ServiceNow (NYSE:NOW) Reports Q3 In Line With Expectations, Contract Wins Accelerate

Enterprise workflow software maker ServiceNow (NYSE:)
reported results in line with analysts’ expectations in Q3 FY2023, with revenue up 25% year on year to $2.29 billion. Turning to EPS, ServiceNow made a non-GAAP profit of $2.92 per share, improving from its profit of $1.96 per share in the same quarter last year.

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ServiceNow (NOW) Q3 FY2023 Highlights:

• Revenue: $2.29 billion vs analyst estimates of $2.27 billion (small beat)
• RPO (remaining performance obligations) and cRPO (current remaining performance obligations) both beat and these are leading indicators of revenue
• EPS (non-GAAP): $2.92 vs analyst estimates of $2.55 (14.6% beat)
• Subscription Revenue Guidance for Q4 2023 is $2.32 billion at the midpoint, below analyst estimates of $2.39 billion
• Free Cash Flow of $175 million, down 60.9% from the previous quarter
• Customers: 1,789 customers paying more than $1m annually
• Gross Margin (GAAP): 78.3%, in line with the same quarter last year

“Q3 marks another quarter of exceptional execution as we significantly surpassed the high end of our guidance metrics,” said ServiceNow CFO Gina Mastantuono. “Our robust results show that the world’s best‑run enterprises are choosing ServiceNow to drive their digital transformation roadmaps. With the capabilities unlocked by generative AI, the window of opportunity is even more expansive, positioning us well to continue delivering a strong balance of growth and profitability.”

Founded by Fred Luddy, who wrote the code for the company’s initial prototype on a flight from San Francisco to London, ServiceNow (NYSE:NOW) offers a software-as-a-service platform that helps companies become more efficient by allowing them to automate workflows across IT, HR, and customer service.

Automation SoftwareThe 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 GrowthAs you can see below, ServiceNow’s revenue growth has been strong over the last two years, growing from $1.51 billion in Q3 FY2021 to $2.29 billion this quarter.

This quarter, ServiceNow’s quarterly revenue was once again up a very solid 25% year on year. On top of that, its revenue increased $138 million quarter on quarter, a very strong improvement from the $54 million increase in Q2 2023. This is a sign of acceleration of growth and great to see.

Looking ahead, analysts covering the company were expecting sales to grow 21.7% over the next 12 months before the earnings results announcement.

Large Customers Growth This quarter, ServiceNow reported 1,789 enterprise customers paying more than $1m annually, an increase of 65 from the previous quarter. That’s quite a bit more contract wins than last quarter and quite a bit above what we’ve typically observed in past quarters, demonstrating that the business has good sales momentum. We’ve no doubt shareholders will take this as an indication that the company’s go-to-market strategy is working very well.

Key Takeaways from ServiceNow’s Q3 Results
With a market capitalization of $113 billion, a $4.07 billion cash balance, and positive free cash flow over the last 12 months, we’re confident that ServiceNow has the resources needed to pursue a high-growth business strategy.

Revenue beat slightly but two important leading indicators of revenue growth–RPO and cRPO (total and current remaining performance obligations) beat more handily. We were also impressed by ServiceNow’s significant improvement in new large contract wins this quarter. On profitability, the company exceeded expectations for operating income. Finally, the company raised its full year outlook for subscription revenue and slightly raised its full year outlook for operating margins while reiterating gross and free cash flow margins. Overall, we think this was good quarter that should please many shareholders. The stock is up 5.92% after reporting and currently trades at $562.11 per share.

The author has no position in any of the stocks mentioned in this report.