F5 Networks (NASDAQ: FFIV) sells computer software and hardware that run servers, data storage devices, and network-based computer programs faster and more securely. F5's products are typically bought by Fortune 1000-sized companies in the telecommunications, financial services, technology, manufacturing and transportation industries, as well as the government. As these institutions grow more and more dependent on computer networks for sharing information, they have a greater demand for network-related software. While the need for network-related software is increasing, though, the fact that F5 attends to the IT needs of companies in a limited number of industries makes it susceptible to the market trends that affects these industries; the write-downs occurring in the financial industry, for example, tend to make big banks cut back on spending; if a bank already has a version of F5's software installed, then it does not upgrade to the newer version. In addition to companies based in the United States, F5 sells its software to large corporations around the world. International sales account for around 44% of F5's total revenues.^[1] As more and more foreign companies become Fortune 1000-sized, the international markets represent a direction of growth once the application delivery networking market matures in the United States. The company earned $653 million in revenue and $92 million in net income in 2009.^[2]

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