Evercore ISI maintains Arista Networks at $130 target

Published 26/03/2025, 10:48
Evercore ISI maintains Arista Networks at $130 target

On Wednesday, Evercore ISI reiterated its Outperform rating on Arista Networks stock (NYSE:ANET), maintaining a price target of $130.00. The company, currently valued at $109.6 billion, has demonstrated robust financial performance with 19.5% revenue growth over the last twelve months. According to InvestingPro data, 16 analysts have recently revised their earnings estimates upward for the upcoming period. The update follows the public launch of Nexthop AI, a new networking startup founded by former Arista Chief Operating Officer Anshul Sadana. Nexthop AI, which has recently raised $110 million in a funding round led by Lightspeed Ventures with contributions from Kleiner Perkins among others, is set to create advanced networking products tailored for Hyperscalers. These products will include specifically designed networking hardware and a selection of operating systems, enhanced with Nexthop AI’s proprietary features.

Anshul Sadana’s departure from Arista Networks in April last year sparked much speculation regarding the reasons behind his resignation and his future endeavors. The emergence of Nexthop AI marks Sadana’s re-entry into the networking industry with a focus on innovation and customization. The startup aims to provide Hyperscalers with hardware that meets their individual specifications, coupled with a choice of hardened open-source operating systems.

Evercore ISI’s commentary highlighted the potential competitive landscape that Nexthop AI might enter, suggesting it could position itself against white box providers that also use open-source operating systems, as well as established companies like Arista with their proprietary EOS. While the press release from Nexthop AI did not delve into detailed specifics, the firm underscored the early stage of the company’s development and its intention to monitor the startup’s strategic positioning in the networking supply chain.

The analyst’s outlook on Arista Networks remains positive, with the reaffirmed price target reflecting confidence in the company’s performance. The announcement of Nexthop AI’s entry into the market, led by a former executive of Arista, presents a new variable in the networking space that Evercore ISI plans to observe as it evolves. InvestingPro analysis shows Arista maintains a strong financial position with a "GREAT" health score and more cash than debt on its balance sheet. For deeper insights into Arista’s competitive position and detailed financial analysis, investors can access the comprehensive Pro Research Report, available exclusively to InvestingPro subscribers.

In other recent news, Arista Networks has been the focus of several analyst reports following its latest earnings results and strategic developments. UBS upgraded Arista Networks from Neutral to Buy, increasing the price target to $115, citing a strong outlook for data center capital expenditures and positive metrics such as purchase commitments and deferred revenue. Piper Sandler raised its price target slightly to $108, maintaining a Neutral rating, noting Arista’s successful engagement with major Cloud & AI Titans but expressing caution due to potential customer loss concerns. Meanwhile, Rosenblatt Securities increased its price target to $85 while maintaining a Sell rating, highlighting skepticism about Arista’s ability to meet its financial objectives in the AI back-end market.

Evercore ISI continues to rate Arista Networks as Outperform with a $130 price target, despite the recent departure of Chief Platform Officer John McCool. The firm emphasized the importance of CEO Jayshree Ullal and CFO Ken Duda to the company’s success. JPMorgan reiterated its Overweight rating with a $140 target, expressing confidence in Arista’s growth strategy and potential for earnings to surpass current consensus estimates in the coming years. The firm added Arista Networks to its Analyst Focus List, pointing to expected revenue growth driven by Ethernet adoption in AI data centers.

These developments reflect a mix of optimism and caution among analysts regarding Arista Networks’ future performance, particularly in light of executive changes and evolving market dynamics.

This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.

Latest comments

Risk Disclosure: Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers
© 2007-2025 - Fusion Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.