Assessing Workday's Performance Against Competitors In Software Industry

Benzinga · 10/17 15:00

In today's rapidly evolving and fiercely competitive business landscape, it is crucial for investors and industry analysts to conduct comprehensive company evaluations. In this article, we will undertake an in-depth industry comparison, assessing Workday (NASDAQ:WDAY) alongside its primary competitors in the Software industry. By meticulously examining crucial financial indicators, market positioning, and growth potential, we aim to provide valuable insights to investors and shed light on company's performance within the industry.

Workday Background

Workday is a software company that offers human capital management, or HCM, financial management, and business planning solutions. Known for being a cloud-only software provider, Workday is headquartered in Pleasanton, California. Founded in 2005, Workday now employs over 18,000 employees.

Company P/E P/B P/S ROE EBITDA (in billions) Gross Profit (in billions) Revenue Growth
Workday Inc 41.42 7.63 8.20 1.6% $0.28 $1.57 16.68%
Salesforce Inc 50.67 4.82 7.82 2.44% $2.79 $7.17 8.39%
SAP SE 97.37 5.89 7.59 2.1% $1.94 $6.02 9.72%
Adobe Inc 42.55 15.21 10.89 11.46% $2.31 $4.85 10.59%
Intuit Inc 58.43 9.26 10.63 -0.11% $0.13 $2.4 17.4%
Palantir Technologies Inc 246.65 23.18 40.18 3.43% $0.11 $0.55 27.15%
Synopsys Inc 51.69 9.99 12.04 5.49% $0.46 $1.24 12.65%
Cadence Design Systems Inc 68.12 16.90 17.25 5.86% $0.38 $0.92 8.61%
Autodesk Inc 59.26 25.19 10.79 12.17% $0.39 $1.36 11.9%
Roper Technologies Inc 41.92 3.31 9.19 1.88% $0.69 $1.19 12.12%
AppLovin Corp 61.90 59.42 12.83 39.35% $0.51 $0.8 43.98%
Datadog Inc 268.09 17.65 19.38 1.9% $0.06 $0.52 26.66%
Ansys Inc 57.20 5.06 12.20 2.37% $0.2 $0.52 19.64%
Tyler Technologies Inc 122.15 8.04 12.52 2.2% $0.12 $0.24 7.28%
PTC Inc 75.30 7.35 10.02 2.32% $0.13 $0.41 -4.37%
Zoom Video Communications Inc 24.62 2.49 4.71 2.6% $0.23 $0.88 2.09%
Manhattan Associates Inc 92.49 77.21 19.01 21.98% $0.07 $0.15 14.85%
Dynatrace Inc 103.27 7.74 10.78 1.89% $0.06 $0.32 19.93%
Average 89.51 17.57 13.4 7.02% $0.62 $1.74 14.62%

When conducting a detailed analysis of Workday, the following trends become clear:

  • A Price to Earnings ratio of 41.42 significantly below the industry average by 0.46x suggests undervaluation. This can make the stock appealing for those seeking growth.

  • With a Price to Book ratio of 7.63, significantly falling below the industry average by 0.43x, it suggests undervaluation and the possibility of untapped growth prospects.

  • Based on its sales performance, the stock could be deemed undervalued with a Price to Sales ratio of 8.2, which is 0.61x the industry average.

  • With a Return on Equity (ROE) of 1.6% that is 5.42% below the industry average, it appears that the company exhibits potential inefficiency in utilizing equity to generate profits.

  • Compared to its industry, the company has lower Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization (EBITDA) of $280 Million, which is 0.45x below the industry average, potentially indicating lower profitability or financial challenges.

  • Compared to its industry, the company has lower gross profit of $1.57 Billion, which indicates 0.9x below the industry average, potentially indicating lower revenue after accounting for production costs.

  • The company's revenue growth of 16.68% exceeds the industry average of 14.62%, indicating strong sales performance and market outperformance.

Debt To Equity Ratio

debt to equity

The debt-to-equity (D/E) ratio indicates the proportion of debt and equity used by a company to finance its assets and operations.

Considering the debt-to-equity ratio in industry comparisons allows for a concise evaluation of a company's financial health and risk profile, aiding in informed decision-making.

By considering the Debt-to-Equity ratio, Workday can be compared to its top 4 peers, leading to the following observations:

  • Workday is in a relatively stronger financial position compared to its top 4 peers, as evidenced by its lower debt-to-equity ratio of 0.4.

  • This implies that the company relies less on debt financing and has a more favorable balance between debt and equity.

Key Takeaways

For Workday in the Software industry, the PE, PB, and PS ratios are all low compared to its peers, indicating potential undervaluation. However, the low ROE, EBITDA, and gross profit suggest lower profitability and operational efficiency. On the positive side, the high revenue growth rate implies strong top-line performance compared to industry peers. Overall, Workday's valuation appears attractive based on its low valuation multiples, but its profitability metrics lag behind industry standards.

This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.