SentinelOne, Inc. (NYSE: S ) and CrowdStrike Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: CRWD ) are two popular investments in the cybersecurity industry that, in my opinion, have the potential to outperform the S&P 500 (My primary area of concentration will be on identifying companies of exceptional caliber, with a proven ability to reinvest capital for impressive returns. Targeting those with a market capitalization of less than $10 billion, affords ample opportunities for growth. The ideal scenario is for these companies to ...

Top Wall Street analysts changed their outlook on these top names. For a complete view of all analyst rating changes, including upgrades and downgrades, please see our analyst ratings page.Considering buying CRWD stock? Here’s what analysts think: Read This Next: Photo via ShutterstockLoading...Loading... ...

Joining me now for a look across the cyber security space and beyond is Steve Kanig, US head of technology research, McQuary US Equity Research. Steve, thank you so much for joining us here at the big board. Good morning, Diane.Thanks for having us. It's good to see you. All right.Um, it feels like we are in such a different place than we were a little more than a year ago with a crowd strike. So, how would you describe just where things stand now and kind of this current state of affairs. Well, we certain ...

Group 1 - Morgan Stanley analyst Keith Weiss raised the target price for CrowdStrike Holdings Inc. from $460 to $475 while maintaining an "Equal Weight" rating, indicating a cautious investment stance despite the upward adjustment [1][2] - CrowdStrike's stock price closed at $502.55 last Friday, reflecting a 46% increase this year, driven by unprecedented AI investment trends [2] - CrowdStrike is expected to achieve over 20% growth in Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) by fiscal year 2027, with a long-term goal of reaching $20 billion ARR by fiscal year 2036, which is more than four times the current level [2] Group 2 - CrowdStrike is a leader in AI-driven cybersecurity solutions, benefiting from strong growth in the cybersecurity market as global enterprises increase investments due to expanding attack surfaces and complex threats [3] - The integration of generative AI technology into CrowdStrike's services enhances efficiency and lowers technical barriers, making it attractive for companies developing AI software applications [3] - The introduction of an AI security analyst named "Charlotte" within the CrowdStrike Falcon® platform allows users to interact and create workflows easily, improving user experience and platform effectiveness [4]

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the increasing scrutiny and criticism of Chinese cybersecurity companies by U.S. experts and institutions, particularly focusing on the actions of Dakota Cary and the implications for the cybersecurity industry. Group 1: Criticism of Chinese Cybersecurity Companies - Dakota Cary, a prominent figure in U.S. cybersecurity, has accused several Chinese companies, including Alibaba and Baidu, of being "weapons suppliers" for state-sponsored hacking, distorting the nature of penetration testing services [1][3][6] - Cary's claims are seen as part of a broader strategy to isolate Chinese cybersecurity firms from international collaborations, particularly the Microsoft Active Protections Program (MAPP) [6][7] - Following Cary's accusations, Microsoft announced restrictions on Chinese companies' access to vulnerability information, which was celebrated by Cary as a victory [7][8] Group 2: Historical Context and Evolution - The article traces the origins of U.S. criticism of Chinese cybersecurity back to a 2012 congressional hearing where Richard Bejtlich accused the Chinese government of extensive cyber espionage [9][13] - This hearing marked the beginning of a decade-long focus on China as a primary adversary in cyberspace, leading to a series of reports and accusations against Chinese firms [13][14] - The narrative has evolved, with newer figures like Cary taking the lead in shaping public perception and policy against Chinese cybersecurity entities [17][20] Group 3: The Role of U.S. Cybersecurity Firms - U.S. cybersecurity firms, such as SentinelOne, have benefited from the political climate by increasing government contracts, with SentinelOne's government orders rising from 12% in 2021 to 37% by 2025 [32][33] - The article highlights a pattern where U.S. cybersecurity companies publish reports that criticize Chinese firms, which in turn helps them secure government contracts and funding [32][34] - The rise of companies like CrowdStrike and SentinelOne is linked to their ability to align with U.S. government interests and narratives against China [33][34] Group 4: Response from Chinese Cybersecurity Firms - In response to the accusations, Chinese cybersecurity companies have begun to publish their own reports exposing U.S. cyber activities, aiming to counter the narrative and assert their capabilities [36][37] - Reports from firms like Qihoo 360 and Antiy have detailed U.S. cyber attacks, marking a shift towards a more aggressive defense strategy against U.S. claims [35][36] - The article notes that these responses are part of a broader struggle for legitimacy and recognition in the global cybersecurity landscape [34][38] Group 5: Future Implications - The ongoing conflict between U.S. and Chinese cybersecurity firms reflects a larger geopolitical struggle, with implications for international cybersecurity cooperation and competition [48][49] - The article suggests that the U.S. is conducting a comprehensive assessment of China's cybersecurity capabilities, which may signal preparations for future cyber confrontations [48][49] - The narrative constructed by U.S. experts may influence policy decisions and funding allocations within the U.S. government, further entrenching the divide between the two nations in the cybersecurity domain [57][58]

【文/观察者网专栏作者 心智观察所】 一、"微脱钩"的吹鼓手 2025年7月26日，美国社交媒体X上，认证为"中国网络安全问题专家"的达科塔·卡里（Dakota Cary）突 然开启了"猎巫"行动。他点名了十家互联网和网络安全企业，阿里巴巴、百度、安天、安恒、绿盟等都 在其中。他列举了这些企业的公开资料中安全服务品类中有渗透测试服务的截图，并用红框标注：这些 企业伪装成守护者，实为国家级黑客的"武器供应商"。 渗透测试服务是网络安全行业常见的服务品类，是网络安全公司为协助客户发现安全缺陷的一项基础服 务。这一服务模式本来就是美国网络安全企业所创造的，全球主要网络安全企业，包括美国主流安全企 业都提供该项服务，只是在称呼上，部分美国企业称之为"红队"（Red Team）服务而已。 卡里的真实意图，意在将中国网络安全企业从一项微软漏洞分享体系MAPP中剥离。MAPP（Microsoft Active Protections Program微软主动防护计划）是一个由微软安全响应中心（MSRC）发起的全球性安全 合作项目，旨在通过提前向认证安全厂商共享漏洞信息，缩短漏洞修复的防护窗口期，提升整体网络安 全防御能力。微 ...

Group 1: Valuation Trends in AI Companies - Seven of the highest-valued private tech companies are now worth $1.3 trillion, almost double from the previous year, with OpenAI leading at $324 billion [1] - The valuation surge reflects actual growth, with companies growing at rates of 100%, 200%, and 300% on already substantial numbers [2] - 19 AI firms have raised $65 billion so far this year, indicating strong financial backing and little incentive to go public [2] Group 2: Market Sentiment and Predictions - Some analysts believe current valuations are "insane" and acknowledge being in a bubble, yet they continue to invest heavily [3] - OpenAI is expected to spend aggressively on datacenter construction, indicating a strong belief in future growth [4] Group 3: Hedge Fund Interest and Stock Performance - Hedge funds are increasingly interested in AI stocks, with research showing that imitating top hedge fund picks can outperform the market [5] - Accenture plc is highlighted as a must-watch AI stock, with a recent price target adjustment from $355 to $315 while maintaining a Buy rating [8] - CrowdStrike Holdings, Inc. is also noted as a key AI stock, with a price target raised from $450 to $475 following positive investor meetings [11][12] Group 4: Company-Specific Insights - Accenture has lagged behind the S&P by approximately 2500 basis points over the last 90 days, attributed to low industry growth [8] - CrowdStrike provided guidance for over 20% net new Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) growth for fiscal year 2027, significantly above consensus expectations [13]

Group 1 - CrowdStrike Holdings, Inc. is being closely monitored by analysts as a significant player in the AI sector [1][2] - Morgan Stanley analyst Keith Weiss raised the price target for CrowdStrike from $460 to $475 while maintaining an Equal Weight rating [1][2] - The company is projected to achieve a net new annual recurring revenue (ARR) growth of over 20% in fiscal year 2027, with a target of $20 billion in ARR by fiscal year 2036, which is more than four times its current level [3] Group 2 - The recent Analyst Day highlighted the advantages of platformization and the increasing risks associated with artificial intelligence for customers [2][3] - CrowdStrike is recognized as a leader in AI-driven endpoint and cloud workload protection [3]

Core Insights - CrowdStrike experienced a significant stock surge of 13% following its investor day and the Fal.Con conference, where it announced ambitious targets and a stronger focus on artificial intelligence (AI) [1] - The company reported a record net-new annual recurring revenue (ARR) growth for fiscal 2027, reinforcing confidence in its platform's resilience [1][2] - The cybersecurity firm aims to reach $10 billion in subscription ARR by fiscal 2031, with a forecast of over 20% net-new ARR growth in fiscal 2027 [5] Financial Performance - In Q2 of fiscal 2026, CrowdStrike's total revenue increased by 21% year-over-year to $1.17 billion, while ending ARR rose by 20% to $4.66 billion [4] - The company achieved a record net-new ARR of $221 million in the latest quarter, with non-GAAP operating income at $255 million (22% of revenue) and free cash flow at $284 million (24% of revenue) [4] - The results indicate strong momentum in subscriptions and cash generation, which is crucial for sustaining growth [7] Business Strategy and Growth Drivers - Management highlighted the ongoing expansion of its platform, with increasing module adoption rates and the scaling of next-generation security offerings [6] - The company has surpassed 1,000 Falcon Flex customers, with each typically representing over $1 million of ARR, indicating a favorable mix shift that can support sustained double-digit growth [6] - The focus on integrating AI into its offerings is expected to enhance customer confidence and drive future growth [4][5]

If you want full access to all our reports, data and investing ideas, join The Aerospace Forum , the #1 aerospace, defense and airline investment research service on Seeking Alpha, with access to evoX Data Analytics, our in-house developed data analytics platform.Dhierin runs the investing group The Aerospace Forum , whose goal is to discover investment opportunities in the aerospace, defense and airline industry. With a background in aerospace engineering, he provides analysis of a complex industry with si ...