Core Viewpoint - The article discusses elite stocks that are currently expensive but may present buying opportunities if market volatility causes their prices to drop. It highlights CrowdStrike Holdings, Amazon, and Tesla as key stocks to consider during a market pullback [1][2]. Group 1: CrowdStrike Holdings - CrowdStrike is recognized as a leading cybersecurity company, utilizing AI and data analytics to enhance threat detection [3][4]. - The company protects 300 of the Fortune 500 and generates over $4 billion in annual recurring revenue, with a year-over-year revenue growth of more than 28% [4][5]. - Despite its strong business fundamentals, CrowdStrike's price-to-sales ratio of 26 is considered high, indicating a steep valuation that may require market volatility to adjust [5][6]. Group 2: Amazon - Amazon leverages AI across its business segments, enhancing its cloud services and e-commerce operations [7][8]. - The stock has recently seen an 11% drop, placing it in correction territory, with a P/E ratio of 39, which is relatively low compared to its historical trading range [9][10]. - Analysts forecast continued revenue growth of 10% in 2025 and 2026, suggesting that Amazon's use of AI will drive efficiencies and maintain profit growth [11]. Group 3: Tesla - Tesla is viewed as an underrated AI stock, with its future heavily reliant on AI innovations such as robotaxis and full self-driving technology [12][13]. - The stock has experienced a decline of over 37% from its recent highs, which is not uncommon for Tesla, as previous pullbacks have proven to be buying opportunities [15][16]. - Long-term investors are encouraged to consider this recent correction as an entry point, as historical data shows significant returns for those who invested during past dips [16][17].

Core Insights - Discovery Education has launched a new Digital Citizenship Initiative aimed at providing educators and students with free tools and resources to navigate the digital world effectively [1][2] - The initiative addresses critical issues such as cyberbullying, online privacy, and digital footprints, highlighting the need for awareness among students regarding the impacts of digital technologies [2] Company and Industry Overview - The Digital Citizenship Initiative is a collaboration with partners including Verizon and Fortinet, which contribute expert insights and resources aligned with educational standards [3] - Verizon emphasizes its commitment to empowering students to use digital technologies responsibly, reflecting its purpose-driven approach [4] - Fortinet focuses on building a cyber-aware society by providing a tailored security awareness curriculum as part of the initiative, aimed at enhancing cybersecurity skills among educators and students [5] - Discovery Education serves approximately 4.5 million educators and 45 million students globally, providing K-12 digital solutions that support learning across various disciplines [10]

Core Insights - Investors may hesitate to buy growth stocks with significant share price increases, but strong earnings and positive business prospects often justify these gains [1][2] - Assessing the underlying business is crucial to determine its potential for sustained growth, focusing on competitive position, growth catalysts, and total addressable market [2] Company Summaries Meta Platforms - Meta Platforms' share price increased by 48% over the past year, reaching an all-time high of $740, supported by strong revenue and net income growth [4] - Revenue is projected to grow from $116.609 billion in 2022 to $164.501 billion in 2024, with net income nearly tripling from $23.200 billion to $62.360 billion during the same period [5] - The company generated $19.3 billion in free cash flow in 2022, increasing to $54.1 billion by 2024, and raised its quarterly dividend by 5% to $0.525 [5] - Daily active users rose to 3.35 billion, with average revenue per user increasing by 15.6% to $14.25 [6] - Meta plans to invest $65 billion in AI infrastructure, aiming to enhance product offerings and customer engagement [7] Sea Limited - Sea Limited's share price nearly tripled in the past year, with strong growth across its e-commerce, digital entertainment, and financial services divisions [8] - Revenue grew from $9.955 billion in 2021 to $13.064 billion in 2023, while net income improved from a loss of $2.047 billion to a profit of $150.726 million [10] - The company generated $2 billion in free cash flow in the first nine months of 2024, surpassing the total for 2023 [11] - Shopee maintained a 48% market share in Southeast Asia, with gross orders rising by 27.3% year over year [12] Cloudflare - Cloudflare's share price surged by 53% in the past year, driven by significant revenue and operating cash flow growth [13] - Revenue increased from $656.426 million in 2021 to $1.297 billion in 2023, with operating cash flow nearly quadrupling during the same period [14] - In 2024, revenue rose by 28.8% to $1.7 billion, with gross margin improving to 77.3% [15] - The company aims to expand its customer base and increase spending among existing customers, with a total addressable market projected to grow from $176 billion in 2024 to $222 billion by 2027 [17]

Core Insights - SANS 2025 is a major cybersecurity training event scheduled for April 13-18, 2025, in Orlando, featuring over 50 courses and expert-led sessions [1][2] - The event highlights the increasing importance of cybersecurity, with over 90% of organizations experiencing significant cyber incidents in the past year [1] - Keynote speaker Dr. Bilyana Lilly will discuss the geopolitical motivations behind state-sponsored cyber threats, providing critical insights into the evolving cyber threat landscape [2] Event Details - The event will take place at the Hyatt Regency Orlando, with registration currently open and a discount of $769 available for 4-6 day in-person courses [3] - Attendees will have the opportunity to engage in hands-on workshops and network with industry leaders, including a unique SANS Curriculum + Product Tradeshow [5] - Additional sessions will cover pressing cybersecurity challenges, such as cloud security and software bill of materials (SBOMs) [5]

Core Viewpoint - CrowdStrike Holdings experienced a significant incident last year but has since recovered, with stock prices reaching record highs, indicating strong customer loyalty and confidence in its cybersecurity platform [1][2]. Company Overview - CrowdStrike's Falcon platform is an all-in-one cybersecurity solution that addresses the fragmented nature of the industry, allowing businesses to avoid multiple vendor products [3]. - The Falcon ecosystem consists of 28 modules covering various aspects of cybersecurity, all enhanced with artificial intelligence for efficient threat detection and remediation [4]. Product Features - The integration of Charlotte AI into the Falcon platform improves efficiency by saving users over 40 hours per week through prioritization of threats [5]. - The Falcon Flex product, launched in 2023, allows businesses to adjust their subscriptions based on changing needs, leading to increased engagement with multiple modules [7]. Financial Performance - Following a temporary revenue forecast reduction after a major outage, CrowdStrike revised its fiscal 2025 revenue forecast upward by $30 million, reflecting confidence in its recovery [8][9]. - The long-term goal is to achieve $10 billion in annual recurring revenue (ARR) by fiscal 2031, representing a potential growth of 150% from the current ARR of $4 billion [10]. Market Position - CrowdStrike's strong recovery from the outage and its unique position in the platform cybersecurity space, with limited competition, enhances its business model's stickiness [12][13]. - The current price-to-sales ratio of 27 indicates that the stock is relatively expensive compared to competitors, suggesting that investors should adopt a long-term perspective [14]. Upcoming Events - The company is set to report its fiscal 2025 fourth-quarter results on March 4, where investors should monitor any revisions to long-term forecasts and revenue performance [11][15].

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported fourth quarter revenues of $24.9 million, up 2% year over year, and full year revenues of $92.2 million, just 1% below those of 2023 [34][10] - Non-GAAP net income for the year was $5.6 million, a significant recovery from a loss of $53 million last year, with positive cash flow generation of $4.8 million for 2024 [12][37] - Gross margins improved to approximately 70%, recovering from around 57% in 2023 [11][35] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The CCaaS (Cybersecurity as a Service) segment contributed revenues of $16.5 million for the full year, up 56% year over year, with annual recurring revenues (ARR) of $18.2 million, up 43% year over year [11][34] - Product revenue was reported at $4.8 million for the December quarter, down 55% year over year, attributed to fluctuations in specific deals [34][52] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company secured significant contracts with major telecom operators, including Verizon and Vodafone, enhancing its market presence [14][22] - Verizon Business reported over 30 million subscribers, representing a substantial addressable market for the company's cybersecurity solutions [21] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on a security-first strategy, integrating cybersecurity and network intelligence to create a differentiated offering [25][31] - The organizational structure has been revamped to better support customer demands, with a regional focus on sales and customer success [29] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about the company's position for long-term growth and profitability, citing a strong pipeline of opportunities and ongoing traction in the CCaaS segment [15][31] - The company anticipates another year of strong double-digit growth in CCaaS revenue and ARR for 2025 [18][31] Other Important Information - The company reduced operating expenses significantly, with non-GAAP operating expenses at $15.6 million, down 47% year over year [36] - The company had 504 full-time employees as of December 2024 [37] Q&A Session Summary Question: What is the driver of strong free cash flow generation for the quarter? - Management attributed the growth to continuous CCaaS growth and new service launches with existing customers [41] Question: What was the driver of the increase in support and maintenance revenue? - The increase was mainly due to the smart product line and catch-up on support agreements at year-end [45] Question: Why was product revenue down 55% year over year? - Product revenue fluctuates based on specific deals and seasonality, with CCaaS revenue increasing as a percentage of total revenue [52][53] Question: What are the expected growth rates for CCaaS? - Management aims to maintain high double-digit growth rates, similar to the previous year's performance [58] Question: How is the company planning to broaden its security offering? - The company is investing in R&D to extend security protection to customers even when they are off the network [90] Question: What is the expected performance of the DPI legacy business in 2025? - Management expects similar levels of performance but sees potential for upside based on new project wins [102] Question: Can you elaborate on the strong pipeline for CCaaS customers? - The pipeline includes both new services for existing customers and potential new customers, positioning the company well for growth [106]

Allot (ALLT) Q4 2024 Earnings Call February 25, 2025 09:00 AM ET Company Participants Kenny Green - Investor RelationEyal Harari - Chief Executive OfficerLiat Nahum - Chief Financial OfficerNehal Chokshi - Managing DirectorDavid Kanen - President Operator Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for standing by. Welcome to our fourth quarter twenty twenty four results conference call. All participants are present in listen only mode. Following management's formal presentation, instructions will be given for the ques ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Akamai reported total revenue of $1.02 billion for Q4 2024, representing a 3% year-over-year increase [45] - Non-GAAP earnings per share (EPS) was $1.66, exceeding guidance and down 2% year-over-year [50] - Security revenue reached $535 million, growing 14% year-over-year, while compute revenue grew to $167 million, a 24% year-over-year increase [46][48] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Security became the majority revenue contributor for the first time, surpassing $2 billion in annual revenue and growing 16% year-over-year [10] - Cloud computing revenue was $630 million, growing 25% over 2023, with cloud infrastructure services contributing $230 million, up 32% [10] - Combined revenue from security and compute accounted for 69% of total revenue in Q4 [48] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - International revenue was $490 million, up 2% year-over-year, representing 48% of total revenue [49] - The company anticipates a decline in delivery revenue to shrink to about 10% year-over-year in 2025, with signs of improvement in the delivery marketplace [36] Company Strategy and Development Direction - Akamai is transforming from a CDN pioneer to a cybersecurity and cloud computing company, focusing on expanding its security offerings and cloud infrastructure services [9][12] - The company aims to achieve a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of about 10% for security products over the next three to five years, targeting over $3 billion in security revenue by the end of the decade [16][17] - Akamai plans to focus more on compute investments, expecting cloud infrastructure services ARR to grow by 40% to 45% in 2025 [29] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about future growth, citing strong demand for security solutions and cloud infrastructure services [41] - The company expects to see revenue growth acceleration in 2025, driven by improvements in product mix and operational efficiency [40] - Management acknowledged challenges from foreign exchange fluctuations and the impact of a major customer pursuing a DIY strategy [37][59] Other Important Information - Akamai's capital expenditures (CapEx) for Q4 were $193 million, representing 19% of revenue, with plans to continue share buybacks [51][52] - The company expects to generate approximately $85 million to $105 million in revenue from the Edgio transaction in 2025 [53] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you expand on the large cloud deal and the competitive environment? - Management indicated that the customer is increasing usage of Akamai's cloud infrastructure services and that a data center is being built in Scandinavia to meet specific needs [81][82] Question: Is the $100 million compute deal the same as the five-year deal with the largest delivery customer? - Management confirmed that they are the same customer [86] Question: Can you elaborate on the $60 million headwind from the largest customer? - The headwind is primarily due to the customer's DIY build-out, which will reduce reliance on Akamai's services [92] Question: What is the outlook for retaining Edgio contracts? - Management expressed confidence in retaining the Edgio customer base, with no significant churn anticipated [120] Question: What steps are being taken to minimize disruption from changes in the go-to-market strategy? - Management is in the early stages of a two-year process to transform the sales force and improve account segmentation and pricing strategies [105][106]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Rapid7 ended 2024 with $840 million in ARR, growing 4% year over year [6][22] - Full year revenue reached $844 million, a 9% increase from the previous year, exceeding guidance [24] - Operating income was $164 million, representing a 19% operating margin, an expansion of over 600 basis points from the prior year [24] - Free cash flow for the year was $154 million, with a free cash flow margin of 18%, an increase of over 800 basis points from the prior year [25] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The Detection and Response (DNR) business generated over $400 million in ARR, with managed DNR growing in the mid-teens [7][14] - The risk and exposure management business showed over 20% year-over-year growth in pipeline generation during Q4 [7] - ARR per customer grew 2% year over year to approximately $72,000 [23] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - International revenue grew 14% year over year, accounting for 25% of total revenue, while North America grew 3% and made up 75% of the mix [26] - The total customer base increased by 2% year over year, ending 2024 with over 11,700 customers globally [23] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focusing on innovation in its detection and response offerings, expanding coverage and leveraging AI capabilities [8][10] - Rapid7 is scaling its partner ecosystem, with 80% to 90% of new ARR booked through the channel [8] - The launch of Exposure Command is seen as a significant milestone, validating the integrated approach to attack surface management [9][16] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the foundational work completed in 2024, positioning the company for more consistent execution and sustainable growth [10][12] - The company expects ARR growth of 4% to 6% in 2025, primarily driven by the DNR business [18][29] - Management acknowledged the competitive landscape but emphasized the strategic value of their integrated security operations platform [10][90] Other Important Information - The company plans to reinvest up to $30 million into strategic growth initiatives, including expanding MDR service capabilities and establishing an innovation center in India [20][30] - An Analyst Day is planned for later in the year to provide deeper insights into the business and strategy [21] Q&A Session Summary Question: Clarification on ARR for Detection and Response - Management confirmed that the DNR business is growing in the mid-teens, with the remainder of ARR being a mix of cloud VM and legacy products [34][35] Question: Margin Outlook for Managed DNR - Management indicated that overall product gross margins will remain stable in the mid-seventies, but managed services will have lower gross margins due to labor components [39] Question: Competitive Landscape in Cloud Security - Management highlighted the focus on integrated exposure management to reduce complexity for customers, targeting a broader market [46][47] Question: Confidence in Net New ARR Growth - Management expressed confidence in the pipeline and early conversion rates, expecting improvements in net new ARR throughout the year [74][76] Question: Churn and Downsell Pressure in VM - Management noted that churn in the VM segment is stabilizing, with expectations for improved retention as customers transition to more integrated products [98][99] Question: Strategic Options for Declining ARR - Management is considering all options for the declining ARR segment, focusing on customer pain points and the complexity of managing risk [104][105]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - For the full year 2024, the company reported revenue growth of 10% to $607.6 million, with adjusted EBITDA margin at 47% and net income increasing by 16% to $229 million, resulting in an EPS of $6.13 [21][22]. - In Q4 2024, revenues also grew by 10% to $159.2 million, with free cash flow reaching $41.9 million, representing a 26% margin compared to 22% in the prior year [22][25]. Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Cloud management and cybersecurity asset management combined accounted for 15% of total bookings and 24% of new bookings in 2024 [24]. - The channel contributed 48% of total revenues in Q4, up from 44% a year ago, with revenues from channel partners growing by 18% compared to a 3% growth in direct revenues [22][23]. Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - International revenue growth was 15%, outpacing domestic growth of 7%, with the U.S. and international revenue mix at 58% and 42%, respectively [22][23]. - The company anticipates a stable selling environment in 2025, with ongoing budget scrutiny expected to persist [23]. Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focusing on evolving its platform to provide a comprehensive risk analytics and quantification solution, enhancing its strategic relevance and market opportunity [6][8]. - The introduction of the Enterprise TruRisk Management solution aims to set a new standard in proactive cyber risk management, allowing customers to operationalize a modern risk operations center [10][19]. Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the company's market position and growth opportunities, emphasizing the importance of continuous innovation and delivering value to customers [19][20]. - The company expects revenue growth in 2025 to be in the range of $645 million to $657 million, representing a growth rate of 6% to 8% [26][27]. Other Important Information - The company announced a $200 million increase to its share repurchase program, bringing the total available amount for share repurchases to $343.4 million [26]. - The departure of the Chief Revenue Officer is noted, with plans to oversee the sales organization and continue focusing on a partner-first strategy [18][39]. Q&A Session Summary Question: Thoughts on creative packaging opportunities for products - Management indicated that they are exploring feedback from early adopters to enhance broader platform adoption and pricing strategies [31]. Question: Plans for balancing time and hiring key leaders after CRO departure - Management reassured that the sales leadership team is strong and capable, with a focus on execution and partner-oriented strategies [32][34]. Question: Changes expected in sales motion post-CRO departure - Management highlighted a focus on executing sales growth with a strong sales head group and leveraging partnerships for new business [38][39]. Question: Early customer feedback on TotalAI and competitive dynamics - Management noted positive early feedback on TotalAI, emphasizing its unique capability to secure AI workloads and the growing interest from customers [40][44]. Question: Performance in Q4 relative to guidance and expectations - Management explained that better linearity in renewals and invoicing cycles contributed to stronger Q4 performance, while Q1 guidance reflects a more conservative outlook [50][52]. Question: New logo bookings growth expectations for 2025 - Management anticipates weaker growth in new logo bookings for 2025, focusing on partner-led strategies for acquiring new customers [53][55]. Question: Opportunities in the federal vertical - Management expressed excitement about the potential in the federal market, especially with the anticipated FedRAMP High certification [60][61]. Question: Go-to-market strategy for Enterprise TruRisk Management (ETM) - Management emphasized that ETM is a comprehensive solution that enables proactive risk management, with a focus on leveraging partnerships for broader market reach [66][71].