So, you know how the market loves a good surprise? Navan Inc. (NAVN) just delivered a classic one. The corporate travel and expense platform reported its fourth-quarter numbers after the bell Wednesday, and they were good enough to send the stock flying in after-hours trading.

Let's talk numbers. The company posted revenue of $177.92 million. That wasn't just a beat—it was a knockout, sailing past the $162 million analysts were expecting. Even better, Navan turned a profit on an adjusted basis, earning two cents per share. The Street was bracing for a loss of 12 cents. That's the kind of top-and-bottom-line beat that gets investors' attention.

The growth story is solid, too. Total revenue jumped 35% compared to the same quarter last year. Digging into the details, the company's Usage revenue grew 35%, and Subscription revenue was up 29%. The total value of payments flowing through its platform hit $1 billion for the quarter, a 19% increase year-over-year. By the end of the period, Navan was sitting on a comfortable pile of about $583.52 million in cash and equivalents.

What's driving all this? According to co-founder and CEO Ariel Cohen, it's the company's tech-focused strategy. "Our AI-first platform is winning the enterprise market by replacing fragmented legacy systems with a unified, scalable solution," Cohen said. He added, "With record-breaking go-to-market momentum, we believe we are better positioned than ever to redefine the travel and expense industry."

But the real kicker for the stock might be the look ahead. For the current first quarter, Navan expects revenue between $204 million and $206 million. That's a confident step up from the $187.74 million analysts had penciled in. Looking further out, the company provided a long-term target for fiscal 2027, forecasting revenue in the range of $866 million to $874 million.

Investors clearly liked what they heard. Navan shares were up a hefty 16.39% in after-hours trading Wednesday, changing hands around $10.64. The company's executives are scheduled to discuss the results in more detail on an earnings call later this evening.

In short, Navan didn't just meet expectations—it blew past them and painted a pretty optimistic picture for the road ahead. For a market that rewards growth and profitability, that's a winning combination.