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After Hours: Slack, Palo Alto Networks Report Quarterly Results

Investors are reacting very differently to the two tech companies' latest fundamentals. Read More...

<p class="canvas-atom canvas-text Mb(1.0em) Mb(0)–sm Mt(0.8em)–sm" type="text" content="Tonight's post-market trading action is centered on quarterly results, thanks to several popular tech stocks that have reported their latest after the closing bell.” data-reactid=”11″>Tonight’s post-market trading action is centered on quarterly results, thanks to several popular tech stocks that have reported their latest after the closing bell.

One of these disappointed investors even though it beat analyst estimates. The story was quite different for another. Read on for more about the pair’s latest fundamentals, and how the market is reacting to them.

Man working in a systems control center surrounded by computer screens.

Image source: Getty Images.

Slack Q2 trumps expectations, but apparently not enough

<p class="canvas-atom canvas-text Mb(1.0em) Mb(0)–sm Mt(0.8em)–sm" type="text" content="Slack Technologies (NYSE: WORK) posted its first earnings report as a publicly traded company. For its Q2 of fiscal 2020, the company booked revenue of $145 million, which was 58% higher on a year-over-year basis and exceeded the average analyst estimate of just under $141 million.” data-reactid=”26″>Slack Technologies (NYSE: WORK) posted its first earnings report as a publicly traded company. For its Q2 of fiscal 2020, the company booked revenue of $145 million, which was 58% higher on a year-over-year basis and exceeded the average analyst estimate of just under $141 million.

<p class="canvas-atom canvas-text Mb(1.0em) Mb(0)–sm Mt(0.8em)–sm" type="text" content="On the bottom line, the company's non-GAAP (adjusted) net loss deepened to $51.5 million ($0.14 per share) from Q2 2019’s $30.1 million ($0.25). Still, that result was better than the $0.18-per-share deficit expected by prognosticators.” data-reactid=”27″>On the bottom line, the company’s non-GAAP (adjusted) net loss deepened to $51.5 million ($0.14 per share) from Q2 2019’s $30.1 million ($0.25). Still, that result was better than the $0.18-per-share deficit expected by prognosticators.

Slack pointed to significant growth in a key customer segment — enterprises, with over $100,000 in annual recurring revenue — as a driver of that revenue improvement. The number of those customers rose by 75%.

The company proffered guidance for its current quarter and for the entirety of fiscal 2020. With the former, it expects to post $154 million to $156 million in revenue, and a per-share adjusted net loss of $0.08 to $0.09. Analysts were projecting just over $153 million on the top line, with per-share adjusted net loss coming in at $0.07.

<p class="canvas-atom canvas-text Mb(1.0em) Mb(0)–sm Mt(0.8em)–sm" type="text" content="Despite the Q2 beats, Slack stock is trading down sharply tonight — it's off by nearly 14%. A big worry with this company is that it's a one-trick pony with its corporate messaging software, and Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) will swamp its business.” data-reactid=”30″>Despite the Q2 beats, Slack stock is trading down sharply tonight — it’s off by nearly 14%. A big worry with this company is that it’s a one-trick pony with its corporate messaging software, and Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) will swamp its business.

<p class="canvas-atom canvas-text Mb(1.0em) Mb(0)–sm Mt(0.8em)–sm" type="text" content="The latter company has a product called Microsoft Teams that apes many of the Slack app’s features. Once rumored to be a potential acquirer of Slack, Microsoft is a stiff competitor and a significant threat. Investors likely wanted to see Slack more convincingly beat trailing or forward estimates, in order to show that it can compete with the likes of Microsoft.” data-reactid=”31″>The latter company has a product called Microsoft Teams that apes many of the Slack app’s features. Once rumored to be a potential acquirer of Slack, Microsoft is a stiff competitor and a significant threat. Investors likely wanted to see Slack more convincingly beat trailing or forward estimates, in order to show that it can compete with the likes of Microsoft.

Palo Alto Networks Q4: Two beats and a buy

<p class="canvas-atom canvas-text Mb(1.0em) Mb(0)–sm Mt(0.8em)–sm" type="text" content="Another tech company reporting after hours tonight was Palo Alto Networks (NYSE: PANW).” data-reactid=”33″>Another tech company reporting after hours tonight was Palo Alto Networks (NYSE: PANW).

<p class="canvas-atom canvas-text Mb(1.0em) Mb(0)–sm Mt(0.8em)–sm" type="text" content="The cybersecurity specialist unveiled its Q4 2019 figures, which showed that both its revenue and billings grew by 22%. The former landed at almost $806 million, with the latter rising to $1.1 billion. Adjusted net income improved by 12% to just under $147 million ($1.47 per share).” data-reactid=”34″>The cybersecurity specialist unveiled its Q4 2019 figures, which showed that both its revenue and billings grew by 22%. The former landed at almost $806 million, with the latter rising to $1.1 billion. Adjusted net income improved by 12% to just under $147 million ($1.47 per share).

Both line items edged past the average analyst estimates of $803 million for revenue and $1.42 for per-share adjusted net profit. Analysts had also been modeling $995 million in bookings for the quarter.

Earlier in the day, Palo Alto Networks announced it had signed a deal to acquire privately held IT security company Zingbox in an all-cash transaction for $75 million.

Unlike Slack, Palo Alto Networks’ stock price is rising in after-hours trading. It’s up by over 6% at the moment.

<p class="canvas-atom canvas-text Mb(1.0em) Mb(0)–sm Mt(0.8em)–sm" type="text" content="More From The Motley Fool” data-reactid=”38″>More From The Motley Fool

<p class="canvas-atom canvas-text Mb(1.0em) Mb(0)–sm Mt(0.8em)–sm" type="text" content="Teresa Kersten, an employee of LinkedIn, a Microsoft subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Eric Volkman has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Microsoft and Palo Alto Networks. The Motley Fool owns shares of Slack Technologies and has the following options: long January 2021 $85 calls on Microsoft. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.” data-reactid=”46″>Teresa Kersten, an employee of LinkedIn, a Microsoft subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Eric Volkman has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Microsoft and Palo Alto Networks. The Motley Fool owns shares of Slack Technologies and has the following options: long January 2021 $85 calls on Microsoft. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

<p class="canvas-atom canvas-text Mb(1.0em) Mb(0)–sm Mt(0.8em)–sm" type="text" content="This article was originally published on Fool.com” data-reactid=”47″>This article was originally published on Fool.com

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