What happened
Shares of Palo Alto Networks Inc. (PANW -1.22%) were up 16.5% as of 11:15 a.m. EDT on Thursday after the network and enterprise security specialist announced better-than-expected fiscal third-quarter 2017 results.
So what
Quarterly revenue rose 24.9% year over year to $431.8 million, and translated to 32.6% growth in adjusted earnings per share to $0.61. Both figures were above Palo Alto Networks' guidance provided last quarter, which called for revenue of $406 million to $416 million and adjusted earnings of $0.54 per share to $0.56 per share.
IMAGE SOURCE: PALO ALTO NETWORKS
CEO Mark McLaughlin noted it was a record quarter in terms of revenue, while the company added the second-highest number of new customers in its history.
Now what
In addition, Palo Alto Networks expects current-quarter revenue in the range of $481 million to $491 million, or year-over year growth of 20% to 23%. That should result in adjusted net income per share of $0.78 to $0.80. Analysts, on average, were expecting revenue of $484.4 million to translate to lower adjusted earnings of $0.74 per share.
All things considered, there was nothing not to like about this strong quarter from Palo Alto Networks. And it's no surprise to see investors aggressively bidding up shares today.
