Fortinet Reports Strong Q1 Growth Amid Cybersecurity Demand
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Apr 28 2026
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Source: Newsfilter
Fortinet Inc's stock rose by 3.00% and reached a 52-week high, reflecting strong investor confidence in the cybersecurity sector.
The company's Q1 2026 results showed a remarkable 20% year-over-year revenue growth and a 41% increase in EPS, driven by a 32% rise in its cybersecurity networking segment, which constitutes 66% of total billings. This robust performance highlights the increasing demand for cybersecurity solutions amid rising AI-related hacking threats.
The strong earnings report positions Fortinet favorably in a growing market, suggesting continued investor interest and potential for further growth as companies prioritize cybersecurity in their IT budgets.
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Analyst Views on FTNT
Wall Street analysts forecast FTNT stock price to fall
24 Analyst Rating
3 Buy
18 Hold
3 Sell
Hold
Current: 129.700
Low
70.00
Averages
84.18
High
100.00
Current: 129.700
Low
70.00
Averages
84.18
High
100.00
About FTNT
Fortinet, Inc. is engaged in cybersecurity, driving the convergence of networking and security. The Company's integrated platform, Fortinet Security Fabric, spans secure networking, unified secure access service edge (SASE), and artificial intelligence (AI)-driven security operations (SecOps). Its products and services include FortiOS, FortiASIC, FortiCloud, FortiAI, FortiEndpoint, and OT Security. The FortiGuard Labs is a cybersecurity threat intelligence and research organization comprised of experienced threat hunters, researchers, analysts, engineers, and data scientists who develop and utilize machine learning and AI technologies. FortiGuard and Other Security Services is an AI-powered security that is integrated as part of the Fortinet Security Fabric to deliver detection and enforcement across the entire attack surface. FortiCare Technical Support Service is a technical support service which provides customers with access to operations and maintenance of Fortinet solutions.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Fortinet and CrowdStrike Financial Report Analysis
- Fortinet Financial Performance: Fortinet reported approximately a 29% net income margin for Q1 2026, maintaining strong sales of integrated cybersecurity hardware and software despite facing shareholder legal investigations, indicating sustained demand from enterprise customers.
- CrowdStrike Growth Momentum: CrowdStrike achieved about a 5% net income margin in Q1 2026 and announced a $500 million share repurchase increase alongside a 5% workforce reduction, demonstrating the company's focus on resource optimization to support ongoing growth.
- Revenue Comparison Analysis: Fortinet's revenue for Q2 2024 was $1.4 billion, while CrowdStrike's was $921 million; although Fortinet has higher total sales, CrowdStrike's consistent quarterly revenue growth trend reflects strong market demand.
- Strategic Partnerships and Innovation: CrowdStrike's Project QuiltWorks focuses on security risks associated with artificial intelligence and partners with insurance providers like Liberty Mutual, expanding its product line to address potential financial liabilities arising from AI mistakes.
See More
Fortinet vs CrowdStrike: Revenue Trends Analysis
- Fortinet Revenue Performance: Fortinet reported $1.8 billion in revenue for Q1 2026 with a net income margin of approximately 29%, demonstrating strong performance in the cybersecurity hardware and software sector despite facing shareholder legal investigations.
- CrowdStrike Growth Momentum: CrowdStrike generated $1.3 billion in revenue for Q1 2026 with a net income margin of about 5%, while announcing a $500 million share repurchase increase and a 5% workforce reduction, indicating its ongoing growth in the cloud security market and effective cost management.
- Revenue Comparison Analysis: While Fortinet's total sales exceed those of CrowdStrike, the latter has achieved consistent revenue growth nearly every quarter over the past two years, reflecting strong customer demand that may lead to it surpassing Fortinet in total sales in the future.
- Strategic Investment Focus: CrowdStrike's Project QuiltWorks addresses security risks associated with artificial intelligence and has partnered with insurance providers like Liberty Mutual, showcasing its innovation and adaptability in the cybersecurity landscape.
See More
US Stock Indices Reach All-Time Highs Amid Positive Economic Signals
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- Tech Stocks Lead Gains: Dell Technologies surged 32% after reporting Q1 total revenue of $43.84 billion, significantly exceeding the consensus estimate of $35.52 billion, and raised its 2027 revenue forecast to between $165 billion and $169 billion, indicating strong market demand and growth potential.
- Positive Economic Data: The May Chicago PMI rose by 13.5 to 62.7, far surpassing expectations of 50.3, marking the fastest expansion pace in 4.25 years, which further bolstered market confidence in stocks.
- Oil Price Decline Benefits Stocks: Crude oil prices fell over 1% to a five-week low due to a preliminary agreement between the US and Iran, easing inflation concerns and supporting the upward trend in the stock market.
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US Stock Indices Reach All-Time Highs Amid Positive Economic Signals
- Market Surge: The S&P 500 rose by 0.21%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average increased by 0.65%, and the Nasdaq 100 climbed by 0.25%, with all three indices reaching new all-time highs, reflecting strong market confidence in economic recovery.
- Tech Stocks Rally: Dell Technologies surged over 31% after reporting Q1 total revenue of $43.84 billion, significantly exceeding the consensus estimate of $35.52 billion, and raised its 2027 revenue forecast to $165 billion to $169 billion, indicating robust demand for AI infrastructure.
- Positive Economic Indicators: The May MNI Chicago PMI jumped 13.5 to 62.7, well above the expected 50.3, marking the strongest expansion pace in 4.25 years, which supports the bullish sentiment in the stock market.
- Oil Price Decline: Crude oil prices fell more than 1% to a five-week low as the US and Iran tentatively agreed to extend a ceasefire, easing inflation concerns and fostering optimism about the economic outlook.
See More
U.S. Stock Indices Reach All-Time Highs Amid Positive Market Sentiment
- Market Optimism: The U.S. stock indices reached all-time highs today, with the S&P 500 up 0.41%, the Dow Jones up 0.43%, and the Nasdaq 100 up 0.66%, driven by improved prospects for a peace deal in the Middle East, reflecting investor confidence in economic recovery.
- Tech Stock Surge: Dell Technologies surged over 30% after providing a sales outlook that exceeded analyst expectations, highlighting relentless demand for AI infrastructure upgrades, which further boosted the entire tech sector's attractiveness to investors.
- Crude Oil Price Decline: Crude oil prices fell more than 1% to a five-week low due to a preliminary agreement between the U.S. and Iran, easing inflation concerns and fostering optimism about a potential recovery in oil supply, which could benefit related industries.
- Strong Corporate Earnings: As of now, 84% of S&P 500 companies have beaten Q1 earnings estimates, with overall earnings projected to rise 12% year-over-year, although excluding the tech sector, growth is only expected at 3%, indicating market reliance on tech for future growth amidst uncertainty.
See More
Mixed Close for US Stocks as Oil Prices Plunge
- Market Performance: On Wednesday, the S&P 500 Index rose by 0.02%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average increased by 0.36% to a new record high, while the Nasdaq 100 fell by 0.09%, indicating a divergence in market sentiment amid enthusiasm for artificial intelligence and declining oil prices.
- Oil Price Fluctuations: Crude oil prices plummeted over 5% to a five-week low due to optimism surrounding a US-Iran peace deal, which eased inflation expectations and pushed the 10-year Treasury yield down to a 1.5-week low of 4.45%, providing support for the bond market.
- Mortgage Application Decline: US MBA mortgage applications fell by 8.5% for the week ending May 22, with the purchase mortgage sub-index down 0.4% and the refinancing sub-index down 18.1%, reflecting the dampening effect of high interest rates on housing demand, as the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate rose to 6.65%.
- Corporate Earnings Outlook: As of Wednesday, 83% of the 475 S&P 500 companies that reported Q1 earnings exceeded expectations, with projected earnings growth of 12% year-over-year, but excluding the technology sector, the growth is only 3%, indicating signs of overall earnings weakness.
See More
Fortinet and CrowdStrike Financial Report Analysis
- Fortinet Financial Performance: Fortinet reported approximately a 29% net income margin for Q1 2026, maintaining strong sales of integrated cybersecurity hardware and software despite facing shareholder legal investigations, indicating sustained demand from enterprise customers.
- CrowdStrike Growth Momentum: CrowdStrike achieved about a 5% net income margin in Q1 2026 and announced a $500 million share repurchase increase alongside a 5% workforce reduction, demonstrating the company's focus on resource optimization to support ongoing growth.
- Revenue Comparison Analysis: Fortinet's revenue for Q2 2024 was $1.4 billion, while CrowdStrike's was $921 million; although Fortinet has higher total sales, CrowdStrike's consistent quarterly revenue growth trend reflects strong market demand.
- Strategic Partnerships and Innovation: CrowdStrike's Project QuiltWorks focuses on security risks associated with artificial intelligence and partners with insurance providers like Liberty Mutual, expanding its product line to address potential financial liabilities arising from AI mistakes.
See More
Fortinet vs CrowdStrike: Revenue Trends Analysis
- Fortinet Revenue Performance: Fortinet reported $1.8 billion in revenue for Q1 2026 with a net income margin of approximately 29%, demonstrating strong performance in the cybersecurity hardware and software sector despite facing shareholder legal investigations.
- CrowdStrike Growth Momentum: CrowdStrike generated $1.3 billion in revenue for Q1 2026 with a net income margin of about 5%, while announcing a $500 million share repurchase increase and a 5% workforce reduction, indicating its ongoing growth in the cloud security market and effective cost management.
- Revenue Comparison Analysis: While Fortinet's total sales exceed those of CrowdStrike, the latter has achieved consistent revenue growth nearly every quarter over the past two years, reflecting strong customer demand that may lead to it surpassing Fortinet in total sales in the future.
- Strategic Investment Focus: CrowdStrike's Project QuiltWorks addresses security risks associated with artificial intelligence and has partnered with insurance providers like Liberty Mutual, showcasing its innovation and adaptability in the cybersecurity landscape.
See More
US Stock Indices Reach All-Time Highs Amid Positive Economic Signals
- Strong Market Performance: The S&P 500 rose by 0.22%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average increased by 0.72%, and the Nasdaq 100 climbed by 0.36%, with all three indices reaching new all-time highs, reflecting market confidence in economic recovery.
- Tech Stocks Lead Gains: Dell Technologies surged 32% after reporting Q1 total revenue of $43.84 billion, significantly exceeding the consensus estimate of $35.52 billion, and raised its 2027 revenue forecast to between $165 billion and $169 billion, indicating strong market demand and growth potential.
- Positive Economic Data: The May Chicago PMI rose by 13.5 to 62.7, far surpassing expectations of 50.3, marking the fastest expansion pace in 4.25 years, which further bolstered market confidence in stocks.
- Oil Price Decline Benefits Stocks: Crude oil prices fell over 1% to a five-week low due to a preliminary agreement between the US and Iran, easing inflation concerns and supporting the upward trend in the stock market.
See More
US Stock Indices Reach All-Time Highs Amid Positive Economic Signals
- Market Surge: The S&P 500 rose by 0.21%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average increased by 0.65%, and the Nasdaq 100 climbed by 0.25%, with all three indices reaching new all-time highs, reflecting strong market confidence in economic recovery.
- Tech Stocks Rally: Dell Technologies surged over 31% after reporting Q1 total revenue of $43.84 billion, significantly exceeding the consensus estimate of $35.52 billion, and raised its 2027 revenue forecast to $165 billion to $169 billion, indicating robust demand for AI infrastructure.
- Positive Economic Indicators: The May MNI Chicago PMI jumped 13.5 to 62.7, well above the expected 50.3, marking the strongest expansion pace in 4.25 years, which supports the bullish sentiment in the stock market.
- Oil Price Decline: Crude oil prices fell more than 1% to a five-week low as the US and Iran tentatively agreed to extend a ceasefire, easing inflation concerns and fostering optimism about the economic outlook.
See More
U.S. Stock Indices Reach All-Time Highs Amid Positive Market Sentiment
- Market Optimism: The U.S. stock indices reached all-time highs today, with the S&P 500 up 0.41%, the Dow Jones up 0.43%, and the Nasdaq 100 up 0.66%, driven by improved prospects for a peace deal in the Middle East, reflecting investor confidence in economic recovery.
- Tech Stock Surge: Dell Technologies surged over 30% after providing a sales outlook that exceeded analyst expectations, highlighting relentless demand for AI infrastructure upgrades, which further boosted the entire tech sector's attractiveness to investors.
- Crude Oil Price Decline: Crude oil prices fell more than 1% to a five-week low due to a preliminary agreement between the U.S. and Iran, easing inflation concerns and fostering optimism about a potential recovery in oil supply, which could benefit related industries.
- Strong Corporate Earnings: As of now, 84% of S&P 500 companies have beaten Q1 earnings estimates, with overall earnings projected to rise 12% year-over-year, although excluding the tech sector, growth is only expected at 3%, indicating market reliance on tech for future growth amidst uncertainty.
See More
Mixed Close for US Stocks as Oil Prices Plunge
- Market Performance: On Wednesday, the S&P 500 Index rose by 0.02%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average increased by 0.36% to a new record high, while the Nasdaq 100 fell by 0.09%, indicating a divergence in market sentiment amid enthusiasm for artificial intelligence and declining oil prices.
- Oil Price Fluctuations: Crude oil prices plummeted over 5% to a five-week low due to optimism surrounding a US-Iran peace deal, which eased inflation expectations and pushed the 10-year Treasury yield down to a 1.5-week low of 4.45%, providing support for the bond market.
- Mortgage Application Decline: US MBA mortgage applications fell by 8.5% for the week ending May 22, with the purchase mortgage sub-index down 0.4% and the refinancing sub-index down 18.1%, reflecting the dampening effect of high interest rates on housing demand, as the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate rose to 6.65%.
- Corporate Earnings Outlook: As of Wednesday, 83% of the 475 S&P 500 companies that reported Q1 earnings exceeded expectations, with projected earnings growth of 12% year-over-year, but excluding the technology sector, the growth is only 3%, indicating signs of overall earnings weakness.
See More
