Fortinet, Inc. (FTNT)
Fortinet is a cybersecurity giant that builds the hardware and software firewalls that act as digital bouncers for corporate networks.
Is Fortinet, Inc. a good stock for a UK beginner?
The honest version: Fortinet is a cybersecurity giant that builds the hardware and software firewalls that act as digital bouncers for corporate networks.
Over about 2 years to 2026-07-31. This is the share price only; any dividends would add to it. And it's the USD return - as a UK investor your actual £ return also moves with the exchange rate. Past performance is not a guide to the future, and it could just as easily have fallen.
Based on beta - how much the price swings versus the whole market. Bumpier isn't bad; it just means a rougher ride, which matters more the sooner you might need the money.
Prices move on results, news and the mood of the whole market - no single headline explains a day, and a quiet week is usually just noise, not a signal.
Cybersecurity becomes a non-negotiable utility for all businesses
Technological disruption makes current firewalls obsolete
What does Fortinet, Inc. do?
Fortinet makes its money by selling security appliances and subscription services that protect businesses from hackers and data breaches. As more companies move their operations online, the demand for this digital protection has grown steadily. Watch whether they can keep winning new customers while holding off intense competition from rival tech security firms.
On our factor screen it looks strongest on momentum and quality, and weakest on value.
- !Pays no dividend - the whole return rides on the share price
- ✓Growing - revenue up about 26% over the year
- ✓Very profitable - turns about 28% of sales into profit
- !High P/E of 57 - big growth is already priced in
- ✓Low debt - a sturdier balance sheet
- ✓Strong return on shareholder money (ROE 117%)
- Quality screens high (87/100)
- Growth screens high (77/100)
- Momentum screens high (92/100)
- Very high profit margins on products
- Strong track record of revenue growth
- Value screens low (7/100)
- Income screens low (16/100)
- Cybersecurity threats evolve quickly, requiring constant innovation
- Economic downturns could lead companies to cut IT budgets
- High share price volatility compared to the broader market
What do Fortinet, Inc.'s numbers mean?
How much money does Fortinet, Inc. make?
Revenue and profit by quarter, and how much of each sale turns into profit.
Does Fortinet, Inc. pay a dividend?
No - Fortinet, Inc. doesn't currently pay a dividend, so the whole return would rest on the share price. Plenty of growing companies reinvest their profits instead of paying them out - neither approach is better or worse, they're just different.
When does Fortinet, Inc. report earnings, and how did recent quarters go?
Fortinet, Inc. is next scheduled to report on about 2026-11-04 - dates can move, and we don't predict results; this just tells you when to look.
Each quarter a company reports its results against what analysts expected. ‘Beating’ or ‘missing’ is about that expectation, not whether the business is doing well in absolute terms.
| Reported | Expected EPS: The earnings per share analysts expected for the quarter - the average of their forecasts. 'Beating' or 'missing' is measured against this number. | Actual EPS | vs expected |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-07-29 | $0.75 | $0.90 | Beat +21% |
| 2026-05-06 | $0.62 | $0.82 | Beat +33% |
| 2026-02-05 | $0.74 | $0.81 | Beat +9% |
| 2025-11-05 | $0.63 | $0.74 | Beat +17% |
| 2025-08-06 | $0.59 | $0.64 | Beat +8% |
| 2025-05-07 | $0.53 | $0.58 | Beat +9% |
Across the last 6 quarters here, Fortinet, Inc. came in ahead of what analysts expected 6 times. One quarter is noise, not a trend.
See who else reports over the next two weeks →
Reported vs expected earnings per share (EPS) from published results; the expectation is the analyst consensus, not our view. Report dates are estimates that can move.
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Hewlett Packard EnterpriseWhat are the scenarios for Fortinet, Inc.?
An illustrative range for the year ahead, with the assumption behind each case — not a prediction or a price target.
What are the pros and cons of Fortinet, Inc.?
How many points the write-up makes each way — a balance check, not a score or verdict.
- Very high profit margins on products
- Strong track record of revenue growth
- Essential service in an increasingly digital world
- High valuation compared to earnings
- No dividend payments for shareholders
- Faces intense competition from other tech giants
- Cybersecurity threats evolve quickly, requiring constant innovation
- Economic downturns could lead companies to cut IT budgets
- High share price volatility compared to the broader market
The write-up's own warning lights — if these start happening, the case above changes.
- A significant and sustained drop in revenue growth
- Loss of market share to a major competitor
- A fundamental shift in how businesses secure their networks
Built from public filings & market prices, checked for an education-only tone, and never a price target. How we make these →
This plain-English summary was auto-generated on 2026-08-01 from public data and checked for an education-only, no-advice tone (the figures above carry their own, usually fresher, 'as of' date). It's information, never a recommendation.