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‘Fastest-Growing Market in Software’: Morgan Stanley Suggests 2 Cybersecurity Stocks to Buy
Yahoo Finance· 2025-09-13 10:10
Company Overview - Okta is a $16 billion company focused on identity security, providing solutions for both human and non-human identity verifications, including secure processes for agentic AI [2] - The company has developed Okta AI, which integrates into its workforce and customer identity clouds, enhancing security and productivity while improving user experience [6] Financial Performance - Okta's fiscal 2Q26 report showed a revenue of $728 million, exceeding estimates by $16 million and growing 13% from fiscal 2Q25 [7] - The company predicts revenue for fiscal 3Q26 to be between $728 million and $730 million, above the Wall Street expectation of $723.1 million [7] Market Potential - The cybersecurity market is valued at approximately $270 billion and is expected to grow at a 12% CAGR from 2025 to 2028, with cybersecurity spending projected to grow 50% faster than overall software spending [4] - Okta's expansion into Identity Governance (OIG) and Privileged Access Management (PAM) presents significant upsell opportunities, with OIG already being a >$100 million ACV business [8] Analyst Insights - Morgan Stanley analyst Keith Weiss rates Okta shares as Overweight (Buy) with a price target of $123, indicating a 34% upside potential over the next 12 months [9] - The consensus rating for Okta shares is a Moderate Buy, with 19 Buy, 11 Hold, and 2 Sell recommendations [9] Competitive Landscape - Zscaler, another key player in cybersecurity, has grown into a ~$44 billion company, handling over 500 billion daily transactions and preventing over 9 billion daily incidents [12] - Zscaler's recent acquisition of Red Canary enhances its capabilities in exposure management and agentic AI threat management [13] Zscaler Financials - Zscaler's fiscal 4Q25 revenue reached $719.2 million, growing 21% year-over-year and exceeding forecasts by over $12 million [14] - The company's annual recurring revenue (ARR) increased by 22% year-over-year to $3.02 billion [14] Analyst Ratings for Zscaler - Weiss rates Zscaler as Overweight (Buy) with a price target of $320, suggesting a 12% upside potential [15] - The consensus rating for Zscaler is Strong Buy, with 30 Buy and 5 Hold recommendations [16]
Okta (OKTA) 2025 Conference Transcript
2025-09-03 15:12
Summary of Okta (OKTA) 2025 Conference Call Company Overview - **Company**: Okta, a leader in identity security and management solutions - **Industry**: Cybersecurity, specifically focusing on identity security and access management Key Points and Arguments M&A Strategy and Market Activity - Okta's corporate development strategy is proactive, focusing on acquisitions that accelerate their roadmap, particularly in the privileged access space [7][9] - The current M&A environment is described as one of the busiest periods, with significant activity in the security sector [8] - Recent acquisition of a small company in the privileged access space aligns with Okta's strategy to enhance their offerings [9] Identity Security Fabric - Okta views identity as a broad platform termed "identity security fabric," which encompasses various user types, including employees, partners, and AI agents [13][14] - The company aims to provide secure access and governance for all types of users, including agentic AI, which presents new challenges in visibility and privilege management [16][21] AI Integration and Opportunities - Okta is focusing on integrating AI into their offerings, particularly in relation to agentic AI, which requires secure and compliant access management [12][50] - The company has launched offerings specifically for AI agents, indicating a strong belief in the growth potential of generative AI applications [43][45] Financial Performance and Growth Strategy - Okta has achieved operating margins in the mid to high twenties and is focused on reaccelerating top-line growth while maintaining a rule of 40 framework [56][57] - New product initiatives are contributing significantly to bookings, with expectations for continued growth in this area [58][66] - The company is bifurcating its sales team to better address the needs of different customer segments, enhancing productivity and effectiveness [59][63] Competitive Landscape - Okta positions itself as a best-of-breed provider, coexisting with larger competitors like Microsoft and CyberArk, rather than competing directly [30][87] - The company emphasizes the importance of partnerships and integrations within the ecosystem to enhance their market position [31][76] International and Public Sector Growth - Okta is focusing on key international markets to drive growth, concentrating resources on the top 10 countries [74][75] - The U.S. public sector business has shown strong performance due to strategic investments and certifications, allowing Okta to participate in significant modernization projects [84][85] Customer Retention and Acquisition - The company is experiencing pressure on net retention rates due to a "COVID cohort" of customers who overbought seats during the pandemic [67][72] - Despite this, gross retention remains stable, and Okta is focused on expanding its product offerings to mitigate seat-related issues [68][72] Additional Important Insights - Okta is actively learning how to adopt AI internally while maintaining a strong focus on security and governance [51][52] - The company is optimistic about its role in government efficiency and modernization efforts, particularly in the context of zero trust initiatives [86] This summary encapsulates the key themes and insights from the Okta conference call, highlighting the company's strategic direction, market positioning, and growth initiatives.
Cisco's Security Portfolio Gains Traction: A Sign of More Upside?
ZACKS· 2025-09-01 17:20
Core Insights - Cisco Systems' security business is experiencing strong demand, particularly for Cisco Secure Access, Hypershield, and XDR, with mid-single-digit order growth in Q4 fiscal 2025 [1][2][10] - Security revenues reached $1.95 billion, reflecting a 9% year-over-year increase, driven by offerings from Splunk and SASE [2][10] - Cisco's collaboration with NVIDIA enhances its leadership in security by integrating Nexus switches with Spectrum-X architecture [3] Security Business Performance - Cisco's security revenues were $1.95 billion, up 9% year-over-year, with significant contributions from Splunk and SASE [2][10] - The company added 750 new customers in the reported quarter, with Splunk synergies contributing to a 14% year-over-year growth in new logos [1][10] - Excluding sluggish U.S. federal order growth, security order growth in the rest of the world increased by double digits in Q4 [2] Future Outlook - Cisco expects Q1 fiscal 2026 revenues between $14.65 billion and $14.85 billion, indicating a 6.7% growth from the previous year [4][10] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Q1 fiscal 2026 is set at $14.77 billion [4] - Earnings per share for Q1 fiscal 2026 are projected between 97 cents and 99 cents, suggesting a 7.7% year-over-year growth [14] Competitive Landscape - Cisco faces increasing competition from Broadcom and Okta in the enterprise security sector [5] - Broadcom's security offerings accounted for 44% of its revenues in Q2 fiscal 2025, with new tools aimed at improving security and operational efficiency [6] - Okta's AI-powered capabilities are gaining traction, enhancing its product offerings in identity security [7] Stock Performance and Valuation - Cisco shares have appreciated 16.7% year-to-date, outperforming the broader Zacks Computer and Technology sector's return of 12.9% [8] - Cisco's forward 12-month price/sales ratio is 4.59X, compared to the industry average of 4.31X, indicating potential overvaluation [12]
OKTA vs. SentinelOne: Which Security Software Stock Has an Edge?
ZACKS· 2025-08-22 17:16
Core Insights - Okta and SentinelOne are significant players in the enterprise security software market, with Okta focusing on cloud-based identity solutions and SentinelOne on endpoint security and threat detection [1][2] Industry Overview - Gartner projects enterprise spending on cybersecurity software and network security to grow by 14% in 2025, reaching $118.5 billion, driven by demand for Generative AI and cloud adoption [2] - IDC anticipates global cybersecurity spending to increase by 12.2% year-over-year in 2025, with security software spending expected to grow by 14.4% year-over-year [2] Okta's Performance - Okta's innovative portfolio includes AI-powered capabilities and a strong demand for new products, leading to a customer base of approximately 20,000 as of Q1 FY26 [4][6] - The company has over 7,000 integrations with various applications and IT infrastructure providers [4] - Subscription revenue for Q2 FY26 is estimated at $697 million, reflecting a 10.3% growth from the previous year [7] - Okta's shares have appreciated by 16.5% year-to-date, outperforming SentinelOne [13] SentinelOne's Performance - SentinelOne's Singularity platform offers comprehensive security solutions, with significant growth driven by its AI and automation capabilities [8] - The Purple AI component saw triple-digit quarterly bookings growth year-over-year in Q1 FY26, with an attach rate exceeding 25% [9] - The company is in the process of acquiring Prompt Security to enhance its AI-native platform [10] - SentinelOne's shares have declined by 23.9% year-to-date [13] Valuation and Market Position - Okta's forward 12-month Price/Sales ratio is 5.22X, while SentinelOne's is lower at 4.99X [17] - Both companies are considered overvalued, with Okta holding a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold) and SentinelOne a Zacks Rank 4 (Sell) [16][21]
Buy, Sell or Hold OKTA Stock? Key Tips Ahead of Q2 Earnings
ZACKS· 2025-08-22 17:11
Core Insights - Okta (OKTA) is expected to report second-quarter fiscal 2026 results on August 26, with anticipated non-GAAP earnings between 83-84 cents per share and revenues projected at $710-$712 million, reflecting a year-over-year growth of 10% [1][9] Financial Performance - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings has remained steady at 84 cents per share, indicating a year-over-year growth of 16.7%, while the revenue consensus is pegged at $711 million, showing an increase of 10.1% from the previous year [2] - Okta has consistently beaten the Zacks Consensus Estimate in the last four quarters, with an average earnings surprise of 13.53% [2] Business Growth Factors - Okta's expanding product portfolio, particularly in security and identity governance, is expected to drive client acquisition and revenue growth, with approximately 20,000 customers reported at the end of the first quarter of fiscal 2026 [3] - The number of customers with over $100,000 in Annual Contract Value increased by 70 sequentially to 4,870, indicating strong subscription revenue growth [3] - New product momentum, including offerings like Identity Governance and Identity Threat Protection with Okta AI, is anticipated to contribute positively to the upcoming quarter's performance [4] Strategic Partnerships - Okta benefits from a robust partner ecosystem, including major companies like Amazon Web Services, Microsoft, and Salesforce, with over 7,000 integrations with various applications and IT infrastructure providers [5][17] Market Position and Competition - Despite strong growth, Okta faces challenges from sluggish federal business and competition from Microsoft and other enterprise security providers like SentinelOne and Cisco [6] - Year-to-date, Okta shares have increased by 13.9%, outperforming the Zacks Computer & Technology sector and the Zacks Security industry [7] Valuation Insights - Okta's stock is currently considered overvalued, with a Value Score of D, and a forward 12-month Price/Sales ratio of 5.22X, higher than competitors like SentinelOne and Cisco [11] - For fiscal 2026, Okta expects revenues between $2.85 billion and $2.86 billion, indicating a growth of 9-10% from fiscal 2025 [16] Financial Health - Okta ended the first quarter of fiscal 2026 with $2.73 billion in cash and investments, with net cash provided by operations at $241 million and free cash flow at $238 million, raising free cash flow margin guidance to approximately 27% for fiscal 2026 [18]
OKTA Trades 25% Below 52-Week High: Right Time to Buy the Stock?
ZACKS· 2025-07-24 17:00
Core Insights - Okta shares closed at $95.63, approximately 25% below the 52-week high of $127.57, with a year-to-date appreciation of 21.3%, outperforming the Zacks Computer and Technology sector and the Zacks Security industry [1][9] - The company has a strong liquidity position with $2.73 billion in cash and investments, and a free cash flow margin guidance raised to roughly 27% for fiscal 2026 [7][9] - Okta's innovative product portfolio and extensive partner base are driving customer growth and revenue, with over 20,000 customers and a significant increase in high-value contracts [15][16] Performance Comparison - Okta has outperformed peers such as CyberArk, Cisco, and Microsoft year to date, with respective share price appreciations of 12.9%, 15.9%, and 20% [2] - In terms of valuation, Okta is trading at a forward Price/Cash Flow of 22.51X, which is higher than the broader sector's 22.03X but lower than CyberArk's 73.58X and Microsoft’s 28.88X [8][10] Product and Market Position - The company is benefiting from strong demand for its new products, including Identity Governance and AI-powered capabilities, which enhance security and user experience [3][9] - Okta's new protocol, Cross App Access, aims to secure AI agents and improve security compliance, reflecting the company's commitment to protecting customers deploying AI [14] Financial Guidance - For fiscal 2026, Okta expects revenues between $2.85 billion and $2.86 billion, indicating a growth of 9-10% from fiscal 2025, with non-GAAP earnings guidance raised to $3.23-$3.28 per share [17][18] - The second-quarter fiscal 2026 revenue guidance is between $710 million and $712 million, suggesting a 10% year-over-year growth [19][20] Conclusion - Despite facing macroeconomic challenges and a competitive landscape, Okta's innovative portfolio and expanding customer base position it favorably for growth, supported by a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy) and a Growth Score of A [21]
Okta's Backlog Tops $4B on Strong Identity Security Demand
ZACKS· 2025-06-12 17:06
Core Insights - Okta's Remaining Performance Obligations (RPO) surged to $4.084 billion in Q1 FY2026, a 21% year-over-year increase, with current RPO at $2.23 billion, reflecting strong revenue visibility for the next 12 months [1][8] - The company is experiencing robust demand for its identity security solutions, particularly in areas like Identity Governance and Privileged Access, as enterprises prioritize secure access [2][8] - For Q2 FY2026, Okta projects current RPO growth of 10% to 11%, indicating resilient demand despite macroeconomic challenges [3][8] Competitive Landscape - Okta faces significant competition from CyberArk and Microsoft in the identity and access management sector [4] - CyberArk is enhancing its offerings in Privileged Access Management and expanding into automated Identity Governance through its acquisition of Zilla Security [5] - Microsoft's Entra ID presents a formidable challenge with its comprehensive Identity and Access Management solutions [6] Financial Performance - Okta's stock has appreciated 27.7% year-to-date, outperforming the Zacks Security industry's return of 19.9% [7] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Okta's FY2026 revenues is $2.86 billion, reflecting a 9.44% year-over-year growth, with earnings estimated at $3.28 per share, indicating a 16.73% growth from FY2025 [10] - Okta currently trades at a forward Price/Cash Flow ratio of 23.83, higher than the broader Zacks Computer & Technology sector's 20.4X, with a Value Score of D [9]
How CYBR is Leveraging AI to Cement Its Identity Security Leadership
ZACKS· 2025-06-12 16:56
Core Insights - CyberArk (CYBR) is enhancing its identity security platform with AI integration, including the Secure AI Agents Solution and CORA AI, in collaboration with Accenture [1][4][10] Company Developments - The Secure AI Agent solution protects AI Agents from prompt injection, credential leakage, and permission abuse, while CORA AI acts as the intelligence engine within this solution [2] - The integration of CORA AI and Secure AI Agents allows CyberArk to secure human, AI, and machine identities, covering workforce access, IT systems, developer environments, and workload access [3][10] - CyberArk's subscription Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) grew 65% year-over-year in Q1 2025, indicating strong demand for its cybersecurity solutions [4][10] Financial Performance - For 2025, CyberArk expects revenues between $1.313 billion and $1.323 billion, with a Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.32 billion, reflecting a year-over-year growth of 31.89% [5] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CyberArk's fiscal 2025 and 2026 earnings implies year-over-year growth of 25.41% and 25.76%, respectively, with upward revisions in the past 30 days [12] Market Position - The identity security and access management market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 8.4% from 2024 to 2029, providing ample growth opportunities for CyberArk and its competitors like CrowdStrike and Okta [8] - CyberArk's shares have gained 19.8% year-to-date, slightly underperforming the Zacks Security industry's growth of 20.2% [9] Valuation Metrics - CyberArk trades at a forward price-to-sales ratio of 13.66X, which is lower than the industry's average of 14.54X, indicating a potentially attractive valuation [11]
Okta Declines 16% Post Q1 Earnings: Buy, Sell or Hold the Stock?
ZACKS· 2025-05-29 16:50
Core Viewpoint - Okta's shares fell 16.16% to $105.22 after reporting strong earnings and revenue growth, primarily due to slowing growth expectations for the upcoming fiscal second quarter and fiscal 2026 [1] Financial Performance - For Q2 fiscal 2026, Okta expects revenues between $710 million and $712 million, reflecting a 10% year-over-year growth, down from 11.5% in Q1 fiscal 2026 [2] - For fiscal 2026, Okta anticipates revenues between $2.85 billion and $2.86 billion, indicating a 9-10% growth from fiscal 2025 [3] - Non-GAAP earnings for fiscal 2026 are projected between $3.23 and $3.28 per share, an increase from previous guidance of $3.15 to $3.20 per share [3] Market Performance - Year-to-date, Okta shares have returned 33.5%, outperforming peers like Microsoft (8.5%), IBM (14.5%), and CyberArk (18.4%) [4] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Q2 fiscal 2026 earnings remains steady at 79 cents per share, suggesting a 9.72% year-over-year growth [7] - For fiscal 2026, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings is $3.19 per share, indicating a 13.52% growth over fiscal 2025 [8] Product Demand and Client Growth - Okta is experiencing strong demand for its identity solutions, including Identity Governance and Privileged Access, which are crucial for managing non-human identities [9] - The company exited Q1 fiscal 2026 with approximately 20,000 customers and $4.084 billion in remaining performance obligations (RPOs), indicating robust subscription revenue growth [10] - The number of customers with over $100,000 in Annual Contract Value increased by 70 sequentially to 4,870 [10] Strategic Partnerships and Innovations - Okta's governance portfolio has surged 400% over the past three years, reaching nearly $40 billion, supported by a strong partner ecosystem including AWS, Microsoft, and Salesforce [12] - The company offers AI-powered capabilities through Okta AI, enhancing user experiences and cybersecurity [11] Valuation and Market Sentiment - Okta shares are considered overvalued, with a Price/Cash Flow ratio of 24.59X compared to the sector's 19.8X, indicating a premium valuation [13] - The stock is trading below its 50-day and 200-day moving averages, suggesting a bearish trend [16] - Despite its innovative portfolio, Okta faces challenges from macroeconomic conditions and a stretched valuation, leading to a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold) [19]
Okta Declines 11% in a Month: Should You Buy the Stock on the Dip?
ZACKS· 2025-04-25 19:00
Core Viewpoint - Okta's shares have faced an 11% decline in a month due to a challenging macroeconomic environment, but an innovative product portfolio is expected to drive significant growth in 2025 [1] Company Performance - Year-to-date, Okta shares have returned 29.3%, outperforming competitors like Microsoft (MSFT), IBM, and CyberArk, which returned 3.6%, 4.6%, and -8.2% respectively [2] - Okta exited the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025 with 19,650 customers and $4.215 billion in remaining performance obligations, indicating strong growth prospects for subscription revenues [5] - Customers with over $100 thousand in Annual Contract Value increased by 7% year-over-year to 4,800 [5] Product Demand and Innovation - Okta's innovative portfolio, including Okta AI and various identity solutions, is driving strong demand and client acquisition [5][6] - The recent introduction of Auth for GenAI in Developer Preview enhances secure identity integration in GenAI applications [8] Market Position and Recognition - Okta is gaining market share in the cybersecurity domain, outperforming Microsoft, IBM, and CyberArk, and has received accolades from Gartner for its access management capabilities [10][9] - The company has a rich partner base, including AWS, Google, and Salesforce, with over 7,000 integrations as of January 31, 2025 [11] Financial Outlook - For Q1 fiscal 2026, Okta expects revenues between $678 million and $680 million, reflecting a 10% year-over-year growth, with non-GAAP earnings projected between 76 and 77 cents per share [12] - For fiscal 2026, revenues are expected to be between $2.85 billion and $2.86 billion, indicating 9-10% growth from fiscal 2025 [13] - Okta's earnings have consistently beaten Zacks Consensus Estimates, with an average surprise of 15.7% over the trailing four quarters [14] Valuation Metrics - Okta is trading at a forward Price/Sales ratio of 6.05X, compared to the broader sector's 5.56X, indicating a premium valuation [15] - The stock is currently trading above the 200-day moving average, suggesting a bullish trend [19]