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Zscaler (ZS)
NASDAQ:ZS

Zscaler (ZS) AI Stock Analysis

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ZS

Zscaler

(NASDAQ:ZS)

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Neutral 62 (OpenAI - 5.2)
Rating:62Neutral
Price Target:
$227.00
▲(6.08% Upside)
The score is driven primarily by solid underlying financial quality (strong cash flow and high gross margins) and a very upbeat earnings call with robust growth and guidance. Offsetting these positives are weak technicals (broad downtrend and oversold momentum), ongoing profitability/ROE challenges, and limited support from traditional valuation metrics due to negative earnings.
Positive Factors
Recurring revenue and ARR growth
Sustained 26% ARR growth to over $3.2B reflects a large, sticky subscription base and strong remaining performance obligations (RPO). That recurring revenue mix increases long-term revenue visibility, supports multi-year customer value, and enables predictable investment in product and sales expansion.
High gross margins from cloud-native platform
Consistently high gross margins from a cloud-delivered security stack imply scalable unit economics as revenue grows. Strong product-level margins provide capacity to fund R&D, go-to-market expansion, and strategic initiatives without immediate dilution of cash reserves, supporting durable profitability potential.
Strong cash generation and free cash flow growth
Positive FCF growth and solid operating cash conversion despite negative net income show the business converts subscriptions to cash effectively. Robust cash generation enables debt reduction, sustained product investment, and runway for strategic M&A, strengthening long-term financial flexibility.
Negative Factors
Ongoing unprofitability and weak shareholder returns
Negative ROE and a TTM net loss (negative net profit margin) indicate the company has yet to reliably convert revenue growth into shareholder returns. Persistent unprofitability raises questions about long-term ability to deliver sustainable earnings without continued high investment or margin improvement.
Intense competition from large incumbents
Facing entrenched security vendors with broad product suites and channel reach creates sustained pricing and feature-competition pressure. Incumbents can bundle offerings and leverage existing customer relationships, making durable share gains and margin expansion harder in enterprise security markets.
Gross margin pressure from go-to-market product tradeoffs
Prioritizing faster adoption through product choices that sacrifice unit margins can compress long-term gross margins if sustained. If new offerings remain lower-margin, the company may face structural limits on operating margin expansion despite revenue growth, constraining durable profitability gains.

Zscaler (ZS) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Zscaler Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionZscaler, Inc. operates as a cloud security company worldwide. The company provides Zscaler Internet Access solution that provides users, servers, operational technology, Internet of Things device secure access to externally managed applications, including software-as-a-service (SaaS) applications and Internet destinations; and Zscaler Private Access solution, which is designed to provide access to managed applications hosted internally in data centers, and private or public clouds. It also offers Zscaler Digital Experience that measures end-to-end user experience across business applications, as well as provides an easy to understand digital experience score for each user, application, and location within an enterprise. In addition, the company provides workload segmentation solutions comprising Zscaler Cloud Security Posture Management that identifies and remediates application misconfigurations in SaaS, infrastructure as a service, and platform as a service to reduce risk and ensure compliance with industry and organizational benchmarks; and Zscaler Cloud Workload Segmentation, which is designed to secure application-to-application communications inside public clouds and data centers to stop lateral threat movement, as well as prevents application compromise and reduces the risk of data breaches. Its platform modules include Zscaler Central Authority, Zscaler Enforcement Node, and Zscaler Log Servers. It serves customers in airlines and transportation, conglomerates, consumer goods and retail, financial services, healthcare, manufacturing, media and communications, public sector and education, technology, and telecommunications services industries. The company was formerly known as SafeChannel, Inc., and changed its name to Zscaler, Inc. in August 2008. Zscaler, Inc. was incorporated in 2007 and is headquartered in San Jose, California.
How the Company Makes MoneyZscaler generates revenue primarily through a subscription-based model, offering its cloud security services on a recurring basis to businesses of all sizes. Key revenue streams include subscriptions for ZIA and ZPA, which are sold based on the number of users or the amount of data processed. Zscaler also benefits from upselling and cross-selling additional features and services to existing customers. Significant partnerships with major technology providers and integrators enhance its market reach and contribute to customer acquisition, while its focus on a zero trust security framework aligns with increasing demand for advanced cybersecurity solutions in a rapidly digitizing world.

Zscaler Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Any
Any
Revenue by Geography
Revenue by Geography
Breaks down revenue across different regions, revealing where Zscaler is strongest and where it may face risk or growth potential due to local economic conditions or market share shifts.
Chart InsightsZscaler's revenue growth is robust across all regions, with the United States leading the charge. The latest earnings call highlights a 23% year-over-year revenue increase, driven by strong performance in the Zero Trust Everywhere initiative and AI-powered solutions. Despite macroeconomic challenges, the company is strategically positioned for further expansion, aiming for $3 billion in ARR by fiscal year-end. This growth trajectory is supported by strategic partnerships and a diversified product suite, indicating strong future potential despite some variability in net retention rates.
Data provided by:The Fly

Zscaler Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Nov 25, 2025
(Q1-2026)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Feb 19, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
The earnings call reflects a strong positive sentiment with the company exceeding financial expectations and achieving strategic goals ahead of schedule. While there are challenges in the competitive landscape and slight pressure on gross margins, the significant achievements in revenue growth, customer metrics, and product innovation, particularly in AI security and Zero Trust, indicate a robust performance.
Q1-2026 Updates
Positive Updates
Strong Start to Fiscal Year 2026
Annual recurring revenue (ARR) growth accelerated to 26% year over year, and remaining performance obligation (RPO) growth accelerated to 35%. Revenue grew by 26%, and the company operated at a rule of 78, outperforming the rule of four d metric.
AI Security Pillar Surpasses Expectations
AI security pillar grew over 80% year over year, surpassing the FY '26 target of $400 million ARR three quarters early, with expectations to exceed $500 million by the end of the fiscal year.
Zero Trust Everywhere Achieves Early Success
Zero Trust Everywhere achieved its goal to secure 390 enterprises three quarters ahead of the target date, now over 450 enterprises secured.
Introduction of Z Flex Program
Z Flex program generated over $175 million in total contract value (TCV), growing over 70% quarter over quarter, driving meaningful upsells and reducing sales cycle.
Record-Breaking Customer Metrics
Closed Q1 with 698 customers generating over $1 million in ARR and 3,754 customers exceeding $100,000 in ARR.
Strong Financial Performance
Q1 revenue was $788 million, growing 20% year over year and 10% sequentially, exceeding high-end guidance. Free cash flow margin was 52%.
Negative Updates
Competitive Landscape Challenges
The competitive landscape remains strong with entrants and existing companies like Cisco, Check Point, and Palo Alto Networks introducing new products and strategies.
Gross Margin Pressure
Gross margin slightly declined to 79.9% from 80.6% last year, influenced by the introduction of new products optimized for faster go-to-market rather than margins.
Company Guidance
During the Zscaler First Quarter Fiscal Year 2026 Earnings Call, the company provided robust guidance reflecting strong financial performance and strategic growth initiatives. Zscaler's annual recurring revenue (ARR) grew by 26% year over year, reaching over $3.2 billion, with revenue for Q1 at $788 million, a 20% increase from the previous year. The company achieved a free cash flow margin of 52%, contributing to their operation under the rule of 78, a metric indicating exceptional performance. Zscaler's three growth pillars—AI security, Zero Trust Everywhere, and Data Security Everywhere—contributed significantly, with AI security ARR growing over 80% year over year. The firm's remaining performance obligations (RPO) increased by 35% to $5.9 billion, and they reported gross margins of 79.9%, reflecting the strength of their product offerings and market demand. For the full fiscal year 2026, Zscaler expects revenue between $3.282 billion and $3.301 billion, with an operating profit of $732 million to $740 million and earnings per share ranging from $3.78 to $3.82. With continued investments in platform expansion and innovation, Zscaler is well-positioned to capitalize on the growing demand for comprehensive cybersecurity solutions.

Zscaler Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Zscaler demonstrates robust revenue growth and strong cash flow generation, which are positive indicators of its financial health. However, the company continues to face profitability challenges, as evidenced by negative net income and EBIT margins. While leverage has improved, the negative return on equity suggests that the company needs to enhance its profitability to deliver shareholder value.
Income Statement
65
Positive
Zscaler has shown consistent revenue growth, with a TTM growth rate of 5.99%. However, the company is still operating at a net loss, as indicated by a negative net profit margin of -1.45%. The gross profit margin remains strong at 76.68%, indicating efficient cost management. Despite improvements, the negative EBIT margin suggests challenges in achieving operational profitability.
Balance Sheet
60
Neutral
The company's debt-to-equity ratio has improved to 0.93, reflecting better leverage management compared to previous years. However, the return on equity remains negative at -2.28%, indicating that the company is not currently generating positive returns for shareholders. The equity ratio is stable, suggesting a balanced asset structure.
Cash Flow
75
Positive
Zscaler's cash flow performance is strong, with a notable free cash flow growth rate of 16.71% in the TTM. The operating cash flow to net income ratio of 0.47 indicates healthy cash generation relative to net income, despite the latter being negative. The free cash flow to net income ratio of 0.81 further highlights the company's ability to generate cash.
BreakdownDec 2025Dec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021
Income Statement
Total Revenue2.67B2.17B1.62B1.09B673.10M
Gross Profit2.05B1.69B1.25B847.63M522.46M
EBITDA112.41M64.79M-76.72M-183.43M-105.80M
Net Income-41.48M-57.71M-202.34M-390.28M-262.03M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets6.42B4.70B3.61B2.83B2.26B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments3.57B2.41B2.10B1.73B1.50B
Total Debt1.80B1.24B1.21B1.05B964.61M
Total Liabilities4.62B3.43B2.88B2.26B1.73B
Stockholders Equity1.80B1.27B725.11M573.30M528.89M
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow726.69M584.95M333.62M231.33M143.74M
Operating Cash Flow972.45M779.85M462.34M321.91M202.04M
Investing Cash Flow-427.02M-683.18M-259.34M374.06M-109.67M
Financing Cash Flow420.51M64.21M45.99M41.34M41.67M

Zscaler Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Negative
Last Price213.98
Price Trends
50DMA
252.78
Negative
100DMA
275.44
Negative
200DMA
269.86
Negative
Market Momentum
MACD
-10.06
Negative
RSI
32.49
Neutral
STOCH
16.63
Positive
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For ZS, the sentiment is Negative. The current price of 213.98 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 223.57, below the 50-day MA of 252.78, and below the 200-day MA of 269.86, indicating a bearish trend. The MACD of -10.06 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 32.49 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 16.63 is Positive, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Negative sentiment for ZS.

Zscaler Risk Analysis

Zscaler disclosed 59 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Zscaler reported the most risks in the "Finance & Corporate" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

Zscaler Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (61)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
73
Outperform
$130.80B119.0315.33%15.30%-60.71%
71
Outperform
$56.06B31.04228.04%14.78%22.52%
66
Neutral
$114.42B-359.25-8.88%22.05%-341.24%
62
Neutral
$34.12B-815.47-2.41%23.24%-8.83%
61
Neutral
$37.18B12.37-10.20%1.83%8.50%-7.62%
61
Neutral
$64.51B-8.88%28.06%-7.44%
60
Neutral
$15.87B82.222.96%12.12%
* Technology Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
ZS
Zscaler
213.98
22.17
11.56%
FTNT
Fortinet
75.38
-21.82
-22.45%
PANW
Palo Alto Networks
187.66
4.15
2.26%
OKTA
Okta
89.55
0.15
0.17%
CRWD
CrowdStrike Holdings
453.88
87.47
23.87%
NET
Cloudflare
184.17
64.32
53.67%

Zscaler Corporate Events

Executive/Board ChangesShareholder Meetings
Zscaler Shareholders Back Governance Changes at Annual Meeting
Positive
Jan 15, 2026

At its annual meeting of stockholders held on January 12, 2026, Zscaler shareholders elected Andrew Brown, Scott Darling, and David Schneider as Class II directors to serve until the 2028 annual meeting, ratified the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the independent auditor for the fiscal year ending July 31, 2026, and approved on an advisory basis the compensation of the company’s named executive officers. Investors also voted to hold future advisory votes on executive pay annually and backed a non-binding stockholder proposal to declassify the board, signaling support for more frequent say-on-pay oversight and a potential shift toward a more annually elected, less staggered board structure that could increase board accountability and influence the company’s corporate governance framework over time.

The most recent analyst rating on (ZS) stock is a Buy with a $243.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Zscaler stock, see the ZS Stock Forecast page.

Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.Date of analysis: Jan 16, 2026