Core Viewpoint - CrowdStrike offers a way to hedge investments in the AI sector while capitalizing on the growth of AI in cybersecurity, positioning itself as a strong investment opportunity amidst concerns of an AI bubble [1][2]. Company Overview - CrowdStrike is primarily a cybersecurity company, with its flagship product, Falcon, enhancing the effectiveness and usability of cybersecurity measures [3]. - Falcon integrates multiple cybersecurity functions, such as cloud security, data protection, and threat intelligence, into a single program, making it more cost-effective and user-friendly compared to traditional solutions [4]. Product Features - Falcon operates as a proactive defense mechanism, actively hunting for threats rather than merely serving as a passive shield [7]. - The cloud-native architecture of Falcon allows for collaborative defense across its network, improving its threat detection and response capabilities as more clients join [5]. Performance Metrics - Falcon detects breaches in an average of 4 minutes and achieves a 75% faster mean-time-to-respond (MTTR) compared to previous measures, resolving over 13 million threats annually [10]. - CrowdStrike's market cap is approximately $118 billion, with projected annual revenue nearing $3.8 billion for 2025, indicating robust growth akin to that of a start-up [11]. Financial Growth - For fiscal year 2025, CrowdStrike reported a 31% increase in revenue compared to fiscal 2024, with annual recurring revenue (ARR) growing by 23% [12]. - In Q3 2025, total revenues rose by 22% year-over-year to $1.2 billion, with ARR reaching $4.9 billion, also up 23% [12]. - Operating income increased by 32% to $265 million, with diluted earnings per share (EPS) rising by 26% and free cash flow growing by 28% to $296 million [13]. Market Potential - CrowdStrike anticipates its total addressable market (TAM) will expand from $140 billion in 2026 to $300 billion by the end of the decade, indicating significant growth potential [14]. - The company maintains a strong financial position with total debt of about $818 million against cash reserves of $4.8 billion, supporting continued growth [15]. Investment Appeal - CrowdStrike has outperformed the S&P 500 with a five-year annualized return of 18% compared to the S&P's 13%, and a 25% increase over the last 12 months against the S&P's 14% [15]. - The company presents an attractive option for investors looking to benefit from AI advancements in cybersecurity without directly investing in AI firms [16].

Flash | 01 Feb 2026 15:53:28 ET │ 11 pages kyna.wong@citi.com See Appendix A-1 for Analyst Certification, Important Disclosures and Research Analyst Affiliations Sangfor Technologies (300454.SZ) FY25/4Q25 NP guidance misses CITI'S TAKE Sangfor guided FY25 revenue to grow 5.5-7.2% YoY to Rmb7,930- 8,059mn (5% below CitiE/BBGe) with net profit to grow 76.8-102.7% YoY to Rmb348-399mn (34%/16% below CitiE/BBGe). Recurring net profit would grow 207.2-261.9% YoY to Rmb236-278mn. Non-recurring income and loss impa ...

Industry Overview - Cybersecurity is experiencing significant growth due to the increasing number of internet-connected devices, from computers and phones to household appliances [1] - The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) has made it easier for hackers to execute attacks, as they can now automate processes that previously required human effort [1] - Quantum computers pose a potential threat to cybersecurity, with the capability to break encryption quickly, although they are currently out of reach for most hackers [2][3] Company Profile: Palo Alto Networks - Palo Alto Networks, based in Santa Clara, California, is a leading cybersecurity company serving clients in both business and government sectors globally [3][4] - The company offers three AI-powered and cloud-enabled platforms: Strata, Prisma Cloud, and Cortex [4] Product Offerings - **Strata Cloud Manager**: This platform allows customers to manage security across their network from a single program, boasting 70,000 customers, including 94 of the Fortune 100 [4] - **Prisma Cloud**: Focused on AI applications, it detects 1.5 million new attacks daily and is integrated with over 700 partners, enhancing its market reach [5] - **Cortex**: This AI-enabled program can stop cyber threats in real-time, reducing response time by 98% and automating security responses, which decreases manual labor by 75% for cybersecurity teams [6] Performance Metrics - Palo Alto Networks' cybersecurity suite blocks 30.9 billion attacks per day and scans 480 billion security endpoints daily [6] - The company achieves a 90% reduction in clients' mean time to remediate security incidents [6]

Netskope, Inc. (NASDAQ:NTSK) is one of the 12 tech stocks with the biggest upside potential. KeyBanc analyst Eric Heath revised the firm’s price target on Netskope, Inc. (NASDAQ:NTSK) downward to $24 from $28 while reaffirming a Buy rating on January 12. The adjusted price target implies a further 62.62% upside from the current levels. In its assessment of the stock, the firm cited a combination of factors influencing the price target revision, including slightly lower valuation multiples observed among pe ...

CrowdStrike Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:CRWD) is one of the best Nancy Pelosi stocks to buy in 2026. On January 27, Macquarie reiterated a Neutral rating on CrowdStrike Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:CRWD) and a $485 price target. CrowdStrike Holdings Inc. (CRWD) Expansion into Cloud Security and Identity Protection Driving Growth Den Rise/Shutterstock.com According to the research firm, CrowdStrike Holdings Inc. is among the best-positioned security platform players, alongside Zscaler. That’s because of its dominant ...

Palo Alto Networks Inc. (NASDAQ:PANW) is one of the best Nancy Pelosi stocks to buy in 2026. On January 29, Palo Alto Networks Inc. (NASDAQ:PANW) announced it had completed its acquisition of Chronosphere, a cloud-native observability company recognized in Gartner’s 2025 Magic Quadrant. Palo Alto Networks, Inc. (PANW) Strengthens AI-Driven Cybersecurity Platform with Chronosphere Acquisition Pixabay/Public Domain The acquisition advances Palo Alto’s move into AI-driven operations by combining its Cortex ...

Core Insights - Insider buying activity has been observed in Salesforce and SentinelOne, indicating potential confidence from executives in these companies as they head into the new year [1][3]. Salesforce - Salesforce Director David Blair Kirk purchased over 1,900 shares for more than $500,000 in mid-December, while activist firm ValueAct acquired an additional $25 million worth of Salesforce stock [2]. - The stock is currently trading at a forward price-to-sales (P/S) ratio of 4.7 times and a forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of approximately 17.5 times based on 2026 analyst estimates, making it appear attractively priced [4]. - Salesforce has positioned itself as a leader in AI by acquiring Informatica and launching Data 360, which could drive significant growth as the company pivots towards becoming an AI agent company [6]. SentinelOne - Director Mark Peek bought nearly $600,000 worth of shares in mid-December, reflecting confidence in the company's future [3]. - SentinelOne has reported a revenue growth of 23% last quarter, yet it trades at a forward P/S ratio below 4.5 times 2026 analyst estimates, indicating it is undervalued compared to larger competitors [7]. - The company is expected to benefit from its partnership with Lenovo and its Singularity Data Lake product, which offers secure data queries at a lower cost and faster speed than competitors like Splunk [9].

Core Viewpoint - OneSpan Inc. is expanding its mobile security capabilities through the acquisition of Build38, aiming to enhance its App Shielding offerings and provide stronger protection against mobile application attacks [2][3][4]. Group 1: Acquisition Details - OneSpan signed a definitive agreement to acquire Build38, a company specializing in next-generation mobile application protection [2]. - The acquisition is expected to close by March 2026, pending regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions [6]. Group 2: Security Enhancements - The integration of Build38's SDK-based security tools will enhance OneSpan's mobile security portfolio, providing deeper in-app protection against attacks targeting applications and devices [3][4]. - The acquisition will improve visibility into mobile app activities, addressing a common need among security teams [3]. Group 3: Market Position and Compliance - Build38 is recognized as a Sample Vendor in the Gartner Hype Cycle for Application Security, 2025, and is a leading provider in Europe for securing mobile identities [5]. - The combined expertise of OneSpan and Build38 aims to elevate standards in mobile identity protection, particularly in regulated industries [5]. Group 4: Financial Information - OneSpan offers a quarterly dividend of $0.12 per share, resulting in a dividend yield of 4.12% as of January 29 [6].

Group 1 - Rapid7 Inc. is considered one of the best small-cap tech stocks to invest in currently, with recent price target adjustments from analysts [1] - Mizuho analyst Gregg Moskowitz reduced the price target for Rapid7 from $20 to $16 while maintaining a Neutral rating, citing valuation compression as a primary driver [1][2] - Truist also lowered its price target for Rapid7 from $18 to $14 with a Hold rating, anticipating strong Q4 results but conservative guidance for 2026 [3] Group 2 - The firm noted solid public cloud performance and strong AI adoption, but expressed concerns over moderate budget activity and the impact of AI-related disruption on software company multiples [2] - Despite steady demand from IT budget holders, software equities, including Rapid7, face significant headwinds [3] - Rapid7 provides cybersecurity software and services under various brand names, including Rapid7, Nexpose, and Metasploit [4]

Core Insights - CrowdStrike (CRWD) is enhancing its Falcon Next-Generation Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) with Charlotte AI, resulting in record net new annual recurring revenues (ARR) in Q3 of fiscal 2026, indicating increased customer demand [1][10] Product Development and Customer Adoption - Charlotte AI is designed to automate tasks such as triage, investigation, and response, significantly reducing the time required for these tasks from four days to minutes, which is crucial for security teams managing large volumes of alerts and data [2] - A major European bank transitioned from its legacy SIEM to Falcon Next-Gen SIEM and Charlotte AI in a significant eight-figure deal, demonstrating CrowdStrike's success in replacing legacy systems [3] - A global healthcare customer also signed an eight-figure Falcon Flex contract, with Charlotte AI being central to its security operations transformation [3] Regulatory Approvals and Market Position - Charlotte AI received FedRAMP high authorization, allowing U.S. government agencies to utilize it through the Falcon platform in GovCloud, which is expected to enhance CrowdStrike's appeal to government and regulated customers [4] - The strong momentum of Next-Gen SIEM and the role of Charlotte AI in automation suggest a solid product combination that could drive growth in upcoming quarters, with Zacks Consensus Estimates indicating a year-over-year revenue increase of approximately 21% for fiscal 2026 and 2027 [5] Competitive Landscape - Competitors like Palo Alto Networks (PANW) and SentinelOne (S) are also expanding their platforms and innovating with AI, with PANW reporting a 29% year-over-year increase in Next-Gen Security ARR in Q1 of fiscal 2026 [6] - SentinelOne achieved a 23% year-over-year growth in ARR in Q3 of fiscal 2026, driven by the adoption of its AI-first Singularity platform [7] Financial Performance and Valuation - CrowdStrike's shares have decreased by 2.3% over the past six months, while the Zacks Security industry has seen a decline of 4% [8] - The company trades at a forward price-to-sales ratio of 20.32, significantly higher than the industry average of 12.45 [12] - Zacks Consensus Estimates for CrowdStrike's fiscal 2026 earnings suggest a year-over-year decline of 5.6%, while fiscal 2027 earnings are expected to grow by 28.8%, with recent upward revisions of 4 cents and 3 cents for the respective fiscal years [15]