Appian Announces Third Quarter 2026 Financial Results

Cloud subscriptions revenue increased 20% year-over-year to $136.4 million

MCLEAN, Va., Nov. 05, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Appian (Nasdaq: APPN) today announced financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2026.

Third Quarter 2026 Financial Highlights:

  • Revenue: Cloud subscriptions revenue was $136.4 million, up 20% compared to the third quarter of 2025. Total subscriptions revenue increased 28% year-over-year to $187.8 million. Professional services revenue was $46.9 million, an increase of 18% compared to the third quarter of 2025. Total revenue was $234.6 million, up 25% compared to the third quarter of 2025. Cloud net annualized recurring revenue (“ARR”) expansion was 120% as of September 30, 2026.
  • Operating income and non-GAAP operating income: GAAP operating income was $21.3 million, compared to $13.1 million for the third quarter of 2025. Non-GAAP operating income was $40.6 million, compared to $29.8 million for the third quarter of 2025.
  • Net income and non-GAAP net income: GAAP net income was $12.3 million, compared to $7.8 million for the third quarter of 2025. GAAP net income per diluted share was $0.17 for the third quarter of 2026, compared to $0.10 for the third quarter of 2025. Non-GAAP net income was $37.1 million, compared to $24.4 million for the third quarter of 2025. Non-GAAP net income per share was $0.51, compared to $0.32 for the third quarter of 2025.
  • Adjusted EBITDA: Adjusted EBITDA was $43.4 million, compared to adjusted EBITDA of $32.2 million for the third quarter of 2025.
  • Cash flows: Net cash used by operating activities was $(15.4) million for the three months ended September 30, 2026 compared to $18.7 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 November 5, 2026, guidance for 2026 is as follows:

  • Fourth Quarter 2026 Guidance:
    • Cloud subscriptions revenue is expected to be between $143.0 million and $145.0 million, representing year-over-year growth of 22% to 24%.
    • Total revenue is expected to be between $233.0 million and $237.0 million, representing a year-over-year increase of 15% to 17%.
    • Adjusted EBITDA is expected to be between $30.0 million and $33.0 million.
    • Non-GAAP earnings per share is expected to be between $0.30 and $0.34, assuming weighted average common shares outstanding of 73.4 million.
  • Full Year 2026 Guidance:
    • Cloud subscriptions revenue is expected to be between $536.0 million and $538.0 million, representing year-over-year growth of 23%.
    • Total revenue is expected to be between $873.0 million and $877.0 million, representing a year-over-year increase of 20% to 21%.
    • Adjusted EBITDA is expected to be between $116.0 million and $119.0 million.
    • Non-GAAP earnings per share is expected to be between $1.20 and $1.24, assuming weighted average common shares outstanding of 73.5 million.

Conference Call Details:

Appian will host a conference call today, November 5, 2026, at 8:30 a.m. ET to discuss Appian’s financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 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. 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 sales and marketing expense, non-GAAP research and development expense, non-GAAP general and administrative expense, non-GAAP total operating expense, non-GAAP operating income, non-GAAP non-operating expense (income), non-GAAP income tax expense, non-GAAP net (loss) income, and non-GAAP net (loss) 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 and write off of deferred debt issuance costs, or Other Adjustments, 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 income (loss) before (1) other expense (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 income (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 income (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 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 fourth 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
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APPIAN CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands, except par value and share data)
   
  As of
  September 30,
2026
  December 31,
2025
  (unaudited)    
Assets      
Current assets      
Cash and cash equivalents $ 47,326     $ 135,810  
Short-term investments and marketable securities   41,620       51,415  
Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $3,912 and $3,362, respectively   244,041       255,063  
Deferred commissions, current   43,255       35,166  
Prepaid expenses and other current assets   39,432       41,970  
Total current assets   415,674       519,424  
Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $45,498 and $40,747, respectively   35,271       32,087  
Goodwill   27,875       28,811  
Intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization of $7,836 and $7,301, respectively   433       1,246  
Right-of-use assets for operating leases   29,628       28,075  
Deferred commissions, net of current portion   73,257       65,199  
Deferred tax assets   5,333       4,850  
Other assets   13,433       11,703  
Total assets $ 600,904     $ 691,395  
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Deficit      
Current liabilities      
Accounts payable $ 10,873     $ 6,655  
Accrued expenses   25,385       18,483  
Accrued compensation and related benefits   60,647       61,781  
Deferred revenue   337,029       341,281  
Debt   2,894       9,598  
Operating lease liabilities   14,506       13,181  
Other current liabilities   1,281       1,128  
Total current liabilities   452,615       452,107  
Long-term debt   196,591       231,228  
Non-current operating lease liabilities   42,931       45,693  
Deferred revenue, net of current portion   6,503       8,962  
Other liabilities   138       398  
Total liabilities   698,778       738,388  
Stockholders’ deficit      
Class A common stock—par value $0.0001; 500,000,000 shares authorized as of September 30, 2026 and December 31, 2025 and 43,557,940 and 43,408,828 shares issued as of September 30, 2026 and December 31, 2025, respectively   4       4  
Class B common stock—par value $0.0001; 100,000,000 shares authorized as of September 30, 2026 and December 31, 2025 and 31,087,385 and 31,088,085 shares issued as of September 30, 2026 and December 31, 2025, respectively   3       3  
Treasury stock at cost, 3,157,662 and 542,288 shares as of September 30, 2026 and December 31, 2025, respectively   (82,958 )     (16,935 )
Additional paid-in capital   623,466       617,318  
Accumulated other comprehensive loss   (26,467 )     (36,462 )
Accumulated deficit   (611,922 )     (610,921 )
Total stockholders’ deficit   (97,874 )     (46,993 )
Total liabilities and stockholders’ deficit $ 600,904     $ 691,395  

APPIAN CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(unaudited, in thousands, except per share data)
       
  Three Months Ended
September 30,
  Nine Months Ended
September 30,
    2026     2025       2026       2025  
Revenue              
Subscriptions $ 187,754   $ 147,188     $ 505,747     $ 414,197  
Professional services   46,878     39,816       134,321       109,873  
Total revenue   234,632     187,004       640,068       524,070  
Cost of revenue              
Subscriptions   26,187     21,667       74,500       60,895  
Professional services   37,291     29,037       101,902       82,803  
Total cost of revenue   63,478     50,704       176,402       143,698  
Gross profit   171,154     136,300       463,666       380,372  
Operating expenses              
Sales and marketing   65,826     53,574       200,558       172,041  
Research and development   50,554     42,561       144,183       127,046  
General and administrative   33,471     27,051       99,906       79,989  
Total operating expenses   149,851     123,186       444,647       379,076  
Operating income   21,303     13,114       19,019       1,296  
Other non-operating expense (income)              
Other expense (income), net   4,822     (1,398 )     5,565       (24,678 )
Interest expense   3,304     5,311       11,256       15,948  
Total non-operating other expense (income)   8,126     3,913       16,821       (8,730 )
Income before income taxes   13,177     9,201       2,198       10,026  
Income tax expense   836     1,376       3,199       3,690  
Net income (loss) $ 12,341   $ 7,825     $ (1,001 )   $ 6,336  
Net income (loss) per Class A and Class B share:              
Basic $ 0.17   $ 0.11     $ (0.01 )   $ 0.09  
Diluted $ 0.17   $ 0.10     $ (0.01 )   $ 0.08  
Weighted average common shares outstanding:              
Basic   71,641     74,008       72,773       74,101  
Diluted   72,741     74,575       72,773       74,554  

APPIAN CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(unaudited, in thousands)
   
  Nine Months Ended
September 30,
    2026       2025  
Cash flows from operating activities      
Net (loss) income $ (1,001 )   $ 6,336  
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash provided by operating activities      
Stock-based compensation   35,031       30,992  
Depreciation expense and amortization of intangible assets   7,655       7,429  
Lease impairment charges   —       779  
Bad debt expense   1,255       692  
Loss on debt extinguishment   438       —  
Amortization of debt issuance costs   424       450  
Benefit for deferred income taxes   (551 )     (648 )
Foreign currency transaction losses (gains), net   9,225       (20,864 )
Changes in assets and liabilities      
Accounts receivable   7,745       29,655  
Prepaid expenses and other assets   2,029       13,279  
Deferred commissions   (16,146 )     3,644  
Accounts payable and accrued expenses   7,609       12,871  
Accrued compensation and related benefits   (4,228 )     (1,043 )
Other current and non-current liabilities   625       (1,707 )
Deferred revenue   (1,654 )     (17,545 )
Operating lease assets and liabilities, net   (2,947 )     (2,583 )
Net cash provided by operating activities   45,509       61,737  
Cash flows from investing activities      
Proceeds from maturities of investments   54,299       34,278  
Purchases of investments   (44,866 )     (59,281 )
Purchases of property and equipment   (7,097 )     (2,451 )
Net cash provided by (used by) investing activities   2,336       (27,454 )
Cash flows from financing activities      
Proceeds from borrowings   200,000       —  
Payments for debt issuance costs   (1,619 )     —  
Debt repayments   (241,563 )     (5,000 )
Repurchases of common stock   (83,015 )     (20,000 )
Payments for employee taxes related to the net share settlement of equity awards   (9,882 )     (5,890 )
Proceeds from exercise of common stock options   1,420       752  
Net cash used by financing activities   (134,659 )     (30,138 )
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents   (1,670 )     2,552  
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents   (88,484 )     6,697  
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period   135,810       118,552  
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $ 47,326     $ 125,249  
       
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:      
Cash paid for interest $ 8,575     $ 10,023  
Cash paid for income taxes $ 4,634     $ 3,391  
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing and financing information:      
Purchases of property and equipment included in accounts payable and accrued expenses $ 3,274     $ 41  
Operating lease liabilities arising from obtaining right-of-use assets $ 5,921     $ —  
Unpaid debt issuance costs in accrued expenses $ 460     $ —  

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   Other Adjustments(a)   Non-GAAP Measure
Three Months Ended September 30, 2026
Subscriptions cost of revenue $ 26,187     $ (514 )   $ —     $ —     $ —     $ —     $ 25,673  
Professional services cost of revenue   37,291       (1,658 )     —       —       —       —       35,633  
Total cost of revenue   63,478       (2,172 )     —       —       —       —       61,306  
Sales and marketing expense   65,826       (2,591 )     —       —       —       —       63,235  
Research and development expense   50,554       (3,852 )     —       —       —       —       46,702  
General and administrative expense   33,471       (3,967 )     (4,664 )     (1,732 )     (292 )     —       22,816  
Total operating expense   149,851       (10,410 )     (4,664 )     (1,732 )     (292 )     —       132,753  
Operating income   21,303       12,582       4,664       1,732       292       —       40,573  
Non-operating expense (income)   4,822       —       —       —       —       (6,291 )     (1,469 )
Income tax impact of above items   836       443       —       —       —       342       1,621  
Net income   12,341       12,139       4,664       1,732       292       5,949       37,117  
Net income per share, basic $ 0.17     $ 0.17     $ 0.07     $ 0.02     $ —     $ 0.08     $ 0.51  
Net income per share, diluted(b,d) $ 0.17     $ 0.17     $ 0.06     $ 0.02     $ —     $ 0.08     $ 0.51  
                           
Three Months Ended September 30, 2025            
Subscriptions cost of revenue $ 21,667     $ (419 )   $ —     $ —     $ —     $ —     $ 21,248  
Professional services cost of revenue   29,037       (1,448 )     —       —       —       —       27,589  
Total cost of revenue   50,704       (1,867 )     —       —       —       —       48,837  
Sales and marketing expense   53,574       (1,882 )     —       —       —       —       51,692  
Research and development expense   42,561       (2,991 )     —       —       —       —       39,570  
General and administrative expense   27,051       (3,520 )     (2,130 )     (3,153 )     (1,105 )     —       17,143  
Total operating expense   123,186       (8,393 )     (2,130 )     (3,153 )     (1,105 )     —       108,405  
Operating income   13,114       10,260       2,130       3,153       1,105       —       29,762  
Non-operating (income) expense   (1,398 )     —       —       —       —       110       (1,288 )
Income tax impact of above items   1,376       375       —       —       —       (406 )     1,345  
Net income   7,825       9,885       2,130       3,153       1,105       296       24,394  
Net income per share, basic $ 0.11     $ 0.13     $ 0.03     $ 0.04     $ 0.01     $ —     $ 0.32  
Net income per share, diluted(c, d) $ 0.10     $ 0.13     $ 0.03     $ 0.04     $ 0.01     $ —     $ 0.32  

(a) Other adjustments primarily includes unrealized foreign exchange gains and losses and write off of deferred debt issuance costs.
(b) Accounts for the impact of 1.1 million shares of dilutive securities.
(c) Accounts for the impact of 0.6 million shares of dilutive securities.
(d) Per share amounts do not foot due to rounding.

  GAAP Measure   Stock-Based Compensation   Litigation Expense   JPI Amortization   Lease Impairment and Lease-Related Charges   Other Adjustments(a)   Non-GAAP Measure
Nine months ended September 30, 2026
Subscriptions cost of revenue $ 74,500     $ (1,570 )   $ —     $ —     $ —     $ —     $ 72,930  
Professional services cost of revenue   101,902       (4,816 )     —       —       —       —       97,086  
Total cost of revenue   176,402       (6,386 )     —       —       —       —       170,016  
Sales and marketing expense   200,558       (6,957 )     —       —       —       —       193,601  
Research and development expense   144,183       (10,969 )     —       —       —       —       133,214  
General and administrative expense   99,906       (10,719 )     (17,905 )     (5,744 )     (873 )     —       64,665  
Total operating expense   444,647       (28,645 )     (17,905 )     (5,744 )     (873 )     —       391,480  
Operating income   19,019       35,031       17,905       5,744       873       —       78,572  
Non-operating expense (income)   5,565       —       —       —       —       (9,663 )     (4,098 )
Income tax impact of above items   3,199       1,454       —       —       —       636       5,289  
Net (loss) income   (1,001 )     33,577       17,905       5,744       873       9,027       66,125  
Net (loss) income per share, basic $ (0.01 )   $ 0.46     $ 0.25     $ 0.08     $ 0.01     $ 0.12     $ 0.91  
Net (loss) income per share, diluted(b,d) $ (0.01 )   $ 0.46     $ 0.24     $ 0.08     $ 0.01     $ 0.12     $ 0.90  
                           
Nine months ended September 30, 2025            
Subscriptions cost of revenue $ 60,895     $ (1,335 )   $ —     $ —     $ —     $ —     $ 59,560  
Professional services cost of revenue   82,803       (4,304 )     —       —       —       —       78,499  
Total cost of revenue   143,698       (5,639 )     —       —       —       —       138,059  
Sales and marketing expense   172,041       (6,215 )     —       —       —       —       165,826  
Research and development expense   127,046       (9,362 )     —       —       —       —       117,684  
General and administrative expense   79,989       (9,776 )     (6,324 )     (9,355 )     (1,714 )     —       52,820  
Total operating expense   379,076       (25,353 )     (6,324 )     (9,355 )     (1,714 )     —       336,330  
Operating income   1,296       30,992       6,324       9,355       1,714       —       49,681  
Non-operating (income) expense   (24,678 )     —       —       —       —       20,879       (3,799 )
Income tax impact of above items   3,690       1,125       —       —       —       (1,732 )     3,083  
Net income (loss)   6,336       29,867       6,324       9,355       1,714       (19,147 )     34,449  
Net income (loss) per share, basic $ 0.09     $ 0.40     $ 0.09     $ 0.13     $ 0.02     $ (0.26 )   $ 0.47  
Net income (loss) per share, diluted(c,d) $ 0.08     $ 0.40     $ 0.08     $ 0.13     $ 0.02     $ (0.26 )   $ 0.46  

(a) Other adjustments primarily includes unrealized foreign exchange gains and losses and write off of deferred debt issuance costs.
(b) Accounts for the impact of 0.7 million shares of dilutive securities.
(c) Accounts for the impact of 0.5 million shares of dilutive securities.
(d) Per share amounts do not foot due to rounding.

  Three Months Ended
September 30,
  Nine Months Ended
September 30,
  2026     2025       2026       2025  
Reconciliation of adjusted EBITDA:              
GAAP net income (loss) $ 12,341   $ 7,825     $ (1,001 )   $ 6,336  
Other expense (income), net   4,822     (1,398 )     5,565       (24,678 )
Interest expense   3,304     5,311       11,256       15,948  
Income tax expense   836     1,376       3,199       3,690  
Depreciation expense and amortization of intangible assets   2,875     2,459       7,655       7,429  
Stock-based compensation expense   12,582     10,260       35,031       30,992  
Litigation Expense   4,664     2,130       17,905       6,324  
JPI Amortization   1,732     3,153       5,744       9,355  
Lease Impairment and Lease-Related Charges   292     1,105       873       1,714  
Adjusted EBITDA $ 43,448   $ 32,221     $ 86,227     $ 57,110  
                             

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