CrowdStrike gives upbeat earnings outlook as AI raises the stakes around cyberthreats

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CrowdStrike gives upbeat earnings outlook as AI raises the stakes around cyberthreats.

companies :: 10hrs ago :: source - marketwatch

By Hannah Pedone

CrowdStrike expects fiscal first-quarter revenue of $1.36 billion to $1.364 billion, narrowly beating the FactSet consensus. Photo: Getty Images

CrowdStrike said Tuesday that it’s seeing growing demand for its cybersecurity tools as artificial intelligence makes attacks more sophisticated. That helped drive a slightly stronger-than-anticipated outlook for the current period.

The company expects fiscal first-quarter revenue of $1.36 billion to $1.364 billion and adjusted earnings per share of $1.06 to $1.07. Analysts were modeling $1.355 billion in revenue and $1.06 in adjusted earnings per share.

CEO George Kurtz said in a statement that as companies “rapidly adopt” artificial intelligence, CrowdStrike CRWD is proving to be “mission-critical infrastructure.”

But the report and associated commentary weren’t enough to jolt the stock, which slipped 0.2% in Tuesday’s extended session. Through the regular-session close, shares had fallen 16.5% on the year, reflecting concerns that AI will disrupt traditional software.

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CrowdStrike’s management positioned the company as an AI beneficiary instead. Kurtz said on the earnings call that the the company is seeing “elevated demand” for its Falcon cybersecurity platform as AI is “weaponizing adversaries to attack with increased speed, sophistication and precision.”

For the full fiscal year 2027, CrowdStrike’s management is expecting $5.868 billion to $5.928 billion in revenue. Analysts were expecting $5.861 billion.

The company is targeting $4.78 to $4.90 in adjusted earnings per share, while analysts were expecting $4.80.

The company expects adjusted operating income of $308 million to $310 million for the fiscal first quarter, above the $306 million consensus view.

Analysts have defended CrowdStrike in the face of AI concerns. Piper Sandler’s Rob Owens upgraded CrowdStrike’s stock to overweight from neutral over the weekend, writing that it should “shine through as one of the top names to own” as investors step back and think about the cybersecurity sector.

CrowdStrike on Tuesday reported fiscal fourth-quarter revenue of $1.305 billion, up 23% from a year before. Analysts surveyed by FactSet had been expecting revenue of $1.297 billion.

The company reported adjusted earnings per share of $1.12 for the fiscal fourth quarter, up from the 81 cents recorded for the year-earlier period, and above the FactSet consensus of $1.10.