Investors with a lot of money to spend have taken a bullish stance on Zscaler (NASDAQ:ZS).And retail traders should know.We noticed this today when the trades showed up on publicly available options history that we track here at Benzinga.Whether these are institutions or just wealthy individuals, we don't know. But when something this big happens with ZS, it often means somebody knows something is about to happen.So how do we know what these investors just did? Today, Benzinga's options scanner spotted 12 u ...

Core Insights - Zscaler is set to report its fourth-quarter fiscal 2025 results on September 2, 2025, with anticipated revenues between $705 million and $707 million, reflecting a year-over-year growth of 19.1% [1][9] - The company expects non-GAAP earnings per share in the range of 79-80 cents, indicating a year-over-year decline of 9% [2][9] - Zscaler has consistently beaten earnings estimates in the past four quarters, with an average surprise of 18.7% [3][9] Revenue and Earnings Expectations - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Zscaler's fiscal fourth-quarter revenues is $706.2 million [1] - The earnings per share estimate has remained unchanged at 80 cents over the past 60 days [2] Growth Drivers - The expected revenue growth is attributed to Zscaler's security and networking solutions, particularly in the context of the expanding global security market [6] - Strong momentum with Global 2000 and Fortune 500 customers, driven by digital transformation and hybrid work trends, is likely to be a key catalyst [7] - The adoption of Software-Defined Wide Area Network (SD-WAN) solutions is projected to contribute significantly, with the market expected to grow from $5.36 billion in 2024 to $80.91 billion by 2034, at a CAGR of 31.6% [8] Customer Retention and Product Performance - Zscaler's core products, including Zscaler Internet Access and Zscaler Private Access, have been crucial for customer retention [10] - Other offerings such as Cloud Access Security Broker and Cloud Security Posture Management are also expected to enhance customer acquisition [10] Competitive Landscape - Zscaler faces intense competition from established players like Palo Alto Networks, CyberArk, and CrowdStrike, particularly in areas like Agentic Operations and Zero Trust Strategy [16][17] - The company is increasing investments in sales and marketing, as well as research and development, to maintain its competitive edge [18] Stock Performance and Valuation - Zscaler's shares have increased by 55.4% year-to-date, outperforming the Zacks Security industry's growth of 11.5% [12] - The stock is currently trading at a forward 12-month price-to-sales ratio of 13.51X, compared to the industry's 12.39X [13] Long-term Outlook - The demand for cybersecurity solutions across various industries positions Zscaler favorably for long-term growth [15] - However, near-term challenges related to profit growth suggest a cautious approach for new investments, while existing shareholders may consider holding [19]

Core Insights - Fortinet's transition to a subscription-driven business model is driving significant growth in recurring service revenues, with service revenues increasing by 14% year-over-year to $1.08 billion in Q1 2025, representing 70% of total revenues [1][11] - The Unified SASE strategy has reported recurring revenues of $1.15 billion, up 25.7% year-over-year, while Security Operations' recurring revenues surged 30.3% year-over-year to $434.5 million [1][11] - Fortinet is aggressively investing in its SASE and SSE offerings to expand subscription-based revenue streams, with notable traction in large-scale enterprise deals [3] Revenue Growth - Multi-year contracts for services such as FortiGuard, FortiCare, FortiCloud, Unified SASE, and Security Operations are driving revenue growth [2] - The company expects service revenues to reach approximately $4.6 billion in 2025, indicating a year-over-year growth of 13.4% [5] Market Position and Competition - Fortinet faces stiff competition in the enterprise security market from companies like Palo Alto Networks and Zscaler [6] - Palo Alto Networks is expected to deliver recurring revenues between $5.52 billion and $5.57 billion for fiscal 2025, while Zscaler has a customer base of over 8,650 organizations [7][8] Pricing and Future Outlook - Fortinet's scalable, per-user pricing model with multi-year discounts is expected to enhance future recurring revenues [4] - Unified SASE and Security Operations are projected to experience a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 24% through 2026 [4][11] Stock Performance and Valuation - Fortinet's shares have risen 13.9% year-to-date, underperforming the Zacks Security industry's growth of 27.1% [9] - The stock is currently trading at a Price/Book ratio of 41.98X, compared to the industry's 25.76X, indicating a lower valuation score [14]

Core Viewpoint - Zscaler is expected to report third-quarter fiscal 2025 results with anticipated revenues of $665 million to $667 million, reflecting a year-over-year growth of 20.4% [1]. Revenue and Earnings Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Zscaler's fiscal third-quarter revenues is $666.1 million [1]. - Non-GAAP earnings per share are expected to be between 75-76 cents, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate at 75 cents, indicating a year-over-year decline of 14.8% [2]. - Revenue estimates from Channel Partners and Direct Customers are projected at $588 million and $77.4 million, respectively, with a remaining performance obligation of approximately $4.65 billion [10]. Market and Product Insights - Sustained demand for Zscaler's security and networking solutions is anticipated, driven by the expansion of the global security space and the adoption of its Zero Trust Exchange [7]. - The growing adoption of Software-Defined Wide Area Network (SD-WAN) solutions is expected to be a primary driver, with the market projected to reach $80.91 billion by 2034, growing at a CAGR of 31.6% [8]. - Zscaler's existing core products, including Zscaler Internet Access and Zscaler Private Access, are contributing to customer retention, while new features in its Zero Trust Exchange are aiding product portfolio expansion [9]. Competitive Position and Financial Performance - Zscaler's shares have increased by 40.9% year-to-date, outperforming the Zacks Security industry's growth of 16.9% [12]. - The stock is trading at a forward 12-month P/S of 12.79X, which is lower than the industry's 14.21X, indicating potential undervaluation [13]. Strategic Initiatives and Challenges - The company is investing in sales and marketing capabilities and increasing research and development costs to address longer deal cycles due to tighter IT budgets [11]. - Zscaler faces intense competition from established players like Palo Alto Networks and CrowdStrike, necessitating continuous investment in broadening its capabilities [18][19]. Long-term Outlook - The demand for cybersecurity solutions is rising due to increasing data breaches, and Zscaler's strong presence across various verticals provides stability against macroeconomic headwinds [16][17]. - Despite the long-term growth prospects, near-term challenges related to profit growth suggest a cautious approach for new investments [20].