Key Takeaways Fortinet outperforms Check Point in network security stock comparison with stronger growth. FTNT shares gained 11.6% in three months while CHKP returned 5.8% in same period. Fortinet's SASE strategy and firewall refresh cycle position it for 2025 growth.The cybersecurity landscape continues to evolve rapidly, with network security remaining a critical priority for enterprises worldwide. Two industry stalwarts, Fortinet (FTNT) and Check Point Software Technologies (CHKP) , have established th ...

Core Insights - Fortinet's FortiGate platform is central to its secure networking strategy, driving hardware adoption and facilitating expansion into other solutions [1][10] - The launch of the FortiGate 700G series enhances performance and energy efficiency, appealing to mid-sized businesses and distributed enterprises [3][10] - Fortinet's product revenues grew 12% year-over-year in Q1 2025, with FortiGate hardware being the primary growth driver [4] Product and Market Performance - FortiGate firewalls are often the first product for customers, leading to increased integration of Fortinet's other offerings [2][10] - In Q1 2025, FortiGate hardware outpaced overall product growth, expanding in the mid-teens [4] - The company estimates product revenues for 2025 to reach $2.14 billion, indicating a 12.3% year-over-year growth [4] Competitive Landscape - Fortinet faces stiff competition from Palo Alto Networks and Check Point Software, both of which are experiencing strong adoption of their firewall capabilities [5] - Palo Alto Networks reported a 20% year-over-year growth in Software Firewall ARR, driven by public cloud deployments [6] - Check Point Software saw a 14% year-over-year rise in product and license revenues, with expectations of continued momentum through 2026 [7] Stock Performance and Valuation - Fortinet's shares have risen 11.1% year-to-date, underperforming the Zacks Security industry's growth of 23.4% [8] - The stock is currently trading at a Price/Book ratio of 40.17X, compared to the industry's 24.88X, indicating a lower valuation score [12] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Q2 2025 earnings is 59 cents per share, reflecting a 3.51% year-over-year growth [15]

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].

New FortiGate series delivers scalable, high-performance security for the modern campus, now enhanced with FortiOS post-quantum capabilities and FortiAI-Protect for advanced threat detection and GenAI risk mitigation SUNNYVALE, Calif., May 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Fortinet (NASDAQ: FTNT), the global cybersecurity leader driving the convergence of networking and security, today announced the FortiGate 700G series, a next-generation firewall (NGFW) purpose-built for the modern campus. Powered by Fortinet' ...