Zscaler Inc (NASDAQ:ZS) stock is among the worst on Wall Street today, down 25.8% to trade at $137.03.
Shares of Zscaler ZS plunged over 23% in Wednesday premarket trading after the cybersecurity company delivered better-than-expected quarterly earnings but issued cautious guidance that intensified concerns over slowing customer acquisition, rising competition and mounting infrastructure costs tied to the artificial intelligence boom. The sharp selloff highlighted growing investor sensitivity toward software companies whose valuations remain heavily dependent on sustained high growth, particularly in cybersecurity where competition has intensified sharply over the past year.
I am downgrading Zscaler (ZS) to a “sell” following a disappointing Q3 FY26, with structural growth concerns outweighing its cheap valuation. Organic revenue growth stagnates at 21%, with FY27 guidance cut to 16-17% and organic Net New ARR growth slowing to single digits, as Zscaler struggles to win new enterprise customers. Competitive pressures from fully integrated platforms and leadership departures threaten ZS's pipeline and sales velocity, compounding platformization headwinds.
Zscaler raised FY26 guidance after a strong Q3, leaning into AI security and record margins while cautioning on sales shifts and product ramp.
Zscaler, Inc. (ZS) Q3 2026 Earnings Call Transcript
Zscaler (ZS) came out with quarterly earnings of $1.08 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1 per share. This compares to earnings of $0.84 per share a year ago.
Zscaler NASDAQ: ZS reported stronger-than-expected fiscal third-quarter results, with management highlighting growth in annual recurring revenue, record operating margin and rising demand for its zero-trust security platform as enterprises adopt artificial intelligence tools.
Zscaler forecast fourth-quarter revenue below estimates on Tuesday, signaling intensifying competition in the cybersecurity market as enterprises scrutinize spending on cloud security products, sending shares down 15% in extended trading.
Zscaler reports after the close. I'm leaning long the stock, which appears to be in the midst of a bearish-to-bullish reversal, but not long premium (the options).
Clint Sorenson breaks down the state of the cybersecurity sector ahead of Zscaler's (ZS) earnings after Tuesday's closing bell. He explains why cybersecurity remains a long-term secular growth story, how AI is driving demand, and why the broader sector could be heading toward all-time highs.
ZS' Q3 results are likely to reflect benefits from strong AI security demand, Zero Trust growth and momentum in Z-Flex adoption.
In the latest trading session, Zscaler (ZS) closed at $170.71, marking a -2.15% move from the previous day.