Let’s dig into the relative performance of Workiva (NYSE: WK) and its peers as we unravel the now-completed Q1 finance and hr software earnings season.

Organizations are constantly looking to improve organizational efficiencies, whether it is financial planning, tax management or payroll. Finance and HR software benefit from the SaaS-ification of businesses, large and small, who much prefer the flexibility of cloud-based, web-browser delivered software paid for on a subscription basis than the hassle and expense of purchasing and managing on-premise enterprise software.

The 12 finance and HR software stocks we track reported a strong Q1. As a group, revenues beat analysts’ consensus estimates by 1.7% while next quarter’s revenue guidance was in line.

While some finance and HR software stocks have fared somewhat better than others, they have collectively declined. On average, share prices are down 1.9% since the latest earnings results.

Workiva (NYSE: WK)

Nicknamed "the Excel killer" by some finance professionals for its ability to eliminate spreadsheet chaos, Workiva (NYSE: WK) provides a cloud-based platform that enables organizations to streamline financial reporting, ESG, and compliance processes with connected data and automation.

Workiva reported revenues of $247.3 million, up 19.9% year on year. This print exceeded analysts’ expectations by 0.9%. Overall, it was a strong quarter for the company with EPS guidance for next quarter exceeding analysts’ expectations and an impressive beat of analysts’ EBITDA estimates.

The stock is down 9.2% since reporting and currently trades at $50.31.

We think Workiva is a good business, but is it a buy today? Read our full report here, it’s free.

Best Q1: Flywire (NASDAQ: FLYW)

Initially created to solve the challenges of international student tuition payments, Flywire (NASDAQ: FLYW) provides specialized payment processing and software solutions that help educational institutions, healthcare systems, travel companies, and businesses manage complex payments.

Flywire reported revenues of $184 million, up 42.9% year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 7.2%. The business had an exceptional quarter with an impressive beat of analysts’ EBITDA and revenue estimates.

Flywire delivered the biggest analyst estimates beat and fastest revenue growth among its peers. The market seems happy with the results as the stock is up 10% since reporting. It currently trades at $15.98.

Is now the time to buy Flywire? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.

Weakest Q1: American Express Global Business Travel (NYSE: GBTG)

Originally spun off from American Express in 2014 but maintaining the Amex GBT brand, Global Business Travel Group (NYSE: GBTG) provides end-to-end business travel and expense management solutions, connecting corporate clients with travel suppliers and offering specialized software services.

American Express Global Business Travel reported revenues of $840 million, up 35.3% year on year, exceeding analysts’ expectations by 1.4%. Still, it was a slower quarter as it posted a significant miss of analysts’ EBITDA estimates.

The stock is flat since the results and currently trades at $9.41.

Read our full analysis of American Express Global Business Travel’s results here.

Marqeta (NASDAQ: MQ)

Powering the cards behind innovative fintech services like Block's Cash App, Marqeta (NASDAQ: MQ) provides a cloud-based platform that allows businesses to create customized payment card programs and process card transactions.

Marqeta reported revenues of $165.8 million, up 19.2% year on year. This print surpassed analysts’ expectations by 0.9%. Overall, it was a very strong quarter as it also produced a solid beat of analysts’ EBITDA estimates and a narrow beat of analysts’ revenue estimates.

The stock is down 11.3% since reporting and currently trades at $3.98.

Read our full, actionable report on Marqeta here, it’s free.

Workday (NASDAQ: WDAY)

Born from the vision of PeopleSoft founders after Oracle's hostile takeover of their previous company, Workday (NASDAQ: WDAY) provides cloud-based software for financial management, human resources, planning, and analytics to help organizations manage their business operations.

Workday reported revenues of $2.54 billion, up 13.5% year on year. This number beat analysts’ expectations by 1.1%. It was an exceptional quarter as it also logged an impressive beat of analysts’ billings estimates and a solid beat of analysts’ EBITDA estimates.

The stock is up 4.8% since reporting and currently trades at $127.70.

Read our full, actionable report on Workday here, it’s free.

Market Update

Late in 2025 into early 2026, there was hand wringing around artificial intelligence. For software companies, the fear was that AI would erode pricing power and compress margins as new tools made it easier to replicate what once required expensive enterprise platforms. Crypto investors had their own version of the same anxiety: if AI agents could trade, allocate capital, and manage wallets autonomously, what exactly was the long-term value of today’s crypto infrastructure?

These concerns triggered a noticeable rotation away from these sectors and into safer havens. But markets rarely dwell on one narrative for long. Spring 2026 came, and the focus shifted abruptly from technological disruption to geopolitical risk. The US’ conflict with Iran became the dominant driver of market psychology, and when geopolitics takes center stage, the script changes quickly. Investors stop debating growth rates and start worrying about oil supply, inflation, and global stability.

Want to invest in winners with rock-solid fundamentals? Check out our Top 5 Quality Compounder Stocks and add them to your watchlist. These companies are poised for growth regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate.