Whereas Zscaler(NASDAQ: ZS) inventory has had a robust run this 12 months, the momentum shifted after the cybersecurity firm reported its fiscal 2025 fourth-quarter outcomes following the shut of buying and selling Tuesday. Although the interval’s numbers have been good, and administration issued upbeat steerage, the inventory sank 4% in Wednesday buying and selling. Nonetheless, even after the pullback, the inventory continues to be up by about 50% 12 months thus far.
Let’s take a better take a look at the corporate’s outcomes and steerage to see if Wednesday’s dip has created a shopping for alternative.
Whereas endpoint cybersecurity firms like CrowdStrike(NASDAQ: CRWD) and Palo Alto Networks(NASDAQ: PANW) are likely to get extra consideration from traders, Zscaler has carved out an vital area of interest in a fast-growing a part of the cybersecurity sector. It is targeted on zero belief safety, which is constructed round the concept no particular person consumer or gadget ought to routinely be trusted, even when it was beforehand discovered to be reliable. That signifies that all customers’ entry to varied platforms have to be verified, approved, after which often revalidated.
The rise of synthetic intelligence (AI) and AI brokers, in the meantime, has solely added to the complexity of the cyberthreat panorama. That is resulting in progress in newer areas for Zscaler, together with AI Safety, Zero Belief In all places, and Knowledge Safety In all places, which mixed to exceed $1 billion in annual recurring income (ARR) in its fiscal This autumn, which ended July 31. The corporate can also be engaged on options to safe agent-to-agent and agent-to-application communications.
All of this helped Zscaler obtain sturdy income progress. Within the quarter, its income climbed 21% 12 months over 12 months to $719.2 million, simply surpassing administration’s prior steerage for income of between $705 million and $707 million. Adjusted earnings per share (EPS) climbed to $0.89 from $0.72 a 12 months earlier. That was additionally effectively forward of the corporate’s $0.79 to $0.80 forecast.
Zscaler generated working money move of $250.6 million and free money move of $171.9 million. It ended the interval with $3.6 billion in money and short-term investments on its stability sheet and $1.7 billion in debt within the type of convertible notes. It additionally accomplished the acquisition of managed detection and response specialist Purple Canary for an undisclosed sum proper after the quarter ended, in order that money place is more likely to come down.
Picture supply: Getty Pictures
Zscalar’s calculated billings — the quantity invoiced to clients, and a possible indicator of future income progress — surged by 32% 12 months over 12 months to $1.2 billion. Deferred income — cash the corporate has acquired for providers that it has not but delivered — jumped by 30% to $2.47 billion. Each these metrics are indications that income progress may start to speed up within the new fiscal 12 months.
Administration forecast that fiscal 2026 income can be between $3.265 billion and $3.284 billion, which might quantity to roughly 22% to 23% progress. Purple Canary is projected so as to add about $90 million in income. ARR is projected to be between $3.676 billion and $3.698 billion, additionally equal to progress of twenty-two% to 23%. The steerage vary for adjusted EPS was $3.64 to $3.68.
For its fiscal 2026’s first quarter, Zscaler guided for income of between $772 million and $774 million with adjusted EPS of between $0.85 and $0.86.
Metric
Fiscal Q1 Steerage
Fiscal 2026 Steerage
Income
$772 million to $774 million
$3.265 billion to $3.284 billion
Income progress
23%
22% to 23%
Adjusted EPS
$0.85 and $0.86
$3.64 to $3.68
Calculated billings
N/A
$3.676 billion to $3.698 billion
Knowledge supply: Zscaler.
Zscaler turned in a stable quarter, however what’s much more promising is that metrics corresponding to calculated billings and deferred income recommend that income progress ought to properly speed up in fiscal 2026. Furthermore, whereas the corporate issued an upbeat outlook, traditionally, it tends to information very conservatively, so income progress within the mid-to-high 20% vary is feasible.
The corporate is seeing good momentum in new progress vectors, and the arrival of AI brokers may solely add to this. In the meantime, Zscaler has additionally taken a web page out of CrowdStrike’s guide by introducing its personal versatile fee program, Z-Flex. Such applications let clients pay for and deploy modules solely when wanted. Zscalar launched Z-Flex two quarters in the past and noticed a 50% improve in flex billings in fiscal This autumn. This might be one other progress driver for Zscaler.
Zscaler trades immediately at a ahead price-to-sales a number of of about 13 based mostly on analysts’ consensus estimates for the present fiscal 12 months. On condition that I feel its income progress is more likely to be round 25%, I feel that may be a truthful a number of, however the inventory is not within the discount bin. Total, given its valuation and prospects, I view Zscaler as a stable inventory to carry though I might desire to be a brand new purchaser after an additional dip in worth.
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Geoffrey Seiler has no place in any of the shares talked about. The Motley Idiot has positions in and recommends CrowdStrike and Zscaler. The Motley Idiot recommends Palo Alto Networks. The Motley Idiot has a disclosure coverage.
