Zscaler tumbles after issuing light earnings forecast

Cybersecurity software maker Zscaler saw its stock fall as much as 18% on Thursday after the company issued quarterly earnings guidance that was slightly less than analysts had predicted.

The move more than erased a 10% gain during regular trading, as cybersecurity stocks traded higher on fears of cyberattacks related to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and as the overall market staged a late-day rally after an early plunge.

Here’s how the company did:

• Earnings: 13 cents per share, adjusted, vs. 11 cents per share as expected by analysts, according to Refinitiv.
• Revenue: $255.6 million, vs. $242 million as expected by analysts, according to Refinitiv.

Zscaler said revenue rose almost 63% in the quarter, which ended Jan. 31, according to a statement. It was the fastest growth the company had achieved in three years, CEO Jay Chaudhry said in the statement. But it reported a $100.4 million net loss, widening from $67.5 million the year-ago quarter.

Existing customers are spending more on Zscaler products. At the same time, new customers are coming aboard — the company added more than 560 customers paying over $100,000 annually in the past 12 months, Remo Canessa, the company’s finance chief, said on a conference call with analysts. Part of the growth is coming from purchases of Zscaler software through Amazon and Microsoft’s cloud marketplaces, Chaudhry said on the call.

With respect to guidance, Zscaler called for 10 cents to 11 cents per share in adjusted fiscal third-quarter earnings and $270 million to $272 million in revenue. Analysts polled by Refinitiv had expected 11 cents in adjusted earnings per share and $256.7 million in revenue.

For the full fiscal year, Zscaler said it sees 54 cents to 56 cents in adjusted earnings per share and revenue of $1.045 billion to $1.05 billion, which works out to almost 56% revenue growth at the middle of the range. That compares with Refinitiv consensus of 52 cents in adjusted earnings per share and $1.01 billion in revenue.

For the year, notwithstanding the after-hours move, Zscaler is down 18%, compared with a 10% pullback in the S&P 500 index.

This is breaking news. Please check back for updates.

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