Core Viewpoint - Zscaler Inc's stock has reached its lowest level since April, currently trading at $226.95, but is projected to see a 25.9% increase by 2025, with a supportive trendline potentially boosting its performance in 2026 [1] Group 1: Stock Performance - The stock is currently down 0.2% and is within 3% of its 24-month moving average, having closed above this trendline for the past five months [2] - Historical data indicates that when the stock has been within 3% of its 24-month moving average, it has increased one month later 69% of the time, with an average gain of 7.2% [2] - Three months following this signal, the stock has averaged a larger gain of 19.8%, with 67% of those returns being positive [2] Group 2: Options Market Sentiment - At major options exchanges, Zscaler's 50-day put/call volume is higher than 95% of readings from the past year, indicating a potential unwinding of pessimism that could benefit the stock [4] - The Schaeffer's Volatility Index (SVI) for Zscaler is at 28%, which is at the lower end of annual readings, suggesting that options traders are currently pricing in low volatility expectations [4]

Core Viewpoint - Zscaler, Inc. (NASDAQ:ZS) is recognized as a high growth large cap stock, with mixed analyst ratings and price target adjustments reflecting market conditions and company performance [1][2]. Group 1: Analyst Ratings and Price Targets - Morgan Stanley reduced the price target for Zscaler's stock from $335 to $305 while maintaining an "Overweight" rating, indicating a belief in the stock's potential despite a flat performance in the cybersecurity sector [1]. - Mizuho upgraded Zscaler's stock from "Neutral" to "Outperform," setting a price objective of $310, citing strong fiscal Q1 2026 results despite a 26% decline in stock over the past six months [2]. Group 2: Market Performance and Positioning - Cybersecurity stocks have remained mainly flat this year, while platform names, including Zscaler, have seen an average increase of approximately 30%, contrasting with a 12% decline in the broader sector [1]. - Zscaler's stock is noted to trade at a peak year-to-date EV to ARR discount compared to its peers, suggesting potential undervaluation in the market [3]. Group 3: Company Overview - Zscaler operates as a cloud security company, focusing on zero trust SASE, positioning itself well within the cybersecurity landscape [2][3].

Core Insights - Whales have adopted a bullish stance on Zscaler, with 55% of trades reflecting bullish expectations and 11% bearish [1] - Analysts have set an average target price of $327.8 for Zscaler, with individual targets ranging from $264 to $365 [10][11] Options Activity - A total of 9 trades were detected for Zscaler, with 5 puts amounting to $264,851 and 4 calls totaling $159,802 [1] - The average open interest for Zscaler options is 356, with total volume reaching 528 [3] Price Targets - Whales have been targeting a price range for Zscaler between $120.0 and $270.0 over the last 3 months [2] Company Overview - Zscaler is a SaaS firm providing cloud-native cybersecurity solutions, focusing on enterprise customers [8] - The company offers Zscaler Internet Access for secure external application access and Zscaler Private Access for secure internal application access [8] Analyst Ratings - Citigroup maintains a Buy rating with a target price of $350, while Bernstein has lowered its rating to Market Perform with a target of $264 [11] - Stifel and UBS also maintain Buy ratings with target prices of $320 and $340, respectively [11]

Industry Overview - Cybercrime costs are rapidly increasing as reliance on digital systems grows, leading to more opportunities for cybercriminals to attack [1][4] - The global cybersecurity market is projected to grow from $193.7 billion in 2024 to nearly $563 billion by 2032, reflecting a compound annual growth rate of 14.4% [2] - Cybercrime is expected to cost the world $10.5 trillion annually by 2025, a significant increase from $3 trillion in 2015, indicating the escalating financial impact of cyber threats [5] Cybercrime Trends - Cybercrime encompasses various attacks, including ransomware, data theft, online fraud, identity theft, and email scams, affecting not only large companies but also small businesses and individuals [3] - The complexity of digital networks and the growing number of connected devices have expanded the attack surface, making security management more challenging [4][6] Key Cybersecurity Players - CrowdStrike Holdings offers its solutions through the Falcon platform, which is a cloud-native security solution that protects various environments and endpoints [8][10] - Fortinet is a leader in network security, providing solutions through its unified FortiOS platform, which integrates security across multiple systems [13][14] - Zscaler specializes in cloud-based security solutions, with significant growth in areas such as AI Security, Zero Trust, and Data Security, each surpassing $1 billion in annual recurring revenue [17][19] Company Performance - CrowdStrike's Falcon Flex subscription model has driven significant growth, with annual recurring revenue from Flex customers reaching $1.35 billion in Q3 fiscal 2026, more than tripling from the previous year [9][12] - Fortinet's FortiSASE billings grew over 100% year over year in Q3 2025, indicating strong momentum in its security offerings [15] - Zscaler's AI Security segment alone reached $400 million in annual recurring revenue, with expectations to exceed $500 million in fiscal 2026 [18]

Summary of the 2026 Year Ahead Outlook: Securing The Agentic Wave Industry Overview - **Industry**: Security Software - **Key Analysts**: Brian Essex, CFA; John Lee; Alex Isaac from J.P. Morgan Securities LLC Core Insights 1. **Favorable Outlook for Security Software in 2026** - The demand backdrop is healthy with reasonable expectations and attractive setups for better-than-expected execution - Top picks include PANW, CLBT, NTSK, and ZS, while FTNT is moved to Underweight due to competitive disadvantages [13][25] 2. **Market Dynamics in 2025** - 2025 was marked by macro uncertainty, leading to a slight contraction in average multiples across the coverage - Security software benefitted from a rotation towards stronger thematic names, particularly those with AI tailwinds [14][22] 3. **Budget Pressures and Spending Trends** - IT Security budgets are expected to grow at a slower pace compared to previous years, with a lower percentage of IT spending allocated to Security - Most budget pressure will impact headcount-related spending, while software spending remains healthy [22][62] 4. **AI's Impact on Security** - AI has increased the volume and sophistication of threats, necessitating a focus on Network Security, Endpoint, and Identity - Demand for SASE (Secure Access Service Edge) remains elevated, driven by AI adoption [23][24] 5. **Platformization and Vendor Performance** - Spending is expected to favor platform vendors that can consolidate across multiple high-priority categories - Established platforms are well-positioned for margin expansion and free cash flow growth [24][27] Key Company Insights 1. **Top Picks for 2026** - **PANW**: Comprehensive end-to-end platform with strong share consolidation capabilities; expected FCF margin expansion to 40% or better [27] - **CLBT**: Positioned for reacceleration driven by government demand; attractive valuation for potential 20%+ y/y growth [28] - **NTSK**: High-growth vendor with improving market traction; well-positioned for demand in Network, Data, and AI security [29] - **ZS**: Benefitting from a shift in Network Security spending; expected to gain from an expanding attack surface [30] 2. **Underweight Ratings** - **FTNT**: Facing challenges as a platform consolidator; current market conditions are unfavorable for stock performance [25] Additional Insights 1. **Consolidation Trends** - M&A activity is expected to accelerate, with private companies driving innovation in the security software space - Notable acquisitions include CyberArk by PANW and several others across the industry [105] 2. **Emerging Threats and Security Needs** - Cyber risks remain a top concern for C-suite executives, with a growing need for solutions to secure AI and machine identities - The market for securing AI is fragmented but expected to grow as larger players invest in this area [145][148] 3. **Growth Projections** - Security software is projected to remain a high-growth sector, with significant opportunities in Cloud Security, Data Privacy, and Endpoint Security - Expected CAGRs from 2024-2029 include Cloud Security at 24% and Data/Privacy at 13% [83] 4. **Valuation and Fundamentals** - Average multiples have contracted, but high-growth vendors are beginning to see multiple appreciation as interest rates stabilize - Companies that can reaccelerate growth while improving profitability will be favored in the market [111][116] This summary encapsulates the key points from the 2026 Year Ahead Outlook for the Security Software industry, highlighting the anticipated trends, company performances, and market dynamics.

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Core Insights - Wall Street is shifting focus from AI narratives to cybersecurity, with JPMorgan predicting that 2026 will favor practical cybersecurity investments over generative AI monetization [1] - Cyber risk has become a top priority for companies, ranking among the top three threats according to PwC's CEO survey, which drives necessary cybersecurity spending [2] - The urgency of cybersecurity spending creates resilience in the sector, as it remains a non-negotiable budget item tied to operational and reputational risks [3] Cybersecurity Market Dynamics - Many cybersecurity companies have improved their growth-plus-margin profiles while maintaining valuation premiums, as indicated by JPMorgan's Rule of 40 and Rule of X analyses [3][4] - Cybersecurity leaders have largely maintained their market positions despite a general compression of multiples in the software sector [4] Key Players - Palo Alto Networks (PANW) is positioned as a long-term consolidator in SecOps, SASE, and cloud security, with expected free cash flow margins trending toward 40% [5] - Zscaler is benefiting from a shift away from legacy network architectures, showing accelerating growth, improving backlog, and rising sales productivity [5] - The appeal of cybersecurity as 2026 approaches lies in its growth potential that meets quality standards [6]

瑞穗将Zscaler的评级从"中性"上调至"跑赢大市"，维持目标价为310美元不变。(格隆汇) ...

Zscaler Inc. (NASDAQ:ZS) is one of the Trending AI Stocks on Wall Street. On December 11, Freedom Capital Markets analyst Almas Almaganbetov reiterated a Buy rating on the stock with a $320.00 price target. The affirmation reflects firm optimism driven by a strong Q1 beat, validating the company’s strategic focus and execution strength. Zscaler delivered “robust” fiscal Q12026 results, outperforming estimates and management’s own guidance. It’s performance is a reflection of the robust demand for its pla ...