Stock market today: S&P 500 drops for fifth day as focus shifts to Powell’s speech
On Tuesday, Stifel analysts maintained a Buy rating on Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL) stock, with a steady price target of $225.00. Currently trading at $160.67, InvestingPro analysis suggests the stock is undervalued, with analysts’ consensus remaining strongly bullish at 1.59 (where 1 is Strong Buy). The firm’s analysts highlighted the potential growth from Alphabet’s recent cybersecurity acquisitions, including Wiz, which has demonstrated a robust average recurring revenue (ARR) growth. This aligns with Alphabet’s impressive 13.87% revenue growth over the last twelve months, reaching $350 billion.
Wiz’s ARR has been increasing approximately $480,000 daily since 2021, a pace that could lead to nearly $700 million in ARR by 2025. This projection is slightly conservative compared to the internal target of $1 billion. Stifel’s valuation of Wiz suggests an enterprise value to next twelve months (EV/NTM) ARR of about 45 times, which significantly exceeds the average of approximately 6 times NTM revenue seen in previous cybersecurity deals.
The acquisition of Wiz is part of Alphabet’s strategic expansion into the cybersecurity sector, following the purchases of Mandiant for $5.4 billion and Siemplify for a reported $500 million in 2022. Wiz’s product has resonated with enterprise clients, as evidenced by a 400% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) in ARR since February 2021, when the company reported $1 million in ARR.
Despite the impressive growth and a strong portfolio of enterprise customers, the analysts at Stifel noted that the financial impact of Wiz on Alphabet’s overall business remains uncertain. Factors such as Wiz’s availability on competing cloud platforms and its pre-existing partnership with Google Cloud contribute to this uncertainty. Additionally, the potential regulatory challenges of the acquisition were acknowledged, although the likelihood of approval is seen as more probable given Google Cloud’s position in the market. According to InvestingPro, Alphabet maintains excellent financial health with a "GREAT" overall score, holding more cash than debt on its balance sheet. For deeper insights into Alphabet’s financial metrics and growth potential, investors can access the comprehensive Pro Research Report, available exclusively to InvestingPro subscribers.
In other recent news, Alphabet has announced its acquisition of Wiz, a cybersecurity company, for $32 billion in cash. This strategic move, set to be completed in 2026 pending regulatory approval, is anticipated to enhance Google Cloud Platform’s security offerings. Citi and Evercore ISI have both maintained positive outlooks on Alphabet, with Citi setting a price target of $229 and Evercore ISI at $205. Wiz’s rapid growth in the cloud security market, with annual recurring revenue projected to reach $500 million by July 2024, underscores its potential value to Alphabet.
Additionally, Google’s Gemini has introduced new features, Canvas and Audio Overview, to improve collaboration and creativity. These features aim to streamline document editing and coding, and transform files into podcast-style discussions. At its annual health event, Google showcased advancements in AI for healthcare, including AI Overviews for improved health information searches and the launch of Medical (TASE:BLWV) Records APIs in Health Connect. Furthermore, Google has launched the first FireSat satellite to enhance wildfire detection, part of a broader initiative to use AI in mitigating wildfire damage.
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