ServiceNow delivered several encouraging results in its Q3 2026 earnings report, even as shares plunged 16% following the announcement.
One of the biggest highlights was management raising its 2026 AI annual contract value (ACV) target to $1.7 billion, up from just $1 billion at the beginning of the year.
The company also reported that agentic AI production consumption surged more than 13x year over year, suggesting enterprise customers are increasingly putting AI tools to work.
Meanwhile, ServiceNow’s underlying business continues to expand:
- Subscription Revenue: $4.0B vs. $3.98B expected
- Current RPO: $13.65B vs. $13.56B expected, up 20.5% YoY
- Adjusted Operating Margin: 32.5% vs. 31.2% expected
- Large Deals: 19 transactions exceeding $5M in annual contract value, up 135% YoY
Management also raised its full-year free cash flow margin outlook to 36%, suggesting profitability remains strong despite continued AI investments.
However, investors may be concerned about the company’s forward outlook. ServiceNow expects 18.5% current RPO growth in Q4, compared with 20.5% growth in Q3.
Bottom Line: ServiceNow’s AI business is accelerating, enterprise contracts are expanding, and profitability remains strong. However, the stock’s sharp decline suggests investors are focusing on the company’s premium valuation and whether future growth can justify it.