Appian Announces First Quarter 2025 Financial Results

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Appian delivers strong Q1 with 15% cloud revenue growth, third straight positive EBITDA, and dramatically improved profitability metrics.

Appian's Q1 2025 results demonstrate a company making significant strides toward sustainable profitability while maintaining solid top-line growth. Cloud subscription revenue increased 15% year-over-year to $99.8 million, accompanied by a healthy 112% cloud revenue retention rate – a key indicator that existing customers are not only staying but expanding their usage.

The most impressive aspect of these results is the dramatic improvement in profitability metrics. GAAP operating loss narrowed to just $0.8 million from $19.5 million a year ago, a 96% reduction. The company achieved non-GAAP operating income of $14.3 million versus a $3.7 million loss in Q1 2024. This $18 million year-over-year improvement suggests Appian is successfully scaling its business model with revenue growth now outpacing expenses.

Cash flow performance was particularly robust with $45.0 million in operating cash flow – more than doubling the $18.9 million generated in Q1 2024. This strengthens Appian's financial position considerably and reduces any concerns about future capital needs.

The adjusted EBITDA of $16.8 million marks the third consecutive quarter of positive results on this metric, confirming this isn't merely a one-time improvement but potentially the beginning of a sustainable profitability trend.

Looking forward, Appian's guidance shows confidence in continued cloud growth of 14-15% for the full year, though the Q2 outlook includes a temporary return to adjusted EBITDA losses. This suggests some quarterly variability but doesn't detract from the overall positive trajectory.

Business highlights including FedRAMP High Authorization and expanded AI capabilities position Appian to capitalize on government sector opportunities and strengthen their competitive position in the process automation market. The flat professional services revenue alongside growing subscription revenue indicates a potential shift toward a more favorable, higher-margin revenue mix.

05/08/2025 - 07:05 AM

Cloud subscriptions revenue increased 15% year-over-year to $99.8 million and generated operating cash flow of $45.0 million

MCLEAN, Va., May 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Appian (Nasdaq: APPN) today announced financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2025.

“In Q1, Appian continued to demonstrate our earnings potential, with narrowing net losses, our third straight quarter of positive adjusted EBITDA, and $45 million in operating cash flow,” said Matt Calkins, CEO & Founder.

First Quarter 2025 Financial Highlights:

Revenue: Cloud subscriptions revenue was $99.8 million, up 15% compared to the first quarter of 2024. Total subscriptions revenue, which includes sales of our cloud subscriptions, on-premises term license subscriptions, and maintenance and support, increased 14% year-over-year to $134.4 million. Professional services revenue was $32.1 million, flat compared to the first quarter of 2024. Total revenue was $166.4 million, up 11% compared to the first quarter of 2024. Cloud subscriptions revenue retention rate was 112% as of March 31, 2025.
Operating loss and non-GAAP operating income (loss): GAAP operating loss was $(0.8) million, compared to GAAP operating loss of $(19.5) million for the first quarter of 2024. Non-GAAP operating income was $14.3 million, compared to non-GAAP operating loss of $(3.7) million for the first quarter of 2024.
Net loss and non-GAAP net income (loss): GAAP net loss was $(1.2) million, compared to $(32.9) million for the first quarter of 2024. GAAP net loss per share was $(0.02) for the first quarter of 2025, compared to $(0.45) for the first quarter of 2024. Non-GAAP net income was $9.8 million, compared to non-GAAP net loss of $(6.8) million for the first quarter of 2024. Non-GAAP net income per diluted share was $0.13, compared to the $(0.09) net loss per share for the first quarter of 2024.
Adjusted EBITDA: Adjusted EBITDA was $16.8 million, compared to adjusted EBITDA loss of $(1.3) million for the first quarter of 2024.
Cash flows: Net cash provided by operating activities was $45.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025 compared to $18.9 million of net cash provided by operating activities for the same period in 2024.

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.”

Recent Business Highlights:

Financial Outlook:

As of May 8, 2025, guidance for 2025 is as follows:

Second Quarter 2025 Guidance:
- Cloud subscriptions revenue is expected to be between $101.0 million and $103.0 million, representing year-over-year growth of 14% to 16%.
- Total revenue is expected to be between $158.0 million and $162.0 million, representing a year-over-year increase of 8% to 11%.
- Adjusted EBITDA is expected to be between $(5.0) million and $(2.0) million.
- Non-GAAP net loss per share is expected to be between $(0.15) and $(0.11), assuming weighted average common shares outstanding of 74.8 million.

Full Year 2025 Guidance:
- Cloud subscriptions revenue is expected to be between $419.0 million and $423.0 million, representing year-over-year growth of 14% to 15%.
- Total revenue is expected to be between $680.0 million and $688.0 million, representing a year-over-year increase of 10% to 12%.
- Adjusted EBITDA is expected to be between $40.0 million and $46.0 million.
- Non-GAAP net income per share is expected to be between $0.18 and $0.26, assuming weighted average common shares outstanding of 75.1 million.

Conference Call Details:

Appian will host a conference call today, May 8, 2025, at 8:30 a.m. ET to discuss Appian's financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2025 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 is The Process Company. We deliver a software platform that helps organizations run better processes that reduce costs, improve customer experiences, and gain a strategic edge. Committed to client success, we serve many of the world’s largest companies across various industries. 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 Appian’s 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 total operating expense, non-GAAP operating loss, non-GAAP income tax expense, non-GAAP net income (loss), and non-GAAP net income (loss) 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, 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, severance costs related to involuntary reductions in our workforce, or Severance Costs, lease impairment and lease-related charges associated with actions taken to reduce the footprint of our leased office spaces, or Lease Impairment and Lease-Related Charges, and a short-swing profit disgorgement paid to us by a shareholder, or Short-Swing Profit Payment. 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. The Company defines adjusted EBITDA as net 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 loss. Users should consider the limitations of using adjusted EBITDA, including the fact this measure does not provide a complete measure of our operating performance. Adjusted EBITDA is not intended to purport to be an alternative to net 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 (loss) 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 second quarter and full year 2025, 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 ability to grow its business and manage its growth, Appian’s ability to sustain its revenue growth rate, continued market acceptance of Appian’s Platform and adoption of low-code solutions to drive digital transformation, the fluctuation of Appian’s operating results due to the length and variability of its sales cycle, competition in the markets in which Appian operates, AI being a disruptive set of technologies that may affect the markets for Appian’s software dramatically and in unpredictable ways, 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
Jack Andrews
Vice President, Investor Relations
investors@appian.com

Media Contact
Valerie Miller
Senior Manager, Media Relations North America
pr@appian.com


APPIAN CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (in thousands, except par value and share data)

	As of
	March 31, 2025			December 31, 2024
Assets
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$	134,982		$	118,552
Short-term investments and marketable securities		64,716			41,308
Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $2,323 and $3,396, respectively		136,037			195,069
Deferred commissions, current		34,858			36,630
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		41,309			43,984
Total current assets		411,902			435,543
Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $34,326 and $32,142, respectively		36,330			37,109
Goodwill		26,546			25,555
Intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization of $5,842 and $5,341, respectively		2,032			2,240
Right-of-use assets for operating leases		31,645			31,081
Deferred commissions, net of current portion		58,457			60,540
Deferred tax assets		4,388			4,129
Other assets		21,599			24,842
Total assets	$	592,899		$	621,039
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Deficit
Current liabilities
Accounts payable	$	6,574		$	4,322
Accrued expenses		13,825			11,388
Accrued compensation and related benefits		26,487			34,223
Deferred revenue		258,582			281,760
Debt		9,598			9,598
Operating lease liabilities		12,798			12,378
Other current liabilities		2,518			1,087
Total current liabilities		330,382			354,756
Long-term debt		238,426			240,826
Non-current operating lease liabilities		51,518			52,189
Deferred revenue, non-current		3,944			5,477
Other non-current liabilities		374			431
Total liabilities		624,644			653,679
Stockholders’ deficit
Class A common stock—par value $0.0001; 500,000,000 shares authorized as of March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024 and 43,132,115 and 42,938,701 shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, respectively		4			4
Class B common stock—par value $0.0001; 100,000,000 shares authorized as March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024 and 31,088,085 and 31,090,085 shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, respectively		3			3
Additional paid-in capital		597,086			591,281
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(15,507	)		(11,774	)
Accumulated deficit		(613,331	)		(612,154	)
Total stockholders’ deficit		(31,745	)		(32,640	)
Total liabilities and stockholders’ deficit	$	592,899		$	621,039


APPIAN CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (in thousands, except per share data)

	Three Months Ended March 31,
		2025			2024
	(unaudited)
Revenue
Subscriptions	$	134,352		$	117,694
Professional services		32,074			32,141
Total revenue		166,426			149,835
Cost of revenue
Subscriptions		14,894			12,270
Professional services		24,024			25,727
Total cost of revenue		38,918			37,997
Gross profit		127,508			111,838
Operating expenses
Sales and marketing		54,553			58,156
Research and development		39,517			39,771
General and administrative		34,272			33,446
Total operating expenses		128,342			131,373
Operating loss		(834	)		(19,535	)
Other non-operating (income) expense
Other (income) expense, net		(5,716	)		8,207
Interest expense		5,318			5,646
Total other non-operating (income) expense		(398	)		13,853
Loss before income taxes		(436	)		(33,388	)
Income tax expense (benefit)		741			(465	)
Net loss	$	(1,177	)	$	(32,923	)
Net loss per share:
Basic and diluted	$	(0.02	)	$	(0.45	)
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic and diluted		74,094			73,300


APPIAN CORPORATION STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION EXPENSE (in thousands)

	Three Months Ended March 31,
		2025		2024
	(unaudited)
Cost of revenue
Subscriptions	$	243	$	213
Professional services		1,407		1,578
Operating expenses
Sales and marketing		2,188		2,527
Research and development		2,938		3,001
General and administrative		3,263		3,287
Total stock-based compensation expense	$	10,039	$	10,606


APPIAN CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (in thousands)

	Three Months Ended March 31,
		2025			2024
Cash flows from operating activities
Net loss	$	(1,177	)	$	(32,923	)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities
Stock-based compensation		10,039			10,606
Depreciation expense and amortization of intangible assets		2,446			2,361
Bad debt expense		(125	)		(135	)
Amortization of debt issuance costs		150			140
Benefit for deferred income taxes		(163	)		(450	)
Foreign currency transaction (gains) losses, net		(3,989	)		11,806
Changes in assets and liabilities		—			—
Accounts receivable		60,259			40,061
Prepaid expenses and other assets		6,107			(2,245	)
Deferred commissions		3,855			1,569
Accounts payable and accrued expenses		4,755			5,187
Accrued compensation and related benefits		(9,306	)		(8,703	)
Other current and non-current liabilities		507			1,944
Deferred revenue		(27,554	)		(10,120	)
Operating lease assets and liabilities		(838	)		(232	)
Net cash provided by operating activities		44,966			18,866
Cash flows from investing activities
Proceeds from maturities of investments		13,611			9,657
Purchases of investments		(37,037	)		—
Purchases of property and equipment		(651	)		(2,198	)
Net cash (used by) provided by investing activities		(24,077	)		7,459
Cash flows from financing activities
Proceeds from borrowings		—			50,000
Payments for debt issuance costs		—			(463	)
Debt repayments		(2,500	)		(1,250	)
Repurchase of common stock		—			(50,019	)
Payments for employee taxes related to the net share settlement of equity awards		(3,199	)		(2,862	)
Proceeds from exercise of common stock options		190			345
Net cash used by financing activities		(5,509	)		(4,249	)
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents		1,050			(1,319	)
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents		16,430			20,757
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period		118,552			149,351
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$	134,982		$	170,108

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest	$	5,018		$	5,325
Cash paid for income taxes	$	798		$	751
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash financing information:
Accrued capital expenditures	$	784		$	484


APPIAN CORPORATION RECONCILIATION OF GAAP MEASURES TO NON-GAAP MEASURES (unaudited, in thousands, except per share data)

	GAAP Measure			Stock-Based Compensation			Litigation Expenses			JPI Amortization			Lease Impairment and Lease-Related Charges			Unrealized Foreign Exchange Gains and Losses			Non-GAAP Measure
Three Months Ended March 31, 2025
Subscriptions cost of revenue	$	14,894		$	(243	)	$	—		$	—		$	—		$	—		$	14,651
Professional services cost of revenue		24,024			(1,407	)		—			—			—			—			22,617
Total cost of revenue		38,918			(1,650	)		—			—			—			—			37,268
Total operating expense		128,342			(8,389	)		(1,712	)		(3,084	)		(312	)		—			114,845
Operating (loss) income		(834	)		10,039			1,712			3,084			312			—			14,313
Non-operating (income) expense		(5,716	)		—			—			—			—			4,016			(1,700	)
Income tax impact of above items		741			455			—			—			—			(267	)		929
Net (loss) income		(1,177	)		9,584			1,712			3,084			312			(3,749	)		9,766
Net (loss) income per share, basic and diluted⁽^a,b)	$	(0.02	)	$	0.13		$	0.02		$	0.04		$	—		$	(0.05	)	$	0.13

Three Months Ended March 31, 2024
Subscriptions cost of revenue	$	12,270		$	(213	)	$	—		$	—		$	—		$	—		$	12,057
Professional services cost of revenue		25,727			(1,578	)		—			—			—			—			24,149
Total cost of revenue		37,997			(1,791	)		—			—			—			—			36,206
Total operating expense		131,373			(8,815	)		(742	)		(4,504	)		—			—			117,312
Operating (loss) income		(19,535	)		10,606			742			4,504			—			—			(3,683	)
Non-operating expense (income)		8,207			—			—			—			—			(11,848	)		(3,641	)
Income tax impact of above items		(465	)		604			—			—			—			935			1,074
Net (loss) income		(32,923	)		10,002			742			4,504			—			10,913			(6,762	)
Net (loss) income per share, basic and diluted	$	(0.45	)	$	0.14		$	0.01		$	0.06		$	—		$	0.15		$	(0.09	)

^(a)Per share amounts do not foot due to rounding.
^(b)Accounts for the impact of 0.4 million shares of dilutive securities.


	Three Months Ended March 31,
		2025			2024
Reconciliation of adjusted EBITDA:
GAAP net loss	$	(1,177	)	$	(32,923	)
Other (income) expense, net		(5,716	)		8,207
Interest expense		5,318			5,646
Income tax expense (benefit)		741			(465	)
Depreciation expense and amortization of intangible assets		2,446			2,361
Stock-based compensation expense		10,039			10,606
Litigation Expenses		1,712			742
JPI Amortization		3,084			4,504
Lease Impairment and Lease-Related Charges		312			—
Adjusted EBITDA	$	16,759		$	(1,322	)

^¹ https://dpregister.com/DiamondPassRegistration/register?confirmationNumber=10198996&linkSecurityString=fef70829c8

FAQ

What was Appian's (APPN) cloud subscription revenue growth in Q1 2025?

Appian's cloud subscription revenue grew 15% year-over-year to $99.8 million in Q1 2025.

What is Appian's (APPN) revenue guidance for full year 2025?

Appian expects total revenue between $680.0-$688.0 million and cloud subscriptions revenue between $419.0-$423.0 million for full year 2025.

Did Appian (APPN) achieve profitability in Q1 2025?

While Appian reported a GAAP net loss of $(1.2) million, it achieved non-GAAP operating income of $14.3 million and positive adjusted EBITDA of $16.8 million in Q1 2025.

What was Appian's (APPN) operating cash flow in Q1 2025?

Appian generated operating cash flow of $45.0 million in Q1 2025, up from $18.9 million in Q1 2024.

What is Appian's (APPN) cloud subscription revenue retention rate?

Appian's cloud subscription revenue retention rate was 112% as of March 31, 2025.

Appian Announces First Quarter 2025 Financial Results

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What was Appian's (APPN) cloud subscription revenue growth in Q1 2025?

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Did Appian (APPN) achieve profitability in Q1 2025?

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Appian Announces First Quarter 2025 Financial Results

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What was Appian's (APPN) cloud subscription revenue growth in Q1 2025?

What is Appian's (APPN) revenue guidance for full year 2025?

Did Appian (APPN) achieve profitability in Q1 2025?

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