Core Insights - Palo Alto Networks (PANW) and Qualys (QLYS) are leading companies in the cybersecurity sector, focusing on different areas of security solutions [1][2] - The cybersecurity market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 12.45% from 2025 to 2030, driven by increasing cyber threats [2] Palo Alto Networks Overview - Palo Alto Networks is recognized for its comprehensive cybersecurity solutions, including next-generation firewalls and cloud security [4] - The company is experiencing growth in areas like Zero Trust and Secure Access Service Edge (SASE), with SASE annual recurring revenues increasing by 35% year over year [5][6] - In Q4 of fiscal 2025, Palo Alto Networks reported a revenue growth rate of 16% and a non-GAAP EPS growth of 27% year over year [8] - However, the company faces challenges such as shortened contract durations and a shift from multi-year to annual payments, impacting revenue stability [7][8] Qualys Overview - Qualys specializes in Vulnerability Management, Detection and Response (VMDR) solutions, with a growing customer base and a net dollar retention rate of 104% [9][10] - The company has expanded its product offerings and enhanced its portfolio, including the launch of the Risk Operations Center and advanced AI security capabilities [10] - Qualys reported a sales growth of 10% and non-GAAP EPS growth of 11% year over year in Q2 of 2025 [13] - The company is also expanding internationally, with a 15% year-over-year growth rate in international revenue, representing 43% of total revenues [12] Valuation and Performance Comparison - Year-to-date, Palo Alto Networks shares have appreciated by 13.9%, while Qualys shares have decreased by 6.5% [14] - Qualys is currently trading at a forward 12-month sales multiple of 6.86X, which is significantly lower than Palo Alto Networks' 12.99X [17] - Qualys holds a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy), making it a more attractive investment compared to Palo Alto Networks, which has a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold) [20][21]

Group 1 - Dan Ives, a prominent tech analyst, forecasts a surge in mergers and acquisitions (M&A) in the technology sector, particularly driven by artificial intelligence (AI) [1][2] - Ives identifies a lenient regulatory environment as a catalyst for easier deal closures, suggesting that both strategic and financial buyers are preparing for increased acquisition activity [2][4] - A comprehensive list of potential M&A targets includes companies like C3.ai Inc., SanDisk Corp., and Lyft Inc., among others [3][5] Group 2 - Major tech firms such as Apple Inc. and IBM are expected to be highly active acquirers in the upcoming M&A wave as they seek to enhance their AI capabilities [4][5] - Recent M&A activity in the industry includes CoreWeave's acquisition of Core Scientific's data centers and Palo Alto Networks' acquisition of CyberArk Software [5][6] - The Dan IVES Wedbush AI Revolution ETF has gained significant investor confidence, surpassing $750 million in assets under management shortly after its launch, reflecting a 30.18% increase since listing [6]

Core Insights - The article highlights Qualys, Inc. (NASDAQ: QLYS) as a potential investment opportunity for those looking to invest like institutional investors [1] Group 1 - Robert F. Abbott has been managing his family's investment accounts since 1995 and has incorporated options trading since 2010, focusing on covered calls and collars with long stocks [1] - Abbott is a freelance writer with a project aimed at providing information for new and intermediate-level mutual fund investors [1] - Abbott holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree, indicating a solid educational background in finance [1]

Core Viewpoint - Qualys, Inc. (NASDAQ: QLYS) is recommended as a buy due to its current stock trading at a discount, attributed to concerns over slowing growth, despite positive developments in product adoption and partner execution [1] Group 1: Investment Thesis - The investment approach is fundamentally based, focusing on long-term durability and affordability rather than merely low multiples [1] - The company is characterized by steady long-term growth, lack of cyclicality, and a robust balance sheet, making it an attractive investment opportunity [1] - There is a belief that in certain situations, the potential for future development can outweigh immediate price concerns [1]

Federal Reserve Decision - The Federal Reserve cut the benchmark lending rate by 25 basis points to a range of 4-4.25%, marking the first interest rate cut of the year [1][9] - The decision was supported by 11 out of 12 voting members, with expectations of two more rate cuts of 25 basis points each this year and additional cuts in 2026 and 2027 [2] AI Infrastructure Sector - A low-interest-rate environment is expected to benefit high-growth sectors, particularly technology, consumer discretionary, and cryptocurrency [3][9] - The AI infrastructure segment is experiencing significant momentum, driven by strong demand and projected spending that will transform various industries over the next five years, including automation, robotics, healthcare, and cybersecurity [5] Recommended AI Infrastructure Stocks - Five mid-cap AI infrastructure stocks are recommended for investment: UiPath Inc. (PATH), Qualys Inc. (QLYS), Calix Inc. (CALX), TaskUs Inc. (TASK), and InterDigital Inc. (IDCC) [4][9] - Each of these companies has a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy), indicating strong investment potential [4] Company Highlights UiPath Inc. (PATH) - UiPath offers an end-to-end automation platform with advanced AI capabilities, including generative AI features [10] - Expected revenue and earnings growth rates for the current year are 10.1% and 20.8%, respectively, with a 14.3% improvement in earnings estimates over the last 30 days [11] Qualys Inc. (QLYS) - Qualys is benefiting from the demand for cloud-based cybersecurity solutions, with a balanced customer mix that enhances resilience [12] - The company has expected revenue and earnings growth rates of 8.1% and 4.6%, respectively, with a 0.5% improvement in earnings estimates over the last week [14] Calix Inc. (CALX) - Calix provides cloud and software platforms for communication service providers and has integrated AI into its offerings [15][16] - Expected revenue and earnings growth rates for 2025 are 15.3% and over 100%, respectively, with a 25.6% improvement in earnings estimates over the last 60 days [16] TaskUs Inc. (TASK) - TaskUs specializes in outsourced digital services across various sectors and has formed strategic partnerships to enhance its AI capabilities [17][18] - Expected revenue and earnings growth rates for 2025 are 17.8% and 16.3%, respectively, with a 4.2% improvement in earnings estimates over the last 30 days [20] InterDigital Inc. (IDCC) - InterDigital focuses on technology solutions for mobile and IoT markets, with innovations in AI-powered receiver design for future wireless communications [21][22] - Expected revenue and earnings growth rates for the current year are -6.7% and -6.2%, respectively, with a 5.9% improvement in earnings estimates over the last 30 days [24]

Industry Overview - Cybersecurity has become a top priority for organizations due to the increasing frequency and sophistication of cyberattacks, which threaten financial stability and brand reputation [1] - The global cybersecurity market is projected to grow from $193.73 billion in 2024 to $562.77 billion by 2032, reflecting a robust CAGR of 14.4% [2] Technological Advancements - Traditional security tools are becoming inadequate against modern threats, leading to a shift towards artificial intelligence (AI) for proactive threat detection and response [3] - AI enables companies to analyze large volumes of data, automating detection and response processes, which is essential given the rapid emergence of threats [3] Key Players - CrowdStrike Holdings (CRWD) is a leader in endpoint protection and is leveraging AI to enhance its Falcon platform for real-time threat detection and automated responses [6][7] - Qualys (QLYS) focuses on vulnerability management and cloud security, enhancing its AI capabilities to improve threat detection and remediation [9][10] - Radware (RDWR) provides cybersecurity solutions and is integrating AI to enhance its product offerings, including DDoS protection and traffic management [12][13] Competitive Positioning - CrowdStrike's deep integration of AI not only enhances its competitive edge but also supports sustainable revenue growth, positioning it as a strong buy [8] - Qualys' AI-powered platform is expected to drive customer adoption and long-term revenue growth, also classified as a strong buy [11] - Radware's AI-driven tools improve scalability and customer loyalty, creating opportunities for recurring revenues through subscription services [14]

Core Insights - Qualys, Inc. is recognized as one of the top cybersecurity stocks to invest in currently due to its recent achievements in security clearance [1] - The company has attained FedRAMP High Authorization, allowing it to manage sensitive and unclassified government data, positioning it among a select group of cybersecurity firms [2] - The CEO of Qualys emphasized the importance of this achievement as a reflection of the company's investment in security and its commitment to supporting U.S. Federal Government cybersecurity initiatives [3] Company Overview - Qualys, Inc. provides a cloud-based cybersecurity platform that assists organizations in discovering and managing IT assets, identifying vulnerabilities, and ensuring compliance [4] - The platform includes automated tools for vulnerability assessment, configuration management, external attack surface management, and threat intelligence to combat cyber threats [4]

Core Insights - Qualys, Inc. has achieved FedRAMP High Authorization for its Government Platform, making it one of the few cybersecurity platforms to offer a comprehensive security solution at this level [1][3][4] - The platform addresses challenges faced by federal agencies, such as limited staff and fragmented security tools, by providing a unified cyber risk management solution [2][4] - FedRAMP High is the most stringent authorization level, designed for cloud services handling sensitive government data, aligning with NIST 800-53 High Impact controls [3] Company Overview - Qualys is a leading provider of cloud-based security, compliance, and IT solutions, serving over 10,000 subscription customers globally, including many from the Forbes Global 100 and Fortune 100 [6] - The company was founded in 1999 and is recognized as one of the first SaaS security companies, with strategic partnerships that enhance its vulnerability management capabilities [7] Product Features - The Qualys Government Platform offers a range of services including vulnerability management, compliance, endpoint detection and response (EDR), asset inventory, policy enforcement, and web application security, all within a single scalable solution [2][4] - The platform is designed to provide broad visibility and control across the entire risk surface, enabling organizations to efficiently reduce risk and protect critical assets [2][4]

Core Insights - CyberArk (CYBR) and Qualys (QLYS) are significant players in the cybersecurity sector, focusing on different areas: CyberArk on privileged access management and identity security, while Qualys specializes in vulnerability management and compliance monitoring [1][2] CyberArk Overview - CyberArk is witnessing growth in its identity security offerings, particularly due to the increasing ratio of machine identities to human identities, now exceeding 80 to 1, compared to 45 to 1 a year ago [3] - The company is innovating with AI-based products such as Secure AI Agents and CORA AI, aimed at protecting AI agents from various security threats [4] - However, CyberArk's near-term growth is impacted by changing customer spending behaviors, with companies opting for phased investments in cybersecurity solutions [5] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate projects CyberArk's revenue growth rates of 32.3% for 2025 and 18.8% for 2026, with earnings growth rates of 27.4% and 25% respectively [6] Qualys Overview - Qualys has over 10,000 customers and a net dollar expansion rate of 104%, indicating strong customer retention and acquisition [10][12] - The company is enhancing its product offerings, including the launch of the first Risk Operations Center and Qualys TotalAI to mitigate risks associated with generative AI [13] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate anticipates revenue growth rates of 8% for 2025 and 6.5% for 2026, with earnings growth rates of 3.6% and 5.5% respectively [14] Market Performance and Valuation - Year-to-date, CyberArk shares have increased by 30.6%, while Qualys shares have decreased by 4.6% [16] - CyberArk is trading at a forward sales multiple of 14.7X, which is significantly higher than Qualys' 7.09X, indicating that CyberArk may be overvalued compared to Qualys [17] Investment Recommendation - Given the current market conditions, Qualys is recommended as a stronger investment option due to its robust growth and customer acquisition strategy, while CyberArk faces near-term challenges [19]

Core Insights - The cybersecurity market is projected to grow significantly, reaching $351.9 billion by 2030, with Fortinet and Qualys as key players addressing critical security needs [1][2] - Organizations are increasing their security budgets by 15% in 2025 due to escalating cyber threats [2] Fortinet (FTNT) - Fortinet reported a revenue growth of 14% year-over-year to $1.63 billion in Q2 2025, with billings increasing by 15% to $1.78 billion [4] - The company maintains a strong market position with its Security Fabric platform and leadership in network firewalls, but faces challenges in sustaining growth momentum [4][5] - Following its earnings announcement, Fortinet's stock dropped 17% in after-hours trading, indicating investor concerns about future growth despite beating earnings estimates [5] - The guidance for Q3 revenues is between $1.67 billion and $1.73 billion, suggesting a moderation in growth trajectory [5] - The consensus mark for 2025 earnings is $2.51 per share, indicating a 5.91% year-over-year growth [6] Qualys (QLYS) - Qualys demonstrated a 10% revenue growth to $164.1 million in Q2 2025, with 82% GAAP gross margins, showcasing operational efficiency [7] - The launch of the AI-powered Risk Operations Center positions Qualys as a leader in next-generation threat management, with the ability to reduce risk exposure by 85% and accelerate remediation by 70% [7] - Qualys raised its 2025 revenue guidance to $656-662 million, representing 8-9% growth, while maintaining strong profitability metrics [9] - The consensus mark for 2025 earnings is $6.35 per share, indicating a 3.59% year-over-year growth [10] Valuation and Performance Comparison - Fortinet trades at a P/E ratio of 30.18, while Qualys trades at a more attractive P/E ratio of 19.88, indicating better relative value for Qualys [11][8] - Fortinet's stock has dropped over 25% from its 52-week high and is down 14.5% year to date, while Qualys has shown more stability with a decline of 6.8% year to date [14] Conclusion - Qualys is viewed as a more compelling investment opportunity due to its innovative AI-driven platform, superior margins, and attractive valuation [18] - The focus on autonomous risk management positions Qualys for accelerated growth in the face of increasing security threats [18]