Core Insights - Zscaler reported a wider net loss of $34.3 million in Q2, significantly up from a loss of $7.7 million a year prior, attributed to increased spending on sales, marketing, and R&D in a competitive environment [1] - The company's total operating expenses rose to $676.3 million, compared to $539.5 million in the same quarter last year, driven by higher costs in sales, marketing, and R&D [1] - Despite the losses, Zscaler's revenue increased by 26% to $815.8 million, surpassing analysts' expectations of $798.8 million [1] - The adjusted profit per share was $1.01, exceeding the estimate of 90 cents, and the company forecasts Q3 adjusted earnings per share of $1.00 to $1.01, above the analysts' estimate of 95 cents [1] Financial Performance - Net loss for Q2: $34.3 million, up from $7.7 million year-over-year [1] - Total operating expenses: $676.3 million, compared to $539.5 million in the previous year [1] - Revenue for Q2: $815.8 million, a 26% increase, beating the average estimate of $798.8 million [1] - Adjusted profit per share: $1.01, exceeding the estimate of 90 cents [1] - Q3 revenue forecast: $834 million to $836 million, above expectations of $831.9 million [1] Market Context - The cybersecurity sector is experiencing cautious spending from clients due to tight IT budgets amid economic uncertainty, although cybersecurity budgets are under less pressure compared to general capital expenditures [1] - Zscaler competes with companies like Palo Alto Networks and Cloudflare, and the overall market sentiment has been affected by the potential impact of AI tools on the cybersecurity industry [1] - The demand for security solutions is being driven by the need for secure AI adoption, as highlighted by Zscaler's CEO [1]

Key insight: While Anthropic's new AI tool excels at finding bugs in source code, it lacks the real-time monitoring required to defend live enterprise networks.What's at stake: Replacing dedicated security platforms with general-purpose AI models could create systemic vulnerabilities and widespread disruptions across the financial system.Expert quote: "Claude Code Security finds bugs in your source code before they're exploited ... CrowdStrike detects and responds to threats at runtime." —CrowdStrike CEO Ge ...

Core Viewpoint - The market's fear regarding AI disrupting the cybersecurity industry is considered overblown, as AI tools currently serve as enhancers rather than replacements for comprehensive cybersecurity platforms [3][6]. Group 1: Market Reaction - Following the launch of Claude Code Security by Anthropic, there was significant sell-off in cybersecurity stocks, with CrowdStrike and Zscaler dropping approximately 10%, Netskope plummeting over 12%, and the Global X cybersecurity ETF reaching its lowest level since November 2023 [1][2]. Group 2: AI's Role in Cybersecurity - AI tools are currently unable to replace complete cybersecurity platforms; instead, they enhance specific tasks such as code scanning [3][4]. - The report emphasizes that while AI can improve efficiency in certain areas, it lacks the capabilities needed for visibility, control, and reliability that comprehensive platforms provide [3][5]. Group 3: Competitive Landscape - Comprehensive platform vendors like CrowdStrike and Palo Alto Networks maintain a strong competitive edge due to their integrated data foundations and detection-response capabilities [3][6]. - Independent vendors focusing on application security, such as Checkmarx and Snyk, may face increased competitive pressure and need to demonstrate their unique value in the AI era [3][4]. Group 4: Limitations of AI Tools - AI tools like Claude are limited to pre-production code analysis and cannot perform essential functions such as real-time monitoring and execution control, which are critical for cybersecurity [5][8]. - The report highlights the fundamental differences between developer tools and runtime security environments, indicating that AI's current limitations prevent it from challenging the core functions of cybersecurity platforms [5][8]. Group 5: Future Outlook - The transformation of the cybersecurity landscape by AI is expected to follow a path similar to that of cloud computing, benefiting comprehensive platform vendors that can integrate vast telemetry data and runtime sensor capabilities [7][8]. - Independent firms in application security may face risks of being partially replaced by AI tools, necessitating a reevaluation of their core value propositions [7][8].

Core Viewpoint - The launch of Anthropic's AI tool, Claude Code Security, has led to a significant decline in shares of various cybersecurity companies, as investors assess its potential impact on the industry [1]. Group 1: Market Reaction - Shares of CrowdStrike, Datadog, and Zscaler fell approximately 11%, while Fortinet and Okta experienced declines of around 6%. Palo Alto Networks dropped by 3%, and SentinelOne was down by 5% [1]. - The selloff is characterized as a "panic-driven, narrative-led" reaction, according to an analyst from Robert W. Baird [1]. Group 2: Product Features and Limitations - Claude Code Security is designed to detect high-severity vulnerabilities in open-source software repositories and provide patches, but it does not perform real-time security tasks such as detecting live intrusions or stopping ongoing attacks [1]. - Some analysts believe the market's reaction is an overreaction, driven by a simplistic narrative suggesting that AI could replace existing cybersecurity solutions [1]. Group 3: Industry Developments - Nvidia announced a partnership with Akamai, Forescout, Palo Alto Networks, Xage Security, and Siemens to enhance real-time cybersecurity for industrial control systems [1].

Core Insights - The rapid acceleration of AI is viewed as an opportunity rather than a threat to cybersecurity by Palo Alto Networks CEO Nikesh Arora [2][4] - The company reported a 15% year-over-year revenue increase to $2.6 billion for the fiscal second quarter, but its stock declined due to a lower-than-expected earnings forecast [2][3] - Palo Alto Networks has completed significant acquisitions, including CyberArk for $25 billion and Chronosphere for $3.35 billion, and announced a new acquisition of Koi to enhance endpoint security [3] Company Performance - Fiscal second-quarter revenue rose to $2.6 billion, reflecting a 15% increase year over year [2] - Non-GAAP net income for the quarter was reported at $1.03 per share [2] - The company forecasts annual revenue for fiscal 2026 to be between $11.28 billion and $11.31 billion, with non-GAAP net income projected between $3.65 and $3.70 per share [3] Industry Context - The rise of AI is expanding the attack surface area and creating new classes of risk, necessitating a proactive approach to cybersecurity [2] - Analysts expressed concerns about AI's impact on demand for cybersecurity solutions, but Arora emphasized that AI creates new opportunities for the industry [4][5] - There is a consensus among some analysts that AI will drive greater demand for cybersecurity rather than diminish it [5]

THIS IS "THE CLOSE." ROMAINE: STOCKS GETTING SOME OF THEIR MOJO BACK. I'M ROMAINE BOSTICK. >> I'M KATIE GREIFELD.WE ARE KICKING OFF TO THE CLOSING BELL. SOME MOJO. THAT IS HIGHER THAN WHERE WE FINISH THE DAY.CONSIDER WE WERE A LITTLE BIT HIGHER SO IT LITTLE BIT OF AN ENTHUSIASM DRAIN, LEADING THE WAY. IT IS HIGHER BY ABOUT TWO BASIS POINTS. IT WAS A LITTLE BIT MORE HAWKISH THAN SOMEWHERE EXPECTING.AND BITCOIN BITCOIN DOWN ABOUT 2%. ROMAINE: WE WILL TALK ABOUT WHY WE ARE SEEING WEAKNESS IN STOCKS. A MAJOR DR ...

Core Viewpoint - Palo Alto Networks' stock dropped over 9% following its second-quarter earnings report, negatively impacting the cybersecurity sector, with Datadog down over 4%, Zscaler down 3.4%, Fortinet down nearly 2%, and Cloudflare down 1.3% [1] Financial Performance - Palo Alto Networks reported a second-quarter earnings miss and lowered its future guidance, expecting adjusted earnings per share (EPS) for the third quarter to be between $0.78 and $0.80, down from the previous estimate of $0.92 [1] - The company anticipates full-year adjusted EPS to be between $3.65 and $3.70, a decrease from the prior forecast of $3.87 [1]

VONNIE: IT IS 5:00 A.M. IN NEW YORK CITY. LET US GET YOU SET UP FOR THE DAY. A MAJOR DEAL, JAPAN VOWS TO INVEST 36 BILLION DOLLARS IN U.S. OIL, GAS AND CRITICAL MINIMAL PROJECTS. TALKS ON UKRAINE AND RUSSIA YOU -- RESUME A SECOND DAY OF PEACE NEGOTIATIONS. THE U.S. AND IRAN HAIL THEIR PROGRESS IN NUCLEAR TALKS. EQUITIES RALLYING AS AI JITTERS EASE AHEAD OF THE LATEST FED MEETING MINUTES. LET US LOOK AT THE MARKETS WITH FUTURES APPOINTED HIGHER. THE S&P FINISHED UP ABOUT .1%. NASDAQ 100 DOWN .1%. IN THE AI J ...

Core Viewpoint - Palo Alto Networks has reduced its annual profit forecast due to increased costs from recent acquisitions aimed at enhancing AI capabilities, resulting in a 7% drop in shares during extended trading [1] Financial Performance - The company reported acquisition-related costs of $24 million in Q2, up from $10 million a year earlier [1] - Revenue for Q2 rose 15% to $2.59 billion, aligning with estimates [1] - Adjusted profit per share for Q2 was $1.03, surpassing estimates of 94 cents [1] Profit Forecast - The adjusted profit per share forecast for fiscal 2026 has been lowered to $3.65 to $3.70, down from the previous forecast of $3.80 to $3.90 [1] Revenue Forecast - Palo Alto raised its annual revenue forecast to between $11.28 billion and $11.31 billion, compared to earlier expectations of $10.50 billion to $10.54 billion [1] - The forecast for Q3 revenue is approximately $2.94 billion to $2.95 billion, exceeding analysts' average estimate of $2.60 billion [1] Acquisitions - The company announced the acquisition of Israeli cybersecurity startup Koi, following the purchase of CyberArk Software and Chronosphere [1] - The acquisitions are intended to expand the total addressable market and address AI-driven cyber threats [1]

And right now we are 2 minutes away from the end of the trading day. Romaine Bostick here alongside Katie Greifeld, taking you through to that closing bell with a global simulcast. Carol Massar Tim Stenovec Join us now as we welcome our audiences across all of our Bloomberg platforms, Television, radio, our partnership with you to the past, the most crucial moments here in the trading day.Carol Massar ten. Senator, great to see you once again here on this Tuesday afternoon. Did you bring us back any Olympic ...