Workflow
Cybersecurity
icon
Search documents
Top Wall Street analysts favor these 3 stocks for the long term
CNBC· 2025-03-16 11:14
Core Viewpoint - Investors navigated a volatile trading week influenced by tariff rhetoric from the Trump administration, leading to weekly stock losses despite a rally on Friday [1] Group 1: Zscaler - Zscaler, a cloud-based cybersecurity company, is recognized for its Zero Trust Exchange platform, which protects users and applications from cyber threats [3] - The company reported strong second-quarter results for fiscal 2025, driven by the adoption of Zero Trust and artificial intelligence [3][4] - Analyst Shaul Eyal from TD Cowen reiterated a buy rating with a price target of $270, citing a revamped go-to-market strategy and improved sales productivity [4] - Zscaler's annual contract value from its AI Analytics portfolio nearly doubled year over year, with expectations to reach $3 billion in annual recurring revenue by the end of fiscal 2025 [5] - The company serves 14 of the 15 U.S. cabinet agencies and is expected to benefit from government efficiency initiatives [6] - The number of customers generating over $1 million in annual recurring revenue increased by 25% year over year to 620 [6] Group 2: Costco Wholesale - Costco Wholesale reported mixed results for the second quarter of fiscal 2025, with revenue exceeding expectations but earnings missing estimates [8] - Analyst Corey Tarlowe from Jefferies noted that the earnings miss was due to lower-than-expected gross margin expansion and forex headwinds, but highlighted strong comparable sales growth of 8.3% [9][10] - Costco's U.S. sales benefited from increased traffic and ticket growth, and the company has opportunities for further warehouse expansion [11] - The company confirmed that about one-third of its U.S. sales are imported, with less than half sourced from China, Mexico, and Canada, which may insulate it from tariff impacts [11][12] - Tarlowe raised the price target for Costco stock to $1,180 from $1,145 while maintaining a buy rating [12] Group 3: Karman Holdings - Karman Holdings, a defense and space systems manufacturer, recently went public and offers a diverse range of products [14] - Analyst Amit Daryanani from Evercore initiated coverage with a buy rating and a price target of $38, citing strong growth potential driven by various secular tailwinds [15] - Daryanani highlighted growth in U.S. orbital launch volume and increased focus on missile defense as key drivers for Karman's growth [16] - Fiscal 2025 sales are expected to grow 18% year over year to $409 million, with EPS projected at 36 cents and an EBITDA margin expansion to 31% [16]
Advent of ChatGPT: Boon/Bane to Cybersecurity ETFs?
ZACKS· 2025-03-14 17:30
Core Insights - OpenAI's GPT-4 has significant implications for cybersecurity, presenting both opportunities and threats as discussed at the RSA Conference 2023 [1][2] - The potential for increased cyberattacks and code reuse is anticipated due to the capabilities of ChatGPT [2] - Cybersecurity professionals must adapt to the evolving landscape by utilizing AI technology for defense against AI-generated threats [5][6] Group 1: Cybersecurity Threats - ChatGPT can be exploited to create AI-generated phishing scams, posing a new threat to cybersecurity [4] - Hackers may manipulate ChatGPT to generate hacking code, necessitating continuous upskilling for cybersecurity professionals [5] - The dual-use nature of ChatGPT means that both malicious actors and defenders can leverage its capabilities [6] Group 2: Positive Applications in Cybersecurity - Microsoft’s Security Copilot, powered by GPT-4, aids security teams in incident response and threat hunting, enhancing operational efficiency [3] - OpenAI Playground serves as a testing platform for various permutations of OpenAI models, which can be beneficial for cybersecurity applications [2] Group 3: Regulatory and Market Implications - There is a call for stricter regulations on AI usage in cybersecurity, highlighted by the Biden administration's "Blueprint for an AI Bill of Rights" [7] - The advent of ChatGPT is expected to drive interest in cybersecurity stocks, with ETFs like HACK, CIBR, IHAK, and WCBR experiencing a decline of 2.9% to 4.4% in the past month [8]
PANW Expands Cloud Infrastructure in Asia-Pacific Region
ZACKS· 2025-03-14 15:15
Core Insights - Palo Alto Networks (PANW) is rapidly expanding its cloud infrastructure in Australia, India, Indonesia, Japan, and Singapore to enhance its cybersecurity offerings [1][2] - The integration of Prisma Access Browser aims to provide secure browsing for customers while complying with regional data residency requirements [2] - The growing demand for cloud services in the Asia-Pacific region presents significant opportunities for PANW, especially in light of increasing cybersecurity concerns [4][5] Company Strategy - PANW's Platformization strategy focuses on integrating multiple products into a single platform, facilitating cross-selling, upselling, and bundling of cybersecurity solutions [6][7] - The company anticipates generating revenues between $9.14 billion and $9.19 billion in fiscal 2025, reflecting a year-over-year growth of approximately 13.8% to 14% [7] Market Context - The Asia-Pacific cloud market is experiencing rapid growth at a 16.6% CAGR, attracting major players like Microsoft, Amazon, and Alphabet, while also creating opportunities for specialized cloud security providers like PANW [5] - The establishment of local cloud security facilities is expected to help PANW secure government clients and companies needing to comply with stricter cybersecurity policies [3] Challenges - The expansion of cloud infrastructure will lead to increased capital expenditure for PANW, which may be challenging amid a weakening global economy [8][10] - The competitive landscape in the cybersecurity market necessitates significant investments in sales and marketing, which may pressure profit margins [9]
Nasdaq Hearings Panel Extends HUB Cyber Security's Bid Price Compliance Deadline to April 14, 2025, Following Review of HUB's Developments
GlobeNewswire News Room· 2025-03-14 13:03
Core Points - HUB Cyber Security Ltd. has received a 14-day extension from the Nasdaq Hearings Panel to comply with the minimum bid price requirement, now having until April 14, 2025, to achieve 10 consecutive trading days of at least $1 per share [1][2] - The extension was granted after the Panel reviewed HUB's recent developments and progress, indicating confidence in the company's achievements and roadmap for continued listing on Nasdaq [2] Company Overview - HUB Cyber Security Ltd. was established in 2017 by veterans of the Israeli Defense Forces and specializes in advanced cybersecurity solutions that protect sensitive commercial and government information [3] - The company's offerings include encrypted computing technologies and innovative data theft prevention solutions, operating in over 30 countries and serving a diverse client base [3]
Rubrik, Inc.(RBRK) - 2025 Q4 - Earnings Call Transcript
2025-03-14 01:19
Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Subscription ARR reached $1.093 billion, growing 39% year over year, indicating strong performance in the cyber resilience market [7][34] - Subscription revenue was $244 million, up 54% year over year, contributing to total revenue growth of 47% year over year [10][39] - Free cash flow for Q4 was over $75 million, with a full fiscal year free cash flow of approximately $22 million, reflecting a significant improvement from the previous year [10][44] - Non-GAAP gross margin improved to 80% from 78% year over year, benefiting from revenue outperformance and improved efficiency [41][42] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Net new subscription ARR reached over $90 million in Q4, a record for the company [8] - Customers with $100k or more in subscription ARR grew by 29% to 2,246, while those with $1 million or more increased by 64% to 162 [9][38] - Subscription ARR contribution margin improved by over 1,400 basis points year over year, indicating better operating leverage [9][43] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue from the Americas grew 48% to $185 million, while revenue from outside the Americas grew 47% to $73 million [40] - The company reported a strong demand for its offerings, particularly in the context of cloud transformation and generative AI [11][12] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to accelerate product innovation and lay the foundation for future growth, focusing on cyber resilience and data security [31][32] - Rubrik is positioned at the intersection of data security and AI, with a strategy to expand its total addressable market (TAM) through the integration of DSPM and cyber recovery [61][62] - The company plans to continue investing in R&D while maintaining a disciplined approach to expenses [49] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the strength of the cyber resilience market and the demand for their differentiated offerings [46] - The company anticipates higher net new subscription ARR in the second half of the fiscal year, aligning with historical seasonality [47] - Management noted that cyber resilience remains a top priority for customers, regardless of economic cycles [76] Other Important Information - The company has integrated its DSPM into the Rubrik Security Cloud, enhancing data visibility and control for customers [19] - Regulatory requirements, such as DORA, are seen as tailwinds for the business, driving demand for compliance and resilience solutions [121] Q&A Session Summary Question: What is the outlook for the total addressable market (TAM) in data protection? - Management indicated that the TAM is expanding due to the need for modern data protection tools as customers transition to cloud and generative AI [59][61] Question: What are the evolving requirements from leading-edge customers? - Management emphasized the importance of cyber resilience and identity security, focusing on building capabilities around these areas [67][70] Question: Can you elaborate on the substantial improvement in subscription ARR contribution margin? - Management highlighted that sales efficiency and larger deal sizes contributed significantly to the improvement in margins [81][88] Question: What is driving the divergence between revenue growth and ARR growth? - Management explained that the company is in the midst of a cloud transformation, which has historically caused revenue growth to lag behind ARR growth [100][102] Question: Why is the company guiding for lower net new ARR in fiscal 2026 compared to fiscal 2025? - Management noted that the previous year's ARR growth benefited from a transition from maintenance to subscription, which is not expected to repeat at the same level [134][135]
Why the FastTrak toll road text scam is out of control and Apple, Android can't do anything to stop it
CNBC· 2025-03-13 15:49
The texts first started arriving on Eric Moyer's phone in February.  They warned him that if he didn't pay his FastTrak lane tolls by February 21, he could face a fine and lose his license.The Virginia Beach resident did what the majority of people do: ignore them. But there was enough hesitation to at least double-check."I knew they were a scam immediately; however, I had to verify my intuition, of course; I accessed my E-ZPass account to ensure, plus I knew that I had not utilized a toll road in recent mo ...
2 Growth Stocks You Can Buy and Hold for the Next Decade
The Motley Fool· 2025-03-12 22:15
Group 1: CrowdStrike - CrowdStrike Holdings has faced a decline in share price due to a significant outage and a weaker-than-expected outlook for fiscal year 2026, with shares down 4% over the past three months and a 26% drop from its record high [2][3] - The company has demonstrated strong customer support, closing over 20 deals worth more than $10 million each and over 350 deals worth more than $1 million each in its fiscal fourth quarter [5] - CrowdStrike's dollar-based net retention rate was 112% in its fourth quarter, indicating existing customers spent 12% more than the previous year, contributing to its revenue growth, which surpassed $1 billion in subscription revenue for the first time [6] - The total addressable market for CrowdStrike's AI-native platform is expected to grow from an estimated $116 billion this year to $250 billion by 2029, positioning the company as a major player in the cybersecurity sector [7] Group 2: Amazon - Amazon, with a market cap exceeding $2 trillion, is recognized as a growth stock, particularly due to its cloud computing segment, Amazon Web Services (AWS) [8] - AWS revenue grew 19% year over year in 2024, reaching $107 billion, with operating income of $40 billion, which constituted 58% of Amazon's total operating income despite being only 17% of total revenue [9] - Amazon is focusing on building foundational AI infrastructure through platforms like Bedrock and SageMaker, which allows customers to develop their own AI tools, helping AWS maintain its market leadership [10] - The company invested nearly $83 billion in capital expenditures in 2024, primarily to support AWS growth, with plans to increase spending to around $100 billion in 2025 [11]
SentinelOne(S) - 2025 Q4 - Earnings Call Transcript
2025-03-12 20:30
Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company achieved a revenue growth of 32% year-over-year, reaching $821 million, with gross margin at a new high and operating margin improving by 16 percentage points year-over-year [36][37] - In Q4, revenue was $226 million, growing 29% year-over-year, exceeding expectations [38] - The company crossed significant profitability milestones, including a positive net income margin of 2% and a positive free cash flow margin of 1% for the full year [37] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company re-accelerated net new ARR growth in the second half of the year, achieving 2% growth, an improvement of 12 percentage points compared to the first half [38] - Non-endpoint solutions accounted for over 50% of full-year bookings, indicating a successful transition to a comprehensive AI-native cybersecurity platform [8][20] - The fastest-growing solutions were data and AI, with significant contributions from the AI SIEM product [21][90] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - International revenue grew 36%, representing 37% of quarterly revenue [38] - The company is now protecting over 14,000 direct customers, excluding those served by strategic partners [39] - The company reported a record RPO growth of 30%, reaching $1.2 billion [40] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to surpass $1 billion in both ARR and revenue in the upcoming fiscal year, focusing on execution and advancing its Singularity platform [9][33] - The strategy includes a shift towards AI-native data and security solutions, with a commitment to operational discipline and efficiency [48][32] - The company is retiring its legacy Deception solution to realign resources towards higher-yielding elements of the business [45][83] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - The management noted that the cybersecurity landscape is increasingly challenging, with more breaches and costs than ever before, necessitating a modern approach to security [10][11] - The company remains optimistic about its growth trajectory, despite macroeconomic uncertainties, and expects to maintain strong execution and deeper engagements across its partner ecosystem [33][44] - Management highlighted the importance of AI in driving future growth and the need to adapt to evolving software and technology landscapes [32][74] Other Important Information - The company achieved its first quarter of positive operating margin in Q4, outperforming prior guidance by over 400 basis points [41] - The company expects to maintain industry-leading gross margins while growing its customer base [46] - The company has over $1.1 billion in cash and cash equivalents, providing flexibility for investments [47] Q&A Session Summary Question: What is the expected contribution from Lenovo? - The company is working closely with Lenovo and expects a more significant impact in the next fiscal year as shipments ramp up [51] Question: Are there any material changes in guidance philosophy? - The company is focused on setting reasonable expectations based on pipeline activity and market conditions, which remain volatile [54][55] Question: What is the outlook for federal government exposure? - The federal pipeline has expanded, and the company is well-positioned to cater to federal agencies, especially with AI capabilities [78][80] Question: What is driving the decision to retire the Deception solution? - The legacy code base and increasing maintenance costs led to the decision, allowing the company to focus on higher-yielding business elements [83][84] Question: What are the key growth drivers in the emerging product portfolio? - AI SIM and Purple AI have been significant growth drivers, with strong adoption and strategic importance for customers [90]
Tech Sell-Off: 1 Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stock Down 26% to Buy Now and Hold for 6 Years
The Motley Fool· 2025-03-12 08:37
Company Overview - CrowdStrike Holdings is a leader in artificial intelligence-powered cybersecurity, offering an all-in-one solution through its Falcon platform, which includes 29 modules for comprehensive protection [5][6] - The company has shown resilience despite a significant outage in July 2022, which affected 8.5 million customer computers, leading to initial investor concerns about potential revenue loss [4][9] Financial Performance - For fiscal 2025, CrowdStrike reported a revenue of $3.95 billion, a 29% increase from the previous year, exceeding its revised forecast of $3.9 billion [10] - The company aims to achieve $10 billion in annual recurring revenue (ARR) by fiscal 2031, representing a potential growth of 138% from its fiscal 2025 ARR of $4.2 billion [11] Market Position and Valuation - CrowdStrike's stock trades at a price-to-sales (P/S) ratio of 20.9, which is a 29% discount to its long-term average of 29.5, indicating potential value for long-term investors [12] - The company’s revenue growth of 25% in the most recent quarter outpaced competitors like Palo Alto Networks and Zscaler, justifying a premium valuation [13] Market Opportunity - Management estimates the addressable market for CrowdStrike at $116 billion, expecting it to more than double to $250 billion over the next four years, highlighting significant growth potential in the cybersecurity sector [15]
3 Growth Stocks That Could Help Make You a Fortune
The Motley Fool· 2025-03-12 08:15
Group 1: The Trade Desk - The Trade Desk operates the largest independent demand-side platform (DSP) for digital ads, allowing advertisers to purchase ad space across various platforms [3] - Recent growth has been driven by connected TV (CTV) ads on ad-supported streaming platforms, utilizing first-party data and AI-driven tools [4] - Analysts expect revenue to grow at a CAGR of 19% and adjusted EBITDA to rise at a CAGR of 20% from 2024 to 2027, with an enterprise value of $29.9 billion [5] Group 2: Super Micro Computer - Super Micro Computer specializes in servers for enterprise and data center customers, focusing on high-growth AI servers through a partnership with Nvidia [6] - Revenue surged at a CAGR of 61% from fiscal 2021 to fiscal 2024, but faced setbacks including delayed reports and regulatory scrutiny [7][8] - Analysts project revenue and EPS growth at a CAGR of 36% and 18%, respectively, from fiscal 2024 to fiscal 2027, with the stock trading at 11 times next year's earnings [9] Group 3: Palo Alto Networks - Palo Alto Networks is a leading cybersecurity company with three main ecosystems: Strata, Prisma, and Cortex, focusing on next-gen security services [10] - The company's scale and diversification provide a competitive advantage, with revenue expected to grow at a CAGR of 15% from fiscal 2024 to fiscal 2027 [12] - Despite a high valuation at 91 times next year's GAAP EPS, the company is expected to remain a key player in the cybersecurity sector [13]