Piper Sandler and Morgan Stanley Stay Positive on Arista Networks (ANET)

Core Viewpoint - Arista Networks, Inc. (NYSE:ANET) is recognized as one of the top stocks to buy, with analysts highlighting its potential for growth driven by enterprise spending and its exposure to hyperscalers and AI giants [1]. Group 1: Analyst Ratings and Price Targets - Piper Sandler upgraded Arista Networks from Neutral to Overweight and raised its price target from $145 to $159, anticipating 2026 to be a significant year for enterprise spending [1]. - Morgan Stanley reduced its price target from $171 to $159 while maintaining an Overweight rating, indicating a positive outlook despite the adjustment [2]. Group 2: Business Visibility and Customer Engagement - Piper Sandler noted improved visibility into Arista's business, highlighting strong relationships with key customers and growth in large enterprise accounts across data centers and campuses [2]. - The firm emphasized that Arista typically experiences capital expenditures on a delayed basis compared to others in the data center sector [2]. Group 3: Market Trends and Future Outlook - Morgan Stanley believes the positive trends in AI-related infrastructure could persist into the first half of 2026, although investors may need to be selective for full-year returns [3]. - Arista Networks specializes in cloud networking solutions for large data centers, AI, campus, and routing environments, positioning itself well within the evolving market [3].