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CrowdStrike's Pre-Q2 Earnings Analysis: Hold or Fold the Stock?
ZACKS· 2025-08-22 15:56
Core Insights - CrowdStrike (CRWD) is set to report its second-quarter fiscal 2026 results on August 27, 2025, with anticipated revenues between $1.14 billion and $1.15 billion, reflecting a year-over-year growth of 19.2% [1][8] - The expected non-GAAP earnings per share for the second quarter is between 82 cents and 84 cents, with a consensus estimate of 83 cents, indicating a year-over-year decline of 20.2% [2][8] - CrowdStrike's earnings have consistently beaten the Zacks Consensus Estimate in the past four quarters, with an average surprise of 13.2% [3] Revenue and Earnings Expectations - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CrowdStrike's fiscal second-quarter revenues is pegged at $1.15 billion, indicating a year-over-year growth of 19.2% [1] - The expected non-GAAP earnings per share for the second quarter is between 82 cents and 84 cents, with a consensus estimate of 83 cents, indicating a year-over-year decline of 20.2% [2] Growth Drivers - The demand for CrowdStrike's cybersecurity products is expected to benefit from the increasing number of cyber threats and breaches, leading to greater security needs [6] - The Falcon Flex subscription model is a significant growth driver, with a total deal value of accounts adopting Falcon Flex reaching $3.2 billion, representing a 31% sequential growth and over six times year-over-year growth [7][8] - The partnership with Amazon Web Services (AWS) enhances CrowdStrike's product availability and co-selling opportunities, contributing positively to earnings [9][10] Cost Considerations - High Research & Development (R&D) and Sales & Marketing (S&M) costs are impacting CrowdStrike's profitability outlook, with R&D expenses increasing 12-fold and S&M expenses nearly ninefold over the last six fiscal years [19][20] Stock Performance and Valuation - Year-to-date, CrowdStrike shares have increased by 21.1%, outperforming the Zacks Security industry, which has returned 8.2% [12] - CrowdStrike is trading at a forward 12-month price-to-sales (P/S) ratio of 19.54X, compared to the industry's 12.02X, indicating a premium valuation [15][17] Investment Considerations - The Falcon Flex subscription model is a key driver for new customer acquisition, with significant deals secured in the last quarter, indicating strong enterprise demand [18] - Despite the potential for long-term benefits from increased investments, rising costs and a premium valuation suggest a cautious approach for investors [20]
Will Platform Strategy Keep Driving CrowdStrike's Subscription Growth?
ZACKS· 2025-07-15 16:21
Core Insights - CrowdStrike (CRWD) is experiencing significant growth in subscription revenue, driven by its platform strategy and the adoption of Falcon Flex, with subscription revenues increasing by 20% year over year to $1.05 billion in Q1 of fiscal 2026, accounting for 95% of total revenues [1][10] Subscription Revenue Growth - The growth in subscription revenue is attributed to the rising adoption of Falcon Flex, which facilitates multi-module deployment and platform standardization, with over 820 customer accounts adopting Falcon Flex by the end of Q1 [2] - The total account deal value for Falcon Flex reached $3.2 billion within two years of its launch, reflecting a 31% sequential increase and over six times year-over-year growth [2] Multi-Module Adoption - Multi-module adoption rates are strong, with 48% of customers using six or more modules, 32% using seven or more, and 22% adopting eight or more modules, indicating that the platform approach is simplifying security tools for customers and encouraging increased spending [3] Customer Expansion Examples - A Fortune 100 technology company expanded its initial $12 million three-year Endpoint Detection and Response contract to a five-year agreement exceeding $100 million, while a global healthcare provider included Falcon Identity Protection in an eight-figure deal [4] Future Growth Expectations - Management anticipates that the trends of platform consolidation and multi-module adoption will continue to drive subscription revenue growth, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate projecting a 21.2% year-over-year increase in subscription revenues to $4.56 billion in fiscal 2026 [5] Competitive Landscape - Competitors like Zscaler (ZS) and SentinelOne (S) are also expanding through platform innovation, with Zscaler reporting $2.9 billion in ARR and 23% year-over-year growth, while SentinelOne reached $948 million in ARR, reflecting a 24% year-over-year increase [6][7] Stock Performance and Valuation - CrowdStrike's shares have increased by 39.2% year to date, outperforming the security industry's growth of 17.1% [8] - The company trades at a forward price-to-sales ratio of 22.64X, significantly higher than the industry's average of 14.01X [12] Earnings Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CrowdStrike's fiscal 2026 earnings indicates a year-over-year decline of 10.94%, while fiscal 2027 earnings are expected to grow by 34.68%, with upward revisions in estimates over the past 60 days [15]
CrowdStrike Stock Rises 11% in a Month: Time to Hold or Book Profits?
ZACKS· 2025-07-07 15:21
Core Insights - CrowdStrike Holdings (CRWD) shares have increased by 10.7% over the past month, outperforming the Zacks Security industry's growth of 4.6% and surpassing peers like CyberArk Software, Palo Alto Networks, and Check Point Software [1][10] - The company's growth is driven by strong enterprise demand for AI-native cybersecurity solutions and the Falcon Flex subscription model, which enhances customer commitment and revenue growth [2][4] Performance Metrics - As of the end of the first quarter, CrowdStrike reported an Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) of $4.44 billion, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 22% [5] - The Falcon Flex model achieved a total deal value of $3.2 billion, with a sequential growth of 31% and over six times year-over-year growth [6][10] - The company added $774 million in total Falcon Flex account value during the first quarter of fiscal 2026 [5] Customer Adoption and Expansion - More than 820 customer accounts have adopted the Falcon Flex model, indicating strong market acceptance [6] - A significant expansion deal was secured with a Fortune 100 technology company, increasing its contract from $12 million to over $100 million [7] - A large healthcare provider also signed an eight-figure Falcon Flex expansion deal [8] Subscription and Revenue Growth - CrowdStrike's quarterly revenues exceeded $1 billion for the third consecutive time, marking a year-over-year improvement of nearly 21% [11] - Subscription customers using six or more cloud modules represented 48% of total customers, with 32% using seven or more modules [12] AI Integration and Partnerships - The Falcon platform is gaining traction as an "AI-native SOC," with partnerships with AI companies to enhance capabilities [13] - Collaborations with NVIDIA and Microsoft aim to secure AI systems and standardize cyber threat attribution [14] Cost Structure and Earnings Pressure - Research and development expenses have increased significantly, rising twelvefold over the last six fiscal years [15] - Sales and marketing expenses surged nearly ninefold to $1.52 billion in fiscal 2025 [16] - In the first quarter of fiscal 2026, sales and marketing and R&D expenses rose by 25.5% and 34.7% year-over-year, respectively, impacting earnings [17] Valuation Metrics - CrowdStrike is trading at a high price-to-sales (P/S) ratio of 24.55X, compared to the Zacks Security industry's 15.07X [19] - The P/S multiples for peers CyberArk, Palo Alto Networks, and Check Point Software are 13.6X, 12.97X, and 8.81X, respectively [22] Investment Outlook - The company is positioned well in the AI-driven cybersecurity market, but shrinking profits and high valuation suggest a cautious investment approach [23]
CrowdStrike (CRWD) Earnings Call Presentation
2025-07-03 13:05
Financial Highlights - CrowdStrike's Ending ARR reached $3.9 billion, a 32% year-over-year increase[86, 150] - The company's Net New ARR was $218 million, an 11% year-over-year increase[151] - Non-GAAP Subscription Gross Margin was 81%[152] - Free Cash Flow reached $272 million, a 44% year-over-year increase[152] Falcon Flex Subscription Model - Falcon Flex customers' Total Account Value exceeded $700 million in Q2 FY25, up from over $500 million in Q1 FY25 and over $185 million in 4Q24[36] - One customer case study showed a >350% ARR uplift with a total contract value of $110M+ over 5 years after adopting Falcon Flex[51] - Another customer case study showed a >200% ARR uplift with a total contract value of $20M+ over 5 years after adopting Falcon Flex[54] Market Opportunity and Growth Vectors - The company estimates the CY25 Total Addressable Market (TAM) for the AI-Native Security Platform to be $116 billion[66] and $250 billion by CY29[67] - Cloud Security ARR grew >80% year-over-year, reaching >$515 million in Q2 FY25[93, 94] - Next-Gen SIEM ARR grew >140% year-over-year, reaching >$220 million in Q2 FY25[104] - Identity Protection ARR grew >70% year-over-year, reaching >$350 million in Q2 FY25[92] Customer Adoption and Expansion - 48% of customers with $100K+ ARR have adopted 8+ modules[152] - There was a 66% year-over-year growth in deals involving 8+ modules[152]
Can Charlotte AI Give CrowdStrike an Edge in Cybersecurity?
ZACKS· 2025-06-16 14:45
Core Insights - CrowdStrike (CRWD) is leveraging its Charlotte AI as a competitive advantage in automated cybersecurity, enhancing the efficiency of human security operations center (SOC) personnel [1][5] Group 1: Charlotte AI Enhancements - CrowdStrike is continuously improving Charlotte AI's capabilities, with the first quarter of fiscal 2026 seeing an expansion in its detection triage, enabling autonomous expert-level triage and response at machine speed [2] - Charlotte AI is also facilitating automation in vulnerability management, providing AI-powered network scanning for both managed and unmanaged devices [4] Group 2: Customer Adoption and Impact - A global healthcare customer signed an eight-figure Falcon Flex expansion, highlighting Charlotte AI's role in their AI-native SOC transformation [3] - A large financial services customer purchased Exposure Management for 120,000 devices, replacing legacy vendors, with Charlotte AI being central to this transition [4][10] Group 3: Competitive Landscape - Competitors like Palo Alto Networks (PANW) and SentinelOne (S) are also expanding their platforms and innovating with AI, with PANW's AI-driven XSIAM platform seeing over 200% year-over-year growth in annual recurring revenue (ARR) [6] - SentinelOne reported a 24% year-over-year growth in ARR, driven by the adoption of its AI-first Singularity platform [7] Group 4: Financial Performance and Valuation - CrowdStrike's shares have increased by 40.5% year to date, outperforming the security industry's growth of 20.1% [8] - The company trades at a forward price-to-sales ratio of 23.23X, higher than the industry's average of 14.52X [12] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CRWD's fiscal 2026 earnings indicates a decline of 10.94%, while fiscal 2027 earnings are expected to grow by 34.74% [15]
CrowdStrike Stock Rises 52% in 3 Months: Time to Hold or Book Profits?
ZACKS· 2025-06-09 15:06
Core Insights - CrowdStrike Holdings (CRWD) shares have increased by 51.7% over the past three months, outperforming the Zacks Security industry's growth of 23.5% [1][9] - The stock has outperformed peers such as CyberArk Software (CYBR), Palo Alto Networks (PANW), and Check Point Software (CHKP), which saw gains of 29.1%, 14.8%, and 3.6% respectively [1][9] Financial Performance - CrowdStrike's quarterly revenues exceeded $1 billion for the third consecutive time in Q1 of fiscal 2026, reflecting a year-over-year growth of nearly 21% [5] - The company ended Q1 with an Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) of $4.44 billion, up 22% year-over-year [11] - Non-GAAP earnings declined by 7.6% year-over-year to 73 cents per share due to rising costs [16] Subscription Model and Customer Adoption - The Falcon Flex subscription model has been a significant driver of customer growth, with over 820 customer accounts adopting it, leading to a total deal value of $3.2 billion [12][10] - Customers using six or more cloud modules represented 48% of total subscription customers, with 32% using seven or more modules [6] Strategic Partnerships and AI Integration - CrowdStrike has integrated its Falcon platform with NVIDIA's Enterprise AI Factory and partnered with Microsoft to standardize cyber threat attribution [8] - The company is focusing on expanding its capabilities through partnerships with other AI companies [7] Cost Structure and Investment - Sales and marketing expenses surged nearly ninefold to $1.52 billion in fiscal 2025 from $173 million in fiscal 2019, while R&D expenses increased 12-fold over the last six fiscal years [14][15] - In Q1 of fiscal 2026, sales and marketing and R&D expenses rose by 25.5% and 34.7% year-over-year, respectively [16] Valuation Metrics - CrowdStrike is trading at a high price-to-sales (P/S) ratio of 22.60X, significantly above the Zacks Security industry's ratio of 14.78X [19][22] - Compared to peers, CyberArk, Palo Alto Networks, and Check Point Software have P/S multiples of 13.96X, 12.94X, and 9.25X, respectively [22] Conclusion - The company is well-positioned in the AI-driven cybersecurity market, but shrinking profits and high valuation suggest a cautious approach for investors [23]
中金公司维持霸王茶姬跑赢行业评级,目标价41美元
Xin Lang Cai Jing· 2025-06-09 07:56
Group 1 - CrowdStrike Holdings Inc-A (CRWD.O) maintains a hold rating with a target price of $414, driven by improved operational efficiency and the importance of identity security in the AI era, despite slightly lower revenue expectations for Q1 FY26 [1] - Lululemon Athletica Inc (LULU.O) also holds a neutral rating with a target price of $280, as same-store sales in the Americas weaken and competition in China increases, leading to a valuation downgrade [1] - Nvidia (NVDA.O) is rated outperform, with Q1 FY26 revenue exceeding expectations by 69%, driven by data center growth, and projected revenue of $45 billion for Q2 FY26 [1] Group 2 - Suzano SA ADR (SUZ.N) maintains a hold rating, with expectations of cost reduction and stable profits from a joint venture with Kimberly Clark, despite regulatory risks [2] - Zscaler (ZS.O) is rated buy with a target price of $317, as significant revenue and order growth is noted, alongside a strong position in the SASE market [3] - Bilibili (BILI.O) is rated buy, with Q1 revenue exceeding expectations and a significant improvement in adjusted net profit, driven by strong growth in advertising and gaming [6] Group 3 - Broadcom (AVGO.O) maintains an outperform rating with a target price of $275, as Q2 FY25 results meet expectations and AI revenue exceeds $4.4 billion, with a forecast of 60% growth in AI revenue for FY25 and FY26 [6][7] - Charters Industrial (GTLS.N) holds a rating of hold, with expectations of $300 million in annual synergies from a merger with FOSS, despite potential risks from cost inflation and demand downturns [8] - Hesai Technology (HSAI.O) shows strong Q1 performance with significant revenue and profit growth, and partnerships with top global OEMs [9] Group 4 - Palo Alto Networks (PANW.O) is rated buy with a target price of $203, as the company focuses on platform strategy and anticipates increased customer spending on platform products [10] - Pinduoduo (PDD.O) maintains a buy rating with a target price of $131, despite Q1 results falling short of expectations, as long-term growth strategies remain promising [11] - EHang Intelligent (EH.O) is rated outperform, with expectations of revenue growth despite a decline in Q1 due to reduced sales of EH216 series [12] Group 5 - MOMO Inc (MOMO.O) is rated outperform with a target price of $9, as Q1 results exceed expectations and overseas business shows rapid growth [13] - MOMO Inc also receives a buy rating with a target price of $8, with an increase in revenue and adjusted net profit expectations based on a 7x P/E ratio for 2025 [14]
CrowdStrike Stock Drops on Cautious Outlook -- Is This a Buying Opportunity?
The Motley Fool· 2025-06-08 08:20
Core Viewpoint - CrowdStrike's share prices declined following a report of decelerating revenue growth and maintained full-year revenue guidance, despite a year-to-date increase of nearly 37% in stock value [1] Revenue and Growth Metrics - CrowdStrike reported a 20% increase in revenue to $1.1 billion, matching analyst expectations, with subscription revenue also rising by 20% to $1.05 billion [4] - Annual recurring revenue (ARR) grew by 22% to $4.44 billion, adding $193.8 million in new ARR during the quarter [4] - Revenue growth has been decelerating over several quarters, with Q1 FY26 showing a 20% growth compared to 35% in Q3 FY24 [6][5] Future Expectations - The company anticipates improving sequential net new ARR growth in the next quarter and accelerating ARR growth in the second half of the fiscal year, driven by strong adoption of Falcon Flex [6][8] - Falcon Flex has closed over 820 deals worth $3.2 billion in less than two years, enhancing customer adoption of CrowdStrike's modules [6][7] Financial Performance - Adjusted earnings per share (EPS) fell 8% to $0.73, exceeding the adjusted consensus of $0.63, attributed to increased spending in sales, marketing, and R&D [10] - Operating cash flow was $384.1 million, with free cash flow at $279.4 million, and the company ended the quarter with $4.61 billion in net cash and short-term investments [11] Guidance and Valuation - CrowdStrike maintained its fiscal 2026 revenue guidance of $4.74 billion to $4.81 billion, indicating a growth of 20% to 22%, while raising adjusted EPS guidance to $3.44 to $3.56 [12] - The stock trades at a forward price-to-sales multiple of just under 24 times fiscal 2026 estimates, which is considered expensive given the current growth outlook [13][14]
CrowdStrike Stock Is Crushing the S&P 500 in 2025. Is the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Juggernaut Still a Buy?
The Motley Fool· 2025-06-06 09:14
Core Insights - CrowdStrike is a leading cybersecurity provider known for its Falcon platform and AI-driven approach, which automates threat detection and incident response [1][2] Financial Performance - CrowdStrike's stock has increased by 34% in 2025, outperforming the S&P 500, which is up by only 2% [2] - The company reported $1.1 billion in revenue for fiscal Q1 2026, marking a 20% year-over-year increase [9] - Despite solid financial results, revenue growth is gradually slowing due to a larger revenue base and the impact of a major outage last July [11][12] Product Adoption - The Falcon platform is gaining traction, with 48% of customers using at least six modules, up from 44% year-over-year [5] - The introduction of Falcon Flex in 2023 has driven greater adoption, with average Flex customers utilizing nine modules [6] - A phenomenon termed "Reflexes" is emerging, where customers exhaust their budgets early and return to increase spending [7] Long-term Guidance - CrowdStrike aims to achieve $10 billion in annual recurring revenue (ARR) by fiscal year 2031, indicating a potential growth of 127% from the current level of $4.4 billion [13] - Management's commitment to this target suggests confidence in overcoming the impacts of the previous outage [13] Valuation Concerns - CrowdStrike's stock is considered expensive, trading at a price-to-sales (P/S) ratio of 28.7, significantly higher than some competitors [15][17] - The company faces challenges in maintaining its premium valuation as competitors like Zscaler and SentinelOne show faster growth [17] - Short-term upside for CrowdStrike stock may be limited, but long-term investors could find value if the company meets its ARR target by 2031 [18][19]
CrowdStrike: Higher Sales, Higher Costs
The Motley Fool· 2025-06-05 21:20
Core Viewpoint - CrowdStrike's financial report shows solid growth despite challenges from a previous outage, with mixed results in key metrics, indicating resilience in its cybersecurity platform [3][10]. Financial Performance - Revenue for Q1 FY25 was $921 million, increasing to $1.1 billion in Q1 FY26, reflecting a 19% growth and meeting expectations [2]. - Earnings per share (EPS) decreased from $0.79 to $0.73, an 8% decline, but beat estimates [2]. - Net new Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) fell from $212 million to $194 million, an 8% decrease [2]. - Free cash flow dropped from $323 million to $279 million, a 14% decline [2]. Cost and Margin Analysis - Subscription gross margin decreased by 100 basis points to 77% [5]. - The company reported a net loss of $110.2 million on a GAAP basis [5]. - Total operating expenses rose by 36% year over year to $939 million, primarily driven by increased sales and marketing expenses [5]. Customer Engagement and Growth Initiatives - The "Falcon Flex" licensing program is gaining traction, with total deal value increasing over 6 times year over year [6]. - A new $1 billion share-repurchase program has been approved by the board to help offset stock-based compensation and manage share growth [6][7]. Market Reaction and Future Outlook - Following the earnings report, CrowdStrike's stock fell 7% in aftermarket trading despite a 40% year-to-date increase prior to the report [8]. - The company forecasts Q2 FY26 EPS between $0.82 and $0.84, slightly above the consensus estimate of $0.81, with expected revenue growth to $1.14 billion to $1.15 billion [9]. - Full-year EPS guidance has been raised by $0.11, now projected between $3.44 and $3.56 [9]. Management's Perspective - Management remains optimistic about future growth, focusing on net new ARR reacceleration and margin expansion in the second half of FY26, supported by the Falcon Flex program and a strong pipeline [10][11].