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Fortinet, Inc.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 29 July 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 6 raised, 1 lowered, 6 new, 2 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue rose 26% year over year: Revenue was $2,047.9 million against $1,630.0 million a year earlier, and six-month revenue was $3,897.5 million against $3,169.7 million. Source
  • Billings grew 33%: Billings were $2,372.1 million against $1,778.4 million; the company reported billings as revenue plus the change in deferred revenue. Source
  • GAAP and non-GAAP EPS grew: Diluted GAAP EPS was $0.82 against $0.57. Non-GAAP diluted EPS was $0.90 against $0.64, an increase of 41%. Source
  • GAAP operating margin 33.7%, non-GAAP 38.0%: GAAP operating margin was 33.7% against 28.1%, and non-GAAP operating margin was 38.0% against 33.1%, with non-GAAP operating income of $778.7 million. Source
  • Operating cash flow of $1,043.6M: Operating cash flow was $1,043.6 million against $451.9 million, and purchases of property and equipment were $78.0 million against $167.8 million. Source
  • Intel collaboration on SP6 processor: Fortinet will combine its security processor expertise with Intel's design, packaging and manufacturing to accelerate SP6 development and strengthen supply chain diversity. Source
  • SASE Firewall positioned as new market: The company said the convergence of firewall and SASE technologies creates a new market, which it calls SASE Firewall, built for hybrid-world requirements. Source

“We are very pleased with our excellent second quarter results, which reflect the differentiated value of our innovation in the AI Era”

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

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Revenue SourceThird quarter of 2026$2.010 billion to $2.100 billionNew
Billings SourceThird quarter of 2026$2.250 billion to $2.350 billionNew
Non-GAAP gross margin SourceThird quarter of 202679.0% to 81.0%New
Non-GAAP operating margin SourceThird quarter of 202635.0% to 37.0%New
Diluted non-GAAP net income per share SourceThird quarter of 2026$0.83 to $0.87New
Diluted share count SourceThird quarter of 2026741 million to 745 millionNew
FY2026 revenue growth SourceFiscal year 202619%Raised from 15%
Revenue SourceFiscal year 2026$8.020 billion to $8.180 billionRaised from $7.710 billion to $7.870 billion
Service revenue SourceFiscal year 2026$5.180 billion to $5.220 billionRaised from $5.090 billion to $5.150 billion
Billings SourceFiscal year 2026$9.350 billion to $9.550 billionRaised from $8.800 billion to $9.100 billion
Non-GAAP gross margin SourceFiscal year 202679.0% to 81.0%Kept
Non-GAAP operating margin SourceFiscal year 202635.0% to 37.0%Raised from 33.0% to 36.0%
Diluted non-GAAP net income per share SourceFiscal year 2026$3.41 to $3.47Raised from $3.10 to $3.16
Diluted share count SourceFiscal year 2026741 million to 745 millionLowered from 743 million to 749 million
Non-GAAP effective tax rate SourceFiscal year 2026 and third quarter of 202618%Kept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Fiscal 2026 revenue growth guidance raised to 19% from 15%, with revenue range moved to $8.020 billion to $8.180 billion. Source
  • Guidance raised: Fiscal 2026 service revenue, billings, non-GAAP operating margin and diluted non-GAAP EPS ranges moved up from the prior release. Source
  • Guidance kept: Fiscal 2026 non-GAAP gross margin range kept at 79.0% to 81.0%. Source
  • New guidance: Third-quarter 2026 guidance given for revenue, billings, non-GAAP gross and operating margins, and diluted EPS. Source
  • New: Strategic collaboration with Intel announced to develop Fortinet Security Processor 6. Source
  • New: FortiGate 1200G series launched with FortiSASE Outpost. Source
  • New: FortiSOC cloud-delivered SOC platform launched. Source
  • New: Moody’s Ratings upgraded the senior unsecured notes rating to A3 from Baa1. Source

Revenue, billings and earnings

  • Revenue rose 26% year over year: Revenue was $2,047.9 million against $1,630.0 million a year earlier, and six-month revenue was $3,897.5 million against $3,169.7 million. Source
  • Product revenue grew 52%: Product revenue was $773.0 million against $508.9 million, while service revenue was $1,274.9 million against $1,121.1 million. Source
  • Billings grew 33%: Billings were $2,372.1 million against $1,778.4 million; the company reported billings as revenue plus the change in deferred revenue. Source
  • GAAP and non-GAAP EPS grew: Diluted GAAP EPS was $0.82 against $0.57. Non-GAAP diluted EPS was $0.90 against $0.64, an increase of 41%. Source

Products, customers and launches

  • FortiGate 1200G series launched: The 1200G series was launched with FortiSASE Outpost, combining local enforcement and cloud-delivered security for sovereignty, performance and AI infrastructure requirements. Source
  • FortiSOC cloud SOC platform launched: FortiSOC combines six core security operations functions into one AI SOC experience, designed to simplify and scale modern security operations. Source
  • FortiEndpoint converged into one agent: FortiEndpoint now combines several endpoint security innovations into one agent, covering AI adoption, data security, risk visibility and operations. Source
  • Customer base above half a million: The company describes the customer base as well over half a million customers, served through an integrated portfolio of over 50 enterprise-grade products. Source

“Our results reflect that customers value Fortinet’s unique ‘SASE Firewall’, with leading firewall, SD-WAN and SASE functionality integrated together on our single FortiOS operating system”

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

Costs, margins and operating income

  • GAAP operating margin 33.7%, non-GAAP 38.0%: GAAP operating margin was 33.7% against 28.1%, and non-GAAP operating margin was 38.0% against 33.1%, with non-GAAP operating income of $778.7 million. Source
  • Gross margin declined year over year: GAAP gross margin was 80.2% against 80.7%. Non-GAAP gross margin was 80.9% against 81.6%. Source
  • Sales and marketing expense increased: Sales and marketing expense was $669.1 million against $592.0 million, and research and development was $225.0 million against $209.5 million. Source
  • Operating income rose to $689.3M: GAAP operating income was $689.3 million against $458.0 million, and net income was $606.3 million against $440.1 million. Source

Deferred revenue and billings

  • Billings reconciles to revenue plus deferred change: Billings of $2,372.1 million equal revenue of $2,047.9 million plus a $324.2 million change in deferred revenue, against $1,778.4 million a year earlier. Source
  • Billings definition excludes acquired balances: The billings definition now deducts deferred revenue balances acquired in business combinations, a term not in the prior-quarter definition. Source

Cash flow and free cash flow

  • Operating cash flow of $1,043.6M: Operating cash flow was $1,043.6 million against $451.9 million, and purchases of property and equipment were $78.0 million against $167.8 million. Source
  • Free cash flow of $965.6M: Free cash flow margin was 47.2% against 17.4%. Adjusted free cash flow, which adds back real estate purchases, was $995.9 million against $427.9 million. Source
  • Six-month operating cash flow higher: Six-month operating cash flow was $2,120.7 million against $1,315.2 million, with deferred revenue contributing a $559.9 million change. Source

Capital returns and balance sheet

  • Share repurchases of $972.8M: Six-month repurchase and retirement of common stock was $972.8 million against $401.1 million, and proceeds from stock issuance were $62.3 million. Source
  • $500 million senior notes repaid: The current portion of long-term debt was nil at June 30, 2026, against $499.7 million at December 31, 2025, following the repayment of senior notes. Source
  • Cash and short-term investments higher: Cash and cash equivalents were $2,934.9 million and short-term investments were $1,134.7 million at June 30, 2026, against $2,495.3 million and $1,087.2 million at December 31, 2025. Source
  • Moody’s upgraded senior notes to A3: Moody’s Ratings upgraded the senior unsecured notes and shelf ratings, which the company said is the highest rating of any public cybersecurity company. Source
  • Diluted share count lower year over year: Diluted weighted-average shares were 739.9 million against 772.7 million in the quarter, and 741.3 million against 774.8 million for the six months. Source

Strategy, partnerships and supply chain

  • Intel collaboration on SP6 processor: Fortinet will combine its security processor expertise with Intel's design, packaging and manufacturing to accelerate SP6 development and strengthen supply chain diversity. Source
  • AI company partnerships announced: The company partnered with Anthropic, OpenAI and NVIDIA, the last as a founding member of the Open Secure AI Alliance for AI Safety and Security. Source
  • SASE Firewall positioned as new market: The company said the convergence of firewall and SASE technologies creates a new market, which it calls SASE Firewall, built for hybrid-world requirements. Source

Coming up, as management said on 29 July 2026

  • Investor conference appearances: Management is expected to present at conferences on August 17, August 24, August 27, September 8 and September 10, 2026. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Product revenue Source$773.0 million (three months); $508.9 million prior-year quarter
Service revenue Source$1,274.9 million (three months); $1,121.1 million prior-year quarter
Gross margin (non-GAAP) Source80.9%

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: Management cited the resilience and diversity of its global supply chain as a reason for the Intel collaboration on SP6. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Ahead: Management stated that results exceeded the high end of second-quarter 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.