Core Viewpoint - BTIG identifies Zscaler as the top large-cap pick and Netskope as the top small-cap pick in the security and infrastructure software sector for the first half of 2026, with other recommended stocks including Snowflake, SailPoint, and Datadog [1] 2025 Review - The security and infrastructure software sector faced challenges in 2025, with a median return of -0.8%, significantly lagging behind the Nasdaq index, which rose by 22% [2] - The best-performing companies included Cloudflare, MongoDB, CrowdStrike, Snowflake, and CyberArk Software, all expected to benefit from AI in various ways [2] - Poor performers were typically single-solution providers in commoditized markets or those facing adverse AI-related factors [2] 2026 Outlook - The cybersecurity sector is expected to stabilize, with projected growth of 16% in 2025 and similar growth anticipated for 2026 [4] - Key areas of focus include cloud security, security services, and identity authentication, with ongoing market disruption opportunities in the SIEM sector [4] - Despite the importance of AI security, most organizations are expected to rely on existing vendor solutions for AI workload protection in the next 12 to 18 months [4] - Top AI-related picks include Netskope, SailPoint, Cloudflare, Zscaler, Palo Alto Networks, and CrowdStrike [4] - The integration of platforms remains a primary theme, with a preference for companies with strong multi-product portfolios that can drive adoption across similar or adjacent procurement centers [4] Observability Sector - There is optimism in the observability space, with clients prioritizing vendor integration, benefiting companies like Datadog and Dynatrace [5] - The influx of AI-related workloads is expected to create favorable conditions for vendors [5] Competitive Landscape - Palo Alto's acquisition of Chronosphere introduces a potential disruptive catalyst in the observability market, although previous aggressive pricing strategies in other verticals did not significantly impact market leader CrowdStrike [6] - Similar competitive dynamics are observed in the observability sector with Datadog and Dynatrace [6]

Core Insights - Morgan Stanley's analysis indicates that perpetual funds, which select companies and assets based on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria, have lower allocations in the cybersecurity sector compared to the MSCI All Country World Index. This gap is even larger when compared to core AI-related companies, suggesting significant investment opportunities in cybersecurity [1] Group 1: Market Trends - The growth momentum of AI and cybersecurity is expected to provide long-term growth catalysts for cybersecurity companies, highlighting their investment value [1] - The total addressable market for cybersecurity is projected to grow from approximately $270 billion to $377 billion by 2028, representing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of about 12% over three years [1] - Cloud security is identified as the fastest-growing area within cybersecurity [1] Group 2: Company Ratings - Analysts have assigned "overweight" ratings to several companies in the cybersecurity sector, including Netskope, Okta, Palo Alto Networks, Varonis Systems, and Zscaler [1] - Among cyber insurance companies, preference is given to Beazley, which is headquartered in London [1]

Core Insights - Morgan Stanley's analysis indicates that perpetual funds, which select companies and assets based on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria while seeking financial returns and positive social impact, have a lower allocation in the cybersecurity sector compared to the MSCI All Country World Index [1] - The gap in allocation is even larger when compared to core AI-related companies, highlighting the potential investment opportunities in cybersecurity [1] - The growth momentum of AI and cybersecurity is expected to provide long-term growth catalysts for cybersecurity companies, further emphasizing their investment value [1] Industry Summary - The total addressable market for cybersecurity is projected to grow from approximately $270 billion to $377 billion by 2028, representing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of about 12% over three years [1] - Cloud security is identified as the fastest-growing area within cybersecurity [1] Company Ratings - Analysts have given "overweight" ratings to several companies in the cybersecurity sector, including Netskope, Okta, Palo Alto Networks, Varonis Systems, and Zscaler [1] - Among cybersecurity insurance companies, preference is given to Beazley, which is headquartered in London [1]

Group 1 - The article discusses the investment strategy of a boutique family office fund led by Amrita, focusing on sustainable, growth-driven companies that maximize shareholder equity [1] - Amrita has a background in high-growth supply-chain start-ups and has experience working with venture capital firms, which has contributed to her investment acumen [1] - The newsletter "The Pragmatic Optimist," co-founded by Amrita, aims to simplify financial literacy and macroeconomic concepts for a broader audience, enhancing understanding of investment strategies [1] Group 2 - The article mentions a long position in Zscaler (NASDAQ: ZS) as part of the investment strategy, indicating confidence in the stock's potential [2] - The disclosure emphasizes that the opinions expressed are personal and not influenced by any business relationships with the companies mentioned [2]

Core Viewpoint - Zscaler Inc. has experienced a significant decline in its stock price, dropping nearly 30% in a few weeks after a strong rally earlier in the year, raising concerns about its long-term growth potential [1][5] Financial Performance - The company's recent earnings report showed solid revenue growth and better-than-expected guidance, but continued operating losses overshadowed these positive aspects [2][3] - Despite beating expectations on headline numbers, the stock's performance has been negatively impacted by market sentiment and valuation concerns [3][5] Analyst Sentiment - Many analysts still view Zscaler as a compelling long-term investment opportunity, with some projecting a potential upside of up to 60% from current levels [5] - Negative updates from analysts, including a downgrade from Bernstein, have contributed to the bearish sentiment surrounding the stock, with concerns about its growth potential being labeled as "challenged" [4] Technical Analysis - The stock has seen a significant technical breakdown, starting its decline from around $330, with little resistance until it fell below $240 [4] - Recently, the stock has shown signs of stabilizing around the $240 level, indicating potential for future movement [4]

Group 1 - Zscaler (ZS) has experienced a significant pullback in the past quarter, which may attract attention from investors who previously avoided the stock during the summer months [1] - The investment strategy focuses on identifying undervalued companies with secular growth potential, emphasizing strong balance sheets and management teams [1] - The investment group led by Julian Lin aims to deliver large alpha relative to the S&P 500 by combining growth-oriented principles with strict valuation hurdles [1] Group 2 - The article does not provide any specific financial data or performance metrics related to Zscaler or other companies mentioned [2][3]

Core Insights - The S&P 500 is nearing all-time highs as 2025 approaches, largely driven by a concentrated group of large-cap tech stocks involved in the AI sector [1] Group 1: Market Performance - The gains in the S&P 500 are significantly tied to large-cap tech stocks that are heavily engaged in the AI trade [1] Group 2: Analyst Background - Gary Alexander has extensive experience in covering technology companies on Wall Street and has worked in Silicon Valley, providing insights into current industry themes [1]

Group 1 - The S&P 500 is nearing all-time highs as 2025 approaches, largely driven by a concentrated group of large-cap tech stocks involved in the AI trade [1] - The gains in the S&P 500 are not broadly shared across all sectors, indicating a potential concentration risk within the market [1] Group 2 - Gary Alexander has extensive experience in covering technology companies and has been involved with several seed-round startups, providing insights into current industry themes [1]

Core Insights - The Barclays Tech Conference features a session with Zscaler's team, including the Chief Financial Officer and Investor Relations representatives [1][2] Group 1 - The session is structured to include a fireside chat with the CFO, Kevin Rubin, lasting approximately 20 to 25 minutes [2] - The conference encourages interactivity, inviting attendees to ask questions during the session [2]

Summary of Zscaler FY Conference Call Company Overview - **Company**: Zscaler (NasdaqGS: ZS) - **Industry**: Enterprise Software, Cybersecurity Key Points and Arguments Financial Performance - **Q1 Performance**: Achieved 26% Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) growth, with 22% organic growth [6][7] - **Acquisition Impact**: The acquisition of Red Canary contributed to ARR, with expectations of $83 million at close and $95 million for fiscal 2026 [9] - **Profitability**: Reported a 52% free cash flow margin, indicating strong cash collection in Q1 [7] Growth Drivers - **Guidance Update**: Raised guidance for fiscal 2026 due to strong Q1 performance [7][11] - **Growth Pillars**: Identified three main growth pillars: 1. **Zero Trust Everywhere**: Transitioning customers from Zero Trust users to Zero Trust Everywhere customers can result in a 2-3x increase in ARR [12][20] 2. **Data Security Everywhere**: Exceeded $450 million in ARR, leveraging a large security cloud that processes 500 billion transactions daily [25][24] 3. **AI Security**: Exceeded $400 million in ARR, focusing on securing AI interactions and using AI for enhanced security [30] Market Position and Strategy - **Customer Base**: Serves 45% of Fortune 500 and 40% of Global 2000 companies, indicating significant growth potential [35] - **Competitive Landscape**: Positioned uniquely in the Zero Trust market, emphasizing cost savings and the elimination of legacy hardware [41] - **Zflex Offering**: Provides flexible deployment models, encouraging longer-term commitments from customers [49][50] Future Outlook - **Long-term Goals**: Aspirations to reach $5 billion and potentially $10 billion in ARR, reflecting confidence in growth potential [47] - **Market Conditions**: Acknowledged that the current market is challenging, with cautious customer spending [55] Additional Insights - **Customer Engagement**: Emphasized the importance of demonstrating cost savings through Zscaler's deployment, which can replace existing technologies [55] - **Investor Communication**: Plans to hold an investor day to reset expectations and discuss long-term strategies [44] Important but Overlooked Content - **Zero Trust Principles**: The discussion highlighted the strategic importance of Zero Trust principles in enhancing security across various resources, including IoT and OT devices [17][19] - **Data Security Modules**: Mentioned eight key modules in data security, showcasing the comprehensive nature of Zscaler's offerings [23] This summary encapsulates the critical insights from the Zscaler FY Conference Call, focusing on financial performance, growth strategies, market positioning, and future outlook.