Fortinet(FTNT) - 2025 Q1 - Earnings Call Transcript

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Fortinet reported a revenue growth of 14% year-over-year, reaching $1,540,000,000 in Q1 2025, with product revenue increasing by 12% to$ 459,000,000 [12][14] - The operating margin reached a record 34%, reflecting strong gross margins and cost efficiencies [16][30] - Free cash flow was a record $783,000,000, with a margin of 51%, up six points from the previous year [16] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Unified SaaS billing grew by 18%, driven by a 110% increase in security service edge billing, accounting for 25% of the business [6][13] - AI-driven security operations revenue increased by 29%, representing 10% of total business [9][10] - Security subscriptions revenue grew by 16%, while support and related service revenues increased by 12% [15] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - EMEA was the best-performing geography with mid-teens growth, particularly in financial services and government sectors, which grew over 20% [24][95] - The number of new logos increased by 14% to over 6,300, driven by investments in channel partners [13][14] - Large enterprise customers showed a growth of around 30%, with an increase in deals greater than$ 1,000,000 [23] Company Strategy and Development Direction - Fortinet aims to maintain its leadership in the firewall market and expand its presence in the SASE and OT security markets [6][10] - The company is focusing on integrating AI capabilities into its products, holding over 500 AI patents, and enhancing its SASE strategy [10][11] - Fortinet is also investing in Sovereign SASE solutions for large enterprises and service providers, ensuring compliance with local regulations [9] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the continued adoption of Fortinet solutions despite macroeconomic uncertainties, citing strong customer demand [18][25] - The company is cautious in its guidance due to potential risks from geopolitical factors but remains optimistic about achieving growth targets [28][30] - The upcoming firewall upgrade cycle is expected to gain momentum in the second half of 2025 [29] Other Important Information - The company announced the FortiGate 700 series, a high-performance firewall aimed at mid-sized businesses, which is expected to enhance market share [11] - Infrastructure investments decreased to $67,000,000, reflecting a lower level of real estate investment [17] Q&A Session Summary Question: Dynamics behind maintenance and services revenue - Management explained that the slight decline in service revenue was affected by fewer days in Q1 compared to Q4, impacting daily revenue rates [36][38] Question: Lightness in guidance for the next quarter - Management acknowledged some uncertainty in customer purchasing decisions due to geopolitical factors but noted strong close rates and sales momentum [44][45] Question: Conversations with customers regarding hesitancy to commit - Management indicated that while there is hesitancy due to macro news, they have not seen delays in deals yet [50][51] Question: Impact of tariffs on hardware sales - Management stated that tariffs are not expected to have a significant impact on operating margins, as only a few components are subject to tariff charges [68][70] Question: Large transactions and their representation of the Fortinet platform - Management confirmed that large transactions are primarily driven by SD WAN deployments, with customers expanding into the Fortinet security fabric [63][64] Question: Service revenue downtick and customer refresh dynamics - Management noted that the service revenue decline was partly due to customers refreshing appliances without adding new subscriptions [84][91]