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CrowdStrike vs. Okta: Which Cybersecurity Stock is a Smart Buy?
ZACKS· 2025-10-06 14:21
Key Takeaways CrowdStrike posts 20% ARR growth to $4.66B, boosted by strong Falcon Flex customer momentum.Okta revenues grow 12.7% but face slower overall growth despite expanding its identity security suite.CRWD trades at a higher valuation yet offers stronger AI-driven growth and broader cybersecurity reach.CrowdStrike ((CRWD) and Okta Inc. ((OKTA) are both at the forefront of the cybersecurity space, playing key roles in guarding organizations from extensive cyberattacks. While CrowdStrike specializes in ...
Okta (NasdaqGS:OKTA) 2025 Investor Day Transcript
2025-09-25 19:02
Summary of Okta 2025 Investor Day Company Overview - **Company**: Okta (NasdaqGS:OKTA) - **Event**: 2025 Investor Day held on September 25, 2025 Key Industry Insights - **Focus on AI and Identity Security**: The discussion emphasized the growing importance of AI agents in automating work and enhancing productivity across various industries. The core message is that identity security is crucial for managing these AI agents effectively [5][6][13] - **Emergence of Identity Security Fabric**: Okta is defining a new category called "identity security fabric," which integrates governance, privileged access management, identity security posture management, and access management into a cohesive solution [6][7][34] Core Announcements - **Innovations in Identity Security**: Okta introduced three key innovations: 1. **Identity Security Fabric**: A comprehensive solution that combines various identity security functions, addressing customer needs for a unified platform [6][7] 2. **Standardization Efforts**: Progress on open standards like IPSY and cross-app access to enhance control and visibility in technology environments [9][10][18] 3. **Auth0 Platform Enhancements**: Developers can build applications that comply with new standards, facilitating the creation of agentic systems [10][11] Market Dynamics - **Customer Demand for AI Agent Security**: There is significant interest from major companies in securing AI agents, with over 90% of surveyed companies deploying agents, yet only 10% feeling confident in their governance [22][23] - **Growth Potential**: The transition to identity security fabric is expected to drive growth, with initial customer interest focusing on foundational identity security before expanding to AI agent capabilities [14][32] Competitive Landscape - **Emerging Competition**: The entry of larger platform vendors like CrowdStrike and Palo Alto Networks into the identity space is noted, with Okta positioning itself as a specialized identity provider amidst this competition [67][69] - **Partnership Strategy**: Okta aims to collaborate with technology vendors to ensure its identity security solutions are integrated across various platforms, enhancing its relevance in the agentic AI rollout [58][65] Financial Considerations - **Monetization of New Offerings**: Okta plans to monetize its new identity security capabilities, with pricing models evolving to accommodate the unique nature of AI agents [54][55][71] - **Investment in R&D**: Okta's substantial R&D investment is highlighted as a key factor in its ability to innovate and improve its product offerings continuously [87] Customer Engagement - **Specialized Go-to-Market Strategy**: Okta has adopted a more specialized approach to its go-to-market strategy, focusing on tier-one markets and larger customers, which are expected to drive significant growth [73][75] - **Consolidation of Identity Tools**: Many customers are looking to consolidate their identity tools into a single platform, which Okta is well-positioned to provide [76][78] Conclusion - **Future Outlook**: Okta is optimistic about its growth trajectory, driven by the increasing demand for integrated identity security solutions and the ongoing evolution of AI technologies. The company is focused on bridging the gap between identity security and data governance, ensuring that its offerings remain relevant and valuable in a rapidly changing market [25][28][62]
OKTA vs. Cisco Systems: Which Cybersecurity Stock Has an Edge?
ZACKS· 2025-09-18 18:11
Core Insights - Okta (OKTA) focuses on identity and access management, while Cisco Systems (CSCO) emphasizes Threat Intelligence, Detection, and Response offerings [1] - Global end-user spending on information security is projected to reach $213.025 billion in 2025, growing from $193.408 billion in 2024, with a year-over-year growth of 12.5% expected in 2026 [2] Okta Overview - Okta's new offerings, such as Okta Identity Governance and Identity Threat Protection with Okta AI, are driving market share growth and top-line revenue [3] - The company has a strong partner ecosystem, including major players like Amazon Web Services and Microsoft, enhancing its market position [4] - Okta is developing an end-to-end secure identity fabric for non-human identities (NHIs), providing visibility and governance similar to human identities [5] - For fiscal 2026, Okta anticipates revenues between $2.875 billion and $2.885 billion, reflecting a growth rate of 10-11%, lower than the 15% growth reported in fiscal 2025 [6] Cisco Overview - Cisco's security business is experiencing strong demand, with mid-single-digit growth in orders for Cisco Secure Access and XDR in Q4 of fiscal 2025 [7] - AI Infrastructure orders from webscale customers exceeded $800 million in Q4 of fiscal 2025, contributing to total revenues of $2 billion, which is double the initial expectations [8] - Cisco's partnership with NVIDIA aims to create AI-ready data center networks, enhancing its product offerings and market competitiveness [9] - For fiscal 2026, Cisco expects revenues between $59 billion and $60 billion, indicating a growth of 5.2% over fiscal 2025 [10] Stock Performance and Valuation - Year-to-date, Cisco shares have appreciated by 14.3%, while Okta shares have returned 14.2% [11] - Both companies are currently considered overvalued, with Cisco trading at a forward Price/Sales ratio of 4.47X compared to Okta's 5.17X [14] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Cisco's fiscal 2026 earnings is $4.04 per share, reflecting a 6% increase, while Okta's estimate is $3.36 per share, indicating a 19.6% increase [18][19] Conclusion - Cisco's strong security portfolio and growing AI order backlog provide a competitive edge over Okta, which is gaining traction with its solutions and partner base [20]
Okta(OKTA) - 2026 Q2 - Earnings Call Transcript
2025-08-26 22:02
Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported solid Q2 results with total revenue growth of 9% to 10% expected for Q3 and FY '26, raising the full-year outlook to 10% to 11% [20][21] - Non-GAAP operating margin is projected to be 22% for Q3 and 25% to 26% for the full year [20][21] - Free cash flow margin is expected to be approximately 21% for Q3 and around 28% for FY '26 [20][21] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The public sector business showed strong performance with multiple new business and upsell deals, including significant contracts with the DOD [17][18] - New products from Okta Identity Governance, Okta Privilege Access, and Okta Device Access contributed positively to revenue [6][7] - The company is seeing improved sales productivity and record pipeline generation due to its go-to-market realignment [16][19] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Five of the top ten deals in Q2 were with the US public sector, indicating strong demand in this area [17][18] - The company is experiencing growth in its customer base, with a notable increase in customers spending over $100,000 and $1 million [86] Company Strategy and Development Direction - Okta aims to be the one-stop shop for identity solutions, consolidating multiple identity vendors into a single platform [24][25] - The company is focused on building an identity security fabric that secures all identities, including AI agents [9][10] - The acquisition of Acxiom Security is expected to enhance Okta's Privilege Access capabilities and support its growth strategy [8][78] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the company's strategy and execution, noting that the macroeconomic concerns previously mentioned did not materialize [16][20] - The company is optimistic about the adoption of new products and the rapid pace of innovation in the identity security space [21] - Management highlighted the importance of independence and neutrality in the identity market, which positions Okta favorably against competitors [14][21] Other Important Information - The company ended the quarter with approximately $2.9 billion in cash and short-term investments [19] - Okta is preparing for its Oktane conference, where it will showcase innovations and engage with analysts and investors [12] Q&A Session Summary Question: What indicators are used to guide NRR and macroeconomic conditions? - Management noted that NRR has stabilized and they are optimistic about future growth, removing previous macroeconomic concerns from guidance [22][27] Question: What trends are observed in AI-native customer adoption? - AI-native customers are growing rapidly and are focused on securing their internal operations, with Okta well-positioned to support them [34][36] Question: Why is it critical for identity to be an independent platform? - Management emphasized that identity is too fragmented and complex, and consolidating under a single independent platform can reduce costs and operational challenges [44][46] Question: How does the DOD deal impact RPO and CRPO? - The RPO value for the DOD deal will be consistent with the current RPO value as it is a one-year deal [51] Question: What is the monetization strategy for cross-app access and AI agent workflows? - The company plans to monetize through existing products while also developing capabilities to manage AI agents within its identity system [110]
Okta(OKTA) - 2026 Q2 - Earnings Call Transcript
2025-08-26 22:00
Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported solid Q2 results with total revenue growth of 10% to 11% for FY '26, an increase from previous guidance of 9% to 10% [18] - Non-GAAP operating margin is expected to be between 25% to 26% for FY '26, up from previous estimates [18] - Free cash flow margin is projected to be approximately 28% for FY '26, indicating improved profitability and cash flow [18] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The public sector business showed strong performance with multiple new business and upsell deals, including significant contracts with the DOD [15][16] - New products from Okta Identity Governance, Okta Privilege Access, and others contributed positively to revenue, highlighting the success of the unified identity platform [5][12] - The company experienced a record pipeline generation, reflecting improved sales productivity from specialized go-to-market teams [13][18] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Five of the top ten deals in Q2 were with the US public sector, indicating strong demand in this market [16] - The company noted that the macroeconomic uncertainties previously affecting guidance did not materialize, allowing for a more optimistic outlook [13][18] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on building an identity security fabric that secures all identities, including AI agents, emphasizing the importance of independence and neutrality in the identity market [7][11] - The acquisition of Acxiom Security is expected to enhance Okta's Privilege Access capabilities and support the integration of new technologies [6][73] - The company aims to consolidate identity solutions for customers, reducing vendor complexity and operational costs [42][46] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the company's strategy and execution, noting that the go-to-market realignment is showing positive signals [13][19] - The company is optimistic about the adoption of new products and the rapid pace of innovation, positioning itself to lead the identity industry [19] - Management highlighted the importance of addressing current identity security challenges as organizations increasingly adopt AI technologies [70][71] Other Important Information - The company ended the quarter with approximately $2.9 billion in cash and short-term investments, indicating a strong balance sheet [17] - The upcoming Oktane Conference will showcase innovations and provide insights into the company's future direction [10] Q&A Session Summary Question: What indicators are used for guidance and NRR stabilization? - Management noted that NRR has stabilized and emphasized the importance of sales productivity and pipeline generation as indicators for future guidance [20][24][26] Question: What trends are seen in AI native customer adoption? - Management indicated that AI native customers are growing rapidly and are focused on securing their internal operations, similar to other customer cohorts [32][34] Question: Why is identity critical as an independent platform? - Management explained that identity must be independent to reduce fragmentation and operational complexity, allowing companies to consolidate vendors effectively [42][46] Question: How is the sales force productivity evolving? - Management reported increased productivity from specialized sales teams and noted record pipeline generation, reflecting the success of their go-to-market strategy [56][60] Question: What is the monetization strategy for cross-app access? - Management stated that cross-app access will enhance the value of identity providers and will be monetized through existing products while addressing current identity security challenges [102][104]
Okta(OKTA) - 2026 Q2 - Earnings Call Transcript
2025-08-26 22:00
Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported solid Q2 results with total revenue growth of 10% to 11% for FY '26, an increase from previous guidance of 9% to 10% [18] - Non-GAAP operating margin is expected to be between 25% to 26%, up from earlier estimates [18] - Free cash flow margin is projected to be approximately 28% for the full year [18] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The public sector business showed strong performance with multiple new business and upsell deals, including significant contracts with the Department of Defense [15][16] - New products from Okta Identity Governance, Okta Privilege Access, and Okta Device Access contributed positively to revenue, indicating strong demand for identity security solutions [5][12] - The company noted that five of its top ten deals in Q2 were with the US public sector, highlighting the importance of this segment [16] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company experienced record pipeline generation, indicating strong market demand and improved sales productivity [13][58] - The acquisition of Acxiom Security is expected to enhance the company's capabilities in privileged access management, further solidifying its market position [6][73] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to establish itself as a one-stop shop for identity solutions, consolidating multiple identity vendors into a single platform [22][46] - The introduction of cross-app access is a strategic move to enhance security for AI agents, reflecting the company's focus on innovation in identity security [9][75] - The company is committed to maintaining its independence and neutrality in the identity market, which it believes is crucial for long-term success [11] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the company's growth trajectory, citing improved sales productivity and a strong pipeline as indicators of future success [13][19] - The removal of macroeconomic concerns from guidance reflects a more stable operating environment than previously anticipated [18][92] - The company is focused on accelerating growth through innovation and the adoption of new products, particularly in the AI space [19][105] Other Important Information - The company ended the quarter with approximately $2.9 billion in cash and short-term investments, providing a strong financial foundation for future investments [17] - The upcoming Oktane conference is expected to showcase the company's innovations and strategies in identity security [10] Q&A Session Summary Question: What indicators are used to guide NRR and macroeconomic impacts? - Management noted that NRR has stabilized and that macroeconomic concerns have not materialized as expected, leading to a more optimistic outlook [20][26] Question: What trends are observed in AI-native customer adoption? - AI-native customers are growing rapidly and are focused on securing their internal operations, indicating a strong demand for identity security solutions [32][34] Question: Why is independence critical for identity platforms? - The company believes that independence allows for better consolidation of identity solutions, reducing complexity and costs for large organizations [42][46] Question: How is the company addressing upsell and cross-sell rates? - Upsell and cross-sell rates remain strong, with larger customers contributing significantly to revenue growth [80][81] Question: What is the monetization strategy for cross-app access? - The company plans to monetize cross-app access through existing products while also addressing the growing need for managing AI agents within its identity system [102][105]
Palo Alto Networks vs. Okta: Which Cybersecurity Stock is a Smart Buy?
ZACKS· 2025-07-03 15:31
Industry Overview - The cybersecurity market is projected to witness a CAGR of 12.63% from 2025 to 2030, driven by the rise of complex attacks such as credential theft and social engineering [2]. Company Analysis: Palo Alto Networks (PANW) - PANW is a leader in cybersecurity, offering solutions for network security, cloud security, and endpoint solutions, with a strong focus on next-generation firewalls and advanced threat detection technologies [4][5]. - The company has upgraded its Prisma Cloud platform with Prisma Cloud Copilot, a generative AI-powered assistant, enhancing user query responses [6]. - PANW's revenue growth rate has been in the mid-teen percentage range recently, down from mid-20s percentage in fiscal 2023, with Q3 fiscal 2025 sales and non-GAAP EPS growing 15.7% and 21.2% year over year, respectively [8][9]. - The company is facing near-term challenges, including shortened contract durations and a slowdown in transitioning to cloud-based platforms, which may decelerate top-line growth [7][8]. Company Analysis: Okta (OKTA) - OKTA has shown strong financial performance, with Q1 fiscal 2026 revenues and EPS increasing by 12% and 32.3% year over year, respectively, and a customer base of approximately 20,000 [10][11]. - The company is capitalizing on the growing demand for identity security, with a focus on securing both human and non-human identities, which is a competitive advantage [12]. - OKTA's partnership with major companies like Amazon Web Services and Microsoft is expected to drive further growth [13]. - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for OKTA's fiscal 2026 revenues and earnings indicates year-over-year growth of 9.4% and 16.7%, respectively [13]. Comparative Analysis - Year-to-date, OKTA shares have increased by 24.5%, compared to an 8.3% rise in PANW shares [16]. - PANW is trading at a forward sales multiple of 12.7X, which is higher than OKTA's 5.81X, indicating that PANW may be overvalued compared to OKTA [19]. - Given the current market conditions, OKTA is considered a more attractive investment option due to its stronger earnings growth potential and lower valuations [22][23].
CrowdStrike vs. Okta: Which Cybersecurity Stock is a Better Buy?
ZACKS· 2025-06-23 16:26
Industry Overview - The cybersecurity market is projected to witness a CAGR of 12.63% from 2025 to 2030, driven by the rise of complex attacks such as credential theft and social engineering [2]. Company Analysis: CrowdStrike (CRWD) - CrowdStrike specializes in endpoint protection and extended detection and response (XDR) through its Falcon platform, which is recognized as the industry's first multi-tenant, cloud-native, intelligent security solution [4]. - The Falcon platform offers 29 cloud modules via a SaaS subscription model, with subscription-based sales increasing from 72% in fiscal 2017 to 95% in fiscal 2025 [5]. - Despite strong growth, CrowdStrike faces challenges due to negative customer sentiment following a global IT outage in July 2024, leading to a Customer Commitment Package that compresses profitability [6]. - The Zacks Consensus Estimate indicates a year-over-year decline of 10.94% in CrowdStrike's fiscal 2026 earnings, with current estimates showing earnings of $3.50 per share for the current year [7][8]. Company Analysis: Okta (OKTA) - Okta focuses on identity and access management, providing cloud-based solutions that enhance user data security, and reported strong growth with $4.08 billion in remaining performance obligations and 4,870 customers with over $100K in Annual Contract Value, a 7% increase year-over-year [10][12]. - The company is well-positioned in identity security, leveraging a broad portfolio that includes solutions for identity governance and privileged access, which are increasingly important due to the rise of non-human identities driven by AI [11][13]. - Okta's revenue and earnings for fiscal 2026 are projected to grow by 9.44% and 16.73%, respectively, indicating a strong growth trajectory compared to CrowdStrike [14]. Valuation and Performance Comparison - Year-to-date, CrowdStrike shares have appreciated by 39.2%, while Okta shares have surged by 26.2% [16]. - Okta is trading at a forward sales multiple of 5.87X, significantly below the industry average of 14.51X, while CrowdStrike's forward sales multiple is 22.93X, suggesting overvaluation [20]. Conclusion - Given the current challenges faced by CrowdStrike, including reputational damage and profitability pressures, Okta's focus on identity solutions and stronger earnings growth potential make it a more attractive investment option in the cybersecurity space [23].
Okta(OKTA) - 2026 Q1 - Earnings Call Transcript
2025-05-27 22:02
Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported solid Q1 results with exceptional cash flow and record operating profitability and profit margin [16] - For Q2 FY '26, total revenue growth is expected to be 10%, with current RPO growth of 10% to 11%, and a non-GAAP operating margin of 26% [20] - For the full year FY '26, total revenue growth is projected at 9% to 10%, with a non-GAAP operating margin of 25% and a free cash flow margin of approximately 27% [20] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The governance portfolio, including Okta Identity Governance, lifecycle management, and workflows, has seen substantial growth, with workflow executions increasing nearly 400% over the past three years [8] - The Auth0 platform performed well, contributing positively to the overall results, particularly following a record Q4 [16][17] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The US public sector vertical has shown strength, with significant deals contributing to Q1 results, including federal contracts [18] - International markets experienced a deceleration compared to the US, but specific details on the impact were not disclosed [34] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on product innovation, with new offerings such as Okta Identity Governance and Auth for GenAI, aimed at addressing evolving cyber threats and enhancing security [7][12] - Okta is positioning itself as a leader in identity security, emphasizing the importance of consolidating disparate identity systems for customers [14] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about the future, citing strong customer conversations and the importance of identity solutions in the context of AI projects [26][30] - There is a cautious approach to guidance due to potential macroeconomic uncertainties, although no immediate impacts were observed in Q1 [28][30] Other Important Information - The company is committed to maintaining its investment levels despite a cautious macro outlook, indicating confidence in long-term growth opportunities [110] - The introduction of suite-based pricing for the Okta platform has shown positive results, with customers interested in purchasing multiple products [62] Q&A Session Summary Question: What factors influenced the additional conservatism in guidance? - Management noted that while Q1 results were strong, there is a cautious tone in the environment, prompting a conservative approach in guidance [28][30] Question: Was there any softness in April? - Management confirmed that there was no softness in April, and performance remained solid throughout the quarter [35] Question: How is the go-to-market specialization progressing? - Management reported a solid start to the specialization process, with strong performance in the Auth0 side and pipeline building [41][42] Question: What is the outlook for new logo pipeline in the workforce business? - Management expressed optimism about the new logo pipeline, highlighting the potential of new products to attract new customers [91][92] Question: How should investors interpret the guidance for CRPO? - Management explained that the guidance reflects a cautious approach due to macroeconomic factors, but emphasized that the underlying business remains strong [55][107]
Should You Buy, Hold or Sell OKTA Stock Before Q1 Earnings Release?
ZACKS· 2025-05-22 17:16
Core Viewpoint - Okta is expected to report strong fiscal first-quarter 2026 results, with anticipated non-GAAP earnings of 76-77 cents per share and revenues between $678-$680 million, reflecting a 10% year-over-year growth [1][2]. Group 1: Earnings and Revenue Expectations - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings has remained steady at 77 cents per share, indicating an 18.46% year-over-year growth [2]. - The consensus for revenues is pegged at $679.73 million, representing a 10.17% increase from the previous year [2]. Group 2: Customer Growth and Product Portfolio - Okta's expanding product portfolio, particularly in security and identity governance, is expected to drive client acquisition and top-line growth, with 19,650 customers and $4.215 billion in remaining performance obligations reported at the end of fiscal Q4 2025 [3]. - The number of customers with over $100 thousand in Annual Contract Value increased by 7% year-over-year to 4,800 [3]. Group 3: New Product Momentum - Continued momentum from new products such as Okta Identity Governance and Privileged Access is expected to contribute positively to the upcoming quarter, with over 20% of fiscal Q4 bookings coming from these offerings [4]. - Okta Identity Governance has rapidly gained traction, with over 1,300 customers contributing more than $100 million in annual contract value within two years of its launch [5]. Group 4: Partner Ecosystem - Okta benefits from a robust partner ecosystem, including major players like Amazon Web Services, Google, and Salesforce, which enhances its security capabilities [6][7]. - More than 70% of deals in fiscal Q4 2025 were influenced by partners, with Okta surpassing $1 billion in total contract value through its partnership with AWS [7]. Group 5: Stock Performance - Okta shares have outperformed the Zacks Computer & Technology sector, surging 54.9% year-to-date, while the sector has declined by 2% [8]. Group 6: Competitive Landscape - Despite strong product momentum, Okta faces stiff competition from CyberArk and Microsoft, both of which are expanding their presence in the identity and access management space [14]. - Microsoft's Entra identity offering serves over 900 million monthly active users, highlighting the competitive pressure in the market [15].