As Q4 earnings season comes to a close, it’s time to take stock of this quarters’ best and worst performers amongst the automation software stocks, including Jamf (NASDAQ:JAMF) and its peers.
The whole purpose of software is to automate tasks to increase productivity. Today, innovative new software techniques, often involving AI and machine learning, are finally allowing automation that has graduated from simple one- or two-step workflows to more complex processes integral to enterprises. The result is surging demand for modern automation software.
The 5 automation software stocks we track reported a mixed Q4; on average, revenues beat analyst consensus estimates by 3.42%, while on average next quarter revenue guidance was 2.08% under consensus. The technology sell-off has been putting pressure on stocks since November , but automation software stocks held their ground better than others, with the share price up 8.43% since earnings, on average.
Jamf (NASDAQ:JAMF)
Founded in 2002 by Zach Halmstad and Chip Pearson, right around the time when Apple began to dominate the personal computing market, Jamf (NASDAQ:JAMF) provides software for companies to manage Apple devices such as Macs, iPads, and iPhones.
Jamf reported revenues of $103.8 million, up 35.8% year on year, beating analyst expectations by 3.37%. It was a solid quarter for the company, with a full-year guidance beating analysts' expectations and an exceptional revenue growth.
“2021 represented a pivotal year for Jamf as we expanded and strengthened our platform, completed our largest acquisition to date, closed the three largest customer contracts in our history, and added a record number of devices to our platform, all while completing our first full fiscal year as a public company and consistently delivering strong financial results,” said Dean Hager, CEO of Jamf.
The stock is up 7.39% since the results and currently trades at $35.59.
Is now the time to buy Jamf? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it's free.
Best Q4: Appian (NASDAQ:APPN)
Founded by Matt Calkins and his three friends out of an apartment in Northern Virginia, Appian (NASDAQ:APPN) sells a software platform that lets its users build applications without using much code, allowing them to create new software more quickly.
Appian reported revenues of $104.9 million, up 28.6% year on year, beating analyst expectations by 10.1%. It was a very strong quarter for the company, with an impressive beat of analyst estimates and a full year guidance beating analysts' expectations.
Appian delivered the strongest analyst estimates beat and highest full year guidance raise, but had the slowest revenue growth among its peers. The stock is up 31.9% since the results and currently trades at $65.
Is now the time to buy Appian? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it's free.
Weakest Q4: Everbridge (NASDAQ:EVBG)
Founded as a reaction to the catastrophic events of 9/11, Everbridge (NASDAQ:EVBG) supplies software that helps governments and businesses keep people and infrastructure safe in emergencies.
Everbridge reported revenues of $102.8 million, up 36% year on year, in line with analyst expectations. It was a weak quarter for the company, with the guidance for both the next quarter and the full year below analyst estimates.
The stock is up 4.85% since the results and currently trades at $48.60.
Read our full analysis of Everbridge's results here.
UiPath (NYSE:PATH)
Started in 2005 in Romania as a tech outsourcing company, UiPath (NYSE:PATH) makes software that helps companies automate repetitive computer tasks.
UiPath reported revenues of $289.6 million, up 39.3% year on year, beating analyst expectations by 2.27%. It was a weaker quarter for the company, with the outlook for both the next quarter and the full year below analyst estimates.
UiPath pulled off the fastest revenue growth but had the weakest full year guidance update among the peers. The stock is down 20.9% since the results and currently trades at $22.97.
Read our full, actionable report on UiPath here, it's free.
ServiceNow (NYSE:NOW)
Founded by Fred Luddy who wrote the code for the initial prototype on a single flight from San Francisco to London, ServiceNow (NYSE:NOW) offers software as a service platform that helps companies become more efficient by allowing them to automate workflows across IT, HR and Customer Service.
ServiceNow reported revenues of $1.61 billion, up 29% year on year, in line with analyst expectations. It was a solid quarter for the company, with accelerating growth in large customers.
ServiceNow had the weakest performance against analyst estimates among the peers. The company added 93 enterprise customers paying more than $1m annually to a total of 1,359. The stock is up 18.9% since the results and currently trades at $575.
Read our full, actionable report on ServiceNow here, it's free.
The author has no position in any of the stocks mentioned