Stockchase Opinions

Paul Harris, CFACheck Point Software TechCHKPPAST TOP PICKApr 21, 2022

(A Top Pick Apr 06/21, Up 25%) Cybersecurity is a big secular growth area. Lots of pressure to make sure telecommunications are secure, especially as people work remotely. He'd buy it here.
$141.95

Stock price when the opinion was issued

computer softwareprocessing
It's the ideal tool to help you make quicker, more informed decisions for managing and tracking your investments.

You might be interested:

BUY

A cybersecurity name that flies beneath the radar. A reasonable 30x PE.

WATCH

Growth will come from the fact that identity access management is a huge player because of all the ransomware. Identifies both outside and inside players.

HOLD

This sector has good secular growth, lots of cybersecurity issues, governments are investing a lot. Has done well.

WATCH
PANW vs. FTNT vs. CHKP

He used to own CHKP. Both PANW and FTNT are strong businesses, market leaders in the space and taking market share away from CHKP.

Challenge is that PANW and FTNT are really strong in this industry. Good for the consumer, but may not be good for the businesses in that space. At 46x PE, PANW is really expensive, growth needed to justify that valuation is substantial, high valuation keeps him on the sidelines.

Look at the space as a whole to see if you want to be involved, rather than choosing just one player. Does like the aspect of customer "stickiness" in that once a customer signs up, switching costs are high.

BUY

Cybersecurity has become such an important area. Governments around the world are looking as it. Huge investments in coming years at government and corporate levels. Strong secular growth. Need has increased because, since Covid, people no longer work in just one spot.

BUY ON WEAKNESS

Likes this space (security), but his issue is its valuation. Tech is at highs now, so find a better entry level.

PAST TOP PICK
(A Top Pick Mar 29/23, Up 21%)

In the face of increasing competition, restructured its businesses. Reported extremely good numbers, stuck to guidance. Might explain why PANW selloff today not hurting them as much.

BUY

Next to semiconductors, cybersecurity is one of the great secular growth areas. Hacks are proliferating. Making new highs. An area you have to own for the next several years. 

TOP PICK

IT security solutions provider. Last year, rested on their laurels. Change in management, upped game. His 12-month price target is $151.50. No dividend.

(Analysts’ price target is $138.27)
BUY ON WEAKNESS

In cyber security. Offers stable growth and is well-managed. Doesn't like that they pay no dividend. It's a mature company, good. Low beta. Perhaps buy this in a recession. Prefers this to Palo Alto. 

BUY
Cybersecurity is a very important area to own. Secular growth area. US government is putting a lot of investment in. Lots of room to grow.
PAST TOP PICK
(A Top Pick Dec 10/21, Up 15%) Cybersecurity, one of the really big growth areas in tech. Moving to SaaS, which slowed down growth. New products took some time. Growing earnings in an area that will continue to grow rapidly, especially for corporations and the cloud. Moving offsite increases security issues.
PAST TOP PICK
(A Top Pick Jul 22/21, Up 3%) Cybersecurity is a strong secular growth market. Issues from transition to SaaS and new products. Long run, should see strong revenue and free cashflow growth. Continues to buy here.
PAST TOP PICK
(A Top Pick Jun 17/21, Up 2%) No debt and are increasing free cash flow. Cybersecurity is a good secular growth business among governments and corporations. They're transitioning software as a service which hurt them several quarters ago, but they are creating more products. Trades at 18x earnings.