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QUALYS, INC.

For the period ended Sep 30, 2026. Filed Nov 9, 2026.

View on SEC.gov

About this filing

A company's report for each of its first three quarters. The financial statements are not audited. It shows how the business has moved since the last annual report, and what management says changed.

Sep 30, 2026 · Filed Nov 9, 2026

QLYS$202.46+6.3%Stored close · as of Nov 9, 2026

What changed in Risk Factors?

Read the current filing

Previous report: 10-Q

Period ended 2026-06-30; filed 2026-08-04.

0001107843-26-000035

Item 1A. Risk Factors

Current report: 10-Q

Period ended 2026-09-30; filed 2026-11-09.

0001107843-26-000044

Item 1A. Risk Factors

The baseline is this issuer’s latest earlier reporting period of the same form that was filed before the current report. A previous 10-Q is a different quarter, not a year-over-year comparison. Amendments are excluded.

Compared 238 previous paragraphs and 238 current paragraphs.

229 unchanged; 9 reworded; 0 added; 0 removed; 0 previous and 0 current paragraphs rearranged.

Tables are not compared: 0 previous and 0 current tables excluded. Dates, whitespace, punctuation and numbering changes are ignored; changes to financial figures remain significant.

A changed paragraph is not evidence that risk increased or decreased. An unchanged paragraph does not establish that risk stayed the same.

Reworded paragraphs (9)

Previous wording

Our success depends to a significant extent on establishing and maintaining relationships with a variety of channel partners and we anticipate that we will continue to depend on these partners in order to grow our business. For the six months ended June 30, 2026, we derived approximately 53% of our revenues from sales of subscriptions for our solutions through channel partners, and the percentage of revenues derived from channel partners may increase in future periods. Our agreements with our channel partners are generally non-exclusive and do not prohibit them from working with our competitors or offering competing solutions, and many of our channel partners have more established relationships with our competitors. If our channel partners choose to place greater emphasis on products of their own or those offered by our competitors, do not effectively market and sell our solutions, or fail to meet the needs of our customers, then our ability to grow our business and sell our solutions may be adversely affected. In addition, the loss of one or more of our larger channel partners, who may cease marketing our solutions with limited or no notice, and our possible inability to replace them, could adversely affect our sales. Moreover, our ability to expand our distribution channels depends in part on our ability to educate our channel partners about our solutions, which can be complex. Our failure to effectively manage our relationship with channel partners, or any reduction or delay in their sales of our solutions or conflicts between channel sales and our direct sales and marketing activities may harm our results of operations. Even if we are successful, these relationships may not result in greater customer usage of our solutions or increased revenues.

Current wording

Our success depends to a significant extent on establishing and maintaining relationships with a variety of channel partners and we anticipate that we will continue to depend on these partners in order to grow our business. For the nine months ended September 30, 2026, we derived approximately 54% of our revenues from sales of subscriptions for our solutions through channel partners, and the percentage of revenues derived from channel partners may increase in future periods. Our agreements with our channel partners are generally non-exclusive and do not prohibit them from working with our competitors or offering competing solutions, and many of our channel partners have more established relationships with our competitors. If our channel partners choose to place greater emphasis on products of their own or those offered by our competitors, do not effectively market and sell our solutions, or fail to meet the needs of our customers, then our ability to grow our business and sell our solutions may be adversely affected. In addition, the loss of one or more of our larger channel partners, who may cease marketing our solutions with limited or no notice, and our possible inability to replace them, could adversely affect our sales. Moreover, our ability to expand our distribution channels depends in part on our ability to educate our channel partners about our solutions, which can be complex. Our failure to effectively manage our relationship with channel partners, or any reduction or delay in their sales of our solutions or conflicts between channel sales and our direct sales and marketing activities may harm our results of operations. Even if we are successful, these relationships may not result in greater customer usage of our solutions or increased revenues.

Previous wording

In addition, as of June 30, 2026, approximately 79% of our employees were located outside of the United States, with 71% of our employees located in India. Accordingly, we are exposed to changes in laws governing our employee relationships in various U.S. and foreign jurisdictions, including laws and regulations regarding wage and hour requirements, fair labor standards, employee data privacy, unemployment tax rates, workers’ compensation rates, citizenship requirements and payroll and other taxes which may have a direct impact on our operating costs. We may continue to expand our international operations and international sales and marketing activities. Expansion in international markets has required, and will continue to require, significant management attention and resources. We may be unable to scale our infrastructure effectively or as quickly as our competitors in these markets and our revenues may not increase to offset any increased costs and operating expenses, which would cause our results to suffer.

Current wording

In addition, as of September 30, 2026, approximately 80% of our employees were located outside of the United States, with 72% of our employees located in India. Accordingly, we are exposed to changes in laws governing our employee relationships in various U.S. and foreign jurisdictions, including laws and regulations regarding wage and hour requirements, fair labor standards, employee data privacy, unemployment tax rates, workers’ compensation rates, citizenship requirements and payroll and other taxes which may have a direct impact on our operating costs. We may continue to expand our international operations and international sales and marketing activities. Expansion in international markets has required, and will continue to require, significant management attention and resources. We may be unable to scale our infrastructure effectively or as quickly as our competitors in these markets and our revenues may not increase to offset any increased costs and operating expenses, which would cause our results to suffer.

Previous wording

Our reporting currency is the U.S. dollar and we generate a majority of our revenues in U.S. dollars. However, for thesix months ended June 30, 2026, we incurred approximately 29% of our expenses in foreign currencies, primarily the Euro, British Pound, and Indian Rupee, principally with respect to salaries and related personnel expenses associated with our European and Indian operations. Additionally, for the six months ended June 30, 2026, approximately 26% of our revenues were generated in foreign currencies. Accordingly, changes in exchange rates may have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results and financial condition. The exchange rate between the U.S. dollar and foreign currencies has fluctuated substantially in recent years and may continue to fluctuate substantially in the future. We expect that a majority of our revenues will continue to be generated in U.S. dollars for the foreseeable future and that a significant portion of our expenses, including personnel costs, as well as capital and operating expenditures, will continue to be denominated in the Euro, British Pound and Indian Rupee. The result of our operations may be adversely affected by foreign exchange fluctuations.

Current wording

Our reporting currency is the U.S. dollar and we generate a majority of our revenues in U.S. dollars. However, for thenine months ended September 30, 2026, we incurred approximately 29% of our expenses in foreign currencies, primarily the Euro, British Pound, and Indian Rupee, principally with respect to salaries and related personnel expenses associated with our European and Indian operations. Additionally, for the nine months ended September 30, 2026, approximately 26% of our revenues were generated in foreign currencies. Accordingly, changes in exchange rates may have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results and financial condition. The exchange rate between the U.S. dollar and foreign currencies has fluctuated substantially in recent years and may continue to fluctuate substantially in the future. We expect that a majority of our revenues will continue to be generated in U.S. dollars for the foreseeable future and that a significant portion of our expenses, including personnel costs, as well as capital and operating expenditures, will continue to be denominated in the Euro, British Pound and Indian Rupee. The result of our operations may be adversely affected by foreign exchange fluctuations.

Previous wording

We have continued to grow over the last several years, with revenues increasing from $554.5 million in 2023 to $669.1 million in 2025, and headcount increasing from 2,143 employees at the beginning of 2023 to 2,718 employees as of June 30, 2026. We rely on information technology systems to help manage critical functions such as order processing, revenue recognition and financial forecasts. To manage any future growth effectively we must continue to improve and expand our IT systems, financial infrastructure, and operating and administrative systems and controls, and continue to manage headcount, capital and processes in an efficient manner. We may not be able to successfully implement improvements to these systems and processes in a timely or efficient manner.

Current wording

We have continued to grow over the last several years, with revenues increasing from $554.5 million in 2023 to $669.1 million in 2025, and headcount increasing from 2,143 employees at the beginning of 2023 to 2,738 employees as of September 30, 2026. We rely on information technology systems to help manage critical functions such as order processing, revenue recognition and financial forecasts. To manage any future growth effectively we must continue to improve and expand our IT systems, financial infrastructure, and operating and administrative systems and controls, and continue to manage headcount, capital and processes in an efficient manner. We may not be able to successfully implement improvements to these systems and processes in a timely or efficient manner.

Previous wording

Taxing jurisdictions, including state and local entities, have differing rules and regulations governing sales and use or other taxes, and these rules and regulations are subject to varying interpretations that may change over time. In particular, the applicability of sales taxes to our subscription services in various jurisdictions is unclear. It is possible that we could face sales tax audits and that our liability for these taxes could exceed our estimates as tax authorities could still assert that we are obligated to collect additional amounts as taxes from our customers and remit those taxes to those authorities. Furthermore, certain jurisdictions, such as the U.K. and France, have enacted a digital services tax, which is generally a tax on gross revenue generated from users or customers located in those jurisdictions, and other jurisdictions are considering enacting similar laws. We could also be subject to audits with respect to state and international jurisdictions for which we may not have accrued tax liabilities. A successful assertion that we should be collecting additional sales or other taxes on our services in jurisdictions where we have not historically done so and do not accrue for sales taxes could result in substantial tax liabilities for past sales, discourage customers from purchasing our solutions or otherwise harm our business and operating results.

Current wording

Taxing jurisdictions, including state and local entities, have differing rules and regulations governing sales and use or other taxes, and these rules and regulations are subject to varying interpretations that may change over time. In particular, the applicability of sales taxes to our subscription services in various jurisdictions is unclear. It is possible that we could face sales tax audits and that our liability for these taxes could exceed our estimates as tax authorities could still assert that we are obligated to collect additional amounts as taxes from our customers and remit those taxes to those authorities. Furthermore, certain jurisdictions, such as the U.K. and France, have enacted a digital services tax, which is generally a tax on gross revenue generated from users or customers located in those jurisdictions, and other jurisdictions are considering enacting similar laws. Additionally, on June 29, 2026, California enacted Senate Bill 122, which, among other changes, extends California sales and use tax to digital prewritten software beginning January 1, 2027. While these rules do not impact our results of operations in the current year, additional taxes associated with the sale of our platform and with our purchases of third-party software could increase our compliance costs and operating expenses and adversely affect our results of operations. We could also be subject to audits with respect to state and international jurisdictions for which we may not have accrued tax liabilities. A successful assertion that we should be collecting additional sales or other taxes on our services in jurisdictions where we have not historically done so and do not accrue for sales taxes could result in substantial tax liabilities for past sales, discourage customers from purchasing our solutions or otherwise harm our business and operating results.

Previous wording

Additionally, significant judgment is required in evaluating our tax positions and our worldwide tax provisions. During the ordinary course of business, there are many activities and transactions for which the ultimate tax determination is uncertain. In addition, our tax obligations and effective tax rates could be adversely affected by changes in the relevant tax, accounting and other laws, regulations, principles and interpretations, including those relating to income tax nexus, by recognizing tax losses or lower than anticipated earnings in jurisdictions where we have lower statutory rates and higher than anticipated earnings in jurisdictions where we have higher statutory rates, by changes in foreign currency exchange rates, or by changes in the valuation of our deferred tax assets and liabilities. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (“TCJA”) introduced a Base Erosion and Anti-Abuse Tax which imposes a minimum tax on adjusted income of corporations with average applicable gross receipt of at least $500 million for prior three tax years and that make certain payments to related foreign persons. While these rules do not impact our results of operations in the current year, they could impact our financial results in future periods. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) has issued model rules in connection with the Base Erosion and Profit Shifting integrated framework that determine multi-jurisdictional taxing rights (Pillar One) and the minimum rate of tax applicable to certain types of income (Pillar Two). Many countries have enacted legislation to apply the Pillar Two directive for tax years beginning in January 2024, which generally provides for a minimum effective tax rate of 15% on the income arising in certain jurisdictions where the Company operates. However, on January 5, 2026, the OECD announced a “side-by-side” elective safe harbor that exempts U.S. multinational entities from certain provisions of Pillar Two for fiscal years beginning on or after January 1, 2026. We may be audited in various jurisdictions, and such jurisdictions may assess additional taxes, including sales taxes and value-added taxes against us. Although we believe our tax estimates are reasonable, the final determination of any tax audits or litigation could be materially different from our historical tax provisions and accruals, which could have a material adverse effect on our operating results or cash flows in the period or periods for which a determination is made.

Current wording

Additionally, significant judgment is required in evaluating our tax positions and our worldwide tax provisions. During the ordinary course of business, there are many activities and transactions for which the ultimate tax determination is uncertain. In addition, our tax obligations and effective tax rates could be adversely affected by changes in the relevant tax, accounting and other laws, regulations, principles and interpretations, including those relating to income tax nexus, by recognizing tax losses or lower than anticipated earnings in jurisdictions where we have lower statutory rates and higher than anticipated earnings in jurisdictions where we have higher statutory rates, by changes in foreign currency exchange rates, or by changes in the valuation of our deferred tax assets and liabilities. The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) has issued model rules in connection with the Base Erosion and Profit Shifting integrated framework that determine multi-jurisdictional taxing rights (Pillar One) and the minimum rate of tax applicable to certain types of income (Pillar Two). Many countries have enacted legislation to apply the Pillar Two directive, which generally provides for a minimum effective tax rate of 15% on the income arising in certain jurisdictions where the Company operates. However, on January 5, 2026, the OECD announced a “side-by-side” elective safe harbor that exempts U.S. multinational entities from certain provisions of Pillar Two for fiscal years beginning on or after January 1, 2026. We may be audited in various jurisdictions, and such jurisdictions may assess additional taxes, including sales taxes and value-added taxes against us. Although we believe our tax estimates are reasonable, the final determination of any tax audits or litigation could be materially different from our historical tax provisions and accruals, which could have a material adverse effect on our operating results or cash flows in the period or periods for which a determination is made.

Previous wording

The market price of shares of our common stock could decline as a result of substantial sales of our common stock, particularly sales by our directors, executive officers, employees and significant stockholders, a large number of shares of our common stock becoming available for sale, or the perception in the market that holders of a large number of shares intend to sell their shares. As of June 30, 2026, we had approximately 34.7 million shares of our common stock outstanding.

Current wording

The market price of shares of our common stock could decline as a result of substantial sales of our common stock, particularly sales by our directors, executive officers, employees and significant stockholders, a large number of shares of our common stock becoming available for sale, or the perception in the market that holders of a large number of shares intend to sell their shares. As of September 30, 2026, we had approximately 34.9 million shares of our common stock outstanding.

Previous wording

In addition, as of June 30, 2026, there were approximately 1.2 million options and 1.0 million restricted stock units outstanding. If such options are exercised and restricted stock units are released, these additional shares will become available for sale. As of June 30, 2026, we had an aggregate of 2.5 million shares of our common stock reserved for future issuance under our Restated 2012 Equity Incentive Plan and 0.3 million shares reserved for future purchase under our 2021 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, which can be freely sold in the public market upon issuance. If a large number of these shares are sold in the public market, the sales could reduce the trading price of our common stock.

Current wording

In addition, as of September 30, 2026, there were approximately 0.8 million options and 1.1 million restricted stock units outstanding. If such options are exercised and restricted stock units are released, these additional shares will become available for sale. As of September 30, 2026, we had an aggregate of 2.3 million shares of our common stock reserved for future issuance under our Restated 2012 Equity Incentive Plan and 0.3 million shares reserved for future purchase under our 2021 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, which can be freely sold in the public market upon issuance. If a large number of these shares are sold in the public market, the sales could reduce the trading price of our common stock.

Previous wording

On February 12, 2018, we announced that our board of directors had authorized a $100.0 million repurchase program. On each of October 30, 2018, October 30, 2019, May 7, 2020, February 10, 2021 and February 9, 2023, we announced that our board of directors had authorized an increase of $100.0 million, and on each of November 3, 2021, May 4, 2022, February 7, 2024, February 6, 2025, and February 5, 2026, we announced that our board of directors had authorized an increase of $200.0 million to the share repurchase program, resulting in an aggregate authorization of $1.6 billion as of June 30, 2026. Although our board of directors authorized the share repurchase program, we are not obligated to repurchase any specific dollar amount or to acquire any specific number of shares. The share repurchase program could affect the price of our common stock, increase volatility and diminish our cash reserves. In addition, it may be suspended or terminated at any time, which may result in a decrease in the price of our common stock. Finally, our net share repurchases are subject to the 1% excise tax introduced in the Inflation Reduction Act, which could increase the cost to us of share repurchases. During the six months ended June 30, 2026, we repurchased 1.3 million shares of our common stock for approximately $130.7 million. As of June 30, 2026, approximately $229.8 million remained available for share repurchases pursuant to our share repurchase program.

Current wording

On February 12, 2018, we announced that our board of directors had authorized a $100.0 million repurchase program. On each of October 30, 2018, October 30, 2019, May 7, 2020, February 10, 2021 and February 9, 2023, we announced that our board of directors had authorized an increase of $100.0 million, and on each of November 3, 2021, May 4, 2022, February 7, 2024, February 6, 2025, and February 5, 2026, we announced that our board of directors had authorized an increase of $200.0 million to the share repurchase program, resulting in an aggregate authorization of $1.6 billion as of September 30, 2026. Although our board of directors authorized the share repurchase program, we are not obligated to repurchase any specific dollar amount or to acquire any specific number of shares. The share repurchase program could affect the price of our common stock, increase volatility and diminish our cash reserves. In addition, it may be suspended or terminated at any time, which may result in a decrease in the price of our common stock. Finally, our net share repurchases are subject to the 1% excise tax introduced in the Inflation Reduction Act, which could increase the cost to us of share repurchases. During the nine months ended September 30, 2026, we repurchased 1.6 million shares of our common stock for approximately $184.4 million. As of September 30, 2026, approximately $176.1 million remained available for share repurchases pursuant to our share repurchase program.