Skip to content
Trending
May 19, 2025Cable companies Charter and Cox agree to merge
EverydayRead
  • HOME
  • Business
  • Earnings
  • Economy
  • Finance
  • Lifestyle
EverydayRead
EverydayRead
  • HOME
  • Business
  • Earnings
  • Economy
  • Finance
  • Lifestyle
EverydayRead
  Earnings  Palo Alto Networks extends recent stock rally on solid earnings. It may be too much, too fast
Earnings

Palo Alto Networks extends recent stock rally on solid earnings. It may be too much, too fast

AdminAdmin—August 21, 20240
More stories

Saudi oil giant Aramco posts 5% dip in first-quarter profit on weaker crude prices

May 12, 2025

Industrial AI play Dover falls on a noisy quarter. Here’s why we’d buy the dip

October 27, 2024

Apple hits an all-time high as new smartphone data sides with the bulls in a sea of negativity

October 16, 2024

H&M shares fall as much as 8% on profit miss and scrapped earnings margin target

September 29, 2024

Wall Street’s enthusiastic reaction Tuesday to solid earnings from Palo Alto Networks reinforced our belief that the cybersecurity stock is getting overextended. Shares advanced more than 8% to roughly $372 each in afternoon trading after Palo Alto late Monday posted better-than-expected fiscal 2024 fourth-quarter earnings and revenue, and delivered an upbeat outlook. The roughly 27% rally since Aug. 5 brings the stock just a few dollars shy of its record-high close of nearly $377 on Feb. 9, clawing back the fiscal Q2 disaster that sent shares to a 2024 low on Feb. 21. Jim Cramer described the recent move as “parabolic.” However, that doesn’t mean he’s any less bullish on Palo Alto in the long run. In fact, the Club raised its price target to $380 per share from $360 on Monday evening. We reiterated our 2 rating on the stock in recognition of its stellar move. Jim has even suggested in recent sessions that taking some profits might not be a bad idea. Here’s an excerpt from our Club analysis of Palo Alto’s numbers: The RPO (remaining performance obligation) guide was a bit light. But it was more than offset, in our view, by management’s better-than-expected sales, earnings, and recurring revenue outlook for the both the current quarter (fiscal 2025 Q1) and full-year fiscal 2025. To deemphasize billings results, which represent the total amount of dollars invoiced in a given period, and put more emphasis on RPO, which represents the total value contracted during the quarter, management has stopped providing billings guidance altogether. The team is also now providing an outlook for annual recurring revenue (ARR). PANW YTD mountain Palo Alto Networks YTD Wall Street analysts echoed our bullish sentiments. At least two dozen research firms โ€” including Wells Fargo, Morgan Stanley, JPMorgan, and Goldman Sachs โ€” raised their price targets on Palo Alto, according to FactSet data. Wells Fargo, in particular, went to $416 per share from $385 โ€” noting that Palo Alto’s “platformization” bundling of offerings continues to “gain traction.” Palo Alto reported over 1,000 platformization customers in its fiscal fourth quarter, adding more than 90 since the previous quarter. Management also reiterated their goal of reaching $15 billion in annual recurring revenue in fiscal year 2030. Wells Fargo estimated that it “would require 2,500-3,500 platformization customers, or add an average of 335 new customers per year to reach the midpoint, which is roughly what they added in fiscal year 2024.” During the post-earnings call, CEO Nikesh Arora highlighted Palo Alto’s progress with platformization as well. “I know there was significant consternation around our platformization strategy six months ago,” Arora said, likely referencing the stock’s post-earnings selloff after management announced the pivot back in late February. He added: “All I want to say is, I wish we had started down that path sooner. The amount of interest and activity around it has certainly been heartening and shows promise.” Morgan Staley thinks Palo Alto will continue to see revenue growth. “We think the trough is now behind us and see topline growth accelerating throughout FY25,” analysts said in support of raising their price target to $390 from $360. To be sure, not everyone on Wall Street is convinced that Palo Alto has significant growth ahead. UBS analysts, who reiterated their hold rating on shares, said that “it’s hard to justify upside here,” given the low-to-mid teens growth guidance for RPO. Analysts increased their price target to $355 per share from $345. But that represents a nearly 5% decline from current levels. (Jim Cramer’s Charitable Trust is long PANW. See here for a full list of the stocks.) As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade. Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust’s portfolio. If Jim has talked about a stock on CNBC TV, he waits 72 hours after issuing the trade alert before executing the trade. THE ABOVE INVESTING CLUB INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY , TOGETHER WITH OUR DISCLAIMER . NO FIDUCIARY OBLIGATION OR DUTY EXISTS, OR IS CREATED, BY VIRTUE OF YOUR RECEIPT OF ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED IN CONNECTION WITH THE INVESTING CLUB. NO SPECIFIC OUTCOME OR PROFIT IS GUARANTEED.

Nikesh Arora of the United States on the first hole during the third round of The Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at The Old Course on October 02, 2021 in St Andrews, Scotland.

David Cannon | David Cannon Collection | Getty Images

Wall Street’s enthusiastic reaction Tuesday to solid earnings from Palo Alto Networks reinforced our belief that the cybersecurity stock is getting overextended.

Shein sues Temu over copyright infringement, alleges rival loses money on every sale
Fed survey shows lows in employment, worries about finding work and dissatisfaction with pay
Related posts
  • Related posts
  • More from author
Earnings

Shares of Cartier owner Richemont jump 7% as shoppers splurge on jewelry despite luxury slowdown

May 18, 20250
Earnings

CoreWeave CEO defends capex plans, says company is meeting ‘demand signals’ from major hyperscalers

May 16, 20250
Earnings

CoreWeave beats on revenue, reports more than 400% growth in first earnings after IPO

May 15, 20250
Load more
Read also
Business

Cable companies Charter and Cox agree to merge

May 19, 20250
Finance

Long-term care costs can be a ‘huge problem,’ experts say. Here’s why

May 18, 20250
Economy

The low-end consumer is about to feel the pinch as Trump restarts student loan collections

May 18, 20250
Earnings

Shares of Cartier owner Richemont jump 7% as shoppers splurge on jewelry despite luxury slowdown

May 18, 20250
Business

How much would a 100% ‘Made in the USA’ vehicle cost? It’s complicated

May 18, 20250
Finance

Walmart’s former U.S. CEO Bill Simon thinks retailer can easily absorb tariff costs, criticizes its ‘doom and gloom’ commentary

May 16, 20250
Load more
ยฉ 2023, All Rights Reserved.
  • About Us
  • Advertise With Us
  • Contact Us
  • Disclaimer
  • Cookie Law
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions