F5 Networks stock rating reiterated by William Blair amid security breach

Published 28/10/2025, 13:08
F5 Networks stock rating reiterated by William Blair amid security breach

Investing.com - William Blair reiterated its Market Perform rating on F5 Networks (NASDAQ:FFIV) following the company’s fiscal fourth-quarter results, which exceeded expectations on both revenue and earnings. The company maintains impressive gross profit margins of 81% and generated nearly $955 million in free cash flow over the past twelve months, according to InvestingPro data.

The company delivered strong quarterly performance with beats on the top and bottom line, demonstrating solid execution in the most recent period. InvestingPro data shows 10 analysts have recently revised their earnings estimates upward, reflecting growing confidence in F5’s outlook.

Despite the positive quarterly results, F5 Networks issued disappointing guidance for fiscal 2026, projecting only 2% revenue growth, which fell below market expectations.

William Blair identified a recent security breach as the "major culprit" behind the tepid outlook, noting the incident is likely to limit near-term growth in F5’s systems business through deal push-outs and extended sales cycles.

The research firm expects F5 shares to "remain in the penalty box" until the full impact of the security breach becomes clearer to investors and the market.

In other recent news, F5 Networks reported strong fiscal fourth-quarter 2025 earnings, with earnings per share of $4.39, surpassing analysts’ forecast of $3.97. The company also exceeded revenue expectations, reaching $810 million compared to the anticipated $794.86 million. Despite these positive financial results, RBC Capital has adjusted its price target for F5 Networks from $350 to $315, while maintaining a Sector Perform rating. The firm noted that a previously announced security incident negatively impacted the company’s performance, although the quarter was solid overall. These developments reflect the recent activities surrounding F5 Networks.

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