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Core Viewpoint - Mizuho upgraded Zscaler to Outperform from Neutral with a price target of $310, citing an improved risk-reward profile after a significant stock decline [1] Group 1: Stock Performance and Analyst Insights - Zscaler shares have weakened significantly despite a solid fiscal first-quarter performance, with fiscal second-quarter net new ARR guidance slightly below prior levels [2] - The recent acquisition of Red Canary did not contribute to the guidance, indicating a need for greater transparency regarding Zscaler's organic growth outlook [2] - The stock has declined approximately 31% since the end of October and 21% since the fiscal first-quarter earnings, suggesting that investors are now well compensated for the uncertainty [3] Group 2: Market Position and Valuation - Mizuho remains confident in Zscaler's strong positioning within the SASE and Zero Trust markets [3] - Zscaler is trading at a peak year-to-date EV-to-ARR discount relative to peers, highlighting a favorable valuation [3] - The company has a superior Rule of 50 score compared to many other high-growth software companies, reinforcing its competitive advantage [3]

Core Insights - Cloudflare (NET) has developed a robust product portfolio with over 55 revenue-generating products, enhancing its annual contract value and net retention rate [1][11] - The company serves approximately 80% of leading AI firms globally, leveraging its low-latency edge network to gain a competitive edge [2][11] - Cloudflare's security solutions, including Magic Transit and Zero Trust, are gaining traction, particularly in response to increased AI scraping and bot activity [3] Product and Market Position - Cloudflare's diverse offerings in cloud-based security, content delivery networks (CDN), and developer solutions allow it to provide comprehensive end-to-end solutions for enterprises [6] - The company is rapidly scaling its cloud-native strategy, positioning itself favorably against competitors like Akamai Technologies and Zscaler [7][8] - Cloudflare's bundled security tools facilitate easier adoption and higher net retention rates, differentiating it from pure cybersecurity competitors [9] Strategic Collaborations - Cloudflare is partnering with industry leaders such as Oracle, Alphabet, Coinbase, Visa, Mastercard, and American Express to enhance its service offerings [4] - Collaborations with Oracle focus on hybrid and multi-cloud workloads, while partnerships with Alphabet aim at developing post-quantum cryptography standards [4] Growth Potential - The combination of AI, security, multi-cloud networking, and enterprise-scale solutions creates a strong growth engine for Cloudflare, with a projected revenue growth of 28% year-over-year for 2025 [5] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Cloudflare's 2025 earnings indicates a year-over-year growth of 21.3%, with recent upward revisions [15] Financial Performance - Cloudflare's stock has surged 76.6% over the past year, significantly outperforming the Zacks Internet – Software industry's growth of 0.9% [10] - The company currently trades at a forward price-to-sales ratio of 26.37X, which is substantially higher than the industry average of 4.82X [13]

Core Insights - Cloudflare Inc. (NET) shares have increased by 85.1% over the past year, significantly outperforming the Zacks Internet – Software industry's growth of 4.5% [1] - The current performance raises questions for investors regarding whether to buy, sell, or hold Cloudflare stock [1] Group 1: AI and Security Growth - Cloudflare's edge network and security capabilities provide a low-latency network at an affordable cost, giving it a competitive edge among AI companies, serving approximately 80% of leading AI firms globally [4] - The company has over 55 revenue-generating products, which facilitate frictionless adoption and contribute to its annual contract value and net retention rate [5] - Cloudflare's security solutions, including Magic Transit, Zero Trust, and SASE, are gaining traction, with increased monetization opportunities from AI-related products like AI Crawl Control and Bot Management [6] Group 2: Long-term Growth Potential - The combination of AI, security, multi-cloud networking, and enterprise scale creates a robust growth engine for Cloudflare, with a Zacks Consensus Estimate projecting a 28% year-over-year revenue growth for 2025 [7] - Recent upward revisions in earnings estimates indicate positive sentiment, with a penny increase in the past week [7] Group 3: Strategic Partnerships - Cloudflare has strengthened collaborations with major companies such as Oracle, Alphabet, and Coinbase, enhancing its capabilities in cryptography and payment protocols [8][11] - The partnership with Oracle focuses on hybrid and multi-cloud workloads, while collaboration with Alphabet aims at post-quantum cryptography standards [10] - These strategic alliances position Cloudflare as a key player in shaping the future of the Internet and AI [11] Group 4: Market Position and Recommendations - Cloudflare's shares are currently trading above the 200-day moving average, indicating a bullish trend [14] - Given the company's strong performance in AI, security, enterprise adoption, and partnerships, it is recommended that investors consider buying NET stock now [15]

Core Thesis - Cloudflare, Inc. is experiencing strong growth driven by robust performance in Q3 2025, with significant revenue increases and a positive outlook for future growth [2][6] Financial Performance - Cloudflare reported Q3 2025 revenue of $562 million, representing a 31% year-over-year growth and a 10% sequential increase [2] - The company achieved a 15.3% operating margin and a 13.3% free cash flow margin, despite a gross margin compression to 75.3% due to increased AI-related traffic [3] Customer and Market Dynamics - The company has nearly 296,000 customers, with a dollar-based net retention rate of 119%, indicating strong multi-product adoption [2] - Strategic partnerships with major firms like Visa, Mastercard, and Oracle are enhancing Cloudflare's position in secure AI interactions and multi-cloud architectures [4] Product and Service Development - Cloudflare's Zero Trust and SASE solutions are gaining traction as customers consolidate legacy tools onto Cloudflare One [4] - The company is positioned as a leader in edge inference for AI firms, with GPU utilization reaching 70-80% [3] Future Outlook - Cloudflare raised its full-year guidance and reiterated long-term targets, aiming for a $5 billion revenue run rate by 2028 [6] - The company continues to showcase its platform's breadth through large enterprise wins, including multimillion-dollar deals across various sectors [5]

Core Thesis - Zscaler, Inc. is positioned as a foundational security infrastructure provider, similar to Salesforce's role in enterprise software during the 2008 financial crisis, with unique advantages that competitors cannot replicate [2][6] Financial Performance - As of October 10th, Zscaler's share price was $309.88, with a forward P/E of 84.03 [1] - In Q4 FY25, Zscaler reported a 21% year-over-year revenue growth to $719 million, with operating margins reaching a record 22.1% and free cash flow exceeding estimates by 29% [3] Growth Dynamics - The company’s Z-Flex pricing model allows for flexible, consumption-based adoption, which helps mitigate the threat from Microsoft bundling and accelerates platform expansion [3] - High single-digit net new ARR growth and 22-23% total ARR growth indicate that two-thirds of expansion is driven by existing customer adoption, showcasing effective cross-selling across its Zero Trust, Data Security, and Agentic Operations modules [4] Future Outlook - Enterprise AI adoption is a significant catalyst, leading to a 3,500% increase in AI/ML transactions, positioning Zscaler as a control plane for agent-to-agent and agent-to-application communication [5] - Over the next three years, Zscaler could see ARR growth of 20-25%, with potential margin expansion depending on Z-Flex adoption, AI Security momentum, and cross-sell execution [5] Competitive Position - Zscaler is viewed as a rare investment opportunity in transformative infrastructure, with durable competitive advantages and accelerating platform adoption, which could lead to substantial long-term upside as the market recognizes its security infrastructure model [6]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Cloudflare achieved an annual run rate revenue exceeding $2 billion, with quarterly revenue of $512.3 million, reflecting a 28% year-over-year growth, up from 26.5% in the first quarter [5][24] - The company reported a gross margin of 76.3%, consistent with its long-term target range of 75% to 77% [6][28] - Operating income was $72.3 million, representing a 27% increase year-over-year, with an operating margin of 14.1% [31] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The number of customers paying over $100,000 annually increased by 22% year-over-year, totaling 3,712 customers [6][26] - Revenue contribution from large customers grew to 71% of total revenue, up from 67% in the same quarter last year [6][26] - Dollar-based net retention rate improved to 114%, up 3% quarter-over-quarter [6][27] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The U.S. market accounted for 49% of total revenue, increasing by 22% year-over-year, while EMEA represented 28% of revenue with a 29% increase, and APAC represented 15% with a 44% increase [25][26] - The total number of paying customers reached approximately 266,000, marking a 27% year-over-year increase [26] Company Strategy and Development Direction - Cloudflare is focusing on reaccelerating growth through innovation and operational efficiency, with a strong emphasis on large enterprise customers and expanding its sales capacity [5][24] - The company is positioning itself to capitalize on the shift from traditional web models to AI-driven business models, particularly in the publishing sector [20][21] - Cloudflare is developing its product offerings into distinct acts, with Act Four focusing on enabling transactions in an AI-driven web [22] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the company's ability to maintain growth momentum, driven by strong performance in large customer segments and ongoing innovation [24][34] - The management highlighted the strategic importance of partnerships with media and AI companies to adapt to changing market dynamics [20][21] Other Important Information - Cloudflare issued $2 billion in convertible senior notes due in 2030, enhancing its financial flexibility [32] - The company ended the quarter with $4 billion in cash and equivalents, indicating a strong liquidity position [32] Q&A Session Summary Question: Insights on the business model for the Agentic web - Management indicated that various business models will likely emerge, emphasizing the need for a level playing field in content access and monetization [37][40] Question: Discussion on Act One products and their performance - Management highlighted the architectural advantages of Cloudflare's network, which allows for efficient handling of DDoS attacks without increasing costs [46][50] Question: Update on large deal momentum and partner growth - Management noted that the go-to-market strategy has shifted to a partner-first approach, which is driving growth in larger deals [60][62] Question: Media sector's attractiveness and Cloudflare's strategy - Management discussed the strategic importance of media partnerships and the potential for free services to create long-term value [75][76] Question: Relationship with foundation model vendors - Management confirmed that a significant portion of major AI companies are Cloudflare customers, utilizing its security and inference capabilities [80][82]

Core Insights - Cloudflare (NET) has signed its longest secure access service edge (SASE) contract in Q1 2025, indicating strong momentum as enterprises modernize their network security and connectivity [1][10] - The company combines Zero Trust security products with network services to provide a comprehensive cloud-based SASE solution, facilitating larger deals [2] - Cloudflare's partnerships with industry leaders like TD SYNNEX and Microsoft enhance its geographical reach and support growth in managed security services [3][4] Customer Growth and Financial Performance - Cloudflare reported 250,819 paying customers at the end of Q1 2025, reflecting a 27% year-over-year increase [5] - The company added 30 new customers contributing over $100,000 in annual revenues, bringing the total to 3,527 [5][10] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for NET's fiscal 2025 and 2026 earnings suggests year-over-year growth of 5.33% and 31.64%, respectively [12] Competitive Landscape - Cloudflare faces competition from Palo Alto Networks and Zscaler in the SASE and Zero Trust markets, with Palo Alto Networks reporting over 6,000 active customers and significant growth [6][8] - Zscaler leads in the Zero Trust space and is transitioning to a Zero Trust Everywhere model, which secures various access points [7] Market Trends - The SASE market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 23.6%, while the Zero Trust market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 16.7%, providing Cloudflare with ample growth opportunities [8] Valuation Metrics - Cloudflare's shares have increased by 68.6% year-to-date, outperforming the Zacks Internet - Software industry's growth of 13% [9] - The company trades at a forward price-to-sales ratio of 26.77X, significantly higher than the industry's average of 5.68X [11]

Summary of Zscaler (ZS) Update / Briefing June 03, 2025 Company Overview - **Company**: Zscaler (ZS) - **Focus**: Cybersecurity solutions with a strong emphasis on Zero Trust architecture and AI integration Key Industry Insights - **Zero Trust Architecture**: Zscaler has evolved its Zero Trust strategy from ZIA (Zscaler Internet Access) to ZPA (Zscaler Private Access) and ZDX (Zscaler Digital Experience), now promoting "Zero Trust Everywhere" as a comprehensive security approach [5][8][34] - **Data Security Growth**: Data security is identified as one of the fastest-growing areas for Zscaler, with significant investments in AI to enhance detection and prevention capabilities [5][6][13] - **AI Integration**: The company is embedding AI across its operations, particularly in security operations, to improve efficiency and effectiveness in threat detection and response [6][20][39] Core Strategic Initiatives - **Acquisitions**: The acquisition of Red Canary is aimed at enhancing Zscaler's security operations capabilities, leveraging their expertise in threat detection and incident response [17][39] - **Agentic Operations**: Zscaler is developing "agentic task agents" that utilize AI to automate security operations, improving the speed and accuracy of threat investigations [16][39][42] - **Zero Trust in Branch and Cloud**: Zscaler is expanding its Zero Trust framework to include branch locations and cloud environments, integrating SD-WAN capabilities to eliminate the need for traditional firewalls [46][48] Financial and Operational Highlights - **Customer Engagement**: Zscaler has seen strong validation from analysts and customers regarding its Zero Trust branch and cloud solutions, with significant deployments in various sectors, including finance and healthcare [47][49] - **Market Positioning**: The company positions itself against traditional firewall solutions, advocating for a firewall-free approach in cloud environments, which is gaining traction among enterprises [66][81] Important Metrics and Data - **Data Processing**: Zscaler processes over 500 billion signals daily, providing a unique vantage point for threat detection and response [97] - **Customer Base**: The company has a large and satisfied customer base, which is crucial for its growth and market penetration [98] Additional Insights - **Identity Security**: Zscaler emphasizes the importance of identity in its Zero Trust framework, integrating with identity vendors to enhance security posture [100][104] - **Proactive Security Measures**: The company is focusing on proactive security measures, including continuous threat exposure management and vulnerability assessments [31][34] - **Customer Testimonials**: Customers like FICO have reported successful implementations of Zscaler's solutions, highlighting the effectiveness of their Zero Trust approach [55][57] Conclusion Zscaler is strategically positioned to lead in the cybersecurity space with its innovative Zero Trust solutions and AI-driven security operations. The company's focus on integrating acquisitions and enhancing its product offerings will likely drive future growth and market share expansion.