Zscaler Inc logo

Zscaler Inc(ZS)

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EXPLORE ADVISORIES AND THEIR HISTORY
QUALITY SIGNAL RECENCY
1-STAR RATING
Consider higher Upturn Star rating
BUY for 19 days
PROFIT SINCE LAST BUY
+15.79% ▲
LAST CLOSE
$228.66
10/13/2026
(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 ZS

10/13/2026: ZS (1-star) has a low Upturn Star Rating. Not recommended to BUY.

Zscaler is a cloud-native cybersecurity company that has established a leading position in the Security Service Edge market. By replacing traditional hardware with a software-based, Zero Trust architecture, it provides a compelling solution for organizations adapting to hybrid work. Its primary growth story revolves around the continued adoption of cloud security and the cross-selling of its expanding product suite. However, the company faces significant competition from established security incumbents and carries high valuation risk typical of growth stocks. It is best suited for long-term growth investors who can tolerate volatility, and market participants should monitor its ability to maintain high growth rates amidst evolving competition.

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 investorStrong fitZscaler's consistent revenue growth in the expanding cybersecurity market aligns well with growth-focused strategies.
Momentum investorStrong fit while signal remains positiveThe stock often exhibits strong price trends tied to sector-wide shifts in cybersecurity spending.
Value investorWeak fitThe company trades at a premium valuation typical of high-growth software, often excluding it from traditional value screens.
Dividend investorWeak fitZscaler does not provide dividend income, as it reinvests all earnings into business expansion.
Low-risk investorWeak fitHigh volatility and sensitivity to growth-stock sentiment make this unsuitable for risk-averse portfolios.

Risk Profile

Risk factorLevelWhy it matters
Price volatilityHighThe stock is susceptible to significant price swings based on quarterly growth reports and broader market sentiment.
Valuation riskHighHigh price-to-sales ratios mean the stock can experience sharp corrections if growth expectations are not met.
Competition risk (Cloud infrastructure)Medium / highEstablished network security players are aggressively bundling security features that compete directly with Zscaler.
Business qualityStrongZscaler maintains a high-quality subscription-based business model with high switching costs once implemented.
Dividend incomeLow / noneInvestors seeking immediate cash flow from dividends will not find this an appropriate investment.
Execution riskMediumSustaining high growth rates as the company scales requires flawless execution in sales and R&D.

Price Behavior

Steady Uptrend
PRICE PATH

Steady Uptrend

The stock demonstrates consistent and steady upward price momentum.

Extreme Price Shocks
PRICE STABILITY

Extreme Price Shocks

The stock has experienced exceptionally large and disruptive price movements during the period.

Analysis of Past Performance

Type Stock
Historic Profit -7.81%
Avg. Invested days 31
Today’s Advisory Consider higher Upturn Star rating
Upturn Advisory Rating upturn star rating icon
Upturn Advisory Performance Upturn Advisory Performance icon 2.0
Stock Returns Performance Upturn Returns Performance icon 1.0
Upturn Profits based on simulation icon Profits based on simulation
Upturn last close icon Last Close 10/13/2026

Upturn Scorecard

Upturn Star Rating

★★★★★
ZS receives a 3-star rating, supported by strong analyst coverage. The rating is constrained by weak price momentum, and limited analyst upside.

Company Fundamentals

★★★★★
ZS has moderate overall fundamentals (3 stars), with moderate financial health, moderate growth momentum, and solid ownership. In FY2026 versus FY2025, strong cash generation (FCF margin 25.4%) and solid revenue growth (+25.4%) are partially offset by negative earnings growth (-52.3%), weak profitability (net margin -1.9%).

Financial Health Rating

★★★★★
ZS's financial health is supported by solid liquidity, including working-capital and asset support (WC/assets 26.3%). Profitability is soft (2 stars), which helps explain the 3-star overall score.

Growth Momentum Score

★★★★★
Revenue growth is ZS's strongest growth driver at +25.4% FY2026 versus FY2025 (solid, 4 stars). By comparison, free-cash-flow growth (+17.3%, solid) is also solid, while earnings growth (-52.3%, negative) holds the profile back, so recent growth is not broad-based across the business.

Ownership

★★★★★
Institutional ownership is 53.3% and approximately 65.3% of outstanding shares are publicly tradable, supporting liquidity and institutional participation. Insider ownership of 34.67% supports management-shareholder alignment.

Top 5 Institutional Investors

BlackRock Inc 6.07%
Vanguard Portfolio Management, LLC 3.80%
Vanguard Capital Management, LLC 2.90%
First Trust Advisors L.P. 2.16%
The Goldman Sachs Group Inc 1.94%

Unit Economics (Per $1K Revenue)

★★★★★
ZS generates approximately $768 of gross profit, $-40 of operating income, and $254 of free cash flow for every $1,000 of revenue. Based on FY2026 results. Weak margins and weak cash conversion support a 3-star rating, while capital efficiency is weak.

Economic Dimensions

★★★★★
Effective Tax Rate: -268.63% (Tax Credit)

Quantitative Style Profile

★★★★★
ZS has a large-cap, liquid profile. Weak momentum is the primary drawback, while soft valuation.

Style Classification

Quality Focused

Large / Mega Cap StabilityShort Squeeze RiskHighly Liquid / Institution-Friendly

Key Highlights

Company Size Large-Cap Stock
Market Capitalization 37.28B USD
Price to earnings Ratio -
1Y Target Price 233.38
Price to earnings Ratio -
1Y Target Price 233.38
Volume (30-day avg) 3.6M shares
Beta 0.94
52 Weeks Range 114.62 - 336.99
Updated Date 10/13/2026
52 Weeks Range 114.62 - 336.99
Updated Date 10/13/2026
Dividends yield (FY) -
Basic EPS (TTM) -0.39

How Company Makes Money

Business areaWhat it includesRetail investor read
Subscription ServicesRecurring fees for ZIA, ZPA, and ZDX platform access.The company earns money primarily through recurring subscription contracts, providing predictable revenue streams.
Geographic PresenceOperations in North America, EMEA, APAC, and Latin America.Zscaler operates globally, meaning it is exposed to international economic conditions and currency fluctuations.

Analyzing Revenue: Products, Geography and Growth

Revenue by Products

Product revenue - Year on Year

Revenue by Geography

Geography revenue - Year on Year

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Valuation

Trailing PE -
Forward PE 43.86
Enterprise Value 33.35B
Price to Sales(TTM) 11.12
Enterprise Value 33.35B
Price to Sales(TTM) 11.12
Enterprise Value to Revenue 9.95
Enterprise Value to EBITDA 186.83
Shares Outstanding 163.05M
Shares Floating 106.46M
Shares Outstanding 163.05M
Shares Floating 106.46M
Percent Insiders 34.67
Percent Institutions 53.26

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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