Workiva Announces First Quarter 2026 Financial Results

Fiscal first quarter subscription & support revenue increased by 21%

Total revenue was $247 million, up 20% year-over-year

GAAP operating margin was 6.2%, non-GAAP operating margin was 18.4%

Repurchased $50 million worth of Class A common stock under the 2024 share repurchase plan

 

NEW YORK - May 5, 2026 – Workiva Inc. (NYSE: WK), a leading, AI-powered platform for trust, transparency, and accountability, today announced financial results for its first quarter ended March 31, 2026. 

“Q1 2026 was another strong quarter as organizations across every industry turn to Workiva as their platform of trust for the Office of the CFO,” said Julie Iskow, President & Chief Executive Officer. “In a world where AI is accelerating the pace of change, the tolerance for error in financial reporting, sustainability, and governance, risk and compliance is zero, and our customers increasingly rely on us to ensure that every number and every narrative is accurate, traceable, and audit-ready.”

“Our first quarter results reflect strong execution across the business, with 21% subscription revenue growth and a non-GAAP operating margin of 18.4%, a 1,600 basis-point improvement compared to a year ago,” said Barbara Larson, Chief Financial Officer. “This level of margin expansion, while sustaining durable top-line growth, demonstrates the operating leverage we are building in the business and reflects the disciplined foundation we've established to drive growth at scale.”

First Quarter 2026 Financial Results

  • Revenue: Total revenue for the first quarter of 2026 reached $247 million, an increase of 20% from $206 million in the first quarter of 2025. Subscription and support revenue contributed $225 million, up 21% versus the first quarter of 2025. Professional services revenue was $22 million, up slightly from the first quarter of 2025.
  • Operating Margin: GAAP operating margin for the first quarter of 2026 was 6.2% compared to (12.0)% in the prior year's first quarter. Non-GAAP operating margin was 18.4% compared to 2.4% in the first quarter of 2025.
  • GAAP Net Income (Loss): GAAP net income for the first quarter of 2026 was $19 million compared with a net loss of $(21) million for the prior year's first quarter. GAAP net income per basic share and diluted share was $0.33, compared with a net loss per basic and diluted share of $(0.38) in the first quarter of 2025.
  • Non-GAAP Net Income: Non-GAAP net income for the first quarter of 2026 was $49 million compared with non-GAAP net income of $8 million in the prior year's first quarter. Non-GAAP net income per basic share and diluted share in the first quarter of 2026 was $0.86 and $0.77, respectively, compared with non-GAAP net income per basic share and diluted share of $0.15 and $0.14, respectively, in the first quarter of 2025.
  • Liquidity: As of March 31, 2026, Workiva had cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities totaling $863 million, compared with $892 million as of December 31, 2025. Workiva had $71 million aggregate principal amount of 1.125% convertible senior notes due in 2026, $702 million aggregate principal amount of 1.250% convertible senior notes due in 2028, and $14 million of finance lease obligations outstanding as of March 31, 2026.

Key Metrics and Recent Business Highlights

  • Customers: Workiva had 6,665 customers as of March 31, 2026, a net increase of 280 customers from March 31, 2025.
  • Retention Rate: As of March 31, 2026, Workiva's gross retention rate was 97%, and the net retention rate was 112%. Net retention includes changes in both solutions and pricing for existing customers.
  • Large Contracts: As of March 31, 2026, Workiva had 2,575 customers with an annual contract value (“ACV”) of more than $100,000, up 24% from 2,079 customers at March 31, 2025. Workiva had 605 customers with an ACV of more than $300,000, up 38% from 439 customers in the first quarter of 2025. Workiva had 265 customers with an ACV of more than $500,000, up 39% from 191 customers in the first quarter of 2025.
  • Share Repurchase Plan: On July 30, 2024, our board of directors authorized a share repurchase plan for up to $100 million of our outstanding Class A common stock. On February 16, 2026, our board of directors modified the repurchase plan to authorize an additional $250 million of the Company’s outstanding Class A common stock for repurchase under the plan. During the first quarter of 2026, Workiva purchased approximately 763,000 shares for $50 million under the plan. As of March 31, 2026, approximately $228 million remained available under the plan for future share repurchases.

Financial Outlook

As of May 5, 2026, Workiva is providing guidance as follows:

Second Quarter 2026 Guidance:

  • Total revenue is expected to be in the range of $250 million to $252 million.
  • GAAP operating margin is expected to be in the range of 1.6% to 2.2%.
  • Non-GAAP operating margin is expected to be in the range of 14.5% to 15.0%.
  • GAAP net income per diluted share is expected to be in the range of $0.12 to $0.15 using 57.0 million shares.
  • Non-GAAP net income per diluted share is expected to be in the range of $0.62 to $0.65 using 63.2 million shares.

Full Year 2026 Guidance:

  • Total revenue is expected to be in the range of $1.037 billion to $1.041 billion.
  • GAAP operating margin is expected to be in the range of 3.8% to 4.3%.
  • Non-GAAP operating margin is expected to be in the range of 16.0% to 16.5%.
  • GAAP net income per diluted share is expected to be in the range of  $0.89 to $0.99 using 57.1 million shares.
  • Non-GAAP net income per diluted share is expected to be in the range of $2.85 to $2.95 using 62.3 million shares.
  • Free cash flow margin is expected to be approximately 20%.

Quarterly Conference Call

Workiva will host a webcast today at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time to review the Company’s financial results for the first quarter 2026, in addition to discussing the Company’s outlook for the second quarter and full year 2026. The call can be accessed by dialing 1-833-630-1956 (U.S. domestic) or 1-412-317-1837 (international). Additionally, a live webcast and replay will be available at https://investor.workiva.com/news-events/events. 

About Workiva

Workiva Inc. (NYSE: WK) powers trust, transparency, and accountability. Accounting, finance, sustainability, risk and audit teams from more than 6,600 organizations, including over 85% of Fortune 1,000 companies rely on Workiva for their mission-critical work. We transform how customers connect data, unify processes, and empower teams in a secure, audit-ready, AI-powered collaborative platform. Learn more at workiva.com.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures 

The non-GAAP adjustments referenced herein relate to the exclusion of stock-based compensation and amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets. A reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP historical financial measures has been provided in Table I at the end of this press release. A reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP guidance has been provided in Table II at the end of this press release. 

Workiva believes that the use of non-GAAP gross profit, non-GAAP income from operations and non-GAAP operating margin, non-GAAP net income, non-GAAP net income per share, free cash flow and free cash flow margin is helpful to its investors. These measures, which are referred to as non-GAAP financial measures, are not prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, or GAAP. Workiva’s management uses these non-GAAP financial measures as tools for financial and operational decision making and for evaluating Workiva’s own operating results over different periods of time.

Non-GAAP gross profit is calculated by excluding stock-based compensation expense and amortization expense for acquisition-related intangible assets attributable to cost of revenues from gross profit. Non-GAAP income from operations is calculated by excluding stock-based compensation expense and amortization expense for acquisition-related intangible assets from loss from operations. Non-GAAP operating margin is the ratio calculated by dividing non-GAAP income from operations by revenues. Non-GAAP net income is calculated by excluding stock-based compensation expense, net of tax and amortization expense for acquisition-related intangible assets from net income (loss). Non-GAAP net income per share is calculated by dividing non-GAAP net income by the weighted- average shares outstanding as presented in the calculation of GAAP net income (loss) per share. Because of varying available valuation methodologies, subjective assumptions and the variety of equity instruments that can impact a company’s non-cash expenses, Workiva believes that providing non-GAAP financial measures that exclude stock-based compensation expense allows for more meaningful comparisons between its operating results from period to period. For business combinations, we generally allocate a portion of the purchase price to intangible assets. The amount of the allocation is based on estimates and assumptions made by management and is subject to amortization. The amount of purchase price allocated to intangible assets and the term of its related amortization can vary significantly and are unique to each acquisition and thus we do not believe they are reflective of ongoing operations. 

Free cash flow, a non-GAAP measure, represents cash flow from operating activities less purchase of property and equipment. Free cash flow margin is calculated by dividing free cash flow by total revenue. We consider free cash flow and free cash flow margin to be liquidity measures that provide useful information to investors about the amount of cash generated or used by the business.

Non-GAAP financial measures may not provide information that is directly comparable to that provided by other companies in Workiva’s industry, as other companies in the industry may calculate non-GAAP financial results differently. In addition, there are limitations in using non-GAAP financial measures because the non-GAAP financial measures are not prepared in accordance with GAAP, may be different from non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies and exclude expenses that may have a material impact on Workiva’s reported financial results. Further, stock-based compensation expense has been and will continue to be for the foreseeable future a significant recurring expense in Workiva’s business and an important part of the compensation provided to its employees. The presentation of non-GAAP financial information is not meant to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the directly comparable financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP. Investors should review the reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures to the comparable GAAP financial measures included below, and not rely on any single financial measure to evaluate Workiva’s business.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this press release are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and are subject to the safe harbor created thereby. These statements relate to future events or the Company’s future financial performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements of the Company or its industry to be materially different from those expressed or implied by any forward-looking statements. In particular, statements about the Company’s expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions, future events or future performance contained in this press release are forward-looking statements. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "may," "will," "could," "would," "should," "expect," "plan," "anticipate," "intend," "believe," "estimate," "predict," "potential," "outlook," "guidance," "target," "goal," "project," "continue to," "confident," or the negative of those terms or other comparable terminology. 

Please see the Company’s documents filed or to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company’s annual reports filed on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, and any amendments thereto for a discussion of certain important risk factors that relate to forward-looking statements contained in this report. The Company has based these forward-looking statements on its current expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections. While the Company believes these expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections are reasonable, such forward-looking statements are only predictions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company’s control. These and other important factors may cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statements are made only as of the date hereof, and unless otherwise required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Contacts

Investor Contact: 
Katie White 
Workiva Inc.
investor@workiva.com 

Media Contact:
Bill Bode
Workiva Inc.
press@workiva.com 

 

WORKIVA INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

 

Three months ended March 31,

 

2026

 

2025

 

(unaudited)

Revenue

   

Subscription and support

$ 225,355

 

$ 185,512

Professional services

21,951

 

20,768

Total revenue

247,306

 

206,280

Cost of revenue

   

Subscription and support (1)

35,183

 

34,062

Professional services (1)

13,362

 

14,280

Total cost of revenue

48,545

 

48,342

Gross profit

198,761

 

157,938

Operating expenses

   

Research and development (1)

52,913

 

53,780

Sales and marketing (1)

104,485

 

101,671

General and administrative (1)

26,042

 

27,237

Total operating expenses

183,440

 

182,688

Income (loss) from operations

15,321

 

(24,750)

Interest income

8,103

 

8,747

Interest expense

(3,194)

 

(3,195)

Other income (expense), net

398

 

(233)

Income (loss) before provision for income taxes

20,628

 

(19,431)

Provision for income taxes

1,632

 

1,940

Net income (loss)

$ 18,996

 

$ (21,371)

Net income (loss) per common share:

   

Basic

$ 0.33

 

$ (0.38)

Diluted

$ 0.33

 

$ (0.38)

Weighted-average common shares outstanding

   

Basic

56,885,568

 

56,157,533

Diluted

58,441,679

 

56,157,533

 

(1) Includes stock-based compensation expense as follows:

 

Three months ended March 31,

 

2026

 

2025

 

(unaudited)

Cost of revenue

   

Subscription and support

$ 2,848

 

$ 2,433

Professional services

1,189

 

996

Operating expenses

   

Research and development

6,401

 

6,050

Sales and marketing

9,847

 

9,751

General and administrative

8,322

 

8,658

 

 

 

WORKIVA INC.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands)

 

March 31, 2026

 

December 31, 2025

 

(unaudited)

  

Assets

   

Current assets

   

Cash and cash equivalents

$ 334,260

 

$ 338,769

Marketable securities

529,116

 

552,852

Accounts receivable, net

138,109

 

168,984

Deferred costs

64,793

 

62,619

Other receivables

7,925

 

10,383

Prepaid expenses and other

33,939

 

28,778

Total current assets

1,108,142

 

1,162,385

Property and equipment, net

19,832

 

20,546

Operating lease right-of-use assets

10,577

 

13,986

Deferred costs, non-current

53,958

 

59,767

Goodwill

204,174

 

206,164

Intangible assets, net

21,511

 

22,270

Other assets

7,184

 

8,453

Total assets

$ 1,425,378

 

$ 1,493,571

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Deficit

   

Current liabilities

   

Accounts payable

$ 10,665

 

$ 8,932

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

89,316

 

113,115

Deferred revenue

514,310

 

547,919

Convertible senior notes, current

71,140

 

71,072

Finance lease obligations

623

 

614

Total current liabilities

686,054

 

741,652

Convertible senior notes, non-current

696,807

 

696,263

Deferred revenue, non-current

35,001

 

37,305

Other long-term liabilities

102

 

92

Operating lease liabilities, non-current

6,965

 

10,472

Finance lease obligations, non-current

13,064

 

13,223

Total liabilities

1,437,993

 

1,499,007

Stockholders’ deficit

   

Common stock

57

 

57

Additional paid-in-capital

699,649

 

720,923

Accumulated deficit

(714,856)

 

(733,852)

Accumulated other comprehensive income

2,535

 

7,436

Total stockholders’ deficit

(12,615)

 

(5,436)

Total liabilities and stockholders’ deficit

$ 1,425,378

 

$ 1,493,571

 

 

 

WORKIVA INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands)

 

Three months ended March 31,

 

2026

 

2025

 

(unaudited)

Cash flows from operating activities

   

Net income (loss)

$ 18,996

 

$ (21,371)

Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

   

Depreciation and amortization

2,516

 

2,893

Stock-based compensation expense

28,607

 

27,888

(Recovery of) provision for doubtful accounts

(118)

 

12

Accretion of premiums and discounts on marketable securities, net

(801)

 

(1,695)

Amortization of debt discount and issuance costs

612

 

610

Gain on lease modification

(307)

 

Deferred income tax

(269)

 

(64)

Changes in assets and liabilities:

   

Accounts receivable

30,156

 

30,636

Deferred costs

2,878

 

4,093

Operating lease right-of-use assets

1,260

 

1,329

Other receivables

2,439

 

994

Prepaid expenses and other

(5,221)

 

(5,653)

Other assets

1,233

 

(648)

Accounts payable

1,971

 

6,651

Deferred revenue

(33,255)

 

(18,438)

Operating lease liabilities

(1,167)

 

(831)

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

(23,054)

 

(33,764)

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

26,476

 

(7,358)

    

Cash flows from investing activities

   

Purchase of property and equipment

(728)

 

(763)

Purchase of marketable securities

(91,501)

 

(102,965)

Maturities of marketable securities

114,350

 

94,614

Acquisitions, net of cash acquired

(750)

 

Purchase of intangible assets

(26)

 

(19)

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities

21,345

 

(9,133)

    

Cash flows from financing activities

   

Proceeds from option exercises

729

 

631

Taxes paid related to net share settlements of stock-based compensation awards

(8,662)

 

(12,922)

Proceeds from shares issued in connection with employee stock purchase plan

8,052

 

7,535

Repurchases of Class A common stock

(50,000)

 

(40,118)

Principal payments on finance lease obligations

(150)

 

(138)

Net cash used in financing activities

(50,031)

 

(45,012)

Effect of foreign exchange rates on cash

(2,299)

 

1,889

Net decrease in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash

(4,509)

 

(59,614)

Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at beginning of period

339,481

 

302,350

Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at end of period

$ 334,972

 

$ 242,736

 

 

Three months ended March 31,

 

2026

 

2025

 

(unaudited)

Reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash to the consolidated balance sheets

   

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

$ 334,260

 

$ 242,024

Restricted cash included within prepaid expenses and other at end of period

712

 

712

Total cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at end of period shown in the consolidated statements of cash flows

$ 334,972

 

$ 242,736

 

 

 

TABLE I
WORKIVA INC.
RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP INFORMATION
(in thousands, except share and per share)

 

Three months ended March 31,

 

2026

 

2025

Gross profit, subscription and support

$ 190,172

 

$ 151,450

Add back: Stock-based compensation

2,848

 

2,433

Add back: Amortization of acquisition-related intangibles

996

 

909

Gross profit, subscription and support, non-GAAP

$ 194,016

 

$ 154,792

    

Gross profit, professional services

$ 8,589

 

$ 6,488

Add back: Stock-based compensation

1,189

 

996

Gross profit, professional services, non-GAAP

$ 9,778

 

$ 7,484

    

Gross profit

$ 198,761

 

$ 157,938

Add back: Stock-based compensation

4,037

 

3,429

Add back: Amortization of acquisition-related intangibles

996

 

909

Gross profit, non-GAAP

$ 203,794

 

$ 162,276

    

Cost of revenue, subscription and support

$ 35,183

 

$ 34,062

Less: Stock-based compensation

2,848

 

2,433

Less: Amortization of acquisition-related intangibles

996

 

909

Cost of revenue, subscription and support, non-GAAP

$ 31,339

 

$ 30,720

    

Cost of revenue, professional services

$ 13,362

 

$ 14,280

Less: Stock-based compensation

1,189

 

996

Cost of revenue, professional services, non-GAAP

$ 12,173

 

$ 13,284

    

Research and development

$ 52,913

 

$ 53,780

Less: Stock-based compensation

6,401

 

6,050

Less: Amortization of acquisition-related intangibles

 

495

Research and development, non-GAAP

$ 46,512

 

$ 47,235

    

Sales and marketing

$ 104,485

 

$ 101,671

Less: Stock-based compensation

9,847

 

9,751

Less: Amortization of acquisition-related intangibles

491

 

447

Sales and marketing, non-GAAP

$ 94,147

 

$ 91,473

    

General and administrative

$ 26,042

 

$ 27,237

Less: Stock-based compensation

8,322

 

8,658

General and administrative, non-GAAP

$ 17,720

 

$ 18,579

    

Income (loss) from operations

$ 15,321

 

$ (24,750)

Add back: Stock-based compensation

28,607

 

27,888

Add back: Amortization of acquisition-related intangibles

1,487

 

1,851

Income from operations, non-GAAP

$ 45,415

 

$ 4,989

GAAP operating margin

6.2 %

 

(12.0) %

Non-GAAP operating margin

18.4 %

 

2.4 %

    

Net income (loss)

$ 18,996

 

$ (21,371)

Add back: Stock-based compensation

28,607

 

27,888

Add back: Amortization of acquisition-related intangibles

1,487

 

1,851

Net income, non-GAAP

$ 49,090

 

$ 8,368

    

Net income (loss) per basic share

$ 0.33

 

$ (0.38)

Add back: Stock-based compensation

0.50

 

0.50

Add back: Amortization of acquisition-related intangibles

0.03

 

0.03

Net income per basic share, non-GAAP

$ 0.86

 

$ 0.15

Net income (loss) per diluted share

$ 0.33

 

$ (0.38)

Net income per diluted share, non-GAAP

$ 0.77

 

$ 0.14

    

Weighted-average common shares outstanding - diluted

58,441,679

 

56,157,533

Weighted-average common shares outstanding - diluted, non-GAAP

63,684,917

 

58,480,150

    

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

$ 26,476

 

(7,358)

Purchase of property and equipment

(728)

 

(763)

Free cash flow

$ 25,748

 

$ (8,121)

Operating cash flow margin

10.7 %

 

(3.6) %

Free cash flow margin

10.4 %

 

(3.9) %

 

 

 

TABLE II
WORKIVA INC.
RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP GUIDANCE

 

Three months ending June 30, 2026

 

Year ending December 31, 2026

        

GAAP operating margin

1.6 %

-

2.2 %

 

3.8 %

-

4.3 %

Add back: Stock-based compensation

12.3 %

-

12.2 %

 

11.6 %

-

11.6 %

Add back: Amortization of acquisition-related intangibles

0.6 %

-

0.6 %

 

0.6 %

-

0.6 %

Non-GAAP operating margin

14.5 %

-

15.0 %

 

16.0 %

-

16.5 %

        

Net income per diluted share, GAAP

$ 0.12

-

$ 0.15

 

$ 0.89

-

$ 0.99

Add back: Stock-based compensation

0.54

-

0.54

 

2.11

-

2.11

Add back: Amortization of acquisition-related intangibles

0.03

-

0.03

 

0.11

-

0.11

Effect of potentially dilutive securities

(0.07)

-

(0.07)

 

(0.26)

-

(0.26)

Net income per diluted share, non-GAAP

$ 0.62

-

$ 0.65

 

$ 2.85

-

$ 2.95

        

Weighted-average common shares used in calculating GAAP earnings per share, diluted

57,000,000

 

57,000,000

 

57,100,000

 

57,100,000

Weighted-average common shares used in calculating non-GAAP earnings per share, diluted

63,200,000

 

63,200,000

 

62,300,000

 

62,300,000