---
title: "Fortinet's stock rockets as earnings help dispel fears of AI disruption"
type: "News"
locale: "en"
url: "https://longbridge.com/en/news/285436322.md"
description: "Fortinet's stock surged 17% after the company reported strong earnings, exceeding Wall Street expectations. The cybersecurity vendor's results were driven by an increasing demand for its offerings amid a complex threat environment intensified by AI. Fortinet's revenue grew 20% year-over-year to $1.85 billion, with adjusted earnings per share rising 41% to 82 cents. The company also provided an optimistic outlook for the June quarter, expecting revenue between $1.83 billion and $1.93 billion. Other cybersecurity stocks, including Zscaler and Palo Alto Networks, also saw gains following Fortinet's results."
datetime: "2026-05-06T20:45:41.000Z"
locales:
  - [zh-CN](https://longbridge.com/zh-CN/news/285436322.md)
  - [en](https://longbridge.com/en/news/285436322.md)
  - [zh-HK](https://longbridge.com/zh-HK/news/285436322.md)
---

# Fortinet's stock rockets as earnings help dispel fears of AI disruption

By Emily Bary

An 'increasingly complex threat environment' is boosting demand for Fortinet's cybersecurity offerings

Fortinet easily cleared Wall Street's bar with its latest earnings results.

The software sector could get a major shot in the arm from cybersecurity vendor Fortinet's results.

Investors were cheering the company's latest earnings, sending shares up 17% in Wednesday's extended session. Fortinet (FTNT) exceeded expectations with its results and outlook, calling out "an increasingly complex threat environment that is being intensified by AI."

That's been part of the thesis for cybersecurity bulls during what's been a polarizing stretch for the sector. Some investors have worried that artificial-intelligence tools would displace traditional forms of threat defense. Others have said that AI would may bad actors even more powerful, meaning that companies would have to load up on cybersecurity products.

Fortinet plays into other hot trends as well. CEO Ken Xie said in a statement that results were "driven by the continued convergence of networking and security, an approach Fortinet has led for 26 years." Networking has been a strong category as connectivity needs grow in the AI era.

Don't miss: A new era of AI crime has arrived with Anthropic's Mythos

In the March quarter, Fortinet grew billings - calculated as revenue plus the change in deferred revenue - by 31% to $2.09. That was significantly ahead of the FactSet consensus of $1.82 billion.

Revenue amounted to $1.85 billion, up 20% from a year before, whereas analysts were modeling $1.73 billion. Adjusted earnings per share came in at 82 cents, up 41% from a year earlier and well above the 62-cent consensus view.

Shares of other cybersecurity companies, including Zscaler (ZS) and Palo Alto Networks (PANW), were rising in unison.

Fortinet's outlook for the June quarter topped expectations. Management expects $1.83 billion to $1.93 billion in revenue and 72 cents to 76 cents in adjusted earnings per share. Analysts tracked by FactSet were modeling $1.82 billion and 69 cents, respectively.

See also: Here's why identity security has become the next hot thing.

Xie said the company has been winning market share and could continue doing so by using its supply chain to "turn supply-chain challenges into opportunities."

\-Emily Bary

This content was created by MarketWatch, which is operated by Dow Jones & Co. MarketWatch is published independently from Dow Jones Newswires and The Wall Street Journal.

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

05-06-26 1645ET

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