AI
Asana, Inc. (ASAN)·Q1 2026 Earnings Summary
Executive Summary
- Q1 FY2026 delivered a clean beat: revenue $187.3M (+9% YoY) vs consensus $185.4M and non-GAAP EPS $0.05 vs consensus $0.02; first-ever positive non-GAAP operating margin (4.3%) with ~1,300 bps YoY improvement *.
- Guidance mix: FY26 non-GAAP operating margin raised to ≥5.5% (from ≥5%), non-GAAP EPS raised to $0.22; FY26 revenue range widened to $775–$790M (low end reduced), implying prudence amid macro headwinds and downgrade pressure in tech/enterprise .
- AI as growth vector: AI Studio crossed $1M ARR in first quarter of GA and is catalyzing enterprise adoption and add-on monetization; mgmt outlined AI Studio Plus and Smart Workflow Gallery to accelerate usage across segments .
- Watch-outs: trailing four-quarter NRR at 95% and expected to be pressured in Q2 due to a $100M+ renewal with modest ACV downgrade; mgmt flagged increased buyer scrutiny/elongated decisions in enterprise/mid-market, especially tech .
- Capital allocation: share repurchase authorization increased by $100M (total $156M available) with no expiration; Q1 buybacks of ~$15.6M signal confidence and support EPS/stock supply dynamics .
What Went Well and What Went Wrong
What Went Well
- Achieved first quarter of non-GAAP operating income; non-GAAP operating margin expanded 1,300 bps YoY to 4.3%, exceeding guidance by >300 bps .
- AI Studio momentum: surpassed $1M ARR in first GA quarter; global pipeline robust; Smart Workflow Gallery and new AI Studio Plus tier launched to broaden access and accelerate adoption .
- Enterprise validation: largest subscription agreement in company history ($100M+ over three years) underscores capability to power complex, cross-functional work at scale .
What Went Wrong
- Net retention headwinds: overall NRR at 95% with management guiding Q2 NRR down due to a modest ACV downgrade on the $100M+ renewal and downgrade pressure in tech/enterprise .
- Macro friction: early signs of increased buyer scrutiny and elongated decisions in enterprise/mid-market; tech vertical remains drag despite stabilization .
- Deferred metrics timing: CRPO/RPO/deferred revenue impacted by renewal timing (shift from Q1 to Q2), complicating billings optics; pro forma adjustments required for clearer trend .
Financial Results
Values with asterisks retrieved from S&P Global.
KPIs
Guidance Changes
Earnings Call Themes & Trends
Management Commentary
- CEO on AI Studio: “AI Studio…surpassed $1 million in ARR, demonstrating powerful early momentum…positions Asana as the definitive platform for human and AI coordination.”
- CFO on margin/efficiency: “We delivered…$8.1M of operating income…driven by rationalizing program spend, optimizing cloud spend, and shifting hiring to more cost-effective regions.”
- COO on enterprise renewal: “After a rigorous evaluation…Asana [is] foundational…for company-wide goal setting, logistics, device launches…across several hundred thousand employees.”
- CEO on product roadmap: “AI teammates…a persistent coworker…unlock usage-based revenue streams beyond seat licenses.”
Q&A Highlights
- AI Studio ARR/usage mix: Current ARR from Pro platform fees; Plus SKU and AI Teammates expected to broaden adoption; consumption likely power-law with potential six/seven-figure “whales” by year-end .
- $100M+ renewal: Largest deal; modest ACV downgrade impacts NRR; not yet embedding AI Studio (upside optionality); moved billing from Q1 to Q2, affecting RPO/CRPO timing .
- Macro/NRR outlook: Early signs of downgrade activity in enterprise/mid-market; Q2 NRR guided down; logo churn improving, suggesting future upsell potential .
- Billings/seasonality: Pro forma billings growth ~5% in Q1; billings seasonally stronger in H2; monthly billing (~⅓ of business) tempers RPO leading-indicator utility .
- Channel momentum: Single-digit revenue contribution historically; reallocating resources; more partner-led deals, critical for AI Studio scale .
Estimates Context
- Q1 FY26 beat vs S&P consensus: Revenue $187.3M vs $185.4M (+$1.9M); non-GAAP EPS $0.05 vs $0.02 (+$0.03). Prior quarters also beat both top and bottom lines (Q3 FY25 and Q4 FY25) *.
- Consensus trajectory implies FY26 EPS ~$0.236 and revenue ~$786.3M; company raised margin/EPS guidance while widening revenue range lower-bound for prudence. Expect upward estimate revisions on EPS/margins; revenue estimates may drift toward mid-range given macro caution *.
Values retrieved from S&P Global.
Key Takeaways for Investors
- The quarter resets profitability narrative: first positive non-GAAP operating margin and sustained gross margin ~90% underpin multi-year margin expansion; mgmt raised FY margin/EPS guidance .
- AI Studio is scaling from proofs to monetization: $1M ARR in first GA quarter with widening tiers (Plus) and Smart Workflow Gallery; expect consumption-driven upside as adoption deepens .
- Near-term NRR headwinds likely: Q2 NRR to be pressured from a modest ACV downgrade on a $100M+ renewal and broader enterprise/tech downgrades; watch Q2 retention metrics for inflection .
- Revenue cadence prudent: FY26 revenue widened to $775–$790M; look for H2 contribution from AI Studio and channel to offset downgrade pressure; billings/RPO timing noise should normalize in Q2 .
- Capital allocation supportive: buyback authorization lifted to $156M total and no expiry; Q1 repurchases (~$15.6M) mitigate dilution and may support EPS over time .
- Trading lens: Strong beat and margin raise are positive catalysts; any commentary on Q2 NRR pressure and macro scrutiny could temper multiple. Watch AI Studio attach rates and consumption metrics on the Q2 call for upside signals .
Appendix: Additional Context and Recognitions
- Recognitions: Leader in Forrester Wave: Collaborative Work Management (highest strategy score); Gartner Voice of the Customer 4.5/5 rating—supports enterprise positioning .
- Q2 FY26 snapshot (post-Q1): Revenue $196.9M (+10% YoY); non-GAAP operating margin 7%; FY26 revenue/operating margin guidance raised; validates momentum into H2 .