quarter of 2026$186 million to $188 millionNew
Non-GAAP operating margin Sourcesecond quarter of 202621.5% to 22.5%New
Non-GAAP net income attributable to BlackLine and diluted EPS Sourcesecond quarter of 2026$40 million to $42 million, or $0.57 to $0.59 per share on 73.3 million diluted weighted average sharesNew
Total GAAP revenue Sourcefull year 2026$765 million to $769 millionRaised from $764 million to $768 million
Non-GAAP operating margin Sourcefull year 202624.0% to 24.5%Raised from 23.7% to 24.3%
Non-GAAP net income attributable to BlackLine and diluted EPS Sourcefull year 2026$174 million to $182 million, or $2.42 to $2.53 per share on 74.4 million diluted weighted average sharesRaised from $172 million to $180 million, or $2.37 to $2.48 per share on 75.0 million diluted weighted average shares outstanding

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Full-year 2026 GAAP revenue, non-GAAP operating margin, non-GAAP net income and EPS ranges were raised, as the company stated when announcing the raise. Source
  • New guidance: Second-quarter 2026 guidance given for the first time; the prior release gave guidance for the first quarter of 2026 only. Source
  • New: Agentic Financial Operations introduced as a new operating model for trust and governance of AI in finance and accounting. Source
  • New: First AI Innovation Hub announced, to be located in New York City. Source
  • Ended: Retirement of founder Therese Tucker announced. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue grew 9.7% year over year: Total GAAP revenue was $183.2 million, up 9.7% from the first quarter of 2025, including $9.4 million of professional services. Source
  • Net income attributable rose to $8.1 million: GAAP net income attributable to BlackLine was $8.1 million, or $0.13 per diluted share, against $6.1 million, or $0.10, a year earlier. Source
  • Non-GAAP EPS rose to $0.56: Non-GAAP net income attributable to BlackLine was $39.6 million, or $0.56 per diluted share, against $36.3 million, or $0.49, a year earlier. Source

Products and events

  • AI investor session showcased innovation: A virtual AI investor session was hosted to showcase the company's AI innovation. Source
  • European customer conference hosted: BeyondTheBlack London, a European-focused customer conference, was hosted during the period. Source
  • Studio360 platform underlies Verity AI: The company describes Studio360 as the platform it is built on, with Verity supplying embedded AI capabilities. Source

“we are raising our full-year outlook while continuing to deliver durable, profitable growth.”

Owen Ryan, CEO of BlackLine

Costs, margins and profitability

  • Non-GAAP operating margin rose to 21.6%: Non-GAAP operating margin was 21.6%, against 20.9% in the first quarter of 2025. Source
  • GAAP operating margin improved to 3.4%: GAAP operating margin was 3.4%, against 2.1% a year earlier; income from operations was $6.2 million against $3.6 million. Source
  • Operating expenses rose across functions: Non-GAAP operating expenses were $107.3 million against $97.9 million, with sales and marketing, research and development, and general and administrative each higher. Source
  • Restructuring costs fell year over year: Restructuring and legal settlement costs were $1.9 million, against $5.3 million in the first quarter of 2025. Source
  • Stock-based compensation rose in reconciliation: Stock-based compensation in the non-GAAP operating income reconciliation was $24.8 million, against $19.4 million. Source

Cash, capital and shareholder returns

  • Free cash flow rose to $35.8 million: Free cash flow was $35.8 million, against $32.6 million; operating cash flow was $46.3 million, against $46.7 million. Source
  • Share buybacks totaled $47.1 million: About 1.2 million shares were repurchased for $47.1 million, leaving about $217.4 million of buyback capacity at March 31, 2026. Source
  • Convertible notes repaid in quarter: Repayment of convertible senior notes totaled $230.2 million in the cash flow statement for the quarter. Source
  • Cash and securities declined: Cash and cash equivalents were $242.0 million and marketable securities $283.0 million, against $390.0 million and $388.2 million at December 31, 2025. Source

“The growing adoption of our Verity AI capabilities and Studio360 demonstrate that CFOs view BlackLine as the essential governance layer for the AI era.”

Owen Ryan, CEO of BlackLine

Demand and order book

  • Deferred revenue, current declined: Current deferred revenue was $359.6 million, against $368.6 million at December 31, 2025. Source
  • Accounts receivable fell from year-end: Accounts receivable, net of allowances, were $174.9 million, against $218.1 million at December 31, 2025. Source
  • Accrued expenses fell from year-end: Accrued expenses and other current liabilities were $59.4 million, against $76.8 million at December 31, 2025. Source

Strategy, AI and leadership

  • Financial close framed around Agentic model: Management said it is defining the future of the financial close with Agentic Financial Operations and making trusted, auditable AI commercial. Source
  • First AI Innovation Hub announced: The company announced the creation of its first AI Innovation Hub, located in New York City. Source
  • Founder retirement announced: The company announced that founder Therese Tucker is retiring; the release does not name a successor. Source

Coming up, as management said on 5 May 2026

  • Form 10-Q to add further detail: Results are preliminary until the Form 10-Q is filed, and that filing is to set forth additional information. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Customers Source4,301 at March 31, 2026 (4,394 at December 31, 2025)
Platform pricing ARR as a percentage of eligible ARR Source13% (11% at December 31, 2025)
Dollar-based net revenue retention rate Source105%
Remaining performance obligation Source$1.1 billion, up 17.9%
Billings Source$173.7 million, up 9.2%
Subscription and support revenue Source$173.7 million (first quarter of 2025: $158.5 million)

Risks management discussed

  • Financial: Management expects the variability of the excluded items could significantly and unpredictably affect future GAAP operating margin and net income. 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.