CrowdStrike shares target raised with Outperform rating on strong outlook By Investing.com

On Thursday, Oppenheimer raised the price target for CrowdStrike Holdings (NASDAQ:) shares to $450 from the previous target of $400, while maintaining an Outperform rating on the stock.

The firm’s optimism is based on the expectation that CrowdStrike will surpass its second-quarter fiscal year 2025 revenue guidance, which is set between $958.3 million and $961.2 million, marking a 31.2% increase at the midpoint compared to the first quarter’s 33.0% growth.

CrowdStrike’s first-quarter performance demonstrated robust execution in its platform selling strategy, even against a backdrop of challenging spending conditions.

The company saw a doubling of deals involving Cloud, ITDR, and LogScale year-over-year in the first quarter. Additionally, the number of deals with more than eight modules surged by 95% year-over-year, contributing to a net new annual recurring revenue (NNARR) growth of 22% year-over-year. This outpaced the company’s own forecast of double-digit to low-teens year-over-year growth.

The firm’s confidence in CrowdStrike’s continued success is supported by the company’s growing pipeline for the second quarter and the increasing adoption of Falcon Flex (NASDAQ:). Despite CrowdStrike’s year-to-date share price increase of 48%, outperforming the 6.8% gain of the IGV index, Oppenheimer believes the cybersecurity company’s broad platform and strong execution will help it meet high expectations.

For the upcoming quarter, the focus will be on CrowdStrike’s NNARR growth, the expansion of Cloud/Identity/LogScale annual recurring revenue, operating margin (OM) and free cash flow margin (FCFM), which were reported at 21.6% and 35.1% respectively in the first quarter, and the adoption of new offerings such as Charlotte, Falcon for IT, and Falcon Data Protection.

In other recent news, CrowdStrike Holdings has seen significant shifts in market expectations. Redburn-Atlantic downgraded the cybersecurity firm’s stock from Buy to Sell due to concerns about future revenue growth and potential market pressures.

Similarly, Piper Sandler adjusted its rating from Overweight to Neutral as CrowdStrike’s shares reached significant growth, achieving the highest revenue multiple among public software companies with a market cap over $75 billion.

In the wake of these changes, CrowdStrike also experienced revisions in its stock price targets. BMO Capital Markets revised its price target down to $410, despite the company’s strong Q1 performance, while FBN Securities increased its target to $400 following robust financial results for the first quarter. Both firms maintained an Outperform rating on the stock.

Recent developments also include CrowdStrike’s inclusion in the S&P 500 index, following an impressive 33% year-over-year increase in revenue and a 34% rise in subscription revenue. The cybersecurity firm’s strong performance and future prospects continue to draw attention from various market analysts, despite the recent downgrades and cautious revisions.

InvestingPro Insights

As CrowdStrike Holdings (NASDAQ:CRWD) continues to garner attention with its robust performance and strategic market positioning, insights from InvestingPro provide a deeper dive into the company’s financial metrics and valuation. With a significant market capitalization of $86.38 billion, CrowdStrike’s current P/E ratio stands at a lofty 693.57, reflecting high investor expectations for future growth. This is further substantiated by a substantial revenue growth of 34.26% over the last twelve months as of Q1 2023, indicating the company’s strong sales trajectory.

InvestingPro Tips highlight that CrowdStrike is expected to see net income growth this year, which aligns with the positive outlook from analysts. Additionally, the company’s liquid assets surpass its short-term obligations, providing financial flexibility and stability. For investors seeking detailed analysis and additional insights, there are 15 more InvestingPro Tips available that delve into various aspects of CrowdStrike’s financial health and market performance.

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