Palo Alto Networks slumps 6% as third quarter profit guidance falls short

Core Insights - Palo Alto Networks reported fiscal second-quarter results that exceeded Wall Street estimates, but shares fell 6% due to disappointing guidance for the upcoming quarter [1] - The company forecasted earnings for the fiscal third quarter between 78 cents and 80 cents, below the LSEG estimate of 92 cents [1] - Revenue is projected to be between $2.94 billion and $2.95 billion, surpassing the $2.60 billion estimate [1] Financial Performance - Revenue grew 15% year-over-year, reaching $2.59 billion compared to $2.3 billion a year ago [2] - Net income increased to $432 million, or 61 cents per share, up from $267 million, or 38 cents per share a year ago [2] - Earnings per share were reported at $1.03, excluding items, compared to the expected 94 cents [5] Strategic Acquisitions - The company is actively acquiring firms to enhance its cybersecurity capabilities, with over 20 acquisitions since CEO Nikesh Arora took over in 2018 [3] - Recently, Palo Alto completed its largest acquisition, paying $25 billion for CyberArk, and also acquired Chronosphere for over $3 billion [3] Market Trends and Performance Metrics - The company noted a trend towards platformization driven by AI, with customers looking to modernize their cybersecurity stacks [4] - Remaining performance obligations reached $16 billion, exceeding the StreetAccount estimate of $15.78 billion [4] - Annual recurring revenue rose 33% to $6.33 billion [4] - Palo Alto shares have declined 11% year-to-date [4]