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Workiva Inc.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 5 November 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 3 raised, 1 lowered, 1 narrowed, 5 new, 1 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Total revenue grew 17%: Total revenue was $263 million, up from $224 million. The result was above the $260 million to $262 million range given in the prior release. Source
  • GAAP operating margin rose to 6.8%: GAAP operating margin was 6.8%, against (1.5)% a year earlier. Income from operations was $17.8 million, against a loss of $3.4 million. Source
  • Non-GAAP margin up 560 basis points: Non-GAAP operating margin was 18.3%, against 12.7%, an increase of 560 basis points. Non-GAAP income from operations was $48.3 million. Source
  • GAAP net income of $19 million: GAAP net income was $19 million, against $3 million. GAAP diluted EPS was $0.35, against $0.05. Nine-month GAAP net income was $51.5 million. Source
  • Large-contract counts up 20% to 31%: Customers above $100,000 ACV rose to 2,853, up 20%. Customers above $300,000 rose to 708, up 31%. Customers above $500,000 rose to 283, up 20%. Source
  • Free cash flow of $69 million: Operating cash flow was $69.5 million, against $46.2 million. Free cash flow was $68.7 million, a 26.1% margin. Nine-month free cash flow was $172.4 million. Source
  • AI reshaping enterprise software: Management said AI is changing enterprise software from helping people do work to increasingly doing it, a shift it linked to Workiva's strengths. Source

“Our third quarter results reflect continued momentum across the Workiva platform as organizations navigate growing complexity”

Julie Iskow, President & Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Total revenue SourceFourth quarter 2026$275 million to $278 millionNew
GAAP operating margin SourceFourth quarter 20267.1% to 7.7%New
Non-GAAP operating margin SourceFourth quarter 202619.0% to 19.5%New
GAAP net income per diluted share SourceFourth quarter 2026$0.40 to $0.42 on 60.3 million sharesNew
Non-GAAP net income per diluted share SourceFourth quarter 2026$0.78 to $0.80 on 60.3 million sharesNew
Total revenue SourceFull year 2026$1.041 billion to $1.044 billionNarrowed, low end up from $1.040 billion to $1.044 billion
GAAP operating margin SourceFull year 20266.2% to 6.3%Raised from 5.7% to 5.8%
Non-GAAP operating margin SourceFull year 202618.2% to 18.3%Raised from approximately 18%
GAAP net income per diluted share SourceFull year 2026$1.31 to $1.34 on 56.0 million sharesRaised from $1.21 to $1.22 on 55.7 million shares
Non-GAAP net income per diluted share SourceFull year 2026$2.80 to $2.83 on 61.2 million sharesLowered from $3.38 to $3.39 on 60.9 million shares
Free cash flow margin SourceFull year 2026approximately 21%Kept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Full-year revenue low end, GAAP operating margin, non-GAAP operating margin and GAAP diluted EPS ranges all moved up from the August 4 release. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Full-year non-GAAP diluted EPS range moved down, on the new 22% non-GAAP tax provision. Source
  • Guidance kept: Full-year free cash flow margin of approximately 21% was kept. Source
  • New guidance: Fourth-quarter 2026 guidance was given for the first time in this release. Source
  • New: From the third quarter of 2026, non-GAAP net income uses a fixed 22% non-GAAP tax provision, applied retrospectively to prior periods. Source
  • Ended: The 1.125% convertible senior notes due 2026 were settled at maturity on August 15, 2026. Source

Revenue and growth

  • Total revenue grew 17%: Total revenue was $263 million, up from $224 million. The result was above the $260 million to $262 million range given in the prior release. Source
  • Subscription revenue made up most of revenue: Subscription and support revenue was $246 million, compared with $210 million a year earlier, and accounted for most of total revenue in the quarter. Source
  • Professional services revenue rose 15%: Professional services revenue was $17 million, compared with $15 million a year earlier. Source

Margins and operating costs

  • GAAP operating margin rose to 6.8%: GAAP operating margin was 6.8%, against (1.5)% a year earlier. Income from operations was $17.8 million, against a loss of $3.4 million. Source
  • Non-GAAP margin up 560 basis points: Non-GAAP operating margin was 18.3%, against 12.7%, an increase of 560 basis points. Non-GAAP income from operations was $48.3 million. Source
  • Sales and R&D spend rose: Sales and marketing rose to $112.1 million from $101.1 million, and research and development to $57.3 million from $51.4 million. General and administrative fell to $26.0 million from $28.7 million. Source
  • Stock-based compensation declined slightly: Stock-based compensation was $28.9 million, against $30.2 million. It is excluded from the non-GAAP operating income measures. Source

“In Q3, we continued to deliver healthy top-line growth while expanding our operating margins, reinforcing that growth and profitability go hand-in-hand at Workiva”

Barbara Larson, Chief Financial Officer

Net income and per-share results

  • GAAP net income of $19 million: GAAP net income was $19 million, against $3 million. GAAP diluted EPS was $0.35, against $0.05. Nine-month GAAP net income was $51.5 million. Source
  • Non-GAAP diluted EPS of $0.72: Non-GAAP net income was $41 million, against $27 million. Non-GAAP diluted EPS was $0.72, against $0.46, on the 22% tax basis; prior periods are restated on that basis. Source
  • GAAP tax rate near 14%: The GAAP effective tax rate was about 14.3% for the quarter, against (29.0)% a year earlier. The nine-month rate was about 13.6%. Source

Customers and retention

  • Customer count reached 6,840: Customers reached 6,840 at September 30, 2026, up from 6,750 at June 30, 2026. Source
  • Large-contract counts up 20% to 31%: Customers above $100,000 ACV rose to 2,853, up 20%. Customers above $300,000 rose to 708, up 31%. Customers above $500,000 rose to 283, up 20%. Source
  • Net retention 110%, down from 111%: Gross retention was 97%. Net retention was 110%, against 111% at June 30, 2026. Net retention includes changes in solutions and pricing for existing customers. Source

“AI is fundamentally changing enterprise software, from helping people do the work to increasingly doing the work itself. This shift plays directly to Workiva’s strengths.”

Julie Iskow, President & Chief Executive Officer

Deferred revenue and receivables

  • Current deferred revenue up from year-end: Current deferred revenue was $562.8 million, against $547.9 million at December 31, 2025. Non-current deferred revenue was $27.1 million, against $37.3 million. Source
  • Receivables rose from year-end: Accounts receivable, net was $157.7 million, against $169.0 million at December 31, 2025. Changes in accounts receivable reduced operating cash flow by $10.3 million in the quarter. Source
  • Deferred costs by term: Non-current deferred costs were $53.0 million at September 30, 2026, against $59.8 million at December 31, 2025. Current deferred costs were $66.0 million. Source

Cash flow and liquidity

  • Free cash flow of $69 million: Operating cash flow was $69.5 million, against $46.2 million. Free cash flow was $68.7 million, a 26.1% margin. Nine-month free cash flow was $172.4 million. Source
  • Cash and securities of $817 million: Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities totaled $817 million, against $892 million at December 31, 2025. Source
  • Convertible notes and leases outstanding: Outstanding at quarter end were $702 million of 1.250% convertible notes due 2028 and about $13 million of finance lease obligations. Source

Share repurchases and plan history

  • Third-quarter repurchases about $2 million: The company bought about 32.6 thousand shares for about $2 million under the plan, with about $104 million remaining available. Source
  • Nine-month cash repurchases of $174 million: Cash paid for repurchases of Class A common stock was $173.9 million for the nine months, against $60.1 million a year earlier. Source
  • Plan increased in February: The plan was authorized at $100 million in July 2024. In February 2026 the board added $250 million, giving the $350 million plan referenced this quarter.

Platform strategy and roadmap

  • AI reshaping enterprise software: Management said AI is changing enterprise software from helping people do work to increasingly doing it, a shift it linked to Workiva's strengths. Source
  • Need for trust in regulated work: Management said more complex, regulated and high-stakes software work raises the need for accuracy, transparency and trust. Source
  • Cash generation funds technology roadmap: Management said operating leverage generated free cash flow, providing financial agility to fund the technology roadmap. No roadmap figures were given. Source

Coming up, as management said on 5 November 2026

  • Platform role to expand: Management said the platform's role across the enterprise is to expand. No dated launch, deal or event was given. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Customers Source6,840
Net retention rate Source110%
Gross retention rate Source97%
Customers with ACV above $100,000 Source2,853, up 20%
Customers with ACV above $300,000 Source708, up 31%
Customers with ACV above $500,000 Source283, up 20%
Subscription and support revenue Source$246 million

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management referred to building toward 2030 targets. No target figures are given in the documents. 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.