✦ The First Full Year of GAAP ProfitNarrow moat

CrowdStrike (CRWD) — the future bets

CrowdStrike has three profitable quarters in a row, but the profit comes from interest on its cash and an accounting change, not yet from operations.

CrowdStrike has reported a GAAP net profit in each of the last three quarters: $38.7 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 20261, $27.8 million in the first quarter of fiscal 20272 and $5.3 million in the second3. Over the twelve months to July 2026 net income was about $45.0 million4. The only full profitable fiscal year so far is fiscal 2024, revised to $72.2 million5.

GAAP net income by quarter ($M)-70.2Q2 FY202638.7Q4 FY202627.8Q1 FY20275.3Q2 FY2027CrowdStrike results releases; the loss is shown by magnitude
Profitable three quarters running, by a small margin.

The guidance points toward a full profitable year in fiscal 2027. Management expects non-GAAP operating income of $1,497.2 million to $1,508.4 million6, about 43% above fiscal 2026's $1.05 billion78. Part of the improvement is an accounting change: from fiscal 2027 sales commissions are amortised over five years instead of four, which the company estimates will improve operating results by $85.0 million to $95.0 million9.

The gap between the two measures is still wide. GAAP operating loss in the second quarter was $33.2 million, against non-GAAP operating income of $371.6 million10. The difference is mostly stock-based pay, which the root threat on stock pay covers. The GAAP profit exists because interest income on $5 billion of cash more than offsets the operating loss.

A first full year of GAAP profit would matter for how the company is valued. It would not, on its own, show the moat earning its keep, because it depends on the cash pile and on a change in an accounting estimate.

The company marked the turn itself. Its fourth-quarter fiscal 2026 release was headed "Achieves positive GAAP net income and record non-GAAP net income in the quarter"11; the two quarters since have kept it positive.

GAAP operating income is the line that would settle it. It was a $33.2 million loss in the latest quarter, against $105.5 million a year earlier12; an operating profit, not just a net profit, in any quarter of fiscal 2027 would show the business itself has crossed over.

Moat trajectory: Widening

GAAP operating loss $105.5M (Q2 FY2026) to $33.2M (Q2 FY2027).

The number that tests this moat
Reported
GAAP operating loss, latest quarter
$33.2M (Q2 FY2027), from $105.5M

Whether the business itself has crossed over; an operating profit in any quarter of FY2027 would show it has.

Source: CrowdStrike Q2 FY2027 results release ↗
References
  1. ReportedCrowdStrike has reported a GAAP net profit in each of the last three quarters: $38.7 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026, $27.8 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2027 and $5.3 million in the second.
    CrowdStrike fourth-quarter and fiscal 2026 results release, Form 8-K exhibit 99.1 - fiscal 2027 guidance and the $20 billion ARR goal. — Q4 FY2026 · publ. 3 March 2026 · source ↗
  2. ReportedCrowdStrike has reported a GAAP net profit in each of the last three quarters: $38.7 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026, $27.8 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2027 and $5.3 million in the second.
    CrowdStrike first-quarter fiscal 2027 results release, Form 8-K exhibit 99.1 - record Q1 net new ARR of $255.8 million, up 32%, record free cash flow of $468.5 million, the four-for-one stock split, Project QuiltWorks, Project Glasswing and OpenAI Trusted Access for Cyber, and the Charlotte AI AgentWorks ecosystem. — Q1 FY2027 · publ. 3 June 2026 · source ↗
  3. ReportedCrowdStrike has reported a GAAP net profit in each of the last three quarters: $38.7 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026, $27.8 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2027 and $5.3 million in the second.
    CrowdStrike second-quarter fiscal 2027 results release, Form 8-K exhibit 99.1 - fiscal 2027 and third-quarter guidance. — Q2 FY2027 · publ. 26 August 2026 · source ↗
  4. ReportedOver the twelve months to July 2026 net income was about $45.0 million.
    CrowdStrike (CRWD) market data - $252.13 at the close on 25 September 2026, market value $258.72 billion, trailing revenue $5.40 billion, net income $45.00 million, trailing P/E 5,749.93, forward P/E 178.75, 52-week range $85.68-$263.87, analyst target $235.67. — September 2026 · publ. 25 September 2026 · source ↗
  5. ReportedThe only full profitable fiscal year so far is fiscal 2024, revised to $72.2 million.
    CrowdStrike Form 10-K for fiscal 2026 (year ended 31 January 2026) - financial statements and notes: contract terms, deferred revenue, remaining performance obligations, backlog, concentration, revisions and commission amortisation. — FY2026 · publ. 5 March 2026 · source ↗
  6. ReportedManagement expects non-GAAP operating income of $1,497.2 million to $1,508.4 million, about 43% above fiscal 2026's $1.05 billion.
    CrowdStrike second-quarter fiscal 2027 results release, Form 8-K exhibit 99.1 - second-quarter results, ARR, net new ARR, margins, module adoption and recent highlights. — Q2 FY2027 · publ. 26 August 2026 · source ↗
  7. ReportedManagement expects non-GAAP operating income of $1,497.2 million to $1,508.4 million, about 43% above fiscal 2026's $1.05 billion.
    CrowdStrike fourth-quarter and fiscal 2026 results release, Form 8-K exhibit 99.1 - fourth-quarter and full-year results, ARR, retention and module adoption. — Q4 FY2026 · publ. 3 March 2026 · source ↗
  8. Moat Explorer calcManagement expects non-GAAP operating income of $1,497.2 million to $1,508.4 million, about 43% above fiscal 2026's $1.05 billion.
    Moat Explorer calculation from CrowdStrike's reported figures ($ millions unless stated; fiscal years end 31 January). Revenue growth: FY2019 249.8 / 118.8 - 1 = 110.4%; FY2020 481.4 / 249.8 - 1 = 92.7%; FY2021 874.4 / 481.4 - 1 = 81.6%, about 82%; FY2022 1,451.6 / 874.4 - 1 = 66.0%; FY2023 2,241.2 / 1,451.6 - 1 = 54.4%; FY2024 3,055.6 / 2,241.2 - 1 = 36.3%; FY2025 3,953.6 / 3,055.6 - 1 = 29.4%, about 29%; FY2026 4,812.0 / 3,953.6 - 1 = 21.7%, about 22%; FY2024 to FY2026 4,812.0 / 3,055.6 - 1 = 57.5%, about 57%; compound FY2018-FY2026 (4,812.0 / 118.8)^(1/8) - 1 = 58.8%, about 59%; revenue grew about 40 times in eight years (4,812.0 / 118.8 = 40.5); FY2027 guidance midpoint (5,991.1 + 6,011.1) / 2 = 6,001.1, 6,001.1 / 4,812.0 - 1 = 24.7%, about 25%; H1 FY2027 revenue 2,856.5 / 6,001.1 = 47.6%; trailing revenue to 31 July 2026 4,812.0 - 2,272.4 + 2,856.5 = 5,396.1, about $5.40 billion. Subscription growth: FY2019 219.4 / 92.6 - 1 = 137.0%; FY2020 98.9%; FY2021 804.7 / 436.3 - 1 = 84.4%; FY2022 69.0%; FY2023 2,111.7 / 1,359.5 - 1 = 55.3%; FY2024 35.9%; FY2025 3,761.5 / 2,870.6 - 1 = 31.0%; FY2026 4,564.7 / 3,761.5 - 1 = 21.4%; H1 FY2027 2,721.1 / 2,153.7 - 1 = 26.3%, about 26%; compound FY2018-FY2026 (4,564.7 / 92.6)^(1/8) - 1 = 62.8%. Subscription added: FY2022 1,359.5 - 804.7 = 554.9; FY2023 2,111.7 - 1,359.5 = 752.1; FY2024 2,870.6 - 2,111.7 = 758.9; FY2025 890.9; FY2026 803.2. Subscription share of revenue FY2018 92.6 / 118.8 = 78%. Subscription gross profit FY2026 4,564.7 - 1,015.9 = 3,548.8. Professional services: revenue FY2018 118.8 - 92.6 = 26.2; FY2024 185.0 / 129.6 - 1 = 42.8%; FY2025 192.1 / 185.0 - 1 = 3.9%, about 4%; FY2026 247.3 / 192.1 - 1 = 28.7%, about 29%; compound FY2018-FY2026 (247.3 / 26.2)^(1/8) - 1 = 32.4%; gross profit FY2026 247.3 - 203.0 = 44.3; GAAP gross margin 44.3 / 247.3 = 17.9%, about 18%; share of gross profit 44.3 / 3,593.1 = 1.2%. Region: FY2026 growth United States 3,216.7 / 2,682.9 - 1 = 19.9%; EMEA 782.7 / 619.5 - 1 = 26.3%; Asia Pacific 495.7 / 402.5 - 1 = 23.2%; Other 317.0 / 248.7 - 1 = 27.4%. United States share FY2018 99.2 / 118.8 = 84%. ARR and net new ARR: ARR compound FY2018-FY2026 (5,252.8 / 141.3)^(1/8) - 1 = 57.1%, about 57%; net new ARR FY2026 5,252.8 - 4,241.8 = 1,010.9; FY2026 growth 1,010.9 / 806.7 - 1 = 25.3%, about 25%; FY2025 change 806.7 / 875.5 - 1 = -7.9%; FY2024 875.5 / 828.4 - 1 = 5.7%; FY2023 828.4 / 681.3 - 1 = 21.6%; H1 FY2027 net new ARR 255.8 + 332.8 = 588.6; FY2027 guided net new ARR 6,607.5 - 5,252.8 = 1,354.7; FY2027 ARR guidance midpoints: March (6,465.8 + 6,516.4) / 2 = 6,491.1, June (6,531.7 + 6,555.5) / 2 = 6,543.6, August (6,603.0 + 6,611.9) / 2 = 6,607.5; 6,607.5 / 5,252.8 - 1 = 25.8%, about 26%; FY2036 goal (20,000 / 5,252.8)^(1/10) - 1 = 14.3% a year; average net new ARR (20,000 - 5,252.8) / 10 = 1,474.7, about 1.47 billion. Falcon Flex: share of ARR 2.29 / 5.84 = 39%; Flex-account ARR a year earlier 2.29 / 2.01 = 1.14 billion; ARR outside Flex accounts 4.66 - 1.14 = 3.52 billion (July 2025) and 5.84 - 2.29 = 3.55 billion (July 2026), growth 3.55 / 3.52 - 1 = 0.8%, under 1%; ARR added 5.84 - 4.66 = 1.18 billion, of which Flex accounts 2.29 - 1.14 = 1.15 billion. Contracts: RPO within twelve months 0.46 x 10.7 = 4.9 billion (July 2026) and 0.51 x 9.0 = 4.6 billion (January 2026); RPO after twelve months 0.54 x 10.7 = 5.8 billion, 54% of RPO (July 2026), 0.49 x 9.0 = 4.4 billion (January 2026), 0.47 x 6.5 = 3.1 billion (January 2025), 0.37 x 3.4 = 1.3 billion (January 2023); RPO growth six months to July 2026 10.7 / 9.0 - 1 = 18.9%; FY2026 9.0 / 6.5 - 1 = 38.5%; RPO / trailing revenue 10.7 / 5.40 = about two years; unbilled backlog 5.9 / 2.8 - 1 = 111% in eighteen months. Deferred revenue 31 July 2026 3,497.1 + 1,345.1 = 4,842.2, about $4.84 billion; noncurrent share 1,345.1 / 4,842.2 = 27.8%, just over a quarter; deferred revenue 31 January 2025 2,733.0 + 995.7 = 3,728.7, 31 January 2026 3,421.1 + 1,332.4 = 4,753.4, growth 27.5%. Accounts receivable 1,038.6 / 1,470.9 = 71% of quarterly revenue. Subscription customers 29,000 / 23,019 - 1 = 26.0%, about 26%. H1 FY2027 revenue growth 2,856.5 / 2,272.4 - 1 = 25.7%, about 26%; H1 capital expenditure 222.0 / 116.2 = 1.9 times. Revenue per subscription customer FY2024 3,055.6 / 29,000 = about $105,000. Cash, costs and stock pay: GAAP operating margin FY2026 -293.3 / 4,812.0 = -6.1%; free cash flow margin FY2026 1,235.3 / 4,812.0 = 25.7%; FY2025 1,065.1 / 3,953.6 = 26.9%; FY2024 938.2 / 3,055.6 = 30.7%; free cash flow after stock pay 1,235.3 - 1,096.7 = 138.6, 138.6 / 4,812.0 = 2.9%; stock pay (cash flow) 1,096.7 / 4,812.0 = 22.8% (FY2026), 861.4 / 3,953.6 = 21.8% (FY2025), 648.7 / 3,055.6 = 21.2% (FY2024); stock pay and payroll tax 1,130.6 / 4,812.0 = 23.5% (FY2026), 903.6 / 3,953.6 = 22.9% (FY2025), 399.0 / 1,470.9 = 27.1% (Q2 FY2027), 276.7 / 1,169.0 = 23.7% (Q2 FY2026). Capital expenditure growth FY2024-FY2026 302.1 / 176.5 - 1 = 71.2%, about 71%; capex share of revenue FY2024 176.5 / 3,055.6 = 5.8%, FY2026 302.1 / 4,812.0 = 6.3%. Net cash 5,230.1 - 745.5 = 4,484.6, about $4.5 billion. Non-GAAP operating income guidance midpoint (1,497.2 + 1,508.4) / 2 = 1,502.8, 1,502.8 / 1,050 - 1 = 43%. July 19 incident net costs 60.1 + 117.7 = 177.8 (FY2025-FY2026) and 177.8 + 3.6 = 181.4, about $181 million through July 2026; update live 04:09 to 05:27 UTC = 78 minutes; cash against Delta claim 5,010 / 500 = about 10 times; a $250 million charge against free cash flow 250 / 1,235.3 = 20%, about a fifth. Acquisitions: cash consideration 96.4 + 213.7 + 252.7 + 212.1 + 327.5 + 627.9 = 1,730.3, about $1.7 billion; CyberArk against SGNL 21,061 / 627.9 = 33.5 times. Valuation: market value against Palo Alto Networks 258.72 / 306.54 = 0.84; Palo Alto price to sales 306.54 / 11.48 = 26.7; market value 25 September 2026 against 31 January 2026 258.718 / 111.278 = 2.3 times; price to trailing sales 258.718 / 5.396 = 47.9; analyst target 235.67 / 252.13 - 1 = -6.5%; market value over fiscal revenue 10.25 / 0.4814 = 21.3 (FY2020, December 2019 value), 46.86 / 0.8744 = 53.6 (FY2021, December 2020 value) - growth rates, margins and guidance. — FY2018-FY2027 · publ. September 2026 · source ↗
    Method: Arithmetic on figures reported in CrowdStrike's Forms 10-K and 10-Q, its results releases and market data; operands shown in the source line.
  9. ReportedPart of the improvement is an accounting change: from fiscal 2027 sales commissions are amortised over five years instead of four, which the company estimates will improve operating results by $85.0 million to $95.0 million.
    CrowdStrike Form 10-K for fiscal 2026 (year ended 31 January 2026) - financial statements and notes: contract terms, deferred revenue, remaining performance obligations, backlog, concentration, revisions and commission amortisation. — FY2026 · publ. 5 March 2026 · source ↗
  10. ReportedGAAP operating loss in the second quarter was $33.2 million, against non-GAAP operating income of $371.6 million.
    CrowdStrike second-quarter fiscal 2027 results release, Form 8-K exhibit 99.1 - second-quarter results, ARR, net new ARR, margins, module adoption and recent highlights. — Q2 FY2027 · publ. 26 August 2026 · source ↗
  11. ReportedIts fourth-quarter fiscal 2026 release was headed "Achieves positive GAAP net income and record non-GAAP net income in the quarter"; the two quarters since have kept it positive.
    CrowdStrike fourth-quarter and fiscal 2026 results release, Form 8-K exhibit 99.1 - fourth-quarter and full-year results, ARR, retention and module adoption. — Q4 FY2026 · publ. 3 March 2026 · source ↗
  12. ReportedIt was a $33.2 million loss in the latest quarter, against $105.5 million a year earlier; an operating profit, not just a net profit, in any quarter of fiscal 2027 would show the business itself has crossed over.
    CrowdStrike second-quarter fiscal 2027 results release, Form 8-K exhibit 99.1 - fiscal 2027 and third-quarter guidance. — Q2 FY2027 · publ. 26 August 2026 · source ↗
Sources
Generated September 28, 2026