Enterprise workflow software maker ServiceNow (NYSE:NOW) fell short of analyst expectations in Q3 FY2022 quarter, with revenue up 21% year on year to $1.83 billion. ServiceNow made a GAAP profit of $80 million, improving on its profit of $63 million, in the same quarter last year.
Is now the time to buy ServiceNow? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it's free.
ServiceNow (NOW) Q3 FY2022 Highlights:
- Revenue: $1.83 billion vs analyst estimates of $1.85 billion (1.11% miss)
- EPS (non-GAAP): $1.96 vs analyst estimates of $1.85 (6.13% beat)
- Subscription revenue guidance for Q4 2022 is $1.83 billion at the midpoint, below analyst estimates of $1.97 billion
- Free cash flow of $103 million, down 64.1% from previous quarter
- Customers: 1,530 customers paying more than $1m annually
- Gross Margin (GAAP): 78.1%, up from 76.8% same quarter last year
“Once again, ServiceNow beat both our top and bottom-line goals,” said ServiceNow Chairman and CEO Bill McDermott.
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.
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.
Sales Growth
As you can see below, ServiceNow's revenue growth has been strong over the last two years, growing from quarterly revenue of $1.15 billion in Q3 FY2020, to $1.83 billion.
Even though ServiceNow fell short of revenue estimates, its quarterly revenue growth was still up a very solid 21% year on year. On top of that, revenue increased $79 million quarter on quarter, a very strong improvement on the $30 million increase in Q2 2022, which shows acceleration of growth, and is great to see.
Ahead of the earnings results the analysts covering the company were estimating sales to grow 22.8% over the next twelve months.
In volatile times like these we look for robust businesses with strong pricing power. Unknown to most investors, this company is one of the highest-quality software companies in the world, and their software products have been the default standard in critical industries for decades. The result is an impressive business that is up an incredible 18,152% since the IPO. You can find it on our platform for free.
Large Customers Growth
You can see below that at the end of the quarter ServiceNow reported 1,530 enterprise customers paying more than $1m annually, an increase of 67 on last quarter. That's in line with the number of contracts wins in the last quarter and quite a bit again above what we have typically seen over the last year, confirming the company is sustaining a good pace of sales.
Key Takeaways from ServiceNow's Q3 Results
With a market capitalization of $75.9 billion, more than $3.95 billion in cash and with free cash flow over the last twelve months being positive, the company is in a very strong position to invest in growth.
Overall, it seems to us that this was a complicated quarter for ServiceNow. The company is up 11% on the results and currently trades at $407 per share.
ServiceNow may have had a tough quarter, but does that actually create an opportunity to invest right now? It is important that you take into account its valuation and business qualities, as well as what happened in the latest quarter. We look at that in our actionable report which you can read here, it's free.
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The author has no position in any of the stocks mentioned.