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CrowdStrike vs. Okta: Which Cybersecurity Stock is a Smart Buy?
ZACKS·2025-10-06 14:21

Core Insights - CrowdStrike and Okta are leading companies in the cybersecurity sector, focusing on endpoint protection and identity management respectively [1][12] - The cybersecurity market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 12.45% from 2025 to 2030, driven by increasing cyber threats [2] CrowdStrike Overview - CrowdStrike's Falcon platform is a multi-tenant, cloud-native security solution that secures various environments and endpoints [4] - Subscription-based sales have increased from 72% in fiscal 2017 to 95% in fiscal 2025, indicating strong customer adoption [5] - The Falcon Flex subscription model has contributed significantly to customer growth, with 48% of subscription customers using six or more cloud modules [6] - In Q2, CrowdStrike added $221 million in net new annual recurring revenue (ARR), bringing total ARR to $4.66 billion, a 20% year-over-year increase [7][9] - The company expects revenues of $4.78 billion and $5.80 billion for fiscal 2026 and 2027, respectively, both showing around 21% year-over-year growth [9][11] Okta Overview - Okta's identity security solutions are expanding, with a portfolio that includes various identity management tools [12] - In Q2, Okta's revenues grew by 12.7% year-over-year, with approximately 20,000 customers and $4.15 billion in remaining performance obligations [13] - The company anticipates revenues between $2.875 billion and $2.885 billion for fiscal 2026, reflecting a growth rate of 10-11% [16][17] Market Performance and Valuation - Year-to-date, CrowdStrike shares have increased by 43.2%, while Okta shares have risen by 18.4% [18] - CrowdStrike trades at a forward sales multiple of 22.48X, significantly higher than Okta's 5.34X, reflecting higher growth expectations [21] - CrowdStrike is currently rated as a Strong Buy, while Okta holds a Sell rating, indicating a more favorable investment outlook for CrowdStrike [24][25]