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Workday stock holds steady amid AI strategy focus

Published 18/09/2024, 16:40
WDAY
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On Wednesday, Loop Capital maintained a Hold rating on Workday (NASDAQ:WDAY) with a consistent price target of $255.00. The decision follows Workday's Financial Analyst Day at its Rising user group conference, which saw a rise in attendance to 18,000, up from 15,000 the previous year, indicating strong investor interest.

The company showcased its focus on artificial intelligence (AI), rebranding its AI platform to Illuminate and launching AI-driven agents. Despite this, there is an anticipated learning curve for the adoption of these new AI products compared to traditional machine learning-based offerings.

Workday reiterated its commitment to growth areas such as FINS/full suite, international expansion, partnerships, and targeting the medium enterprise market. Products like Extend and Extend Plus are integral to its partnership programs with independent software vendors (ISVs) and global system integrators (GSIs).

Feedback from GSIs and recent high-profile FINS customers suggests increasing adoption in sectors like healthcare, local/state governments, and education. The financial services sector, which experienced a slowdown during higher interest rate periods, is also showing potential for FINS adoption.

Despite lowering its annual subscription revenue growth rate to 15% for the next two years, Workday's diverse revenue streams from a variety of products and customers support this target. The company is also aiming for a non-GAAP operating margin of 30% and has set operating cash flow and free cash flow (FCF) targets of 34% and 30%, respectively, for FY27. Loop Capital's Hold rating and price target reflect a cautious optimism about Workday's strategic initiatives and financial goals.

In other recent news, Workday, Inc. has been making significant strides in its growth trajectory. The company reported a 17% increase in subscription revenue, totaling $1.903 billion, and revised its revenue growth forecast to 15%. Ambitious financial goals were set for fiscal year 2027, including a 34% operating cash flow margin and a 30% free cash flow margin. Analyst firms, including BMO Capital Markets, Oppenheimer, TD Cowen, Deutsche Bank (ETR:DBKGn), and Needham, have maintained their respective ratings on Workday, while adjusting their price targets.

Workday's commitment to expanding its artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities is evident through its acquisition of Evisort, an AI-powered contract management platform, and the launch of four new artificial intelligence agents, Recruiter, Expenses, Succession, and Workday Optimize. These initiatives aim to leverage Workday's extensive data assets and provide enhanced tools for data contextualization.

Recent developments also include the appointment of Rhonda J. Morris, Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX)'s vice president and chief human resources officer, to Workday's Board of Directors, effective early 2025. Workday's strategic direction, financial transparency, and key growth drivers, such as its core Human Capital Management and Financials solutions, have been highlighted by its commitment to AI-driven innovation.

InvestingPro Insights


Workday Inc . (NASDAQ:WDAY) has been a topic of interest following Loop Capital's Hold rating, and a deeper look into the company's financials through InvestingPro data can provide additional context. As of the last twelve months as of Q2 2025, Workday boasts a market capitalization of approximately $65.48 billion and maintains an impressive gross profit margin of 75.77%. This high margin is indicative of the software industry's potential for profitability and aligns with Workday's focus on growth areas and AI-driven products.

From a valuation perspective, Workday trades at a high earnings multiple with a P/E ratio of 42.59, suggesting that investors are willing to pay a premium for its shares, likely due to the company's growth prospects and strong market position. Additionally, the company's revenue has grown by 17.07% over the last twelve months as of Q2 2025, demonstrating a robust expansion trajectory.

InvestingPro Tips highlight that Workday holds more cash than debt on its balance sheet and that 25 analysts have revised their earnings upwards for the upcoming period. These insights may provide investors with confidence in the company's financial health and future performance. For those seeking further analysis, InvestingPro offers an additional 11 tips on Workday, available at: https://www.investing.com/pro/WDAY.

This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.

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