CrowdStrike Rises 28% in 6 Months: Is the Stock Still Worth Buying?

Core Insights - CrowdStrike Holdings (CRWD) shares have increased by 28.3% over the past six months, outperforming the Zacks Security industry's growth of 17.4% and other peers like SentinelOne, Palo Alto Networks, and Check Point Software [1][9]. Financial Performance - CrowdStrike's revenues surpassed $1 billion for the fourth consecutive quarter in Q2 of fiscal 2026, reflecting a year-over-year growth of nearly 20.1% [5]. - The company added $221 million in net new annual recurring revenue (ARR), bringing the total ARR to $4.66 billion, which is a 20% increase from the previous year [8][9]. - In Q2, sales and non-GAAP EPS grew by 21% and 5.7% year-over-year, respectively, with management projecting at least 40% year-over-year growth in net new ARR for the second half of fiscal 2026 [10]. Subscription Model and Customer Adoption - The Falcon Flex Subscription Model has significantly contributed to CrowdStrike's revenue growth, with 48% of subscription customers adopting six or more cloud modules by the end of Q2 [6][8]. - The company has over 1,000 Falcon Flex customers, with more than 100 signing follow-on "re-Flex" deals before their contracts ended, indicating strong customer expansion [8][9]. Strategic Partnerships - CrowdStrike has formed new AI-focused partnerships with NVIDIA, Salesforce, and Meta, enhancing its long-term growth outlook [9][12]. - The integration of CrowdStrike's Falcon platform with NVIDIA's AI systems aims to secure the entire AI lifecycle, protecting over 100,000 large language models [13]. - Collaborations with KPMG, Salesforce, and Meta are expected to modernize security operations and improve detection capabilities, contributing to over 60% of new business in Q2 [15][17]. Market Position and Future Outlook - The company is well-positioned in the cybersecurity market, with a strong focus on AI-driven solutions, which are increasingly prioritized by businesses [19]. - Despite a forecasted decline in EPS for fiscal 2026, a significant recovery is anticipated in fiscal 2027 with a projected increase of 29.3% [17][18].