Cloudflare shares jump after forecast raise on AI-driven demand

Cloudflare shares rose before the bell on Friday after the cloud services firm raised its annual forecasts, betting that resilient AI-driven demand will sustain traffic across its network.

Quarterly results of Cloudflare, whose shares were last up 16.2% at $330.51, follow Amazon.com's strongest cloud growth in more than four years. Amazon noted that it won't have enough capacity to meet all demand in 2026.

The two reports underscore that software companies remain key winners of the ongoing scramble to build AI infrastructure.

Cloudflare now expects full-year revenue of $2.86 billion to $2.87 billion, up from its prior expectation of $2.805 billion to $2.813 billion. The new forecast, released after markets closed on Thursday, exceeds analysts' average estimate of $2.81 billion, according to LSEG-compiled data.

Analysts at Morgan Stanley said the company's Workers developer platform was its fastest-growing segment, amid a shift toward a usage-based model, expecting the company to exceed its outlook.

Cloudflare also increased its adjusted per share earnings forecast to a range of $1.25 to $1.26 from its earlier estimate of $1.19 to $1.20.

Analysts also highlight that Cloudflare stands to benefit as cybersecurity becomes more necessary as cutting-edge AI models reshape the cyber-risk landscape.