Qualys, Inc. (QLYS)
Valuation Overview•Is Qualys, Inc. Overvalued or Undervalued?
Trading at a relative discount to industry peers, suggesting a specific risk premium is applied.
High-quality fundamentals with a strong composite quality score of 90/100, backed by robust profitability and solvency.
Analysts remain cautious, with consensus price targets indicating limited room for upside expansion.
Verdict: High-quality compounder, with solvency as the only relative weakness.
Wall Street is cautious, forecasting potential downside alongside robust expected earnings growth. This is paired with healthy capital returns, driven predominantly by aggressive share repurchases.
Returns capital exclusively via buybacks — no active dividend
QLYS exhibits elite business quality, driven by exceptional capital efficiency and highly lucrative margins (highlighted by a massive 47.5% ROIC). This is backed by a fortress balance sheet, holding significant net cash ($153M) and minimal debt risk.
The company demonstrates solid revenue growth (11.0% 3Y CAGR) paired with highly explosive earnings growth (25.7% EPS 3Y CAGR). This growth is supported by elite operational efficiency, sustaining an impressive 33.7% operating margin.
| Financial Metric | Trend (12Q) | Latest Qtr | 1Y Growth | 3Y CAGR | 5Y CAGR | 10Y CAGR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $175.6M | +10.1% | +11.0% | +13.0% | +15.1% | |
| EBITDA | $60.9M | — | +12.7% | — | — | |
| Net Income | $50.6M | +14.2% | +22.5% | — | +28.7% | |
| EPS (Diluted) | $1.42 | +17.0% | +25.7% | +19.4% | +29.2% | |
| Free Cash Flow | $93.6M | +31.3% | +20.3% | +15.2% | — |
| Metric | TTM | 3Y Avg | 5Y Avg | 10Y Avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Margin | 83.1% | 81.7% | 80.5% | 79.1% |
| Operating Margin | 33.7% | 31.1% | 28.3% | 24.0% |
| Net Margin | 29.4% | 28.5% | 25.0% | 21.9% |
| FCF Margin | 42.4% | 42.1% | 40.9% | 37.6% |
| Quarter | EPS Est. | EPS Act. | Surprise | EPS | Rev |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q2'26Latest | $1.81 | $1.95 | +7.7% | ||
| Q1'26 | $1.78 | $1.87 | +5.1% | ||
| Q4'25 | $1.56 | $1.86 | +19.2% | ||
| Q3'25 | $1.47 | $1.68 | +14.3% | ||
| Q2'25 | $1.46 | $1.67 | +14.4% | ||
| Q1'25 | $1.35 | $1.60 | +18.5% | ||
| Q4'24 | $1.33 | $1.56 | +17.3% | ||
| Q3'24 | $1.32 | $1.52 | +15.2% |
Total return is -18.9% (1Y), lagging the benchmark by -43.9%
| Period | Total Return | vs S&P 500 (Alpha) | Dividend Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| YTD | -15.0% | -24.3% | — |
| 1Y | -18.9% | -43.9% | — |
| 3YCAGR | -4.8% | -24.1% | — |
| 5YCAGR | +1.0% | -11.7% | — |
| 10YCAGR | +13.6% | +0.2% | — |
The S&P 500 is at 31.3x trailing P/E — Expensive relative to historical averages.
Quick answers to common questions about Qualys, Inc. (QLYS) valuation, health, and returns.
Qualys, Inc. is estimated to be fair under our discounted cash flow framework. relative multiples indicate the stock is Cheap versus peers compared to industry peers. trading near fair value (DCF: $125.60)
Qualys, Inc. has multiple valuation anchors: DCF Intrinsic Value: $125.60 | Peer Relative Fair Value: $412.47 | Wall Street Analyst Target: $103.00 (implying -7.5% upside). A convergence of these signals offers higher conviction.
Qualys, Inc. displays excellent financial health with a composite quality score of 90/100, supported by a Altman Z-Score of 5.6 (safe zone), Piotroski F-Score of 6/9, Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) of 47.5%.
Qualys, Inc. returns capital via buybacks instead of dividends, carrying a 4.7% buyback yield and reducing outstanding shares by -2.4% in the last 12 months.
Qualys, Inc.'s current growth trajectory is Stable. The company achieved +10.1% 1Y revenue growth and +17.0% 1Y EPS growth, compared to its 3Y revenue CAGR of +11.0%.
Wall Street consensus is Hold based on 48 analysts, beating EPS expectations in 100% of recent quarters with a 40-quarter streak. The consensus price target represents a -7.5% change from current levels.
Investment risks for Qualys, Inc. include: -50.5% 1-year max drawdown. Volatility risk is characterized by a beta of 0.35x.
No. These computations are purely quantitative model outputs for informational purposes. They do not account for qualitative management shifts or macro events. Always consult a licensed RIA before buying or selling shares.
Disclaimer: This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. All valuation models, scores, and target estimates are automated computations under stated assumptions and should not be relied upon as the sole basis for any investment decision.