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Investing.com - JPMorgan maintained its neutral rating and $105.00 price target on Fortinet (NASDAQ:FTNT) on Monday, expressing increased caution ahead of the cybersecurity company’s second-quarter earnings report, due August 6. According to InvestingPro data, Fortinet currently trades at a P/E ratio of 40, with impressive gross profit margins of 81%.
The investment bank cited mixed feedback from recent industry and partner conversations, noting that while Fortinet has historically seen multiple expansion during product spending cycles, the current cycle was heavily promoted last year, leading to elevated investor interest and multiple expansion before the cycle fully materialized. InvestingPro analysis shows the company maintains strong financial health with more cash than debt on its balance sheet.
JPMorgan believes meaningful fundamental improvement is already priced into Fortinet’s current valuation, with investors expecting double-digit growth in both Product revenue and Subscription revenue, including healthy contributions from SASE and SecOps business lines.
While JPMorgan’s proprietary surveys suggest favorable spending tailwinds, which would be expected during a spending cycle, the firm pointed to weaker than anticipated performance in Europe with some revenue pull-forward into the first quarter, potentially creating risk since most of Fortinet’s business originates outside the United States.
The investment bank also noted that Fortinet had already completed 20% of its device-related refresh by the end of the first quarter, which could present risk to estimates for investors expecting more prominent billings acceleration in the second half of the year.
In other recent news, Fortinet has made significant advancements in its cybersecurity offerings by integrating quantum-resistant security features into its FortiOS 7.6 operating system. This update includes post-quantum cryptography methods with algorithms approved by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, aiming to safeguard against emerging quantum computing threats. Meanwhile, JPMorgan has maintained its neutral rating on Fortinet, expressing caution due to mixed feedback from industry conversations ahead of the company’s second-quarter earnings report. Despite this, Cantor Fitzgerald has raised its price target for Fortinet to $110, citing improved trends and stronger channel incentives.
Additionally, Fortinet announced the passing of board member William H. Bill Neukom, who had contributed significantly to the company’s growth since joining the board in 2013. His leadership and experience were highly valued by the company during a period of substantial expansion. These developments come as the cybersecurity industry faces heightened scrutiny following recent security vulnerabilities in Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) products. While Fortinet’s stock ratings remain neutral from both JPMorgan and Cantor Fitzgerald, the company’s advancements in security technology and strategic board leadership continue to be focal points for investors.
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