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Will the Momentum in Z-Flex Booking Fuel More Growth for Zscaler?
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Key Takeaways
Z-Flex generated more than $480M in TCV in Q3, rising more than 60% sequentially for Zscaler.
Zscaler saw ARR rise 25% YoY to over $3.5B, while remaining performance obligations grew 30% to $6.5B.
Z-Flex helped large clients increase spending by adding new modules, like AI Protect and Zero Trust Branch.
Zscaler Inc.’s (ZS - Free Report) Z-Flex program is emerging as an important growth driver for the company. The offering allows customers to make multi-year commitments while giving them the flexibility to activate or switch products without going through a new purchasing process. This approach is helping Zscaler increase customer spending, improve visibility and strengthen long-term relationships.
The momentum behind Z-Flex accelerated during the third quarter of fiscal 2026. Z-Flex generated more than $480 million in the total contract value (TCV) during the quarter, representing growth of more than 60% sequentially. Over the last 12 months, Zscaler delivered more than $1 billion in Z-Flex TCV with an average contract duration of four years.
The program is also encouraging broader platform adoption. Several large customers expanded their use of existing products while adding new modules, including AI Protect and Zero Trust Branch solutions. During the last earnings call, management revealed that one large financial customer increased annual spending by nearly 50%, while another enterprise customer expanded its spending by 60%.
The strong uptake of Z-Flex is contributing to Zscaler’s overall growth. During the third quarter, annual recurring revenues (ARR) rose 25% year over year to more than $3.5 billion. Remaining performance obligations increased roughly 30% to $6.5 billion, providing strong revenue visibility. Total third-quarter revenues rose 25% year over year to $850.4 million.
Management believes Z-Flex shortens sales cycles, increases upselling opportunities and improves customer retention. As enterprises continue consolidating cybersecurity vendors and adopting broader Zero Trust platforms, Z-Flex could remain a meaningful catalyst for Zscaler’s long-term growth and revenue expansion. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Zscaler’s fiscal 2026 revenues is pegged at $3.33 billion, indicating 24.6% year-over-year growth.
How Do ZS’ Rivals Compare in Flexible Customer Contracts?
Two major cybersecurity companies competing with Zscaler in long-term customer engagements are Palo Alto Networks, Inc. (PANW - Free Report) and CrowdStrike Holdings, Inc. (CRWD - Free Report) .
Palo Alto Networks has successfully pushed its platformization strategy, encouraging customers to consolidate multiple security products under one vendor. In the third quarter of fiscal 2026, the company’s next-generation security ARR jumped 60% year over year to $8.1 billion, reflecting strong customer commitment to multi-product contracts.
Palo Alto Networks’ bundled offerings across network security, cloud security and security operations help improve customer retention and expand spending over time. This strategy shares similarities with Zscaler’s Z-Flex program, which promotes broader platform adoption through multi-year agreements.
CrowdStrike has also benefited from higher customer consolidation trends. The company’s ARR rose 24% year over year to $5.5 billion in the first quarter of fiscal 2027. More customers continue adopting multiple Falcon modules, helping expand contract values and increase retention rates. CrowdStrike’s subscription-based model provides recurring revenue visibility similar to Zscaler’s long-term commitments.
While both competitors, Palo Alto Networks and CrowdStrike, focus on platform expansion, Zscaler’s Z-Flex program offers customers additional flexibility to activate or swap products during contract periods, which strengthens its upselling opportunities and long-term revenue growth.
ZS shares have plunged 44.8% year to date against the Zacks Security industry’s rise of 43.2%.
Zscaler YTD Price Return Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, ZS trades at a forward price-to-sales ratio of 5.22, significantly below the industry’s average of 15.65.
Zscaler Forward 12-Month P/S Ratio
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Zscaler’s fiscal 2026 and 2027 earnings implies year-over-year increases of 25.9% and 10.9%, respectively. Estimates for fiscal 2026 and 2027 have been revised upward over the past 30 days.
View the Zacks #1 Rank List
Image: Shutterstock
Will the Momentum in Z-Flex Booking Fuel More Growth for Zscaler?
Key Takeaways
Zscaler Inc.’s (ZS - Free Report) Z-Flex program is emerging as an important growth driver for the company. The offering allows customers to make multi-year commitments while giving them the flexibility to activate or switch products without going through a new purchasing process. This approach is helping Zscaler increase customer spending, improve visibility and strengthen long-term relationships.
The momentum behind Z-Flex accelerated during the third quarter of fiscal 2026. Z-Flex generated more than $480 million in the total contract value (TCV) during the quarter, representing growth of more than 60% sequentially. Over the last 12 months, Zscaler delivered more than $1 billion in Z-Flex TCV with an average contract duration of four years.
The program is also encouraging broader platform adoption. Several large customers expanded their use of existing products while adding new modules, including AI Protect and Zero Trust Branch solutions. During the last earnings call, management revealed that one large financial customer increased annual spending by nearly 50%, while another enterprise customer expanded its spending by 60%.
The strong uptake of Z-Flex is contributing to Zscaler’s overall growth. During the third quarter, annual recurring revenues (ARR) rose 25% year over year to more than $3.5 billion. Remaining performance obligations increased roughly 30% to $6.5 billion, providing strong revenue visibility. Total third-quarter revenues rose 25% year over year to $850.4 million.
Management believes Z-Flex shortens sales cycles, increases upselling opportunities and improves customer retention. As enterprises continue consolidating cybersecurity vendors and adopting broader Zero Trust platforms, Z-Flex could remain a meaningful catalyst for Zscaler’s long-term growth and revenue expansion. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Zscaler’s fiscal 2026 revenues is pegged at $3.33 billion, indicating 24.6% year-over-year growth.
How Do ZS’ Rivals Compare in Flexible Customer Contracts?
Two major cybersecurity companies competing with Zscaler in long-term customer engagements are Palo Alto Networks, Inc. (PANW - Free Report) and CrowdStrike Holdings, Inc. (CRWD - Free Report) .
Palo Alto Networks has successfully pushed its platformization strategy, encouraging customers to consolidate multiple security products under one vendor. In the third quarter of fiscal 2026, the company’s next-generation security ARR jumped 60% year over year to $8.1 billion, reflecting strong customer commitment to multi-product contracts.
Palo Alto Networks’ bundled offerings across network security, cloud security and security operations help improve customer retention and expand spending over time. This strategy shares similarities with Zscaler’s Z-Flex program, which promotes broader platform adoption through multi-year agreements.
CrowdStrike has also benefited from higher customer consolidation trends. The company’s ARR rose 24% year over year to $5.5 billion in the first quarter of fiscal 2027. More customers continue adopting multiple Falcon modules, helping expand contract values and increase retention rates. CrowdStrike’s subscription-based model provides recurring revenue visibility similar to Zscaler’s long-term commitments.
While both competitors, Palo Alto Networks and CrowdStrike, focus on platform expansion, Zscaler’s Z-Flex program offers customers additional flexibility to activate or swap products during contract periods, which strengthens its upselling opportunities and long-term revenue growth.
Zscaler’s Price Performance, Valuation & Estimates
ZS shares have plunged 44.8% year to date against the Zacks Security industry’s rise of 43.2%.
Zscaler YTD Price Return Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, ZS trades at a forward price-to-sales ratio of 5.22, significantly below the industry’s average of 15.65.
Zscaler Forward 12-Month P/S Ratio
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Zscaler’s fiscal 2026 and 2027 earnings implies year-over-year increases of 25.9% and 10.9%, respectively. Estimates for fiscal 2026 and 2027 have been revised upward over the past 30 days.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Zscaler currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.