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Pegasystems Inc.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 21 April 2026: press release. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Total revenue fell 10%: Total revenue was $429,973 thousand against $475,633 thousand a year earlier, a decline of 10%. Source
  • Pega Cloud revenue rose 36%: Pega Cloud revenue was $205,031 thousand, up from $151,123 thousand, and 48% of total revenue against 32% a year earlier. Source
  • Earnings per share declined: GAAP net income was $32,764 thousand, down 62%, and non-GAAP net income was $83,068 thousand, down 41%. GAAP diluted EPS was $0.18 against $0.46, and non-GAAP diluted EPS was $0.46 against $0.76. Source
  • Subscription license revenue fell 49%: Subscription license revenue was $94,852 thousand against $187,721 thousand, and 22% of total revenue against 39% a year earlier. Source
  • Gross profit fell to $323 million: Gross profit was $323,219 thousand against $373,183 thousand. Total cost of revenue rose to $106,754 thousand from $102,450 thousand. Source
  • Operating income fell to $37 million: Income from operations was $37,149 thousand against $126,989 thousand a year earlier. Foreign currency transaction was a $1,850 thousand gain against a $5,325 thousand loss. Source
  • ACV grew 12% year over year: Annual contract value reached $1,622 million against $1,445 million, up 12%, or 11% in constant currency. Source
  • Pega Cloud ACV up 29%: Pega Cloud ACV was $906,652 thousand, up 29%, or 27% in constant currency. Maintenance ACV fell 7% and subscription license ACV fell 2%. Source
  • Free cash flow rose 2%: Cash provided by operating activities was $212,251 thousand, up 4%. Free cash flow was $206,525 thousand, up 2%, after $5,726 thousand of investment in property and equipment. Source

“We continue to be differentiated in the market and of great value as enterprises recognize the need for a sustainable AI architecture.”

Alan Trefler, founder and CEO, Pegasystems

Results and growth drivers

  • Total revenue fell 10%: Total revenue was $429,973 thousand against $475,633 thousand a year earlier, a decline of 10%. Source
  • Pega Cloud revenue rose 36%: Pega Cloud revenue was $205,031 thousand, up from $151,123 thousand, and 48% of total revenue against 32% a year earlier. Source
  • Earnings per share declined: GAAP net income was $32,764 thousand, down 62%, and non-GAAP net income was $83,068 thousand, down 41%. GAAP diluted EPS was $0.18 against $0.46, and non-GAAP diluted EPS was $0.46 against $0.76. Source

Revenue mix by line

  • Subscription license revenue fell 49%: Subscription license revenue was $94,852 thousand against $187,721 thousand, and 22% of total revenue against 39% a year earlier. Source
  • Subscription services grew 23%: Subscription services revenue was $280,348 thousand, up 23%, and 65% of total revenue. Pega Cloud and maintenance are reported within this line. Source
  • Total subscription revenue down 10%: Total subscription revenue was $375,200 thousand against $415,212 thousand, down 10%, and held at 87% of total revenue in both periods. Source
  • Maintenance revenue slightly lower: Maintenance revenue was $75,317 thousand against $76,368 thousand, down 1%. Source
  • Consulting revenue declined 9%: Consulting revenue was $54,773 thousand against $60,421 thousand, down 9%, and 13% of total revenue in both periods. Source

“As enterprises move past the experimental phase of AI and demand real ROI, Pega's proven ability to generate measurable value allows us to showcase the financial impact we provide to our clients”

Ken Stillwell, COO and CFO, Pegasystems

Costs, margins and profit

  • Operating expenses rose 16%: Total operating expenses were $286,070 thousand, up from $246,194 thousand. General and administrative rose to $48,573 thousand from $33,828 thousand. Restructuring was a $153 thousand credit against $11 thousand a year earlier. Source
  • Selling and R&D costs increased: Selling and marketing expense was $155,603 thousand against $138,069 thousand. Research and development expense was $82,047 thousand against $74,286 thousand. Source
  • Gross profit fell to $323 million: Gross profit was $323,219 thousand against $373,183 thousand. Total cost of revenue rose to $106,754 thousand from $102,450 thousand. Source
  • Operating income fell to $37 million: Income from operations was $37,149 thousand against $126,989 thousand a year earlier. Foreign currency transaction was a $1,850 thousand gain against a $5,325 thousand loss. Source

Demand and order book

  • ACV grew 12% year over year: Annual contract value reached $1,622 million against $1,445 million, up 12%, or 11% in constant currency. Source
  • Pega Cloud ACV up 29%: Pega Cloud ACV was $906,652 thousand, up 29%, or 27% in constant currency. Maintenance ACV fell 7% and subscription license ACV fell 2%. Source
  • Backlog rose 16%: Remaining performance obligations, called backlog, were $2,011 million against $1,728 million, up 16%, or 14% in constant currency. Backlog due within one year was 51% of the total. Source
  • Subscription services ACV up 18%: Subscription services ACV was $1,183,486 thousand, up 18%, or 16% in constant currency. Source

Cash flow and balance sheet

  • Free cash flow rose 2%: Cash provided by operating activities was $212,251 thousand, up 4%. Free cash flow was $206,525 thousand, up 2%, after $5,726 thousand of investment in property and equipment. Source
  • Cash and securities increased: Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities were $473,954 thousand at March 31, 2026, against $425,799 thousand at December 31, 2025. Source
  • Receivables fell, deferred revenue rose: Accounts receivable, net fell to $173,856 thousand from $264,713 thousand. Deferred revenue rose to $557,449 thousand from $509,275 thousand. Source
  • Stockholders' equity declined: Total stockholders' equity was $705,915 thousand at March 31, 2026, against $787,381 thousand at December 31, 2025. Source
  • Diluted share count down 5%: GAAP diluted weighted-average shares were 178,841 thousand against 188,826 thousand, down 5%. Source

Blueprint AI and strategy

  • Blueprint AI credited for Pega Cloud: The release headline credits Blueprint AI with Pega Cloud momentum in the first quarter of 2026. Source
  • Workflow engine as AI harness: The CEO described Blueprint AI as helping enterprises reimagine their businesses, with the workflow engine providing the harness for predictable outcomes. Source
  • AI value linked to ACV growth: The COO and CFO said the company's position supports ACV growth and cash flow margin expansion. Source

Legal costs and tax

  • Legal fees rose to $20 million: Legal fees excluded from non-GAAP results were $19,964 thousand against $6,544 thousand a year earlier. The release defines these as costs of proceedings outside the ordinary course of business. Source
  • GAAP tax rate lower at 17%: The GAAP effective income tax rate was 17% against 32% a year earlier. The non-GAAP rate was 22% in both periods, and the company said the GAAP rate fluctuates with several factors. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Annual contract value (ACV) Source$1,622 million, up 12% (11% constant currency)
Pega Cloud ACV Source$906,652 thousand, up 29% (27% constant currency)
Backlog (remaining performance obligations) Source$2,011 million, up 16% (14% constant currency)
Pega Cloud revenue Source$205,031 thousand, up 36%
Subscription revenue Source$375,200 thousand, down 10%

Risks management discussed

  • External: Changes in foreign exchange rates reduced reported ACV by $24 million, according to the ACV reconciliation. 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.