Okta Breezes by Our Lofty Expectations for Q1
The cybersecurity firm is only in the early stages of establishing an especially sticky identity platform.
Mark Cash
Mark Cash is a senior equity analyst on the technology team for Morningstar Research Services LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Morningstar, Inc. He covers networking and cybersecurity stocks.
Before joining Morningstar in 2018, Cash spent eight years at a leading LED technology company as a product manager with profit-and-loss responsibility after various product development roles.
Cash holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Northeastern University’s College of Engineering. He also holds a Master of Business Administration, with a finance concentration, from the University of North Carolina’s Kenan-Flagler Business School.
Latest
Cisco Q3, Outlook Hit By Supply Chain Woes; FVE to $54
Since most of its peers' quarters did not include April, Cisco's results and outlook may be a harbinger of temporary softness due to supply chain challenges becoming exacerbated across the industry.
VMware Reportedly Targeted for Acquisition by Broadcom
At this early stage, we would prefer to see VMware remain a stand-alone business.
Palantir Shares Plunge as Government Growth Decelerated
Although we anticipate the company will generate strong, durable growth, we are lowering our fair value estimate.
Palantir Stock Undervalued Despite Q4 Earnings Miss
We think investors are missing Palantir's long-term potential to be an essential component of data operations.
Cisco Ends Q2 With Record Backlog; Lifting FVE to $56
Cisco continues to be a firm we consider shareholder-centric and a solid operator, and we view its decision to up its quarterly dividend and greatly increase its buyback authorization positively.
Cisco's Reported Splunk Offer Would Hasten Its Vision
We are maintaining our fair value estimates of $54 for Cisco and $175 for Splunk for now.
These 3 Network Security Stocks Get a Moat Upgrade
We think their excess returns on invested capital will endure, thanks in part to switching costs.
Cisco’s Q1 Record Backlog but Supply Chain Challenges
We are maintaining our $54 fair value estimate for narrow-moat Cisco Systems after its first-quarter results. Revenue growth was lower than we expected as Cisco was affected by supply chain challenges.
Palantir Accelerates Commercial Business in Q3
We think the market doesn't appreciate the growth potential of the company and have raised our fair value estimate.
Cisco Posts Profound Product Order Growth in Q4
We are raising our fair value estimate for narrow-moat Cisco Systems to $52 per share from $50 after fourth-quarter product order growth accelerated and the transformation to be more recurring in nature continues to gain momentum.
Palantir’s Commercial Strength Accelerates Q2 Growth
We are raising our fair value estimate for the narrow-moat tech company.
VMware Goes Beyond Virtualization for Growth
Independence from Dell is a good thing for this underappreciated tech firm.
Cisco’s Q3 Indicates Recovery; FVE Up to $50
We are raising our fair value estimate for narrow-moat Cisco to $50 per share from $48, and view shares as fairly valued.
Networking Vendors Aren't Going Away
We think the cloud holds substantial--and underestimated--opportunity for some of these companies.
Palantir Proves Solutions Are Resonating, Growth Ahead
We are raising our fair value estimate for the narrow-moat company.
Spinoff Will Benefit Dell and VMWare
We're maintaining our fair value estimates for both firms.
Resilient Growth Expected Ahead for Palantir
We are raising our fair value estimate for the narrow-moat firm.
Cisco's Q2 Product Orders Return to Positive Growth
We believe that Cisco is navigating the pandemic well by finding pockets of strength while efficiently managing costs.
Multiple Tailwinds Support Palantir's Growth Projection
We are raising our fair value estimate for the narrow-moat company.
Cisco Ups Acacia Acquisition Price
After updating our model for the increased purchase price, we are maintaining our $48 fair value estimate for Cisco.
VMware CEO Departure Provides Buying Opportunity
We are maintaining our fair value estimate of the narrow-moat company and view the shares as undervalued.
We Raise FVEs For These Cybersecurity Firms
We believe the breach will benefit vendors within our security coverage.
Cisco Controlling Costs and Demand Up; Maintain $48 FVE
With Cisco more positive about the demand environment ahead, shares increased over 7% after reporting. We are maintaining our $48 fair value estimate and believe shares are undervalued.
Initiating Coverage of Palantir With a $13 FVE
Palantir, which we have given a narrow moat, sells software platforms aimed at solving big data integration and analytics challenges for government and commercial clients.
Peering Into Palantir's Data Market Disruption
We value the company at $28.2 billion, reinforced by a sticky customer base and positive moat trend.
Seeking (Cyber)Security in Uncertain Times
Cloud-based protection trends are accelerating, and moaty companies are positioned to reward investors.
Global Spending Weakness Hampers Cisco's Q4; FVE Stands
Narrow-moat Cisco Systems' 10% year-over-year revenue decline in the fourth quarter was slightly ahead of CapIQ consensus estimates, and the company performed well on the bottom line.
What Should Dell Do About VMware?
We are maintaining our fair value estimates for these two technology firms.
Cisco's Cost Management Balances Out Revenue Headwinds
We are maintaining our fair value estimate and view shares as undervalued.
Cisco Executes Well in Q2; Maintaining $48 FVE
We are maintaining our fair value estimate of $48 per share for Cisco Systems and view shares as fairly valued.
Cisco Executes Well in Second Quarter
We are maintaining our fair value estimate of $48 per share and view shares as fairly valued.
No-Moat BlackBerry Has Some Stickiness
A fresh look yielded a lowered fair value estimate, but we still see a margin of safety.
Phishing for Moats
Customers are hooked on cybersecurity vendors' lures.
Order Weakness Continues in Cisco's Q1
We are maintaining our fair value estimate and view shares as slightly undervalued.
HP-Xerox Deal Could Add Synergies
No details of the takeover offer were provided, and we are maintaining our fair value estimates for the firms.
IBM Looks Toward Cloud Solutions for Growth
We view shares as slightly undervalued but would wait for a better risk for reward entry point.
We See Value in VMware
Investors have an opportunity to benefit from the rapid adoption of cloud-based resources.
What Acacia Pickup Means for Cisco
We're positive on the acquisition and are maintaining our current fair value estimate on Cisco for now.
What a Trade War Could Mean for Tech Stocks
At this point, it looks like more a blip than a roadblock.
Firewall Leader Set to Expand
We believe Palo Alto Networks is an attractive investment in cybersecurity.
F5 Is Set to Thrive
A strong brand and sticky services businesses combine to ward off competitive threats.
Pressures Remain on Hewlett Packard Enterprise
Results were below expectations, but the no-moat firm increased its EPS guidance for 2019.
Cisco Gaining Momentum in High-Growth Areas
We're raising our fair value estimate as the firm becomes less reliant on the hardware refresh cycle.
Cisco Showcases High Growth in Nascent Areas
We are increasing our fair value estimate for the narrow-moat firm.
Debt, Ownership Questions Add Uncertainty for Dell
The no-moat firm has a sound strategy, but uncertainty is very high given debt levels and ownership concentration.
Another Record Quarter for Cisco, Shares Fairly Valued
The narrow-moat firm showed strength across all business segments and provided strong guidance for next quarter.
HP Continues to Diversify, yet Challenges Remain
We are encouraged by HP's execution and road map, but a highly competitive marketplace will cap long-term excess economic returns.
HP: Commendable Results, but We're Skeptical
We don't think the firm's long-term growth strategy will adequately offset challenges within core business segments.
Investors Should Watch Cisco's Transformation
We expect the networking giant can turn itself into a software- and services-focused firm while delivering on its commitment to returning cash to shareholders.