Tearsheet

Qualys (QLYS)


Market Price (12/17/2025): $143.38 | Market Cap: $5.2 Bil
Sector: Information Technology | Industry: Systems Software

Qualys (QLYS)


Market Price (12/17/2025): $143.38
Market Cap: $5.2 Bil
Sector: Information Technology
Industry: Systems Software

Investment Highlights Why It Matters Which of these 2 stories sounds closer for this stock?

1. Generates cash flow

The stock generated 4% or more of the share price (called cash flow yield), and shows moderate 10-15% or more growth.

2. Riding a trend

Think Tesla during the pandemic of 2020 when EVs were riding a cultural high, or Nvidia in the current AI boom, or even Figma. These companies don’t have enough yield, or, enough growth, or both - however - they are riding a trend. They have momentum. These can be more volatile - they don’t have the floor of strong cash flow


0 Attractive operating margins
Op Mgn LTMOperating Margin = Operating Income / Revenue Reflects profitability before taxes and before impact of capital structure (interest payments). is 33%
Weak multi-year price returns
2Y Excs Rtn is -71%, 3Y Excs Rtn is -51%
Key risks
QLYS key risks include [1] intense pressure from larger, Show more.
1 Attractive cash flow generation
CFO/Rev LTMCash Flow from Operations / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is 43%, FCF/Rev LTMFree Cash Flow / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is 42%
  
2 Attractive yield
FCF Yield is 5.7%
  
3 Low stock price volatility
Vol 12M is 35%
  
4 Megatrend and thematic drivers
Megatrends include Cybersecurity, and Cloud Computing. Themes include Software Security, Cloud Security, 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 33%
1 Attractive cash flow generation
CFO/Rev LTMCash Flow from Operations / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is 43%, FCF/Rev LTMFree Cash Flow / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is 42%
2 Attractive yield
FCF Yield is 5.7%
3 Low stock price volatility
Vol 12M is 35%
4 Megatrend and thematic drivers
Megatrends include Cybersecurity, and Cloud Computing. Themes include Software Security, Cloud Security, Show more.
5 Weak multi-year price returns
2Y Excs Rtn is -71%, 3Y Excs Rtn is -51%
6 Key risks
QLYS key risks include [1] intense pressure from larger, Show more.

Valuation, Metrics & Events

QLYS Stock


Why The Stock Moved


Qualitative Assessment

AI Generated Analysis | Feedback

Here are the key points for why Qualys (QLYS) stock moved by approximately 5.7% from August 31, 2025, to December 17, 2025:

1. Qualys Reported Strong Q3 2025 Financial Results: On November 4, 2025, Qualys announced impressive third-quarter 2025 results, surpassing analyst estimates for both earnings and revenue. The company reported a 10% increase in revenue, reaching $169.9 million. Adjusted EBITDA margin improved to 49% from 45% in the prior year, and non-GAAP EPS was $1.86, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.56. Operating cash flow also saw a significant 48% increase to $90.4 million. This strong financial performance and raised full-year guidance likely contributed positively to the stock's movement.

2. Attainment of FedRAMP High Authorization: Qualys announced on August 27, 2025, that it had achieved FedRAMP High Authorization for its GovCloud Platform. This authorization is a significant milestone, positioning Qualys as one of the few cybersecurity platforms to meet stringent federal security and compliance standards, which is expected to drive incremental growth in the public sector.

Show more

Stock Movement Drivers

Return vs. Risk


Price Returns Compared

 202020212022202320242025Total [1]
Returns
QLYS Return46%13%-18%75%-29%3%74%
Peers Return119%46%-41%72%15%-13%222%
S&P 500 Return16%27%-19%24%23%16%110%

Monthly Win Rates [3]
QLYS Win Rate58%67%25%83%33%42% 
Peers Win Rate65%67%37%65%55%43% 
S&P 500 Win Rate58%75%42%67%75%73% 

Max Drawdowns [4]
QLYS Max Drawdown-18%-25%-20%-9%-39%-18% 
Peers Max Drawdown-35%-17%-47%-6%-18%-30% 
S&P 500 Max Drawdown-31%-1%-25%-1%-2%-15% 


[1] Cumulative total returns since the beginning of 2020
[2] Peers: TENB, RPD, CRWD, PANW, FTNT. See QLYS 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] 2025 data is for the year up to 12/16/2025 (YTD)

How Low Can It Go

Unique KeyEventQLYSS&P 500
2022 Inflation Shock2022 Inflation Shock  
2022 Inflation Shock% Loss% Loss-36.9%-25.4%
2022 Inflation Shock% Gain to Breakeven% Gain to Breakeven58.4%34.1%
2022 Inflation ShockTime to BreakevenTime to Breakeven406 days464 days
2020 Covid Pandemic2020 Covid Pandemic  
2020 Covid Pandemic% Loss% Loss-29.2%-33.9%
2020 Covid Pandemic% Gain to Breakeven% Gain to Breakeven41.3%51.3%
2020 Covid PandemicTime to BreakevenTime to Breakeven49 days148 days
2018 Correction2018 Correction  
2018 Correction% Loss% Loss-30.1%-19.8%
2018 Correction% Gain to Breakeven% Gain to Breakeven43.0%24.7%
2018 CorrectionTime to BreakevenTime to Breakeven475 days120 days

Compare to GWRE, INFA, TENB, CHOW, ECST


In The Past

Qualys's stock fell -36.9% during the 2022 Inflation Shock from a high on 1/27/2021. A -36.9% loss requires a 58.4% gain to breakeven.

Preserve Wealth

Limiting losses and compounding gains is essential to preserving wealth over time.

Asset Allocation

Actively managed asset allocation strategies protect wealth. Learn more.

About Qualys (QLYS)

Better Bets than Qualys (QLYS)

Trade Ideas

Select past ideas related to QLYS. For more, see Trefis Trade Ideas.

Unique KeyDateTickerCompanyCategoryTrade Strategy6M Fwd Rtn12M Fwd Rtn12M Max DD
ENPH_11302025_Dip_Buyer_High_CFO_Margins_ExInd_DE11302025ENPHEnphase EnergyDip BuyDB | CFO/Rev | Low D/EDip Buy with High Cash Flow Margins
Buying dips for companies with significant cash flows from operations and reasonable debt / market cap
10.4%10.4%-0.9%
PD_11262025_Dip_Buyer_High_FCF_Yield_ExInd_DE_RevG11262025PDPagerDutyDip BuyDB | FCF Yield | Low D/EDip Buy with High Free Cash Flow Yield
Buying dips for companies with significant free cash flow yield (FCF / Market Cap) and reasonable debt / market cap
10.7%10.7%0.0%
CRM_11212025_Dip_Buyer_FCFYield11212025CRMSalesforceDip BuyDB | FCFY OPMDip Buy with High FCF Yield and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with high FCF yield and meaningfully high operating margin
12.2%12.2%-0.1%
HUBS_11212025_Dip_Buyer_High_CFO_Margins_ExInd_DE11212025HUBSHubSpotDip BuyDB | CFO/Rev | Low D/EDip Buy with High Cash Flow Margins
Buying dips for companies with significant cash flows from operations and reasonable debt / market cap
4.2%4.2%0.0%
FIVN_11212025_Dip_Buyer_High_FCF_Yield_ExInd_DE_RevG11212025FIVNFive9Dip BuyDB | FCF Yield | Low D/EDip Buy with High Free Cash Flow Yield
Buying dips for companies with significant free cash flow yield (FCF / Market Cap) and reasonable debt / market cap
13.6%13.6%0.0%
Unique KeyDateTickerCompanyCategoryTrade Strategy6M Fwd Rtn12M Fwd Rtn12M Max DD
ENPH_11302025_Dip_Buyer_High_CFO_Margins_ExInd_DE11302025ENPHEnphase EnergyDip BuyDB | CFO/Rev | Low D/EDip Buy with High Cash Flow Margins
Buying dips for companies with significant cash flows from operations and reasonable debt / market cap
10.4%10.4%-0.9%
PD_11262025_Dip_Buyer_High_FCF_Yield_ExInd_DE_RevG11262025PDPagerDutyDip BuyDB | FCF Yield | Low D/EDip Buy with High Free Cash Flow Yield
Buying dips for companies with significant free cash flow yield (FCF / Market Cap) and reasonable debt / market cap
10.7%10.7%0.0%
CRM_11212025_Dip_Buyer_FCFYield11212025CRMSalesforceDip BuyDB | FCFY OPMDip Buy with High FCF Yield and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with high FCF yield and meaningfully high operating margin
12.2%12.2%-0.1%
HUBS_11212025_Dip_Buyer_High_CFO_Margins_ExInd_DE11212025HUBSHubSpotDip BuyDB | CFO/Rev | Low D/EDip Buy with High Cash Flow Margins
Buying dips for companies with significant cash flows from operations and reasonable debt / market cap
4.2%4.2%0.0%
FIVN_11212025_Dip_Buyer_High_FCF_Yield_ExInd_DE_RevG11212025FIVNFive9Dip BuyDB | FCF Yield | Low D/EDip Buy with High Free Cash Flow Yield
Buying dips for companies with significant free cash flow yield (FCF / Market Cap) and reasonable debt / market cap
13.6%13.6%0.0%

Recent Active Movers

Recent Active Movers

More From Trefis

Peer Comparisons for Qualys

Peers to compare with:

Financials

QLYSTENBRPDCRWDPANWFTNTMedian
NameQualys Tenable Rapid7 CrowdStr.Palo Alt.Fortinet  
Mkt Price143.5724.6715.71488.53187.0982.47113.02
Mkt Cap5.23.01.0122.8138.362.333.7
Rev LTM6539758594,5659,5576,5552,770
Op Inc LTM213-517-3921,2652,033115
FCF LTM2712481571,1043,6912,028688
FCF 3Y Avg2431811211,0233,2311,919633
CFO LTM2812651801,4603,9772,448871
CFO 3Y Avg2551941441,3123,4282,231784

Growth & Margins

QLYSTENBRPDCRWDPANWFTNTMedian
NameQualys Tenable Rapid7 CrowdStr.Palo Alt.Fortinet  
Rev Chg LTM10.1%11.1%3.1%22.0%15.3%14.8%12.9%
Rev Chg 3Y Avg11.7%14.6%9.7%31.1%18.1%17.1%15.9%
Rev Chg Q10.4%11.2%1.5%22.2%15.7%14.4%12.8%
QoQ Delta Rev Chg LTM2.5%2.7%0.4%5.2%3.6%3.4%3.0%
Op Mgn LTM32.5%-0.5%1.9%-8.6%13.2%31.0%7.6%
Op Mgn 3Y Avg30.3%-3.3%-0.2%-4.0%10.2%27.6%5.0%
QoQ Delta Op Mgn LTM1.5%1.0%-0.8%0.1%-0.2%0.1%0.1%
CFO/Rev LTM43.1%27.2%21.0%32.0%41.6%37.3%34.7%
CFO/Rev 3Y Avg43.0%21.9%17.4%35.8%41.1%38.6%37.2%
FCF/Rev LTM41.6%25.4%18.2%24.2%38.6%30.9%28.2%
FCF/Rev 3Y Avg40.9%20.4%14.6%28.0%38.8%33.3%30.7%

Valuation

QLYSTENBRPDCRWDPANWFTNTMedian
NameQualys Tenable Rapid7 CrowdStr.Palo Alt.Fortinet  
Mkt Cap5.23.01.0122.8138.362.333.7
P/S7.33.61.426.914.59.78.5
P/EBIT22.4334.429.9-603.7-28.028.0
P/E25.2-104.854.3-390.8123.833.929.6
P/CFO16.913.36.884.134.825.921.4
Total Yield4.0%-1.0%1.8%-0.3%0.8%2.9%1.3%
Dividend Yield0.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%
FCF Yield 3Y Avg4.9%4.3%7.0%1.6%-3.5%4.3%
D/E0.00.10.80.0-0.00.0
Net D/E-0.10.00.5-0.0--0.0-0.0

Returns

QLYSTENBRPDCRWDPANWFTNTMedian
NameQualys Tenable Rapid7 CrowdStr.Palo Alt.Fortinet  
1M Rtn0.0%-8.6%12.0%-9.1%-8.8%0.2%-4.3%
3M Rtn8.6%-16.7%-20.0%9.8%-7.1%3.4%-1.9%
6M Rtn2.4%-24.9%-32.7%-0.7%-7.4%-19.8%-13.6%
12M Rtn-1.8%-42.0%-60.0%25.8%-7.6%-16.0%-11.8%
3Y Rtn26.6%-34.5%-57.7%338.1%147.8%58.8%42.7%
1M Excs Rtn-1.0%-9.5%11.0%-10.1%-9.8%-0.8%-5.3%
3M Excs Rtn5.6%-20.3%-22.5%6.6%-10.9%-0.3%-5.6%
6M Excs Rtn-11.3%-38.5%-46.3%-14.4%-21.1%-33.5%-27.3%
12M Excs Rtn-17.9%-55.0%-73.9%21.3%-18.9%-28.7%-23.8%
3Y Excs Rtn-50.9%-108.1%-125.1%251.7%62.6%-14.6%-32.8%

Financials

Segment Financials

Revenue by Segment

$ Mil20242023202220212020
Single Segment554490411363322
Total554490411363322


Price Behavior

Short Interest

Short Interest: As Of Date11282025
Short Interest: Shares Quantity3,165,217
Short Interest: % Change Since 11152025-6.9%
Average Daily Volume320,489
Days-to-Cover Short Interest9.88
Basic Shares Quantity36,037,000
Short % of Basic Shares8.8%

Earnings Returns History

Expand for More

 Forward Returns
Earnings Date1D Returns5D Returns21D Returns
11/4/202520.6%26.9%20.5%
8/5/2025-0.2%-0.9%2.8%
5/6/20250.6%7.8%10.2%
2/6/2025-3.7%0.3%-11.0%
11/5/202424.2%20.5%22.3%
8/6/2024-8.6%-8.8%-9.8%
5/7/2024-9.8%-9.8%-18.6%
2/7/2024-4.2%-3.7%-4.8%
...
SUMMARY STATS   
# Positive101211
# Negative141213
Median Positive8.6%7.3%13.0%
Median Negative-5.9%-8.0%-8.9%
Max Positive24.2%26.9%22.9%
Max Negative-16.0%-18.8%-21.6%

SEC Filings

Expand for More

Report DateFiling DateFiling
93020251104202510-Q 9/30/2025
6302025805202510-Q 6/30/2025
3312025506202510-Q 3/31/2025
12312024221202510-K 12/31/2024
93020241105202410-Q 9/30/2024
6302024806202410-Q 6/30/2024
3312024507202410-Q 3/31/2024
12312023222202410-K 12/31/2023
93020231102202310-Q 9/30/2023
6302023803202310-Q 6/30/2023
3312023504202310-Q 3/31/2023
12312022223202310-K 12/31/2022
93020221102202210-Q 9/30/2022
6302022808202210-Q 6/30/2022
3312022504202210-Q 3/31/2022
12312021222202210-K 12/31/2021