Subscription revenue

Okta beat Q3 expectations with adjusted EPS of 82 c (vs 76 c) and revenue of $742 M (vs $730 M), marking 12% YoY growth and a 169% rise in net income to $43 M. Subscription revenue rose 11% to $724 M and the backlog increased 17% to $4.29 B. The company skipped FY2027 guidance, citing seasonal uncertainty, and introduced AI‑powered agents aimed at expanding its addressable market. It forecasts Q4 revenue of $748‑$750 M and EPS of 84‑85 c. Despite the beat, the stock fell >3% after hours as investors await clearer guidance.

Workday’s shares slid up to 10% after analysts trimmed price targets, citing a modest FY‑26 subscription‑revenue outlook of $8.83 billion—only $13 million above prior guidance. The cloud‑software firm is betting on AI, highlighted by its $1.1 billion acquisition of Sana and the rollout of AI‑driven agents across finance, HR and planning. Despite early AI‑related revenue gains, Q3 earnings missed expectations, prompting target cuts from $340 to $235 and concerns over integration risk, competitive pressure from SAP/Oracle and cautious corporate IT spending. The stock trades around $240, roughly 8× forward subscription revenue.

Cisco (CSCO) shares jumped after reporting strong Q1 2026 results, exceeding revenue and EPS expectations. Revenue grew 8% year-over-year to $14.88 billion, driven by double-digit order growth fueled by AI-related demand. Cisco highlighted a “deepening” relationship with clients and a campus networking refresh cycle. While security revenue declined, the company projects strong Q2 2026 revenue of $15-$15.2 billion. Cisco is benefiting from the AI infrastructure boom with significant orders from hyperscalers, positioning itself as an AI play with improving subscription revenue.

ServiceNow’s Q3 results exceeded expectations, driven by AI platform adoption. Revenue reached $3.41 billion, with subscription revenue at $3.3 billion, up 22% year-over-year. EPS was $4.82 adjusted. The company raised full-year guidance and announced a 5-for-1 stock split. ServiceNow’s AI business is projected to generate over $500 million in annual contract value this year, aiming for $1 billion by 2026. Q4 subscription revenue is projected between $3.42 billion and $3.43 billion.