Qualys exceeded Wall Street’s third-quarter earnings and revenue estimates, but its shares fell about 7% in after-hours trading. Investors were weighing the company’s outlook for the current quarter alongside its results; the stock had risen 52% in 2026 before the report.
Q3 earnings and revenue top estimates
The cybersecurity company reported results on November 9, after the U.S. market close, for the quarter ended in September. Adjusted earnings were $2.12 per share, up 14% year over year, while revenue rose 11% to $188 million.
Analysts had forecast adjusted earnings of $1.96 per share and revenue of $186.6 million. Both figures came in ahead of expectations, although the gap between reported revenue and the consensus estimate was modest. After the results, Qualys shares dropped 7% to $188 in after-hours trading, a contrast with the quarterly beat that put attention on the company’s growth outlook as well as its reported performance.
Q4 revenue outlook edges past expectations
For the quarter ending in December, Qualys forecast midpoint revenue of $192 million, slightly above the market estimate of $191 million. The guidance gives investors a near-term measure of expected business growth, though the company’s ability to sustain that pace will be judged against its actual results in the coming quarter.
Based in Foster City, California, Qualys provides vulnerability management services. Its security and regulatory compliance products help customers identify risks and meet applicable policy requirements. Revenue and forward guidance are closely watched measures of demand for its enterprise cybersecurity offerings and the pace of growth.
Shares had gained 52% in 2026
Qualys shares had climbed 52% in 2026 before the earnings release, making the after-hours decline a reversal following a strong year-to-date advance. The stock’s Computer Software-Security industry group ranked 60th among 145 tracked groups.
The available information does not point to a single cause for the post-earnings drop. Investors will be able to compare the company’s revenue guidance with reported growth as Qualys delivers its next quarterly results.