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Palo Alto Networks Stock Soars on Strong Earnings and 3-for-1 Stock SplitPalo Alto Networks Stock Soars on Strong Earnings and 3-for-1 Stock Split Barron's (Online); New York Demonstrating the continued strong demand for cybersecurity software, Palo Alto Networks posted better-than-expected results for the three months ended July 31, while providing impressive forecasts for both the October quarter and fiscal 2023. The company also declared a 3-for-1 stock split and expanded its stock repurchase program by $915 million, increasing the total current authorization to $1 billion. The stock will begin trading on a post-split basis on Sept. 14. The split is the latest in a series by high-profile technology companies, including Apple (ticker: AAPL), Amazon.com, Alphabet (GOOGL), and Tesla (TSLA). In premarket trading Tuesday, Palo Alto Networks (PANW) was 8.5% higher to $551. For its fiscal fourth quarter, ended July 31, Palo Alto posted revenue of $1.6 billion, up 27% from the year-ago quarter, and ahead of the company's guidance range of $1.53 billion to $1.56 billion. Non-GAAP profits were $2.39 a share, likewise above the forecast range of $2.26 to $2.29 a share. Billings were up 44%, to $2.7 billion. Remaining performance obligations were up 40% to $8.2 billion. Under generally accepted accounting principles, the company earned $3.3 million, or 3 cents a share. "We were pleased by our fourth quarter results, which included GAAP profitability for the first time in four years," CEO Nikesh Arora said in a statement. "As cybersecurity posture remains critical, our integrated three-platform strategy continues to drive large deal momentum as we consolidate and simplify our customers' security architectures." For the full fiscal year, the company had revenue of $5.5 billion, with a non-GAAP profit of $7.56 a share, up from $4.3 billion in revenue and $6.14 a share in non-GAAP profits a year earlier. For the October quarter, Palo Alto Networks sees revenue of $1.535 billion to $1.555 billion, up 23% to 25%, with non-GAAP profits of $2.03 to $2.06 a share. The previous consensus call on Wall Street had been for revenue of $1.53 billion and a profit of $2.04 a share. The company sees billings in the quarter of $1.68 billion to $1.70 billion, up 22% to 23%. For the July 2023 fiscal year, Palo Alto Networks sees revenue of $6.85 billion to $6.9 billion, with non-GAAP profits of $9.40 to $9.50 a share, ahead of the Street consensus at $6.73 billion and $9.26 a share. The company sees full-year billings of $8.95 billion to $9.05 billion. |
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