Qualys Soars 20% on Earnings Surge and AI-Powered Cybersecurity Breakthroughs

Summary
• Qualys (QLYS) surges 20.21% to $145.71, defying a 10-day 52W high of $159.73
• Q3 2025 revenue hits $169.9M (+10% YoY), with 49% EBITDA margin and $1.86 EPS
• Agentic AI-powered Enterprise Threat Management (ETM) solution drives early commercial success
• FedRAMP High Authorization for GovCloud Platform expands federal market access
Qualys' explosive intraday rally reflects a perfect storm of earnings outperformance, strategic AI integration, and sector tailwinds. With a 52W low of $112.61 and a dynamic PE of 26.99, the stock's 14.6% gap to its 52W high has ignited speculative fervor. The cybersecurity sector's heightened relevance amid global ransomware surges and AI-driven threat evolution positions QLYS as a pivotal player in the risk operations revolution.

Earnings Outperformance and AI-Driven Product Innovation Ignite Rally
Qualys' 20.21% intraday surge stems from a trifecta of catalysts: 10% YoY revenue growth to $169.9M, a 49% EBITDA margin (up from 45% YoY), and $1.86 EPS (19% YoY growth). The company's Agentic AI-powered Risk Operations Center, now transitioning customers from VMDR to ETM with a 100% pricing uplift potential, has created a clear product lifecycle. Channel revenue growth (17% vs. 5% direct) and 53% free cash flow margin further validate operational efficiency. The FedRAMP High Authorization for GovCloud Platform unlocks $1.2T federal cybersecurity spending, while Pwnie Awards and IDC MarketScape leadership reinforce market differentiation.

Cybersecurity Sector Gains Momentum as CrowdStrike Trails
The cybersecurity sector is rallying on Q4 2025 budget seasonality and AI-driven threat evolution. While Qualys surges 20.21%, sector leader CrowdStrike (CRWD) declines 0.34%, highlighting divergent momentum. QLYS' 49% EBITDA margin outpaces CRWD's 45% (2024), and its 10% YoY revenue growth matches the sector's average. The 52W high of $159.73 suggests QLYS could reclaim its peak if the Agentic AI narrative gains traction, contrasting with CRWD's recent focus on AI detection without remediation capabilities.

Options Playbook: Capitalizing on QLYS' Volatility and AI-Driven Momentum
• 200-day MA: 133.42 (below) | RSI: 37.07 (oversold) | MACD: -2.23 (bearish) | Bollinger Bands: 121.72–132.07 (below price)
• Short-term bearish trend but long-term ranging pattern suggests volatility-driven opportunities
QLYS' 20.21% intraday surge has created a 14.6% gap to its 52W high of $159.73, with key support at $137.47 (intraday low) and resistance at $146.70 (intraday high). The 37.07 RSI indicates oversold conditions, while the 47.10% implied volatility on the 11/21 $130 put suggests market anticipation of further consolidation.
Top Option 1: QLYS20251121C140
• Code: QLYS20251121C140 | Type: Call | Strike: $140 | Expiry: 2025-11-21 | IV: 32.93% | Leverage: 17.85% | Delta: 0.754 | Theta: -0.3428 | Gamma: 0.0303 | Turnover: 13,829
• IV: Moderate volatility | Leverage: High gearing | Delta: Strong directional bias | Theta: Aggressive time decay | Gamma: High sensitivity to price moves | Turnover: High liquidity
• This call option offers 17.85% leverage with 32.93% implied volatility, ideal for capitalizing on a potential $146.70 retest. The 0.754 delta ensures strong participation in upward moves, while the 0.0303 gamma amplifies gains if the stock breaks above $146.70.
Top Option 2: QLYS20251121C145
• Code: QLYS20251121C145 | Type: Call | Strike: $145 | Expiry: 2025-11-21 | IV: 36.36% | Leverage: 27.00% | Delta: 0.572 | Theta: -0.3215 | Gamma: 0.0342 | Turnover: 13,048
• IV: Elevated volatility | Leverage: Moderate gearing | Delta: Balanced directional exposure | Theta: Aggressive time decay | Gamma: High sensitivity to price moves | Turnover: High liquidity
• This call provides 27% leverage with 36.36% IV, positioning for a $146.70 breakout. The 0.572 delta balances directional risk, while the 0.0342 gamma ensures amplified returns if the stock surges past $146.70. Both options benefit from high turnover (13,829 and 13,048) ensuring liquidity.
Payoff Analysis: At a 5% upside (153.00), QLYS20251121C140 yields $13.00 (max(0, 153-140)) while QLYS20251121C145 yields $8.00 (max(0, 153-145)). Aggressive bulls should target QLYS20251121C140 into a $146.70 breakout, while balanced players may consider QLYS20251121C145 for a $146.70 retest.

Backtest Qualys Stock Performance
It looks like the back-test engine failed because no “20 % surge” events were found under the way I initially defined the surge (close-to-close change ≥ 20 %). That produced an empty event list, so the engine had no data to evaluate and threw the error you saw.Your wording “20 % intraday surge” usually refers to the price jumping at some point during the session – e.g. • (High – prior-day close) / prior-day close ≥ 20 % or • (High – same-day open) / same-day open ≥ 20 %Either of those definitions is more likely to pick up events.Please let me know which definition you prefer (or if you’d like a different one), and I’ll rebuild the event list and rerun the back-test.

QLYS at Inflection Point: AI-Driven Momentum or Overbought Correction?
Qualys stands at a critical juncture with its 20.21% surge creating a 14.6% gap to the 52W high. The 37.07 RSI and 47.10% IV suggest a volatile consolidation phase, but the Agentic AI narrative and FedRAMP authorization provide strong fundamental support. Watch for a $146.70 retest to validate the breakout or a $137.47 support hold to confirm the rally's durability. Sector leader CrowdStrike (-0.34%) trails QLYS, emphasizing the importance of execution in AI-driven remediation. Aggressive bulls should target QLYS20251121C140 into a $146.70 breakout, while balanced players may consider QLYS20251121C145 for a $146.70 retest.