Fortinet (NasdaqGS:FTNT) Q4 2025 Earnings call February 05, 2026 04:30 PM ET Company ParticipantsAnthony Luscri - Vice President of Investor RelationsChristiane Ohlgart - CFOFatima Boolani - Managing DirectorGabriela Borges - Managing DirectorJohn Whittle - COOKen Xie - Founder, Chairman, and CEORob Owens - Managing DirectorShaul Eyal - Managing DirectorConference Call ParticipantsAdam Borg - Equity Research AnalystBrian Essex - Equity Research AnalystJunaid Siddiqui - Equity Research AnalystPatrick Colvill ...

Fortinet (NasdaqGS:FTNT) Q4 2025 Earnings call February 05, 2026 04:30 PM ET Company ParticipantsAnthony Luscri - Vice President of Investor RelationsChristiane Ohlgart - CFOFatima Boolani - Managing DirectorGabriela Borges - Managing DirectorJohn Whittle - COOKen Xie - Founder, Chairman, and CEORob Owens - Managing DirectorShaul Eyal - Managing DirectorConference Call ParticipantsAdam Borg - Equity Research AnalystBrian Essex - Equity Research AnalystJunaid Siddiqui - Equity Research AnalystPatrick Colvill ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total billings grew by 18% to $2.37 billion in Q4 2025, driven by strong growth in Unified SASE and operational technology security [13][20] - Total revenue increased by 15% to $1.91 billion, with product revenue up over 20% to $691 million and service revenue growing 12% to $1.21 billion [15][21] - Operating margin was strong at 37.3%, exceeding guidance, while gross margin was 80.3% [20][22] - Free cash flow reached $577 million, representing a margin of 31% [20][23] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Unified SASE billings grew 40%, representing 27% of total billings, indicating strong demand for cloud security solutions [6][15] - Operational technology solutions saw billings growth of over 25%, driven by demand for both hardware and software [9][14] - AI-driven SecOps billings grew 6% in Q4 and 22% for the full year, with annual recurring revenue (ARR) up 21% [9][15] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The U.S. and Europe were the largest contributors to growth in $1 million-plus deals, each delivering more than 30% growth [14] - 16% of large enterprise customers purchased FortiSASE, an increase of over 50%, highlighting continued expansion [13][15] - The company maintains a leading position in the firewall market with a 55% unit market share [5] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to continue growing faster than the overall market, targeting a billings and revenue CAGR above 12% [10][26] - Focus on integrating networking and security through FortiOS, which enhances performance and reduces total cost of ownership [6][12] - Continued investment in R&D, particularly in AI-driven security and quantum readiness, supports rapid innovation and organic growth [12][26] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in sustained growth driven by strong demand across cybersecurity markets, including Secure Networking and Unified SASE [11][32] - The company anticipates service revenue growth to accelerate in the second half of 2026, driven by product revenue growth [24][26] - Management highlighted the importance of addressing supply chain challenges and maintaining healthy margins through strategic pricing [41][42] Other Important Information - The company has a disciplined approach to capital allocation, with a focus on maintaining the Rule of 45 and strong free cash flow generation [12][13] - A $1 billion increase in the authorized stock repurchase amount was approved by the board of directors [20] Q&A Session Summary Question: What drove the strength in Unified SASE billings and the strong guidance for 2026? - Management attributed the 40% growth in Unified SASE to unique advantages such as Sovereign SASE and the integration of network security, SD-WAN, and SASE on a single OS [30][31] Question: How is the company navigating the current environment regarding memory prices? - The company has prepared for supply chain issues by maintaining inventory and adjusting prices to manage margins effectively [41][42] Question: What is the revenue mix between Sovereign and public SASE? - Management indicated that the Sovereign SASE market is likely larger than the public SASE market, with strong growth expected due to a lack of competition in this area [49] Question: How does the company view the potential for AI to impact cybersecurity? - Management sees AI as an opportunity to enhance cybersecurity measures and control data leakage, with significant demand for AI-driven solutions [36][38] Question: What is the company's approach to M&A? - The company remains open to M&A opportunities, particularly in secure operations, but emphasizes a disciplined approach to acquisitions [86]

Fourth Quarter 2025 Highlights Revenue grew 15% year over year to $1.91 billionProduct revenue grew 20% year over year to $691 millionBillings grew 18% to $2.37 billion1Unified SASE billings grew 40%GAAP operating margin of 33% Non-GAAP operating margin of 37%1 Full Year 2025 Highlights Revenue grew 14% year over year to $6.80 billionProduct revenue grew 16% year over year to $2.22 billionBillings grew 16% to $7.55 billion1Unified SASE & SecOps billings grew 24%GAAP operating margin of 31%Non-GAAP operating ...

Core Insights - Fortinet (FTNT) is focusing on Unified SASE as a key growth strategy, leveraging its architectural advantages to stand out in a competitive security market [1] - The company’s SASE platform is built on FortiOS, integrating next-generation firewall, SD-WAN, and SASE capabilities, allowing for rapid deployment and reduced complexity compared to multi-vendor solutions [1][2] - Fortinet's Sovereign SASE offering provides deployment flexibility for government and large enterprises, addressing data privacy and regulatory compliance needs [2] Deployment and Growth - As of Q3 2025, 15% of large enterprise customers are using FortiSASE, reflecting a 55% growth, with Unified SASE accounting for 26% of total billings [2] - FortiSASE has shown billings growth exceeding 100%, indicating strong momentum in enterprise adoption [2] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Fortinet's 2026 revenues is $7.48 billion, representing a year-over-year growth of 10.8% [3][7] Competitive Landscape - Fortinet faces significant competition in the SASE market from Cisco and Zscaler, with Cisco utilizing a multi-product approach and Zscaler focusing on a cloud-only model [4] - Fortinet's hybrid deployment flexibility contrasts with Zscaler's cloud-exclusive offerings, targeting enterprises that prefer unified management solutions [4] Financial Performance and Valuation - Fortinet shares have decreased by 21.2% over the past six months, underperforming the Zacks Security industry's decline of 9.1% [5] - The company is perceived as overvalued, trading at a price-to-book ratio of 84.25, significantly higher than the sector average of 10.79 [9] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Fortinet's earnings in 2026 is $2.89 per share, indicating a year-over-year growth of 7.3% [11]

Industry Overview - Cybercrime costs are rapidly increasing as reliance on digital systems grows, leading to more opportunities for cybercriminals to attack [1][4] - The global cybersecurity market is projected to grow from $193.7 billion in 2024 to nearly $563 billion by 2032, reflecting a compound annual growth rate of 14.4% [2] - Cybercrime is expected to cost the world $10.5 trillion annually by 2025, a significant increase from $3 trillion in 2015, indicating the escalating financial impact of cyber threats [5] Cybercrime Trends - Cybercrime encompasses various attacks, including ransomware, data theft, online fraud, identity theft, and email scams, affecting not only large companies but also small businesses and individuals [3] - The complexity of digital networks and the growing number of connected devices have expanded the attack surface, making security management more challenging [4][6] Key Cybersecurity Players - CrowdStrike Holdings offers its solutions through the Falcon platform, which is a cloud-native security solution that protects various environments and endpoints [8][10] - Fortinet is a leader in network security, providing solutions through its unified FortiOS platform, which integrates security across multiple systems [13][14] - Zscaler specializes in cloud-based security solutions, with significant growth in areas such as AI Security, Zero Trust, and Data Security, each surpassing $1 billion in annual recurring revenue [17][19] Company Performance - CrowdStrike's Falcon Flex subscription model has driven significant growth, with annual recurring revenue from Flex customers reaching $1.35 billion in Q3 fiscal 2026, more than tripling from the previous year [9][12] - Fortinet's FortiSASE billings grew over 100% year over year in Q3 2025, indicating strong momentum in its security offerings [15] - Zscaler's AI Security segment alone reached $400 million in annual recurring revenue, with expectations to exceed $500 million in fiscal 2026 [18]

Core Insights - Fortinet (FTNT) and Cisco (CSCO) are key players in the cybersecurity sector, both providing extensive network security solutions to global enterprises, with Fortinet focusing on integrated security platforms and Cisco offering a wider range of networking and cybersecurity products [1][2] Group 1: Fortinet (FTNT) Overview - Fortinet reported third-quarter 2025 revenues of $1.72 billion, marking a 14% year-over-year increase, with product revenues rising 18% to $559.3 million [3] - The company achieved a record non-GAAP operating margin of 37%, indicating strong profitability, while total billings grew 14% to $1.81 billion [3] - FortiSASE, a rapidly growing SASE solution, saw billings increase over 100% year-over-year, contributing to unified SASE annual recurring revenues of $1.22 billion, up 13% [4] - Fortinet's AI-driven security operations are expanding, with over 20 AI solutions powered by FortiAI technology, and the launch of the Secure AI Data Center solution, which offers significant energy savings [5] - For 2025, Fortinet projects revenues between $6.72 billion and $6.78 billion, with non-GAAP EPS expected to be between $2.66 and $2.70, indicating year-over-year growth of 13.5% [6] Group 2: Cisco (CSCO) Overview - Cisco's first-quarter fiscal 2026 revenues reached $14.9 billion, reflecting an 8% year-over-year growth, with non-GAAP EPS of $1, up 10% [7] - The AI infrastructure business is a key growth driver, with orders from hyperscalers totaling $1.3 billion in the first quarter, and expectations of $3 billion in AI infrastructure revenues for fiscal 2026 [8][9] - Cisco's total product orders grew 13% year-over-year, with significant growth in campus networking technologies [10] - However, Cisco's security revenues declined 2% to $1.98 billion, and collaboration revenues fell 3% to $1.06 billion, indicating challenges in the security segment [11] - The fiscal 2026 guidance estimates revenues between $60.2 billion and $61 billion, with non-GAAP EPS projected at $4.08 to $4.14, suggesting a year-over-year growth of 7.6% [12] Group 3: Valuation and Performance Comparison - Fortinet's price-to-book ratio is 85.97x, significantly higher than Cisco's 6.54x, reflecting its superior operating margin of 37% compared to Cisco's 34.4% and higher product revenue growth [13] - Over the past six months, Cisco shares increased by 17.8%, while Fortinet shares declined approximately 18.2%, presenting a potential entry opportunity for investors in cybersecurity [16] - Fortinet's strong profitability and investment in AI innovation differentiate it from competitors, while Cisco is navigating challenges related to declining security revenues and integration complexities [18]

Core Insights - Fortinet (FTNT) is a significant player in the cybersecurity sector, but its high Price-to-Book ratio of 85.71 raises concerns about its valuation and whether it reflects the company's fundamentals or indicates an overheated market [1][10]. Financial Performance - In Q3 2025, Fortinet reported a 14% year-over-year revenue increase to $1.72 billion, with product revenues rising 18% to $559.3 million [2][8]. - The company achieved record operating margins, with GAAP operating margin at 32% and non-GAAP operating margin at 37% [2][8]. - Total billings grew 14% to $1.81 billion, indicating strong demand for Fortinet's security solutions [2]. Growth Segments - FortiSASE billing growth exceeded 100% year-over-year, establishing Fortinet as a leader in the Secure Access Service Edge market [3]. - The unified SASE segment saw a 19% increase in billings, while SecOps billings rose by 33% [3]. - The company added approximately 6,600 new organizations in the quarter, with deals over $1 million increasing by 26% and total dollar value growing over 30% [3]. Service Revenue Trends - Service revenue growth has decelerated for nine consecutive quarters, raising concerns about future performance [4]. - Management noted that service revenues are a lagging indicator of product revenues, with last year's negative product growth affecting current service metrics [4][6]. Guidance and Market Outlook - Management's Q4 2025 revenue guidance is between $1.825 billion and $1.885 billion, suggesting approximately 12% growth at the midpoint [5]. - Full-year 2025 revenue guidance is set at $6.72 billion to $6.78 billion, with diluted non-GAAP earnings per share expected between $2.66 and $2.70, slightly below market expectations [5]. Strategic Initiatives - In November 2025, Fortinet launched its Secure AI Data Center solution, featuring the FortiGate 3800G firewall with significant performance and energy efficiency improvements [7]. - A partnership with Climb Channel Solutions was announced in December, aimed at expanding reseller distribution and market reach [7]. - The company initiated a global Cybercrime Bounty program with Crime Stoppers International to encourage reporting of cybercriminal activities [9]. Competitive Landscape - Fortinet's stock has declined 19.4% over the past six months, contrasting with a 22.4% return in the broader Zacks Computer and Technology sector [13]. - Competitors like Zscaler and CrowdStrike have shown stronger performance, with Zscaler shares gaining 34.2% and CrowdStrike shares increasing by 51.3% in the same period [16][19]. Investment Recommendation - Given the mixed signals, a cautious investment approach is recommended. Fortinet's operational strengths and market leadership in high-growth segments provide a solid foundation, but the premium valuation and slowing service revenue growth suggest limited upside potential [20][21].

Core Insights - CrowdStrike and Fortinet are leading companies in the cybersecurity sector, focusing on protecting organizations from cyberattacks [1][2] - The cybersecurity market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 12.45% from 2025 to 2030, driven by increasing cyber threats [2] CrowdStrike Overview - CrowdStrike's Falcon platform is a cloud-native security solution that secures various environments and endpoints [4] - The platform offers 29 cloud modules under a SaaS subscription model, with subscription sales increasing from 72% in fiscal 2017 to 95% in fiscal 2025 [5] - The Falcon Flex subscription model has been a key driver of customer growth, with 48% of subscription customers using six or more modules by the end of Q2 fiscal 2026 [6] - In Q2, CrowdStrike added $221 million in net new annual recurring revenues (ARR), bringing total ARR to $4.66 billion, a 20% increase year-over-year [7] - The company expects revenues for fiscal 2026 and 2027 to be $4.78 billion and $5.80 billion, respectively, indicating a year-over-year increase of around 21% [9][10] Fortinet Overview - Fortinet's Q3 2025 results showed a 14% year-over-year growth in both billings and revenues, with a record operating margin of 37% [11] - The company's SASE business saw significant growth, with Unified SASE billings increasing by 19% and FortiSASE billings rising over 100% [12] - Fortinet's product revenues grew by 18%, driven by demand for hardware upgrades and operational technology security [13] - However, service revenues grew only 13%, indicating slower growth compared to product revenues [14] - For full-year 2025 and 2026, Fortinet's revenue estimates are $6.75 billion and $7.50 billion, reflecting year-over-year increases of approximately 13.3% and 11% [15][16] Price Performance and Valuation - Year-to-date, CrowdStrike shares have increased by 43.4%, while Fortinet shares have decreased by 16.6% [17] - CrowdStrike is trading at a forward sales multiple of 21.97, while Fortinet is at 7.91, indicating higher growth expectations for CrowdStrike [19] - CrowdStrike's strong revenue visibility and growth prospects justify its higher valuation compared to Fortinet [22] Conclusion - CrowdStrike is recommended as a strong buy due to its leadership in the cybersecurity space and robust growth potential, while Fortinet is suggested for holding or waiting for better entry points [22][23]

Core Insights - Fortinet reported strong performance in Q3 2025, driven by technological innovation and customer-centric service, with widespread adoption of its solutions across various enterprise sizes [1] - The company highlighted its leadership in next-generation firewalls and SD-WAN, as well as the rapid growth of its FortiSASE product in the global secure access service edge market [1] Financial Summary - Revenue reached $1.72 billion, a 14% increase year-over-year [1] - Product revenue was $559.3 million, up 18% compared to the same period last year [1] - Billings amounted to $1.81 billion, reflecting a 14% year-over-year growth [1] - Q3 GAAP operating margin hit a record high of 32% [1] - Non-GAAP operating margin also set a record at 37% [1] Recent Business Highlights - FortiSASE achieved a remarkable 100% year-over-year growth in billings, attributed to its innovative "zero-friction migration" technology [2] - The company launched the industry's first secure AI data center solution, which supports high-capacity data transfer and reduces energy consumption by 69% compared to similar solutions [2] - Fortinet has invested heavily in AI research and development, with over 500 AI patents granted or applied for, enhancing its portfolio of over 20 AI solutions [2]