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Fortinet, Inc.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 6 May 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 4 raised, 1 lowered, 6 new, 2 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue grew 20% to $1.85 billion: Total revenue was $1,849.6 million, against $1,539.7 million a year earlier. The company reported the growth as 20% year over year. Source
  • Billings grew 31% to $2.09 billion: Billings were $2,085.3 million, against $1,597.2 million, calculated as revenue plus the change in deferred revenue of $235.7 million. Source
  • Non-GAAP EPS rose 41% to $0.82: Non-GAAP diluted EPS was $0.82, against $0.58, on 742.8 million diluted shares. Non-GAAP net income was $605.6 million, against $452.3 million. Source
  • Product revenue grew 41%: Product revenue was $645.1 million, against $459.1 million. Product gross profit was $436.8 million, against $309.2 million. Source
  • Non-GAAP operating margin reached 35.8%: Non-GAAP operating income was $662.1 million, a 35.8% margin, against $526.2 million at 34.2%. Non-GAAP excludes stock-based compensation and acquired intangible amortization. Source
  • Operating cash flow reached $1.08 billion: Net cash from operations was $1,077.1 million, against $863.3 million. Free cash flow was $1,006.5 million, a 54.4% margin. Source
  • Share repurchases of $823.0 million: Repurchase and retirement of common stock was $823.0 million, with $500.0 million of senior notes repaid. Net cash used in financing was $1,342.9 million. Source

“We are very pleased with our excellent first quarter results, exceeding the high end of our guidance”

Ken Xie, Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Fortinet

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Revenue Sourcesecond quarter of 2026$1.830 billion to $1.930 billionNew
Billings Sourcesecond quarter of 2026$2.090 billion to $2.190 billionNew
Non-GAAP gross margin Sourcesecond quarter of 202679.5% to 80.5%New
Non-GAAP operating margin Sourcesecond quarter of 202633.0% to 35.0%New
Diluted non-GAAP EPS Sourcesecond quarter of 2026$0.72 to $0.76New
Diluted share count Sourcesecond quarter of 2026736 million to 740 millionNew
Revenue Sourcefiscal year 2026$7.710 billion to $7.870 billionRaised from $7.500 billion to $7.700 billion
Service revenue Sourcefiscal year 2026$5.090 billion to $5.150 billionRaised from $5.050 billion to $5.150 billion
Billings Sourcefiscal year 2026$8.800 billion to $9.100 billionRaised from $8.400 billion to $8.600 billion
Non-GAAP gross margin Sourcefiscal year 202679.0% to 81.0%Kept
Non-GAAP operating margin Sourcefiscal year 202633.0% to 36.0%Kept
Diluted non-GAAP EPS Sourcefiscal year 2026$3.10 to $3.16Raised from $2.94 to $3.00
Diluted share count Sourcefiscal year 2026743 million to 749 millionLowered from 747 million to 753 million

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Full-year revenue guidance was raised, per the release. Full-year billings, service revenue and non-GAAP EPS ranges are higher than in the prior release; margin ranges are unchanged. Source
  • New guidance: Second-quarter 2026 guidance was given for revenue, billings, non-GAAP margins, EPS and share count. Source
  • New: FortiOS 8.0 was introduced as the latest release of the operating system behind the Security Fabric. Source
  • New: Two products were added to the FortiGate G Series portfolio: the FortiGate 3500G and the FortiGate 400G. Source
  • New: Fortinet said it is collaborating with multiple leading AI companies, naming Anthropic. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue grew 20% to $1.85 billion: Total revenue was $1,849.6 million, against $1,539.7 million a year earlier. The company reported the growth as 20% year over year. Source
  • Billings grew 31% to $2.09 billion: Billings were $2,085.3 million, against $1,597.2 million, calculated as revenue plus the change in deferred revenue of $235.7 million. Source
  • GAAP net income rose to $534.5 million: Net income was $534.5 million, against $433.4 million. GAAP diluted EPS was $0.72, against $0.56 a year earlier. Source
  • Non-GAAP EPS rose 41% to $0.82: Non-GAAP diluted EPS was $0.82, against $0.58, on 742.8 million diluted shares. Non-GAAP net income was $605.6 million, against $452.3 million. Source

Product and service revenue mix

  • Product revenue grew 41%: Product revenue was $645.1 million, against $459.1 million. Product gross profit was $436.8 million, against $309.2 million. Source
  • Service revenue rose to $1.20 billion: Service revenue was $1,204.5 million, against $1,080.6 million. Service gross profit was $1,048.3 million, against $937.4 million. Source
  • Cost of revenue increased with product sales: Total cost of revenue was $364.5 million, against $293.1 million. Product cost of revenue was $208.3 million, against $149.9 million. Source

“Billings grew 31% year over year, driven by the continued convergence of networking and security, an approach Fortinet has led for 26 years, and by an increasingly complex threat environment that is being intensified by AI.”

Ken Xie, Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Fortinet

Products, recognition and strategy

  • FortiOS 8.0 and FortiASIC cited: Management said these innovations differentiate the platform and support ongoing market share gains. Source
  • Gartner SD-WAN recognition, seventh year: Fortinet Secure SD-WAN was recognized as a Gartner Peer Insights Customers' Choice for the seventh consecutive year. Source
  • Network security moving toward SASE Firewall: Management said network security is evolving toward the SASE Firewall, the direction it cites for the platform. Source
  • Convergence approach led for 26 years: Management described convergence of networking and security as an approach Fortinet has led for 26 years. Source
  • Chief executive named as spokesperson: Ken Xie, Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, is the only executive quoted in the release. Source

Costs, margins and profit

  • Sales and marketing costs increased: Sales and marketing expense was $636.3 million, against $542.7 million; research and development was $214.0 million, against $198.6 million. G&A was $56.2 million, against $57.8 million. Source
  • GAAP operating margin rose to 31%: GAAP operating income was $580.0 million, a 31.4% margin, against $453.8 million at 29.5%. Source
  • Non-GAAP operating margin reached 35.8%: Non-GAAP operating income was $662.1 million, a 35.8% margin, against $526.2 million at 34.2%. Non-GAAP excludes stock-based compensation and acquired intangible amortization. Source
  • Tax and other income lines changed: Provision for income taxes was $122.0 million, against $96.5 million. Other income, net, was $47.9 million, against $26.1 million; interest income was $32.9 million, against $44.3 million. Source
  • Intellectual property gain declined: Gain on intellectual property matters was $1.4 million, against $6.3 million. Total operating expenses were $905.1 million, against $792.8 million. Source

Deferred revenue and inventory

  • Long-term deferred revenue increased: Long-term deferred revenue was $3,625.2 million, against $3,479.8 million at December 31, 2025. Source
  • Inventory declined from year-end: Inventory was $369.6 million, against $399.5 million at December 31, 2025. Source

Cash, capital and shareholder returns

  • Operating cash flow reached $1.08 billion: Net cash from operations was $1,077.1 million, against $863.3 million. Free cash flow was $1,006.5 million, a 54.4% margin. Source
  • Adjusted free cash flow of $1.07 billion: Adjusted free cash flow was $1,065.0 million, a 57.6% margin, after adding back real estate related purchases of $58.5 million. Source
  • Share repurchases of $823.0 million: Repurchase and retirement of common stock was $823.0 million, with $500.0 million of senior notes repaid. Net cash used in financing was $1,342.9 million. Source
  • Cash and short-term investments declined: Cash and cash equivalents were $2,223.8 million, against $2,495.3 million; short-term investments were $1,071.1 million, against $1,087.2 million. Source
  • Capital spending on property rose: Purchases of property and equipment were $70.6 million, against $66.5 million. Source
  • Equity fell as accumulated deficit grew: Accumulated deficit was $782.0 million, against $507.9 million at December 31, 2025; total stockholders' equity was $989.7 million, against $1,237.5 million. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Product revenue Source$645.1 million, up 41% year over year
Service revenue Source$1,204.5 million
Gross profit Source$1,485.1 million total; product $436.8 million; service $1,048.3 million

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: Management named supply chain challenges, saying its direct operations and manufacturing model help turn them into share gains. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Ahead: Management said first quarter results exceeded the high end of guidance on revenue and profitability. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.