OKTA Trades 25% Below 52-Week High: Right Time to Buy the Stock?

Core Insights - Okta shares closed at $95.63, approximately 25% below the 52-week high of $127.57, with a year-to-date appreciation of 21.3%, outperforming the Zacks Computer and Technology sector and the Zacks Security industry [1][9] - The company has a strong liquidity position with $2.73 billion in cash and investments, and a free cash flow margin guidance raised to roughly 27% for fiscal 2026 [7][9] - Okta's innovative product portfolio and extensive partner base are driving customer growth and revenue, with over 20,000 customers and a significant increase in high-value contracts [15][16] Performance Comparison - Okta has outperformed peers such as CyberArk, Cisco, and Microsoft year to date, with respective share price appreciations of 12.9%, 15.9%, and 20% [2] - In terms of valuation, Okta is trading at a forward Price/Cash Flow of 22.51X, which is higher than the broader sector's 22.03X but lower than CyberArk's 73.58X and Microsoft’s 28.88X [8][10] Product and Market Position - The company is benefiting from strong demand for its new products, including Identity Governance and AI-powered capabilities, which enhance security and user experience [3][9] - Okta's new protocol, Cross App Access, aims to secure AI agents and improve security compliance, reflecting the company's commitment to protecting customers deploying AI [14] Financial Guidance - For fiscal 2026, Okta expects revenues between $2.85 billion and $2.86 billion, indicating a growth of 9-10% from fiscal 2025, with non-GAAP earnings guidance raised to $3.23-$3.28 per share [17][18] - The second-quarter fiscal 2026 revenue guidance is between $710 million and $712 million, suggesting a 10% year-over-year growth [19][20] Conclusion - Despite facing macroeconomic challenges and a competitive landscape, Okta's innovative portfolio and expanding customer base position it favorably for growth, supported by a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy) and a Growth Score of A [21]