Qualys (NASDAQ:QLYS) Shares Gap Down – What’s Next?

Qualys, Inc. (NASDAQ:QLYS) shares gapped down prior to trading on Tuesday. The stock had previously closed at $202.46, but opened at $182.50. Qualys shares last traded at $180.85, with a volume of 244,591 shares.

Qualys News Summary

Here are the key news stories impacting Qualys this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Qualys reported Q3 revenue of $188.05 million, up 10.7% year over year, and earnings of $2.12 per share, topping analyst estimates. The company also raised its FY2026 outlook: EPS guidance is $8.07–$8.14 versus a $7.44 consensus, while revenue guidance is $736.9–$738.9 million versus $735.5 million expected. Qualys Announces Third Quarter 2026 Financial Results
• Neutral Sentiment: Wedbush, Piper Sandler, and Robert W. Baird raised their price targets, but each maintained a neutral rating—suggesting improved valuation views without a stronger endorsement. Wedbush rating information
• Neutral Sentiment: Qualys announced an expanded mROC alliance spanning mobile, operational technology, and identity security, and said management will meet investors at an upcoming UBS technology conference. These developments may support longer-term engagement but offer limited immediate financial impact. Qualys expands global mROC alliance
• Negative Sentiment: Q4 revenue guidance of $191–$193 million is only slightly above the $190.9 million consensus, with expected year-over-year growth of 9%–10%. The restrained revenue outlook appears to be outweighing the earnings beat and higher full-year forecast in the market’s reaction. Qualys earnings beat; stock falls on revenue outlook

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several brokerages have recently commented on QLYS. Wedbush increased their price target on shares of Qualys from $175.00 to $185.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Tuesday. Jefferies Financial Group boosted their price objective on Qualys from $150.00 to $185.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a report on Wednesday, August 5th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price objective on Qualys from $139.00 to $150.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Monday, July 27th. Piper Sandler increased their target price on Qualys from $175.00 to $185.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Tuesday. Finally, Truist Financial increased their target price on Qualys from $160.00 to $185.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a report on Wednesday, August 5th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, four have issued a Buy rating, eleven have assigned a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Qualys presently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $191.67.

Qualys Price Performance

The company has a fifty day moving average price of $191.07 and a 200 day moving average price of $137.06. The company has a market capitalization of $6.15 billion, a P/E ratio of 30.88 and a beta of 0.54.

Qualys (NASDAQ:QLYS) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Monday, November 9th. The software maker reported $2.12 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.96 by $0.16. The business had revenue of $188.05 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $186.63 million. Qualys had a return on equity of 37.52% and a net margin of 29.38%. The business’s revenue was up 10.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $1.86 EPS. On average, equities research analysts predict that Qualys, Inc. will post 5.84 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Activity

In other news, CEO Sumedh Thakar sold 3,200 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, September 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $170.05, for a total transaction of $544,160.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 180,338 shares in the company, valued at approximately $30,666,476.90. This represents a 1.74% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, CFO Joo Mi Kim sold 2,659 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $209.66, for a total transaction of $557,485.94. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer owned 68,208 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $14,300,489.28. This represents a 3.75% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Over the last quarter, insiders sold 11,672 shares of company stock valued at $2,192,747. 0.72% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Kilter Group LLC acquired a new stake in Qualys during the 2nd quarter worth about $31,000. Continuum Advisory LLC purchased a new position in Qualys during the 2nd quarter valued at about $33,000. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio purchased a new position in Qualys during the 2nd quarter valued at about $51,000. Allworth Financial LP acquired a new position in shares of Qualys in the 2nd quarter valued at about $64,000. Finally, MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB increased its holdings in shares of Qualys by 40.5% in the 2nd quarter. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB now owns 472 shares of the software maker’s stock valued at $65,000 after purchasing an additional 136 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 99.31% of the company’s stock.

Qualys Company Profile

Qualys, Inc provides cloud-based security and compliance software to help organizations identify and manage cybersecurity risks. Its platform brings together information about an organization’s IT assets and security posture to support vulnerability management, threat detection, and compliance activities.

Qualys offers products and services for vulnerability assessment and remediation, cloud security, endpoint protection, web application security, and policy compliance. Its solutions are designed to help customers monitor systems across cloud environments, on-premises infrastructure, and other connected assets.

Founded in 1999, Qualys is headquartered in Foster City, California, and serves customers around the world.