Core Viewpoint - The market is currently favoring hardware and industrial companies while software companies are facing significant declines, driven by fears of obsolescence due to AI advancements [2][4][19]. Group 1: Market Trends - The Dow dropped 167 points, reflecting a broader market trend where software stocks are being heavily sold off, with the NASDAQ down 1.43% [2]. - High-quality enterprise software stocks like Salesforce, ServiceNow, and Adobe reported strong earnings but still saw their stock prices decline significantly [4]. - The market sentiment indicates a collective belief that software companies are at risk of being replaced or diminished by AI technologies [5][16]. Group 2: Company Performance - Major software companies such as Microsoft, Salesforce, Oracle, and Adobe experienced stock declines ranging from 3% to 11% [10][11]. - Companies that utilize software, like Procter & Gamble and FedEx, are currently performing well despite their own earnings challenges [8]. - Private equity firms with stakes in enterprise software companies are also facing pressure, as the market for new public offerings in this sector appears to be closing [18]. Group 3: Investment Strategies - There is a growing trend of investors using ETFs to short software stocks, indicating a bearish outlook on the sector [9]. - Some analysts suggest that it may be prudent to take advantage of the current low prices of certain tech stocks that are being unfairly dragged down by the broader software sell-off [12]. - The shrinking price-to-earnings multiples for software companies suggest that investors are becoming increasingly cautious about future earnings potential [16][17].

Investment Rating - The report does not explicitly provide an investment rating for the industry but indicates a cautious outlook for enterprise SaaS multiples into 2026 due to global uncertainty and technological disruptions [6]. Core Insights - The median EV/TTM revenue multiple for public enterprise SaaS companies decreased to 5x at the end of Q4 2025, down from 5.3x in Q3 2025, and is expected to see limited upside into 2026 [6]. - Revenue growth rates for 2026 are anticipated to step down to high single digits or low double digits, with significant declines expected in several segments, while slight growth is expected in collaboration, productivity, and creative segments [9]. - The median gross margin for public enterprise SaaS companies increased to nearly 77% in 2025, with expectations of continued strength but limited substantial growth in 2026 [10]. - The median EBITDA margin rose to 19.8% in 2025, with expectations for further strengthening across most segments into 2026 [11]. Summary by Sections Revenue - Revenue growth rates for enterprise SaaS companies are projected to decline significantly in 2026, with the median growth rate barely in double digits, down from previous years' rates of 15% to 30% [9]. - The report highlights specific segments expected to experience declines, including CRM, sales, marketing & CX, finance, ERP, HR & payroll, and data, analytics & AI platforms [9]. Valuation - The report notes that valuation multiples have continued to decline, with 76 out of 102 tracked companies experiencing decreases in their EV/TTM revenue multiples from year-end 2024 to year-end 2025 [12]. - Notable companies that outperformed the broader SaaS decline include Unity, On24, and CS Disco, while companies like Ibotta and The Trade Desk saw significant decreases in their multiples [12]. Gross Margin and EBITDA - The median gross margin across public enterprise SaaS companies is projected to remain strong at 77% in 2026, with some segments like DevOps and vertical SaaS expected to see slight growth [10]. - The report anticipates that EBITDA margins will continue to improve, with the highest growth expected in data, analytics & AI platforms and collaboration, productivity & creative segments [11].

Core Viewpoint - CrowdStrike Holdings, Inc. (CRWD) is a cybersecurity company that has underperformed the broader market over the past year, with a market cap of $111.3 billion and a unified platform offering cloud-delivered protection [1][2]. Performance Summary - Over the past 52 weeks, CRWD shares have gained 11.2%, while the S&P 500 Index has increased by 14.3%. Year-to-date, CRWD is down 5.8%, compared to the S&P 500's 1.4% return [2]. - CRWD has outperformed the iShares Cybersecurity and Tech ETF (IHAK), which has seen a 9.5% decline over the same period, but has lagged behind IHAK's 4% year-to-date drop [3]. Analyst Ratings and Price Targets - On January 26, shares of CRWD rose 3.5% after Berenberg analyst Rahul Chopra upgraded the stock rating to "Buy" from "Hold," citing valuation as a key driver and highlighting the company's potential for sector-leading growth [5]. - For the current fiscal year ending in January, analysts expect CRWD's EPS to decline by 57.1% year-over-year to $0.21. The consensus rating among 48 analysts is a "Moderate Buy," with 27 "Strong Buy," 3 "Moderate Buy," 16 "Hold," and 2 "Strong Sell" ratings [6]. - The mean price target for CRWD is $559.21, indicating a 26.7% premium from current levels, while the highest price target of $706 suggests a potential upside of 59.9% [8].

Core Viewpoint - CrowdStrike Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: CRWD) stock has faced an approximately 8% decline year-to-date, primarily due to broader market pressures affecting technology and software stocks, particularly in the cybersecurity sector [1] Group 1: Market Sentiment and Stock Performance - Analyst sentiment indicates that CRWD stock may be stabilizing ahead of its March earnings report, supported by a bullish upgrade of Fortinet Inc. (NASDAQ: FTNT) from Hold to Buy with a target price of $100, which positively impacted the sector including CrowdStrike [2] - The momentum in the cybersecurity sector suggests that CRWD could be undervalued, presenting a potential entry point for investors as the stock approaches key support levels ahead of earnings [5] Group 2: Impact of AI on Cybersecurity - Concerns regarding the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on software, particularly "vibe coding," are contributing to the decline in cybersecurity stocks like CRWD, as there are fears that AI may reduce the need for custom coding and endpoint security [3] - Despite these concerns, it is premature to conclude that AI will lead to fewer revenue-generating opportunities for cybersecurity companies, as historical technology shifts have often resulted in the creation of new jobs alongside the loss of others [4] Group 3: Company Performance Metrics - CrowdStrike reported a significant 73% year-over-year growth in net new annual recurring revenue (ARR), amounting to $265 million, indicating strong demand for its cybersecurity solutions despite market challenges [5][6]

Core Viewpoint - CrowdStrike offers a way to hedge investments in the AI sector while capitalizing on the growth of AI in cybersecurity, positioning itself as a strong investment opportunity amidst concerns of an AI bubble [1][2]. Company Overview - CrowdStrike is primarily a cybersecurity company, with its flagship product, Falcon, enhancing the effectiveness and usability of cybersecurity measures [3]. - Falcon integrates multiple cybersecurity functions, such as cloud security, data protection, and threat intelligence, into a single program, making it more cost-effective and user-friendly compared to traditional solutions [4]. Product Features - Falcon operates as a proactive defense mechanism, actively hunting for threats rather than merely serving as a passive shield [7]. - The cloud-native architecture of Falcon allows for collaborative defense across its network, improving its threat detection and response capabilities as more clients join [5]. Performance Metrics - Falcon detects breaches in an average of 4 minutes and achieves a 75% faster mean-time-to-respond (MTTR) compared to previous measures, resolving over 13 million threats annually [10]. - CrowdStrike's market cap is approximately $118 billion, with projected annual revenue nearing $3.8 billion for 2025, indicating robust growth akin to that of a start-up [11]. Financial Growth - For fiscal year 2025, CrowdStrike reported a 31% increase in revenue compared to fiscal 2024, with annual recurring revenue (ARR) growing by 23% [12]. - In Q3 2025, total revenues rose by 22% year-over-year to $1.2 billion, with ARR reaching $4.9 billion, also up 23% [12]. - Operating income increased by 32% to $265 million, with diluted earnings per share (EPS) rising by 26% and free cash flow growing by 28% to $296 million [13]. Market Potential - CrowdStrike anticipates its total addressable market (TAM) will expand from $140 billion in 2026 to $300 billion by the end of the decade, indicating significant growth potential [14]. - The company maintains a strong financial position with total debt of about $818 million against cash reserves of $4.8 billion, supporting continued growth [15]. Investment Appeal - CrowdStrike has outperformed the S&P 500 with a five-year annualized return of 18% compared to the S&P's 13%, and a 25% increase over the last 12 months against the S&P's 14% [15]. - The company presents an attractive option for investors looking to benefit from AI advancements in cybersecurity without directly investing in AI firms [16].

CrowdStrike Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:CRWD) is one of the best Nancy Pelosi stocks to buy in 2026. On January 27, Macquarie reiterated a Neutral rating on CrowdStrike Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:CRWD) and a $485 price target. CrowdStrike Holdings Inc. (CRWD) Expansion into Cloud Security and Identity Protection Driving Growth Den Rise/Shutterstock.com According to the research firm, CrowdStrike Holdings Inc. is among the best-positioned security platform players, alongside Zscaler. That’s because of its dominant ...

Core Insights - CrowdStrike (CRWD) is enhancing its Falcon Next-Generation Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) with Charlotte AI, resulting in record net new annual recurring revenues (ARR) in Q3 of fiscal 2026, indicating increased customer demand [1][10] Product Development and Customer Adoption - Charlotte AI is designed to automate tasks such as triage, investigation, and response, significantly reducing the time required for these tasks from four days to minutes, which is crucial for security teams managing large volumes of alerts and data [2] - A major European bank transitioned from its legacy SIEM to Falcon Next-Gen SIEM and Charlotte AI in a significant eight-figure deal, demonstrating CrowdStrike's success in replacing legacy systems [3] - A global healthcare customer also signed an eight-figure Falcon Flex contract, with Charlotte AI being central to its security operations transformation [3] Regulatory Approvals and Market Position - Charlotte AI received FedRAMP high authorization, allowing U.S. government agencies to utilize it through the Falcon platform in GovCloud, which is expected to enhance CrowdStrike's appeal to government and regulated customers [4] - The strong momentum of Next-Gen SIEM and the role of Charlotte AI in automation suggest a solid product combination that could drive growth in upcoming quarters, with Zacks Consensus Estimates indicating a year-over-year revenue increase of approximately 21% for fiscal 2026 and 2027 [5] Competitive Landscape - Competitors like Palo Alto Networks (PANW) and SentinelOne (S) are also expanding their platforms and innovating with AI, with PANW reporting a 29% year-over-year increase in Next-Gen Security ARR in Q1 of fiscal 2026 [6] - SentinelOne achieved a 23% year-over-year growth in ARR in Q3 of fiscal 2026, driven by the adoption of its AI-first Singularity platform [7] Financial Performance and Valuation - CrowdStrike's shares have decreased by 2.3% over the past six months, while the Zacks Security industry has seen a decline of 4% [8] - The company trades at a forward price-to-sales ratio of 20.32, significantly higher than the industry average of 12.45 [12] - Zacks Consensus Estimates for CrowdStrike's fiscal 2026 earnings suggest a year-over-year decline of 5.6%, while fiscal 2027 earnings are expected to grow by 28.8%, with recent upward revisions of 4 cents and 3 cents for the respective fiscal years [15]

Industry Overview - Cybersecurity has seen a decline in popularity due to the rise of artificial intelligence, presenting a potential investment opportunity as prices for quality companies have decreased [1] - The total addressable market in cybersecurity is currently estimated at $140 billion, projected to expand to $300 billion by 2030, indicating significant growth potential for the industry [5] Company Analysis: CrowdStrike - CrowdStrike has integrated AI into its platform to enhance threat detection and response, which is increasingly important given the rise of AI-enabled cyber threats [4] - The company experienced a stock price increase of 37% in 2025, but its revenue growth has not kept pace with this rise, raising concerns about valuation [2][6] - Wall Street analysts forecast a 22% revenue growth for CrowdStrike in FY 2027, suggesting continued strength in the company's performance [5] - Despite its strong market position, CrowdStrike's stock is valued at 25 times sales, which is considered high relative to its revenue growth rate, leading to concerns about its investment attractiveness [6][7]

Core Insights - CrowdStrike has been recognized as the Customers' Choice in the 2026 Gartner Peer Insights™ 'Voice of the Customer' for Endpoint Protection Platforms report [1] - The company received the highest number of 5-star ratings among all Customers' Choice vendors, achieving a 97% Willingness to Recommend score based on 800 overall responses as of November 2025 [1] - CrowdStrike is the only vendor to be named a Customers' Choice in every iteration of the Voice of the Customer for Endpoint Protection Platforms [1]

Core Insights - CrowdStrike identified hundreds of North Korean operatives infiltrating American companies as remote employees using AI-generated resumes and LinkedIn profiles [1][2] - The infiltration scheme has potentially funneled hundreds of millions to up to $1 billion to North Korea over five years, according to FBI estimates [1] Group 1: Infiltration Discovery - CrowdStrike's R&D team discovered unusual signals indicating remote tool usage while developing AI algorithms, leading to the investigation of North Korean operatives [2] - Initially, 40 operatives were found, but the number has now increased to hundreds working in America [2] Group 2: Operative Objectives - The operatives aimed to obtain trade secrets and access, with the strategy of logging in rather than breaking in [2] Group 3: Company Reactions - After notifying a company about a suspected operative, the employee was described as one of the best performers, highlighting the challenge of identifying such infiltrators [3] Group 4: Enhanced Hiring Security - Companies are embedding security personnel in HR to pre-filter AI-generated resumes and are requiring in-person final interviews or mandatory attendance in the first week [4] Group 5: AI in Cybersecurity - Kurtz discussed the emergence of 'autonomous malware' that creates unique fingerprints for each attack, emphasizing the need for AI to counter such threats [5]