Cloudflare saw its operating loss expand in the first quarter, driven by a substantial rise in sales and marketing expenses. The company reported a loss from operations of $54.6 million for the quarter ending in March, up from $47.3 million in the same period last year. This increase in losses, which amounted to nearly 15%, occurred as sales and marketing costs surged by 42% to $194.1 million. Following the announcement, Cloudflare’s shares fell by 12% in after-hours trading.
The broader economic context of high interest rates has pressured enterprise budgets, prompting businesses to tighten their financial controls amid economic uncertainties.
Despite the operational challenges, Cloudflare’s first-quarter revenue grew by 30% year-over-year to $378.6 million, surpassing analysts’ expectations of $373.1 million. This growth is attributed to robust demand for their services, reflecting the industry trend where companies, including cybersecurity firms like Palo Alto Networks and Crowdstrike Holdings, are consolidating platforms to enhance efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
Looking ahead, Cloudflare forecasts its revenue for the second quarter to be between $393.5 million and $394.5 million, aligning with analysts’ projections according to LSEG data.
The company also reported an adjusted profit of 16 cents per share for the quarter, doubling the 8 cents per share from the previous year.
