CrowdStrike (CRWD -1.22%) is still feeling the consequences of the outages it was responsible for in 2024.
It hasn't been the best start to 2025 for many U.S. stock market indexes and top tech companies. The S&P 500 barely escaped a correction, the Dow Jones is down, and the Nasdaq Composite is officially in a correction after escaping its short-lived bear market.
Despite the market tumbling lower so far in 2025, many growth stocks still seem to have stretched valuations. Two that I wouldn't touch with a 10-foot pool at their current prices are cybersecurity specialist CrowdStrike (CRWD -3.25%) and data analytics software company Palantir Technologies (PLTR -5.61%).
CrowdStrike (CRWD) has been one of the stocks most watched by Zacks.com users lately. So, it is worth exploring what lies ahead for the stock.
CrowdStrike generated $4.24B in ARR for FY25, growing 23% YoY, with $1.07B in free cash flow at a 27% margin. Over 67% of customers use 5+ modules, while 21% use 8+, reflecting deepening Falcon platform adoption and stickiness. Emerging segments, cloud, identity, and next-gen SIEM, contributed $1.3B ARR, growing nearly 50% YoY and expanding platform surface area.
At a time when investors are looking for growth wherever they can get it, CrowdStrike Holdings Inc. NASDAQ: CRWD stock is up 7% in the last month and over 10% in 2025. And if analysts are correct, CrowdStrike still has plenty of room to run.
CrowdStrike Holdings (CRWD) closed at $378.66 in the latest trading session, marking a +0.2% move from the prior day.
Agentic AI poses significant cybersecurity threats, necessitating advanced AI-enhanced security measures, positioning CrowdStrike as an essential player in organizational security. CrowdStrike's AI-native Falcon Platform leverages predictive analytics and behavioral AI, achieving a 100% detection rate in independent tests, offering a robust defense against AI-driven threats. Despite intense competition, CrowdStrike's strong financials, impressive ARR growth, and high customer retention rate underscore its market leadership and growth potential.
Shares of cybersecurity leaders CrowdStrike Holdings (CRWD 0.92%), Palo Alto Networks (PANW -1.31%), and Fortinet (FTNT 0.51%) rallied 13%, 6%, and 13%, respectively, this week as of noon ET on Friday, according to data provided by S&P Global Market Intelligence.
The recommendations of Wall Street analysts are often relied on by investors when deciding whether to buy, sell, or hold a stock. Media reports about these brokerage-firm-employed (or sell-side) analysts changing their ratings often affect a stock's price.
Let's find out which cybersecurity stock among CrowdStrike and Fortinet is a better bet.
CrowdStrike Holdings Inc. NASDAQ: CRWD stock has turned positive after a peak-to-trough drop of around 12% after the Trump administration announced sweeping new tariffs that caught many investors off guard. The tariff announcement is the latest headwind for technology stocks, including cybersecurity stocks that were among the biggest gainers in 2024.