Should You Hold on to GitLab Despite the Stock's 17% YTD Decline?

Core Insights - GitLab (GTLB) shares have declined by 16.8% year-to-date, underperforming the broader Zacks Computer & Technology sector, which has risen by 7%, and the Zacks Internet - Software industry, which has increased by 16.2% [1][2][10] - The underperformance is attributed to macroeconomic uncertainties and heightened competition in AI-enabled DevSecOps, particularly from larger competitors like Microsoft [2][10] - Despite challenges, GitLab is experiencing strong demand for its DevSecOps platform, with significant growth in its customer base [4][5] Stock Performance - GitLab's stock has lagged behind Microsoft, which has gained 19.4% year-to-date [2][10] - The company reported a 13% year-over-year increase in customers with over $5K in Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) and a 26% increase in customers with over $100K in ARR in Q1 FY26 [5][10] Product and Portfolio Expansion - GitLab launched GitLab 18 in May 2025, introducing AI-native features and integrated tools for Premium and Ultimate customers at no additional cost [6][7] - The company achieved FedRAMP Moderate Authority to Operate status for GitLab Dedicated for Government, enhancing its offerings for federal agencies [8] Partnerships and Collaborations - GitLab is leveraging partnerships with major cloud platforms like Google Cloud and Amazon to expand its reach among large enterprise customers [11][12] - The integration of Amazon Q's AI agents into GitLab's platform aims to accelerate development and streamline security processes [11] Financial Guidance - For Q2 FY26, GitLab expects revenues between $226 million and $227 million, reflecting a growth of approximately 24% year-over-year [13] - For the full fiscal year 2026, the revenue forecast is between $936 million and $942 million, indicating a similar growth rate [14] Earnings Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for GTLB's Q2 FY26 earnings is 16 cents per share, with a year-over-year increase of 6.67% [15] - The consensus for fiscal 2026 earnings is pegged at 75 cents per share, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 1.35% [16] Valuation Metrics - GTLB is currently trading at a forward price/sales ratio of 7.57X, which is higher than the sector average of 6.57X, indicating a stretched valuation [17]