Nearly half (47%) of SMBs updated their cybersecurity solutions to further protect their business. More than a third (38%) are actively using AI across multiple business functions, such as data analysis, marketing and customer service. Over 56% of SMBs believe AI can help address issues with employee management and overall employee headcount. 3 in 4 (76%) of SMBs agree that social media positively impacts their business performance. But more than half (54%) of SMBs struggle to keep online content fresh and ...

Company Overview - Quantum Computing Inc. (QCi) is an innovative company specializing in integrated photonics and quantum optics technology, providing accessible and affordable quantum machines and TFLN foundry services [3] - The company's products are designed to operate at room temperature and low power, making them cost-effective [3] - QCi's technology portfolio includes capabilities in high-performance computing, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and remote sensing applications [3] Event Participation - Dr. Yuping Huang, Interim Chief Executive Officer, and Chris Boehmler, Chief Financial Officer, will participate in a fireside chat during the J.P. Morgan Qubit Series on May 20, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. ET [1] - Attendance for the event is by invitation only for J.P. Morgan clients [2]

Core Insights - Mobilicom and ARK Electronics have formed a strategic partnership to develop affordable cybersecure solutions for mini and small-sized drones and robotics platforms, with the first product expected to launch in the second half of 2025 [2][4][6] - The mini and small-sized drones market was valued at $5.8 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 8.6%, reaching $10.4 billion by 2030 [2] - The partnership aims to combine Mobilicom's OS3 cybersecurity software with ARK's AI-driven hardware, enhancing the security and performance of uncrewed systems [4][6] Company Overview - Mobilicom is a leading provider of cybersecurity and robust solutions for the defense and commercial drones and robotics market, with a portfolio that includes software, hardware, and professional services [8][9] - ARK Electronics specializes in designing and manufacturing made-in-the-USA drone electronics, focusing on advanced technologies for drones [7] Market Context - The partnership is positioned to address the growing demand for secure and efficient technologies in both commercial and defense sectors, particularly as the market for mini and small-sized drones expands [2][4] - Both companies have products listed on the Blue UAS Framework, which is a vetted list of products available for procurement by the U.S. Department of Defense [5]

Industry Overview - The Zacks Security and Safety Services industry is positioned to benefit from strong demand for security products and solutions, driven by increased awareness of safety for people and infrastructure [1][4] - The industry includes firms providing advanced security solutions for residential, commercial, and institutional purposes, including personal defense and hazard detection [3] Demand Drivers - Rising instances of terrorism and criminal activities are increasing the demand for security services, with governments and businesses deploying IP-based cameras for enhanced surveillance [4] - Urbanization and the need for infrastructure safety are also contributing to industry growth, alongside a surge in demand for cybersecurity products due to hacking incidents [4] Investment Trends - Increased government budgets and funding are encouraging significant investments in research and development for advanced security products [5] - Collaboration between government agencies and industry players is aimed at strengthening security infrastructure in smart cities [5] Financial Metrics - The industry's long-term debt/capital ratio is 0.62, significantly higher than the Zacks S&P 500 composite index's 0.28, indicating a focus on innovation and product development [6] - The industry currently trades at a forward P/E of 16.56X, lower than the S&P 500's 21.88X and the sector's 19.35X, suggesting potential undervaluation [13] Performance Comparison - The Zacks Security and Safety Services industry has returned 7.7%, underperforming the S&P 500's 12% growth but outperforming the broader Industrial Products sector, which declined by 1.9% [10] Key Players - **Life360**: Engaged in location tracking and safety services, with a 42.7% share price increase over the past six months and a 9.1% upward revision in 2025 earnings estimates [18][19] - **Allegion**: A leading provider of security products, benefiting from demand in non-residential markets, with a 4.4% share price increase and a 0.5% upward revision in earnings estimates [22][23] - **Alarm.com**: Focused on IoT solutions, experiencing strong momentum in its SaaS business, with a 0.4% upward revision in earnings estimates [26][27] - **MSA Safety**: Develops safety products with a 12% share price increase in the past month, consistently surpassing earnings estimates [30][31]

Core Insights - White Hat, a cybersecurity company acquired by EPAM in 2021, won the 2025 Outstanding Security Performance Award in the category of Outstanding Cybersecurity Consultant [1][2] - The award recognizes White Hat's innovation in AI-driven security and an attacker-focused approach, demonstrating significant client impact [2][5] - Since its acquisition, White Hat has more than doubled its revenue through domestic growth and international expansion [4] Company Overview - Founded in 2013, White Hat provides cybersecurity services by adopting an adversarial perspective, enabling organizations to proactively identify vulnerabilities [3] - The company serves a diverse client base, including global enterprises, financial institutions, government agencies, and critical infrastructure operators [3][7] - White Hat's services include strategic consulting, threat hunting, APT simulations, and advanced offense-led penetration testing, supported by its proprietary 'Eye of the Enemy' platform and 360° Incident Response suite [5][7] Leadership and Recognition - The recognition from the Cyber OSPAs highlights White Hat's leadership and commitment to excellence in the cybersecurity sector [7] - CEO Nir Tenzer emphasized the importance of the award as a milestone for the team and reaffirmed the company's commitment to helping clients navigate complex threat landscapes [6]

Core Insights - Mobilicom Limited has achieved significant milestones, including the addition of its SkyHopper products to the U.S. Department of Defense's Blue UAS Framework, which is expected to enhance demand from Tier-1 global OEMs in the defense and commercial UAS markets [2][3][4] - The company reported a strong cash position of approximately $8 million and a narrowing monthly cash burn rate of about $266,000, providing a solid financial runway to capitalize on market opportunities [4][7] Financial Highlights - Revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2025, were $844,000, with around 40% derived from U.S. customers [7] - The confirmed order backlog as of March 31, 2025, was $737,000, expected to be fulfilled in the first half of 2025, with additional revenue potential from a robust pipeline of opportunities [7] - The company received production scale orders totaling over $800,000 from a major U.S. drone manufacturer for the SkyHopper PRO, which is critical for DoD programs [7] Operational Highlights - Mobilicom has secured initial production scale orders from a Tier-1 Asian conglomerate, indicating geographic expansion into the Asia-Pacific region [7] - The partnership with Aitech Systems aims to deliver aerospace and defense-grade solutions for next-generation autonomous AI-driven UAS platforms, marking a significant milestone for the rollout of OS3 cybersecurity software [7][8] - The company was selected for a $390,000 innovation program to develop Enhanced Electronic Warfare communications systems for UAVs, showcasing its commitment to advancing its technology offerings [13]

Core Insights - Mid-cap stocks offer a balance of risk and reward, often overlooked by investors despite their growth potential and stability [1][2] - The tech sector is dominated by mega-cap companies, which can overshadow mid-cap firms that also contribute to technological advancements [2][3] Company Summaries Nebius Group - Nebius Group N.V. is a Netherlands-based company with a market capitalization of approximately $8.4 billion [4] - The company has experienced significant revenue growth of 466% year-over-year for Q4 and 462% for the full year, despite posting net losses of nearly $137 million for Q4 and almost $397 million for the full year [5] - Nebius aims for annual recurring revenue between $750 million and $1 billion by December 2025, bolstered by an investment from Jeff Bezos in its Tokola unit [5][6] UiPath Inc. - UiPath Inc. is a leader in robotic process automation, with a current stock price forecast of $12.72, indicating a potential downside of 2.69% [9] - The company reported a 14% year-over-year increase in annual recurring revenue, reaching nearly $1.7 billion, with cloud revenue growing over 50% [10] - Despite macro-level uncertainties and competition, analysts project potential gains, with some forecasting a 16% to 38% increase [11] Varonis Systems Inc. - Varonis Systems Inc. has a stock price forecast of $55.06, suggesting a 20.47% upside, driven by better-than-expected revenue results [12] - The company achieved nearly 20% year-over-year revenue growth and raised its annual recurring revenue guidance to $742-$750 million [13] - Strong cash flow management has contributed to its momentum, with operating cash flow reaching $68 million and free cash flow at $65.3 million [13]

Core Insights - Fortinet's share prices increased by 74% over the past year, significantly outperforming the Nasdaq Composite index's 17% gain [1] - Despite exceeding revenue and earnings expectations in Q1 2025, Fortinet's stock price fell due to lukewarm guidance [2] Financial Performance - Fortinet's Q1 revenue grew by 14% year over year, while adjusted earnings surged by 35% [4] - The company's remaining performance obligations (RPO) for unified SASE grew by 19% year over year, compared to 12% growth in overall RPO [6][7] - Fortinet's total RPO reached $6.5 billion, with SecOps and unified SASE accounting for nearly one-third of this total [9] Market Opportunities - The SecOps market is projected to nearly double over the next decade, potentially generating $84 billion in annual revenue by 2034 [8] - Fortinet anticipates $1.62 billion in revenue for the current quarter, reflecting a 13% increase from the previous year [10] - Analysts expect Fortinet's earnings to grow at a faster pace in 2027, with raised earnings guidance for 2025 and 2026 [11] Valuation Concerns - Fortinet's stock trades at 42 times earnings, which is considered expensive compared to the Nasdaq-100 index's earnings multiple of 29 [13] - The company's valuation requires a stronger growth profile to justify current levels, leading some investors to seek better entry points [14]

Core Viewpoint - Nucor experienced a cybersecurity incident that led to the temporary shutdown of some production operations as a precautionary measure [1][3]. Group 1: Incident Details - The company discovered unauthorized third-party access to certain information technology systems [1]. - Nucor is actively investigating the incident with the help of external cybersecurity experts and has notified federal law enforcement [5]. - The specific production operations that were shut down have not been disclosed, but the company is working to restore them [1][3]. Group 2: Company Profile - Nucor is considered the largest and most diversified steel and steel products producer in North America, manufacturing products such as bars, beams, electrical conduit, girders, and fasteners [5]. - The company's facilities are primarily located across North America [3].

Core Insights - The grand opening of Quantum Computing Inc.'s quantum photonic chip foundry in Tempe, Arizona marks a significant milestone in the company's growth strategy and aims to meet the increasing global demand for thin-film lithium niobate (TFLN) photonic chips [1][2][5] Group 1: Facility and Operations - The foundry construction was completed in March 2025 and is now operational, fulfilling existing customer pre-orders and positioned to scale production capacity for datacom, telecom, advanced sensing, and quantum computing markets [3][4] - The facility is designed to provide U.S.-based manufacturing of high-performance photonic chips and to supply critical components for QCi's proprietary quantum computing machines [4] Group 2: Strategic Importance - The opening of the foundry is a cornerstone of QCi's multi-phase growth strategy, which includes scaling capacity, enhancing vertical integration, and expanding into emerging quantum computing markets [5] - The company anticipates modest initial revenue from the foundry this year, with expectations for revenue growth to accelerate starting in 2026 as more customers come online [5] Group 3: Community and Economic Impact - The foundry is expected to bring high-tech jobs and economic development to Tempe, reinforcing the city's reputation as a hub for innovation in quantum technologies and advanced manufacturing [2]