William Blair reiterates outperform rating on CrowdStrike stock

On Wednesday, William Blair analysts reaffirmed their Outperform rating for CrowdStrike Holdings (NASDAQ: NASDAQ:CRWD). The reaffirmation follows the company’s recent announcement of its second-quarter revenue guidance, which slightly missed expectations. Despite this, management remains optimistic about business acceleration in the latter half of the year, citing a robust pipeline. According to InvestingPro data, the company maintains strong revenue growth of 29.4% and impressive gross margins of nearly 75%.

After-hours trading saw CrowdStrike shares dip, a movement attributed to the revenue guidance miss and ongoing challenges from the CCP programs. The stock has shown remarkable strength, with InvestingPro data indicating a 60% return over the past year and trading near its 52-week high of $491.20. Company executives express confidence in their ability to navigate these hurdles and capitalize on consolidation trends within the industry.

A key highlight from CrowdStrike’s recent announcements is the introduction of a $1 billion share repurchase program. This move is seen as a strong indicator of management’s long-term confidence in the company’s strategy and future growth prospects. The company’s financial health appears solid, with InvestingPro analysis showing liquid assets exceeding short-term obligations and moderate debt levels.

CrowdStrike’s management believes its track record of execution positions the company well to further standardize enterprises on its platform. The company aims to leverage its strengths to enhance its market position and drive future growth.

Investors will be closely watching how CrowdStrike navigates the coming months, particularly in light of the company’s strategic initiatives and market conditions.

In other recent news, CrowdStrike Holdings reported earnings per share of $0.73 for the fiscal first quarter of 2026, surpassing both the analysts’ estimate of $0.65 and the consensus estimate of $0.67. Revenue reached $1,103.4 million, slightly below the consensus expectation but exceeding the company’s own forecast. The company’s annual recurring revenue (ARR) increased to $4.44 billion, marking a 22% year-over-year growth and surpassing analyst and market expectations. Additionally, CrowdStrike announced a $1 billion share repurchase authorization.

Analyst firms have made various adjustments to CrowdStrike’s stock price target. Mizuho (NYSE:MFG) raised its price target to $450 while maintaining a Neutral rating, reflecting cautious optimism about the company’s growth prospects. Raymond (NSE:RYMD) James increased its target to $485, maintaining an Outperform rating, citing confidence in future performance despite current challenges. Truist Securities set a new target of $500, up from $450, reiterating a Buy rating due to potential growth through product adoption.

Conversely, Canaccord Genuity downgraded CrowdStrike from a Buy to a Hold rating, even as it raised the price target to $475. The firm noted that while CrowdStrike’s expansion is encouraging, the risk/reward balance is more even at current levels. Despite these differing analyst perspectives, CrowdStrike’s strong financial performance and strategic initiatives continue to draw attention.

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