SAN JOSE, Calif., May 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Zscaler, Inc. (NASDAQ: ZS), the leader in cloud security, today announced the appointment of Kevin Rubin as Chief Financial Officer. In his role, Rubin will oversee Zscaler’s global finance organization and play a critical role in scaling the company's operations to support its next phase of growth and innovation. Rubin brings a wealth of financial expertise and strategic leadership experience in the technology industry, with a strong track record of drivin ...

Core Viewpoint - Fortinet (FTNT) has demonstrated strong performance in 2025, with a year-to-date (YTD) share price increase of 10.6%, significantly outperforming the S&P 500 index and the Zacks Computer and Technology sector, which saw declines of 0.4% and 1.7% respectively [1][2]. Group 1: Financial Performance - Total revenues for Q1 2025 increased by 14% year over year to $1.54 billion, with product revenues reaching $459 million, up 12% year over year [6]. - Total billings grew by 14% year over year to $1.6 billion, driven by unified SASE and AI-driven SecOps, which contributed 18% and 29% growth respectively [7]. - Gross margin expanded by 380 basis points to 81.9%, and operating margin reached a record 34.2% in Q1 2025 [7]. - Fortinet added over 6,300 new customers during the quarter, marking a 14% increase from the previous year [7]. Group 2: Competitive Positioning - Fortinet differentiates itself in the competitive cybersecurity market through its unified FortiOS platform, which integrates various security solutions, leading to 18% growth in SASE billings and 26% growth in SASE ARR in Q1 2025 [10]. - The company holds over 500 issued and pending AI patents, more than any competitor, and has integrated AI into multiple products, enhancing its market position in AI and firewall solutions [11]. - The introduction of the FortiGate 700G firewall, which offers up to 10x performance gains over competitors, strengthens Fortinet's competitive edge in secure networking [12]. Group 3: Future Outlook - Fortinet anticipates Q2 2025 revenues between $1.59 billion and $1.65 billion, indicating a growth of 13% at the midpoint, with non-GAAP earnings per share expected in the range of 58-60 cents [13]. - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Q2 2025 revenues is $1.62 billion, suggesting a year-over-year growth of 12.96% [14]. - Fortinet's Price/Book ratio of 40.72X, while above the industry average, is justified by its strong market position and integrated platform strategy, signaling long-term growth potential [15]. Group 4: Investment Recommendation - Fortinet's strong execution and focus on long-term growth, alongside new product innovations, position it as a compelling investment opportunity [17]. - The company maintains a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy) and a Growth Score of A, indicating a favorable investment outlook [18].

Cybersecurity giant CrowdStrike Holdings Inc (NASDAQ:CRWD) will announce first-quarter results after the close on Tuesday, June 3. Shares were last seen down 1.5% to trade at $462.20, but are fresh off a May 27, record high of $474.23, and sport a 34.6% year-to-date lead. The 20-day moving average has also been acting as a support level since early April, and looks ready to contain today's pullback.The security has a mostly positive history of post-earnings moves, finishing five of its last eight earnings r ...

Wall Street analysts expect CrowdStrike Holdings (CRWD) to post quarterly earnings of $0.66 per share in its upcoming report, which indicates a year-over-year decline of 29%. Revenues are expected to be $1.1 billion, up 19.9% from the year-ago quarter.The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has remained unchanged over the last 30 days. This represents how the covering analysts, as a whole, have reassessed their initial estimates during this timeframe.Before a company reveals its earnings, it is vital to ...

Core Viewpoint - Tenable Holdings, Inc. intends to acquire Apex Security, Inc. to enhance its capabilities in managing cyber risks associated with the expanding AI attack surface [1][5]. Group 1: Acquisition Details - The acquisition aims to strengthen Tenable's ability to help organizations identify and mitigate cyber risks in an AI-driven environment [1]. - Apex Security, founded in 2023, has gained attention from notable investors and is recognized for its innovative approach to securing AI usage [3]. - The financial terms of the acquisition have not been disclosed, and the deal is expected to close later this quarter [5]. Group 2: Industry Context - The rapid expansion of generative AI tools and autonomous systems is increasing the attack surface, introducing new risks such as shadow AI applications and AI-generated code [2]. - Tenable's existing product, Tenable AI Aware, already assists thousands of organizations in detecting and assessing AI usage, and the addition of Apex's capabilities will enhance governance and policy enforcement [2][3]. - The integration of Apex's offerings into Tenable One is anticipated to deliver comprehensive exposure management solutions in the second half of 2025 [5]. Group 3: Strategic Implications - Tenable's strategy focuses on staying ahead of attack surface expansion by not only managing exposures but also eliminating them proactively [3]. - The acquisition aligns with the industry's trend of treating AI risks as part of broader exposure management rather than in isolation [4]. - The collaboration is expected to provide security teams with the necessary visibility and control to manage AI-generated exposure effectively [3][4].

Core Insights - CISO Global Inc. has expanded the financial assurance component of its CHECKLIGHT product to cover up to $1 million per incident, with an annual cap of $1.5 million per customer contract, representing a 4x increase from the previous $250,000 warranty per incident [1][2] - The expansion significantly broadens CHECKLIGHT's addressable market to an estimated $11 billion, attracting larger organizations seeking enhanced financial protection integrated with their cybersecurity solutions [2][3] - The launch of CyberSimple, powered by CHECKLIGHT, aims to provide better value and accessible financial protection to SMB clients through a referral network that includes 17 insurance agencies [2][3] Company Overview - CISO Global, headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, is a leader in AI-powered cybersecurity software, managed cybersecurity, and compliance, offering comprehensive solutions to protect organizations from cyber threats [5] - CHECKLIGHT is part of CISO Global's next-generation software portfolio and is currently offered to over 600 security clients and through key insurance partners [4] Partnership and Product Offering - CISO Global has partnered with Cyber Assurance Group Incorporated to launch CyberSimple, which combines cybersecurity services with substantial financial protection [3][6] - The financial protection of $1 million per incident is designed to provide generous coverage without sublimits, making it a powerful warranty program for small and medium-sized businesses in the cyber market [3]

Core Insights - VCI Global Limited is developing Project QG, a next-generation infrastructure platform aimed at enabling sovereign AI deployment and encrypted data monetization for governments and institutions [1][4] - The global AI market is projected to exceed US$1.8 trillion by 2030, driven by enterprise adoption and the growth of AI-native infrastructure [2] - The cybersecurity and data protection market is expected to reach approximately US$298.5 billion by 2028, indicating a growing demand for secure data solutions [3] Project QG Overview - Project QG integrates AI-driven hardware encryption, zero-trust computing, and blockchain validation, positioning it as a foundational layer for future AI and data sovereignty [2] - The platform is designed for institutions that require sovereign-ready infrastructure to comply with data localization laws while maintaining control over their information [4] - VCI Global is currently engaging institutional stakeholders for early proof-of-concept pilots, with a full launch planned for Q3 2025 [5] Strategic Importance - The initiative addresses the underutilization of institutional and national datasets due to regulatory risks and privacy concerns, aiming to unlock value from sensitive data without compromising its integrity [6] - The convergence of AI, cybersecurity, and sovereign data economics places VCI Global at the forefront of this emerging market [4] - The company emphasizes the importance of monetizing proprietary data and software assets as a new revenue stream for enterprises [3]

Group 1 - Fortinet, Inc. (NASDAQ: FTNT) is recognized as a growing cybersecurity hardware and appliance company, particularly noted for its Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) offerings [1] - The company is expected to experience volatility in the short term due to shifts in the hardware market [1] Group 2 - The analyst has over 20 years of experience in quantitative research, financial modeling, and risk management, focusing on equity valuation and market trends [1] - The analyst's approach combines rigorous risk management with a long-term perspective on value creation, emphasizing macroeconomic trends and corporate earnings [1]

SentinelOne (S) Q1 2026 Earnings Call May 28, 2025 04:30 PM ET Company Participants Doug Clark - Vice President, Investor RelationsTomer Weingarten - Co-Founder, Chairman, President & CEOBarbara Larson - CFOJoseph Gallo - Senior Vice PresidentBrad Zelnick - Managing DirectorSaket Kalia - Managing DirectorJohn DiFucci - Senior Managing DirectorBrian Essex - Executive DirectorTrevor Walsh - Director - Equity ResearchAdam Tindle - Managing DirectorShaul Eyal - Managing Director - Equity Research Conference Cal ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported revenue of $229 million for Q1, representing a 23% year-over-year growth [26] - Total Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) grew 24% to $948 million [27] - The gross margin maintained at 79%, with an operating margin improvement to negative 2% [29] - Free cash flow margin reached a record 20%, with a trailing twelve-month basis expansion of five percentage points [29][35] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue from international markets grew 27%, accounting for 38% of total quarterly revenue [27] - Customers with ARR of $100,000 or more increased by 22% to 1,459 [28] - The data solutions segment surpassed $100 million in ARR during Q1 [10] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company observed elongated sales cycles due to macroeconomic uncertainty, impacting Q1 net new ARR [19] - Despite the challenges, win rates remained strong, and there were no project cancellations [19][52] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focusing on a platform sales strategy rather than a product-centric approach, aiming to enhance flexibility and customer adoption [23][75] - Recent innovations include the unified cloud security suite and advancements in AI capabilities, which are expected to drive future growth [9][34] - The company achieved FedRAMP high authorization for several products, enhancing its competitive position in the public sector [13][14] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted improved trends in May, with expectations for year-over-year net new ARR growth in Q2 to exceed Q1 [41][52] - The company remains cautious about macroeconomic conditions but is optimistic about the strength of its pipeline and demand [19][53] - The outlook for Q2 revenue is approximately $242 million, reflecting a 22% growth [31] Other Important Information - The company announced a $200 million open-ended share repurchase authorization, reflecting confidence in its long-term trajectory [36] - The company is committed to investing in AI-driven innovations while maintaining operational efficiency [33][84] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you talk about incremental ARR in the quarter? - Management indicated that improved trends were observed in May and expects year-over-year net ARR growth in Q2 to improve relative to Q1, attributing Q1 challenges to macro volatility rather than elevated churn [41][43] Question: Can you clarify guidance assumptions? - Management acknowledged improved trends in May but is being cautious about potential external disruptions, which influenced the slight decrease in revenue guidance [48] Question: What are customers saying about slip deals? - Management noted that longer sales cycles were observed, particularly in April, but there have been no deal cancellations, and demand remains strong [51][52] Question: How is the productivity and bundle sale progressing? - Management highlighted that the breadth of the platform is significant, and efforts are being made to make it more flexible for customers [57] Question: What is the outlook for the SIEM market? - Management noted increasing interest in cloud-native SIEM solutions and the need for real-time threat addressing, which legacy systems struggle to provide [63] Question: What are the hiring plans for fiscal 2026? - Management indicated a focus on R&D hiring, with adjustments made based on business needs [105] Question: What is the impact of the share repurchase program on M&A? - Management stated that the strong liquidity position allows for opportunistic share repurchases while still having ample cash for potential M&A [93]