QLYS stock forecast, quote, news & analysis
Qualys is a cloud security and compliance solutions provider that helps businesses identify and manage their security risks and compliance requirements... Show more
Qualys (QLYS) Stock Analysis: AI-Led Risk Operations Strengthen a High-Margin Compounder
Key Takeaways
- Qualys (QLYS) traded near $190 in mid-October 2026, a gain of roughly 8.8% over the trailing 30 days and roughly 49% higher year to date.
- The company combines double-digit top-line growth with unusually high profitability, posting a GAAP gross margin near 83% and an adjusted EBITDA margin in the mid-40s.
- Management raised full-year 2026 revenue guidance to a range of $732 million to $738 million, implying growth of roughly 9% to 10%.
- Growth is increasingly driven by newer, AI-native platform modules and partner-led sales rather than its legacy vulnerability management business.
- Analyst sentiment remains broadly neutral, with TD Cowen raising its price target to $200 from $170 while maintaining a Hold rating.
Current Market Snapshot
Qualys shares have traded in a constructive but choppy range in recent weeks, hovering near the $190 level with a market capitalization around $6.7 billion. The stock's trailing 30-day advance of approximately 8.8% reflects a period of consolidation rather than a sharp directional break, with the share price fluctuating between the high $170s and roughly $200 during that window. Within a longer context, the stock sits near the upper portion of its 52-week range of $74.51 to $206.25, underscoring the strength of its 2026 recovery. Cybersecurity peers have generally benefited from durable enterprise demand and sustained investor interest in AI-enabled security tools, and Qualys has participated in that rotation while retaining its reputation as one of the sector's most profitable, cash-generative operators.
Qualys (QLYS) Business Overview and Competitive Position
Qualys, Inc. is a cloud-based provider of information technology, security, and compliance solutions, founded in 1999 as one of the earliest software-as-a-service security companies. Headquartered in Foster City, California, the company delivers its integrated suite through the Qualys Enterprise TruRisk Platform, which uses a single lightweight agent to continuously assess and secure IT assets, endpoints, servers, web applications, containers, and cloud workloads across on-premises, hybrid, and multi-cloud environments.
The platform spans vulnerability management (its flagship VMDR offering), policy compliance, patch management, cloud-native application protection through TotalCloud, cyber asset management, and AI security via TotalAI. Qualys has been extending this core into what it calls "risk operations," combining exploit validation, risk quantification, and remediation in an AI-driven workflow. Its subscription-based model generates highly recurring revenue, and the business is distinguished by exceptional profitability: GAAP gross margins around 83% and adjusted EBITDA margins in the mid-40s. That financial profile, combined with a strong balance sheet and a long-running share repurchase program, makes Qualys a closely watched name among investors seeking defensive exposure to cybersecurity.
Recent Developments Driving QLYS
Qualys reported second-quarter 2026 results in early August, delivering non-GAAP earnings of $1.98 per share on revenue of $182.2 million, up 11% year over year. The company's net dollar expansion rate improved to 105%, and partner-led channels grew to 54% of total revenue, up from 49% a year earlier. On the back of that performance, management raised its full-year 2026 revenue outlook to $732 million to $738 million, representing 9% to 10% growth.
Product innovation has been a central theme. During 2026, Qualys introduced Agent Val, an agentic AI workflow within its Enterprise TruRisk Management solution, as well as TotalAI 2.0, which extends visibility across employee AI activity, models, and runtime environments, and TruRisk Eliminate 2.0 with TruConfidence, an AI-powered remediation engine designed to orchestrate autonomous fixes across hybrid IT environments. These launches reinforce the company's effort to move beyond detection toward verified, automated remediation.
On the analyst front, TD Cowen raised its Qualys price target to $200 from $170 in October 2026 while keeping a Hold rating, citing accelerating demand for the company's newer, non-legacy offerings. The broader consensus remains Hold, with an average price target near $181. Notably, SEC filings showed ongoing insider selling during 2026, a dynamic investors tend to monitor even when it reflects pre-arranged trading plans rather than a change in business outlook.
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2026 Outlook and What Investors Should Watch
Looking ahead, investors will focus on whether Qualys can translate its newer platform modules into faster revenue growth and a higher net dollar expansion rate. Key areas to monitor include the monetization of Enterprise TruRisk Management, patch management, and TotalAI, as well as the company's ability to sustain its channel and international momentum. Management has signaled an expectation for mid-teens operating expense growth as it invests in sales and marketing, which puts a premium on whether that spending converts into stronger billings.
Additional factors include the pace of AI-security adoption, competitive pressure from larger and faster-growing cybersecurity vendors, and the broader enterprise IT spending environment. Qualys' margin discipline, free cash flow generation, and buyback program provide a measure of downside support, while execution on its AI-led risk operations strategy represents the primary growth catalyst. Upcoming quarterly reports and any updates to full-year guidance will be the clearest near-term signals of whether that strategy is gaining traction.
Disclaimer
The information on this webpage is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as investment advice, a recommendation to purchase or sell any security, or an offer or solicitation related to investments. It does not consider your personal financial situation, goals, or risk profile, and all investing carries inherent risks, including the possibility of losing your entire investment. For more details, please review our full disclaimer.
Aroon Indicator for QLYS shows an upward move is likely
QLYS's Aroon Indicator triggered a bullish signal on October 19, 2026. Tickeron's A.I.dvisor detected that the AroonUp green line is above 70 while the AroonDown red line is below 30. When the up indicator moves above 70 and the down indicator remains below 30, it is a sign that the stock could be setting up for a bullish move. Traders may want to buy the stock or look to buy calls options. A.I.dvisor looked at 211 similar instances where the Aroon Indicator showed a similar pattern. In 161 of the 211 cases, the stock moved higher in the days that followed. This puts the odds of a move higher at 76%.
Technical Analysis (Indicators)
Bullish Trend Analysis
The Stochastic Oscillator suggests the stock price trend may be in a reversal from a downward trend to an upward trend. 44 of 60 cases where QLYS's Stochastic Oscillator exited the oversold zone resulted in an increase in price. Tickeron's analysis proposes that the odds of a continued upward trend are 73%.
The Momentum Indicator moved above the 0 level on October 21, 2026. You may want to consider a long position or call options on QLYS as a result. In 58 of 81 past instances where the momentum indicator moved above 0, the stock continued to climb. The odds of a continued upward trend are 72%.
QLYS moved above its 50-day moving average on October 19, 2026 date and that indicates a change from a downward trend to an upward trend.
Following a +3.48% 3-day Advance, the price is estimated to grow further. Considering data from situations where QLYS advanced for three days, in 220 of 330 cases, the price rose further within the following month. The odds of a continued upward trend are 67%.
Bearish Trend Analysis
The Moving Average Convergence Divergence Histogram (MACD) for QLYS turned negative on October 15, 2026. This could be a sign that the stock is set to turn lower in the coming weeks. Traders may want to sell the stock or buy put options. Tickeron's A.I.dvisor looked at 52 similar instances when the indicator turned negative. In 38 of the 52 cases the stock turned lower in the days that followed. This puts the odds of success at 73%.
Following a 3-day decline, the stock is projected to fall further. Considering past instances where QLYS declined for three days, the price rose further in 50 of 62 cases within the following month. The odds of a continued downward trend are 71%.
QLYS broke above its upper Bollinger Band on October 05, 2026. This could be a sign that the stock is set to drop as the stock moves back below the upper band and toward the middle band. You may want to consider selling the stock or exploring put options.
Fundamental Analysis (Ratings)
The Tickeron PE Growth Rating for this company is 17 (best 1 - 100 worst), pointing to outstanding earnings growth. The PE Growth rating is based on a comparative analysis of stock PE ratio increase over the last 12 months compared against S&P 500 index constituents.
The Tickeron SMR rating for this company is 26 (best 1 - 100 worst), indicating very strong sales and a profitable business model. SMR (Sales, Margin, Return on Equity) rating is based on comparative analysis of weighted Sales, Income Margin and Return on Equity values compared against S&P 500 index constituents. The weighted SMR value is a proprietary formula developed by Tickeron and represents an overall profitability measure for a stock.
The Tickeron Price Growth Rating for this company is 35 (best 1 - 100 worst), indicating steady price growth. QLYS’s price grows at a higher rate over the last 12 months as compared to S&P 500 index constituents.
The Tickeron Profit vs. Risk Rating rating for this company is 64 (best 1 - 100 worst), indicating well-balanced risk and returns. The average Profit vs. Risk Rating rating for the industry is 92, placing this stock slightly better than average.
The Tickeron Valuation Rating of 83 (best 1 - 100 worst) indicates that the company is slightly overvalued in the industry. This rating compares market capitalization estimated by our proprietary formula with the current market capitalization. This rating is based on the following metrics, as compared to industry averages: P/B Ratio (12.103) is normal, around the industry mean (15.930). P/E Ratio (33.914) is within average values for comparable stocks, (56.422). Projected Growth (PEG Ratio) (2.983) is also within normal values, averaging (3.648). Dividend Yield (0.000) settles around the average of (0.209) among similar stocks. P/S Ratio (9.320) is also within normal values, averaging (103.889).
The Tickeron Seasonality Score of 95 (best 1 - 100 worst) indicates that the company is significantly overvalued in the industry. The Tickeron Seasonality score describes the variance of predictable price changes around the same period every calendar year. These changes can be tied to a specific month, quarter, holiday or vacation period, as well as a meteorological or growing season.
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General Information
a provider of cloud security and compliance solutions
Industry ComputerCommunications