Zscaler (NasdaqGS:ZS) Q1 2026 Earnings Call November 25, 2025 04:30 PM ET Company ParticipantsGray Powell - Managing DirectorJay Chaudhry - Chairman and CEOMatt Hedberg - Managing Director of Software ResearchBrad Zelnick - Managing DirectorJoshua Tilton - SVP of Equity ResearchMeta Marshall - Managing DirectorBrian Essex - Executive Director of US Software Equity ResearchFatima Boolani - Managing Director and Co-Head US Software Equity ResearchRoger Boyd - Software Equity ResearchAshwin Kesireddy - VP of I ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported a strong start to fiscal Q1 2026, with annual recurring revenue (ARR) growth accelerating to 26% year-over-year and remaining performance obligation (RPO) growth accelerating to 35% [7][23] - Q1 revenue reached $788 million, growing 26% year-over-year and 10% sequentially, exceeding the high end of guidance [23] - The gross margin for Q1 was 79.9%, down from 80.6% in the same quarter last year, influenced by new product introductions [24] - Operating margin was 21.8%, with a free cash flow margin of 52% [25] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - ARR from the three growth pillars—AI Security, Zero Trust Everywhere, and Data Security Everywhere—accelerated in Q1 [7][23] - AI Security pillar grew over 80% year-over-year, exceeding the FY26 target of $400 million ARR three quarters early [8][15] - Data Security Everywhere ARR accelerated to approximately $450 million [19] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Geographically, the Americas accounted for 58% of revenue, EMEA for 27%, and APJ for 15% [23] - The company closed Q1 with 698 customers generating over $1 million in ARR and 3,754 customers exceeding $100,000 in ARR [24] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to exceed $10 billion in ARR, leveraging its leadership in Zero Trust security and comprehensive AI security offerings [22] - The introduction of the Zflex program is driving meaningful upsells and reducing sales cycles, generating over $175 million in total contract value (TCV) [20][21] - The company is focusing on expanding its Zero Trust Everywhere initiative, having secured over 450 enterprises, surpassing its goal three quarters ahead of schedule [16] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted that while IT budgets remain tight, there is less pressure on cybersecurity spending, with strong interest in Zero Trust and AI Security solutions [65] - The company is optimistic about the future, expecting AI Security ARR to surpass $500 million by the end of fiscal 2026 [15][21] Other Important Information - The company announced the transition of Ashwin Kesireddy to a new role as Product Manager of AI Security, with Kim Watkins joining as the new head of Investor Relations [4][27] - The integration of Red Canary is progressing well, with its contribution trending slightly better than previous guidance, although it is not expected to be material to overall business [48][116] Q&A Session Summary Question: About Zero Trust Branch and its future acceleration - Management indicated that the technology for Zero Trust Branch is in great shape, with significant demand from customers, and they see a big opportunity for growth [30][32] Question: Regarding the growth of the $2 billion ARR segment - Management confirmed that a significant part of the remaining $2 billion is from ZIA and ZPA, which are growing well, but the core business will grow at a slower rate than the overall business [40][42] Question: Performance of Red Canary and its integration - Management stated that the integration of Red Canary is going well, with its go-to-market team uncovering opportunities within Zscaler's customer base [48][116] Question: Insights on revenue strength and core business performance - Management highlighted that all three growth pillars are accelerating, contributing to strong overall performance, and they are seeing organic growth consistent with previous quarters [54][56] Question: Competitive landscape and customer priorities - Management noted that the competitive landscape has not changed significantly, with Zscaler's brand becoming stronger and customers prioritizing Zero Trust and AI Security solutions [58][66] Question: Trends in the SASE market - Management emphasized that Zscaler remains strong in the Zero Trust market, differentiating itself from other vendors claiming to offer SASE solutions [70][72] Question: Organic net new ARR in the quarter - Management confirmed that organic growth in Q1 was consistent with Q4, exceeding internal expectations [78][116] Question: Synergies between Red Canary and data security portfolio - Management discussed the integration strategy, highlighting opportunities for remediation and governance within the data security portfolio [119]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In Q1, annual recurring revenue (ARR) growth accelerated to 26% year over year, with ARR reaching over $3.2 billion [5][18] - Remaining performance obligation (RPO) grew approximately 35% year over year to $5.9 billion [19] - Q1 revenue was $788 million, growing 26% year over year and exceeding guidance [18] - Gross margin was 79.9%, slightly down from 80.6% in the previous year [19] - Operating margin was 21.8%, with a free cash flow margin of 52% [20] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - AI Security pillar grew over 80% year over year, exceeding the FY26 target of $400 million ARR three quarters early [6][12] - Data Security Everywhere ARR accelerated to approximately $450 million [16] - Zero Trust Everywhere achieved over 450 enterprise customers, surpassing the goal set three quarters ahead of schedule [13] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The Americas accounted for 58% of revenue, EMEA for 27%, and APJ for 15% [18] - The company is one of only five enterprise SaaS companies with over $3 billion in ARR growing at over 25% [5] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company focuses on three growth pillars: AI Security, Zero Trust Everywhere, and Data Security Everywhere, which are driving strong top-line performance [5][12] - The introduction of the Zflex program is aimed at providing customers with flexibility and driving upsells [16][53] - The company is positioned to exceed $10 billion in ARR by leveraging its leadership in Zero Trust security and comprehensive AI security offerings [18] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted that while IT budgets remain tight, there is less pressure on cybersecurity spending, with strong interest in Zero Trust and AI Security solutions [32][34] - The company expects to continue investing aggressively to position itself for long-term growth and profitability [21] Other Important Information - The company announced a leadership transition in Investor Relations, with Kim Watkins joining to lead the team [3] - The acquisition of Red Canary is expected to enhance the company's threat intelligence capabilities [39] Q&A Session Summary Question: About Zero Trust Branch and its adoption - Management indicated that Zero Trust Branch technology is in great shape, with significant demand and a growing customer base [23][24] Question: Growth of the $2 billion ARR segment - Management confirmed that a significant portion of the $2 billion ARR comes from ZIA and ZPA, with a focus on transitioning customers to Zero Trust Everywhere [25][26] Question: Performance of Red Canary - Integration of Red Canary is progressing well, with contributions trending slightly better than previous guidance, though not material to overall business [27][28] Question: Drivers of revenue strength - Management highlighted that all three growth pillars are accelerating, contributing to strong overall performance [29][30] Question: Competitive landscape - The competitive landscape remains stable, with the company's brand recognition growing among large enterprises [31] Question: Customer spending priorities for 2026 - Customers are prioritizing Zero Trust Security and AI Security, with a focus on cost savings and improved cybersecurity [32][34] Question: Demand for Zero Trust Gateway - Management noted that Zero Trust Cloud simplifies deployments and reduces the need for traditional firewalls, enhancing customer buy-in [44][45] Question: SAP RISE migration opportunity - The migration to SAP RISE is expected to provide significant opportunities for the company, similar to past migrations like Microsoft Exchange to Office 365 [50][51] Question: Zflex program impact - Zflex is gaining traction, providing customers with flexibility and longer-term visibility on future ARR [52][53]

Fiscal Q1 2026 Earnings Call November 2025 Safe Harbor Forward-Looking Statements Unless otherwise noted, all numbers presented will be on an adjusted, non-GAAP basis. Reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP financial measures is in the appendix of this presentation. This presentation has been prepared by Zscaler, Inc. ("Zscaler") for informational purposes only and not for any other purpose. Nothing contained in this presentation is, or should be construed as, a recommendation, promise or representation by the ...

Core Viewpoint - Zscaler Inc. is experiencing a balance between stabilizing growth and aggressive innovation as it approaches its first-quarter fiscal 2026 earnings report on November 25 [1] Management's Forecast: Margins And Milestones - Zscaler projects revenue between $772 million and $774 million, indicating approximately 23% year-over-year growth [2] - The company aims to recover gross margins to 80% after a decline in the previous quarter due to a one-time, hardware-heavy government deployment [2] Growth Vectors and Acquisitions - CEO Jay Chaudhry highlights three major growth areas: AI Security, Zero Trust Everywhere, and Data Security Everywhere, which have collectively surpassed $1 billion in Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) [3] - The acquisition of Red Canary is expected to contribute $95 million in ARR for the fiscal year [3] Market Sentiment and Strategic Positioning - Wall Street sentiment is largely positive, with Cantor Fitzgerald raising its price target to $365, driven by confidence in the Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) opportunity and anticipated synergies from the Red Canary acquisition [4]

Core Insights - Zscaler Inc reported strong fiscal fourth-quarter results, with annual recurring revenues (ARR) increasing by 22% and initial guidance for fiscal 2026 indicating 19% growth [1][7][8] Financial Performance - Billings reached $1,202 million, a 32% year-on-year increase, surpassing the consensus estimate of $1,145 million [3][8] - Revenue for the quarter was $719 million, exceeding expectations of $708 million [3] - ARR for the fourth quarter was $3.015 billion, remaining flat sequentially, but net new ARR growth accelerated to 16% year-on-year from 6% in the previous quarter [3][11] Guidance and Future Outlook - Management guided for an operating margin expansion of approximately 65 basis points for fiscal 2026, indicating potential for upside [2] - The ARR guidance for fiscal 2026 is set at $3.676-$3.698 billion, reflecting a growth rate of 22%-23% [8] - The guidance does not include contributions from Red Canary contracts, which are up for renewal in fiscal 2026 [9] Market Position and Growth Areas - Zscaler is experiencing strong momentum in the Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) market, with a robust portfolio of emerging products [4][6] - The company's emerging growth categories, including AI Security, Zero Trust Everywhere, and Data Security Everywhere, now represent over $1 billion in combined ARR and are growing faster than the overall business [11] - Customers contributing $1 million in ARR grew by 18% year-on-year, while those spending over $100,000 increased by 13% [11] Analyst Sentiment - Analysts have noted that Zscaler's results substantially exceeded expectations across growth and profitability metrics [4][10] - The company is well-positioned to maintain a 22% year-on-year revenue growth trajectory [5]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue grew 21% year over year in Q4, reaching $719 million, and total revenue for fiscal year 2025 was $2.7 billion, representing 23% year over year growth [8][24] - Annual recurring revenue (ARR) surpassed $3 billion, marking a 22% year over year increase [9][23] - Operating margin exceeded 22%, a quarterly record, and free cash flow margin was 24% for Q4 [8][26] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - AI security solutions, including AI Guard and JNI security offerings, saw significant customer interest, contributing to the overall growth [8][10] - SecOps ARR grew over 85% year over year, while IT operations innovations drove 58% year over year growth in bookings of ZDX Advanced plus SKU [14][19] - Data Security Everywhere ARR reached approximately $425 million, with strong demand for comprehensive data security capabilities [19][20] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The Americas accounted for 55% of revenue, EMEA for 29%, and APJ for 16% in Q4 [24] - The company now serves nearly 40% of the Global 2000 and over 45% of Fortune 500 companies, indicating a strong market presence [25] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focusing on three growth factors: AI security, Zero Trust Everywhere, and Data Security Everywhere, which together surpassed $1 billion in ARR in Q4 [10][20] - The Z Flex program generated over $100 million in TCV bookings in Q4, representing over 50% sequential growth, and is becoming a preferred method for strategic multi-year deals [21][70] - The company aims to accelerate platform innovations and capitalize on the $100 billion security market opportunity [22] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the strong demand for their solutions and the operational scale, expecting continued growth in fiscal year 2026 [23][31] - The macro environment is anticipated to remain relatively unchanged, with a focus on ARR as the primary growth metric moving forward [28][95] Other Important Information - The company successfully closed the acquisition of Red Canary, contributing approximately $83 million to ARR at close [27] - The gross margin for Q4 was 79.3%, lower than the historical target of 80% due to a one-time deployment [25][26] Q&A Session Summary Question: How is SASE replacing firewall appliances? - Management indicated that firewall appliances, particularly in branches, are being replaced by Zero Trust architecture, with significant demand for Zero Trust branch solutions [34][36] Question: How will Z Flex help exceed sales goals? - Z Flex provides flexibility in module adoption and pricing, allowing for larger and better deals, and is being expanded to a broader customer base [40][44] Question: What does a Zero Trust Everywhere customer look like? - A Zero Trust Everywhere customer typically sees significant increases in ARR, with many deals resulting in 2x or 3x growth [46][50] Question: What is the focus of AI security product adoption? - Customers are primarily focused on securing public AI applications and private models, with growing interest in agent-to-agent communication [54][56] Question: What is the expected growth for data security solutions? - Data security solutions are being adopted alongside Zero Trust solutions, with a significant opportunity for upselling additional modules [61][65] Question: What is the methodology behind fiscal year guidance? - The company maintains a prudent approach to guidance, shifting focus from billings to ARR as a better alignment with the business model [92][94]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue for Q4 2025 grew 21% year over year, reaching $719 million, and total revenue for fiscal year 2025 was $2.7 billion, representing a 23% year over year growth [6][23] - Annual recurring revenue (ARR) surpassed $3 billion, marking a 22% year over year increase [7][22] - Operating margin for Q4 was 22.1%, exceeding long-term targets and growing approximately 60 basis points year over year [26] - Free cash flow margin for Q4 was 24%, with data center CapEx at 8% of revenue [26] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - AI security solutions, including AI Guard and JNI security offerings, saw significant customer interest, contributing to the overall growth [6][10] - SecOps ARR grew over 85% year over year, while ZDX Advanced plus SKU bookings increased by 58% year over year [12][19] - Data Security Everywhere ARR reached approximately $425 million, with strong demand driving growth [18] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The Americas accounted for 55% of revenue, EMEA for 29%, and APJ for 16% [23] - The company now serves nearly 40% of the Global 2000 and over 45% of Fortune 500 companies, indicating a strong market presence [22][24] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focusing on three growth factors: AI security, Zero Trust Everywhere, and Data Security Everywhere, which together surpassed $1 billion in ARR in Q4 [8][19] - The Z Flex program generated over $100 million in TCV bookings in Q4, representing over 50% sequential growth, and is expected to drive future growth [20] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the ongoing demand for their solutions and the potential for growth in the Zero Trust and AI security markets, which are expected to disrupt a $100 billion security market [20][21] - The macro environment is anticipated to remain relatively unchanged, with a focus on ARR as the primary growth metric moving forward [28][92] Other Important Information - The acquisition of Red Canary is expected to contribute approximately $95 million to ARR and $90 million to revenue in fiscal year 2026 [27] - The company plans to optimize new products for margins over time as they scale [29] Q&A Session Summary Question: How is SASE replacing firewall appliances? - Management indicated that firewall appliances, particularly in branches, are being replaced by Zero Trust architecture, with significant demand for Zero Trust branch solutions [33][36] Question: How will Z Flex help exceed sales goals? - Z Flex provides flexibility in module adoption for customers, allowing for larger and better deals, and is being expanded to a broader customer base [39][42] Question: What does a Zero Trust Everywhere customer look like? - A Zero Trust Everywhere customer typically adopts multiple modules, with significant increases in ARR observed as they transition to this model [45][50] Question: What is the focus of AI security product adoption? - Customers are primarily focused on securing public AI applications first, followed by private models, with significant interest in agent-to-agent communication solutions [54][56] Question: What is the expected growth for data security solutions? - Data security solutions are being adopted alongside Zero Trust solutions, with a significant opportunity for upselling additional modules to existing customers [60][63] Question: What is the methodology behind fiscal year guidance? - The company maintains a prudent approach to guidance, shifting focus from billings to ARR as a more aligned growth metric [90][92]

Financial Performance - Zscaler's Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) reached $3.015 billion, exceeding guidance[6,8] - Fiscal Year 2025 revenue totaled $2.673 billion, a 23% year-over-year increase[8] - Calculated billings for Fiscal Year 2025 were $3.246 billion, representing a 24% year-over-year growth[8] - The company achieved an operating margin of approximately 22% for Fiscal Year 2025[8] - Free cash flow margin for Fiscal Year 2025 was 27.2%, resulting in $727 million[8] - Q4'25 revenue was $719 million, a 21% year-over-year increase[6] Growth Vectors and Customer Adoption - Three Growth Vectors (Zero Trust Everywhere, Data Security Everywhere, and Agentic Operations) combined for over $1 billion in ARR, growing faster than the total ARR[11] - Data Security Everywhere ARR reached approximately $425 million[11] - The number of "Zero Trust Everywhere" enterprises exceeded 350, a 60%+ quarter-over-quarter increase[11] Future Outlook - Zscaler projects revenue between $3.265 billion and $3.284 billion for Fiscal Year 2026, including a $90 million contribution from the Red Canary acquisition[64] - The company anticipates ARR between $3.676 billion and $3.698 billion for Fiscal Year 2026, with a $95 million contribution from the Red Canary acquisition[64]

Core Insights - Zscaler (ZS) reported a 23% year-over-year revenue increase to $678 million for Q3 of fiscal 2025, but experienced a slight decline in non-GAAP gross margins to 80.3%, down from 81.4% a year ago, reflecting a 110-basis point contraction [1][11] Revenue and Growth - The company achieved a revenue growth of 24% and a free cash flow margin of 28% year-to-date, resulting in a combined score of 52%, known as the Rule of 52, marking the 21st consecutive quarter of exceeding the Rule of 40 benchmark [5][11] Margin Dynamics - The decline in gross margins is attributed to the rollout of new products aimed at quickly gaining market share rather than focusing on high margins initially. Management plans to improve margins once these products reach scale [2][6] - Zscaler's gross margin is projected to be 80% for Q4 of fiscal 2025, indicating a sequential decline of 30 basis points [6] Product Development - Recent introductions of fast-growing modules under categories like Zero Trust Everywhere and Data Security Everywhere are attracting large deals and expanding annual recurring revenue (ARR), although they are not yet margin-optimized [3][4] - The Z-Flex program, which offers flexible purchasing options, has contributed over $65 million in total contract value in Q3, but often bundles lower-margin modules, complicating near-term margin stability [4] Competitive Landscape - Competitors like CrowdStrike and Okta are also evolving their platforms to meet enterprise security demands, with CrowdStrike enhancing its identity security platform using AI solutions, and Okta focusing on identity and access management with AI for real-time detection of identity attacks [7][8] Valuation and Estimates - Zscaler's shares have increased by 74.4% year-to-date, outperforming the Security industry's growth of 22.1% [9] - The company trades at a forward price-to-sales ratio of 15.32X, higher than the industry average of 14.67X [12] - Earnings estimates for fiscal 2025 imply a year-over-year decline of 0.31%, while fiscal 2026 estimates suggest a growth of 12.01%, with upward revisions in the past 60 and 30 days respectively [15]