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Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Should You Buy CrowdStrike Stock Before June 3?
CrowdStrike has become one of the world's largest cybersecurity companies thanks to its Falcon platform. However, revenue growth is decelerating as the business matures, which might put its lofty valuation at risk. 10 stocks we like better than CrowdStrike › On June 3, CrowdStrike (NASDAQ: CRWD) will report results for its fiscal 2026's first quarter, which ended on April 30. The cybersecurity giant is hoping to put its fiscal 2025 firmly in the rear-view mirror, as the year was marred by a devastating gaffe -- the flawed software update it released on July 19 that crashed around 8.5 million Windows computers run by its clients, disrupting the operations of banks, airlines, healthcare providers and more. That incident took a near-term toll on CrowdStrike's business, but management's latest guidance suggests that it won't suffer any lingering long-term effects. That's great news because the digital landscape is growing increasingly dangerous, so cybersecurity providers like CrowdStrike have enormous opportunities in front of them. CrowdStrike's flagship Falcon platform is one of the only all-in-one solutions in the industry. It makes it easy for businesses of all sizes to protect cloud networks, employee identities, endpoints, and more. But should investors buy CrowdStrike stock ahead of its June 3 report? Historically, the cybersecurity industry was fragmented -- the various providers specialized in specific product segments, which meant businesses had to piece their security stacks together from multiple vendors. As a result, achieving adequate protection was often expensive and complicated, which helps explain why CrowdStrike's Falcon platform has become so popular. Falcon features 29 different modules (products), but businesses can pick and choose which ones they want, so they can create a custom solution that's suited to them. During its fiscal 2025 fourth quarter (which ended Jan. 31), 67% of CrowdStrike's customers were using at least five modules, which was a record-high percentage. But CrowdStrike launched a new subscription option in late 2023 called Falcon Flex that allows businesses to reallocate their budgets to different modules as their needs change during their contract periods. As a result, Flex subscribers try an average of nine modules each. These introductions to products they might not have selected initially could lead to clients spending more money with CrowdStrike over the long term. Artificial intelligence (AI) is the secret behind Falcon's success. Its goal is to automate as many threat detection and incident response processes as possible. The company's AI models are trained on new security incidents each day, so they are constantly learning and improving, allowing Falcon to seamlessly operate in the background to protect customers. But CrowdStrike also developed Charlotte AI, a powerful virtual assistant that's embedded into Falcon. It's especially useful for larger organizations with complex digital environments, and saves cybersecurity managers over 40 hours per week (on average) by autonomously filtering alerts and only surfacing incidents that actually need attention. CrowdStrike's quarterly revenue growth has steadily decelerated over the last few years. The company is maturing, and its revenue base has become so large that it's difficult to maintain lightning-fast growth. The July 19 global IT outage -- which was triggered by a flawed Falcon software update -- certainly didn't help. Management said most of its prospective new customers remained in its sales pipeline, but many of them decided to delay signing their deals. Plus, the company offered "customer commitment packages" that included discounted Falcon Flex subscriptions to its many affected clients. Those packages have been a headwind to the cybersecurity giant's revenue growth recently, but they likely have increased the odds that those customers will stick with Falcon for the long term. In fact, management said the packages have accelerated the adoption of its Flex subscriptions, so CrowdStrike could earn back what those discounts and incentives cost it over time. Nevertheless, revenue growth is expected to continue trending down on a percentage basis for now. CrowdStrike's guidance for the fiscal 2026 first quarter was for $1.1 billion in revenue, which would be a year-over-year increase of just 20%. However, it's important to note that management has maintained its long-standing outlook that it will reach $10 billion in annual recurring revenue by fiscal 2031, up from $4.2 billion today. CrowdStrike stock isn't cheap right now. It's trading at a price-to-sales (P/S) ratio of 28.6, which is a steep premium to its main competitors in the cybersecurity industry. In the past, CrowdStrike has thoroughly deserved its premium valuation because it was growing its revenue so much faster than its peers. However, Palo Alto Networks, Zscaler, and SentinelOne grew their revenue by 15%, 23%, and 29%, respectively, in their most recent quarters. Therefore, CrowdStrike no longer has a clear edge in that department, so investors would be right to call its valuation into question. With that said, if the company does grow its annual recurring revenue by 135% to $10 billion by fiscal 2031, its stock might actually be cheap right now for investors who are willing to hold it for the next five or six years. But that long-term outlook is key, because there is no guarantee the stock will deliver positive returns over the next one or two years given its lofty valuation. As a result, the answer to the question of whether investors should buy CrowdStrike stock before June 3 depends entirely on their ability and willingness to hold it for the long run. Short-term traders should probably stay away for now. Before you buy stock in CrowdStrike, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the for investors to buy now… and CrowdStrike wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $653,389!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $830,492!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 982% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 171% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join . See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of May 19, 2025 Anthony Di Pizio has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends CrowdStrike and Zscaler. The Motley Fool recommends Palo Alto Networks. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Should You Buy CrowdStrike Stock Before June 3? was originally published by The Motley Fool Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
SpaceX aiming for record-breaking 170 orbital launches in 2025
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. SpaceX will end up launching an orbital mission nearly every other day in 2025, if all goes according to plan. "We're targeting 170 launches by the end of the year," Anne Mason, director of national security space launch at SpaceX, said during a call with reporters on Wednesday (May 28). That would shatter the company's single-year record of 134 orbital liftoffs, which was set just last year. "I always find it amazing that this cadence has become somewhat normal," Mason added during Wednesday's call, which served to preview SpaceX's planned Friday (May 30) launch of the GPS III SV08 satellite for the U.S. Space Force. "But if we look back just five years ago, in 2020 when we launched roughly 25 times, which is still a healthy rate at twice a month, and now launching on average every two to three days — I think this demonstrates how Falcon's reusability and reliability, plus the hard work and dedication of the SpaceX team, has been critical to supporting assured access to space," she said. SpaceX's workhorse Falcon 9 rocket performed 132 of last year's orbital liftoffs. The other two came courtesy of the company's powerful Falcon Heavy. Both Falcons feature reusable first stages — three of them in the Heavy's case — which is a big factor in SpaceX's impressive launch cadence, as Mason noted. The upper stages of both Falcons are expendable, but SpaceX has gotten very good at churning out that complicated piece of hardware. "We have a second stage coming off the production line every two and a half days," Mason said. Related stories: — SpaceX: Facts about Elon Musk's private spaceflight company — SpaceX's last launch of 2024 puts Starlink satellites into orbit (video) — Falcon 9: SpaceX's workhorse rocket About two-thirds of last year's orbital launches were dedicated to building out SpaceX's Starlink broadband constellation in low Earth orbit. Starlink is the largest satellite network ever assembled; it consists of more than 7,500 active spacecraft at the moment. Starlink is also growing all the time, as this year's statistics show: SpaceX has launched 64 orbital missions so far in 2025 (all of them with the Falcon 9), and 48 of them have been Starlink flights. That works out to a rate of 0.43 launches per day. This means SpaceX will have to pick up the pace a bit to reach the target Mason mentioned: 170 launches in one year would equal about 0.47 launches per day. These numbers refer only to orbital launches, so they don't count the suborbital test flights of Starship, the megarocket SpaceX is developing to help humanity colonize Mars. The company launched four Starship test flights in 2024 and has conducted three so far this year, most recently on Tuesday (May 27).
Daily Record
a day ago
- Science
- Daily Record
Glasgow's new peregrine falcon chicks named after iconic Still Game characters
The chicks hatched on April 27 in a nest high above University of Glasgow's iconic Gilbert Scott Building Two peregrine falcon chicks born atop the University of Glasgow's iconic Gilbert Scott Building have been given names that pay tribute to one of Scotland's best-loved comedy duos, Jack and Victor. The fluffy newcomers hatched on April 27 in a nest high up in the tower that dominates the skyline above Kelvingrove Park and can be seen from as far as Dumbarton Road in Partick, Glasgow Live reports. Their proud parents, affectionately named Bonnie and Clyde, return to the Gothic building each spring since 2022 and have become favourites among local birdwatchers. On 21 May, members of the Glasgow Peregrine Project scaled the tower to ring the chicks, weigh them, take DNA samples, and install a new nest camera. During the check-up, they also retrieved an unhatched egg, which they believe was accidentally pierced by a parent's talon. Sharing the chosen names on social media, the University of Glasgow wrote: 'Say hello to Jack and Victor, the new additions to the UofG Falcon family. Bonnie and Clyde, a pair of peregrine falcons who return to nest atop the Gilbert Scott Building each spring, have welcomed their new chicks. 'Last week, the chicks were ringed, weighed, and DNA swabbed, and officially named Jack and Victor in true Glasgow style. The chicks will feature on Landward on BBC Scotland on 12 June.' Bonnie and Clyde themselves were named in 2024 after the university invited staff and students to suggest names for the breeding pair. Over 300 suggestions poured in, with 'Bonnie' chosen as a nod to 'Bonnie Scotland', and 'Clyde' referencing the River Clyde. Peregrine falcons are the fastest animals on Earth, capable of reaching speeds of up to 200 miles per hour as they dive to catch prey. Found across much of the world, they typically grow up to two feet tall with a wingspan approaching four feet. The Glasgow Peregrine Project has been closely monitoring the birds and has even held public watches in recent years, giving people the chance to witness the remarkable creatures up close. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. The RSPB, the University of Glasgow, and the Scottish Ornithologists' Club are spearheading the project, with support from several other groups. Clarke Elsby, building surveyor at the University of Glasgow, told the BBC: "We're keen that Bonnie and Clyde, and now Jack and Victor, are kept in the best possible condition while sharing their stories with our Glasgow community. "Thanks to this project, we're not only preserving these remarkable residents, we're also inspiring a new generation of wildlife enthusiasts across the city." John Simpson, Clyde area bird recorder, added: "We're delighted to be able to contribute to the work of the Glasgow Peregrine Project, and today's work was vital in following the stories of Bonnie and Clyde."
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
TD Cowen Reiterates Buy rating on CrowdStrike (CRWD) Q1 Earnings Approach
On May 29, Shaul Eyal from Cowen Inc. reiterated a Buy rating on CrowdStrike Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:CRWD) with a price target of $220. The reiteration comes as the company gets close to releasing its fiscal first-quarter results for 2026. Security personnel at their consoles, monitoring a global network of threats in real-time. CrowdStrike Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:CRWD) is a leading international cybersecurity company known for its Falcon platform. The company offers 29 cloud modules on its Falcon platform via a software-as-a-service subscription model. It is set to report its first-quarter results for fiscal 2026 on June 3. During the fiscal fourth quarter of 2025, CrowdStrike Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:CRWD) posted $1.06 billion in revenue, up 25.22% year-over-year. Management is expecting the revenue for FQ1 2026 to be between $1.10 billion to $1.106 billion, with an EPS of $0.64 to $0.66. While we acknowledge the potential of CRWD as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and have limited downside risk. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than CRWD and that has 100x upside potential, check out our report about the . READ NEXT: and . Disclosure: None. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
3 Key Reasons to Buy Fortinet Stock Beyond its 11% Year-to-Date Rise
Fortinet FTNT shares have gained 10.6% in the year-to-date (YTD) period, outperforming the Zacks Computer and Technology sector and the S&P 500 index's decline of 1.7% and 0.4%, outperformance can be attributed to strong execution across key growth areas like SASE, AI-driven security operations and OT security. Record margins, robust free cash flow and rising enterprise adoption have reinforced investor confidence, positioning Fortinet as a resilient, high-growth player in an otherwise cautious tech rally does not tell the whole story. Let's break down three key strengths that reveal why the stock is a compelling investment in 2025. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research The U.S. tariff landscape continues to evolve, but based on current conditions, there's no material impact expected on FTNT in the near term. Despite broader geopolitical uncertainties, Fortinet is still seeing strong demand for its cybersecurity offerings. The company's pipeline remains healthy, with stable close rates and sales cycles that are well within historical revenues in the first quarter of 2025 rose 14% year over year to $1.54 billion. Product revenues reached $459 million, up 12% year over year, supported by double-digit growth in both hardware and software solutions. FortiGate hardware performed particularly well across low-end and high-end models, while time-based software licenses grew more than 30%.Total billings grew 14% year over year to $1.6 billion, with unified SASE and AI-driven SecOps contributing 18% and 29% growth, respectively. Gross margin expanded 380 basis points to 81.9%, and operating margin reached a record 34.2% in the first quarter. Fortinet also added more than 6,300 new customers during the quarter, up 14% from the prior year, signaling continued momentum despite broader market headwinds. The cybersecurity market is extremely competitive and characterized by rapid technological change. Among others, Fortinet's competitors include Palo Alto Networks PANW, Cisco Systems CSCO and CrowdStrike CRWD. Shares of Palo Alto Networks, Cisco Systems and CrowdStrike have returned 3.2%, 7% and 37%, respectively, Alto Networks has partnered with NVIDIA to build AI-driven private 5G security solutions, reflecting its commitment to next-generation technologies. Cisco Systems has also deepened its collaboration with NVIDIA, aiming to deliver AI-ready data center networking solutions, which has been a game changer for the company. Meanwhile, CrowdStrike is seeing strong momentum with its Falcon platform, promoted as an 'AI-native SOC,' with growing adoption of its Charlotte AI for detection, triage, workflows, and differentiates itself from these competitors with its single, organically developed FortiOS, including its firewall, SD-WAN, secure web gateway, CASB and DLP. This unified design drove 18% growth in SASE billings and 26% in SASE ARR in the first quarter of 2025, with enterprise penetration reaching 11%, up nearly 10% sequentially. FTNT's approach reduces complexity and cost, enabling faster adoption and stronger performance. As demand shifts toward integrated, scalable platforms, Fortinet is gaining ground across secure networking, SASE and AI-driven SecOps. Fortinet continues to strengthen its long-term position in AI and firewall solutions. The company now holds over 500 issued and pending AI patents, more than any peer, and has integrated AI into a dozen products, including FortiAI Assist and FortiAI Protect. Recently, Fortinet introduced the FortiGate 700G, a high-performance firewall for mid-size enterprises, delivering up to 10x performance gains over competitors via proprietary ASIC technology, while supporting a hybrid mesh firewall architecture through its unified FortiOS platform. This launch enhances Fortinet's competitive positioning in secure networking and is expected to drive further adoption among performance-focused enterprise customers. Fortinet expects revenues for the second quarter of 2025 in the range of $1.59 billion to $1.65 billion, which represents growth of 13% at the midpoint. It anticipates non-GAAP earnings per share in the band of 58-60 Zacks Consensus Estimate for second-quarter 2025 revenues is pegged at $1.62 billion, suggesting 12.96% year-over-year consensus mark for second-quarter 2025 earnings is pegged at 59 cents per share, which has been revised upward by a penny over the past 30 days, indicating 3.51% year-over-year growth. Fortinet's earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, with the average surprise being 23.83%. Fortinet, Inc. price-consensus-chart | Fortinet, Inc. QuoteAlthough the company's Price/Book ratio of 40.72X is ahead of the Zacks Security industry average of 23.64X, the premium valuation is justified by Fortinet's strong market position, its fully integrated platform strategy and customer expansion across all its segments, all of which signal long-term growth and sustained competitive advantage. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research Fortinet's YTD gains reflect strong execution and a clear focus on long-term growth. The company is steadily expanding its customer base and delivering consistent results, even in an uncertain macro environment. New product introductions, like the FortiGate 700G, highlight its commitment to performance and innovation. Operating margins remain strong, and free cash flow continues to support its financial stability. While the stock trades at a premium, that pricing aligns with Fortinet's leadership in the cybersecurity space and its growth currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) and has a Growth Score of A, a favorable combination that offers a strong investment opportunity, per the Zacks proprietary methodology. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Cisco Systems, Inc. (CSCO) : Free Stock Analysis Report Fortinet, Inc. (FTNT) : Free Stock Analysis Report Palo Alto Networks, Inc. (PANW) : Free Stock Analysis Report CrowdStrike (CRWD) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
