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SentinelOne (S) Sees a More Significant Dip Than Broader Market: Some Facts to Know
ZACKS· 2025-08-11 23:01
Company Performance - SentinelOne closed at $15.81, reflecting a -1.37% change from the previous day, which was less than the S&P 500's daily loss of 0.25% [1] - Prior to the latest trading session, shares had decreased by 7.29%, underperforming the Computer and Technology sector's gain of 6.34% and the S&P 500's gain of 2.71% [1] Upcoming Earnings Report - The company is set to release its earnings on August 28, 2025, with projected EPS of $0.03, indicating a 200.00% increase year-over-year [2] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenue is $242.02 million, representing a 21.65% increase from the same period last year [2] Annual Forecast - For the entire year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates predict earnings of $0.20 per share and revenue of $996.62 million, reflecting changes of +300% and +21.32% respectively compared to the previous year [3] - Recent adjustments to analyst estimates suggest evolving short-term business trends, with positive revisions indicating analyst optimism about the company's profitability [3] Valuation Metrics - SentinelOne is currently trading at a Forward P/E ratio of 80.42, which is a premium compared to the industry average Forward P/E of 60.68 [6] - The Security industry, part of the Computer and Technology sector, has a Zacks Industry Rank of 155, placing it in the bottom 38% of over 250 industries [6] Zacks Rank System - The Zacks Rank system, which ranges from 1 (Strong Buy) to 5 (Strong Sell), has shown a strong track record, with 1 stocks averaging an annual return of +25% since 1988 [5] - Currently, SentinelOne holds a Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell), with the Consensus EPS estimate remaining unchanged over the last 30 days [5]
PANW Plunges 14% in 6 Months: Should You Hold or Fold the Stock?
ZACKS· 2025-08-11 15:21
Core Insights - Palo Alto Networks, Inc. (PANW) shares have declined by 14.5% over the past six months, underperforming the Zacks Security industry's decline of 10% and its peers like CyberArk, CrowdStrike, and Zscaler [1][2] Sales Growth Concerns - The company is experiencing a slowdown in sales growth, with revenue growth rates in the mid-teens percentage range over the past year, down from mid-20s in fiscal 2023 [3][4] - Full-year revenue growth for fiscal 2025 is forecasted at just 14%, with revenues expected to be in the range of $9.17-$9.19 billion [4] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate indicates revenue growth will remain in the mid-teen percentage range for fiscal 2025 and 2026 [4] Next-Generation Security (NGS) Growth - NGS annual recurring revenue (ARR) growth has decelerated for five consecutive quarters, with projections for fiscal 2025 suggesting a slowdown to 31-32% growth compared to over 45% in previous years [7][8] - The shift from multi-year payments to annual payments for $1 million-plus deals is affecting top-line stability [9] Industry Opportunities - The global cybersecurity market is projected to grow from $193.73 billion in 2024 to $562.77 billion by 2032, indicating a significant addressable market for Palo Alto Networks [10] - The company is well-positioned to capitalize on the demand for advanced cybersecurity solutions, particularly through its AI-driven platforms like Cortex XSIAM and Prisma AIRS [11] Financial Stability and Valuation - Palo Alto Networks is transitioning to a platform-based model, generating recurring revenue streams and enhancing customer retention [14] - The company is currently trading at a lower price-to-sales (P/S) ratio of 10.62X compared to the industry average of 11.51X and peers like CyberArk, CrowdStrike, and Zscaler [17][20] Conclusion - Despite slowing revenues and NGS ARR growth rates, Palo Alto Networks remains a leader in cybersecurity with continued innovation and a shift towards a predictable recurring revenue model [21][22] - The discounted valuation offers some downside protection, making PANW an attractive long-term hold for investors seeking exposure to cybersecurity growth [22]
Should Cisco Stock Be in Your Portfolio Pre-Q4 Earnings?
ZACKS· 2025-08-08 17:36
Core Insights - Cisco Systems (CSCO) is expected to report its fourth-quarter fiscal 2025 results on August 13, with anticipated revenues between $14.5 billion and $14.7 billion and non-GAAP earnings per share (EPS) between $0.96 and $0.98 [1][9] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues is $14.6 billion, reflecting a year-over-year growth of 7.1%, while the consensus for earnings is steady at $0.97 per share, indicating an 11.5% increase year-over-year [2] Revenue and Earnings Expectations - Cisco's fourth-quarter fiscal 2025 results are projected to benefit from increased demand for networking products, particularly in switching, enterprise routing, webscale infrastructure, and industrial networking applications [4] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for networking revenues is $7.19 billion, representing a 5.6% year-over-year growth, while security revenues are estimated at $2.2 billion, indicating a significant 23.2% year-over-year growth [5][6] Stock Performance - Cisco shares have appreciated 18.1% year-to-date, outperforming the Zacks Computer & Technology sector's return of 12.7% and competitors like Dell Technologies (16.2%) and Hewlett Packard Enterprise (-4.4%) [7] Strategic Initiatives - Cisco's strategy includes integrating AI across its security platforms and enhancing its product offerings, such as the Duo Identity and Access Management solutions aimed at combating identity-based attacks [5][9] - The company has announced new security solutions that support zero-trust architectures, including the Hybrid Mesh Firewall and Universal Zero Trust Network Access solutions [6] AI and Partnerships - Cisco has secured over $1 billion in AI infrastructure orders in fiscal 2025, ahead of schedule, driven by its expanding AI portfolio and partnerships with companies like NVIDIA and ServiceNow [14][15] - The collaboration with NVIDIA focuses on building AI-ready data center networks, which is expected to significantly enhance Cisco's AI-driven revenues [16] - The partnership with ServiceNow aims to integrate Cisco's infrastructure and security platforms with ServiceNow's AI-driven solutions for improved risk management [17] Conclusion - Cisco's upcoming results are anticipated to benefit from a robust networking and security business, supported by a strong partner ecosystem [18]
Why Zscaler (ZS) Dipped More Than Broader Market Today
ZACKS· 2025-08-07 22:46
Company Performance - Zscaler's stock closed at $272.50, reflecting a -5.81% change from the previous day's closing price, underperforming the S&P 500's daily loss of 0.08% [1] - Prior to the recent trading session, Zscaler shares had declined by 8.59%, contrasting with the Computer and Technology sector's gain of 3.95% and the S&P 500's gain of 1.21% [1] Upcoming Earnings - Zscaler is expected to report an EPS of $0.8, which indicates a 9.09% decline compared to the same quarter last year [2] - The consensus estimate for Zscaler's revenue is projected at $706.19 million, representing a 19.11% increase year-over-year [2] Full Year Projections - For the full year, Zacks Consensus Estimates project earnings of $3.18 per share and revenue of $2.66 billion, reflecting changes of -0.31% and 0% respectively from the prior year [3] - Analysts' forecast revisions are crucial as they indicate the changing nature of near-term business trends, with positive revisions suggesting optimism regarding business and profitability [3][4] Valuation Metrics - Zscaler has a Forward P/E ratio of 81.13, which is higher than the industry average of 64.23, indicating that Zscaler is trading at a premium [6] - The company also has a PEG ratio of 5.62, compared to the Security industry's average PEG ratio of 2.9, suggesting a higher valuation relative to expected earnings growth [6] Industry Context - The Security industry, part of the Computer and Technology sector, holds a Zacks Industry Rank of 100, placing it in the top 41% of all industries [7] - The Zacks Industry Rank measures the strength of individual industry groups, with the top 50% rated industries outperforming the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1 [7]
Fortinet (FTNT) Beats Q2 Earnings and Revenue Estimates
ZACKS· 2025-08-06 22:16
Fortinet (FTNT) came out with quarterly earnings of $0.64 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.59 per share. This compares to earnings of $0.57 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non- recurring items. While Fortinet has underperformed the market so far this year, the question that comes to investors' minds is: what's next for the stock? There are no easy answers to this key question, but one reliable measure that can help investors address this is the company's earnings ou ...
Is the Options Market Predicting a Spike in Check Point Stock?
ZACKS· 2025-08-06 15:26
Investors in Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. (CHKP) need to pay close attention to the stock based on moves in the options market lately. That is because the Dec 19, 2025 $100.00 Call had some of the highest implied volatility of all equity options today. Looking to Trade Options? Check out the simple yet high-powered approach that Zacks Executive VP Kevin Matras has used to close recent double and triple-digit winners. In addition to impressive profit potential, these trades can actually reduce your ...
Qualys (QLYS) Surpasses Q2 Earnings and Revenue Estimates
ZACKS· 2025-08-05 22:36
Core Viewpoint - Qualys reported quarterly earnings of $1.68 per share, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.47 per share, and showing an increase from $1.52 per share a year ago, indicating a positive earnings surprise of +14.29% [1] Financial Performance - The company achieved revenues of $164.06 million for the quarter ended June 2025, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 1.80% and up from $148.71 million year-over-year [2] - Over the last four quarters, Qualys has consistently exceeded consensus EPS and revenue estimates [2] Stock Performance and Outlook - Qualys shares have declined approximately 3.1% since the beginning of the year, contrasting with the S&P 500's gain of 7.6% [3] - The company's future stock performance will largely depend on management's commentary during the earnings call and the trends in earnings estimate revisions [3][4] Earnings Estimates - The current consensus EPS estimate for the upcoming quarter is $1.49, with expected revenues of $163.06 million, and for the current fiscal year, the EPS estimate is $6.17 on revenues of $652.15 million [7] Industry Context - The Security industry, to which Qualys belongs, is currently ranked in the top 41% of over 250 Zacks industries, indicating a favorable outlook compared to the bottom 50% [8] - Another company in the same industry, Zscaler, is expected to report quarterly earnings of $0.80 per share, reflecting a year-over-year decline of -9.1%, with revenues projected to be $706.19 million, up 19.1% from the previous year [9]
Fortinet Stock Before Q2 Earnings: Buy Now or Wait for Results?
ZACKS· 2025-08-04 17:31
Core Insights - Fortinet (FTNT) is expected to report second-quarter 2025 results on August 6, with revenue projections between $1.59 billion and $1.65 billion, and non-GAAP earnings per share anticipated in the range of 58 to 60 cents, reflecting a year-over-year revenue growth of 12.9% [1][2] Financial Performance - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for second-quarter revenues is $1.62 billion, indicating a year-over-year growth of 12.9% [1] - The consensus estimate for earnings per share is 59 cents, showing a year-over-year increase of 3.51% [2] - Fortinet achieved a record first-quarter revenue of $1.54 billion, with a 14% growth and a record operating margin of 34% [5][10] Product Launches and Innovations - Fortinet launched the FortiGate 700G series, which offers up to 7 times higher firewall throughput and 4 times better threat protection compared to competitors, while consuming 7 times less power per gigabit [6][10] - The company also introduced an advanced AI-powered workspace security suite, enhancing its product portfolio [9] Market Position and Growth - Fortinet's strategic focus areas, such as Unified SASE, saw billings increase by 18%, accounting for 25% of total business, while AI-driven secure operations billings surged by 29% [5][10] - The company maintained its position as the number one deployed firewall vendor globally and a market leader in SD-WAN and OT security [10] Revenue Estimates by Region - Estimated revenues for the Americas in Q2 2025 are projected at $664.8 million, reflecting an 11.7% growth year-over-year [12] - Estimated revenues for Asia Pacific and Japan are pegged at $324.6 million, indicating an 18.6% growth year-over-year [12] - Estimated revenues for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa are projected at $629.5 million, suggesting an 11.4% decrease year-over-year [13] Stock Performance and Valuation - Fortinet's shares have gained 4.9% year-to-date, outperforming the Computer and Technology sector and the S&P 500 index [14] - The stock is trading at a significant premium, with a Price/Book ratio of approximately 37.97 compared to the industry's 17.52, reflecting high growth expectations [16] Investment Considerations - Despite premium valuation, Fortinet's record-setting first-quarter performance and strategic product launches position it for strong second-quarter results [18] - The company’s strong customer acquisition, exceeding 6,300 new logos, and robust free cash flow generation provide a solid foundation for continued outperformance [18][19]
Is Most-Watched Stock Palo Alto Networks, Inc. (PANW) Worth Betting on Now?
ZACKS· 2025-08-04 14:02
Core Viewpoint - Palo Alto Networks (PANW) has experienced a stock decline of -14.3% over the past month, contrasting with the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +0.6% change, and the Zacks Security industry has lost 8.5% during the same period, raising questions about the stock's near-term direction [1] Earnings Estimates - For the current quarter, Palo Alto is expected to post earnings of $0.88 per share, reflecting a year-over-year increase of +17.3%, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate remaining unchanged over the last 30 days [4] - The consensus earnings estimate for the current fiscal year is $3.27, indicating a +15.1% change from the previous year, also unchanged over the last 30 days [4] - For the next fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate is $3.65, suggesting an +11.4% change from the prior year, with a slight increase of +0.1% over the past month [5] Revenue Growth - The consensus sales estimate for the current quarter is $2.5 billion, representing a year-over-year change of +14.2% [10] - For the current fiscal year, the revenue estimate is $9.19 billion, indicating a +14.4% change, while the next fiscal year's estimate of $10.45 billion reflects a +13.8% change [10] Last Reported Results - In the last reported quarter, Palo Alto generated revenues of $2.29 billion, a year-over-year increase of +15.3%, with an EPS of $0.8 compared to $0.66 a year ago [11] - The reported revenues exceeded the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.28 billion by +0.57%, and the EPS surprise was +3.9% [11] - The company has consistently beaten consensus EPS and revenue estimates in the trailing four quarters [12] Valuation - Palo Alto is graded F in the Zacks Value Style Score, indicating it is trading at a premium compared to its peers [16] - Valuation multiples such as price-to-earnings (P/E), price-to-sales (P/S), and price-to-cash flow (P/CF) are essential for assessing whether the stock is overvalued, rightly valued, or undervalued [14][15] Conclusion - The Zacks Rank 3 suggests that Palo Alto may perform in line with the broader market in the near term, despite the current market buzz [17]
Will Okta (OKTA) Beat Estimates Again in Its Next Earnings Report?
ZACKS· 2025-08-01 17:11
Core Viewpoint - Okta (OKTA) is positioned well to potentially beat earnings estimates in its upcoming quarterly report, continuing a strong trend in the Zacks Security industry [1]. Earnings Performance - Okta has demonstrated a strong track record of surpassing earnings estimates, averaging a 9.27% beat over the last two quarters [2]. - In the most recent quarter, Okta reported earnings of $0.77 per share against an expectation of $0.86, resulting in a surprise of 11.69%. In the previous quarter, the company reported $0.78 per share against a consensus of $0.73, achieving a surprise of 6.85% [3]. Earnings Estimates and Predictions - Recent estimates for Okta have been trending upward, with a positive Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) indicating a strong likelihood of an earnings beat [6]. - Stocks with a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold) or better have historically produced positive surprises nearly 70% of the time, suggesting a high probability of beating consensus estimates [7]. Earnings ESP Analysis - Okta currently has an Earnings ESP of +4.67%, reflecting increased analyst optimism regarding the company's earnings prospects. This, combined with a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy), suggests a strong possibility of another earnings beat [9]. - The Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate, with the Most Accurate Estimate being more reflective of recent analyst revisions [8].