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Guidewire Software, Inc.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 3 December 2025: press release. Guidance figures: 5 raised, 4 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue grew 27 percent: Total revenue reached $332.6 million, up from $262.9 million. Subscription and support grew 31% to $222.2 million, license 12% to $42.0 million, and services 23% to $68.5 million. Source
  • Quarter exceeded prior guidance ranges: Management said results were above the high end of the prior ranges on all metrics. The prior ranges included revenue of $315 million to $321 million and ending ARR of $1,048 million to $1,054 million. Source
  • GAAP operating income turned positive: GAAP income from operations was $18.5 million, against a loss of $4.7 million a year earlier. Non-GAAP income from operations was $63.4 million, against $34.7 million. Source
  • Full-year ranges raised across metrics: Management raised full-year fiscal 2026 ranges for ending ARR, total revenue, GAAP and non-GAAP operating income, and operating cash flow. The CFO said first-quarter results informed confidence to raise them. Source
  • ARR reached $1,063 million: ARR was $1,063 million at October 31, 2025, up from $1,041 million at July 31, 2025. Interim ARR uses fiscal 2025 year-end currency rates held constant. Source
  • Pricing and underwriting products launched: At the annual customer conference, Connections, management said Guidewire launched new pricing and underwriting products that bring intelligence and AI-powered automation to P&C insurers. Source
  • Cash and investments fell to $1,409.3 million: Cash, cash equivalents and investments were $1,409.3 million at October 31, 2025, against $1,483.2 million at July 31, 2025. Cash and cash equivalents alone were $492.0 million. Source

“We continue to see strong momentum for Guidewire Cloud Platform and we are off to a great start to the fiscal year,”

Mike Rosenbaum, chief executive officer, Guidewire

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Ending ARR SourceSecond quarter of fiscal year 2026$1,107 million to $1,113 millionNew
Total revenue SourceSecond quarter of fiscal year 2026$339 million to $345 millionNew
GAAP operating income SourceSecond quarter of fiscal year 2026$19 million to $25 millionNew
Non-GAAP operating income SourceSecond quarter of fiscal year 2026$68 million to $74 millionNew
Ending ARR SourceFiscal year 2026$1,220 million to $1,230 millionRaised from $1,210 million to $1,220 million
Total revenue SourceFiscal year 2026$1,403 million to $1,419 millionRaised from $1,385 million to $1,405 million
GAAP operating income SourceFiscal year 2026$72 million to $88 millionRaised from $68 million to $88 million
Non-GAAP operating income SourceFiscal year 2026$266 million to $282 millionRaised from $259 million to $279 million
Operating cash flow SourceFiscal year 2026$355 million to $375 millionRaised from $350 million to $370 million

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Full-year fiscal 2026 ranges for ending ARR, total revenue, GAAP and non-GAAP operating income, and operating cash flow were raised. Source
  • New guidance: Ranges issued for the second quarter of fiscal 2026, which the prior release did not cover. Source
  • New: New pricing and underwriting products for P&C insurers were launched at the annual customer conference, Connections. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue grew 27 percent: Total revenue reached $332.6 million, up from $262.9 million. Subscription and support grew 31% to $222.2 million, license 12% to $42.0 million, and services 23% to $68.5 million. Source
  • Quarter exceeded prior guidance ranges: Management said results were above the high end of the prior ranges on all metrics. The prior ranges included revenue of $315 million to $321 million and ending ARR of $1,048 million to $1,054 million. Source
  • GAAP operating income turned positive: GAAP income from operations was $18.5 million, against a loss of $4.7 million a year earlier. Non-GAAP income from operations was $63.4 million, against $34.7 million. Source
  • Net income and diluted EPS rose: GAAP net income was $31.3 million, against $9.1 million, giving GAAP diluted EPS of $0.36 on 86.5 million shares. Non-GAAP diluted EPS was $0.66, against $0.43. Source

Full-year guidance raised

  • Full-year ranges raised across metrics: Management raised full-year fiscal 2026 ranges for ending ARR, total revenue, GAAP and non-GAAP operating income, and operating cash flow. The CFO said first-quarter results informed confidence to raise them. Source
  • Second-quarter ranges issued: Ranges were issued for the second quarter of fiscal 2026, covering ending ARR, total revenue, and GAAP and non-GAAP operating income. Source
  • Full-year operating income low end raised: The full-year GAAP operating income range moved to $72 million to $88 million from $68 million to $88 million. The non-GAAP range moved to $266 million to $282 million from $259 million to $279 million. Source

“First quarter results came in above the high end of our outlook on all metrics and informs our confidence to raise our outlook ranges for the fiscal year,”

Jeff Cooper, chief financial officer, Guidewire

Demand and annual recurring revenue

  • ARR reached $1,063 million: ARR was $1,063 million at October 31, 2025, up from $1,041 million at July 31, 2025. Interim ARR uses fiscal 2025 year-end currency rates held constant. Source
  • ARR grew 22 percent year over year: Management attributed the 22% year-over-year ARR growth to the sales momentum the company has established. Source
  • Recurring value recognized as services revenue: Recurring license and subscription value recognized as services revenue was $3.6 million in the quarter. The company's ARR definition excludes this allocation, so it does not change reported ARR. Source

Products and customers

  • Pricing and underwriting products launched: At the annual customer conference, Connections, management said Guidewire launched new pricing and underwriting products that bring intelligence and AI-powered automation to P&C insurers. Source
  • Cloud platform momentum cited: Management said it continues to see momentum for Guidewire Cloud Platform and that the fiscal year has started well. Source
  • Subscription and support share of revenue: Subscription and support made up about 67% of total revenue, against about 65% a year earlier. Source

“ARR growth of 22% year-over-year reflects the strong sales momentum we have established.”

Jeff Cooper, chief financial officer, Guidewire

Costs, margins and spending

  • Gross margin rose to 63 percent: GAAP gross profit was $209.5 million, or 63.0% of revenue, against 60.2% a year earlier. Non-GAAP gross profit was $219.5 million, against $166.9 million. Source
  • Services gross margin improved: Services gross profit was $9.9 million on $68.5 million of services revenue, about 14.5%, against about 11.1% a year earlier. Source
  • Operating expenses rose 17 percent: Total operating expenses were $191.0 million, against $163.1 million. Research and development, sales and marketing, and general and administrative each increased year over year. Source
  • Stock-based compensation rose to $43.3 million: Stock-based compensation was $43.3 million, against $38.1 million. The company excludes it from its non-GAAP measures. Source

Cash, capital and balance sheet

  • Cash and investments fell to $1,409.3 million: Cash, cash equivalents and investments were $1,409.3 million at October 31, 2025, against $1,483.2 million at July 31, 2025. Cash and cash equivalents alone were $492.0 million. Source
  • Operating and free cash flow negative: Operating cash flow was negative $67.4 million, against negative $62.3 million a year earlier. Free cash flow was negative $77.4 million, against negative $67.4 million. Source
  • Capital spending on software and property: Purchases of property and equipment were $4.9 million and capitalized software development costs were $5.1 million in the quarter. Source
  • Deferred revenue balance fell: Current deferred revenue, net was $253.5 million at October 31, 2025, against $340.3 million at July 31, 2025. The document does not state the cause. Source
  • Convertible notes balance essentially unchanged: Convertible senior notes, net were $675.4 million at October 31, 2025, against $674.6 million at July 31, 2025. Source

Coming up, as management said on 3 December 2025

  • Second-quarter ranges are the next guidance: Management issued ranges for the second quarter of fiscal 2026. The documents do not state a date for the next results release. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Annual recurring revenue Source$1,063 million at October 31, 2025
ARR growth year over year Source22%
Subscription and support revenue Source$222.2 million, up 31%
Recurring value recognized as services revenue Source$3.6 million
Customers Sourcemore than 570 insurers in 43 countries

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Ahead: Management said first quarter results came in above the high end of the prior ranges on all metrics. 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.