Appian Announces First Quarter 2026 Financial Results

MCLEAN, Va., May 07, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Appian (Nasdaq: APPN) today announced financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2026.

First Quarter 2026 Financial Highlights:

  • Revenue: Cloud subscriptions revenue was $124.5 million, up 25% compared to the first quarter of 2025. Total subscriptions revenue, which includes sales of our cloud subscriptions, other subscriptions, and the related maintenance and support, increased 19% year-over-year to $160.3 million. Professional services revenue was $41.9 million, an increase of 31% compared to the first quarter of 2025. Total revenue was $202.2 million, up 21% compared to the first quarter of 2025. Cloud net annualized recurring revenue (“ARR”) expansion was 115% as of March 31, 2026.
  • Operating income (loss) and non-GAAP operating income: GAAP operating income was $3.2 million, compared to GAAP operating loss of $(0.8) million for the first quarter of 2025. Non-GAAP operating income was $24.4 million, compared to non-GAAP operating income of $14.3 million for the first quarter of 2025.
  • Net loss and non-GAAP net income: GAAP net loss was $(1.5) million, compared to $(1.2) million for the first quarter of 2025. GAAP net loss per share was $(0.02) for the first quarter of 2026, compared to $(0.02) for the first quarter of 2025. Non-GAAP net income was $19.8 million, compared to $9.8 million for the first quarter of 2025. Non-GAAP net income per share was $0.27, compared to the $0.13 net income per share for the first quarter of 2025.
  • Adjusted EBITDA: Adjusted EBITDA was $26.6 million, compared to adjusted EBITDA of $16.8 million for the first quarter of 2025.
  • Cash flows: Net cash provided by operating activities was $48.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2026 compared to $45.0 million of net cash provided by operating activities for the same period in 2025.

A reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP financial measures has been provided in the tables following the financial statements in this press release. An explanation of these measures is also included below under the heading “Non-GAAP Financial Measures.”

Financial Outlook:

As of May 7, 2026, guidance for 2026 is as follows:

  • Second Quarter 2026 Guidance:
    • Cloud subscriptions revenue is expected to be between $126.0 million and $128.0 million, representing year-over-year growth of 18% to 20%.
    • Total revenue is expected to be between $191.0 million and $195.0 million, representing a year-over-year increase of 12% to 14%.
    • Adjusted EBITDA is expected to be between $5.0 million and $8.0 million.
    • Non-GAAP earnings (loss) per share is expected to be between $(0.02) and $0.02, assuming weighted average common shares outstanding of 74.2 million.
  • Full Year 2026 Guidance:
    • Cloud subscriptions revenue is expected to be between $515.0 million and $521.0 million, representing year-over-year growth of 18% to 19%.
    • Total revenue is expected to be between $819.0 million and $831.0 million, representing a year-over-year increase of 13% to 14%.
    • Adjusted EBITDA is expected to be between $97.0 million and $105.0 million.
    • Non-GAAP earnings per share is expected to be between $0.94 and $1.05, assuming weighted average common shares outstanding of 73.9 million.

Conference Call Details:

Appian will host a conference call today, May 7, 2026, at 8:30 a.m. ET to discuss Appian’s financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2026 and business outlook.

To access the call, navigate to the following link(1). Once registered, participants can dial in using their phone with a dial in and PIN, or they can choose the Call Me option for instant dial to their phone. The live webcast of the conference call can also be accessed on the Investor Relations page of our website at https://investors.appian.com.

About Appian

Appian provides process automation technology. We automate complex processes in large enterprises and governments. Our platform is known for its unique reliability and scale. We’ve been automating processes for 25 years and understand enterprise operations like no one else. For more information, visit appian.com. [Nasdaq: APPN]

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

To supplement its consolidated financial statements, which are prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP, Appian provides investors with certain non-GAAP financial performance measures. Appian uses these non-GAAP financial performance measures for financial and operational decision-making and as a means to evaluate period-to-period comparisons. Appian’s management believes these non-GAAP financial measures provide meaningful supplemental information regarding Appian’s performance by excluding certain expenses that may not be indicative of our recurring core business operating results. Appian believes both management and investors benefit from referring to these non-GAAP financial measures in assessing Appian’s performance and when planning, forecasting, and analyzing future periods. These non-GAAP financial measures also facilitate management’s internal comparisons to historical performance as well as comparisons to competitors’ operating results. Appian believes these non-GAAP financial measures are useful to investors both because (1) they allow for greater transparency with respect to measures used by management in its financial and operational decision-making and (2) they are used by institutional investors and the analyst community to help them analyze the health of Appian’s business.

The non-GAAP financial performance measures include the following: non-GAAP subscriptions cost of revenue, non-GAAP professional services cost of revenue, non-GAAP total cost of revenue, non-GAAP total operating expense, non-GAAP operating income, non-GAAP income tax expense, non-GAAP net income, and non-GAAP net income per share, basic and diluted. These non-GAAP financial performance measures exclude the effect of stock-based compensation expense, unrealized foreign exchange rate gains and losses, certain non-ordinary litigation-related expenses consisting of legal and other professional fees associated with the Pegasystems cases (net of insurance reimbursements), or Litigation Expense, amortization of the judgment preservation insurance policy, or JPI Amortization, and lease impairments and lease-related charges associated with actions taken to reduce the footprint of our leased office spaces, or Lease Impairment and Lease-Related Charges. While some of these items may be recurring in nature and should not be disregarded in the evaluation of our earnings performance, it is useful to exclude such items when analyzing current results and trends compared to other periods as these items can vary significantly from period to period depending on specific underlying transactions or events that may occur. Therefore, while we may incur or recognize these types of expenses in the future, we believe removing these items for purposes of calculating our non-GAAP financial measures provides investors with a more focused presentation of our ongoing operating performance.

Appian also discusses adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP financial performance measure it believes offers a useful view of the overall operation of its businesses. Appian defines adjusted EBITDA as net loss before (1) other income, net, (2) interest expense, (3) income tax expense, (4) depreciation expense and amortization of intangible assets, (5) stock-based compensation expense, (6) Litigation Expense, (7) JPI Amortization, and (8) Lease Impairment and Lease-Related Charges. The most directly comparable GAAP financial measure to adjusted EBITDA is net loss. Users should consider the limitations of using adjusted EBITDA, including the fact this measure does not provide a complete depiction of our operating performance. Adjusted EBITDA is not intended to purport to be an alternative to net loss as a measure of operating performance or to cash flows from operating activities as a measure of liquidity.

The presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures is not intended to be considered in isolation from, as a substitute for, or superior to the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP, and Appian’s non-GAAP measures may be different from non-GAAP measures used by other companies. For more information on these non-GAAP financial measures, see the reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures to their nearest comparable GAAP measures at the end of this press release.

Appian provides guidance ranges for non-GAAP net income (loss) per share and adjusted EBITDA; however, we are not able to reconcile these amounts to their comparable GAAP financial measures without unreasonable efforts because certain information necessary to calculate such measures on a GAAP basis is unavailable, subject to high variability, dependent on future events outside of our control, and cannot be predicted. In addition, Appian believes such reconciliations could imply a degree of precision that might be confusing or misleading to investors. The actual effect of the reconciling items that Appian may exclude from these non-GAAP expense numbers, when determined, may be significant to the calculation of the comparable GAAP measures.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements contained in this press release other than statements of historical facts, including statements regarding Appian’s future financial and business performance for the second quarter and full year 2026, future investment by Appian in its go-to-market initiatives, increased demand for the Appian Platform, market opportunity and plans and objectives for future operations, including Appian’s ability to drive continued subscriptions revenue and total revenue growth, are forward-looking statements. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “will,” “plan,” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Appian has based these forward-looking statements on its current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that Appian believes may affect its financial condition, results of operations, business strategy, short-term and long-term business operations and objectives, and financial needs. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including the risks and uncertainties associated with Appian’s market opportunity and the expansion of its core software markets in general, the opportunity and disruptive impact of AI, the effects of increased competition, as well as innovations by new and existing competitors in its market, Appian’s ability to effectively manage or sustain its growth and to maintain profitability, Appian’s ability to maintain, or strengthen awareness of, its brand, risks and uncertainties associated with the composition and concentration of Appian’s customer base and their demand for its platform and satisfaction with the services provided by Appian, Appian’s ability to operate in compliance with applicable laws and regulations, Appian’s strategic relationships with third parties, and additional risks and uncertainties set forth in the “Risk Factors” section of Appian’s most recent annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Moreover, Appian operates in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment. New risks emerge from time to time. It is not possible for Appian’s management to predict all risks, nor can Appian assess the impact of all factors on its business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements Appian may make. In light of these risks, uncertainties, and assumptions, Appian cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance, achievements, or events and circumstances reflected in the forward-looking statements will occur. Appian is under no duty to update any of these forward-looking statements after the date of this press release to conform these statements to actual results or revised expectations, except as required by law.

Investor Contact
investors@appian.com

Media Contact
Valerie Miller
Senior Manager, Media Relations North America
pr@appian.com

APPIAN CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands, except par value and share data)
 
  As of
  March 31, 2026   December 31, 2025
Assets (unaudited)    
Current assets      
Cash and cash equivalents $ 150,025     $ 135,810  
Short-term investments and marketable securities   55,963       51,415  
Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $3,107 and $3,362, respectively   173,874       255,063  
Deferred commissions, current   35,459       35,166  
Prepaid expenses and other current assets   38,632       41,970  
Total current assets   453,953       519,424  
Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $41,662 and $40,747, respectively   30,279       32,087  
Goodwill   28,145       28,811  
Intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization of $7,444 and $7,301, respectively   904       1,246  
Right-of-use assets for operating leases   26,992       28,075  
Deferred commissions, net of current portion   64,199       65,199  
Deferred tax assets   4,874       4,850  
Other assets   14,017       11,703  
Total assets $ 623,363     $ 691,395  
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Deficit      
Current liabilities      
Accounts payable $ 4,136     $ 6,655  
Accrued expenses   21,661       18,483  
Accrued compensation and related benefits   32,354       61,781  
Deferred revenue   320,401       341,281  
Debt   9,598       9,598  
Operating lease liabilities   13,201       13,181  
Other current liabilities   1,312       1,128  
Total current liabilities   402,663       452,107  
Long-term debt   228,828       231,228  
Non-current operating lease liabilities   43,585       45,693  
Deferred revenue, non-current   6,913       8,962  
Other non-current liabilities   341       398  
Total liabilities   682,330       738,388  
Stockholders’ deficit      
Class A common stock—par value $0.0001; 500,000,000 shares authorized as of March 31, 2026 and December 31, 2025 and 43,474,509 and 43,408,828 shares issued as of March 31, 2026 and December 31, 2025, respectively   4       4  
Class B common stock—par value $0.0001; 100,000,000 shares authorized as March 31, 2026 and December 31, 2025 and 31,087,485 and 31,088,085 shares issued as of March 31, 2026 and December 31, 2025, respectively   3       3  
Treasury stock at cost, 1,048,812 and 542,288 shares as of March 31, 2026 and December 31, 2025, respectively   (29,152 )     (16,935 )
Additional paid-in capital   618,798       617,318  
Accumulated other comprehensive loss   (36,174 )     (36,462 )
Accumulated deficit   (612,446 )     (610,921 )
Total stockholders’ deficit   (58,967 )     (46,993 )
Total liabilities and stockholders’ deficit $ 623,363     $ 691,395  
               

APPIAN CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(in thousands, except per share data)
   
  Three Months Ended March 31,
    2026       2025  
  (unaudited)
Revenue      
Subscriptions $ 160,311     $ 134,352  
Professional services   41,869       32,074  
Total revenue   202,180       166,426  
Cost of revenue      
Subscriptions   22,904       18,521  
Professional services   31,507       25,519  
Total cost of revenue   54,411       44,040  
Gross profit   147,769       122,386  
Operating expenses      
Sales and marketing   64,619       56,310  
Research and development   46,324       41,830  
General and administrative   33,670       25,080  
Total operating expenses   144,613       123,220  
Operating income (loss)   3,156       (834 )
Other non-operating expense (income)      
Other income, net   (84 )     (5,716 )
Interest expense   4,172       5,318  
Total other non-operating expense (income)   4,088       (398 )
Loss before income taxes   (932 )     (436 )
Income tax expense   593       741  
Net loss $ (1,525 )   $ (1,177 )
Net loss per Class A and Class B share:      
Basic and diluted $ (0.02 )   $ (0.02 )
Weighted average common shares outstanding:      
Basic and diluted   73,820       74,094  
               

APPIAN CORPORATION
STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION EXPENSE
(in thousands)
 
     
  Three months ended March 31,  
    2026     2025  
  (unaudited)  
Cost of revenue        
Subscriptions $ 559   $ 498  
Professional services   1,638     1,456  
Operating expenses        
Sales and marketing   2,403     2,246  
Research and development   3,735     3,014  
General and administrative   3,554     2,825  
Total stock-based compensation expense $ 11,889   $ 10,039  
             

APPIAN CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(unaudited, in thousands)
   
  Three Months Ended March 31,
    2026       2025  
Cash flows from operating activities      
Net loss $ (1,525 )   $ (1,177 )
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities:      
Stock-based compensation   11,889       10,039  
Depreciation expense and amortization of intangible assets   2,273       2,446  
Bad debt expense   (194 )     (125 )
Amortization of debt issuance costs   150       150  
Benefit for deferred income taxes   (74 )     (163 )
Foreign currency transaction losses (gains), net   1,119       (3,989 )
Changes in assets and liabilities      
Accounts receivable   81,353       60,259  
Prepaid expenses and other assets   1,333       6,107  
Deferred commissions   707       3,855  
Accounts payable and accrued expenses   637       4,755  
Accrued compensation and related benefits   (25,569 )     (9,306 )
Other current and non-current liabilities   (468 )     507  
Deferred revenue   (21,799 )     (27,554 )
Operating lease assets and liabilities, net   (1,005 )     (838 )
Net cash provided by operating activities   48,827       44,966  
Cash flows from investing activities      
Proceeds from maturities of investments   39,771       13,611  
Purchases of investments   (44,866 )     (37,037 )
Purchases of property and equipment   (188 )     (651 )
Net cash used by investing activities   (5,283 )     (24,077 )
Cash flows from financing activities      
Debt repayments   (2,500 )     (2,500 )
Repurchase of common stock   (21,808 )      
Payments for employee taxes related to the net share settlement of equity awards   (5,117 )     (3,199 )
Proceeds from exercise of common stock options   630       190  
Net cash used by financing activities   (28,795 )     (5,509 )
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents   (534 )     1,050  
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents   14,215       16,430  
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period   135,810       118,552  
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $ 150,025     $ 134,982  
       
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:      
Cash paid for interest $ 3,803     $ 5,018  
Cash paid for income taxes $ 1,426     $ 798  
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing and financing information:      
Accrued capital expenditures $ 37     $ 784  

APPIAN CORPORATION
RECONCILIATION OF GAAP MEASURES TO NON-GAAP MEASURES
(unaudited, in thousands, except per share data)

  GAAP Measure   Stock-Based Compensation   Litigation Expense   JPI Amortization   Lease Impairment and Lease-Related Charges   Unrealized Foreign Exchange Rate Gains and Losses   Non-GAAP Measure
Three Months Ended March 31, 2026
Subscriptions cost of revenue $ 22,904     $ (559 )   $     $     $     $     $ 22,345  
Professional services cost of revenue   31,507       (1,638 )                             29,869  
Total cost of revenue   54,411       (2,197 )                             52,214  
Sales and marketing expense   64,619       (2,403 )                             62,216  
Research and development expense   46,324       (3,735 )                             42,589  
General and administrative expense   33,670       (3,554 )     (6,948 )     (2,055 )     (302 )           20,811  
Total operating expense   144,613       (9,692 )     (6,948 )     (2,055 )     (302 )           125,616  
Operating income   3,156       11,889       6,948       2,055       302             24,350  
Non-operating income   (84 )                             (848 )     (932 )
Income tax impact of above items   593       507                         199       1,299  
Net (loss) income   (1,525 )     11,382       6,948       2,055       302       649       19,811  
Net (loss) income per share, basic(c) $ (0.02 )   $ 0.15     $ 0.09     $ 0.03     $     $ 0.01     $ 0.27  
Net (loss) income per share, diluted(a,c) $ (0.02 )   $ 0.15     $ 0.09     $ 0.03     $     $ 0.01     $ 0.27  
                           
Three Months Ended March 31, 2025            
Subscriptions cost of revenue $ 18,521     $ (498 )   $     $     $     $     $ 18,023  
Professional services cost of revenue   25,519       (1,456 )                             24,063  
Total cost of revenue   44,040       (1,954 )                             42,086  
Sales and marketing expense   56,310       (2,246 )                             54,064  
Research and development expense   41,830       (3,014 )                             38,816  
General and administrative expense   25,080       (2,825 )     (1,712 )     (3,084 )     (312 )           17,147  
Total operating expense   123,220       (8,085 )     (1,712 )     (3,084 )     (312 )           110,027  
Operating (loss) income   (834 )     10,039       1,712       3,084       312             14,313  
Non-operating (income) expense   (5,716 )                             4,016       (1,700 )
Income tax impact of above items   741       455                         (267 )     929  
Net (loss) income   (1,177 )     9,584       1,712       3,084       312       (3,749 )     9,766  
Net (loss) income per share, basic(c) $ (0.02 )   $ 0.13     $ 0.02     $ 0.04     $     $ (0.05 )   $ 0.13  
Net (loss) income per share, diluted(b,c) $ (0.02 )   $ 0.13     $ 0.02     $ 0.04     $     $ (0.05 )   $ 0.13  
                                                       
(a)Accounts for the impact of 0.6 million shares of dilutive securities.
(b)Accounts for the impact of 0.4 million shares of dilutive securities.
(c)Per share amounts do not foot due to rounding.
 

  Three months ended March 31,
    2026       2025  
Reconciliation of adjusted EBITDA:      
GAAP net loss $ (1,525 )   $ (1,177 )
Other income, net   (84 )     (5,716 )
Interest expense   4,172       5,318  
Income tax expense   593       741  
Depreciation expense and amortization of intangible assets   2,273       2,446  
Stock-based compensation expense   11,889       10,039  
Litigation Expense   6,948       1,712  
JPI Amortization   2,055       3,084  
Lease Impairment and Lease-Related Charges   302       312  
Adjusted EBITDA $ 26,623     $ 16,759  
               

1 https://register-conf.media-server.com/register/BI87cbbf11a9b741df835a46cf74d1b911


Primary Logo