greeksoup/ stock research

Workiva Inc.: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 19 February 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 11 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Fourth-quarter revenue rose 20%: Total revenue for the fourth quarter was $239 million, up from $200 million a year earlier. Professional services revenue was $20 million, up slightly. Source
  • Full-year revenue reached $885 million: Full-year total revenue was $884.6 million against $738.7 million in 2024. Professional services revenue for the year was $71.9 million, roughly flat. Source
  • Fourth-quarter non-GAAP margin reached 19.1%: Non-GAAP operating margin was 19.1% in the fourth quarter, up from 7.4%. GAAP operating margin was 3.4%, compared with (6.6)% a year earlier. Source
  • Full-year non-GAAP margin reached 9.9%: Full-year non-GAAP operating margin was 9.9%, up from 4.3%. GAAP operating margin was (4.8)%, compared with (10.3)% in 2024. Source
  • Free cash flow reached $138 million: Free cash flow was $138.0 million for 2025, a 15.6% margin, against $86.3 million and an 11.7% margin in 2024. Source
  • Fourth-quarter operating cash flow rose: Operating cash flow was $51.0 million in the fourth quarter, against $44.0 million, and $140.1 million for 2025, against $87.7 million. Source

“We had a strong finish to the year, with accelerated growth and profitability compared to last year.”

Julie Iskow, President & Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Total revenue Sourcefirst quarter of 2026$244 million to $246 millionNew
GAAP operating margin Sourcefirst quarter of 20262.7% to 3.3%New
Non-GAAP operating margin Sourcefirst quarter of 202615.5% to 16.0%New
GAAP diluted EPS Sourcefirst quarter of 2026$0.17 to $0.20New
Non-GAAP diluted EPS Sourcefirst quarter of 2026$0.64 to $0.67New
Total revenue Sourcefull year 2026$1.036 billion to $1.040 billionNew
GAAP operating margin Sourcefull year 20262.6% to 3.2%New
Non-GAAP operating margin Sourcefull year 202615.0% to 15.5%New
GAAP diluted EPS Sourcefull year 2026$0.70 to $0.80New
Non-GAAP diluted EPS Sourcefull year 2026$2.66 to $2.76New
Free cash flow margin Sourcefull year 2026approximately 19%New

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: First guidance for 2026 was issued, covering the first quarter and full year 2026 for revenue, margins, EPS and free cash flow margin. Source
  • New: Barbara Larson joined as Chief Financial Officer; the prior release named Jill Klindt in that role. Source
  • New: The board added $250 million to the existing repurchase plan on February 16, 2026. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Fourth-quarter revenue rose 20%: Total revenue for the fourth quarter was $239 million, up from $200 million a year earlier. Professional services revenue was $20 million, up slightly. Source
  • Full-year revenue reached $885 million: Full-year total revenue was $884.6 million against $738.7 million in 2024. Professional services revenue for the year was $71.9 million, roughly flat. Source
  • Fourth-quarter GAAP net income turned positive: GAAP net income for the fourth quarter was $12 million, or $0.20 diluted EPS, compared with a net loss of $9 million a year earlier. Source
  • Full-year GAAP net loss narrowed: Full-year GAAP net loss was $26 million, or $(0.47) per diluted share, against a net loss of $55 million in 2024. Source

Margins and costs

  • Fourth-quarter non-GAAP margin reached 19.1%: Non-GAAP operating margin was 19.1% in the fourth quarter, up from 7.4%. GAAP operating margin was 3.4%, compared with (6.6)% a year earlier. Source
  • Full-year non-GAAP margin reached 9.9%: Full-year non-GAAP operating margin was 9.9%, up from 4.3%. GAAP operating margin was (4.8)%, compared with (10.3)% in 2024. Source
  • Non-GAAP excludes stock-based compensation: Non-GAAP figures exclude stock-based compensation, which was $36.3 million in the fourth quarter against $26.3 million a year earlier, and acquisition-related amortization. Source
  • Sales and marketing cost rose: Sales and marketing expense was $102.0 million in the fourth quarter, against $90.2 million, and $408.9 million for the year, against $347.2 million. Source

“We outperformed both the top and bottom line driven by strong execution across the business.”

Barbara Larson, Chief Financial Officer

Products and customers

  • Fit-for-purpose solutions resonate with CFOs: Management said its Financial Reporting, GRC and Sustainability solutions continue to resonate with the office of the CFO. Source
  • Strategic evolution framed as groundwork: The CEO described 2025 as a year of strategic evolution and said it set up the company for long-term durable growth built on innovation and reliability. Source
  • Customers include most of Fortune 1,000: The company describes its customer base as including over 85% of Fortune 1,000 companies. Source

Demand and deferred revenue

  • AI platform relevance cited by management: Management linked fourth-quarter performance to the company's AI-powered platform for trust and transparency. Source
  • Current deferred revenue rose year over year: Current deferred revenue was $547.9 million at December 31, 2025, against $457.6 million a year earlier; non-current was $37.3 million, against $29.7 million. Source
  • Deferred revenue inflow in cash flow: In the cash flow statement, the change in deferred revenue was $55.9 million for the fourth quarter and $88.7 million for 2025. Source

Cash flow and shareholder returns

  • Free cash flow reached $138 million: Free cash flow was $138.0 million for 2025, a 15.6% margin, against $86.3 million and an 11.7% margin in 2024. Source
  • Fourth-quarter operating cash flow rose: Operating cash flow was $51.0 million in the fourth quarter, against $44.0 million, and $140.1 million for 2025, against $87.7 million. Source
  • Cash and securities totaled $892 million: Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities totaled $892 million at December 31, 2025. Source
  • Full-year repurchases reached $72 million: Repurchases of Class A common stock were $71.6 million for 2025, including $11.5 million in the fourth quarter; none were made in 2024. Source
  • $28 million remained under plan: The plan had about $28 million remaining at December 31, 2025, after the fourth-quarter repurchases. Source

People and leadership

  • Chief Sales Officer stepping down: Michael Hawkins, Executive Vice President and Chief Sales Officer, was stepping down after 15 years with the company and four years in the role.
  • Departing sales chief to consult: Hawkins was to remain available as a consultant until December 31, 2025, to ensure a smooth transition.
  • Chief Revenue Officer appointed in November: Michael Pinto was named Chief Revenue Officer effective November 6, 2025; he previously held sales roles at Databricks, Amazon Web Services, Medidata and SAP.

Coming up, as management said on 19 February 2026

  • Goal of passing $1 billion revenue: The CFO said the growth strategy is meant to take total revenue past one billion dollars in 2026. Source
  • Convertible notes mature in 2026 and 2028: Principal of $71 million of 1.125% notes is due in 2026 and $702 million of 1.250% notes is due in 2028. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Customers Source6,624
Net retention rate Source113%
Gross retention rate Source97%
Customers with ACV above $100,000 Source2,507
Customers with ACV above $300,000 Source592
Customers with ACV above $500,000 Source248
Subscription and support revenue Source$219 million

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: The CFO named a focus on continued margin expansion alongside operational excellence and a growth strategy with the CEO. 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.