Headwind
A headwind is an external or internal factor working against results — currency, input costs, soft demand, competition. Executives use it to frame why a metric underperformed; counting and weighing the headwinds management cites is a quick read on the quarter's tone.
Seen in a real earnings call
“…year-over-year impact. Second quarter revenue grew to $410 million, an increase of 13%. Normalizing for the year-over-year FX headwind of approximately $8 million, revenue grew 16%. This included an incremental $1 million FX headwind since the time of guidance and our first quarter earnings…”UiPath, Inc. (PATH) — earnings call, September 3, 2026