San Jose cybersecurity firm is top tech IPO performer

San Jose’s Zscaler became the best-performing U.S. technology initial public offering of the year Thursday, after it announced revenue growth that analysts noted was “well ahead” of estimates.

The stock jumped as much as 38 percent in trading Thursday morning, bringing performance since its initial public offering in March to about 164 percent. It eventually closed at $37.79, up 23 percent.

This year’s U.S. tech and communications IPOs have returned 56 percent on average, according to data weighted by offering size and compiled by Bloomberg as of Wednesday.

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The technology security company easily scaled Wall Street’s expectations in its first earnings report as a public company. It posted $49.2 million in revenue in the third quarter, beating even the most bullish analyst estimates. Zscaler also cited “strong” billings growth, which rose 73 percent.

“Zscaler is a unique company positioned to disrupt a major sector and in the early stages of its emergence,” Needham analyst Alex Henderson wrote in a note. Henderson rates the company a strong buy, with a price target of $40 a share. “We think this is going to be a major company over time,” he added.

After the earnings report, analysts brightened their outlook. The average price target for Zscaler rose to $32 from $29 a week ago, Bloomberg data show. Still, some analysts cautioned against unbridled enthusiasm.

Morgan Stanley analyst Melissa Franchi wrote in a note that next quarter has a high bar to meet, as the company had several large deals in the same quarter last year. With shares already trading at an elevated level, “we’re awaiting a more attractive entry point,” Franchi wrote, rating the stock the equivalent of a hold.

Austin Weinstein is a Bloomberg writer. Email: aweinstein18@bloomberg.net