F5, Inc. logo

F5, Inc.(FFIV)

Top Performer Top performer
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EXPLORE ADVISORIES AND THEIR HISTORY
QUALITY SIGNAL
5-STAR RATING
PASS
LAST CLOSE
$310.84
11/06/2026
(24-hour delay)

Advisory History & Simulated Performance *

*as per simulation (see disclosures)
  • ALL
  • 1Y
  • 1M
  • 1W
  • BUY Advisory
  • SELL Advisory (Profit)
  • SELL Advisory (Loss)
  • Profit
  • Loss
  • PASS (Skip)
Upturn Stock price based on last close iconStock price based on last close
Simulated performance—not actual client returns. Excludes advisory subscription fees, trading commissions, and taxes, which would reduce returns. Results depend on calculation assumptions and do not guarantee future outcomes. See Disclosures for full methodology, assumptions, and limitations.

Advisory Performance History (Simulated)Advisory Performance History info

Simulated performance—not actual client returns. Excludes advisory subscription fees, trading commissions, and taxes, which would reduce returns. Results depend on calculation assumptions and do not guarantee future outcomes. See Disclosures for full methodology, assumptions, and limitations.

Upturn Advisory & Investor View for FFIV

11/06/2026: FFIV (5-star) is currently NOT-A-BUY. Pass it for now.

F5 Networks Inc is a well-established player in application delivery and security, serving large enterprises that require high performance and reliability. The company is currently undergoing a strategic transformation, shifting from legacy hardware sales toward recurring software and cloud-based subscriptions. Its primary growth opportunity lies in its multi-cloud security platform, which helps organizations manage traffic and security across diverse environments. Risks include intense competition from cloud-native security firms and the challenge of successfully migrating its legacy client base to newer products. The stock may suit value-oriented investors seeking exposure to enterprise infrastructure, provided they monitor the company's progress in expanding its recurring revenue mix.

How to Read the Upturn Advisory

The Upturn Star Rating and the current BUY, SELL, or PASS advisory are generated by Upturn’s AI advisory engine based on proprietary signal analysis, price behavior, advisory history, and historical signal performance.

Company fundamentals, valuation, risks, and news provide supporting context about the business.

Investor Fit

Investor styleFitWhy
Growth investorMixed fitF5 offers moderate growth prospects linked to cloud migration rather than high-octane hypergrowth.
Momentum investorWeak fitThe stock often exhibits lower volatility and slower price trends compared to pure-play AI or cloud-native growth stocks.
Value investorStrong fitF5 frequently trades at reasonable valuation multiples relative to its stable cash flow and established market position.
Dividend investorWeak fitF5 does not pay a cash dividend, relying on share repurchases for shareholder return.
Low-risk investorMixed fitWhile established and profitable, the company faces significant structural transformation risks in a changing tech landscape.

Risk Profile

Risk factorLevelWhy it matters
Price volatilityMediumThe stock is subject to broader technology sector swings and quarterly enterprise spending fluctuations.
Valuation riskLowThe company historically maintains valuation discipline, limiting the risk of severe multiple contraction.
Competition risk (Cloud-native security)HighF5 must continuously fend off more agile, cloud-native providers stealing market share in new application deployments.
Business qualityStrongF5 maintains high customer stickiness and a vital role in complex enterprise network architectures.
Dividend incomeLow / noneInvestors looking for steady income streams will not find them here as there is no dividend payout.
Execution riskMediumSuccess depends on the ongoing effective integration and adoption of newer software-based SaaS products.

Price Behavior

Strong Uptrend
PRICE PATH

Strong Uptrend

The stock has maintained a strong upward price trend across the last three quarters.

Choppy
PRICE STABILITY

Choppy

The stock has experienced frequent reversals and pronounced short-term price swings.

Analysis of Past Performance

Type Stock
Historic Profit 113.79%
Avg. Invested days 90
Today’s Advisory PASS
Upturn Advisory Rating upturn star rating icon
Upturn Advisory Performance Upturn Advisory Performance icon 5.0
Stock Returns Performance Upturn Returns Performance icon 5.0
Upturn Profits based on simulation icon Profits based on simulation
Upturn last close icon Last Close 11/06/2026

Upturn Scorecard

Upturn Star Rating

★★★★★
FFIV receives a 4-star rating, supported by strong unit economics, solid company fundamentals, and solid analyst coverage. The rating is constrained by weak price momentum.

Company Fundamentals

★★★★★
FFIV has solid overall fundamentals (4 stars), with solid financial health, moderate growth momentum, and solid ownership. In FY2026 versus FY2025, moderate earnings growth (+4.3%) and strong cash generation (FCF margin 25.4%) are partially offset by very low insider ownership of 0.56%.

Financial Health Rating

★★★★★
FFIV's financial health is supported by solid cash strength, including free-cash-flow generation (25.4% of revenue). Liquidity is moderate (3 stars), which helps explain the 4-star overall score.

Growth Momentum Score

★★★★★
Revenue growth is FFIV's strongest growth driver at +10.6% FY2026 versus FY2025 (solid, 4 stars). By comparison, while free-cash-flow growth (-4.1%, slightly negative) holds the profile back, so recent growth is not broad-based across the business.

Ownership

★★★★★
Institutional ownership is 101.1% and approximately 99.2% of outstanding shares are publicly tradable, supporting liquidity and institutional participation. Insider ownership is only 0.56%, which materially reduces the ownership score.

Top 5 Institutional Investors

BlackRock Inc 11.05%
Vanguard Capital Management, LLC 6.49%
State Street Corp 5.45%
Vanguard Portfolio Management, LLC 4.94%
Jericho Capital Asset Management LP 3.73%

Unit Economics (Per $1K Revenue)

★★★★★
FFIV generates approximately $822 of gross profit, $239 of operating income, and $254 of free cash flow for every $1,000 of revenue. Based on FY2026 results. Strong margins, cash conversion, and capital efficiency support the rating.

Economic Dimensions

★★★★★
Effective Tax Rate: 16.80%

Quantitative Style Profile

★★★★★
FFIV has a high-quality, large-cap, liquid profile. Weak momentum is the primary drawback, while valuation that is moderately attractive rather than deeply discounted.

Style Classification

Quality Focused

Quality TiltLarge / Mega Cap StabilityHighly Liquid / Institution-Friendly

Key Highlights

Company Size Large-Cap Stock
Market Capitalization 17.66B USD
Price to earnings Ratio 24.83
1Y Target Price 444.67
Price to earnings Ratio 24.83
1Y Target Price 444.67
Volume (30-day avg) 905.4K shares
Beta 1.09
52 Weeks Range 223.76 - 483.30
Updated Date 11/08/2026
52 Weeks Range 223.76 - 483.30
Updated Date 11/08/2026
Dividends yield (FY) -
Basic EPS (TTM) 12.52

How Company Makes Money

Business areaWhat it includesRetail investor read
ProductHardware and software licenses for application delivery controllers and security modules.The foundational part of the business that is slowly transitioning toward subscription models.
ServicesSupport, maintenance, and professional services.Provides stable, recurring revenue from the massive installed base of legacy hardware.
SaaS / SubscriptionCloud-based security and management services like NGINX and Distributed Cloud.The primary engine for future growth as businesses migrate to cloud infrastructure.

Analyzing Revenue: Products, Geography and Growth

Revenue by Products

Product revenue - Year on Year

Revenue by Geography

Geography revenue - Year on Year

Earnings Date

Report Date 2026-10-27
When After Market
Estimate 3.32
Actual 3.5

Profitability

Profit Margin 21.14%
Operating Margin (TTM) 23.99%

Management Effectiveness

Return on Assets (TTM) 7.74%
Return on Equity (TTM) 19.01%

Valuation

Trailing PE 24.83
Forward PE 16.98
Enterprise Value 16.28B
Price to Sales(TTM) 5.17
Enterprise Value 16.28B
Price to Sales(TTM) 5.17
Enterprise Value to Revenue 4.77
Enterprise Value to EBITDA 17.66
Shares Outstanding 56.81M
Shares Floating 56.33M
Shares Outstanding 56.81M
Shares Floating 56.33M
Percent Insiders 0.56
Percent Institutions 101.12

Financial Metrics

🧭 Investment Snapshot

Total Revenue (Scale)

Information icon Total money earned from selling products or services before any costs. It is needed to understand the scale of the business and its ability to generate income.

Net Income (Profit)

Information icon Final profit after all expenses, interest, and taxes are deducted. It is needed to determine the overall profitability available to shareholders.

Free Cash Flow (Cash Strength)

Information icon Cash remaining after operating activities and capital expenditures, showing cash available for growth. It is needed to evaluate the company’s ability to invest, pay dividends, or reduce debt.

📈 Growth & Strength

Operating Income (Core Profit)

Information icon Profit from core operations after deducting all operating expenses. It is needed to measure how efficiently the company runs its primary business activities.

EBITDA (Cash Earnings)

Information icon Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, indicating operating cash potential. It is needed to compare operating performance across companies without accounting or financing differences.

Gross Profit (Unit Profitability)

Information icon Revenue minus cost of revenue, showing profit after direct production costs. It is needed to evaluate core business profitability before overhead expenses.

🛡️ Financial Safety

Cash (Liquidity Buffer)

Information icon Total cash and cash equivalents on hand. It is needed to evaluate immediate liquidity and financial flexibility.

Total Debt (Leverage Risk)

Information icon Total debt including both short-term and long-term components. It is needed to assess the company’s leverage and financial risk.

Net Working Capital (Short-Term Health)

Information icon Current assets minus current liabilities, indicating short-term liquidity strength. It is needed to assess whether the company can meet its short-term obligations.

🧱 Balance Sheet Strength

Stockholder Equity (Net Worth)

Information icon Total equity value held by shareholders. It is needed to understand the net worth of the company from the owners’ perspective.

Total Assets (Asset Base)

Information icon The full value of everything the company owns, including cash, inventory, equipment, and investments. It is needed to understand the resource base used to generate revenue.

Income Before Tax (Pre-Tax Earnings)

Information icon Income before provision for income taxes. It is needed to analyze profitability independent of tax structures.

⚙️ Cost & Drag Factors

Cost of Revenue (Production Cost)

Information icon Direct costs required to produce and deliver the products or services sold. It is needed to assess efficiency in production and service delivery.

Total Operating Expenses (Operating Cost)

Information icon Indirect costs of running the business such as salaries, marketing, and administration. It is needed to understand how much it costs to sustain ongoing business operations.

Income Tax Expense (Tax Drag)

Information icon Amount of taxes paid or payable to the government. It is needed to evaluate the impact of taxation on overall profitability.

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