Anthropic's new tool wipes down billions from CrowdStrike, Cloudflare, Palo Alto Networks, and Zscaler, Okta stocks; company says: We also... - The Times of India
Anthropic introduced Claude Code Security, an AI-powered tool for scanning codebases for vulnerabilities, causing a significant sell-off in cybersecurity stocks. Major companies like CrowdStrike, Cloudflare, Okta, SailPoint, Zscaler, Palo Alto Networks, and Fortinet saw their shares drop by 2-9%. This disruption is attributed to fears that AI could significantly alter the cybersecurity landscape, despite some analysts believing AI will ultimately benefit the sector.
News brief: Nation-state hackers active on the global stage
Nation-state hackers are escalating cyberattacks targeting critical infrastructure globally, as highlighted by a recent IBM report indicating 70% of 2024 attacks involved such infrastructure. The news brief details several recent incidents, including attacks on the U.S. defense industrial base, newly identified hacking groups exploiting OT environments, a campaign against Singapore's telcos, a breach of Senegal's biometric database, and zero-day exploits in Ivanti Endpoint Manager Mobile. These events underscore the urgent need for robust cybersecurity measures to protect critical systems and safeguard data.
Allot Pre-Q4 Earnings Analysis: Should You Hold or Fold the Stock?
Allot Ltd. (ALLT) is poised to release its Q4 2025 earnings, with Zacks estimating a 12.2% revenue growth and a 40% increase in non-GAAP earnings per share. The company's Cybersecurity-as-a-Service (SECaaS) business is a key driver, showing significant ARR growth and increasing contribution to total revenue, making it a crucial factor in the upcoming report. Despite strong stock performance over the past year, outperforming peers, Allot remains attractively valued with a lower price-to-sales multiple compared to its competitors, prompting a "Hold" recommendation due to its growth prospects against stiff market competition.
Zscaler's Z-Flex Adoption Surges: Will It Be a New Growth Engine?
Zscaler's new Z-Flex program, which allows customers to commit to spending upfront with flexibility to add or swap modules, is seeing significant early traction. Introduced in Q3 fiscal 2025, it generated over $175 million in Q1 fiscal 2026 contract value bookings, a 70% sequential increase. This initiative enhances revenue visibility, expands client relationships by encouraging multi-module adoption, and helps increase deal sizes, positioning Z-Flex as a potential key growth driver for Zscaler, despite competition from rivals offering similar bundled solutions.
Dramatic Escalation Frequency and Power of in DDoS Attacks
A new report by Radware indicates a dramatic escalation in the frequency and power of Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attacks, with a 168% increase in 2025 compared to 2024. These attacks are becoming faster and stronger, making them harder to detect and defend against. Hacktivism is identified as the main driver, with organizations in technology, telecommunications, and financial services being the most targeted sectors.
Intuit Inc. $INTU Shares Sold by BNP PARIBAS ASSET MANAGEMENT Holding S.A.
BNP PARIBAS ASSET MANAGEMENT Holding S.A. reduced its stake in Intuit Inc. (NASDAQ:INTU) by 7.5% in the third quarter, selling 36,875 shares, though Intuit remains a significant portion of their portfolio. Other institutional investors like Tortoise Investment Management LLC and Westside Investment Management Inc. increased their holdings. Analyst ratings for Intuit are mixed, with a consensus of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $768.96, while company insiders have recently sold a substantial number of shares.
Palo Alto Networks eyes mega Tel Aviv campus after CyberArk deal
Palo Alto Networks is searching for a massive office space in Tel Aviv, ranging from 85,000 to 100,000 square meters, to consolidate its growing Israeli workforce. This expansion follows its acquisitions of Israeli cybersecurity companies CyberArk and Koi, which are expected to boost its Israeli employee count to 2,600. The company's search is focused on central Tel Aviv, with potential locations including the Azrieli Group’s Spiral Tower, ToHa2, or the Beyond Tower project, indicating a significant long-term commitment to the Israeli technology ecosystem.
Radware 2026 Global Threat Report Shows DDoS Attacks Jump 168% as Cyber Threats Escalate Across Networks and Applications
Radware's 2026 Global Threat Analysis Report reveals a significant escalation in cyberattack activity during 2025, with network-layer DDoS attacks increasing by 168.2% and web DDoS attacks by 101.4%. The report highlights AI-driven bot attacks, application and API exploitation, and persistent hacktivism, driven by geopolitical conflicts, as major threats. Organizations are urged to adopt resilient, automated defenses against sophisticated, multi-vector attacks.
Analysts Offer Insights on Technology Companies: Palo Alto Networks (PANW) and Nvidia (NVDA)
Two analysts have offered bullish sentiments on Palo Alto Networks (PANW) and Nvidia (NVDA). Rosenblatt Securities maintained a Buy rating on Palo Alto Networks with a $225.00 price target, while Oppenheimer reiterated a Buy rating on Nvidia with a $265.00 price target. Both companies currently hold a "Strong Buy" analyst consensus with significant upside potential.
Analysts Offer Insights on Technology Companies: Palo Alto Networks (PANW) and Nvidia (NVDA)
Two analysts have issued bullish sentiments on Palo Alto Networks (PANW) and Nvidia (NVDA). Rosenblatt Securities maintained a Buy rating on Palo Alto Networks with a $225.00 price target, while Oppenheimer reiterated a Buy rating on Nvidia with a $265.00 price target, highlighting strong upside potential for both companies.
VShell and SparkRAT Observed in Exploitation of BeyondTrust Critical Vulnerability (CVE-2026-1731)
Palo Alto Networks' Unit 42 has observed active exploitation of CVE-2026-1731, a critical pre-authentication remote code execution vulnerability in BeyondTrust remote support software. Attackers are deploying SparkRAT and VShell backdoors, conducting network reconnaissance, and exfiltrating data across various sectors globally. BeyondTrust has released patches, and Palo Alto Networks recommends immediate remediation and architectural containment to protect against this vulnerability.
Palo Alto Networks Announces Offer to Purchase Relating to CyberArk Software Ltd.'s 0.00% Convertible Senior Notes due 2030
Palo Alto Networks (NASDAQ: PANW) has announced an offer to purchase for cash any and all of CyberArk Software Ltd.'s (NASDAQ: CYBR) 0.00% Convertible Senior Notes due 2030. This offer is in connection with Palo Alto Networks' acquisition of CyberArk, which closed on February 11, 2026. Note holders have the right to require repurchase of their notes or convert them at an increased rate due to the Fundamental Change and Make-Whole Fundamental Change resulting from the acquisition.
Radware 2026 Global Threat Report Shows DDoS Attacks Jump 168% as Cyber Threats Escalate Across Networks and Applications
Radware's 2026 Global Threat Analysis Report reveals a significant escalation in cyberattack activity during 2025, with network-layer DDoS attacks increasing by 168.2% and web DDoS attacks rising by 101.4%. The report highlights the growing sophistication of threats, including AI-driven bot attacks and application/API exploitation, driven largely by geopolitical motives. Organizations are urged to adopt resilient, automated defenses to counter these rapidly evolving and larger-scale attacks.
Analysts’ Top Technology Picks: Palo Alto Networks (PANW), Ceva (CEVA)
Two technology companies, Palo Alto Networks (PANW) and Ceva (CEVA), have received bullish ratings from analysts. Jonathan Ho from William Blair maintained a Buy rating for Palo Alto Networks, predicting a 35% upside, while Roth MKM analyst Sujeeva De Silva maintained a Buy rating for Ceva, forecasting a 43.5% upside from current levels. Both companies are seen as strong investment opportunities within the technology sector.
Israel ranks 1st among countries targeted by geopolitical cyberattacks in 2025 — report
A new report by Israeli cybersecurity firm Radware indicates that Israel was the most targeted country for geopolitically motivated cyberattacks in 2025, experiencing 1,881 unique attack claims, primarily from pro-Iranian and anti-Israel groups. This surge is attributed to the ongoing conflicts with Hamas and Iran. The report highlights that government services were the main target, and the availability of generative AI tools is enabling large-scale, automated attacks, making detection more challenging.
Analysis: Palo Alto Networks Vs. Everyone
Palo Alto Networks CEO Nikesh Arora recently highlighted the two-year anniversary of the company's "platformization" strategy, which has become an industry standard. This strategy, initially met with skepticism, involved consolidating multiple security tools onto a single broad platform and is now widely adopted across the cybersecurity sector. While Palo Alto Networks has a comprehensive platform, other vendors like Netskope are also defining their own multi-platform strategies.
Analysts Offer Insights on Technology Companies: Palo Alto Networks (PANW) and Docebo (DCBO)
Analysts have issued bullish ratings for Palo Alto Networks (PANW) and Docebo (DCBO) in the Technology sector. Joseph Gallo from Jefferies maintained a Buy rating on Palo Alto Networks with a $215.00 price target, while George Sutton from Craig-Hallum also maintained a Buy rating on Docebo. Both companies have a "Strong Buy" analyst consensus, with significant upside potential noted for their stock prices.
AI bots, 30Tbps attacks: inside Radware’s 2026 cyber threat surge
Radware's 2026 Global Threat Analysis Report reveals a dramatic escalation in cyberattacks for 2025, with network DDoS attacks increasing by 168.2% to nearly 30 Tbps and bad bot activity rising 91.8% due to generative AI. The report highlights that cyber threats are becoming more sophisticated, faster, and larger in scale, affecting various sectors with a significant number of attacks targeting North America. Radware emphasizes the need for automated and resilient defenses capable of responding rapidly to these evolving threats.
Analysts Offer Insights on Technology Companies: Palo Alto Networks (PANW), Cadence Design (CDNS) and Nutanix (NTNX)
Three analysts have issued bullish sentiments on technology companies Palo Alto Networks (PANW), Cadence Design (CDNS), and Nutanix (NTNX). Barclays maintained a Buy rating on Palo Alto Networks with a $200 price target, while KeyBanc maintained a Buy rating on Cadence Design with a $405 price target and reiterated a Buy rating on Nutanix. These ratings suggest significant upside potential for all three stocks based on analyst consensus.
Analysts Offer Insights on Technology Companies: Waystar Holding Corp. (WAY) and Datadog (DDOG)
Analysts have issued bullish sentiments for technology companies Waystar Holding Corp. (WAY) and Datadog (DDOG). Waystar received a Strong Buy consensus with a 99.1% potential upside, while Datadog also garnered a Strong Buy rating with a 45.1% upside from current levels. These recommendations indicate strong confidence in the future performance of both companies by financial experts.
Form 424B2 BARCLAYS BANK PLC
This Form 424B2 filing by Barclays Bank PLC details the offering of $1,026,000 Contingent Coupon Barrier Notes due February 16, 2029, linked to the performance of the Nasdaq-100, Russell 2000, and S&P 500 Indices. The notes offer contingent coupon payments based on the performance of the least performing index but do not guarantee principal repayment or fixed interest, exposing investors to potential significant losses including 100% of the principal at maturity. The document outlines the terms, risks, tax considerations, and includes a consent to U.K. Bail-in Power, highlighting that payments are subject to Barclays Bank PLC's creditworthiness and regulatory actions.
Protagonist Therapeutics director Williams sells $1.48 million in shares
Protagonist Therapeutics director Lewis T. Williams sold 18,000 shares of common stock for $1.48 million on February 17, 2026, after exercising options to acquire the same number of shares. Following these transactions, Williams directly owns 7,825 shares. The company has recently received positive analyst updates and price target increases from firms like H.C. Wainwright, Truist Securities, JPMorgan, Citizens, and Jefferies, noting progress on its lead assets, rusfertide and icotrokinra.
Analysts’ Top Technology Picks: Palo Alto Networks (PANW), Ceva (CEVA)
This article highlights two technology stocks, Palo Alto Networks (PANW) and Ceva (CEVA), that analysts have given bullish ratings. Jonathan Ho from William Blair maintained a Buy rating on Palo Alto Networks, with a consensus price target indicating a significant upside. Sujeeva De Silva from Roth MKM maintained a Buy rating on Ceva, also with an attractive average price target.
U.S. Markets Closed Up Wednesday; Global Payments Climbed Highest
U.S. stock markets closed higher on Wednesday, with the S&P 500, Dow Jones Industrial Average, and Nasdaq Composite all posting gains. Global Payments (GPN) was noted as the highest climber among the listed stocks. The article provides a brief overview of market performance for the day.
Tech Stocks Rebound, Crude Rallies Above $64 On Iran Tensions: What's Moving Markets Wednesday?
Tech stocks saw a rebound on Wednesday, with the Nasdaq 100 jumping 1.4% and Cadence Design Systems leading the gains after strong Q4 earnings and robust 2026 projections. Concurrently, oil prices surged over 3.6% above $64 per barrel, and gold and silver also rallied due to escalating Middle East tensions fueled by reports of potential U.S.-Israeli military action in Iran. Despite the broader tech rally, Palo Alto Networks saw a decline after trimming its annual profit outlook.
Palo Alto to emerge stronger despite M&A headwinds, Jefferies analysts say
Jefferies analysts have issued a cautiously optimistic report on Palo Alto Networks' fiscal second-quarter results, acknowledging challenges from recent acquisitions affecting profitability and services revenue, but maintaining confidence in the company's long-term financial targets. Despite a dip in services revenue and a lowered full-year 2026 margin guidance due to M&A, Jefferies reiterated Palo Alto's achievable guidance for ARR and RPO, and highlighted the strength of its software business and path to free cash flow targets. Investors reacted negatively, with shares falling almost 6% after the report.
Palo Alto Networks' Deals Are Dragging on Its Profit Outlook. The Stock Is Falling
Palo Alto Networks' stock fell after the company lowered its profit forecast for the fiscal year due to higher integration costs from recent acquisitions, including its $25 billion purchase of CyberArk. The cybersecurity firm now expects adjusted earnings per share of $3.65 to $3.70, down from a previous range of $3.80 to $3.90. Despite the lowered outlook, analysts at Morgan Stanley and Wedbush maintained bullish ratings, citing AI as a potential tailwind and underscoring the company's strong position in the cyber market.
RXO at Barclays Conference: Tech and AI Drive Strategy
RXO Inc. presented its strategic vision at the Barclays 43rd Annual Industrial Select Conference, emphasizing the use of technology and AI to boost margins despite market challenges. The company is optimistic about future growth, citing a 50% increase in its sales pipeline and the completion of the Coyote Logistics integration. RXO anticipates outperforming the market by mid-2026, benefiting from government regulations that may reduce capacity among smaller competitors and a strong focus on profitable growth.
Palo Alto’s Guidance Overshadows Strong Earnings. Its Stock Is Down.
Palo Alto Networks reported strong second-quarter earnings but its stock fell 7.5% in premarket trading after the company projected that profitability would suffer in the second half of the fiscal year. The guidance overshadowed the positive earnings report, causing investor concern.
Unusual Machines and Red Cat Holdings Surge With Military Drone Market
Red Cat Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: RCAT) stock is surging by 8.07% due to significant military drone orders from the Asia-Pacific region and positive preliminary Q4 results. Northland has raised its price target for RCAT, and an ETF by Defiance has further bolstered investor confidence. The company is poised for growth within the defense technology sector, focusing on autonomous systems and advanced reconnaissance.
Stifel cuts Palo Alto Networks stock price target on acquisition noise
Stifel lowered its price target for Palo Alto Networks (NASDAQ:PANW) to $185 from $200, while maintaining a Buy rating. This adjustment follows the cybersecurity giant's second-quarter fiscal 2026 results, which were impacted by earlier-than-expected closings of the Chronosphere and CyberArk acquisitions. Despite mixed organic growth figures, Palo Alto Networks remains profitable and analysts largely maintain a bullish stance due to strong performance in new areas and cross-selling opportunities from acquisitions.
Seadrill Ltd stock hits 52-week high at 43.67 USD
Seadrill Ltd (SDRL) stock has reached a new 52-week high of $43.67, driven by strong performance including a 45.5% price return over six months. Despite its premium valuation and analysts forecasting negative earnings for fiscal year 2025, the company recently secured new drilling contracts worth $235 million, extending its backlog. BTIG also raised its price target for Seadrill from $33 to $40, maintaining a Buy rating.
Berkshire reduces Apple stake, FDA to review Moderna vaccine
Moderna's stock surged after the FDA reversed its earlier rejection and decided to review the company's flu vaccine. Berkshire Hathaway disclosed a new $350 million investment in The New York Times, while also trimming its stake in Apple and revealing a new position in Alphabet. Palo Alto Networks saw its shares fall after lowering its annual profit forecast due to higher integration costs from recent acquisitions.
Palo Alto shares sink 8%, CEO defends cybersecurity's position as AI hits software stocks
Palo Alto Networks' shares dropped 8% after its fiscal second-quarter results, despite beating Wall Street estimates on revenue, due to lower-than-expected third-quarter earnings guidance. CEO Nikesh Arora defended cybersecurity from the perceived threat of AI, arguing that AI will enhance security rather than make it obsolete. The company has made significant investments in AI, including recent acquisitions, to adapt to the evolving cybersecurity landscape.
Do Options Traders Know Something About AutoZone Stock We Don't?
AutoZone (AZO) stock is showing high implied volatility in its options market, particularly for the March 20, 2026 $2000.00 Call, suggesting that traders anticipate a significant price movement. Despite this options activity, AutoZone currently holds a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell) and analysts have recently lowered earnings estimates, indicating a potential disconnect between options market sentiment and fundamental analysis. Options traders might be using this high implied volatility to sell premium, betting that the stock won't move as drastically as reflected in the options prices.
Palo Alto Networks’ stock falls after earnings. These analysts see a good chance to buy.
Palo Alto Networks' stock fell by nearly 7% after its recent earnings report, despite solid performance, due to a "muddy outlook" caused by recent acquisitions. However, some analysts view this decline as a buying opportunity, emphasizing the company's recent momentum and potential in AI. Investors are encouraged to look past short-term concerns.
Dick's Sporting price buoyed by pivotal resistance - Forecast today - 18-02-2026
DKS stock displayed some positive momentum after holding above a key support level of $197.55, but technical indicators suggest continued bearish pressure. Trading below its 50-day SMA and a short-term bearish trend line, the stock is expected to decline further, especially if it breaks the support, targeting $186.00. The forecast for Dick's Sporting remains bearish for upcoming intraday trading.
Palo Alto, Fiverr International, Axcelis Technologies And Other Big Stocks Moving Lower In Wednesday's Pre-Market Session
Several prominent stocks, including Palo Alto Networks, Fiverr International, and Axcelis Technologies, are trading lower in Wednesday's pre-market session. Palo Alto Networks dipped after lowering its full-year adjusted earnings guidance despite beating Q2 revenue estimates. Other companies like Forge Global Holdings, Similarweb Ltd, and MKS Incorporated also saw significant declines following various financial announcements.
RB Global Inc (RBA) PT Raised to $146 at RBC Capital
RBC Capital analyst Sabahat Khan has increased the price target for RB Global Inc (RBA) to $146. This news was published on StreetInsider.com and is noted as a premium article, requiring a subscription to read in full.
Fortinet (FTNT) stock holds steady premarket after analyst downgrade rattles cybersecurity names
Fortinet (FTNT) stock remained stable in premarket trading at $81.69 after Freedom Capital Markets downgraded its rating from "Buy" to "Hold," citing valuation concerns despite strong service growth. This downgrade follows Palo Alto Networks' reduced profit outlook, adding pressure to the cybersecurity sector. Investors are now closely watching upcoming earnings from Zscaler and CrowdStrike for further indicators of market sentiment and the impact on Fortinet's future performance.
Benchmark Reiterates Buy Rating on The Andersons, Inc. (ANDE)
Benchmark analyst Ben Klieve reiterated a Buy rating and set a $75.00 price target for The Andersons, Inc. (NASDAQ: ANDE). The article is a premium-only piece, requiring a subscription to StreetInsider.com Premium for full access.
Stocks to Watch Wednesday: Palo Alto Networks, Synopsys, Moody's, Kenvue
This article highlights several stocks to watch, including Moderna, which saw a significant jump after the FDA agreed to review its flu shot, and Analog Devices, which reported strong quarterly results. Sandisk also experienced a slight increase following Western Digital's plan to sell shares.
Stocks to Watch Wednesday: Palo Alto Networks, Analog Devices, Kenvue
Palo Alto Networks reported better-than-expected quarterly results and raised its annual revenue outlook, but lower-than-expected earnings-per-share guidance for the current quarter led to a 7.5% drop in premarket trading. Caesars Entertainment saw its shares gain 4% in off-hours trading after reporting higher-than-forecast quarterly revenue despite swinging to a loss. Kenvue exceeded quarterly result forecasts and announced a 3.5% staff reduction ahead of its planned takeover by Kimberley-Clark.
Stocks to Watch Wednesday: Palo Alto Networks, Sandisk, Kenvue
This article highlights key stocks to watch on Wednesday, focusing on Analog Devices, Palo Alto Networks, and Sandisk. Analog Devices saw its stock rally after exceeding quarterly expectations, while Palo Alto Networks dropped in premarket trading despite raising its annual revenue outlook, due to disappointing EPS guidance. Sandisk shares also fell after its former parent company, Western Digital, announced plans to sell shares in the flash-memory supplier.
Stocks to Watch Wednesday: Palo Alto Networks, Moody's, Caesars
This article highlights several stocks to watch on Wednesday, featuring Palo Alto Networks, Moody's, and Kenvue. Moderna's shares jumped after the FDA agreed to review its seasonal flu shot, while Analog Devices rose on strong quarterly results and guidance. Conversely, Palo Alto Networks saw its shares drop despite better-than-expected earnings, due to disappointing earnings-per-share guidance for the current quarter.
Palo Alto Networks to Acquire Koi in Reported $400 Million Transaction
Palo Alto Networks has announced its acquisition of endpoint security company Koi, reportedly for $400 million. Koi specializes in protecting various software types, including AI models and agents, through its AI-driven risk engine. This acquisition aims to enhance Palo Alto Networks' Prisma AIRS AI security platform and Cortex XDR endpoint security solution by providing significant visibility into the AI attack surface.
Nvidia, Amazon and New York Times rise premarket; Palo Alto Networks falls
U.S. stock futures gained on Wednesday as investors processed corporate earnings and anticipated the minutes from the last Federal Reserve meeting. Nvidia, Amazon, Cadence Design Systems, Caesars Entertainment, New York Times, Global-E Online, and Riot Platforms saw premarket gains, while Palo Alto Networks and SanDisk experienced drops due to trimmed forecasts and share sales, respectively.
Critical Vulnerabilities in Ivanti EPMM Exploited
Palo Alto Networks' Unit 42 has identified two critical zero-day vulnerabilities (CVE-2026-1281 and CVE-2026-1340) in Ivanti Endpoint Manager Mobile (EPMM) that are being actively exploited. These flaws allow unauthenticated attackers to remotely execute arbitrary code, gaining full control over mobile device management infrastructure. Unit 42 has observed widespread exploitation for reconnaissance, malware deployment, and reverse shells, affecting various sectors globally, and advises immediate patching and investigation for signs of compromise.
Palo Alto Networks, AMD, Nvidia, OLB Group And Meta: Why These 5 Stocks Are On Investors' Radars Today
This article highlights five stocks that were actively traded and on investors' radars, including Palo Alto Networks (PANW), Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), Nvidia (NVDA), OLB Group (OLB), and Meta Platforms (META). Palo Alto Networks saw a dip despite beating earnings expectations due to lowered full-year adjusted EPS guidance. OLB Group experienced a significant surge following a partnership with PayPal, while Meta's stock gained in extended trading due to an AI infrastructure partnership with Nvidia.
Palo Alto Networks’ stock slides as underwhelming outlook overshadows AI messaging
Palo Alto Networks' stock experienced a decline due to a disappointing profit outlook for the current quarter, despite exceeding analyst expectations in the most recent quarter. The cybersecurity company projects adjusted earnings per share between 78 and 80 cents for the fiscal third quarter, falling short of the FactSet consensus of 92 cents. This overshadows their message about benefiting from new AI-driven risks.
