F5 (FFIV)


Market Price (9/2/2026): $396.0 | Market Cap: $22.5 BilInvestor Relations Sector: Information Technology | Industry: Communications Equipment

F5 (FFIV)


Market Price (9/2/2026): $396.0
Market Cap: $22.5 Bil
Sector: Information Technology
Industry: Communications Equipment

Investment Highlights Why It Matters Detailed financial logic regarding cash flow yields vs trend-riding momentum.

0

Attractive operating margins
Op Mgn LTMOperating Margin = Operating Income / Revenue Reflects profitability before taxes and before impact of capital structure (interest payments). is 25%

Attractive cash flow generation
CFO/Rev LTMCash Flow from Operations / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is 32%, FCF/Rev LTMFree Cash Flow / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is 29%

Stock buyback support
Stock Buyback 3Y Total is 1.6 Bil

Megatrend and thematic drivers
Megatrends include Cybersecurity, and Cloud Computing. Themes include Cloud Security, Software Security, Show more.

Key risks
FFIV key risks include [1] damaged customer confidence following a major security breach that potentially exposed core source code, Show more.

0 Attractive operating margins
Op Mgn LTMOperating Margin = Operating Income / Revenue Reflects profitability before taxes and before impact of capital structure (interest payments). is 25%
1 Attractive cash flow generation
CFO/Rev LTMCash Flow from Operations / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is 32%, FCF/Rev LTMFree Cash Flow / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is 29%
2 Stock buyback support
Stock Buyback 3Y Total is 1.6 Bil
3 Megatrend and thematic drivers
Megatrends include Cybersecurity, and Cloud Computing. Themes include Cloud Security, Software Security, Show more.
4 Key risks
FFIV key risks include [1] damaged customer confidence following a major security breach that potentially exposed core source code, Show more.

FFIV in ETFs

Weight = FFIV's share of each fund

SPY0.03%
VOO0.04%
IVV0.03%
VTI0.03%
ITOT0.03%
IWB0.03%
RSP0.19%
VB0.28%
+28 more covered ETFs

Valuation & Metrics

Price Chart

Why The Stock Moved

Qualitative Assessment

AI Analysis | Feedback

Updated on 9/1/2026

F5 (FFIV) stock has gained about 5% since 5/31/2026 because of the following key factors:

1. Strong Fiscal Q3 2026 Earnings Beat.

F5 reported robust fiscal Q3 2026 results on July 27, 2026, exceeding analyst expectations. The company announced non-GAAP earnings per share (EPS) of $4.73, which topped the consensus estimate of $4.00 by $0.73. Quarterly revenue also surpassed projections, rising 10.9% year-over-year to $865.08 million against analyst estimates of $834.60 million.

2. Significant Product Revenue Growth Driven by AI and Hybrid Cloud.

A core component of F5's strong fiscal Q3 2026 performance was the 19% year-over-year growth in product revenue, reaching $463 million. This marked the eighth consecutive quarter of double-digit growth, primarily fueled by increasing demand for AI workloads and hybrid multi-cloud adoption, demonstrating F5's strong positioning in key technological areas.

Show more
Updated on 9/1/2026

F5 (FFIV) stock has gained about 5% since 5/31/2026 because of the following key factors:

1. Strong Fiscal Q3 2026 Earnings Beat.

F5 reported robust fiscal Q3 2026 results on July 27, 2026, exceeding analyst expectations. The company announced non-GAAP earnings per share (EPS) of $4.73, which topped the consensus estimate of $4.00 by $0.73. Quarterly revenue also surpassed projections, rising 10.9% year-over-year to $865.08 million against analyst estimates of $834.60 million.

2. Significant Product Revenue Growth Driven by AI and Hybrid Cloud.

A core component of F5's strong fiscal Q3 2026 performance was the 19% year-over-year growth in product revenue, reaching $463 million. This marked the eighth consecutive quarter of double-digit growth, primarily fueled by increasing demand for AI workloads and hybrid multi-cloud adoption, demonstrating F5's strong positioning in key technological areas.

3. Upgraded Fiscal Year 2026 Guidance.

Following the better-than-expected fiscal Q3 results, F5 raised its full fiscal year 2026 financial outlook. The company increased its revenue growth forecast to 9-10% from the prior 7-8% and elevated its adjusted EPS guidance to a range of $17.21-$17.33 from $16.25-$16.55. This upward revision signaled strong management confidence in sustained business momentum.

4. Strategic AI and Cybersecurity Product Innovation.

F5 demonstrated its commitment to innovation in critical technology areas with several product announcements. On August 18, 2026, F5 introduced a next-generation AI Gateway aimed at optimizing the economics and governance of enterprise AI costs. Furthermore, on September 1, 2026, the company announced advancements in virtual patching to manage emerging cyber risks through AI-powered Web Application Firewall (WAF) and runtime security, enhancing its leadership in application security against AI-driven threats.

5. Positive Analyst Sentiment and Price Target Revisions.

Several Wall Street analysts reacted favorably to F5's performance and strategic initiatives, leading to upward revisions in their price targets. For instance, on July 28, 2026, Piper Sandler raised its price objective to $461.00 from $423.00, and J.P. Morgan increased its price target to $515 from $500. RBC Capital also raised its price target to $508 from $490 on the same date. These positive adjustments contributed to heightened investor confidence and supported the stock's upward movement.

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Stock Movement Drivers

Fundamental Drivers

The 6.2% change in FFIV stock from 5/31/2026 to 8/31/2026 was primarily driven by a 3.5% change in the company's P/E Multiple.
(LTM values as of)53120268312026Change
Stock Price ($)383.45407.136.2%
Change Contribution By: 
Total Revenues ($ Mil)3,2253,3092.6%
Net Income Margin (%)22.0%22.0%0.0%
P/E Multiple30.731.83.5%
Shares Outstanding (Mil)57570.0%
Cumulative Contribution6.2%

LTM = Last Twelve Months as of date shown

Market Drivers

5/31/2026 to 8/31/2026
ReturnCorrelation
FFIV6.2% 
Market (SPY)1.4%43.2%
Sector (XLK)-2.4%45.0%

Fundamental Drivers

The 50.0% change in FFIV stock from 2/28/2026 to 8/31/2026 was primarily driven by a 43.5% change in the company's P/E Multiple.
(LTM values as of)22820268312026Change
Stock Price ($)271.36407.1350.0%
Change Contribution By: 
Total Revenues ($ Mil)3,1443,3095.3%
Net Income Margin (%)22.5%22.0%-2.2%
P/E Multiple22.231.843.5%
Shares Outstanding (Mil)58571.6%
Cumulative Contribution50.0%

LTM = Last Twelve Months as of date shown

Market Drivers

2/28/2026 to 8/31/2026
ReturnCorrelation
FFIV50.0% 
Market (SPY)12.1%33.8%
Sector (XLK)34.6%40.8%

Fundamental Drivers

The 30.0% change in FFIV stock from 8/31/2025 to 8/31/2026 was primarily driven by a 17.2% change in the company's P/E Multiple.
(LTM values as of)83120258312026Change
Stock Price ($)313.14407.1330.0%
Change Contribution By: 
Total Revenues ($ Mil)3,0253,3099.4%
Net Income Margin (%)22.1%22.0%-0.5%
P/E Multiple27.131.817.2%
Shares Outstanding (Mil)58571.8%
Cumulative Contribution30.0%

LTM = Last Twelve Months as of date shown

Market Drivers

8/31/2025 to 8/31/2026
ReturnCorrelation
FFIV30.0% 
Market (SPY)19.9%36.0%
Sector (XLK)42.7%36.5%

Fundamental Drivers

The 148.8% change in FFIV stock from 8/31/2023 to 8/31/2026 was primarily driven by a 85.5% change in the company's Net Income Margin (%).
(LTM values as of)83120238312026Change
Stock Price ($)163.66407.13148.8%
Change Contribution By: 
Total Revenues ($ Mil)2,8063,30917.9%
Net Income Margin (%)11.8%22.0%85.5%
P/E Multiple29.631.87.6%
Shares Outstanding (Mil)60575.7%
Cumulative Contribution148.8%

LTM = Last Twelve Months as of date shown

Market Drivers

8/31/2023 to 8/31/2026
ReturnCorrelation
FFIV148.8% 
Market (SPY)76.3%50.7%
Sector (XLK)116.3%48.4%

Return vs. Risk

Price Returns Compared

 202120222023202420252026Total [1]
Returns
FFIV Return39%-41%25%41%2%54%124%
Peers Return66%-35%53%23%19%66%303%
S&P 500 Return27%-19%24%23%16%13%105%

Monthly Win Rates [3]
FFIV Win Rate58%25%58%83%50%62% 
Peers Win Rate72%38%62%55%60%62% 
S&P 500 Win Rate75%42%67%75%67%50% 

Max Drawdowns [4]
FFIV Max Drawdown-19%-45%-17%-16%-35%-12% 
Peers Max Drawdown-22%-43%-28%-28%-32%-24% 
S&P 500 Max Drawdown-5%-25%-10%-8%-19%-9% 


[1] Cumulative total returns since the beginning of 2021
[2] Peers: NET, AKAM, FTNT, PANW, CSCO. See FFIV Returns vs. Peers.
[3] Win Rate = % of calendar months in which monthly returns were positive
[4] Max drawdown represents maximum peak-to-trough decline within a year
[5] 2026 data is for the year up to 9/1/2026 (YTD)

How Low Can It Go

EventFFIVS&P 500
2025 US Tariff Shock
  % Loss-22.8%-18.8%
  % Gain to Breakeven29.6%23.1%
  Time to Breakeven118 days79 days
2023 SVB Regional Banking Crisis
  % Loss-11.3%-6.7%
  % Gain to Breakeven12.8%7.1%
  Time to Breakeven31 days31 days
2022 Inflation Shock & Fed Tightening
  % Loss-42.7%-24.5%
  % Gain to Breakeven74.6%32.4%
  Time to Breakeven763 days427 days
2020 COVID-19 Crash
  % Loss-30.2%-33.7%
  % Gain to Breakeven43.3%50.9%
  Time to Breakeven40 days140 days
Q4 2018 Fed Policy Error / Growth Scare
  % Loss-19.5%-19.2%
  % Gain to Breakeven24.2%23.8%
  Time to Breakeven746 days105 days
2015-2016 China Devaluation / Global Growth Scare
  % Loss-35.0%-12.2%
  % Gain to Breakeven53.9%13.9%
  Time to Breakeven260 days62 days

Compare to NET, AKAM, FTNT, PANW, CSCO

In The Past

F5's stock fell -22.8% during the 2025 US Tariff Shock. Such a loss loss requires a 29.6% gain to breakeven.

Preserve Wealth

Limiting losses and compounding gains is essential to preserving wealth.

Asset Allocation

Actively managed asset allocation strategies protect wealth. Learn more.

EventFFIVS&P 500
2025 US Tariff Shock
  % Loss-22.8%-18.8%
  % Gain to Breakeven29.6%23.1%
  Time to Breakeven118 days79 days
2022 Inflation Shock & Fed Tightening
  % Loss-42.7%-24.5%
  % Gain to Breakeven74.6%32.4%
  Time to Breakeven763 days427 days
2020 COVID-19 Crash
  % Loss-30.2%-33.7%
  % Gain to Breakeven43.3%50.9%
  Time to Breakeven40 days140 days
2015-2016 China Devaluation / Global Growth Scare
  % Loss-35.0%-12.2%
  % Gain to Breakeven53.9%13.9%
  Time to Breakeven260 days62 days
2014-2016 Oil Price Collapse
  % Loss-30.0%-6.8%
  % Gain to Breakeven42.8%7.3%
  Time to Breakeven176 days15 days
2011 US Debt Ceiling Crisis & European Contagion
  % Loss-31.6%-17.9%
  % Gain to Breakeven46.1%21.8%
  Time to Breakeven65 days123 days
2008-2009 Global Financial Crisis
  % Loss-39.9%-53.4%
  % Gain to Breakeven66.3%114.4%
  Time to Breakeven53 days1085 days
Summer 2007 Credit Crunch
  % Loss-27.0%-8.6%
  % Gain to Breakeven36.9%9.5%
  Time to Breakeven77 days47 days

Compare to NET, AKAM, FTNT, PANW, CSCO

In The Past

F5's stock fell -22.8% during the 2025 US Tariff Shock. Such a loss loss requires a 29.6% gain to breakeven.

Preserve Wealth

Limiting losses and compounding gains is essential to preserving wealth.

Asset Allocation

Actively managed asset allocation strategies protect wealth. Learn more.

About F5 (FFIV)

F5, Inc. (FFIV) specializes in providing multi-cloud application security and delivery solutions. The company's core mission is to ensure the security, performance, and availability of network applications, servers, and storage systems for its customers. F5 enables organizations to confidently develop, deploy, operate, secure, and govern their applications across any architecture, whether on-premises data centers or various public cloud environments.

F5's product portfolio is extensive, featuring its flagship BIG-IP appliances and software modules such as Local Traffic Manager (LTM) for intelligent traffic management, DNS Services, Advanced Firewall Manager (AFM), and Application Security Manager (ASM) for application-level protection. It also offers NGINX Plus and NGINX Controller for modern application delivery, and Shape Security solutions (Shape Defense, Enterprise Defense) focused on online fraud and abuse prevention. Additionally, F5 provides Silverline DDoS and Application security offerings, along with a range of professional services including consulting, training, installation, and technical support.

F5 serves a diverse global customer base, primarily targeting large enterprise businesses, public sector institutions, governments, and service providers across the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific region. The company leverages an indirect sales model through distributors, value-added resellers, managed service providers, and systems integrators. F5 also maintains strategic partnerships with leading public cloud providers like Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform to extend its reach and capabilities in cloud environments.

AI Analysis | Feedback

Here are 1-3 brief analogies to describe F5 (FFIV):

  • F5 is like the Cisco for application security and delivery.
  • F5 is a more enterprise-focused Cloudflare for application security and delivery.

AI Analysis | Feedback

  • BIG-IP appliances and VIPRION chassis: Hardware platforms for application security and delivery solutions.
  • Software Modules (e.g., Local Traffic Manager, DNS Services, Advanced Firewall Manager, Application Security Manager, Access Policy Manager): Software components that run on BIG-IP platforms or as Virtual Editions to manage traffic, secure applications, and enforce policies.
  • NGINX Plus: A high-performance web server, reverse proxy, and load balancer for modern applications.
  • NGINX Controller: A management plane for deploying, monitoring, and managing NGINX instances across various environments.
  • Shape Defense and Enterprise Defense: Solutions dedicated to preventing online fraud and abuse.
  • Secure Web Gateway: Protects users from web-based threats and ensures compliance.
  • Silverline DDoS: A cloud-based service providing protection against distributed denial-of-service attacks.
  • Silverline Application Security: Cloud-based offerings for securing web applications.
  • Professional Services: Consulting, training, installation, maintenance, and technical support services to assist customers with their F5 solutions.

AI Analysis | Feedback

F5 (FFIV) sells its products primarily to other companies and organizations. Based on the provided description, F5 has partnerships with the following major public cloud providers, which are key entities in its multi-cloud strategy and leverage its solutions: F5 also sells its products to large enterprise businesses, public sector institutions, governments, and service providers, though specific company names within these categories are not provided in the description.

AI Analysis | Feedback

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AI Analysis | Feedback

François Locoh-Donou, Chairperson, President & Chief Executive Officer
François Locoh-Donou joined F5 in April 2017 as President, CEO, and director, and was appointed Chairperson of the Board in March 2026. He has been instrumental in transforming F5 from a networking hardware maker into a software- and SaaS-first leader in multi-cloud application security and delivery. Before joining F5, he served as Chief Operating Officer at Ciena Corporation from 2002 to March 2017, where he also held executive roles in Product, Sales, and Marketing. He also held research and development roles at Photonetics, a French opto-electronics company. Locoh-Donou co-founded and chairs Cajou Espoir, a cashew-processing facility in Togo that employs several hundred, primarily women. He also serves on the Board of Directors of Capital One Financial Corp.

Edward Cooper Werner, Executive Vice President, Principal Accounting Officer and Chief Financial Officer
Edward Cooper Werner was appointed Chief Financial Officer of F5 on October 25, 2024, with his role becoming effective after the filing of F5's FY2024 Form 10-K. He initially joined F5 in 2001 and has held various finance leadership positions, including Senior Vice President, Finance since 2012, and Vice President, Finance starting in 2008. He earned a B.A. in Business Administration with an Accounting Concentration from the Foster School of Business at the University of Washington.

Tom Fountain, Chief Operating Officer
Tom Fountain was appointed Chief Operating Officer of F5 in September 2024, where he is responsible for overseeing Global Services and leading the company's digital transformation to accelerate solution delivery and drive operational efficiency. He joined F5 in 2018 from McAfee, where he held the position of Senior Vice President of Strategy and Corporate Development. Prior to McAfee, Fountain held multiple leadership roles at Juniper Networks, including General Manager of the Content & Media Business Unit and Vice President of Corporate Strategy. Earlier in his career, he was a principal at the venture capital firm Mayfield Fund and co-founded Ingrian Networks, a network security firm that was acquired by SafeNet. He also founded and served as CEO of an outsource software development firm and was a faculty member at Stanford University.

Kunal Anand, Chief Product Officer
Kunal Anand leads F5's product organization, overseeing product vision, strategy, and execution to develop solutions for customer challenges. In his previous role at F5, he served as Chief Technology and AI Officer. Before joining F5, Anand held the dual roles of Chief Technology Officer and Chief Information Security Officer at Imperva. His path to Imperva began in 2018 with the acquisition of Prevoty, an application security startup he co-founded in 2013. His experience also includes leadership roles in security, data, technology, and engineering teams at Gravity, MySpace, and the NASA Jet Propulsion Lab.

Chad Whalen, Chief Revenue Officer
Chad Whalen is F5's Chief Revenue Officer, responsible for the company's global sales go-to-market strategy. He joined F5 in 2017 to lead the Cloud Sales team. With over 20 years of experience, Whalen has led global teams across various regions in network infrastructure, security, and Software as a Service. Prior to F5, his roles included running strategic alliances at Fortinet, leading worldwide sales & services at Jasper, overseeing Americas sales and field operations at Ciena, and managing global sales & marketing at World Wide Packets.

AI Analysis | Feedback

The key risks to F5's business are:

1. Cybersecurity Incident and Reputational Damage

F5, a company specializing in application security, recently experienced a significant security breach where sophisticated hackers gained and maintained access to its systems for at least 12 months, specifically targeting the BIG-IP product development environment and accessing source code. This incident is considered a major operational and reputational risk, directly impacting customer trust and leading to a cautious near-term outlook and a steep deceleration in the company's fiscal year 2026 revenue guidance. For a cybersecurity firm, a breach of this nature fundamentally undermines the trust customers place in its ability to secure their infrastructure.

2. Intense Competition and Evolving Market Landscape

F5 operates in a highly competitive and dynamic market for multi-cloud application security and delivery solutions. The company faces significant competition from a diverse set of players, including traditional application delivery competitors like Citrix and Broadcom, major cloud providers such as Amazon Web Services and Google Cloud in cloud-native traffic management, and specialized security vendors like Akamai, Cloudflare, Fortinet, and Palo Alto Networks in application security and DDoS protection. This fierce competition contributes to sluggish sales growth and ongoing challenges in acquiring and retaining customers. F5 must continuously innovate to maintain its competitive edge and effectively navigate complex software renewal cycles against rivals who are constantly developing new solutions. The rapid development and adoption of AI technologies also present both opportunities and risks, requiring F5 to adapt and integrate new technologies effectively while addressing potential market disruptions.

3. Reliance on Hardware Sales Amidst Stagnant Software Growth

While F5 demonstrated strong overall revenue growth in fiscal year 2025, a significant portion of this growth was driven by a substantial 42% year-over-year increase in systems revenue (hardware). This surge was primarily fueled by datacenter refresh cycles and investments in enterprise AI infrastructure. In contrast, the company's software segment, which is often considered a key long-term growth driver for technology companies, saw effectively flat growth at only 0.3%. This disparity indicates a potential over-reliance on more cyclical hardware sales, which can be less predictable, while the critical software business, intended for long-term expansion, shows minimal progress. This imbalance poses a risk if hardware refresh cycles slow down or if the software segment fails to accelerate its growth significantly.

AI Analysis | Feedback

The increasing sophistication and native offerings of public cloud providers (Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform) in application security and delivery. While F5 partners with these providers and offers solutions for the public cloud, these very partners are simultaneously developing and enhancing their own integrated security, load balancing, and application delivery services directly within their cloud platforms. As enterprises adopt more cloud-native architectures, they may increasingly prefer to leverage these deeply integrated, platform-native services for simplicity, cost-efficiency, and seamless operation, potentially reducing the need for F5's specialized third-party solutions, particularly traditional hardware or virtual appliance-based offerings.

AI Analysis | Feedback

F5, Inc. operates in several significant addressable markets for its multi-cloud application security and delivery solutions. The company itself estimated its total addressable market (TAM) to be over $28 billion in 2023, with projections to approach $34 billion by 2028.

  • Multi-Cloud Security: The global multi-cloud security market size was valued at approximately USD 9.85 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 54.87 billion by 2032, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 23.9% from 2025 to 2032. North America held a 37.63% market share in 2024. Other estimates for regional distribution in January 2026 indicate North America with 49%, Asia Pacific with 26%, and Europe with 16% of the global market share.
  • Application Delivery Controllers (ADC): The global application delivery controller market size was valued at USD 4.35 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 8.46 billion by 2030, with a CAGR of 12.9% from 2025 to 2030. North America held the largest share, accounting for over 34% of this market in 2024.
  • Application Security: The global application security market size was valued at USD 10.4 billion in 2024 and is estimated to reach USD 34.8 billion by 2033, exhibiting a CAGR of 14.33% from 2025 to 2033. North America dominated this market, holding a significant 40.5% share in 2024.
  • Web Application Firewall (WAF): The global web application firewall market size was valued at USD 7.1 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 20.6 billion by 2034, with a CAGR of 12.28% from 2026 to 2034. North America dominated the market in 2025.
  • DDoS Protection and Mitigation: The global DDoS protection and mitigation security market size was valued at USD 4.99 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 13.45 billion by 2032, with a CAGR of 13.20% during the forecast period of 2025 to 2032. North America dominated this market with a 39.6% revenue share in 2024.
  • Bot Management: The global bot management solution market was valued at USD 1.08 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 4.87 billion by the end of 2030, growing at a CAGR of 24% from 2024 to 2030.
  • API Security: The global API security market size was valued at over USD 10.8 billion in 2025 and is estimated to reach USD 46.1 billion by the end of 2035, expanding at a CAGR of 17.5% from 2026 to 2035. North America is the largest market for API security, holding approximately 45% of the global share.

AI Analysis | Feedback

F5 (FFIV) anticipates several key drivers for future revenue growth over the next 2-3 years, based on recent company guidance and analyst observations:

  1. Hybrid Multi-Cloud Adoption: F5's multi-cloud application security and delivery solutions are well-positioned to benefit from the ongoing trend of enterprises adopting hybrid multi-cloud environments. This strategy helps customers manage and secure applications across various on-premises and public cloud architectures.
  2. Scaling AI Investment and AI-related Demand: The company is experiencing growing demand related to artificial intelligence (AI), including securing AI workloads and infrastructure. F5 has enhanced its AI runtime security offerings through acquisitions and product developments, such as launching BIG-IP Version 21.0 with native support for demanding AI workloads.
  3. Growth in Systems Revenue: F5 expects continued strong performance in its systems revenue, driven by technology refresh cycles and data center modernization initiatives among its customers. This segment has shown robust growth recently.
  4. Demand for Converged Platforms: A strategic focus for F5 is to offer converged networking and security platforms. This approach aims to replace fragmented point products, simplifying customers' IT infrastructure and driving the adoption of F5's integrated solutions.

AI Analysis | Feedback

Share Repurchases

  • F5 announced a $1 billion share buyback plan in November 2020, which included an accelerated repurchase of $500 million in fiscal year 2021 and another $500 million in fiscal year 2022.
  • In fiscal year 2025, F5 repurchased shares totaling $502.085 million.
  • The Board of Directors authorized an additional $1 billion for its common stock repurchase program in October 2024, supplementing the $422 million remaining in the existing program at that time.

Share Issuance

  • F5's shares outstanding have shown a general decline over the past few years, with 57.65 million shares outstanding in 2025, representing a 1.12% decrease from 2024.
  • In March 2026, shareholders approved the 2026 Incentive Award Plan, which includes 3,500,000 new shares of common stock available for issuance.

Outbound Investments

  • F5 acquired CalypsoAI for $180 million in cash in late 2025. This acquisition aims to enhance real-time threat defense capabilities for organizations utilizing generative and agentic AI.

Capital Expenditures

  • F5's capital expenditures were $30.65 million in fiscal year 2021, $33.62 million in fiscal year 2022, and $54.18 million in fiscal year 2023.
  • Capital expenditures for fiscal year 2024 were $30.41 million.
  • In fiscal year 2025, capital expenditures amounted to $43.26 million.

Interactive Breakdown

F5 Interactive Breakdown Analysis

Better Bets vs. F5 (FFIV)

Peer Outperformance in Communications Equipment

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Share of Communications Equipment constituents that FFIV has outperformed, by holding period. Peers without a full price history over a given window are excluded from that window.
1Y
insufficient peer history
3Y
insufficient peer history
5Y
insufficient peer history
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Latest Trefis Analyses

Recent Active Movers

Peer Comparisons

Peers to compare with:

Financials

FFIVNETAKAMFTNTPANWCSCOMedian
NameF5 Cloudfla.Akamai T.Fortinet Palo Alt.Cisco Sy. 
Mkt Price-------
Mkt Cap23.1108.115.7125.3306.1436.7116.7
Rev LTM3,3092,5124,3237,52710,60660,7465,925
Op Inc LTM826-2045152,4421,02014,408923
FCF LTM9703156303,1173,79411,7882,043
FCF 3Y Avg8742187242,2413,26912,3341,557
CFO LTM1,0496331,4473,3964,21713,0252,422
CFO 3Y Avg9244711,4752,5713,52813,2772,023

Growth & Margins

FFIVNETAKAMFTNTPANWCSCOMedian
NameF5 Cloudfla.Akamai T.Fortinet Palo Alt.Cisco Sy. 
Rev Chg LTM9.4%33.5%5.9%18.8%19.5%9.2%14.1%
Rev Chg 3Y Avg5.8%30.6%5.7%14.7%17.8%3.5%10.3%
Rev Chg Q10.9%35.9%5.4%25.6%31.1%12.0%18.8%
QoQ Delta Rev Chg LTM2.6%7.9%1.3%5.9%7.2%2.9%4.4%
Op Inc Chg LTM8.3%-9.5%-18.0%24.8%3.6%19.0%6.0%
Op Inc Chg 3Y Avg20.9%-1.2%-8.2%27.7%137.6%0.8%10.9%
Op Mgn LTM25.0%-8.1%11.9%32.4%9.6%23.7%17.8%
Op Mgn 3Y Avg24.5%-9.9%14.9%29.8%9.9%24.0%19.5%
QoQ Delta Op Mgn LTM-0.1%1.2%-1.8%1.3%-4.8%0.5%0.2%
CFO/Rev LTM31.7%25.2%33.5%45.1%39.8%21.4%32.6%
CFO/Rev 3Y Avg30.3%23.7%36.0%39.2%38.8%23.2%33.1%
FCF/Rev LTM29.3%12.5%14.6%41.4%35.8%19.4%24.4%
FCF/Rev 3Y Avg28.6%10.9%17.7%34.0%36.1%21.6%25.1%

Valuation

FFIVNETAKAMFTNTPANWCSCOMedian
NameF5 Cloudfla.Akamai T.Fortinet Palo Alt.Cisco Sy. 
Mkt Cap23.1108.115.7125.3306.1436.7116.7
P/S7.043.03.616.628.97.211.9
P/Op Inc28.0-530.830.551.3300.130.330.4
P/EBIT28.0-579.529.547.5219.328.128.8
P/E31.8-524.138.259.1363.136.537.4
P/CFO22.0170.710.936.972.633.535.2
Total Yield3.1%-0.2%2.6%1.7%0.3%4.2%2.2%
Dividend Yield0.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%1.5%0.0%
FCF Yield 3Y Avg5.5%0.4%5.3%2.9%2.1%4.5%3.7%
D/E0.00.00.60.00.00.10.0
Net D/E-0.1-0.00.4-0.0-0.00.0-0.0

Returns

FFIVNETAKAMFTNTPANWCSCOMedian
NameF5 Cloudfla.Akamai T.Fortinet Palo Alt.Cisco Sy. 
1M Rtn-------
3M Rtn-------
6M Rtn-------
12M Rtn-------
3Y Rtn-------
1M Excs Rtn-------
3M Excs Rtn-------
6M Excs Rtn-------
12M Excs Rtn-------
3Y Excs Rtn-------

Financials

Segment Financials

Revenue by Segment
$ Mil20252024202320222021
Services1,5791,5431,4791,3791,356
Software revenue803735664665499
Systems revenue706537671652748
Total3,0882,8162,8132,6962,603


Price Behavior

Price Behavior
Market Price$407.13 
Market Cap ($ Bil)23.1 
First Trading Date06/04/1999 
Distance from 52W High-5.6% 
   50 Days200 Days
DMA Price$402.27$323.42
DMA Trendupup
Distance from DMA1.2%25.9%
 3M1YR
Volatility35.1%35.8%
Downside Capture142.97107.99
Upside Capture149.49115.79
Correlation (SPY)44.8%37.0%
FFIV Betas & Captures as of 8/31/2026

 1M2M3M6M1Y3Y
Beta0.761.321.130.831.021.00
Up Beta-0.22-0.22-0.08-0.120.170.75
Down Beta1.891.741.201.591.571.27
Up Capture103%153%174%139%125%128%
Bmk +ve Days10213268138427
Stock +ve Days11223675139412
Down Capture145%217%137%63%105%98%
Bmk -ve Days11213259113324
Stock -ve Days10202852112337

[1] Upside and downside betas calculated using positive and negative benchmark daily returns respectively
Based On 1-Year Data
Annualized
Return
Annualized
Volatility
Sharpe
Ratio
Correlation
with FFIV
FFIV28.0%35.8%0.75-
Sector ETF (XLK)40.7%26.2%1.2636.9%
Equity (SPY)19.3%12.8%1.1136.5%
Gold (GLD)29.8%29.0%0.8910.3%
Commodities (DBC)41.3%20.4%1.585.9%
Real Estate (VNQ)9.2%13.7%0.404.5%
Bitcoin (BTCUSD)-30.9%43.7%-0.7221.1%

Smart multi-asset allocation framework can stack odds in your favor. Learn How
Based On 5-Year Data
Annualized
Return
Annualized
Volatility
Sharpe
Ratio
Correlation
with FFIV
FFIV14.7%30.5%0.48-
Sector ETF (XLK)19.7%25.9%0.6858.3%
Equity (SPY)12.9%17.2%0.5760.3%
Gold (GLD)19.4%18.7%0.849.7%
Commodities (DBC)11.0%19.5%0.4412.9%
Real Estate (VNQ)1.9%18.9%-0.0038.8%
Bitcoin (BTCUSD)9.5%52.7%0.3624.8%

Smart multi-asset allocation framework can stack odds in your favor. Learn How
Based On 10-Year Data
Annualized
Return
Annualized
Volatility
Sharpe
Ratio
Correlation
with FFIV
FFIV12.5%29.8%0.45-
Sector ETF (XLK)24.3%25.0%0.8856.8%
Equity (SPY)15.2%17.9%0.7258.7%
Gold (GLD)12.3%16.3%0.625.4%
Commodities (DBC)7.6%18.1%0.3417.6%
Real Estate (VNQ)4.9%20.7%0.2039.0%
Bitcoin (BTCUSD)63.4%66.2%1.0316.6%

Smart multi-asset allocation framework can stack odds in your favor. Learn How

Short Interest

Short Interest: As Of Date8142026
Short Interest: Shares Quantity1.2 Mil
Short Interest: % Change Since 7312026-12.0%
Average Daily Volume0.7 Mil
Days-to-Cover Short Interest1.8 days
Basic Shares Quantity56.7 Mil
Short % of Basic Shares2.2%

Earnings Returns History

Updated 8/27/2026
Expand for More
 Forward Returns
Earnings Date1D Returns5D Returns21D Returns
7/27/2026-1.1%-0.4%-6.2%
4/28/20268.0%11.9%26.2%
1/27/20268.1%1.6%2.6%
10/27/2025-7.9%-14.2%-17.4%
7/30/20254.8%7.4%6.5%
4/28/2025-0.9%0.8%6.9%
1/28/202511.4%11.1%7.9%
10/28/202410.1%5.9%15.4%
...
SUMMARY STATS   
# Positive131416
# Negative11108
Median Positive6.2%5.6%7.1%
Median Negative-7.2%-6.9%-9.4%
Max Positive13.0%11.9%31.3%
Max Negative-12.8%-14.2%-18.9%
Collapse to Preview
 Forward Returns
Earnings Date1D Returns5D Returns21D Returns
7/27/2026-1.1%-0.4%-6.2%
4/28/20268.0%11.9%26.2%
1/27/20268.1%1.6%2.6%
10/27/2025-7.9%-14.2%-17.4%
7/30/20254.8%7.4%6.5%
4/28/2025-0.9%0.8%6.9%
1/28/202511.4%11.1%7.9%
10/28/202410.1%5.9%15.4%
7/29/202413.0%5.4%12.5%
4/29/2024-9.2%-7.4%-7.6%
1/29/20240.8%-0.4%0.2%
10/24/20232.3%2.3%12.7%
7/24/20235.8%5.3%3.9%
4/19/2023-2.1%-4.7%3.6%
1/24/2023-0.7%0.8%-1.9%
10/25/2022-7.2%-5.8%1.5%
7/25/20223.2%7.2%7.4%
4/26/2022-12.8%-10.7%-18.9%
1/25/2022-8.4%-6.9%-10.3%
10/26/20215.9%9.2%13.8%
7/26/20216.2%7.3%6.7%
4/27/2021-9.1%-11.7%-9.9%
1/26/2021-3.5%-6.9%-8.9%
10/26/20208.5%4.5%31.3%
SUMMARY STATS   
# Positive131416
# Negative11108
Median Positive6.2%5.6%7.1%
Median Negative-7.2%-6.9%-9.4%
Max Positive13.0%11.9%31.3%
Max Negative-12.8%-14.2%-18.9%

SEC Filings

Expand for More
Report DateFiling DateFiling
06/30/202608/06/202610-Q
03/31/202605/05/202610-Q
12/31/202502/05/202610-Q
09/30/202511/25/202510-K
06/30/202508/06/202510-Q
03/31/202505/06/202510-Q
12/31/202402/07/202510-Q
09/30/202411/18/202410-K
06/30/202408/06/202410-Q
03/31/202405/06/202410-Q
12/31/202302/05/202410-Q
09/30/202311/14/202310-K
06/30/202308/04/202310-Q
03/31/202305/05/202310-Q
12/31/202202/03/202310-Q
09/30/202211/15/202210-K
Collapse to Preview
Report DateFiling DateFiling
06/30/202608/06/202610-Q
03/31/202605/05/202610-Q
12/31/202502/05/202610-Q
09/30/202511/25/202510-K
06/30/202508/06/202510-Q
03/31/202505/06/202510-Q
12/31/202402/07/202510-Q
09/30/202411/18/202410-K
06/30/202408/06/202410-Q
03/31/202405/06/202410-Q
12/31/202302/05/202410-Q
09/30/202311/14/202310-K
06/30/202308/04/202310-Q
03/31/202305/05/202310-Q
12/31/202202/03/202310-Q
09/30/202211/15/202210-K
06/30/202208/05/202210-Q
03/31/202205/06/202210-Q
12/31/202102/04/202210-Q
09/30/202111/16/202110-K
06/30/202108/05/202110-Q
03/31/202105/06/202110-Q
12/31/202002/05/202110-Q
09/30/202011/19/202010-K
06/30/202008/05/202010-Q
03/31/202005/06/202010-Q
12/31/201902/05/202010-Q
09/30/201911/15/201910-K

Recent Forward Guidance

Updated 7/28/2026

Latest: Q3 2026 Earnings Reported 7/27/2026

Forward GuidanceGuidance Change
MetricSourceLowMidHigh% Chg% DeltaChangePrior
Q4 2026 RevenueReported870.00 Mil880.00 Mil890.00 Mil   
Q4 2026 Non-GAAP EPSReported4.144.24.26   
2026 Revenue GrowthReported9.0%9.5%10.0% 2.0%RaisedGuidance: 7.5% for 2026
2026 Non-GAAP EPSReported17.217.317.3  RaisedGuidance: 16.4 for 2026

Prior: Q2 2026 Earnings Reported 4/28/2026

Forward GuidanceGuidance Change
MetricSourceLowMidHigh% Chg% DeltaChangePrior
Q3 2026 RevenueReported820.00 Mil830.00 Mil840.00 Mil   
Q3 2026 Non-GAAP EPSReported3.913.974.03   
2026 Revenue GrowthReported7.0%7.5%8.0% 2.0%RaisedGuidance: 5.5% for 2026
2026 Non-GAAP EPSReported16.216.416.63.5% RaisedGuidance: 15.8 for 2026

Q1 2026 Earnings Reported 1/27/2026

Forward GuidanceGuidance Change
MetricSourceLowMidHigh% Chg% DeltaChangePrior
2026 Revenue GrowthReported5.0%5.5%6.0% 3.5%RaisedGuidance: 2.0% for 2026
2026 Non-GAAP Operating MarginReported34.0%34.5%35.0% 0.5%RaisedGuidance: 34.0% for 2026
2026 Non-GAAP EPSReported15.715.816.15.7% RaisedGuidance: 15 for 2026
Q2 2026 RevenueReported770.00 Mil780.00 Mil790.00 Mil3.3% Higher NewGuidance: 755.00 Mil for Q1 2026
Q2 2026 Non-GAAP EPSReported3.343.43.46-5.6% Lower NewGuidance: 3.6 for Q1 2026

Q4 2025 Earnings Reported 10/27/2025

Forward GuidanceGuidance Change
MetricSourceLowMidHigh% Chg% DeltaChangePrior
Q1 2026 RevenueReported730.00 Mil755.00 Mil780.00 Mil-4.4% Lower NewActual: 790.00 Mil for Q4 2025
Q1 2026 Non-GAAP EPSReported3.353.63.85-8.4% Lower NewActual: 3.93 for Q4 2025
2026 Revenue GrowthReported0.0%2.0%4.0% -7.0%Lower NewActual: 9.0% for 2025
2026 Non-GAAP Operating MarginReported33.5%34.0%34.5%   
2026 Non-GAAP EPSReported14.51515.5   

Insider Activity

Updated 8/6/2026
Expand for More
#OwnerTitleHoldingActionFiling DatePriceSharesTransacted
Value
Value of
Held Shares
Form
1Fountain, Thomas DeanEVP Global Services & StrategyDirectSell8062026414.631,208500,8733,341,918Form
2Locoh-Donou, FrancoisPresident, CEO & DirectorDirectSell8062026412.443,7821,559,85460,624,364Form
3Whalen, Chad MichaelEVP, Worldwide SalesDirectSell8042026404.86703284,6178,719,065Form
4Werner, Edward CooperChief Financial OfficerDirectSell8042026405.92599243,146164,804Form
5Okeke, Angelique MEVP, General CounselDirectSell8042026404.49515208,315906,068Form
Collapse to Preview
#OwnerTitleHoldingActionFiling DatePriceSharesTransacted
Value
Value of
Held Shares
Form
1Fountain, Thomas DeanEVP Global Services & StrategyDirectSell8062026414.631,208500,8733,341,918Form
2Locoh-Donou, FrancoisPresident, CEO & DirectorDirectSell8062026412.443,7821,559,85460,624,364Form
3Whalen, Chad MichaelEVP, Worldwide SalesDirectSell8042026404.86703284,6178,719,065Form
4Werner, Edward CooperChief Financial OfficerDirectSell8042026405.92599243,146164,804Form
5Okeke, Angelique MEVP, General CounselDirectSell8042026404.49515208,315906,068Form
6Maddison, John AnthonyChief Product Mkting OfficerDirectSell8042026405.851,000405,853549,119Form
7Anand, KunalChief Technology OfficerDirectSell8042026404.63392158,6155,092,673Form
8Mehta, Nikhil Ramesh DirectSell8032026388.954,0001,555,7952,739,366Form
9Buse, Elizabeth DirectSell6122026399.351,000399,3491,975,578Form
10Werner, Edward CooperChief Financial OfficerDirectSell6032026400.002,5001,000,000162,400Form
11Werner, Edward CooperChief Financial OfficerDirectSell5122026350.001,500525,0001,017,100Form
12Whalen, Chad MichaelEVP, Worldwide SalesDirectSell5122026350.196,2002,171,1877,295,187Form
13Fountain, Thomas DeanEVP Global Services & StrategyDirectSell5072026330.581,328439,0102,664,475Form
14Locoh-Donou, FrancoisPresident, CEO & DirectorDirectSell5072026337.393,7831,276,35949,593,111Form
15Whalen, Chad MichaelEVP, Worldwide SalesDirectSell5052026330.30704232,5328,928,686Form
16Werner, Edward CooperChief Financial OfficerDirectSell5052026322.33599193,0761,420,186Form
17Okeke, Angelique MEVP, General CounselDirectSell5052026322.33842271,402680,116Form
18Maddison, John AnthonyChief Product Mkting OfficerDirectSell5052026322.331,000322,330692,687Form
19Anand, KunalChief Technology OfficerDirectSell5052026322.333,1231,006,6373,930,492Form
20Werner, Edward CooperChief Financial OfficerDirectSell3262026300.001,000300,0001,291,500Form
21Locoh-Donou, FrancoisPresident, CEO & DirectorDirectSell3262026300.003,3341,000,20044,096,700Form
22Whalen, Chad MichaelEVP, Worldwide SalesDirectSell3092026277.05688190,6107,294,449Form
23Werner, Edward CooperChief Financial OfficerDirectSell3052026282.20969273,4531,497,078Form
24Locoh-Donou, FrancoisPresident, CEO & DirectorDirectSell3052026283.533,7551,064,67142,621,728Form
25Dreyer, Michael L DirectSell2232026282.413,067866,137369,669Form
26Higginson, Alan DirectSell2202026275.251,770487,1921,882,710Form
27Anand, KunalChief Technology OfficerDirectSell2112026278.32377104,9272,496,809Form
28Okeke, Angelique MEVP, General CounselDirectSell2112026278.32386107,432521,572Form
29Maddison, John AnthonyChief Product Mkting OfficerDirectSell2112026280.661,000280,660820,931Form
30Fountain, Thomas DeanEVP Global Services & StrategyDirectSell2112026278.321,297360,9812,243,259Form
31Schramm, Lyra AmberChief People OfficerDirectSell2052026281.3719955,99349,802Form
32Fountain, Thomas DeanEVP Global Services & StrategyDirectSell1282026261.873,343875,4312,110,672Form
33Fountain, Thomas DeanEVP Global Services & StrategyDirectSell1222026262.731,110291,6302,995,910Form
34Fountain, Thomas DeanEVP Global Services & StrategyDirectSell1142026265.001,110294,1503,315,945Form
35Fountain, Thomas DeanEVP Global Services & StrategyDirectSell12302025262.861,100289,1463,872,716Form
36Fountain, Thomas DeanEVP Global Services & StrategyDirectSell12232025257.901,110286,2694,083,331Form
37Fountain, Thomas DeanEVP Global Services & StrategyDirectSell12172025264.761,110293,8844,485,829Form
38Fountain, Thomas DeanEVP Global Services & StrategyDirectSell12102025248.661,110276,0134,489,059Form
39Higginson, Alan DirectSell12042025237.111,309310,3772,041,517Form
40Locoh-Donou, FrancoisPresident, CEO & DirectorDirectSell12032025236.991,300308,08735,625,048Form
41Fountain, Thomas DeanEVP Global Services & StrategyDirectSell12032025236.991,110263,0594,541,439Form
42Fountain, Thomas DeanEVP Global Services & StrategyDirectSell11252025234.911,110260,7564,762,432Form
43Fountain, Thomas DeanEVP Global Services & StrategyDirectSell11192025227.441,110252,4584,863,350Form
44Schramm, Lyra AmberChief People OfficerDirectSell11052025246.971,062  Form
45Whalen, Chad MichaelEVP, Worldwide SalesDirectSell11042025249.779,4362,356,8296,404,350Form
46Locoh-Donou, FrancoisPresident, CEO & DirectorDirectSell11042025252.981,300328,87438,357,587Form
47Fountain, Thomas DeanEVP Global Services & StrategyDirectSell11042025249.788,3182,077,6635,618,283Form
48Locoh-Donou, FrancoisPresident, CEO & DirectorDirectSell10032025320.611,300416,79334,482,567Form
49Schramm, Lyra AmberChief People OfficerDirectSell9092025316.572,701  Form
50Locoh-Donou, FrancoisPresident, CEO & DirectorDirectSell9042025309.611,300402,49333,701,977Form
51Whalen, Chad MichaelEVP, Worldwide SalesDirectSell8122025322.245,2971,706,8847,601,870Form
52Fountain, Thomas DeanEVP Global Services & StrategyDirectSell8062025309.731,347417,2066,411,101Form
53Locoh-Donou, FrancoisPresident, CEO & DirectorDirectSell8042025308.141,300400,58233,942,545Form

Investor Activity (13F)

Updated Sep 2, 2026
13F holdings as of Mar 31, 2026 (Q1 2026)

Active managers (13F portfolio over $250M, at least 3 holdings) with a position over $5M that is either over 10% of their portfolio or held in a concentrated book of 50 or fewer total positions. Index/ETF, sovereign, bank, community-bank and charitable/donor-advised filers are excluded.

Active ManagerValue% of PortfolioTotal PositionsQoQFiling
Jericho Capital Asset Management L.P.$764.7 Mil11.3%23ADD +16.4%13F
Talos Eurisko Asset Management LP$34.7 Mil5.9%23ADD +68.1%13F
Lyrical Asset Management LP$274.1 Mil4.2%39Hold13F
Shannon River Fund Management LLC$14.5 Mil2.8%28New13F
Active ManagerValue% of PortfolioTotal PositionsQoQFiling
Shannon River Fund Management LLC$14.5 Mil2.8%28New13F
Talos Eurisko Asset Management LP$34.7 Mil5.9%23ADD +68.1%13F
Jericho Capital Asset Management L.P.$764.7 Mil11.3%23ADD +16.4%13F
Active Manager
Active ManagerValue% of PortfolioTotal PositionsQoQFiling
Jericho Capital Asset Management L.P.$764.7 Mil11.3%23ADD +16.4%13F
Lyrical Asset Management LP$274.1 Mil4.2%39Hold13F
Talos Eurisko Asset Management LP$34.7 Mil5.9%23ADD +68.1%13F
Shannon River Fund Management LLC$14.5 Mil2.8%28New13F
Core Cache Last Updated: 8/31/2026