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CrowdStrike's Pre-Q2 Earnings Analysis: Hold or Fold the Stock?
ZACKS· 2025-08-22 15:56
Core Insights - CrowdStrike (CRWD) is set to report its second-quarter fiscal 2026 results on August 27, 2025, with anticipated revenues between $1.14 billion and $1.15 billion, reflecting a year-over-year growth of 19.2% [1][8] - The expected non-GAAP earnings per share for the second quarter is between 82 cents and 84 cents, with a consensus estimate of 83 cents, indicating a year-over-year decline of 20.2% [2][8] - CrowdStrike's earnings have consistently beaten the Zacks Consensus Estimate in the past four quarters, with an average surprise of 13.2% [3] Revenue and Earnings Expectations - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CrowdStrike's fiscal second-quarter revenues is pegged at $1.15 billion, indicating a year-over-year growth of 19.2% [1] - The expected non-GAAP earnings per share for the second quarter is between 82 cents and 84 cents, with a consensus estimate of 83 cents, indicating a year-over-year decline of 20.2% [2] Growth Drivers - The demand for CrowdStrike's cybersecurity products is expected to benefit from the increasing number of cyber threats and breaches, leading to greater security needs [6] - The Falcon Flex subscription model is a significant growth driver, with a total deal value of accounts adopting Falcon Flex reaching $3.2 billion, representing a 31% sequential growth and over six times year-over-year growth [7][8] - The partnership with Amazon Web Services (AWS) enhances CrowdStrike's product availability and co-selling opportunities, contributing positively to earnings [9][10] Cost Considerations - High Research & Development (R&D) and Sales & Marketing (S&M) costs are impacting CrowdStrike's profitability outlook, with R&D expenses increasing 12-fold and S&M expenses nearly ninefold over the last six fiscal years [19][20] Stock Performance and Valuation - Year-to-date, CrowdStrike shares have increased by 21.1%, outperforming the Zacks Security industry, which has returned 8.2% [12] - CrowdStrike is trading at a forward 12-month price-to-sales (P/S) ratio of 19.54X, compared to the industry's 12.02X, indicating a premium valuation [15][17] Investment Considerations - The Falcon Flex subscription model is a key driver for new customer acquisition, with significant deals secured in the last quarter, indicating strong enterprise demand [18] - Despite the potential for long-term benefits from increased investments, rising costs and a premium valuation suggest a cautious approach for investors [20]
Okta (OKTA) Suffers a Larger Drop Than the General Market: Key Insights
ZACKS· 2025-08-21 22:52
Company Performance - Okta's stock closed at $89.83, reflecting a -1.32% change from the previous day, underperforming the S&P 500's daily loss of 0.4% [1] - Over the past month, Okta's shares have decreased by 4.81%, while the Computer and Technology sector gained 1.1% and the S&P 500 increased by 1.67% [1] Upcoming Earnings - Okta's earnings report is scheduled for August 26, 2025, with expected earnings of $0.84 per share, indicating a year-over-year growth of 16.67% [2] - The consensus estimate for revenue is projected at $711.04 million, reflecting a 10.07% increase from the same quarter last year [2] Full Year Projections - For the full year, earnings are projected at $3.28 per share and revenue at $2.86 billion, representing year-over-year changes of +16.73% and +9.44%, respectively [3] Analyst Estimates and Rankings - Recent changes in analyst estimates for Okta are crucial for investors, as positive revisions indicate optimism about the business outlook [3] - Okta currently holds a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold), with the Zacks Rank system showing an impressive track record of outperformance [5] Valuation Metrics - Okta's Forward P/E ratio is 27.73, which is a discount compared to the industry average Forward P/E of 63.52 [6] - The company has a PEG ratio of 1.64, while the Security industry has an average PEG ratio of 2.64 [6] Industry Context - The Security industry, part of the Computer and Technology sector, holds a Zacks Industry Rank of 81, placing it in the top 33% of over 250 industries [7] - Research indicates that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1 [7]
PANW Bets on Prevention-First ASPM: Will it Drive Platform Adoption?
ZACKS· 2025-08-21 15:25
Core Insights - Palo Alto Networks (PANW) has launched a new prevention-first Application Security Posture Management (ASPM) module within its Cortex Cloud platform, aimed at mitigating risks before code deployment and supporting an open ecosystem of partners [1][12] - The ASPM module is integrated into Cortex Cloud, providing a unified view of application risks by correlating data from both native and third-party tools, enhancing the platformization strategy of Palo Alto Networks [2][12] - The Cortex Cloud platform combines various security functions, including cloud native application protection and AI-powered security operations, achieving FedRAMP High Authorization, indicating trust from the U.S. public sector [3] Financial Performance - In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025, Palo Alto Networks reported a 25% year-over-year growth in combined Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) for Cortex and Cloud, reflecting strong platform momentum [4][12] - The company achieved a net retention rate of 120% among platformized customers, with minimal churn, indicating customer loyalty and potential for future growth [4] - Significant growth was observed in large platform commitments, with customers generating over $5 million and $10 million ARR increasing by 50% year-over-year, and those above $20 million ARR rising by 80% year-over-year [5] Market Position and Competitors - The Zacks Consensus Estimate projects fiscal 2026 revenues for Palo Alto Networks at $10.5 billion, representing a year-over-year growth of 13.8% [6] - Competitors like CrowdStrike and SentinelOne are also expanding their platforms and leveraging AI innovations to enhance their market positions [7] - CrowdStrike's Charlotte AI is being developed as a key differentiator in automated cybersecurity, while SentinelOne reported a 24% year-over-year growth in ARR, driven by its AI-first platforms [8][9] Valuation and Earnings Estimates - Palo Alto Networks trades at a forward price-to-sales ratio of 11.52X, slightly below the industry's average of 11.93X, indicating a competitive valuation [14] - Earnings estimates for fiscal 2026 and 2027 imply year-over-year growth of 9.3% and 15.2%, respectively, with recent revisions showing an upward trend for fiscal 2026 and a downward trend for fiscal 2027 [17]
OSI (OSIS) Q4 Earnings: Taking a Look at Key Metrics Versus Estimates
ZACKS· 2025-08-21 15:01
Group 1 - OSI Systems reported revenue of $504.99 million for the quarter ended June 2025, reflecting a 5% increase year-over-year and a surprise of +2.34% over the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $493.43 million [1] - The earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter was $3.24, compared to $2.84 in the same quarter last year, resulting in an EPS surprise of +1.57% against the consensus estimate of $3.19 [1] - The stock has returned -1.4% over the past month, while the Zacks S&P 500 composite has changed by +1.7%, with a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy) indicating potential outperformance in the near term [3] Group 2 - Revenue from the Healthcare division was $42.68 million, which is -15.2% lower than the estimated $50.9 million [4] - Intersegment eliminations reported revenue of $-17.34 million, showing a +24.1% change compared to the year-ago quarter [4] - The Optoelectronics and Manufacturing division generated $112.67 million in revenue, exceeding the average estimate of $107.37 million, representing a +10.4% year-over-year change [4] - The Security division reported revenue of $366.97 million, surpassing the average estimate of $349.95 million, with a +7.1% change year-over-year [4] - Non-GAAP operating income for the Security Division was $74.71 million, above the average estimate of $71.57 million [4] - Non-GAAP operating income for the Healthcare Division was $0.37 million, below the average estimate of $4.31 million [4] - Non-GAAP operating income for the Optoelectronics and Manufacturing Division was $15.33 million, slightly above the average estimate of $15.32 million [4]
CrowdStrike Expands Into Agentic AI Security: Will it Fuel Growth?
ZACKS· 2025-08-20 15:46
Core Insights - CrowdStrike (CRWD) is expanding its focus to secure the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in enterprises, addressing new risks associated with AI agents in business operations [1][2] Group 1: Company Strategy and Innovations - CrowdStrike views the security of AI agents and systems as a significant growth opportunity, launching initiatives to enhance its offerings in this area [2] - The company has expanded Falcon Shield to secure AI agents developed with OpenAI's ChatGPT Enterprise and Codex, enabling organizations to monitor AI activities and mitigate risks [2][10] - A new AI detection engine, Signal, has been introduced to identify unusual patterns in customer environments, aiming to catch threats that traditional systems may overlook [3][10] - CrowdStrike has also enhanced its AI Security Services with new offerings, including AI Systems Security Assessment and AI for SecOps Readiness, to help organizations assess AI risks and prepare security teams for safe AI integration [4][10] Group 2: Market Position and Competitors - As AI adoption increases, CrowdStrike's strategy of expanding its product portfolio and focusing on platform innovation is expected to drive revenue growth, with a Zacks Consensus Estimate of $4.78 billion for fiscal 2026, reflecting a year-over-year growth of 20.9% [5] - Competitors like Palo Alto Networks (PANW) and SentinelOne (S) are also expanding their platforms and innovating with AI, with PANW reporting a 32% year-over-year increase in its Next-Gen Security annual recurring revenue [6] - SentinelOne achieved a 24% year-over-year growth in its annual recurring revenue, driven by the adoption of its AI-first Singularity platform [7] Group 3: Financial Performance and Valuation - CrowdStrike's shares have increased by 22.4% year to date, outperforming the Security industry's growth of 7.4% [8] - The company trades at a forward price-to-sales ratio of 19.53X, significantly higher than the industry's average of 11.96X [11] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CrowdStrike's fiscal 2026 earnings indicates a year-over-year decline of 10.9%, while fiscal 2027 earnings are expected to grow by 34.7% [14]
NAPCO Security Technologies to Announce Fiscal Fourth Quarter 2025 Results Monday, August 25, 2025
Prnewswire· 2025-08-20 11:00
Core Viewpoint - NAPCO Security Technologies, Inc. is set to release its financial results for Fiscal Fourth Quarter 2025 on August 25, 2025, before market opening, followed by a conference call for analysts and investors [1] Company Overview - NAPCO Security Technologies, Inc. is a leading manufacturer and service provider of high-tech electronic security devices and school safety solutions [3] - The company operates through four divisions: NAPCO and three wholly owned subsidiaries: Alarm Lock, Continental Instruments, and Marks USA [3] - NAPCO's products are widely installed by security professionals across various sectors, including commercial, industrial, institutional, residential, and government applications [3] - The company is recognized for its innovation, technical excellence, and reliability, positioning it for growth in the expanding electronic security market [3]
CLEAR introduces 'eGate' for faster airport security check-in
NBC News· 2025-08-20 02:00
New E-Gate Program Overview - Clear launches a new E-gate program aimed at expediting security clearance at airports [1] - The program will initially roll out in Atlanta, Washington's Reagan National Airport, and Seattle Tacoma International Airport [2] - Clear predicts 20 million international visitors to American host cities for next year's World Cup, anticipating the program will improve wait times [3] Membership and Process - Clear Plus membership is required, costing $29 per year [2] - Membership includes government-issued ID verification and facial biometric data scanning [2] - The E-gate scans the member's face in 3 seconds, allowing them to bypass traditional ID checks and proceed to baggage screening [3] Security and Privacy - TSA retains control over security screening [4] - Clear asserts that passenger information, including biometric data, remains private and is not sold [4]
CETX Stock Dips After Q3 Earnings Show Higher Revenue, Narrower Loss
ZACKS· 2025-08-19 19:06
Core Viewpoint - Cemtrex, Inc. has shown operational improvements in its fiscal third quarter of 2025, with revenue growth and reduced operating losses, although it still reported a net loss attributable to shareholders. Group 1: Revenue and Earnings Performance - Cemtrex reported third-quarter fiscal 2025 revenues of $16.9 million, a 15.5% increase from $14.7 million in the same quarter last year [2] - Security revenues surged 22.4% to $7.6 million, while Industrial Services revenues rose 10.5% to $9.4 million [2] - Gross profit increased by 25.4% to $7.4 million, with margins improving to 43% from 40% [2] - The operating loss narrowed significantly to $0.6 million from $3.2 million in the prior year [2] Group 2: Net Loss and Shareholder Impact - Cemtrex reported a net loss attributable to shareholders of $4.5 million, compared to $8.9 million in the prior-year period, resulting in a loss per share of $1.78 against a much steeper $605.49 loss per share a year ago [3] Group 3: Nine-Month Performance Metrics - For the nine-month period, revenues advanced 18.9% to $57.9 million, driven by a 28% gain in Security revenues to $30 million [4] - Industrial Services revenues rose 10.5% to $27.9 million [4] - Gross profit jumped 26.8% to $25.2 million, with margins expanding to 44% from 41% [4] - The company swung to an operating income of $1.7 million from a prior-year operating loss of $4.9 million [4] Group 4: Liquidity and Financial Position - Cash and equivalents increased to $8.1 million as of June 30, 2025, up from $5.4 million at the end of fiscal 2024 [5] - Working capital was $4.9 million as of June 30, 2025, compared to $8.1 million as of September 30, 2024 [5] Group 5: Management Commentary - CEO Saagar Govil highlighted strengthened profitability, nearly 20% sales growth, margin gains, and improved operating income [6] - Both business segments are executing effectively, with Security benefiting from strong demand for Vicon solutions [6] Group 6: Factors Influencing Results - The quarter benefited from robust order flow in the Security segment, including a record-breaking Vicon order [7] - Operating expenses declined by 11.5% to $8 million from $9.1 million a year earlier [7] Group 7: Non-Operational Charges - Net losses widened due to non-operational charges, including a $3.6 million impact from changes in the fair value of warrant liabilities [8] Group 8: Future Guidance - Cemtrex did not provide specific forward guidance for revenues or earnings but expressed confidence in sustaining momentum into the next fiscal year [9] Group 9: Other Developments - Cemtrex invested $100,000 in MasterpieceVR during the nine months ended June 30, 2025 [11]
Palo Alto Networks Q4 Earnings and Revenues Surpass Estimates
ZACKS· 2025-08-19 15:56
Core Insights - Palo Alto Networks (PANW) reported fourth-quarter fiscal 2025 non-GAAP earnings of 95 cents per share, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 7.9% and reflecting a 27% year-over-year improvement [1][10] - The company's revenues for the fourth quarter reached $2.54 billion, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 1.6% and up from $2.19 billion in the same quarter last year [2][10] Financial Performance - Product revenues increased by 19.4% year over year to $573.9 million, making up 22.6% of total revenues, while Subscription and Support revenues grew 14.8% to $1.96 billion, representing 77.4% of total revenues [4] - Non-GAAP gross profit rose to $1.92 billion, a 14.3% increase year over year, with a non-GAAP gross margin of 75.8%, down 100 basis points from the previous year [6] - Non-GAAP operating income increased by 30.6% to $768.2 million, with an operating margin improvement of 340 basis points to 30.3% compared to the year-ago period [6] Deferred Revenues and Cash Flow - Deferred revenues at the end of the fiscal fourth quarter stood at $6.30 billion, while remaining performance obligations climbed to $15.8 billion, reflecting a 24% year-over-year increase [5] - The company generated $1.02 billion in operating cash flow and reported a non-GAAP adjusted free cash flow of $954.5 million in the fourth quarter [7] Future Guidance - For fiscal 2026, Palo Alto Networks expects revenues between $10.48 billion and $10.53 billion, indicating a 13.6% rise from the Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2025 revenues of $10.43 billion [8] - The company projects non-GAAP earnings per share in the range of $3.75-$3.85 for fiscal 2026, with a consensus mark for fiscal 2025 earnings at $3.65 per share, suggesting an 11.4% improvement [9] Market Reaction - Following the better-than-expected results, shares of Palo Alto Networks rose by 5.92% in after-market hours, although the stock has gained only 1.4% year to date, underperforming the Zacks Security industry's return of 7.2% [3]
SentinelOne (S) Advances While Market Declines: Some Information for Investors
ZACKS· 2025-08-18 23:01
Group 1 - SentinelOne's stock closed at $17.01, reflecting a +1.25% change from the previous day, outperforming the S&P 500 which saw a loss of 0.01% [1] - Over the past month, SentinelOne's shares have decreased by 6.72%, while the Computer and Technology sector gained 4.93% and the S&P 500 increased by 3.47% [1] Group 2 - SentinelOne is set to announce its earnings on August 28, 2025, with an expected EPS of $0.03, representing a 200% increase from the same quarter last year [2] - The consensus estimate for revenue is $242.02 million, indicating a 21.65% increase from the previous year [2] Group 3 - For the annual period, the Zacks Consensus Estimates predict earnings of $0.20 per share and revenue of $996.62 million, reflecting increases of +300% and +21.32% respectively from the last year [3] - Adjustments to analyst estimates for SentinelOne are crucial as they indicate changing business trends and analysts' confidence in performance [3] Group 4 - The Zacks Rank system, which evaluates stocks based on estimate changes, currently ranks SentinelOne at 4 (Sell), indicating a less favorable outlook [5] - The Zacks Rank has a historical average annual return of +25% for stocks rated 1 (Strong Buy) since 1988 [5] Group 5 - SentinelOne has a Forward P/E ratio of 84.28, which is higher than the industry average Forward P/E of 62.84 [6] - The Security industry, part of the Computer and Technology sector, holds a Zacks Industry Rank of 179, placing it in the bottom 28% of over 250 industries [6]