As the craze of earnings season draws to a close, here’s a look back at some of the most exciting (and some less so) results from Q4. Today, we are looking at automation software stocks, starting with Appian (NASDAQ: APPN).

The whole purpose of software is to automate tasks to increase productivity. Today, innovative new software techniques, often involving AI and machine learning, are finally allowing automation that has graduated from simple one- or two-step workflows to more complex processes integral to enterprises. The result is surging demand for modern automation software.

The 5 automation software stocks we track reported a very strong Q4. As a group, revenues beat analysts’ consensus estimates by 2.9% while next quarter’s revenue guidance was in line.

Amidst this news, share prices of the companies have had a rough stretch. On average, they are down 5% since the latest earnings results.

Best Q4: Appian (NASDAQ: APPN)

Powering billions of transactions daily since its founding in 1999, Appian (NASDAQ: APPN) provides a low-code platform that helps businesses automate complex processes and operationalize artificial intelligence without extensive programming knowledge.

Appian reported revenues of $202.9 million, up 21.7% year on year. This print exceeded analysts’ expectations by 7.2%. Overall, it was an exceptional quarter for the company with a solid beat of analysts’ billings estimates and EBITDA guidance for next quarter exceeding analysts’ expectations.

Appian pulled off the biggest analyst estimates beat but had the weakest full-year guidance update of the whole group. Unsurprisingly, the stock is up 7% since reporting and currently trades at $25.75.

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

Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT)

Originally named "Micro-soft" for microcomputer software when founded in 1975, Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) is a global technology company that develops software, cloud services, devices, and AI solutions for consumers, businesses, and organizations worldwide.

Microsoft reported revenues of $81.27 billion, up 16.7% year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 1.2%. The business had an exceptional quarter with a solid beat of analysts’ EPS estimates and a narrow beat of analysts’ revenue estimates.

Although it had a fine quarter compared its peers, the market seems unhappy with the results as the stock is down 15.8% since reporting. It currently trades at $405.77.

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

Weakest Q4: SoundHound AI (NASDAQ: SOUN)

Born from the idea that machines should understand human speech as naturally as people do, SoundHound AI (NASDAQ: SOUN) develops voice recognition and conversational intelligence technology that enables businesses to integrate voice assistants into their products and services.

SoundHound AI reported revenues of $55.06 million, up 59.4% year on year, exceeding analysts’ expectations by 2.3%. Still, it was a mixed quarter as it posted a significant miss of analysts’ EBITDA estimates.

As expected, the stock is down 11.6% since the results and currently trades at $7.94.

Read our full analysis of SoundHound AI’s results here.

ServiceNow (NYSE: NOW)

Built on a single code base that processes over 4 billion workflow transactions daily, ServiceNow (NYSE: NOW) provides a cloud-based platform that helps organizations automate and digitize workflows across departments, from IT and HR to customer service and security.

ServiceNow reported revenues of $3.57 billion, up 20.7% year on year. This print topped analysts’ expectations by 1%. It was a very strong quarter as it also recorded a solid beat of analysts’ EBITDA estimates and an impressive beat of analysts’ billings estimates.

ServiceNow had the weakest performance against analyst estimates among its peers. The stock is down 9.6% since reporting and currently trades at $117.20.

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

Pegasystems (NASDAQ: PEGA)

With a "Center-out Business Architecture" approach that transcends organizational silos, Pegasystems (NASDAQ: PEGA) develops software that helps organizations automate workflows and use artificial intelligence to improve customer experiences and business processes.

Pegasystems reported revenues of $504.3 million, up 2.7% year on year. This number surpassed analysts’ expectations by 2.6%. Overall, it was a very strong quarter as it also put up an impressive beat of analysts’ billings estimates and full-year EPS guidance exceeding analysts’ expectations.

Pegasystems scored the highest full-year guidance raise but had the slowest revenue growth among its peers. The stock is up 4.8% since reporting and currently trades at $45.10.

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

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