Not every software company is struggling to find its footing in the AI era. Atlassian just proved that point in a big way, with its stock surging more than 29% on Friday after the company posted third-quarter results that left Wall Street’s expectations well behind.
Revenue came in at $1.79 billion against an expectation of $1.69 billion, while adjusted earnings per share hit $1.75 compared to the $1.32 analysts had penciled in. Those are not small beats. For a stock that had already shed more than 45% of its value this year amid the broader “SaaS-pocalypse” sell-off, Friday’s reaction felt less like a rally and more like a correction of narrative.
Cloud revenue led the charge, growing 29% year over year to reach $1.13 billion, clearing analyst forecasts by a comfortable margin. Data center revenue also impressed, coming in at $561 million against an expected $515 million. Together, those two figures tell the story of a company that is holding ground where others have stumbled.
CEO Mike Cannon-Brookes pushed back on the idea that AI is quietly hollowing out demand for traditional software tools. Speaking to CNBC, he pointed to consistently strong job numbers in the sectors that critics have flagged as most vulnerable, and noted that Atlassian’s own customers keep expanding their use of its products rather than pulling back. That kind of customer behavior is hard to argue with when the numbers back it up.
The company also raised its full-year guidance, now forecasting cloud revenue growth of 26.5% and data center growth of 21.5%. Analysts at BTIG highlighted the Teamwork Collection product as a standout, with customers upgrading specifically to access more AI credits. That detail matters because it reframes the AI conversation entirely. Instead of AI threatening Atlassian‘s business, customers are leaning into the platform precisely because of its AI capabilities.
The quarter was not without complexity. Atlassian posted a net loss of $98.39 million, widening from $70.81 million a year earlier, a figure that reflects ongoing investment rather than deterioration in core demand.
Still, for a company that laid off roughly 1,600 employees in March to redirect resources toward AI and enterprise growth, this quarter reads as early confirmation that the bet is moving in the right direction.
