Core Insights - Palo Alto Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ:PANW) is recognized as one of the best quality stocks to buy according to hedge funds, driven by hedge fund interest and significant profit margins [1] - Tigress Financial Partners initiated coverage on Palo Alto Networks with a Buy rating and a price target of $245, highlighting the company's growth in AI-powered security solutions and strong platform adoption [2] - The company's recent fourth-quarter fiscal 2025 sales growth of 15.8% year over year exceeded analyst forecasts, driven by demand for SASE, XSIAM, and virtual firewall solutions [3] Company Performance - Palo Alto Networks is well-positioned to capitalize on the increasing global demand for cybersecurity, influenced by sophisticated cyber threats, rapid digital transformation, cloud migration, and the adoption of generative AI [3] - The company offers a range of cybersecurity solutions across various regions, including Prisma Access, Strata Cloud Manager, and Prisma AIRS, to safeguard AI ecosystems [4] Market Position - The emphasis on strategic investments in research and development, acquisitions, and careful capital allocation supports the robust growth in the subscription-based Next-Generation Security business [2] - Despite the positive outlook for Palo Alto Networks, there are suggestions that certain AI stocks may offer greater upside potential with less downside risk [5]

It's great to see you. You've been saying some really provocative things. I'm going to go right to it.Let's do it. Uh I heard you in relation to to uh Prisma access. You made this you made this prediction.You said this is a tough prediction and we'll see if I have egg in my face, but I think browsers become real. They will be banned in enterprises. You're starting with the egg in the face question.Well, why not. It was one of the boldest predictions I've heard. I have a I have a lot of respect for, you know ...

Core Insights - Zscaler is set to report its fourth-quarter fiscal 2025 results on September 2, 2025, with anticipated revenues between $705 million and $707 million, reflecting a year-over-year growth of 19.1% [1][9] - The company expects non-GAAP earnings per share in the range of 79-80 cents, indicating a year-over-year decline of 9% [2][9] - Zscaler has consistently beaten earnings estimates in the past four quarters, with an average surprise of 18.7% [3][9] Revenue and Earnings Expectations - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Zscaler's fiscal fourth-quarter revenues is $706.2 million [1] - The earnings per share estimate has remained unchanged at 80 cents over the past 60 days [2] Growth Drivers - The expected revenue growth is attributed to Zscaler's security and networking solutions, particularly in the context of the expanding global security market [6] - Strong momentum with Global 2000 and Fortune 500 customers, driven by digital transformation and hybrid work trends, is likely to be a key catalyst [7] - The adoption of Software-Defined Wide Area Network (SD-WAN) solutions is projected to contribute significantly, with the market expected to grow from $5.36 billion in 2024 to $80.91 billion by 2034, at a CAGR of 31.6% [8] Customer Retention and Product Performance - Zscaler's core products, including Zscaler Internet Access and Zscaler Private Access, have been crucial for customer retention [10] - Other offerings such as Cloud Access Security Broker and Cloud Security Posture Management are also expected to enhance customer acquisition [10] Competitive Landscape - Zscaler faces intense competition from established players like Palo Alto Networks, CyberArk, and CrowdStrike, particularly in areas like Agentic Operations and Zero Trust Strategy [16][17] - The company is increasing investments in sales and marketing, as well as research and development, to maintain its competitive edge [18] Stock Performance and Valuation - Zscaler's shares have increased by 55.4% year-to-date, outperforming the Zacks Security industry's growth of 11.5% [12] - The stock is currently trading at a forward 12-month price-to-sales ratio of 13.51X, compared to the industry's 12.39X [13] Long-term Outlook - The demand for cybersecurity solutions across various industries positions Zscaler favorably for long-term growth [15] - However, near-term challenges related to profit growth suggest a cautious approach for new investments, while existing shareholders may consider holding [19]

Financial Performance - Q4 2025 Remaining Performance Obligation (RPO) reached $158 billion, a 24% year-over-year increase[11] - Next-Generation Security Annual Recurring Revenue (NGS ARR) for Q4 2025 was $558 billion, up 32% year-over-year[11] - Q4 2025 revenue totaled $254 billion, representing a 16% year-over-year growth[11] - The company's FY 2025 adjusted free cash flow was $351 billion, a 12% increase year-over-year, with an adjusted free cash flow margin of 380%[11] - FY 2025 non-GAAP operating margin was 288%, a 150 basis point increase year-over-year, and non-GAAP EPS was $334, up 18% year-over-year[11] Platformization and Customer Growth - The company has approximately 1,400 total platformizations[14] - Platformized customers exhibit a net retention rate (NRR) of 120%[14] - The number of customers with over $5 million in NGS ARR increased by 51% year-over-year, reaching 156, while those with over $10 million in NGS ARR increased by 50% year-over-year, totaling 51[18] Network Security and SASE - Network Security NGS ARR reached $39 billion, growing approximately 35% year-over-year[21] - SASE ARR grew by 35% year-over-year[23] - The company has approximately 6,350 SASE customers, an 18% increase year-over-year[23] Cortex and Security Operations - Total Cortex & Prisma Cloud ARR is approximately $17 billion, up approximately 25% year-over-year[24] - The company has approximately 400 XSIAM customers, more than double year-over-year[25]

CHONGQING, CHINA - FEBRUARY 10: In this photo illustration, the Palo Alto Networks logo is displayed on a smartphone screen in front of a stock chart showcasing Palo Alto Networks' financial performance, cybersecurity industry trends, network security innovations, and global business activity on February 10, 2025, in Chongqing, China. (Photo illustration by Cheng Xin/Getty Images) Getty Images Palo Alto Networks is scheduled to report earnings after Monday's close. The stock hit a record high near $210.39/s ...

Core Insights - Palo Alto Networks, Inc. (PANW) is set to report its fourth-quarter fiscal 2025 results on August 18, projecting revenues between $2.49 billion and $2.51 billion, indicating a year-over-year increase of 14-15% [1][8] - The consensus estimate for non-GAAP earnings per share (EPS) is 88 cents, reflecting a 17.3% increase from the previous year [2][8] - The company has consistently beaten earnings estimates in the past four quarters, with an average surprise of 5.1% [3] Revenue and Earnings Projections - Fiscal fourth-quarter revenue is expected to be in the range of $2.49-$2.51 billion, which translates to a year-over-year growth of 14-15% [1][8] - Non-GAAP EPS is projected to rise 17.3% year-over-year to 88 cents [2][8] Factors Influencing Performance - The fourth-quarter performance is likely driven by strong deal wins and progress in platformization strategy, particularly in AI-powered security solutions [6][8] - The adoption of multi-product platformization deals and increased cloud platform migration are expected to enhance overall performance [7][8] - Recognition from the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP) is boosting product adoption among government organizations [9] Market Position and Valuation - Palo Alto Networks' shares have gained 3.2% over the past year, underperforming the Zacks Security industry's growth of 20.2% [11] - The company trades at a lower price-to-sales (P/S) ratio of 11.23X compared to the industry average of 11.9X and peers like CyberArk, CrowdStrike, and Zscaler [14][17] Investment Considerations - The company's innovative product offerings and expanding market opportunities in areas like Zero Trust and private 5G security solutions present growth potential [18] - Near-term prospects may be affected by softening IT spending due to macroeconomic uncertainties [19] - Despite challenges, the company's innovation-led strategy and long-term growth prospects make it a stock worth holding [20]

Core Viewpoint - Palo Alto Networks is set to report earnings, with expectations of a gain of $0.77/share on $2.27 billion in revenue, while the Whisper number suggests a gain of $0.78/share [2] Financial Performance - The company's earnings have shown consistent growth over the years, with earnings per share (EPS) increasing from $0.82 in 2020 to $2.84 in 2024, and projected to reach $3.23 in 2025 and $3.66 in 2026 [3] - The current price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio stands at 51, which is 2.1 times that of the S&P 500 [3] Technical Analysis - The stock has been in a downtrend since February 2025 but is currently forming a bullish cup-with-handle pattern, being only 7% below its record high of $208.39/share [4] Company Profile - Palo Alto Networks, Inc. provides a range of cybersecurity solutions globally, including network security platforms like Prisma Access and Strata Cloud Manager, as well as cloud security solutions such as Prisma Cloud [5] - The company also offers security operation solutions through its Cortex platform, which includes AI-driven security operations and threat intelligence services [6] - Its products and services are sold through channel partners and directly to medium to large enterprises across various industries, including healthcare, financial services, and telecommunications [8]

Core Viewpoint - Palo Alto Networks is expected to report strong fiscal third-quarter results with projected revenues of $2.26-$2.29 billion, indicating a year-over-year growth of 14-15% [1][8] Revenue and Earnings Projections - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal third-quarter revenues is $2.27 billion, reflecting a growth of 14.6% from the previous year [1] - Non-GAAP earnings are projected to be 77 cents, representing a 16.7% increase from the same quarter last year [2] Performance History - Palo Alto Networks has consistently beaten the Zacks Consensus Estimate in the last four quarters, with an average surprise of 5.5% [5] Factors Influencing Q3 Results - The company is likely to benefit from strong deal wins and increased demand for its machine learning-powered security models [8] - The accelerated migration to cloud platforms and rising cyberattacks due to hybrid work environments are expected to drive demand for cybersecurity solutions [9] - FedRAMP recognitions for several products are enhancing adoption among government organizations [10] Challenges and Risks - The company faces challenges related to the transition from hardware to software and cloud-based solutions, which may impact gross margins [11] - There are concerns about softening IT spending due to macroeconomic uncertainties, which could affect revenue growth [15] - Increased competition from established players like CrowdStrike and Zscaler necessitates continuous investment in capabilities [18][19] Stock Performance and Valuation - Over the past year, Palo Alto Networks' shares have increased by 21.8%, underperforming the Zacks Internet – Software industry's return of 31.8% [12] - The company is trading at a forward 12-month P/S of 12.52X, which is lower than the industry's 14.04X, indicating a fair valuation [13] Investment Consideration - The company's innovative product offerings and expanding market opportunities in areas like Zero Trust and private 5G security solutions present growth potential [14] - Despite near-term challenges, the long-term outlook remains positive, making the stock worth holding [21]

Core Viewpoint - Palo Alto Networks, Inc. (PANW) has experienced a significant decline in share price, losing 11.4% over the past month, which is worse than the Zacks Security industry's decline of 9.2% during the same period [1][2] Financial Performance - The company reported a slowdown in sales growth, with fiscal 2024 revenue growth at 16% year-over-year, down from 25% in fiscal 2023. For fiscal 2025, PANW projects revenue growth of 14%, estimating total revenue between $9.14 billion and $9.19 billion [5][6] - The first and second quarters of fiscal 2025 have shown revenue growth lingering around 14%, indicating a cooling off of the company's rapid expansion phase [6] - PANW's next-generation security annual recurring revenue growth is projected at 31-32%, a decline from over 45% in previous years, disappointing investors [6][8] - The company's earnings per share (EPS) estimate for the current fiscal year has been revised down by a penny to $3.22 [8][9] Competitive Landscape - The cybersecurity market is highly competitive, with significant players like CrowdStrike, CyberArk, and Zscaler posing threats to PANW's growth prospects [7][12] - PANW faces competition in various segments, including endpoint security and privileged access management, where competitors have established strong positions [10][11] Industry Trends - Despite challenges, the global cybersecurity market is projected to grow from $193.73 billion in 2024 to $562.72 billion by 2032, indicating a substantial addressable market for PANW [13] - The company is well-positioned to benefit from the increasing demand for advanced cybersecurity solutions as enterprises prioritize multi-layered security platforms [13][14] - PANW's strategic partnership with NVIDIA to develop AI-powered private 5G security solutions enhances its capabilities in a rapidly growing market segment [14] Business Strategy - The transition to a platform-based model has been beneficial for PANW, allowing it to bundle multiple security products into a comprehensive offering, which generates recurring revenue and enhances customer loyalty [15] - The company's current valuation is attractive, trading at a forward 12-month price-to-sales (P/S) ratio of 10.71X, lower than the Zacks Security industry's ratio of 12.03X [16] Conclusion - Despite facing financial and competitive challenges, PANW has substantial resources for innovation and is positioned to capitalize on future growth in the cybersecurity industry. The current demand environment and discounted valuation suggest that holding the stock may be a prudent decision [19]