F5 Networks posted a quarter that surpassed consensus forecasts and prompted management to raise its fiscal 2026 outlook, but at least one major analyst signaled a preference for additional evidence of sustained momentum before changing their view.
The networking and security specialist reported first-quarter fiscal 2026 results that topped analyst estimates on both the top and bottom lines. Revenue and earnings per share beat consensus by 9% and $0.79, respectively. Management provided second-quarter guidance that came in ahead of consensus by 4% on revenue and $0.02 on EPS, and increased its full-year fiscal 2026 guidance by 3.5% for revenue and by $0.85 for EPS.
On margins and growth, the company continues to display healthy profitability, with gross profit margins of 81.39% and trailing twelve-month revenue growth of 8.79%. Market valuation metrics show a P/E ratio of 22.94 on a market capitalization of $15.36 billion, a level that InvestingPro analysis notes is relatively low compared with the company’s near-term earnings growth potential.
Drivers of the quarter
Management highlighted particularly strong performance in the EMEA region, where sales were up 21% quarter-over-quarter and helped drive the overall beat. Hardware sales, driven by the Big-IP product family, rose 37% year-over-year. Government bookings were another standout, with global government demand climbing 113% year-over-year, a figure that included U.S. federal bookings despite a simultaneous government shutdown.
As a result of the quarter’s strength, F5 lifted its fiscal 2026 revenue guidance to a year-over-year growth range of 5-6%, up from an initial outlook of 0-4% growth. Company commentary attributed the improved outlook in part to successful commercial responses following a security incident, noting continued customer support as a factor in stabilizing demand.
Analyst reaction and valuation signals
Needham analyst Ryan Koontz maintained a Hold rating on the shares despite the upside to results and guidance. The analyst indicated a desire to see another quarter of outperformance before shifting the rating. Koontz also observed that F5’s existing momentum around enterprise data center modernization could evolve to include enterprise AI private infrastructure as a future growth driver, but that such an outcome would require years to fully develop and evaluate.
InvestingPro data cited in coverage suggests F5 may be somewhat undervalued on a Fair Value basis, with analyst price targets spanning from $250 to $345. Separately, Evercore ISI raised its price target for F5 from $280 to $320 while keeping an "In Line" rating, reflecting confidence in the firm’s aggregate financial performance despite mixed results across business segments.
December quarter recap
Additional reported metrics from the December quarter underline the recent momentum. The company posted revenue of $822 million and EPS of $4.45, outpacing cited estimates of $758 million in revenue and an EPS estimate of $3.66. In another mention of consensus comparisons, the Q1 EPS of $4.45 exceeded an anticipated $3.65 and revenue of $822 million surpassed a forecast of $755.96 million. Segment-level performance showed Systems (Hardware) growth of 37%, Services up 4%, and Software declining by 8% in the period.
Balance sheet and financial health
The company’s balance sheet position was highlighted as having more cash than debt, a dynamic that contributed to a strong financial health score in InvestingPro’s analysis. That profile was presented as a supporting factor in the company’s capacity to manage operational disruptions while continuing to invest in product and support initiatives.
What to watch next
Investors and market participants will likely watch upcoming quarters for confirmation of the revenue and margin trends that drove the recent guidance raise. Needham’s call for another quarter of outperformance underscores the demand for consistency before firms alter ratings. Meanwhile, segment trends - particularly hardware strength versus software softness - and the development of potential AI infrastructure opportunities tied to enterprise data center modernization will be areas industry observers monitor over time.