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CrowdStrike (CRWD) Up 7.7% Since Last Earnings Report: Can It Continue?
ZACKS· 2025-07-03 16:31
Group 1 - CrowdStrike Holdings (CRWD) shares have increased by approximately 7.7% over the past month, outperforming the S&P 500 [1] - Recent estimates for CrowdStrike have trended upward, with a consensus estimate shift of -32.3% [2] - CrowdStrike currently holds a Growth Score of B but has an F in Momentum and Value Scores, resulting in an overall VGM Score of F [3] Group 2 - The outlook for CrowdStrike indicates broadly upward trending estimates, with a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold), suggesting an in-line return expected in the coming months [4] - In the same security industry, SentinelOne (S) has gained 0.9% over the past month, reporting revenues of $229.03 million, a year-over-year increase of +22.9% [5] - SentinelOne is projected to post earnings of $0.03 per share for the current quarter, reflecting a +200% change from the previous year, maintaining a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold) [6]
PANW's Platformization Gains Speed: Can it Multiply the Customer Base?
ZACKS· 2025-07-01 15:05
Core Insights - Palo Alto Networks (PANW) is successfully implementing its platformization strategy, leading to significant customer adoption across its product offerings in network, cloud, and security operations [1][4] - The company added over 90 new platformized deals in Q3 of fiscal 2025, totaling approximately 1,250 platformizations among its top 5,000 accounts [1][10] - Large transactions indicate a willingness among customers to invest in unified platforms, with notable deals including a $90 million contract with a global consulting firm and a $46 million deal with a financial services firm [2][3] Customer Adoption and Growth Potential - Customers utilizing multiple PANW platforms increased by nearly 70% year over year in Q3 [4] - Management aims for platformization to contribute significantly to its $15 billion Next-Gen Security Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) target by fiscal 2030, with 60-70% expected from platformized customers [4] - Currently, only about 2% of PANW's over 70,000 customers are fully platformized, indicating substantial growth potential [4][10] Competitive Landscape - Competitors like Zscaler and SentinelOne are also enhancing their platforms to meet enterprise security needs [5] - Zscaler reported an ARR of $2.9 billion, growing 23% year over year, with its Zero Trust Exchange platform becoming a key growth driver [6] - SentinelOne achieved a 24% year-over-year growth in ARR, driven by the adoption of its AI-first Singularity platform [7] Financial Performance and Valuation - PANW shares have increased by 12.5% year to date, compared to the security industry's growth of 23.5% [8] - The company trades at a forward price-to-sales ratio of 12.92X, which is lower than the industry's average of 14.85X [12] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for PANW's fiscal 2025 and 2026 earnings suggests year-over-year growth of 15.1% and 11.2%, respectively, with recent upward revisions in estimates [15]
Zscaler's Platform Keeps Growing: Is Zero Trust Everywhere the Key?
ZACKS· 2025-06-26 14:41
Core Insights - Zscaler is expanding its Zero Trust Exchange with a new initiative called Zero Trust Everywhere, which extends Zero Trust security to Cloud workloads and Branches [1] Company Performance - In Q3 of fiscal 2025, Zscaler reported over 210 Zero Trust Everywhere enterprises, marking a sequential growth of 60% [2] - 59% of Zero Trust Branch buyers were new logo customers, indicating strong early demand [2] - Zscaler aims to exceed 390 customers by the end of fiscal 2026 [2] - The company launched Unified Appliance for Branch in Q3, simplifying branch infrastructure and eliminating the need for SD-WAN, Firewall, NAC, and legacy segmentation [2] Product Development - Zscaler secured a seven-figure annual contract with a financial services customer for Cloud workload protection [3] - New product launches include Zero Trust Gateway for Cloud Workloads, a cloud-native service on AWS that secures workload communications in under 10 minutes [3] - Zscaler introduced Microsegmentation for Cloud Workloads, providing granular host and process-level segmentation policies using AI-driven technology [4] Market Position - If adoption continues at this pace, Zero Trust Everywhere could become a foundational layer for Zscaler's future growth [5] - Zscaler's shares have surged 73% year to date, outperforming the Security industry's growth of 22.7% [9] Valuation and Earnings Estimates - Zscaler trades at a forward price-to-sales ratio of 15.34X, slightly above the industry average of 14.79X [12] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2025 earnings implies a year-over-year decline of 0.31%, while fiscal 2026 earnings are expected to grow by 12.01% [15]
Are Computer and Technology Stocks Lagging Creative Realities, Inc. (CREX) This Year?
ZACKS· 2025-06-25 14:41
Group 1 - Creative Realities, Inc. (CREX) has shown a year-to-date return of 32.7%, significantly outperforming the average gain of 3.6% in the Computer and Technology sector [4] - The Zacks Rank for CREX is currently 1 (Strong Buy), indicating a positive outlook based on earnings estimates and revisions [3] - Over the past three months, the consensus estimate for CREX's full-year earnings has increased by 196.8%, reflecting improving analyst sentiment [3] Group 2 - CREX is part of the Internet - Software industry, which consists of 169 companies and currently ranks 52 in the Zacks Industry Rank, with an average gain of 15.4% this year [5] - Another notable stock in the Computer and Technology sector is CyberArk (CYBR), which has a year-to-date return of 19.2% and a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy) [4][5] - The Security industry, to which CyberArk belongs, has seen a gain of 22.8% this year and is currently ranked 26 [6]
PANW's Prisma AIRS: Does it Give an Edge in AI Model Security?
ZACKS· 2025-06-24 15:31
Core Insights - Palo Alto Networks (PANW) is enhancing its focus on artificial intelligence (AI) model security with the launch of Prisma AI-Ready Security (Prisma AIRS) in April 2025, addressing the increasing risks associated with unsecured AI models as enterprises adopt AI technologies [1][11] - Prisma AIRS is integrated into the Prisma Cloud platform, making AI model security a part of overall cloud protection, which is a strategic move given the inadequacies of traditional security tools in addressing AI-specific threats [2] - The company reported a significant rise in customer demand for securing AI deployments, with over 35 AI models currently in use across its products, necessitating constant protection and scanning [3] Product Development and Strategy - Prisma AIRS enhances existing capabilities in posture management and runtime security, with plans to include security for AI agents in the future [4] - The acquisition of Protect AI is expected to further strengthen Prisma AIRS, integrating its capabilities into the platform for comprehensive AI security throughout the AI development lifecycle [4][5] - Prisma AIRS has already established an eight-figure sales pipeline shortly after its launch, with AI infrastructure spending projected to exceed $300 billion in the next year, presenting a significant opportunity for the company [5] Competitive Landscape - Competitors like CrowdStrike (CRWD) and SentinelOne (S) are also advancing in AI innovation and platform expansion, with CrowdStrike leveraging its Charlotte AI for automated cybersecurity solutions [6][7] - SentinelOne has reported a year-over-year growth of 24% in its annual recurring revenue (ARR), driven by the adoption of its AI-first Singularity platform [8] Financial Performance and Valuation - PANW shares have increased by 11.8% year to date, while the security industry has seen a growth of 20.3% [9] - The company trades at a forward price-to-sales ratio of 12.86X, which is lower than the industry average of 14.5X, indicating potential valuation attractiveness [13] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for PANW's fiscal 2025 and 2026 earnings suggests year-over-year growth of 15.14% and 11.12%, respectively, with recent upward revisions in estimates [16]
CyberArk's Machine Identity Push: Is Venafi the Game Changer?
ZACKS· 2025-06-24 15:31
Group 1: Company Overview - CyberArk (CYBR) is gaining traction in the machine identity market, with the acquisition of Venafi acting as a key growth catalyst [1][4] - In Q1 of fiscal 2025, Venafi was included in nine of CyberArk's top 10 deals, enhancing cross-sell opportunities within its identity security platform [1][9] - Machine identities now outnumber human identities by more than 80 to 1, up from a 45:1 ratio a year ago, indicating a significant shift in enterprise IT security needs [3][9] Group 2: Notable Wins and Market Expansion - A Fortune 100 financial services firm expanded its relationship with CyberArk by entering into a multi-six-figure Annual Contract Value (ACV) deal for certificate lifecycle management and PKI offerings [2] - PDS Health, a long-time customer, also expanded its use of Venafi's solutions in a six-figure ACV deal during the first quarter [2] - CyberArk estimates that the acquisition of Venafi will expand its total addressable market by $10 billion to approximately $60 billion [4] Group 3: Competitive Landscape - Competitors like CrowdStrike and Palo Alto Networks are also evolving their platforms to meet enterprise security demands, with CrowdStrike enhancing its identity security platform using AI solutions [5] - Palo Alto Networks has seen strong momentum, closing over 90 net new platform deals in Q3 of fiscal 2025, reflecting its platformization strategy [6] Group 4: Financial Performance and Valuation - CyberArk shares have gained 19.4% year to date, slightly underperforming the Zacks Security industry's growth of 20.2% [7] - The company trades at a forward price-to-sales ratio of 13.16, which is below the industry's average of 14.5 [11] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CyberArk's earnings implies a year-over-year increase of approximately 25.74% for 2025 and 25.72% for 2026, although estimates have been revised downward recently [14]
Okta's Security Portfolio Expands Clientele: A Sign of More Upside?
ZACKS· 2025-06-23 16:36
Core Insights - Okta (OKTA) is experiencing strong growth driven by its innovative product offerings, particularly among large-cap clients including Global 2000 companies and government agencies [1][2][3] Group 1: Customer Growth and Adoption - Okta's customer base with annual contract values exceeding $1 million grew by 20% year-over-year, indicating robust enterprise adoption [2][8] - Significant demand is noted from critical sectors such as energy, telecom, and insurance, with clients seeking solutions for employee identity security and API protection [2] - The public sector is contributing to this growth, with four of Okta's top ten deals in Q1 fiscal 2026 coming from U.S. government entities utilizing FedRAMP-compliant solutions [3][8] Group 2: Product Innovations - In response to complex client needs, Okta has launched new solutions including Identity Governance (OIG), Identity Threat Protection (ITP), and Privileged Access (OPA) [2][8] - The Customer Identity Cloud (Auth0) is gaining traction, with notable implementations by a Global 2000 energy company and a major tech reseller switching from Microsoft to Auth0 for enhanced scalability [4] Group 3: Competitive Landscape - CyberArk Software is a key competitor, known for its comprehensive identity security platform and strong margins, bolstered by recent acquisitions [5] - SailPoint is another competitor, recognized for its Identity Governance & Administration capabilities and extensive partner ecosystem, offering low-code/no-code workflows and AI-driven access recommendations [6] Group 4: Financial Performance and Estimates - Okta's shares have appreciated by 26.1% year-to-date, outperforming the Zacks Security industry's return of 20.2% [7] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Okta's 2026 revenues is $2.86 billion, reflecting a year-over-year growth of 9.44%, with earnings expected to reach $3.28 per share, indicating a growth of 16.73% from fiscal 2025 [10]
Why CyberArk (CYBR) Dipped More Than Broader Market Today
ZACKS· 2025-06-20 23:01
Company Performance - CyberArk's stock closed at $383.05, down 1.4% from the previous trading session, underperforming the S&P 500's loss of 0.22% [1] - Over the past month, CyberArk's shares have increased by 3.92%, outperforming the Computer and Technology sector's gain of 2.98% and the S&P 500's gain of 0.45% [1] Upcoming Earnings - The upcoming earnings per share (EPS) for CyberArk is projected at $0.79, indicating a 46.30% increase compared to the same quarter last year [2] - Revenue for the upcoming quarter is estimated at $315.43 million, reflecting a 40.37% rise from the equivalent quarter last year [2] Fiscal Year Estimates - For the entire fiscal year, earnings are projected at $3.81 per share and revenue at $1.32 billion, representing increases of 25.74% and 31.88% respectively from the prior year [3] - Recent changes in analyst estimates for CyberArk are important as they often reflect shifting business dynamics, with positive revisions indicating a favorable business outlook [3][4] Zacks Rank and Performance - The Zacks Rank system, which incorporates estimate changes, currently ranks CyberArk as 2 (Buy), with 1 stocks historically returning an average of +25% annually since 1988 [5] - Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate for CyberArk has increased by 32.12% [5] Valuation Metrics - CyberArk is currently trading at a Forward P/E ratio of 102.04, which is higher than the industry average of 74.67, suggesting a premium valuation [6] - The company has a PEG ratio of 4.2, compared to the Security industry's average PEG ratio of 3.03, indicating a higher valuation relative to expected earnings growth [7] Industry Context - The Security industry, part of the Computer and Technology sector, holds a Zacks Industry Rank of 27, placing it in the top 11% of over 250 industries [8] - Research indicates that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1 [8]
Why Is Palo Alto (PANW) Up 10.2% Since Last Earnings Report?
ZACKS· 2025-06-19 16:30
Company Overview - Palo Alto Networks (PANW) shares have increased by approximately 10.2% over the past month, outperforming the S&P 500 [1] - The most recent earnings report is crucial for understanding the catalysts affecting the stock [1] Earnings Estimates - Estimates for Palo Alto Networks have trended upward in the past month, indicating positive sentiment among analysts [2][4] VGM Scores - Palo Alto Networks has an average Growth Score of C, a Momentum Score of F, and a Value Score of F, resulting in an overall VGM Score of F, placing it in the lowest quintile for investment strategies [3] Outlook - The upward trend in estimates suggests a promising outlook for Palo Alto Networks, with a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold), indicating expectations for an in-line return in the coming months [4] Industry Comparison - Palo Alto Networks is part of the Zacks Security industry, where another player, Qualys (QLYS), has seen a 1% gain over the past month [5] - Qualys reported revenues of $159.9 million for the last quarter, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 9.7%, with EPS rising from $1.45 to $1.67 [5] - For the current quarter, Qualys is expected to report earnings of $1.47 per share, a decrease of 3.3% from the previous year, with a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy) [6]
Will GenAI and SaaS Adoption Fuel Zscaler's Data Security Expansion?
ZACKS· 2025-06-17 16:15
Core Insights - Zscaler (ZS) is experiencing strong momentum in its Data Security Everywhere strategy, which is becoming essential across all industries due to the rise of GenAI and security-as-a-service (SaaS) usage [1][4] Group 1: Data Security Expansion - In Q3 FY25, Zscaler's data security capabilities now encompass structured and unstructured data, both in motion and at rest, across various channels including web, email, SaaS, endpoints, and GenAI applications [2][9] - A Fortune 50 automotive customer signed a seven-figure Annual Contract Value (ACV) deal, increasing their annual spend with Zscaler by over 50% to well above $10 million after adopting six out of eight data security modules [3][9] - Zscaler secured another seven-figure ACV deal with a new Fortune 100 food and beverage company, further demonstrating the traction of its data security strategy beyond regulated sectors [4][9] Group 2: Competitive Landscape - Competitors like Palo Alto Networks (PANW) and CrowdStrike (CRWD) are also adapting their platforms to meet enterprise security demands, with PANW highlighting the growing traction of its Prisma Access Browser [5] - CrowdStrike is leveraging its Charlotte AI to enhance automated and scalable cybersecurity, positioning it as a key differentiator in the market [6] Group 3: Financial Performance and Valuation - Zscaler's shares have surged 69.1% year to date, significantly outperforming the Security industry's growth of 20.2% [7] - Zscaler trades at a forward price-to-sales ratio of 15.1X, slightly above the industry average of 14.52X [11] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Zscaler's fiscal 2025 earnings indicates a year-over-year decline of 0.31%, while fiscal 2026 earnings are expected to grow by 12.13% [14]