Workday (WDAY) Q1 FY27 earnings call

Earnings call· Apr 2026 (Q1 FY27)· Information Technology· May 21, 2026

Source: earnings call transcript

Aneel Bhusri's first full quarter back reads as a deliberate refounding: a startup operating model, a dedicated AI agent factory, and Sana installed as Workday's new front door. Core demand reaccelerated after a slower FY26 with AI-attached expansions now the growth engine, while internal AI productivity funds margin discipline. The thesis hinges on converting early organic-agent adoption into consumption revenue through the back half and into FY28.

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WDAY operating KPIs by quarter

WDAY operating KPIs stated on its earnings calls, by fiscal quarter
KPI	Jan 2025 Q4 FY25	Jul 2025 Q2 FY26	Oct 2025 Q3 FY26	Jan 2026 Q4 FY26	This call Apr 2026 Q1 FY27	Jul 2026 Q2 FY27	Change vs prior quarter
Customers	11K+ Workday now serves more than 11,000 customers across industries and geographies, including more than 60% of the Fortune 500 and 30% of the Global 2000. Source: earnings call transcript	11K+ We have over 11,000 customers today, a strong installed base that includes 65% of the Fortune 500. Source: earnings call transcript	—	11.5K+ With over 11,500 global customers, expansions remain our largest growth engine. Source: earnings call transcript	11.5K+ We're start-up sitting on one of the most important enterprise platforms ever built and the trust of more than 11,500 customers. Source: earnings call transcript	—	—
Remaining performance obligation (RPO) 12-month subscription revenue backlog	$7.63B 12-month subscription revenue backlog, or cRPO, was $7.63 billion at the end of Q4, growing 15%. Source: earnings call transcript	$7.91B 12-month subscription revenue backlog, or cRPO, was $7.91 billion at the end of Q2, increasing 16.4%. Source: earnings call transcript	$8.21B 12-month subscription revenue backlog or cRPO, was $8.21 billion at the end of Q3, increasing 17.6%. Source: earnings call transcript	$8.83B 12-month subscription revenue backlog or cRPO was $8.83 billion at the end of Q4, growing 15.8%. Source: earnings call transcript	$8.81B 12-month subscription revenue backlog or cRPO, was $8.81 billion at the end of Q1, growing 15.5%. Source: earnings call transcript	$9.03B 12-month subscription revenue backlog or CRPO, ended the quarter at $9.03 billion, an increase of 14.2%. Source: earnings call transcript	+2.5%
Remaining performance obligation (RPO) Subscription revenue backlog	$25.06B Total subscription revenue backlog at the end of Q4 was $25.06 billion, up 20%, and gross revenue retention rates remained strong at 98%. Source: earnings call transcript	$25.37B Total subscription revenue backlog at the end of the quarter was $25.37 billion, up 18%, and gross revenue retention rates remained healthy at 97%. Source: earnings call transcript	$25.96B Total subscription revenue backlog at the end of the quarter was $25.96 billion, up 17%, and gross revenue retention rates remained healthy at 97%. Source: earnings call transcript	$28.1B Total subscription revenue backlog at the end of Q4 was $28.1 billion, up 12%. Source: earnings call transcript	$27.29B Total subscription revenue backlog at the end of Q1 was $27.29 billion, up 11%. Source: earnings call transcript	$27.4B Total subscription revenue backlog ended Q2 at $27.4 billion, up 8% from a year ago. Source: earnings call transcript	+0.4%
Employees	~20.4K Our head count as of January 31 was approximately 20,400 Workmates, not reflecting the restructuring that took place in early February, which we expect will reduce our workforce by approximately 8%. Source: earnings call transcript	~19.5K Our headcount as of July 31 stood at approximately 19,500 Workmates around the globe. Source: earnings call transcript	20.588K Our head count as of October 31, stood at 20,588 workmates around the globe, including roughly 600 workmates from the Paradox acquisition. Source: earnings call transcript	21.07K Our head count as of January 31 was 21,070 workmates around the globe. Source: earnings call transcript	20.834K Our headcount as of quarter end stood at 20,834 workmates around the globe. Source: earnings call transcript	20.896K Our headcount as of quarter end stood at 20,896 workmates around the globe. Source: earnings call transcript	+0.3%

Operating figures the company stated on at least two of the calls shown, checked against each call's transcript. Click a figure to read the sentence. A dash means it was not stated that quarter.

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