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Zscaler Q1 Earnings Beat, Stock Dips 8% on Slowing Sales Growth

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Zscaler (ZS - Free Report) reported first-quarter fiscal 2025 non-GAAP earnings of 77 cents per share, which outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 22.2%. Moreover, the bottom line experienced a significant 40% rise driven by higher revenues and efficient cost management.

Zscaler’s earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, with an average surprise of 2.9%.

Find the latest EPS estimates and surprises on Zacks Earnings Calendar.

Zscaler’s first-quarter fiscal 2025 revenues of $628 million beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 3.7% and exceeded management’s guidance of $604-$606 million. The top line grew 26.4% year over year, demonstrating the company’s strong market position, fueled by heightened customer commitments to the Zero Trust Exchange platform and a growing demand for its artificial intelligence (AI)-based solutions.

Despite a stronger-than-expected first-quarter performance, shares of Zscaler plunged 8.4% during Monday’s extended trading session as investors seem to be cautious about its prospects amid decelerating sales growth.

While first-quarter revenue growth of 26.4% might seem impressive at first glance, it’s a noticeable drop from the 40%-plus growth rates Zscaler delivered in previous years. The company’s guidance for the second quarter and fiscal 2025 is not encouraging as well. Its revenue guidance for both periods depict a year-over-year improvement of approximately 21%, signifying a continued deceleration.

This could further weigh on Zscaler’s stock, which has already fallen 5.9% year to date, significantly underperforming the Zacks Internet - Services industry’s growth of 22.2%.

Zscaler, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

Zscaler, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

Zscaler, Inc. price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Zscaler, Inc. Quote

Zscaler’s Q1 Top-Line Details

During the first quarter, Zscaler’s calculated billings increased 13% year over year to $516.7 million.

Region-wise, the Americas accounted for 54% of revenues, while the EMEA contributed 30%. The Asia Pacific and Japan made up the remaining 16%.

In the fiscal first quarter, ZS added multiple large customers across all its offerings, including ZIA, ZPA and ZDX. Its net 12-month trailing dollar-based retention rate was 114%, driven by strong upsells.

Remaining Performance Obligations (“RPO”), representing Zscaler’s committed non-cancelable future revenues, were $4.41 billion as of Oct. 31, which increased 26% year over year. The current RPO is approximately 49% of the total RPO.

At the end of the quarter, the company had 585 customers with $1 million or higher annualized recurring revenues (ARR). The company added more than 65 customers during the quarter, with $5 million or more in ARR. Zscaler’s customer count for ARR of more than $100,000 reached 3,165 at the end of the first quarter.

Zscaler’s Operating Details

The non-GAAP gross profit increased 26.2% year over year to $506 million. The non-GAAP gross margin contracted 10 basis points (bps) on a year-over-year basis to 80.6%.

Total non-GAAP operating expenses, accounting for 68.8% of revenues, increased 19% year over year to $372 million.

The non-GAAP operating income was $134.1 million compared with the year-ago quarter’s $89.7 million. The non-GAAP operating margin expanded 330 bps year over year to 21%

Zscaler’s Balance Sheet & Cash Flow

As of Oct. 31, 2024, Zscaler had $2.71 billion in cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments compared with $2.41 billion as of July 31, 2024.

The company generated operating and free cash flows of $331.3 million and $291.9 million, respectively, during the first quarter. ZS generated operating and free cash flows of $260.8 million and $224.7 million, respectively, in the year-ago quarter.

Zscaler Updates Guidance for FY25

Zscaler revised its outlook for fiscal 2025. The company forecasts revenues in the range of $2.623-$2.643 billion, up from the previous guidance of $2.60 billion to $2.62 billion. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2025 revenues is pegged at $2.61 billion, suggesting growth of 20.6% from fiscal 2024.

Calculated billings are now expected in the range of $3.124-$3.149 billion, up from the previous guidance of $3.110 billion to $3.135 billion.

Non-GAAP earnings per share for fiscal 2025 are expected in the band of $2.94-$2.99 compared with the previous guidance range of $2.81-$2.87. The consensus mark for fiscal 2025 earnings is pegged at $2.87 per share, which has remained unchanged over the past 60 days.

For the second quarter of fiscal 2025, Zscaler projects revenues between $633 million and $635 million. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for second-quarter fiscal 2025 revenues is pegged at $631.5 million, implying growth of 20.3% year over year.

Non-GAAP earnings per share are projected between 68 cents and 69 cents. The Zacks Consensus Estimate is pegged at 68 cents, which has remained unchanged over the past 60 days.

Zacks Rank & Stocks to Consider

Currently, ZS carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

Agilysys (AGYS - Free Report) , AudioEye (AEYE - Free Report) and Amphenol (APH - Free Report) are some better-ranked stocks that investors can consider in the broader Zacks Computer & Technology sector. 

AGYS, AEYE and APH each carry a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

AGYS shares have surged 55.9% year to date. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for AGYS’ full-year fiscal 2025 earnings is pegged at $1.31 per share, up by 9.2% over the past 60 days, indicating a gain of 19.1% from the year-ago quarter’s reported figure.

AEYE shares have reached a whopping 415.2% year to date. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for AEYE’s full-year 2024 earnings is pegged at 52 cents per share, up by a couple of pennies over the past 60 days, implying a gain of 372.7% from the year-ago quarter’s reported figure.

APH shares have rallied 47.5% year to date. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for APH’s full-year 2024 earnings is pegged at $1.84 per share, up by a couple of pennies over the past 60 days, calling for a gain of 21.9% from the year-ago quarter’s reported figure.


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