Who Owns Qualys Company?

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Who Owns Qualys?

Understanding the ownership structure of a company like Qualys is crucial for grasping its strategic direction, influence, and accountability in the dynamic cybersecurity landscape. The company, a leading provider of cloud-based IT, security, and compliance solutions, was founded in 1999 in Foster City, California. Qualys's founders envisioned a better way for organizations to continuously assess and manage their security and compliance posture, moving away from traditional software to a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) model in cybersecurity.

Qualys, Inc. (NASDAQ: QLYS) operates globally, serving over 10,000 subscription customers in more than 130 countries, including a significant portion of the Forbes Global 100. As of July 18, 2025, Qualys boasts a market capitalization of $5.06 billion with 36.3 million shares outstanding, generating a trailing 12-month revenue of $622 million as of March 31, 2025. The company's current market position highlights its role as a key player in cybersecurity, offering solutions for vulnerability management, threat detection, and compliance.

Delving into Qualys company ownership reveals a landscape shaped by its founders, early investors, and the broader public market following its 2012 IPO. As a publicly traded entity, Qualys stock ownership is distributed among various institutional investors, mutual funds, and individual shareholders. Identifying the largest institutional investors in Qualys is key to understanding who controls Qualys company and influences its strategic decisions. The Qualys founder and current ownership dynamics are also important to consider, as early stakeholders often retain significant influence. This exploration will shed light on the Qualys Inc. ownership structure and its evolution over time, including the Qualys company management ownership and the ownership stake of the Qualys CEO.

The journey of Qualys company history ownership began with its founders, who laid the groundwork for its innovative approach to cybersecurity. Since its inception, the company has seen shifts in its shareholder base, particularly after its IPO, making the Qualys stock ticker and ownership a subject of interest for many. Understanding the Qualys company ownership breakdown provides insight into the forces driving its growth and market strategy. For those interested in a deeper analysis of its product portfolio and market positioning, exploring the Qualys BCG Matrix can offer valuable perspectives.

As a publicly traded company, the question of 'Who owns Qualys' is answered by a diverse group of stakeholders. While founders and early investors may have played a significant role initially, institutional investors now hold substantial portions of Qualys stock ownership. Examining the beneficial owners of Qualys helps paint a clearer picture of its financial backing and strategic alliances. The percentage of Qualys owned by employees also contributes to the company's internal culture and alignment with its long-term goals. This detailed look into Qualys ownership aims to provide clarity on the company's shareholder landscape.

The company that focuses on cloud-based security and compliance solutions was established in 1999. Its founding was spearheaded by Gilles Samoun and Philippe Langlois. These individuals laid the groundwork for what would become a significant player in the cybersecurity landscape.

A pivotal figure in the company's early trajectory was Philippe Courtot. He made an initial investment in 1999 and later assumed the roles of CEO and Chairman of the board in March 2001. Courtot's involvement was instrumental in shaping the company's vision and driving its initial growth phases.

Founding Visionaries

Gilles Samoun and Philippe Langlois founded the company in 1999. Their initial efforts set the stage for the company's future development.

Key Early Investor and Leader

Philippe Courtot invested early and became CEO and Chairman in March 2001. His leadership significantly influenced the company's direction.

Early Funding Rounds

The company secured $28.4 million across two funding rounds. Notable early investors included Bessemer Venture Partners and VeriSign.

Pioneering Cloud Delivery

Courtot's vision led to a cloud delivery platform for global network scanning. This positioned the company as an early SaaS security vendor.

Market Entry

The company launched QualysGuard in 2000. This marked its initial foray into the vulnerability management sector.

Leadership Tenure

Philippe Courtot served as CEO until March 2021. His tenure spanned over two decades, significantly impacting the company's growth and strategy.

While specific details regarding the initial equity distribution among the founders are not publicly disclosed, Philippe Courtot's substantial investment and subsequent leadership role from 2001 indicate a significant level of control and influence over the company's foundational strategy. His leadership was crucial in establishing the company as a pioneer in cloud-based security solutions, aligning with the Target Market of Qualys. Courtot's tenure as CEO concluded in March 2021 due to health reasons, and he passed away in June 2021. Information about early agreements like vesting schedules or buy-sell clauses is not readily available in public records.

Founders and Early Ownership Overview

The early ownership structure of the company was shaped by its founders and key early investors. Philippe Courtot's significant investment and leadership role were central to its initial development and strategic direction.

• Founders: Gilles Samoun and Philippe Langlois.
• Key early investor and leader: Philippe Courtot (CEO and Chairman from March 2001).
• Early funding: Raised $28.4 million from investors like Bessemer Venture Partners and VeriSign.
• Strategic direction: Focused on cloud delivery for network scanning and vulnerability management.
• Courtot's leadership: Instrumental in establishing the company as an early SaaS security vendor.
• Courtot's departure: Stepped down as CEO in March 2021 due to health reasons.

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Qualys, Inc. transitioned to a publicly traded entity on September 28, 2012, listing on the Nasdaq Stock Market under the ticker QLYS. This significant event provided the company with substantial capital to fuel its expansion and solidified its cloud-based security model. As of July 18, 2025, Qualys boasts a market capitalization of $5.06 billion, with approximately 36.3 million shares outstanding, reflecting its established presence in the cybersecurity market.

The ownership structure of Qualys is predominantly characterized by a high concentration of institutional investors, indicating strong confidence from major financial entities. As of March 31, 2025, these institutional holdings accounted for a significant 96.56% of the company's shares. This substantial institutional backing underscores the market's positive outlook on Qualys's performance and strategic direction. Understanding these major shareholders is key to grasping the dynamics of Qualys company ownership.

Insider ownership, which includes shares held by executives and directors, represented 0.87% of the company as of April 22, 2025. While figures from November 2020 indicated former Chairman and CEO Philippe Courtot held approximately 5,308,879 shares, and the Philippe Courtot Family Trust held 3,850,339 shares as of November 2021, these represent past holdings. More recent insider transactions in Q2 2025, such as sales by CEO Sumedh Thakar and CFO Joo Mi Kim, are often executed under prearranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plans for personal financial management. This high institutional stake suggests that the company's strategic decisions and governance are significantly influenced by the objectives of large investment funds, which typically prioritize sustained growth and financial stability. The Growth Strategy of Qualys is therefore closely aligned with the expectations of these key stakeholders.

Understanding Qualys Ownership

The ownership structure of Qualys is heavily weighted towards institutional investors, reflecting broad market confidence. Insider holdings, while present, represent a smaller fraction of the total shares.

• Qualys is a publicly traded company (QLYS on Nasdaq).
• Institutional investors hold over 96% of Qualys stock.
• Key institutional holders include BlackRock and Vanguard.
• Insider ownership is below 1%.

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The board of directors at Qualys is instrumental in guiding the company's strategic direction and corporate governance. As of the latest available information, the board consists of eight members. A significant majority, seven of these directors, are classified as independent according to Nasdaq listing standards, underscoring a commitment to objective oversight. Sumedh Thakar, who also serves as the President and CEO, is a key figure on the board. Other leadership roles within the company, such as the Chief Financial Officer and Chief Legal Officer, are also represented in the executive team that works closely with the board.

Understanding the voting power within a company is essential for grasping its ownership structure. Qualys operates under a straightforward one-share-one-vote principle. This means that for every share of common stock a shareholder possesses on the designated record date, they are entitled to one vote. Importantly, Qualys does not employ cumulative voting for director elections. Instead, directors are elected based on a plurality of the votes cast by shares that are present either in person or by proxy at shareholder meetings. This structure ensures that voting influence is directly tied to the number of shares held, without any special provisions that might grant disproportionate control to specific shareholders or entities.

The corporate governance framework at Qualys emphasizes the board's pivotal role in steering the company's operations and long-term strategy. While specific shareholder percentages are detailed in regulatory filings, the one-share-one-vote system is a fundamental aspect of how Qualys company ownership translates into voting power. This system ensures that the influence of major shareholders, institutional investors, and individual investors alike is directly proportional to their equity stake. For those interested in the operational side, understanding the Revenue Streams & Business Model of Qualys provides further context on how the company generates value, which in turn impacts its overall ownership dynamics and board decisions.

Director Election and Shareholder Influence

Directors at Qualys are elected through a plurality voting system. This means the candidates receiving the most votes are elected, without requiring a majority. Shareholder influence is directly tied to the number of shares owned, reinforcing the one-share-one-vote principle.

• Directors elected by plurality of votes.
• No cumulative voting for directors.
• Voting power directly linked to share ownership.
• Emphasis on independent board oversight.

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In recent years, the company has actively managed its capital structure, with a notable emphasis on returning value to its shareholders. Over the period from 2022 to 2025, share buyback programs have been a consistent strategy. Specifically, in the fourth quarter of 2024, the company repurchased approximately $42.3 million of its stock. For the entirety of 2024, total share repurchases reached $139.9 million. This commitment to reducing outstanding shares continued into 2025, with $143.4 million remaining under an existing program and an additional $200 million authorized by the Board of Directors in February 2025, bringing the total authorization to $1.4 billion. These actions underscore a strategic focus on enhancing shareholder value.

Leadership transitions have also shaped the company's recent trajectory. Sumedh Thakar assumed the roles of President and CEO in March 2021, following the passing of Philippe Courtot. While recent insider transactions, such as sales by CEO Sumedh Thakar and CFO Joo Mi Kim in Q2 2025, have been observed, these are generally attributed to pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plans for personal financial management rather than indicators of diminished confidence. As of June 2025, insider ownership stood at 41.87%, with institutional investors collectively holding 95.91% of the company's stock. This broad institutional backing aligns with industry trends favoring profitability and robust cash flow generation, areas where the company has shown strong performance.

The company's financial performance further supports its market position. In Q1 2025, revenue growth was reported at 10% year-over-year, reaching $159.9 million. The adjusted EBITDA margin for 2024 was maintained at 47%, significantly exceeding the industry median of 25%. These strong financial metrics, coupled with a healthy balance sheet featuring more cash than debt, have also led to market speculation. Reports from November 2024 indicated that the company was exploring strategic options, including a potential sale, driven by interest from potential buyers. This reflects a broader trend of consolidation within the cybersecurity sector, making the company an attractive prospect for acquisition.

Shareholder Value Initiatives

The company has consistently prioritized returning capital to shareholders through share buyback programs. These initiatives aim to reduce the number of outstanding shares, thereby potentially increasing earnings per share and overall shareholder value.

Leadership and Insider Activity

Recent leadership changes have been integrated smoothly, with executive sales often occurring under pre-arranged trading plans. This indicates a structured approach to personal financial management by key personnel, distinct from company performance outlook.

Financial Strength and Market Position

Strong revenue growth and high profitability margins highlight the company's robust financial health. Its solid balance sheet and consistent performance make it a compelling entity in the cybersecurity market.

Industry Consolidation Trends

Reports of potential strategic reviews and buyer interest align with broader consolidation trends in the cybersecurity industry. The company's financial standing positions it as a potentially attractive target for acquisition or strategic partnership.

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