About Us

Laser Focus World is an industry bedrock—first published in 1965 and still going strong. We publish original articles about cutting-edge advances in lasers, optics, photonics, sensors, and quantum technologies, as well as test and measurement, and the shift currently underway to usher in the photonic integrated circuits, optical interconnects, and copackaged electronics and photonics to deliver the speed and efficiency essential for data centers of the future.

Our 80,000 qualified print subscribers—and 130,000 12-month engaged online audience—trust us to dive in and provide original journalism you won’t find elsewhere covering key emerging areas such as laser-driven inertial confinement fusion, lasers in space, integrated photonics, chipscale lasers, LiDAR, metasurfaces, high-energy laser weaponry, photonic crystals, and quantum computing/sensors/communications. We cover the innovations driving these markets.

Laser Focus World is part of Endeavor Business Media, a division of EndeavorB2B.

Laser Focus World Membership

Never miss any articles, videos, podcasts, or webinars by signing up for membership access to Laser Focus World online. You can manage your preferences all in one place—and provide our editorial team with your valued feedback.

Magazine Subscription

Can you subscribe to receive our print issue for free? Yes, you sure can!

Newsletter Subscription

A Laser Focus World newsletter subscription is free to qualified professionals:

The Daily Beam

Showcases the newest content from Laser Focus World, including photonics- and optics-based applications, components, research, and trends. (Daily)

Product Watch

The latest in products within the photonics industry. (9x per year)

Bio & Life Sciences Product Watch

The latest in products within the biophotonics industry. (4x per year)

Laser Processing Product Watch

The latest in products within the laser processing industry. (3x per year)

Get Published!

If you’d like to write an article for us, reach out with a short pitch to Sally Cole Johnson: [email protected]. We love to hear from you.

Photonics Hot List

Laser Focus World produces a video newscast that gives a peek into what’s happening in the world of photonics.

Following the Photons: A Photonics Podcast

Following the Photons: A Photonics Podcast dives deep into the fascinating world of photonics. Our weekly episodes feature interviews and discussions with industry and research experts, providing valuable perspectives on the issues, technologies, and trends shaping the photonics community.

Social Media

Bluesky • Facebook • Instagram • LinkedIn • YouTube

Meet the Laser Focus World Team

Editorial

Sales

Editorial Advisory Board

  • Professor Andrea M. Armani, University of Southern California
  • Ruti Ben-Shlomi, Ph.D., LightSolver
  • James Butler, Ph.D., Hamamatsu
  • Natalie Fardian-Melamed, Ph.D., Columbia University
  • Justin Sigley, Ph.D., AmeriCOM
  • Professor Birgit Stiller, Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light, and Leibniz University of Hannover
  • Professor Stephen Sweeney, University of Glasgow
  • Mohan Wang, Ph.D., University of Oxford
  • Professor Xuchen Wang, Harbin Engineering University
  • Professor Stefan Witte, Delft University of Technology
My Watchlist
Indicators
Industrial Laser Index
Markets
Stocks
ETFs
Tools
Markets:
Overview
News
Currencies
International
Treasuries

The 5 Most Interesting Analyst Questions From Palo Alto Networks’s Q2 Earnings Call

By: StockStory

PANW Cover Image

Palo Alto Networks delivered Q2 results that surpassed Wall Street’s expectations, with management crediting the growth to strong customer demand for platformization and next-generation security solutions. CEO Nikesh Arora emphasized that a record volume of large, multi-product deals and increased adoption of AI-powered security offerings were the main contributors. He specifically highlighted robust bookings growth, stating, “the record-breaking number of platformization deals this quarter demonstrates that customers are not just buying products, they are buying into a strategic partnership.” The company also benefited from continued momentum in software-based firewalls and SASE (secure access service edge) solutions, which saw heightened demand as organizations pursued cloud and AI transformation initiatives.

Is now the time to buy PANW? Find out in our full research report (it’s free).

Palo Alto Networks (PANW) Q2 CY2025 Highlights:

  • Revenue: $2.54 billion vs analyst estimates of $2.50 billion (15.8% year-on-year growth, 1.4% beat)
  • Adjusted EPS: $0.95 vs analyst estimates of $0.89 (7.3% beat)
  • Adjusted Operating Income: $768.2 million vs analyst estimates of $719.6 million (30.3% margin, 6.8% beat)
  • Revenue Guidance for Q3 CY2025 is $2.46 billion at the midpoint, above analyst estimates of $2.44 billion
  • Adjusted EPS guidance for the upcoming financial year 2026 is $3.80 at the midpoint, beating analyst estimates by 3.4%
  • Operating Margin: 19.6%, up from 10.9% in the same quarter last year
  • Billings: $3.71 billion at quarter end, up 6.1% year on year
  • Market Capitalization: $124.2 billion

While we enjoy listening to the management's commentary, our favorite part of earnings calls are the analyst questions. Those are unscripted and can often highlight topics that management teams would rather avoid or topics where the answer is complicated. Here is what has caught our attention.

Our Top 5 Analyst Questions From Palo Alto Networks’s Q2 Earnings Call

  • Robbie David Owens (Piper Sandler) asked about the strategic importance of security consolidation and the impact of agentic AI. CEO Nikesh Arora explained that consolidation is accelerating as AI amplifies the need for unified platforms, while highlighting the company’s increasing ability to win large, multi-product deals.

  • Brad Alan Zelnick (Deutsche Bank) inquired whether recent results reflected improved macro trends or were primarily due to platformization. Arora responded that platformization and innovation were the main factors, with macro conditions remaining relatively stable.

  • Saket Kalia (Barclays) sought details on the shift to software-based firewalls and customer lifetime value implications. CTO Lee Klarich attributed the success to cloud-native innovation, while Arora and CFO Dipak Golechha pointed to easier deployment and higher lifetime value relative to hardware.

  • Gabriela Borges (Goldman Sachs) asked about the mix of advanced subscriptions and the durability of virtual firewall growth. Golechha noted the transition to next-generation products as a key growth driver and expects durable performance from software firewalls and new offerings like Prisma AIRS.

  • Shaul Eyal (Cowen) questioned the competitive landscape in enterprise browsers and the rise of “browser wars.” Arora explained that the need for secure, enterprise-controlled browsers is growing as AI-driven features proliferate, positioning the company’s browser offering as a future SASE stack staple.

Catalysts in Upcoming Quarters

Looking ahead, the StockStory team will focus on (1) the integration process and customer uptake of CyberArk’s identity security solutions, (2) continued adoption and monetization of AI security offerings like Prisma AIRS, and (3) further progress in shifting customers toward software-based firewalls and multi-platform agreements. Execution on these priorities, along with sustained operating margin expansion, will be key markers for Palo Alto Networks’ performance.

Palo Alto Networks currently trades at $185.95, up from $176.40 just before the earnings. In the wake of this quarter, is it a buy or sell? See for yourself in our full research report (it’s free).

Our Favorite Stocks Right Now

When Trump unveiled his aggressive tariff plan in April 2025, markets tanked as investors feared a full-blown trade war. But those who panicked and sold missed the subsequent rebound that’s already erased most losses.

Don’t let fear keep you from great opportunities and take a look at Top 5 Strong Momentum Stocks for this week. This is a curated list of our High Quality stocks that have generated a market-beating return of 183% over the last five years (as of March 31st 2025).

Stocks that made our list in 2020 include now familiar names such as Nvidia (+1,545% between March 2020 and March 2025) as well as under-the-radar businesses like the once-micro-cap company Kadant (+351% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today.

StockStory is growing and hiring equity analyst and marketing roles. Are you a 0 to 1 builder passionate about the markets and AI? See the open roles here.

More News

View More
Datavault AI: The New AI Contender Backed by Big Funding
Via MarketBeat
Topics Artificial Intelligence
Tickers DVLT IBM SCLX
CoreWeave: Why the New King of AI Infrastructure Has Room to Run
Via MarketBeat
Topics Artificial Intelligence
Tickers CORZ CRWV META NVDA
Top 3 Dividend Achievers for October: High Yields, Growth Ahead
Via MarketBeat
Topics Artificial Intelligence World Trade
Tickers FDX PFE UPS VZ
Etsy Partners With OpenAI—What It Means for Investors Now
Via MarketBeat
Topics Artificial Intelligence
Tickers ETSY
3 Solid Consumer Brands Offering Stability in Volatile Markets
Via MarketBeat
Topics Economy
Tickers AOUT JAKK KO PG SN
Stock Quote API & Stock News API supplied by www.cloudquote.io
Quotes delayed at least 20 minutes.
By accessing this page, you agree to the following
Privacy Policy and Terms Of Service.