F5 slides 10%, amongst market’s worst, as analysts fret over software program progress (NASDAQ:FFIV)

F5 (NASDAQ:FFIV) is the S&P 500’s second-worst performer Wednesday, down 9.9% after fiscal fourth-quarter outcomes the place it beat expectations on prime and backside strains however issued steerage to the low aspect for adjusted earnings.

The corporate eked out better-than-expected income progress of two.6%, and whereas adjusted earnings of $158M declined from a prior-year $185M, they nonetheless simply cleared expectations.

For the approaching fiscal 12 months, the corporate guided to income progress of September 11%, and a “mixture of income progress and working leverage will allow us to ship non-GAAP earnings progress within the low-to-mid teenagers in fiscal 12 months 2023,” CEO François Locoh-Donou stated.

Zooming in, the fiscal first-quarter internet earnings outlook quantities to adjusted earnings per share of $2.25-$2.37, its midpoint beneath consensus expectations for $2.33.

That full-year income progress outlook was “the true constructive shock” of the report, Citi stated. Nonetheless, moderating progress in software program income raised considerations amongst F5’s Impartial analysts.

The bull thesis has been “centered across the Software program transition, with this progress giving little confidence right here,” says Piper Sandler, which is Impartial and lower its value goal to $164 from $173.

Software program income progress within the quarter moderated considerably from prior quarters, J.P. Morgan stated, calling income efficiency “combined” and suggesting traders could be extra involved concerning the long-term outlook, as soon as Methods returns to a normalized progress cadence.

Locoh-Donou took a balanced stance concerning the street forward: “Over the subsequent 12 months, our enterprise is prone to profit from tailwinds to our programs enterprise on account of bettering part availability and to bear some weight from macroeconomic headwinds.”

For extra particulars, try Looking for Alpha’s transcript of F5’s earnings convention name.