New York, March 3, 2026, 18:34 EST — The market moved into after-hours trading.
- CrowdStrike slipped roughly 0.5% after hours, having finished Tuesday’s session up 1.7%.
- Profit came in ahead of forecasts this quarter, with ARR moving past $5.25 billion.
- Focus now centers on fiscal 2027 guidance, the company’s buyback strategy, and prospects for security demand driven by AI.
CrowdStrike Holdings shares edged down about 0.5% to $389.55 after hours Tuesday, pulling back after climbing 1.7% and finishing the session at $391.42. The cybersecurity firm beat quarterly estimates and rolled out its outlook for fiscal 2027.
Software names are taking some heat, with investors weighing whether the latest wave of AI offerings could squeeze subscription revenues and curb appetite for new deals. Piper Sandler analyst Rob Owens upgraded CrowdStrike to “overweight” from “neutral” right ahead of its results, arguing that worries in cybersecurity look exaggerated. MarketWatch
Options traders braced for a turbulent stretch ahead of CrowdStrike’s results, with implied moves suggesting the stock could jump or drop by as much as 7% before the week wraps, Investopedia reported before the earnings release.
CrowdStrike’s fourth-quarter revenue climbed 23% to $1.31 billion, fueled mostly by subscription sales, which accounted for $1.24 billion. Annual recurring revenue hit $5.25 billion, up 24% year over year, with net new ARR for the quarter coming in at $330.7 million.
CrowdStrike posted a profit gain on both GAAP and non-GAAP bases, booking $38.7 million in GAAP net income for the quarter. Non-GAAP earnings reached $1.12 per diluted share. Free cash flow registered at $376.4 million, per the release.
CrowdStrike reported total revenue of $4.81 billion for the year, up 22%, with free cash flow coming in at $1.24 billion. Cash and cash equivalents stood at $5.23 billion as of Jan. 31.
CrowdStrike is forecasting first-quarter fiscal 2027 revenue of $1.360 billion to $1.364 billion, while non-GAAP EPS should come in at $1.06 to $1.07. Looking out to the full year, the company expects revenue in the $5.8676 billion to $5.9276 billion range, and non-GAAP EPS between $4.78 and $4.90.
FactSet’s analyst consensus, cited by MT Newswires, projects revenue of around $5.86 billion for fiscal 2027. Non-GAAP earnings per share are pegged at $4.80.
CEO George Kurtz pushed the AI narrative, calling CrowdStrike “mission-critical infrastructure” for businesses stepping into AI. CFO Burt Podbere backed up that bullish stance, saying they held “strong conviction” about raising the fiscal 2027 ARR goal. Business Wire
CrowdStrike disclosed it repurchased 143,801 shares at a cost of $50.6 million through March 2 as part of its current buyback initiative. The company still has approximately $949.4 million remaining under its existing authorization, according to its statement.
The company is leaning hard on a handful of growth plays right now. Falcon AI Detection and Response has rolled out broadly, FalconID has officially launched, and it just acquired both SGNL and Seraphic Security. The Microsoft marketplace connection is getting deeper, too, with integration into Azure consumption commitments.
Tuesday saw cybersecurity stocks in focus as investors repositioned before earnings. Palo Alto Networks picked up 4.0% during the session, while Fortinet finished up 2.4%. The S&P 500, by comparison, dropped 0.9%, MarketWatch data showed.
Yet uncertainty remains. CrowdStrike’s risk disclosures flag unresolved issues tied to the July 19, 2024 Falcon sensor update incident. The company is also contending with fierce rivals, choppier sales cycles, and the usual integration headaches from recent acquisitions.
Next, traders will dig into management’s commentary on the call, looking for specifics to help gauge what fiscal 2027 targets could signal for ARR growth before Wednesday’s March 4 session. The first quarter closes April 30, setting up the next checkpoint.
