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Teradata Corp.: 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, 5 new, 5 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Total revenue growth exceeded guidance: Total revenue was $444 million, up 6% reported and 4% constant currency, beating prior 1-3% guidance range. Product sales grew 9% to $401 million, though consulting services declined 14-15% to $43 million. Source
  • Enterprises prioritizing AI with governance: CEO highlighted that enterprises winning with AI require context, governed data, and hybrid infrastructure. Teradata's autonomous AI and knowledge capabilities positioned as foundation for agentic AI adoption. Source
  • Gross margin expanded significantly: GAAP gross margin expanded 290 basis points to 62.2% from 59.3% year-over-year. Non-GAAP gross margin expanded 340 basis points to 63.7% from 60.3%, driven by higher recurring revenue mix and operational efficiency. Source
  • Operating margin impacted by settlement costs: GAAP operating margin was negative 8.1% due to $121 million in SAP settlement costs recorded. Non-GAAP operating margin was 27.3%, up from 21.8%, indicating strong underlying operational leverage. Source
  • Settlement agreement completed in February: Teradata and SAP reached settlement on February 19, 2026 with Teradata receiving gross payment of $480 million. After deducting legal fees and litigation expenses, pre-tax net benefit was $359 million. Source
  • Operating cash flow surged to $401 million: Operating cash flow reached $401 million versus $8 million in Q1 2025, primarily from $359 million pre-tax benefit from SAP settlement and improved working capital management. Source
  • Adjusted free cash flow introduced: Management introduced Adjusted Free Cash Flow metric of $31 million in Q1 to show normalized business cash generation excluding the $359 million SAP settlement benefit impact. Source
  • FY GAAP EPS guidance raised significantly: Full year 2026 GAAP diluted EPS guidance raised to $4.22-$4.32 from prior $1.26-$1.36, with the increase driven by the $2.90 per share impact of the SAP settlement. Source
  • FY growth guidance reaffirmed: Total ARR growth of 2-4%, recurring revenue growth flat to 2%, and total revenue decline of 2% to flat remain unchanged, signaling management expects continued revenue headwinds in 2026. Source
  • Recurring revenue now 90% of total: Recurring revenue increased to 90% of total revenue from 86% year-over-year, driven by cloud subscriptions, AI services, and maintenance contracts. Perpetual licenses and hardware declined 90% to $1 million. Source
  • Public cloud ARR accelerating 13%: Public cloud ARR grew 13% to $686 million, representing the fastest-growing segment. Cloud combined with on-premises and hybrid options critical for customer retention and market expansion. Source
  • Positioning for agentic AI era: CEO stated company is well positioned to enable organizations to rapidly deploy agentic AI. Autonomous AI and knowledge platform form foundation, with significant innovations ahead. Source

“Teradata delivered a strong first quarter, outperforming on key growth and performance metrics as we enter 2026. Enterprises are discovering that winning with AI requires context, governed data, codified industry knowledge, and a hybrid infrastructure that meets them wherever they operate.”

Steve McMillan, President and CEO of Teradata

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Recurring Revenue Sourcesecond quarter 2026-2% to flat year-over-yearNew
Total Revenue Sourcesecond quarter 2026-4% to -2% year-over-yearNew
GAAP Diluted EPS Sourcesecond quarter 2026$0.22 to $0.26 per shareNew
Non-GAAP Diluted EPS Sourcesecond quarter 2026$0.53 to $0.57 per shareNew
Total ARR Growth Sourcefull year 20262% to 4% year-over-yearKept
Recurring Revenue Growth Sourcefull year 2026flat to 2% year-over-yearKept
Total Revenue Growth Sourcefull year 2026-2% to flat year-over-yearKept
GAAP Diluted EPS Sourcefull year 2026$4.22 to $4.32 per shareRaised from $1.26 to $1.36 per share
Non-GAAP Diluted EPS Sourcefull year 2026$2.55 to $2.65 per shareKept
Operating Cash Flow Sourcefull year 2026$642 million to $662 millionRaised from $330 million to $350 million
Adjusted Free Cash Flow Sourcefull year 2026$320 million to $340 millionNew
Free Cash Flow Sourcefull year 2026$622 million to $642 millionRaised from $310 million to $330 million
Capital Expenditures Sourcefull year 2026approximately $20 millionKept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Full year 2026 GAAP diluted EPS guidance raised to $4.22-$4.32 from prior $1.26-$1.36, primarily from the $2.90 per share benefit of the SAP settlement agreement reached in February 2026. Source
  • Guidance raised: Full year 2026 operating cash flow guidance raised to $642-$662 million from prior $330-$350 million, including the $302 million after-tax benefit from the SAP settlement. Source
  • Guidance raised: Full year 2026 free cash flow raised to $622-$642 million from prior $310-$330 million guidance, reflecting the settlement impact and improved operating cash generation. Source
  • New guidance: Adjusted Free Cash Flow introduced as new normalized measure for full year 2026 of $320-$340 million, excluding SAP settlement gross proceeds of $480 million, plus legal expenses and incremental settlement-related taxes. Source
  • New guidance: New Q2 2026 guidance provided with recurring revenue expected between minus 2 percent and flat, total revenue decline of 2-4 percent, and GAAP EPS of $0.22-$0.26 and non-GAAP EPS of $0.53-$0.57. Source
  • New: SAP settlement agreement completed on February 19, 2026 with Teradata receiving $480 million gross payment and recording $359 million pre-tax net benefit in Q1 2026, providing $302 million after-tax benefit to cash flow. Source

First Quarter Results and Growth

  • Total revenue growth exceeded guidance: Total revenue was $444 million, up 6% reported and 4% constant currency, beating prior 1-3% guidance range. Product sales grew 9% to $401 million, though consulting services declined 14-15% to $43 million. Source
  • Enterprises prioritizing AI with governance: CEO highlighted that enterprises winning with AI require context, governed data, and hybrid infrastructure. Teradata's autonomous AI and knowledge capabilities positioned as foundation for agentic AI adoption. Source

Margin Expansion and Operating Performance

  • Gross margin expanded significantly: GAAP gross margin expanded 290 basis points to 62.2% from 59.3% year-over-year. Non-GAAP gross margin expanded 340 basis points to 63.7% from 60.3%, driven by higher recurring revenue mix and operational efficiency. Source
  • Operating margin impacted by settlement costs: GAAP operating margin was negative 8.1% due to $121 million in SAP settlement costs recorded. Non-GAAP operating margin was 27.3%, up from 21.8%, indicating strong underlying operational leverage. Source

SAP Settlement and One-Time Benefit

  • Settlement agreement completed in February: Teradata and SAP reached settlement on February 19, 2026 with Teradata receiving gross payment of $480 million. After deducting legal fees and litigation expenses, pre-tax net benefit was $359 million. Source
  • EPS impact from settlement benefit: Settlement contributed $2.90 per share benefit to GAAP diluted EPS in Q1. Non-GAAP EPS of $0.88 excludes this to show normalized operating performance. Source

Cash Flow Generation and Capital Returns

  • Operating cash flow surged to $401 million: Operating cash flow reached $401 million versus $8 million in Q1 2025, primarily from $359 million pre-tax benefit from SAP settlement and improved working capital management. Source
  • Adjusted free cash flow introduced: Management introduced Adjusted Free Cash Flow metric of $31 million in Q1 to show normalized business cash generation excluding the $359 million SAP settlement benefit impact. Source
  • FY cash flow guidance raised significantly: Full year 2026 operating cash flow raised to $642-$662 million from prior $330-$350 million. Adjusted free cash flow of $320-$340 million provides normalized view excluding settlement. Source

Full Year 2026 Guidance Raised and Reaffirmed

  • FY GAAP EPS guidance raised significantly: Full year 2026 GAAP diluted EPS guidance raised to $4.22-$4.32 from prior $1.26-$1.36, with the increase driven by the $2.90 per share impact of the SAP settlement. Source
  • FY non-GAAP EPS guidance reaffirmed: Full year 2026 non-GAAP diluted EPS guidance reaffirmed at $2.55-$2.65 per share, indicating management confidence in normalized operating performance from the business. Source
  • FY growth guidance reaffirmed: Total ARR growth of 2-4%, recurring revenue growth flat to 2%, and total revenue decline of 2% to flat remain unchanged, signaling management expects continued revenue headwinds in 2026. Source

Product Mix Shift to Recurring Revenue

  • Recurring revenue now 90% of total: Recurring revenue increased to 90% of total revenue from 86% year-over-year, driven by cloud subscriptions, AI services, and maintenance contracts. Perpetual licenses and hardware declined 90% to $1 million. Source
  • Consulting services declining: Consulting services declined 14-15% to $43 million, reflecting shift toward subscription models and reduced project-based work as customers migrate to cloud and recurring offerings. Source
  • Product sales resilience: Product sales grew 9% to $401 million, including cloud subscriptions and recurring licenses, indicating strength in subscription and maintenance offerings. Source

Cloud and AI Strategy Execution

  • Public cloud ARR accelerating 13%: Public cloud ARR grew 13% to $686 million, representing the fastest-growing segment. Cloud combined with on-premises and hybrid options critical for customer retention and market expansion. Source
  • Positioning for agentic AI era: CEO stated company is well positioned to enable organizations to rapidly deploy agentic AI. Autonomous AI and knowledge platform form foundation, with significant innovations ahead. Source

Coming up, as management said on 5 May 2026

  • Settlement tax payments due through year-end: Approximately $57 million in cash tax payments related to SAP settlement expected by end of 2026, with roughly half in Q2 and remaining half split between Q3 and Q4, affecting quarterly cash flow linearity. Source
  • Significant product innovations planned: Management referenced significant innovations ahead for autonomous AI and knowledge platform capabilities to support customer deployment of agentic AI solutions. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • On track: Q1 results show total ARR grew 3%, which falls within the 2-4% full year guidance range, indicating company is on track to achieve committed guidance. Source
  • On track: Non-GAAP EPS of $0.88 in Q1 2026 contributes toward full year $2.55-2.65 guidance, indicating company remains on track to meet normalized earnings target. Source
  • Ahead: Public cloud ARR grew 13% in Q1 2026, exceeding expectations and demonstrating successful execution of cloud transformation strategy ahead of plan. Source
  • Ahead: Recurring revenue grew 12% versus prior 6-8% guidance and total revenue grew 6% versus 1-3% guidance, demonstrating outperformance ahead of plan. 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.