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SentinelOne Stock Down 14% in a Month: Hold Tight or Time to Let Go?
ZACKS· 2025-08-19 18:36
Core Insights - SentinelOne (S) shares have decreased by 14% over the past month, underperforming the Zacks Computer & Technology sector's 3% return and the Zacks Security industry's decline of 12.1%, primarily due to challenging macroeconomic conditions affecting sales cycles and net new ARR growth [1][10][21] Company Performance - Despite recent stock performance, SentinelOne's long-term growth trajectory is supported by its innovative Singularity platform, which offers comprehensive AI-native security solutions across various levels [3][4] - The first quarter of fiscal 2026 saw significant growth in the adoption of AI-powered cybersecurity solutions, with Purple AI achieving triple-digit quarterly bookings growth year-over-year and an attach rate exceeding 25% for subscriptions sold [5][10] - SentinelOne's annualized recurring revenues (ARR) increased by 24% year-over-year to $948.1 million, with large enterprise customers generating over $100K in ARR rising by 22% year-over-year to 1,459 [10][13] Product Innovations - The launch of Purple AI Athena, the first true end-to-end Agentic AI platform for cybersecurity, and the general availability of Singularity Hyperautomation are key innovations driving growth [6][10] - Recent acquisitions, such as the agreement to acquire Prompt Security, are expanding the capabilities of the Singularity platform to secure generative and agentic AI use in enterprises [7] Strategic Partnerships - SentinelOne's expanding partner base, including notable companies like Amazon, CyberArk, Mimecast, and Lenovo, is enhancing platform functionality and attracting more customers [8][12] Financial Outlook - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for second-quarter fiscal 2026 earnings is 3 cents per share, indicating a 200% year-over-year increase, with expected revenues of approximately $242 million, reflecting 21.7% year-over-year growth [14][15] Competitive Landscape - The company faces stiff competition in the cybersecurity industry from established players like CrowdStrike and Microsoft, which may impact its market position [16][18]
CrowdStrike vs. Qualys: Which Cybersecurity Stock is a Better Buy?
ZACKS· 2025-08-18 14:46
Key Takeaways CrowdStrike faces slowing growth, rising costs, and pressure on profit margins.Qualys grows via VMDR adoption, AI security tools, and global expansion.QLYS trades at a discount to CRWD, boosting its investment appeal.CrowdStrike (CRWD) and Qualys (QLYS) are both U.S.-based cybersecurity companies that specialize in protecting enterprises from evolving digital threats. While Qualys serves a niche space involving vulnerability management and compliance monitoring, CrowdStrike specializes in endp ...
CrowdStrike Scores Big With Gartner, But Valuation Is Stretched
MarketBeat· 2025-07-25 14:27
Core Insights - CrowdStrike Holdings Inc. has been recognized as a Leader in the 2025 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Endpoint Protection Platforms for the sixth consecutive year, highlighting its strong position in the cybersecurity market [1][2][10] Company Performance - In Q1 2026, CrowdStrike reported revenue exceeding $1 billion for the first time, with expectations for continued growth [3] - The company is in a solid financial position, but concerns exist regarding year-over-year earnings per share (EPS) growth, as the stock may already reflect anticipated growth [3][10] Product and Technology - CrowdStrike's Falcon platform is noted for its cloud-native, AI-powered protection, which eliminates the need for traditional antivirus software, enhancing threat detection and response times [2][4] - The company is leveraging AI and machine learning to automate threat detection, which has been recognized positively by Gartner [2] Market Position and Valuation - CrowdStrike's stock is currently trading at a forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 839.13x, significantly higher than other tech and cybersecurity stocks, indicating a premium valuation [7] - Analysts have set a 12-month price target for CrowdStrike at $461.17, with a moderate buy rating, although the stock is slightly above this target [7][8] Stock Performance and Outlook - The stock has seen a decline of over 4.4% in the last 30 days, but it has increased nearly 50% since its 2025 low in March [6] - Technical indicators suggest potential short-term selling pressure, with the stock dropping below its 50-day simple moving average [8][10] Upcoming Events - Investors are advised to closely monitor CrowdStrike's earnings report scheduled for August 27, as it may provide insights into the company's future revenue from goodwill offerings [5][10]
Fortinet Expands via Cross-Selling: A Path to More Profitability?
ZACKS· 2025-07-22 16:01
Core Insights - Fortinet (FTNT) is leveraging its extensive customer base to drive growth, with cross-selling becoming a significant factor in enhancing profitability [1][2] Group 1: Growth Strategy - Fortinet promotes a wide array of complementary security solutions, encouraging existing customers to adopt additional products, which leads to increased overall and recurring revenues [2] - In Q1 2025, 91% of SASE billings and 97% of SecOps billings originated from existing clients, demonstrating the effectiveness of the cross-selling strategy [3] Group 2: Financial Performance - Unified SASE annual recurring revenues (ARR) increased by 26% year over year, while SecOps ARR surged by 30%, resulting in a combined ARR of $1.6 billion [4] - The non-GAAP operating margin reached a record 34.2%, with adjusted free cash flow rising to $839 million, nearly 54% of total revenues, indicating improved profitability [5] Group 3: Market Position and Competitors - Fortinet's large enterprise customers accounted for 48% of SASE and 40% of SecOps revenues, highlighting the company's strong penetration in its most lucrative customer segment [4] - Competitors like Palo Alto Networks (PANW) and CrowdStrike Holdings (CRWD) are also enhancing their market positions through strategic alliances and innovative product offerings [6][7] Group 4: Valuation and Estimates - Fortinet shares have increased by 13.4% year-to-date, underperforming the Zacks Security industry's growth of 20.1%, but outperforming the Zacks Computer and Technology sector's return of 9.5% [8] - The current Price/Book ratio for Fortinet is 41.7X, significantly higher than the industry's 24.34X, indicating a premium valuation [11] - The consensus estimate for 2025 earnings is $2.48 per share, reflecting a year-over-year growth of 4.64% [14]
CRWD vs. CYBR: Which Cybersecurity Stock is the Better Buy Now?
ZACKS· 2025-07-21 16:06
Core Insights - CrowdStrike (CRWD) and CyberArk Software (CYBR) are prominent U.S.-based cybersecurity firms focusing on protecting enterprises from digital threats, with CRWD specializing in endpoint protection and XDR, while CYBR leads in identity security and privileged access management [1][2] Industry Overview - The cybersecurity market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 12.63% from 2025 to 2030, driven by the rise of complex attacks such as credential theft and social engineering [2] CrowdStrike Analysis - CrowdStrike's Falcon platform is recognized as the first multi-tenant, cloud-native intelligent security solution, securing various environments and endpoints [4] - The platform offers 29 cloud modules under a SaaS subscription model, with subscription-based sales increasing from 72% in fiscal 2017 to 95% in fiscal 2025 [5] - Despite its growth, CrowdStrike faces challenges due to negative customer sentiment following a global IT outage in July 2024, leading to profitability compression [6] - The company's upsell into existing customers has slowed, and the churn rate remains moderate, contributing to a projected 10.94% decline in fiscal 2026 earnings [7][9] - Zacks Consensus Estimates for CrowdStrike's earnings indicate a year-over-year decline of 20.19% for the current quarter and 10.94% for the current year [8] CyberArk Analysis - CyberArk is a leader in identity security, focusing on privileged access management and Zero Trust capabilities, aligning with industry trends [10] - The company has strengthened its position through acquisitions, including Venafi for $1.54 billion and Zilla Security for $165 million, enhancing its machine-to-machine security capabilities [11] - CyberArk is advancing in agentic AI with its Secure AI Agent solution, expected to be available to customers later this year [12] - The strong demand environment and focus on portfolio strengthening are driving CyberArk's financial growth, with a projected 26.4% year-over-year growth in earnings for 2025 [13][9] Price Performance and Valuation - Year-to-date, CrowdStrike shares have increased by 39.1%, while CyberArk shares have risen by 15.8% [15] - CyberArk trades at a forward sales multiple of 13.07X, below the industry average of 14.34X, while CrowdStrike trades at a higher multiple of 22.57X, indicating overvaluation [17] Investment Outlook - CyberArk is viewed as a more attractive investment option due to its robust growth, successful acquisitions, and innovation in identity and AI security, while CrowdStrike is dealing with reputational damage and profitability challenges [20] - CyberArk holds a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy), compared to CrowdStrike's Zacks Rank 3 (Hold), suggesting a stronger investment case for CyberArk [21]
CrowdStrike Bulls Beware: This Trade May Be Getting Crowded
MarketBeat· 2025-07-17 14:18
Core Viewpoint - Cybersecurity stocks, particularly CrowdStrike Holdings Inc., are experiencing significant growth in 2025, rebounding from a software glitch in summer 2024 and reaching new all-time highs [1] Group 1: Stock Performance and Analyst Ratings - CrowdStrike's stock is currently down approximately 1.8% over the last month, indicating a potential correction phase [2] - Analysts have mixed views on CRWD stock, with a 12-month price forecast averaging $456.60, suggesting a downside of 2.57% from the current price of $468.63 [4] - Price targets from various analysts range from a low of $275.00 to a high of $555.00, with notable upgrades from Goldman Sachs, Stifel Nicolaus, and Jefferies [5][8] - Bernstein's price target of $361 is considered an outlier, while other analysts support a long-term bullish outlook despite concerns about valuation outpacing growth expectations [9] Group 2: Industry Context and Company Strategy - The cybersecurity industry is relatively young but increasingly essential, driven by the rise of digital threats and the integration of AI technologies [10][11] - CrowdStrike's Falcon platform is a leading cloud-native cybersecurity solution, allowing customers to purchase services on an à la carte basis, which enhances revenue potential [12] - The company anticipates strong cash flow as goodwill offerings for Falcon modules expire, with many customers expected to continue paying for these high-margin services [13] Group 3: Technical Analysis - Over the past year, CRWD stock has surged from $240 to over $500, marking a gain of over 100%, but recent declines have brought the price near its 50-day simple moving average, indicating potential support [14] - Resistance levels are identified between $510 and $520, suggesting challenges in reaching new highs before the upcoming earnings report [16] - Despite short-term corrections, long-term trend lines remain intact, indicating a healthy pause rather than fundamental weakness [16]
Okta's Subscription Revenues Accelerate: Which Factors Are Driving it?
ZACKS· 2025-07-14 17:20
Core Insights - Okta's subscription business is experiencing significant growth, with subscription revenues increasing by 12% year-over-year to $673 million, accounting for 98% of total revenues in Q1 fiscal 2026 [1][9] - The company has seen a 21% year-over-year rise in remaining performance obligations (RPO), with current RPO (cRPO) up 14%, indicating a strong future revenue pipeline [1] Strategic Developments - Okta has expanded its identity platform with new modules such as Identity Governance, Privileged Access, and Device Access, which contributed to 15% of new bookings in Q1 fiscal 2026 [2][9] - The sales organization has been restructured to focus on distinct customer segments, leading to a 20% year-over-year increase in customers generating over $1 million in annual contract value (ACV) [3][9] Financial Performance - The company reported a 27% non-GAAP operating margin and 35% free cash flow, allowing for continued investment in product development and market initiatives [4] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Q2 fiscal 2026 earnings is set at 84 cents per share, reflecting a 16.67% year-over-year growth [11] Market Position - Okta's shares have appreciated by 16.2% year-to-date, slightly trailing the Zacks Security industry's return of 17% [7] - The company currently trades at a forward Price/Cash Flow ratio of 21.56, which is marginally higher than the broader Zacks Computer and Technology sector's 21.5X [10]
CrowdStrike vs. Cloudflare: Which Cybersecurity Stock Wins?
MarketBeat· 2025-07-11 16:35
Group 1: Company Performance - CrowdStrike Holdings Inc. is one of the best-performing technology stocks of 2025, with shares up 50% year-to-date, reflecting renewed investor confidence in its Falcon platform after a service outage in 2024 [1] - Cloudflare Inc. has seen its stock rise 80% this year, outperforming CrowdStrike by 30 percentage points, indicating strong market interest in its offerings [2] Group 2: Market Opportunity - The total addressable market (TAM) for cybersecurity solutions is expected to exceed $500 billion by 2030, attracting many companies to seek their share [2] - Both CrowdStrike and Cloudflare are positioned to benefit from the rapidly expanding cybersecurity sector [11] Group 3: Product Offerings - CrowdStrike's Falcon platform allows customers to customize their cybersecurity needs, offering an à la carte approach [3] - Cloudflare's Cloudflare One suite combines various services and is emerging as a significant player in Zero Trust security, providing identity, access, and application protection [7][8] Group 4: Business Models and Strategies - CrowdStrike distinguishes itself as a pioneer of a cloud-native security platform, having launched Falcon as an integrated solution from the start, which helped regain customer trust after the 2024 outage [4] - Cloudflare's freemium, self-serve model for its Zero Trust offerings provides a large top-of-funnel opportunity to convert more customers over time [9] Group 5: Investment Considerations - CrowdStrike is characterized as a profitable, large-cap cybersecurity leader with strong customer retention, making it suitable for investors seeking quality growth with a lower risk profile [13] - Cloudflare, while currently unprofitable, is in a high-growth phase and is better suited for investors willing to accept volatility for potential long-term gains [13]
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 Eyes Breakout as Cyber Threats Boost Demand
MarketBeat· 2025-06-24 13:41
Core Viewpoint - CrowdStrike Holdings Inc. (CRWD) shares have experienced a consolidation phase after reaching an all-time high, with current trading around $485.06, reflecting a slight decline of 1.37% [1][3]. Group 1: Stock Performance and Market Context - CRWD stock is currently trading within a range of approximately $448 to $492, indicating a period of consolidation [1]. - Following the U.S. missile strikes on Iran, analysts are considering potential retaliatory cyberattacks from Iran, which could positively impact cybersecurity stocks like CRWD [3][4]. - Historical data shows that after significant cyberattacks, cybersecurity stocks tend to rise initially but may experience pullbacks as the immediate threat subsides [6][9]. Group 2: Cybersecurity Threat Landscape - Iran is identified as a significant cyber threat to U.S. infrastructure, with several advanced persistent threat (APT) groups under its control [5]. - Historical precedents indicate that stocks like CRWD have previously surged after major cyber incidents, such as the killing of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani and the SolarWinds breach [7][8]. Group 3: Company Fundamentals - CrowdStrike's fundamentals remain strong, with a year-over-year revenue growth of 33% and annual recurring revenue (ARR) exceeding $3.65 billion [11]. - The company's Falcon platform is expected to benefit from long-term structural tailwinds as cybersecurity becomes increasingly essential for both public and private sectors [10]. - Institutional buying is on the rise, with hedge fund ownership remaining elevated, suggesting that any pullback in CRWD stock could be viewed as a buying opportunity [12].