tiprankstipranks
Trending News
More News >
Workday (WDAY)
NASDAQ:WDAY

Workday (WDAY) AI Stock Analysis

Compare
4,853 Followers

Top Page

WDAY

Workday

(NASDAQ:WDAY)

Select Model
Select Model
Select Model
Outperform 73 (OpenAI - 5.2)
Rating:73Outperform
Price Target:
$215.00
▲(11.56% Upside)
Workday's strong financial performance and positive earnings call sentiment are major strengths, supported by strategic corporate events. However, high valuation concerns and mixed technical indicators temper the overall score.
Positive Factors
Recurring subscription revenue and backlog
Robust subscription growth and a sizable, growing backlog increase revenue visibility and predictability. Recurring ARR and backlog provide durable cash flow and sales runway, supporting multi-quarter growth and enabling longer-term investment in product and customer success.
Strong cash generation and low leverage
Consistent free cash flow growth and very low debt-to-equity provide financial flexibility for R&D, M&A, and share repurchases. Strong cash conversion reduces refinancing risk and supports durable capital allocation without stressing the balance sheet over the next several quarters.
AI adoption and strategic acquisitions
High customer adoption of embedded AI features and targeted AI-focused acquisitions deepen product differentiation and switching costs. This structurally strengthens competitive advantage, enhances upsell potential, and supports sustainable ARR expansion beyond short-term cycles.
Negative Factors
Relatively low operating (EBIT) margins
Despite high gross margins, low EBIT margins indicate heavy operating expense load (sales, R&D, G&A). Persistent margin pressure limits operating leverage and can constrain durable profitability improvements unless efficiency or pricing power materially improves over the medium term.
Negative EPS growth
Sharp year-over-year EPS decline signals volatility in reported earnings that may reflect margin compression, one-time items, or rising costs. Sustained negative EPS growth can hinder reinvestment, slow ROE improvement, and reduce financial resilience across upcoming quarters.
Exposure to public/funding-sensitive end markets
Concentration in sectors dependent on public funding creates structural demand risk: grant cuts or fiscal constraints can delay purchases and renewals. This can lengthen sales cycles and weaken backlog conversion in those segments over a multi-quarter horizon.

Workday (WDAY) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Workday Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionWorkday, Inc. provides enterprise cloud applications in the United States and internationally. The company's applications help its customers to plan, execute, analyze, and extend to other applications and environments, and to manage their business and operations. It offers a suite of financial management applications, which enable chief financial officers to maintain accounting information in the general ledger; manage financial processes; identify real-time financial, operational, and management insights; enhance financial consolidation; reduce time-to-close; promote internal control and auditability; and achieve consistency across finance operations. The company also provides cloud spend management solutions that helps organizations to streamline supplier selection and contracts, manage indirect spend, and build and execute sourcing events, such as requests for proposals; Human Capital Management (HCM) solution, a suite of human capital management applications that allows organizations to manage the entire employee lifecycle from recruitment to retirement, and enables HR teams to hire, onboard, pay, develop, reskill, and provide employee experiences; Workday applications for planning; and applications for analytics and reporting, including augmented analytics to surface insights to the line of business in simple-to-understand stories, machine learning to drive efficiency and automation, and benchmarks to compare performance against other companies. It serves professional and business services, financial services, healthcare, education, government, technology, media, retail, and hospitality industries. The company was formerly known as North Tahoe Power Tools, Inc. and changed its name to Workday, Inc. in July 2005. Workday, Inc. was incorporated in 2005 and is headquartered in Pleasanton, California.
How the Company Makes MoneyWorkday generates revenue primarily through subscription fees for its cloud-based software solutions. Customers typically pay on a subscription basis, which can include annual fees based on the number of users or a flat rate depending on the services utilized. Key revenue streams include Human Capital Management (HCM) and Financial Management solutions, both of which have shown strong growth as organizations increasingly transition to cloud-based systems. Additionally, Workday offers professional services, such as implementation and consulting, which contribute to its earnings. The company has formed significant partnerships with various organizations, enhancing its market reach and integration capabilities, thus driving customer adoption and retention. Factors contributing to its earnings include a strong focus on customer satisfaction, continuous product innovation, and a growing demand for cloud-based enterprise solutions.

Workday Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Any
Any
Revenue by Segment
Revenue by Segment
Breaks down revenue from various business segments, revealing which areas drive growth and where the company might focus future expansion efforts.
Chart InsightsWorkday's Subscription revenue shows a consistent upward trajectory, reflecting strong demand and successful client retention strategies. Meanwhile, Professional services revenue is more volatile but has recently shown signs of recovery, indicating potential improvements in service delivery or client engagement. The lack of earnings call commentary suggests no immediate strategic shifts, but the steady growth in Subscription revenue could imply a focus on expanding recurring revenue streams, which is crucial for long-term stability and investor confidence.
Data provided by:The Fly

Workday Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Nov 25, 2025
(Q3-2026)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Mar 02, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
The earnings call highlighted robust subscription revenue growth, significant adoption of AI products, and successful international expansion. New acquisitions and strategic investments in AI were well-received, with strong customer and partner momentum. While there were some challenges in the higher education sector and specific markets, these were outweighed by the positive overall performance and future outlook.
Q3-2026 Updates
Positive Updates
Strong Subscription Revenue Growth
Workday reported a 15% growth in subscription revenue, reaching $2.244 billion in Q3. The total subscription revenue backlog rose by 17% to $25.96 billion.
AI Product Adoption and Impact
AI products contributed to a 1.5% ARR growth this quarter. More than 75% of core customers are using Workday Illuminate AI, contributing to over 1 billion AI actions on the platform this year.
Expansion and New Customer Wins
Workday added new customers such as Sunnybrook Health Sciences, Fuji Electric, and Magnum Ice Cream. Healthcare exceeded $1 billion in ARR with strategic wins like Arden Health and Northeast Georgia Medical Center.
International Performance
Solid performance in EMEA, APAC, and Japan with notable wins at Bayer, ING Bank, and Tandem Bank. A new AI center of excellence was established in Dublin.
Acquisitions and Strategic Investments
The acquisition of Sana and Paradox, along with a planned acquisition of Pipedream, are aimed at enhancing Workday's AI capabilities and user experience.
High Gross Revenue Retention
Workday maintained strong gross revenue retention rates at 97%.
Negative Updates
Isolated Impacts in Higher Education
Challenges were noted in institutions heavily reliant on federal grants, particularly in the higher education sector.
Federal and SLED Market Challenges
Some impact was observed in the Fed and SLED markets due to fiscal funding issues, despite strong execution across the portfolio.
Company Guidance
During Workday's third-quarter fiscal year 2026 earnings call, the company provided a robust set of metrics illustrating its performance and future guidance. The subscription revenue grew by 15% to $2.244 billion, while the total revenue was $2.432 billion, marking a 13% increase. Notably, the company's non-GAAP operating margin reached 28.5%, with an operating income of $692 million. Workday's twelve-month subscription revenue backlog rose by 17.6% to $8.21 billion, supported by the Paradox acquisition, which contributed over a point of growth. Looking ahead, Workday anticipates Q4 subscription revenue of $2.355 billion and a full-year 2026 subscription revenue of $8.828 billion, reflecting a 14% growth. The company also highlighted its strong free cash flow generation, expecting $2.7 billion for the full year, representing a 23% increase. In terms of strategic initiatives, Workday is focusing on AI advancements, with AI products adding more than one and a half points to ARR growth this quarter, and plans to continue expanding its offerings through acquisitions and organic innovations.

Workday Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Workday exhibits strong financial performance with consistent revenue growth, robust profit margins, and a solid balance sheet with low leverage. The company effectively manages its cash flows, ensuring financial stability and growth potential. However, there is room for improvement in operational efficiency to enhance EBIT margins further.
Income Statement
78
Positive
Workday's income statement shows a solid performance with a consistent revenue growth rate of 3.13% TTM, supported by a strong gross profit margin of 82.06%. The net profit margin has improved to 6.96% TTM, indicating enhanced profitability. However, the EBIT margin is relatively low at 6.65% TTM, suggesting room for operational efficiency improvements.
Balance Sheet
85
Very Positive
The balance sheet reflects a strong financial position with a low debt-to-equity ratio of 0.09 TTM, indicating low leverage and financial stability. The return on equity is moderate at 6.52% TTM, showing a reasonable return on shareholders' investments. The equity ratio is robust, highlighting a solid capital structure.
Cash Flow
82
Very Positive
Workday's cash flow statement is strong, with a free cash flow growth rate of 8.07% TTM, indicating healthy cash generation. The operating cash flow to net income ratio of 0.55 TTM suggests efficient conversion of income into cash. The free cash flow to net income ratio of 0.93 TTM demonstrates effective cash management.
BreakdownDec 2025Dec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021
Income Statement
Total Revenue8.45B7.26B6.22B5.14B4.32B
Gross Profit6.38B5.49B4.51B3.71B3.12B
EBITDA1.08B752.00M206.00M377.00M87.33M
Net Income526.00M1.38B-367.00M29.00M-282.43M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets17.98B16.45B13.49B10.50B8.72B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments8.02B7.81B6.12B3.64B3.54B
Total Debt3.36B3.30B3.25B2.10B2.24B
Total Liabilities8.94B8.37B7.90B5.96B5.44B
Stockholders Equity9.03B8.08B5.59B4.54B3.28B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow2.19B1.91B1.30B1.38B1.01B
Operating Cash Flow2.46B2.15B1.66B1.65B1.27B
Investing Cash Flow-1.78B-1.75B-2.51B-1.61B-1.24B
Financing Cash Flow-1.15B-268.00M1.20B110.25M625.05M

Workday Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Negative
Last Price192.72
Price Trends
50DMA
218.06
Negative
100DMA
226.34
Negative
200DMA
232.45
Negative
Market Momentum
MACD
-6.01
Positive
RSI
25.78
Positive
STOCH
4.27
Positive
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For WDAY, the sentiment is Negative. The current price of 192.72 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 211.08, below the 50-day MA of 218.06, and below the 200-day MA of 232.45, indicating a bearish trend. The MACD of -6.01 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 25.78 is Positive, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 4.27 is Positive, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Negative sentiment for WDAY.

Workday Risk Analysis

Workday disclosed 39 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Workday reported the most risks in the "Finance & Corporate" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

Workday Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (61)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
76
Outperform
$8.70B19.2228.56%0.94%9.72%-2.69%
73
Outperform
$51.02B80.927.34%13.35%-60.76%
71
Outperform
$3.15B47.8721.85%7.36%-40.62%
69
Neutral
$42.93B409.423.52%26.63%-46.13%
61
Neutral
$37.18B12.37-10.20%1.83%8.50%-7.62%
61
Neutral
$34.72B-182.46-15.35%19.51%53.35%
54
Neutral
$70.55B-51.48-53.32%28.48%-19.12%
* Technology Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
WDAY
Workday
192.72
-57.98
-23.13%
PAYC
Paycom
152.78
-53.70
-26.01%
TEAM
Atlassian
128.45
-125.80
-49.48%
BL
BlackLine
52.43
-7.58
-12.63%
DDOG
Datadog
120.86
-15.93
-11.65%
SNOW
Snowflake
207.74
40.10
23.92%
Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.Date of analysis: Dec 09, 2025