Stock quotes in this article: $HACK, $CYBR, $FEYE, $FTNT, $BLOX, $JNPR, $PANW
Our long-standing readers know that we are bullish on cyber security stocks and have been for a while. Most recently in May 2015 we wrote an article for Jim Cramer’s RealMoney.com outlining our bullish fundamental and technical thesis for cyber security stocks.
Our Bullish Thesis:
Our bullish thesis has not changed – we still believe the fundamental and technical case for investing in this space remains very strong. One of the byproducts of the online, inter-dependent, and very “connected” world we live in is that cyber-security threats are a massive issue. Moreover, cyber threats are growing exponentially and will continue to do so for many years to come.
Cyber Security Threats:
We’ve seen a huge spike in data breaches over the past few years, including major incidents at the White House, Office of Personal Management, Neiman Marcus, Target and Home Depot. It reminds me of the computer-virus problems of the 1980s and ’90s. There was lots of money to be made then, and there’s lots of money to be made now.
Cyber Security Stocks:
As a refresher – A handful of cyber-security companies have gone public in recent years and are now emerging as a leading group on Wall Street. An easy way to play the sector is to buy the PureFunds ISE Cyber Security ETF (HACK). As for individual stocks, some of my favorites, in alphabetical order, Cyberark Software(CYBR), FireEye (FEYE), Fortinet (FTNT), Infoblox (BLOX), Juniper Networks (JNPR) and Palo Alto Networks (PANW).
Fundamental Case:
The fundamental case to invest in this nascent and growing space is strong. According to Forbes, Target’s 2013 data breach cost the retailing giant approximately $150 million, while Home Depot’s incident set the home-improvement chain back $62 million. A separate study showed that total worldwide costs for data breaches topped several-hundred-million dollars in 2014 and are growing at an astronomical rate.
Big Demand Translates Into Big Earnings:
This all translates into a huge opportunity for cyber-security firms. After all, the threat is worldwide rather than limited to one country, and most cyber-security companies offer subscription services that generate recurring revenue rather than one-time payments. So, the market for their services is virtually endless. Cyber-security threats are also here to stay regardless of what happens with the Fed, the broader economy or almost any other factor that can adversely affect stocks.
Ripe For Consolidation:
Furthermore, the sector is fragmented and ripe for consolidation — think of airlines 10 years ago — which should bode well for the future. Naturally, some of the older and larger tech names could easily come into the space and buy a few of the emerging players. Or, a few small players might want to merge for strategic reasons.
Strong Technicals
The technical case for the sector is also strong, as many stocks are trading near their respective 52-week highs and above important moving averages. Watch out for earnings and FTNT gapped up on Thursday after reporting earnings.
The bottom line: It behooves each of us to protect our data — and these stocks are well-positioned to profit from this basic need.
Position in HACK
