Core Viewpoint - Palo Alto Networks has reduced its annual profit forecast due to increased costs from recent acquisitions aimed at enhancing AI capabilities, resulting in a 7% drop in shares during extended trading [1] Financial Performance - The company reported acquisition-related costs of $24 million in Q2, up from $10 million a year earlier [1] - Revenue for Q2 rose 15% to $2.59 billion, aligning with estimates [1] - Adjusted profit per share for Q2 was $1.03, surpassing estimates of 94 cents [1] Profit Forecast - The adjusted profit per share forecast for fiscal 2026 has been lowered to $3.65 to $3.70, down from the previous forecast of $3.80 to $3.90 [1] Revenue Forecast - Palo Alto raised its annual revenue forecast to between $11.28 billion and $11.31 billion, compared to earlier expectations of $10.50 billion to $10.54 billion [1] - The forecast for Q3 revenue is approximately $2.94 billion to $2.95 billion, exceeding analysts' average estimate of $2.60 billion [1] Acquisitions - The company announced the acquisition of Israeli cybersecurity startup Koi, following the purchase of CyberArk Software and Chronosphere [1] - The acquisitions are intended to expand the total addressable market and address AI-driven cyber threats [1]

Palo Alto Networks (NasdaqGS:PANW) Q2 2026 Earnings call February 17, 2026 04:30 PM ET Company ParticipantsAdam Borg - Managing DirectorAdam Tindle - Managing DirectorBrad Zelnick - Managing DirectorDipak Golechha - CFOGabriela Borges - Managing Director and Head of US Software Equity ResearchGregg Moskowitz - Managing DirectorHamza Fodderwala - SVP of Investor Relations and Strategic FinanceJohn DiFucci - Senior Managing DirectorJosh Tilton - Managing DirectorLee Klarich - Chief Product and Technology Offi ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported a strong Q2 with revenue growth of 15%, totaling $2.59 billion, and Next-Generation Security (NGS) ARR increased by 33% to $6.33 billion, with organic growth of 28% year-over-year [5][31][32] - The operating margin was 30.3%, marking the third consecutive quarter of 30%+ operating margins, reflecting a 190 basis point expansion year-over-year [37] - Diluted non-GAAP EPS reached $1.03, exceeding guidance, and adjusted free cash flow was $502 million, with a trailing 12-month adjusted free cash flow margin of 37.9% [37][38] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The SASE business surpassed $1.5 billion ARR, growing approximately 40% year-on-year, solidifying its position as the fastest-growing SASE provider [14] - Software Firewall ARR grew approximately 25%, driven by the need to secure dynamic multi-cloud environments [16] - XSIAM surpassed the $500 million ARR milestone, with over 600 customers, achieving mean time remediation of less than 10 minutes for over 60% of deployed customers [17] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The Americas region grew by 14%, EMEA by 17%, and JAPAC by 17%, indicating broad-based strength across all major markets [33] - The company reported a net retention rate of 119% among platformized customers, with low single-digit churn [9] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on a platformization strategy, integrating various security solutions to address the evolving cybersecurity landscape, particularly with the rise of AI [5][6][10] - Recent acquisitions of CyberArk and Chronosphere are seen as pivotal for enhancing identity security and observability capabilities, with plans for rapid integration and innovation [25][24] - The company aims to become the largest identity security player, addressing the growing needs of identity to secure AI agents [26] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the ongoing demand for cybersecurity solutions, particularly as enterprises begin to integrate AI into their workflows [6][50] - The shift towards AI is viewed as an opportunity for increased security adoption, with a focus on platformization and data harmonization [50] - The company anticipates continued growth in NGS ARR, projecting a range of $8.52 billion to $8.62 billion for the fiscal year 2026, reflecting a 53%-54% increase [43] Other Important Information - The company is preparing for the post-quantum era, addressing emerging threats and ensuring customers are equipped for future challenges [16] - The integration of Koi is expected to enhance endpoint security capabilities, particularly in relation to autonomous AI agents [22][23] Q&A Session Summary Question: Comparison of AI shift to cloud computing and M&A strategy - Management compared the current AI shift to the previous cloud transition, emphasizing the need for platformization and consolidation in security solutions [47][49] Question: Concerns about LLMs replacing SIEM tools - Management views LLMs as complementary to security capabilities, enhancing data classification and threat detection, but not a replacement for comprehensive security solutions [53][55] Question: Joint pipeline opportunities with CyberArk - Management highlighted the collaboration between CyberArk and Palo Alto Networks teams to pursue joint opportunities, with a focus on integrating capabilities and building a unified go-to-market strategy [60][62] Question: Strength in SASE business - Management noted that the acceleration in the SASE business is driven by customers seeking comprehensive solutions to address hybrid work environments and security needs [69][72] Question: Impact of AI adoption on network traffic - Management indicated that while AI adoption is increasing, it is still early to assess its full impact on network traffic, but expects growth as enterprises continue to adopt AI solutions [75][76]

Palo Alto Networks (NasdaqGS:PANW) Q2 2026 Earnings call February 17, 2026 04:30 PM ET Speaker5Good day, everyone, and welcome to Palo Alto Networks' fiscal second quarter 2026 earnings conference call. I am Hamza Fodderwala, Senior Vice President of Investor Relations and Strategic Finance. Please note that this call is being recorded today, Tuesday, February 17, 2026, at 1:30 P.M. Pacific Time. With me on today's call to discuss our fiscal second quarter results are Nikesh Arora, our Chairman and Chief Ex ...

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]

Group 1 - The software trade, particularly in cybersecurity, is experiencing pressure, exemplified by Palo Alto Networks (PANW) shares falling by up to 6% after a cut in full-year earnings outlook [1] - As of February 13, 74% of S&P 500 companies have reported results, with blended earnings growth at 13.2%, indicating a strong performance overall [1] - If the current growth rate of 13.2% holds, it would mark the 10th consecutive quarter of annual earnings growth for the S&P 500 and the fifth consecutive quarter of double-digit growth [2] Group 2 - General Mills (GIS) shares declined following disappointing earnings, while eToro (ETOR) saw a stock increase of over 20% due to a strong quarterly performance [2] - Upcoming earnings reports from major companies such as Walmart (WMT), Deere & Co. (DE), Analog Devices (ADI), Booking Holdings (BKNG), DoorDash (DASH), and eBay (EBAY) will be closely monitored by investors [3]

Market Overview - U.S. equity markets ended a volatile session on February 17th, 2026, with major indexes achieving modest gains despite significant intraday fluctuations, driven by optimism in financial sectors and concerns over the sustainability of the AI boom [1] - The S&P 500 rose 7.05 points (0.1%) to 6,843.22, the Dow Jones Industrial Average added 32.26 points (0.1%) to 49,553.19, and the Nasdaq Composite gained 31.71 points (0.1%) to 22,578.38 [2] Market Volatility - The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) declined by 1.1% to 20.60, indicating elevated volatility compared to earlier in the year, with trading volume slightly below the 20-session average, reflecting caution among institutional investors ahead of key earnings reports [3] Corporate News and Stock Movements - Nvidia (NVDA) had a volatile session but stabilized after Citi reiterated its "Buy" rating ahead of its earnings release on February 25th [4] - Alphabet (GOOGL) fell 1.2% due to concerns about AI disrupting traditional software and search markets [4] - General Mills (GIS) shares dropped 7% after the company warned of increasing consumer unease due to inflation, cutting its 2026 profit forecast [5] - Genuine Parts (GPC) plunged 14.6% following a disappointing quarterly report and plans to split into two publicly traded companies by early 2027 [5] - Paramount Global (PARA) rose 4.9% amid M&A activity, while Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) shares gained 2.7% as Paramount was allowed to submit a counter bid against Netflix [6] - Albemarle (ALB) saw an increase after Bank of America upgraded the lithium producer to "Buy," citing stabilized spot prices for lithium [6] Economic Data - The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 0.2% in January, slightly better than the 0.3% consensus estimate, with year-over-year inflation at 2.4% [7] - Food inflation spiked 7.3% in January, continuing to pressure consumer sentiment, while the Homebuilders Confidence survey improved to 38 for February, still below historical averages [7] Upcoming Events - Investors are monitoring upcoming earnings reports from Palo Alto Networks (PANW) and Toll Brothers (TOL), with Walmart (WMT) set to report on Thursday, which will provide insights into consumer health [8] - The market is also awaiting the Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) price index, which is expected to influence future interest rate policy decisions [8]

The company said it now expects full-year revenue to come in between $11.28 billion and $11.31 billion, up from a range of $10.5 billion to $10.54 billion. ...

Palo Alto Networks shares fell more than 5% in extended trading after the cybersecurity company released a forecast for adjusted earnings that was weaker than anticipated https://t.co/qMpTs2qJPw ...

About this content About Emily Jarvie Emily began her career as a political journalist for Australian Community Media in Hobart, Tasmania. After she relocated to Toronto, Canada, she reported on business, legal, and scientific developments in the emerging psychedelics sector before joining Proactive in 2022. She brings a strong journalism background with her work featured in newspapers, magazines, and digital publications across Australia, Europe, and North America, including The Examiner, The Advocate, ...