On Wednesday, Canaccord Genuity adjusted its outlook on Qualys (NASDAQ:QLYS) stock, a company specializing in cloud security and compliance solutions. The firm reduced the price target on the stock to $160 from the previous $220 while maintaining a Buy rating.
Qualys reported a mixed set of financial results for the second quarter. The company saw an 8% year-over-year increase in revenue, yet it experienced a 2% decline in current calculated billings.
Excluding the impact from Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) Defender, the company had a slight 1% growth in this area. Additionally, there was a 2 percentage point decrease in the net retention rate from the first quarter to 102%.
The company is recognized for its effective execution strategies amidst a period of reduced demand in the vulnerability management sector. Despite the challenges, Qualys is making progress through initiatives such as expanding channel partnerships, which are close to accounting for half of its total revenues.
Moreover, the company is seeing growth from its platform customers, which increased by 18% in the second quarter, and is exploring new avenues such as Cloud-Native Application Protection Platform (CNAPP) capabilities and opportunities within the Federal market.
Canaccord Genuity anticipates that the current figures, including the 102% net retention rate and the -2% in calculated current billings growth, could represent the lowest point for investors.
The firm projects that Qualys will have better growth prospects next year as it continues to develop its cybersecurity platform and drive free cash flow growth in the mid-teens percentage range over the coming years.
The new price target of $160 reflects a 22x multiple on the company's projected calendar year 2025 free cash flow, which the firm believes is a fair valuation for Qualys.
In other recent news, Qualys Inc . has been the focus of several key developments. The cybersecurity firm reported a 12% increase in revenue for the first quarter of 2024, totaling $145.8 million, primarily due to the adoption of its VMDR solution with TruRisk.
Furthermore, the company anticipates an 8-10% increase in full-year revenue for 2024, projecting figures between $601.5 million and $608.5 million.
Analysts from RBC Capital and JPMorgan (NYSE:JPM) have adjusted their outlook on Qualys, with RBC reducing its price target from $180 to $150 while maintaining a Sector Perform rating. JPMorgan also lowered its stock price target from $152 to $125, keeping an Underweight rating. These changes reflect recent financial outcomes and the company's future projections.
In addition to financial news, Qualys has announced the launch of TruRisk Eliminate, a product designed to enhance vulnerability management, especially in situations where traditional patching isn't feasible.
The company is also planning to expand its GovCloud platform into more federal agencies and initiate new customer acquisition campaigns. These are all recent developments, and investors should monitor further updates.
InvestingPro Insights
InvestingPro data underscores Qualys' (NASDAQ:QLYS) financial resilience and market position. The company's market capitalization stands at $5.06 billion, reflecting its significant presence in the cybersecurity sector. Notably, Qualys boasts an impressive gross profit margin of 81.5% over the last twelve months as of Q2 2024, highlighting its ability to maintain profitability despite market fluctuations. Additionally, the company's P/E ratio has adjusted to a more attractive 29.61, suggesting that its stock may be undervalued relative to its earnings growth potential.
InvestingPro Tips for Qualys reveal a mixed outlook. On one hand, the company holds more cash than debt, indicating a strong balance sheet and financial stability. On the other hand, analysts have revised their earnings expectations downwards for the upcoming period, which investors might want to consider. Despite recent price declines, with the stock trading near its 52-week low and experiencing a significant hit over the last week, Qualys is recognized for its high return over the last decade and is predicted by analysts to remain profitable this year.
For investors seeking a deeper analysis, InvestingPro offers additional tips and metrics on Qualys, providing a comprehensive view of the company's financial health and growth prospects. Discover more InvestingPro Tips by visiting: https://www.investing.com/pro/QLYS
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