Core Insights - F5, Inc. (NASDAQ:FFIV) is recognized as one of the 15 Set-It-and-Forget-It Stocks to Buy in 2026 [1] Group 1: Strategic Partnerships - On March 18, 2026, F5, Inc. announced a strategic partnership with Skyfire to secure and monetize the agentic commerce market by integrating Skyfire's Know Your Agent (KYA) protocol into F5's Application Delivery and Security Platform (ADSP) [2] - This integration allows enterprises to differentiate between malicious bots and verified AI agents, enabling merchants to authenticate AI-driven traffic and accept tokenized payments securely [2] - On March 24, 2026, F5, Inc. partnered with Forcepoint to enhance enterprise security for AI throughout its lifecycle, integrating Forcepoint's Data Security Posture Management (DSPM) with F5's ADSP [3] Group 2: Company Overview - Founded in 1996, F5, Inc. specializes in multi-cloud application services and security, providing solutions like BIG-IP and NGINX to ensure application performance and security across various environments [4]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Fiscal year 2026 marked a significant milestone for the company, achieving over $1 billion in revenue, growing 22% year-over-year, and delivering full-year operating profitability with an operating margin of 3.5% [8][33] - In Q4, revenue grew 20% year-over-year to $271 million, with total ARR increasing by 22% and a record addition of $64 million in net new ARR [33][34] - The company maintained a gross margin of 78% in Q4, with an operating margin of 6%, reflecting a 450 basis point year-over-year improvement [35][36] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Non-endpoint solutions surpassed half of total annual bookings in fiscal 2026, indicating a diverse customer outcome from the Singularity Platform [10] - The percentage of enterprise customers using three or more solutions increased to 65%, with those using four or more solutions more than doubling to 42% [11] - ARR from Prompt Security more than doubled sequentially in Q4, showcasing strong demand for AI security solutions [15] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - International markets grew 30% and represented 40% of total revenue, reflecting strong global demand [34] - The company saw a 20% year-over-year increase in customers with ARR of $1 million or more, reaching 153 customers in Q4 [34] - The dollar-based net retention rate for customers with $100,000 or more in ARR was 109%, driven by continued adoption of the broader platform [35] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on achieving the Rule of 40, driven by durable growth and higher profitability, while emphasizing AI-native security as a long-term growth driver [9][39] - The strategy includes optimizing the sales force and leveraging partnerships to enhance market presence, particularly in the managed security ecosystem [26][41] - The company aims to balance growth opportunities with maintaining a responsible financial profile, positioning itself as a leader in the AI-first security landscape [31][41] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the strong demand for the platform and the potential for further growth, particularly in AI security and on-premise solutions [61][62] - The evolving macroeconomic environment and geopolitical uncertainties are being monitored, as they may influence deal timing and sales cycles [39] - The company is committed to maximizing business potential while ensuring that security remains a strategic enabler of AI innovation [42] Other Important Information - The company ended the fiscal year with $770 million in cash equivalents and no debt, allowing for opportunistic share repurchases [37] - A new Chief Financial Officer, Sonali Parekh, has been appointed to lead the next phase of the company's financial strategy [31][32] Q&A Session Summary Question: Dynamics around growth and partner-led deals - Management noted that record fourth quarter net new ARR growth demonstrated solid demand and execution consistency, with no significant change in business dynamics between partners and end customers [45][46] Question: Clarification on profit margins - Management explained that free cash flow can be lumpy due to the timing of larger deals, but overall cash collection has improved significantly [49][50] Question: Adoption of new products and NRR - Management indicated that the stable NRR reflects a focus on new logo business, with significant expansion opportunities within the customer base [52][53] Question: Update on endpoint security and competitive landscape - Endpoint security remains a strong growth driver, with double-digit growth and increasing share, particularly in the context of generative AI [57][58] Question: Priorities for the new CFO - The new CFO will focus on durable growth and optimizing the go-to-market strategy, balancing growth opportunities with financial discipline [60][62] Question: Drivers of new ARR improvement - Management highlighted a shift towards a more balanced revenue seasonality and traction in endpoint security as key drivers for improved new ARR [65][66] Question: Stability of gross margins - Management confirmed that gross margins are stable and at the high end of long-term targets, with no expected changes [69] Question: Details on the Cloudflare deal - The deal with Cloudflare was driven by the company's unique capabilities and the need for proven, scalable solutions in the context of AI adoption [71][75]

Core Insights - Plurilock Security Inc. has been named a Certified Services Partner for Forcepoint, enhancing its position in the cybersecurity market [1][5] - The partnership allows Plurilock to offer integrated services to Forcepoint customers, including implementation, policy tuning, hosting, and fully managed services [2][4] - This collaboration aims to provide operational value and support for organizations, particularly those with limited internal resources, by optimizing existing Forcepoint deployments [3][4] Company Developments - The partnership with Forcepoint is a continuation of Plurilock's earlier designation as an Authorized Managed Security Service Provider (MSSP) [5] - Plurilock's Critical Services will be integrated into its Data Protection as a Service (DPaaS) platform, providing centralized support across various environments [4][8] - The collaboration is already generating joint sales engagements and new leads in both enterprise and public sector accounts [3][7] Industry Context - The partnership reflects a growing trend in the cybersecurity industry towards AI-powered, unified data security solutions that adapt to risk and simplify protection across environments [4] - Plurilock's services are designed to reduce risk, ensure compliance, and enhance long-term system effectiveness for clients [4][5] - The collaboration positions Plurilock as a trusted advisor and managed cybersecurity provider in complex enterprise and regulated markets [5][6]