Zoom Q1 FY26 Earnings: Enterprise Sizzles, Online Fizzles, and AI’s High-Stakes Gamble
Zoom Communications launched Fiscal 2026 with a first quarter that melds gritty resilience with nagging vulnerabilities, posting $1.17 billion in revenue — a 2.9% year-over-year nudge - and a GAAP EPS of $0.81 that leapt 18.7%. For the financially astute, this earnings report is a labyrinth of underreported metrics, from enterprise revenue surges to cash flow stumbles, revealing a company striving to redefine itself beyond its pandemic peak in an AI-driven, hybrid work landscape.
Far from the videoconferencing juggernaut of 2020, Zoom’s Q1 FY26 results expose a business at a crossroads: robust enterprise growth clashes with Online segment stagnation, while aggressive share repurchases mask operational hiccups. These dynamics, often buried beneath headline figures, demand a forensic lens to assess whether Zoom can reclaim its former glory or remain a niche player in a crowded market.
#Headline Financials: Enterprise Lifts, Online Drags
Zoom reported $1.17 billion in revenue, up 2.9% from $1.14 billion in Q1 FY25, with constant currency growth at 3.4% ($1.18 billion). Enterprise revenue soared 5.9% to $704.7 million, accounting for 60% of total revenue, while Online revenue slipped 1.2% to $470.0 million, signaling a pivot to larger clients.
GAAP net income rose 17.7% to $254.6 million, yielding an EPS of $0.81 (up 18.7%), while non-GAAP net income grew 5.2% to $448.3 million, with an EPS of $1.43 (up 6.0%). The GAAP operating margin expanded to 20.6% from 17.8%, and the non-GAAP margin held at 39.8%. Profitability drivers include:
Gross Margin
Edged up to 76.3% ($896.3 million gross profit) from 76.0% ($867.9 million), despite a 1.9% rise in cost of revenue to $278.4 million.
Operating Expenses
Dropped 1.5% to $654.7 million, with general and administrative costs down 8.1% to $102.3 million, reflecting lean operations.
Investment Losses
A $13.6 million loss on strategic investments (vs. a $17.4 million gain last year) clipped income, a volatility factor often overlooked.
The enterprise surge is Zoom’s lifeline, but the Online segment’s 1.2% decline screams market saturation. That $13.6 million investment loss, buried in the income statement, hints at missteps in Zoom’s venture portfolio—major outlets likely skipped this, but it’s a red flag for a cash-rich firm. Profitability is stellar, yet 2.9% revenue growth feels anemic for a tech darling. Zoom’s AI pivot must ignite faster growth, or it risks fading into a utility-like role against Microsoft Teams.
#Customer Metrics: Enterprise Muscle, Online Fragility
Zoom’s customer metrics highlight a stark divide. The company grew its high-value cohort, with 4,192 customers contributing over $100,000 in trailing 12-month revenue, up 8.0% year-over-year. Online metrics showed grit, with a 2.8% monthly churn rate (down 40 basis points) and 74.2% of Online MRR from customers with over 16 months of service, up 40 basis points.
Enterprise Retention
A 98% net dollar expansion rate for Enterprise customers signals strong retention but weak upselling, capping growth.
High-Value Growth
The 8.0% rise in $100,000+ customers drove Enterprise revenue, fueled by AI tools like Zoom Customer Experience.
Online Churn Risk
The 2.8% monthly churn equates to ~33% annualized, a persistent hurdle for SMB retention.
The 8.0% growth in high-value clients is Zoom’s ace, likely underplayed in newsroom summaries. It proves Zoom’s AI suite — Workvivo, Revenue Accelerator — is clicking with enterprises. But the 98% expansion rate is a silent killer; without deeper wallet share, Zoom’s growth ceiling lowers. Online’s 33% implied churn is a death knell for SMB dominance—Zoom’s pandemic-era retail user boom is a distant memory. The company must double down on enterprise or risk being a one-trick pony.
The 25.8% of Online MRR from newer clients (100% minus 74.2%) is a churn landmine, ignored in most coverage. It underscores why Online revenue fell 1.2%. Zoom’s enterprise pivot is wise, but neglecting SMBs could cede ground to rivals like Google Meet, dimming hopes of recapturing past glory.
#Cash Flow and Balance Sheet: Fortress with Fault Lines
Zoom’s balance sheet is a war chest, with $7.8 billion in cash and marketable securities, down from $7.9 billion. Total assets steadied at $10.95 billion, with a 1.14 current ratio ($8.67 billion assets vs. $1.90 billion liabilities). But cash flow faltered: operating cash flow dropped 16.8% to $489.3 million from $588.2 million, and free cash flow fell 18.7% to $463.4 million.
Cash Flow Pressures
An $80.4 million accrued expenses drop and $48.1 million rise in deferred contract costs drove the decline.
Capex Surge
Property and equipment purchases spiked 40% to $25.9 million, reflecting AI and cloud investments.
Receivables Efficiency
Unbilled receivables fell 8.8% to $108.1 million, and total receivables dropped 3.6% to $477.2 million, signaling tighter collections.
The 16.8% cash flow plunge is a bombshell that news outlets likely breezed past. The 40% capex jump screams ambition—AI and infrastructure bets are critical—but the accrued expenses drop hints at timing issues or deferred obligations. The $7.8 billion cash pile is a lifeline, but this cash flow erosion, if sustained, could choke Zoom’s buyback and R&D fuel. Zoom’s balance sheet screams stability - yet these cracks suggest it’s not untouchable.
The $12.5 million accounts receivable reduction and 8.8% unbilled receivables drop are unsung wins, reflecting collection discipline. Buried in the balance sheet, these metrics could stabilize future cash flows but won’t make headlines. They’re a quiet edge in a quarter of cash flow woes.
#Share Repurchases: Betting Big on Undervaluation
Zoom repurchased 5.6 million shares for $418.0 million, a 30.2% jump from 4.3 million in Q4 FY25, with $1.2 billion left in its program. Add $82.2 million in taxes for net share settlements, and financing outflows hit $490.5 million, dwarfing last year’s $142.5 million.
Buyback Scale
At ~$74.64 per share, repurchases cut share count by ~1.8%, a significant EPS tailwind.
Share Reduction
Diluted shares fell 0.8% to 312.8 million, amplifying per-share metrics.
Equity Impact
Additional paid-in capital dropped 5.8% to $4.83 billion, reflecting buyback and settlement costs.
Zoom’s buyback blitz is a neon sign it sees its stock as dirt cheap, a move likely drowned out by revenue chatter. Slashing 1.8% of shares in one quarter is a textbook EPS booster, and $1.2 billion remaining screams conviction. But the $490.5 million financing drain, paired with cash flow woes, is a gamble—if revenue doesn’t accelerate, Zoom’s burning cash on a stock that may not rebound to pandemic highs. This is bold, bordering on reckless.
#Cost Structure: Lean but Creaking
Zoom’s cost discipline is laudable, with operating expenses down 1.5% to $654.7 million. General and administrative costs plummeted 8.1% to $102.3 million, and sales/marketing stayed flat at $347.0 million. Yet, cost of revenue rose 1.9% to $278.4 million, and stock-based compensation, down 12.2% to $201.6 million, still eats 17.2% of revenue.
R&D Stability
Flat at $205.4 million (17.5% of revenue), balancing AI innovation with cost control.
Depreciation Spike
Surged 32.4% to $35.3 million from $26.7 million, tied to capex and cloud scaling.
Tax Volatility
Effective tax rate fell to 19.4% from 25.9%, boosting net income but prone to swings.
The 8.1% G&A cut is a masterclass in efficiency, likely underreported, but the 32.4% depreciation jump is a silent margin eater. Cost of revenue’s uptick signals scaling pains—Zoom’s cloud-heavy model isn’t cheap to maintain. The tax rate drop is a lucky break, but its volatility could bite. Zoom’s lean machine is admirable - but these cost creeps could derail profitability if AI doesn’t drive exponential growth.
The $69.6 million in deferred contract acquisition cost amortization (up 5.2% from $66.1 million) reflects heavy enterprise sales investment. Tucked in the cash flow statement, this signals Zoom’s betting big on long-term contracts - but if retention falters, it’s a sunk cost.
#AI Ambition vs. Market Realities
Zoom’s Q2 FY26 guidance projects $1.195-$1.200 billion in revenue (3.7-4.2% growth), non-GAAP operating income of $460.0-$465.0 million, and non-GAAP EPS of $1.36-$1.37. Full-year guidance targets $4.800-$4.810 billion in revenue (4.8-5.0% growth), non-GAAP operating income of $1.865-$1.875 billion, non-GAAP EPS of $5.56-$5.59, and free cash flow of $1.680-$1.720 billion.
Zoom’s optimism hinges on its AI-first platform, with Zoom Customer Experience and Workvivo gaining enterprise traction. The 8.0% growth in $100,000+ clients and $7.8 billion cash hoard fuel AI and deal-making potential. But risks abound: Online’s 1.2% decline, a 98% enterprise expansion rate, and a 16.8% cash flow drop cloud the horizon.
Growth Catalysts
Enterprise adoption and AI tools could push revenue growth past 5% mid-term.
Headwinds
Online churn, Teams competition, and rising depreciation threaten margins.
Buyback Buffer
$1.2 billion in repurchase capacity could prop up EPS amid slow growth.
Zoom’s enterprise pivot and AI bets are its best shot at relevance, but the numbers scream caution. The 8.0% high-value client growth is solid, but a 98% expansion rate and 33% implied Online churn cap upside. The 32.4% depreciation spike and cash flow dip are underreported time bombs—if AI doesn’t spark 10%+ revenue growth, margins will crack. Zoom’s $7.8 billion cash and buybacks offer a safety net, but competition from Teams and Google Meet is brutal. Zoom will thrive as an enterprise niche player - but its pandemic-era dominance is gone for good.
Zoom’s Q1 FY26 blends enterprise promise with structural limits. Its AI platform and high-value clients are underappreciated, but Online stagnation and cost pressures signal a ceiling. Investors face a choice: bet on Zoom’s AI-driven enterprise niche or accept it’ll never recapture its 2020 zenith. The data leans toward a steady, not spectacular, future.
To view the full earnings report document from Zoom Communications, click here.