- Stocks Settle Higher on Strong Tech Earnings and Economic Resilience
May 14, 2026
The S&P 500 Index ($SPX) (SPY) on Thursday closed up +0.77%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average ($DOWI) (DIA) closed up +0.75%, and the Nasdaq 100 Index ($IUXX) (QQQ) closed up +0.73%. June E-mini S&P futures (ESM26) rose +0.78%, and June E-mini Nasdaq futures (NQM26) rose +0.75%.
Stock indexes settled higher on Thursday, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 posting new all-time highs, and the Dow Jones Industrials posting a 3-month high. Strength in technology stocks supported gains in the overall market on Thursday, led by a +13% jump in Cisco Systems after it raised its full-year revenue and earnings forecast. Stocks also benefited from the US-China summit in Beijing, where the US and China discussed various issues, including expanding market access for US businesses and purchasing US energy and agricultural products. Reuters reported that the US and China are weighing a potential framework under which each country identifies about $30 billion in goods on which tariffs could be eased without threatening national security interests. Join 200K+ Subscribers: Find out why the midday Barchart Brief newsletter is a must-read for thousands daily.
Stocks added to their gains on Thursday on signs of economic resilience after US reports showed that April retail sales rose as expected and that weekly jobless claims remained near historically low levels.
US weekly initial unemployment claims rose +12,000 to 211,000, showing a weaker labor market than expectations of 205,000.
US Apr retail sales rose +0.5% m/m, right on expectations. Also, Apr retail sales ex-autos rose +0.7% m/m, right on expectations.
The US Apr import price index ex-petroleum rose by +0.7% m/m, stronger than expectations of +0.5% m/m.
Hawkish comments on Thursday from Kansas City Fed President Jeff Schmid were negative for stocks, as he said the fundamentals of the US economy are sound but "inflation is the most pressing risk to the economy."
WTI crude oil prices (CLM26) finished slightly higher on Thursday as talks to end the Iran war remain in limbo. The Strait of Hormuz remains essentially closed, as about a fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas transits through the strait. On Wednesday, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said in a monthly report that global oil inventories declined at a rate of about 4 million bpd in March and April, and the market will remain “severely undersupplied” until October even if the conflict ends next month. Goldman Sachs estimates that the current disruption has drawn down nearly 500 million bbl from global crude stockpiles, with the drawdown potentially reaching 1 billion bbl by June.
The markets are discounting a 4% chance of a -25 bp FOMC rate cut at the next FOMC meeting on June 16-17.
Earnings reports thus far in this reporting season have been supportive of stocks. As of Thursday, 83% of the 454 S&P 500 companies that reported Q1 earnings have beaten estimates. Q1 S&P 500 earnings are projected to climb +12% y/y, according to Bloomberg Intelligence. Stripping out the technology sector, Q1 earnings are projected to increase around +3%, the weakest in two years.
Overseas stock markets settled mixed on Thursday. The Euro Stoxx 50 closed up +1.26%. China's Shanghai Composite fell from a nearly 11-year high and closed down -1.52%. Japan's Nikkei Stock Average fell from a record high and closed down -0.98%.
Interest Rates
June 10-year T-notes (ZNM6) on Thursday closed up by +3.5 ticks. The 10-year T-note yield fell -0.6 bp to 4.463%. T-notes moved slightly higher on Thursday after weekly US jobless claims rose more than expected, a dovish factor for Fed policy. T-notes also moved higher on Thursday as bond dealers covered short positions placed in T-notes to hedge against the $125 billion of US government security sales from this week’s quarterly refunding. T-notes fell back from their best level after Kansas City Fed President Jeff Schmid said, "inflation is the most pressing risk to the economy."
European government bond yields moved lower on Thursday. The 10-year German Bund yield fell -5.8 bp to 3.043%. The 10-year UK gilt yield fell -7.1 bp to 4.994%.
UK Mar manufacturing production unexpectedly rose +1.2% m/m, stronger than expectations of a -0.1% m/m decline and the largest increase in four months.
ECB Governing Council member Martins Kazaks said, "Oil prices are higher, we see that it's gradually starting to push inflation up, and if inflation expectations start to deteriorate, then the ECB will be forced to raise interest rates."
Swaps are discounting an 80% chance of a +25 bp ECB rate hike at its next policy meeting on June 11.
US Stock Movers
Chipmakers rallied on Thursday amid optimism that the summit between President Trump and China’s Xi Jinping could lead to a series of trade deals, especially around semiconductors. Broadcom (AVGO) closed up more than +6%, and Nvidia (NVDA) closed up more than +4%. Also, Marvell Technology (MRVL) and KLA Corp (KLAC) closed up more than +3%, and ARM Holdings Plc (ARM) closed up by more than +2%. In addition, Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), Applied Materials (AMAT), Lam Research (LRCX), and Texas Instruments (TXN) closed up by more than +1%.
Cybersecurity stocks moved higher on Thursday, providing support to the broader market. Palo Alto Networks (PANW) closed up more than +4%, and Okta (OKTA), CrowdStrike Holdings (CRWD), Cloudflare (NET), and Fortinet (FTNT) closed up more than +3%. Also, Zscaler (ZS) closed up more than +1%.
Mining stocks retreated on Thursday as silver prices fell by more than -4% and copper prices slid by more than -1%. Hecla Mining (HL) closed down more than -8%, and Barrick Mining (B) closed down more than -3%. Also, Newmont Corp (NEM) closed down more than -2%, and Freeport McMoRan (FCX), Southern Copper (SCCO), and Coeur Mining (CDE) closed down more than -1%.
Cisco Systems (CSCO) closed up more than +13% to lead gainers in the S&P 500, Nasdaq 100, and the Dow Jones Industrials after reporting Q3 results that beat expectations and raised its full-year forecast.
Stubhub Holdings (STUB) closed up more than +13% after reporting Q1 revenue of $446 million, better than the consensus of $425 million.
Take-Two Interactive Software (TTWO) closed up more than +6% on an unconfirmed report that said the company’s highly anticipated Grand Theft Auto VI game will soon be available for pre-order.
Ford Motor (F) closed up more than +6% after it said it would invest $2 billion to get into the data storage business, which includes producing large energy cells for the storage business.
Assurant (AIZ) closed up more than +4% after Morgan Stanley upgraded the stock to overweight from equal weight with a price target of $285.
Commercial Metals (CMC) closed up more than +3% after UBS upgraded the stock to buy from neutral with a price target of $89.
Doximity (DOCS) is down more than -23% after forecasting 2027 revenue of $664 million to $676 million, well below the consensus of $698.9 million.
Boeing (BA) closed down more than -4% to lead losers in the Dow Jones Industrials after China agreed to buy 200 Boeing planes, well below expectations of a 500-plane purchase.
Oklo (OKLO) closed down by more than -3% after announcing its intent to offer up to $1 billion in shares of its common stock.
Akamai Technologies (AKAM) closed down more than -3% after agreeing to buy LayerX for about $205 million, saying the acquisition will cut full-year adjusted EPS by about 12 cents.
Kodiak Gas Services (KGS) closed down nearly -2% after offering shares for $70 to $72 per share in an overnight share sale, below Wednesday’s closing price of $75.74.
Camden Property Trust (CPT) closed down more than -1% after Scotiabank downgraded the stock to sector underperform from sector perform with a price target of $95.
Earnings Reports(5/15/2026)
Actuate Therapeutics Inc (ACTU), Arrive AI Inc (ARAI), ARS Pharmaceuticals Inc (SPRY), Bright Minds Biosciences Inc (DRUG), Falcon's Beyond Global Inc (FBYD), Gossamer Bio Inc (GOSS), Lument Finance Trust Inc (LFT), Maui Land & Pineapple Co Inc (MLP), NexPoint Diversified Real Estate Trust (NXDT), Picard Medical Inc (PMI), RBC Bearings Inc (RBC), Smith-Midland Corp (SMID). On the date of publication, Rich Asplund did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. For more information please view the Barchart Disclosure Policy here.
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.
- S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 Post Record Highs on Tech Strength
May 14, 2026
The S&P 500 Index ($SPX) (SPY) today is up +0.74%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average ($DOWI) (DIA) is up +0.79%, and the Nasdaq 100 Index ($IUXX) (QQQ) is up +0.78%. June E-mini S&P futures (ESM26) are up +0.71%, and June E-mini Nasdaq futures (NQM26) are up +0.80%.
Stock indexes are pushing higher today, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 posting new all-time highs. Strength in technology stocks is supporting gains in the overall market today, led by a +13% jump in Cisco Systems after it raised its full-year revenue and earnings forecast. Stocks also benefited from the US-China summit in Beijing, where the US and China discussed various issues, including expanding market access for US businesses and purchasing US energy and agricultural products. Reuters reported that the US and China are weighing a potential framework under which each country identifies about $30 billion in goods on which tariffs could be eased without threatening national security interests. Join 200K+ Subscribers: Find out why the midday Barchart Brief newsletter is a must-read for thousands daily.
Stocks maintained their gains today after US economic news showed that April retail sales rose as expected and after weekly jobless claims remained near historically low levels.
US weekly initial unemployment claims rose +12,000 to 211,000, showing a weaker labor market than expectations of 205,000.
US Apr retail sales rose +0.5% m/m, right on expectations. Also, Apr retail sales ex-autos rose +0.7% m/m, right on expectations.
The US Apr import price index ex-petroleum rose by +0.7% m/m, stronger than expectations of +0.5% m/m.
Hawkish comments today from Kansas City Fed President Jeff Schmid were negative for stocks, as he said the fundamentals of the US economy are sound but "inflation is the most pressing risk to the economy."
WTI crude oil prices (CLM26) are moving higher today as talks to end the Iran war remain in limbo. The Strait of Hormuz remains essentially closed, as about a fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas transits through the strait. On Wednesday, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said in a monthly report that global oil inventories declined at a rate of about 4 million bpd in March and April, and the market will remain “severely undersupplied” until October even if the conflict ends next month. Goldman Sachs estimates that the current disruption has drawn down nearly 500 million bbl from global crude stockpiles, with the drawdown potentially reaching 1 billion bbl by June.
The markets are discounting a 7% chance of a -25 bp FOMC rate cut at the next FOMC meeting on June 16-17.
Earnings reports thus far in this reporting season have been supportive of stocks. As of today, 83% of the 454 S&P 500 companies that reported Q1 earnings have beaten estimates. Q1 S&P 500 earnings are projected to climb +12% y/y, according to Bloomberg Intelligence. Stripping out the technology sector, Q1 earnings are projected to increase around +3%, the weakest in two years.
Overseas stock markets are mixed today. The Euro Stoxx 50 is up +1.06%. China's Shanghai Composite fell from a nearly 11-year high and closed down -1.52%. Japan's Nikkei Stock Average fell from a record high and closed down -0.98%.
Interest Rates
June 10-year T-notes (ZNM6) today are up by +4 ticks. The 10-year T-note yield is down -1.8 bp to 4.451%. T-notes are climbing today after weekly US jobless claims rose more than expected, a dovish factor for Fed policy. T-notes are also moving higher today as bond dealers cover short positions placed in T-notes to hedge against the $125 billion of US government security sales from this week’s quarterly refunding. T-notes fell back from their best level after Kansas City Fed President Jeff Schmid said, "inflation is the most pressing risk to the economy."
European government bond yields are moving lower today. The 10-year German Bund yield is down by -4.8 bp to 3.052%. The 10-year UK gilt yield is down -5.8 bp to 5.007%.
UK Mar manufacturing production unexpectedly rose +1.2% m/m, stronger than expectations of a -0.1% m/m decline and the largest increase in four months.
ECB Governing Council member Martins Kazaks said, "Oil prices are higher, we see that it's gradually starting to push inflation up, and if inflation expectations start to deteriorate, then the ECB will be forced to raise interest rates."
Swaps are discounting an 81% chance of a +25 bp ECB rate hike at its next policy meeting on June 11.
US Stock Movers
Chipmakers are climbing today on optimism that the summit between President Trump and China’s Xi Jinping could lead to a series of trade deals, especially around semiconductors. Marvell Technology (MRVL) is up more than +5%, and Broadcom (AVGO) and Nvidia (NVDA) are up more than +4%. Also, Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), Applied Materials (AMAT), and KLA Corp (KLAC) are up more than +1%.
Cybersecurity stocks are moving higher today, providing support to the broader market. Okta (OKTA) and Palo Alto Networks (PANW) are up more than +3%, and Zscaler (ZS) and Cloudflare (NET) are up more than +2%. Also, CrowdStrike Holdings (CRWD) and Fortinet (FTNT) are up more than +1%.
Mining stocks are falling today, with silver prices down more than -4% and copper prices down more than -1%. Hecla Mining (HL) is down more than -5%, and Barrick Mining (B) is down more than -3%. Also, Freeport McMoRan (FCX), Newmont Corp (NEM), and Southern Copper (SCCO) are down more than -2%. In addition, Coeur Mining (CDE) is down more than -1%.
Stubhub Holdings (STUB) is up more than +20% after reporting Q1 revenue of $446 million, better than the consensus of $425 million.
Cisco Systems (CSCO) is up more than +13% to lead gainers in the S&P 500, Nasdaq 100, and the Dow Jones Industrials after reporting Q3 results that beat expectations and raised its full-year forecast.
Take-Two Interactive Software (TTWO) is up more than +8% on an unconfirmed report that said the company’s highly anticipated Grand Theft Auto VI game will soon be available for pre-order.
Ford Motor (F) is up more than +7% after it said it would invest $2 billion to get into the data storage business, which includes producing large energy cells for the storage business.
Commercial Metals (CMC) is up more than +3% after UBS upgraded the stock to buy from neutral with a price target of $89.
Starbucks (SBUX) is up more than +2% after TD Cowen upgraded the stock to buy from hold with a price target of $120.
Doximity (DOCS) is down more than -24% after forecasting 2027 revenue of $664 million to $676 million, well below the consensus of $698.9 million.
Oklo (OKLO) is down by more than -6% after announcing its intent to offer up to $1 billion in shares of its common stock.
Akamai Technologies (AKAM) is down more than -4% after agreeing to buy LayerX for about $205 million, saying the acquisition will cut full-year adjusted EPS by about 12 cents.
Kodiak Gas Services (KGS) is down more than -1% after offering shares for $70 to $72 per share in an overnight share sale, below Wednesday’s closing price of $75.74.
Earnings Reports(5/14/2026)
Applied Materials Inc (AMAT), Bullish (BLSH), Fermi Inc (FRMI), Globant SA (GLOB), Liberty Live Holdings Inc (LLYVA), NIQ Global Intelligence Plc (NIQ), NU Holdings Ltd/Cayman Islands (NU), Versant Media Group Inc (VSNT), Viking Holdings Ltd (VIK), YETI Holdings Inc (YETI). On the date of publication, Rich Asplund did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. For more information please view the Barchart Disclosure Policy here.
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.
- Nasdaq 100 Movers: DDOG, CSCO
May 14, 2026
In early trading on Thursday, shares of Cisco Systems topped the list of the day's best performing components of the Nasdaq 100 index, trading up 16.2%. Year to date, Cisco Systems registers a 53.6% gain.
And the worst performing Nasdaq 100 component thus far on the day is Datadog, trading down 3.4%. Datadog is showing a gain of 45.9% looking at the year to date performance.
Two other components making moves today are Zscaler, trading down 3.2%, and Take-Two Interactive Software, trading up 4.5% on the day.
VIDEO: Nasdaq 100 Movers: DDOG, CSCO
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.
- Fastly Stock Plunges 42% After Q1 Earnings: Time to Stay Cautious?
May 14, 2026
Fastly, Inc. FSLY investors have had a difficult run. Since the company released its first-quarter 2026 results in early May, the stock has fallen nearly 42%, even though the results were better than expected.
With this, the company’s shares have declined 21.7% over the past month. The decline is even more disappointing when compared with the broader market. Over the same time frame, FSLY has underperformed the industry’s decline of 3.9% and lagged the broader Zacks Computer and Technology sector and the S&P 500’s respective increases of 10.8% and 6%. Other technology players, including Zscaler, Inc. ZS, Akamai Technologies, Inc. AKAM and Cloudflare, Inc. NET, have gained 16.2%, 78.3% and 1.3%, respectively.Zacks Investment Research
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The sharp underperformance shows that investors are looking beyond Fastly’s headline numbers. The company reported record revenues, strong growth in security and improved adjusted profitability. However, the market remains worried about slower growth in its core business, rising infrastructure costs and tough competition.
What Is Hurting Fastly Stock?
The biggest concern is the slowdown in Fastly’s core Network Services business. This segment still contributes the majority of the company’s revenues, making its performance critical to overall growth. In the first quarter, Network Services revenues increased 11% year over year. While the growth was solid, it was lower than what investors typically expect from a high-growth technology company.
Management attributed some of the moderation to tough comparisons with a particularly strong fourth quarter, which benefited from holiday e-commerce traffic and gaming downloads. However, investors remain cautious about the long-term growth trajectory of the company’s legacy CDN business.
Pricing pressure is another challenge. Fastly noted that pricing erosion in Network Services remained in the mid-single-digit range. This is common across the CDN industry, where customers receive higher discounts as traffic volumes grow. While Fastly continues to add traffic and customers, pricing dynamics could continue limiting revenue acceleration.
At the same time, Fastly is investing heavily in infrastructure to support future growth opportunities tied to AI workloads, edge computing and security offerings. The company expects infrastructure capital expenditures to rise meaningfully in 2026. Although these investments may strengthen Fastly’s platform over time, they could pressure near-term free cash flow and margins.
Competition also remains intense. Fastly competes with larger and well-capitalized players across content delivery, cybersecurity and edge computing markets. Investors are closely watching whether Fastly can continue expanding its newer security and compute businesses quickly enough to offset slower growth in Network Services.
Story Continues
There Are Still Some Bright Spots for FSLY
Fastly’s security business remains the clearest positive. Security revenues jumped 47% year over year in the first quarter and now account for 22% of total revenues. The company is gaining traction beyond its core web application firewall with products such as Bot Management, DDoS protection and API Security.
AI-related demand could also support long-term growth. Fastly believes rising AI traffic, agentic AI workloads and bot-heavy internet activity will increase demand for edge security, API management and compute solutions. Its “Other” segment, which includes compute and observability, grew 67% year over year in the first quarter, though it remains a small part of the business.
Customer trends are also improving. Fastly’s last-12-month net retention rate rose to 113%, showing that existing customers are spending more on the platform. The company also continues to win recognition for its edge development platform, which supports the case that its technology remains competitive.
What Are Analysts Saying About FSLY?
Estimate revisions have been somewhat encouraging. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for current-year earnings has risen 11.5% over the past seven days to 26 cents per share, implying 123.1% growth from the year-ago reported figure. Meanwhile, the consensus estimate for next-year earnings has remained unchanged at 37 cents per share, suggesting analysts are maintaining a balanced view on Fastly’s longer-term growth prospects.Zacks Investment Research
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Fastly’s Valuation Reflects Mixed Expectations
Even after the steep decline, Fastly’s valuation presents a mixed picture. FSLY trades at a forward 12-month price-to-sales (P/S) ratio of 3.84, slightly above the industry average of 3.68. However, it trades below ZS, AKAM and NET, which have P/S multiples of 6.41, 5.07 and 21.99, respectively.Zacks Investment Research
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The discount to peers shows that investors remain cautious about Fastly’s growth outlook and execution risks. The company is still heavily dependent on its slower-growing Network Services business, while higher infrastructure spending and competition could weigh on margins and free cash flow.
Should Investors Avoid FSLY for Now?
Fastly delivered a solid first quarter, supported by strong growth in security revenues and improving profitability trends. The company is also seeing opportunities in AI-related workloads, edge computing and cybersecurity. However, the sharp decline in the stock shows that investors remain focused on the risks. Slower growth in the core Network Services segment, ongoing pricing pressure, higher infrastructure spending and tough competition could continue to limit near-term upside.
While Fastly’s long-term opportunities are meaningful, the risk-reward profile does not look compelling yet. Investors may want to stay on the sidelines until the company shows more consistent execution and stronger contribution from its newer growth businesses.
Fastly currently carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).
You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
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Zscaler, Inc. (ZS) : Free Stock Analysis Report
Fastly, Inc. (FSLY) : Free Stock Analysis Report
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- Zscaler's Z-Flex Adoption Rises: Is It a New Revenue Growth Catalyst?
May 14, 2026
Zscaler, Inc. ZS is seeing strong momentum from its Z-Flex program, and the offering is increasingly becoming an important contributor to revenue growth. Z-Flex allows enterprises to commit to long-term spending while giving them the flexibility to add, remove or swap security modules over time without restarting procurement processes. This flexible approach is helping the company close larger and longer-duration contracts.
In the second quarter of fiscal 2026, Z-Flex bookings crossed $290 million, rising 65% sequentially. Since its launch about a year ago, the platform has generated nearly $650 million in total contract value with average contract durations of around four years. Longer commitments improve revenue visibility and strengthen customer retention.
Z-Flex is helping Zscaler deepen relationships with existing customers. Enterprises are increasingly adopting multiple modules across AI security, data protection and Zero Trust offerings under one agreement. Some customers have deployed more than 10 modules in a single deal, reflecting strong platform stickiness and cross-selling potential.
The impact is already visible in broader financial performance. Zscaler reported 26% year-over-year revenue growth in the second quarter of fiscal 2026, while annual recurring revenues (ARR) climbed 25% to $3.4 billion. Remaining performance obligations also rose 31% to $6.1 billion, signaling strong future demand.
Z-Flex could become a durable growth catalyst by accelerating deal cycles, expanding customer spending and improving long-term revenue predictability for Zscaler. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Zscaler’s fiscal 2026 and 2027 revenues indicates year-over-year growth of 24% and 19.7%, respectively.
How Do Rivals Fare Against Zscaler?
Zscaler faces intense competition from Palo Alto Networks, Inc. PANW and CrowdStrike Holdings, Inc. CRWD, which have similar platform-driven growth strategies. Both companies are using flexible bundles and integrated platforms to expand customer spending.
Palo Alto Networks focuses on subscription pricing and bundled offerings that combine firewalls, cloud security and XDR tools into integrated suites. These bundles can deliver 10-15% savings versus buying products separately, which encourages customers to adopt Palo Alto Networks’ broader platform packages rather than single solutions. In the second quarter of fiscal 2026, PANW’s next-generation security ARR grew 33% year over year to $6.33 billion, where the platformization strategy was a key driver.
CrowdStrike Holdings uses a similar expansion strategy through its Falcon platform bundles and the Falcon Flex licensing model. These models allow customers to add modules without new procurement cycles. In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026, ARR from CrowdStrike Holdings’ Falcon Flex customers reached $1.69 billion, growing more than 120% year over year.
Story Continues
Zscaler’s Price Performance, Valuation and Estimates
Shares of Zscaler have plunged 38.1% over the past year compared to the Zacks Security industry’s rise of 5.2%.
Zscaler One-Year Price Return PerformanceZacks Investment Research
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, ZS trades at a forward price-to-sales ratio of 6.41, significantly below the industry’s average of 12.73.
Zscaler Forward 12-Month P/S RatioZacks Investment Research
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Zscaler’s fiscal 2026 and 2027 earnings implies a year-over-year increase of 22.9% and 13%, respectively. Estimates for fiscal 2026 and 2027 have remained unchanged over the past 60 days.Zacks Investment Research
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Zscaler currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report
Palo Alto Networks, Inc. (PANW) : Free Stock Analysis Report
Zscaler, Inc. (ZS) : Free Stock Analysis Report
CrowdStrike (CRWD) : Free Stock Analysis Report
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- Fastly Stock Plunges 42% After Q1 Earnings: Time to Stay Cautious?
May 14, 2026 · zacks.com
FSLY sinks nearly 42% after a Q1 beat. Investors eye slower Network Services growth, pricing erosion and rising 2026 infra spend.
- Zscaler's Z-Flex Adoption Rises: Is It a New Revenue Growth Catalyst?
May 14, 2026 · zacks.com
ZS' Z-Flex bookings hit $290M in Q2 FY26, helping land longer contracts and lift revenue visibility as adoption accelerates.
- High Growth Tech Stocks In The US For May 2026
May 13, 2026
The United States market has experienced a 1.5% increase over the last week and a substantial 26% rise over the past year, with earnings projected to grow by 17% annually. In this thriving environment, identifying high growth tech stocks involves looking for companies that demonstrate robust innovation and adaptability to capitalize on these favorable conditions.
Top 10 High Growth Tech Companies In The United States
Name Revenue Growth Earnings Growth Growth Rating AppLovin 20.89% 21.43% ★★★★★★ Reddit 21.88% 24.69% ★★★★★★ Krystal Biotech 29.09% 36.48% ★★★★★★ Palantir Technologies 29.33% 30.33% ★★★★★★ Fabrinet 21.38% 23.34% ★★★★★★ Marker Therapeutics 61.33% 65.71% ★★★★★★ Gorilla Technology Group 54.35% 96.69% ★★★★★☆ Intellia Therapeutics 57.31% 64.37% ★★★★★☆ Zscaler 15.95% 49.84% ★★★★★☆ Circle Internet Group 21.46% 52.63% ★★★★★☆
Click here to see the full list of 61 stocks from our US High Growth Tech and AI Stocks screener.
Here we highlight a subset of our preferred stocks from the screener.
LightPath Technologies
Simply Wall St Growth Rating: ★★★★★☆
Overview: LightPath Technologies, Inc. is a company that designs, develops, manufactures, and distributes optical systems and assemblies in the United States with a market capitalization of $739.54 million.
Operations: LightPath Technologies focuses on the design, development, manufacturing, and distribution of optical systems and assemblies.
LightPath Technologies has demonstrated a robust annual revenue growth of 36.2%, significantly outpacing the broader U.S. market's average of 11.6%. This growth is underpinned by strategic expansions like the recent GSA Multiple Award Schedule contract, enhancing its governmental reach, and the appointment of Doug Schoen, which strengthens its leadership in global sales with his extensive aerospace and defense industry experience. Despite current unprofitability and substantial shareholder dilution over the past year, LightPath is poised for profitability within three years with an expected earnings surge of 122.64% annually. These developments suggest a potentially bright future as it navigates towards operational profitability while expanding its technological footprint in high-demand sectors.
Navigate through the intricacies of LightPath Technologies with our comprehensive health report here. Evaluate LightPath Technologies' historical performance by accessing our past performance report.LPTH Earnings and Revenue Growth as at May 2026
Intellia Therapeutics
Simply Wall St Growth Rating: ★★★★★☆
Overview: Intellia Therapeutics, Inc. is a clinical-stage genome editing company dedicated to developing potentially curative therapeutics using CRISPR/Cas9-based technologies, with a market cap of $2.01 billion.
Story Continues
Operations: Intellia Therapeutics focuses on developing therapeutics using CRISPR/Cas9 technology. The company is in the clinical stage, indicating that its primary activities involve research and development rather than generating revenue from product sales.
Intellia Therapeutics, amid substantial shareholder dilution, reported a narrowing net loss from $114.33 million to $96.23 million year-over-year for Q1 2026, reflecting tighter cost management and strategic R&D investments which totaled $180 million in recent equity offerings aimed at advancing CRISPR technologies. The firm's recent HAELO trial success with lonvo-z showcased a significant reduction in hereditary angioedema attacks, positioning it potentially as the first one-time gene-editing treatment in this category. Despite current unprofitability, Intellia's aggressive pursuit of innovative treatments underscores its potential pivotal role in transforming therapeutic standards and patient outcomes in genetic diseases.
Delve into the full analysis health report here for a deeper understanding of Intellia Therapeutics. Gain insights into Intellia Therapeutics' historical performance by reviewing our past performance report.NTLA Revenue and Expenses Breakdown as at May 2026
AppLovin
Simply Wall St Growth Rating: ★★★★★★
Overview: AppLovin Corporation offers comprehensive AI-driven advertising solutions globally, with a market cap of $160.72 billion.
Operations: The company generates revenue primarily through its advertising segment, which brought in $6.16 billion.
AppLovin's recent performance underscores its robust position in the tech sector, with Q1 2026 sales soaring to $1.84 billion from $1.16 billion year-over-year, and net income more than doubling to $1.21 billion. This financial upswing is complemented by strategic share repurchases, with 2.17 million shares bought back in the first quarter alone, emphasizing confidence in its operational stability and future growth prospects. Furthermore, the company's aggressive R&D focus not only fuels innovation but also aligns with industry shifts towards advanced software solutions, ensuring AppLovin remains at the forefront of technological advancements and market demands.
Get an in-depth perspective on AppLovin's performance by reading our health report here. Explore historical data to track AppLovin's performance over time in our Past section.APP Revenue and Expenses Breakdown as at May 2026
Key Takeaways
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This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
Companies discussed in this article include LPTHNTLA and APP.
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- Is It Time To Reassess Zscaler (ZS) After Recent Share Price Rebound?
May 13, 2026
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With Zscaler trading at around US$146 a share, this article examines whether that price reflects fair value or a potential mispricing opportunity by breaking down what the current market price might be implying about the stock. The stock has risen 3.4% over the last 7 days and 23.8% over the last 30 days, although it is still down 33.7% year to date and has fallen 40.3% over the past year. These moves may have changed how investors view its risk and reward trade off. Recent coverage of Zscaler has focused on its position in cloud security and on how investors are reassessing growth-oriented software stocks. This helps frame these sharp short term moves. Broader sector discussions around software valuations and investor appetite for higher risk growth stocks also give context to Zscaler's recent share price swings. Zscaler currently has a valuation score of 3 out of 6. Half of the checks signal potential undervaluation and half do not, which sets up a closer look at different valuation methods and, later in the article, a more comprehensive way to think about what the stock might be worth.
Find out why Zscaler's -40.3% return over the last year is lagging behind its peers.
Approach 1: Zscaler Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) Analysis
A Discounted Cash Flow, or DCF, model estimates what a stock could be worth by projecting its future cash flows and discounting them back to today, using a required rate of return. It is essentially asking what all those future cash flows are worth in present dollar terms.
For Zscaler, the model uses a 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity approach built on cash flow projections. The latest twelve month free cash flow is about $876.3m. Analyst estimates and extrapolations from Simply Wall St then project free cash flow out over ten years, reaching about $2.0b by 2030, with further estimates extending to 2035. All of these projected cash flows are expressed in dollars and discounted back to today to reflect risk and the time value of money.
On this basis, the DCF model arrives at an intrinsic value of about $235.56 per share, compared with the current share price of around $146. This implies the stock is trading at a 37.9% discount to the DCF estimate, which points to potential undervaluation if the cash flow projections prove realistic.
Result: UNDERVALUED
Our Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) analysis suggests Zscaler is undervalued by 37.9%. Track this in your watchlist or portfolio, or discover 45 more high quality undervalued stocks.
Story Continues
ZS Discounted Cash Flow as at May 2026
Head to the Valuation section of our Company Report for more details on how we arrive at this Fair Value for Zscaler.
Approach 2: Zscaler Price vs Sales
For companies that are still building towards consistent profitability, the P/S ratio is often the cleaner yardstick, because it focuses on revenue rather than earnings that can be heavily affected by investment and accounting choices.
Growth expectations and risk still matter, since investors usually accept a higher P/S multiple when they expect stronger future growth or see lower risk, and look for a lower multiple when growth is more modest or risks are higher.
Zscaler currently trades on a P/S ratio of 7.83x. That is close to the peer average of 7.76x and above the broader Software industry average of 3.58x, which indicates the stock is priced higher than the sector overall on sales, but roughly in line with closer comparables.
Simply Wall St's Fair Ratio for Zscaler is 8.73x. This is a proprietary estimate of what the P/S multiple might be, given factors such as earnings growth, industry, profit margin, market cap and company specific risks. Because it blends these elements, it can be more tailored than a simple comparison with peers or the industry, which may not share the same growth profile or risk mix.
Since the Fair Ratio of 8.73x is above the current 7.83x, the P/S approach points to potential undervaluation on this metric.
Result: UNDERVALUEDNasdaqGS:ZS P/S Ratio as at May 2026
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Upgrade Your Decision Making: Choose your Zscaler Narrative
Earlier it was mentioned that there is an even better way to understand valuation. Narratives on Simply Wall St let you turn your view of Zscaler into a simple story that links what the company is doing to a forecast for revenue, earnings and margins, and then to a Fair Value you can compare with the current share price to assess whether it appears attractive or stretched.
On the Community page, you can pick or create a Narrative that fits your own expectations, ranging from a more cautious view that ties Zscaler’s fair value closer to about US$172.68 per share to a more optimistic view that aligns with a fair value near US$320.14. The platform will keep that Narrative updated automatically as new earnings or news arrive, so your story and numbers move together in real time.
Do you think there's more to the story for Zscaler? Head over to our Community to see what others are saying!NasdaqGS:ZS 1-Year Stock Price Chart
This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
Companies discussed in this article include ZS.
Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com
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- Zscaler IXT Zero Trust SIM Partnership Expands Critical Infrastructure Opportunity
May 13, 2026
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Zscaler (NasdaqGS:ZS) and IXT are integrating Zero Trust security at the SIM level for enterprise IoT and OT devices. The partnership embeds Zero Trust Network Access into the cellular core, removing the need for VPNs or endpoint agents. The solution targets critical infrastructure sectors including energy, water, manufacturing, and transport. The collaboration addresses security and compliance gaps linked to regulations such as NIS2.
For investors tracking Zscaler, this move aligns with the company’s core focus on cloud delivered security and Zero Trust access. By extending its platform into IoT and operational technology via the cellular core, Zscaler is positioning its services for sectors where connected devices and regulatory scrutiny are both increasing.
The partnership with IXT could influence how you think about Zscaler’s addressable market and product depth, particularly in critical infrastructure. As cybersecurity rules like NIS2 continue to set expectations for resilience and access control, this type of SIM level Zero Trust offering may become a reference point for how industrial connectivity is secured.
Stay updated on the most important news stories for Zscaler by adding it to your watchlist or portfolio. Alternatively, explore our Community to discover new perspectives on Zscaler.NasdaqGS:ZS Earnings & Revenue Growth as at May 2026
📰 Beyond the headline: 1 risk and 2 things going right for Zscaler that every investor should see.
Quick Assessment
✅ Price vs Analyst Target: At US$146.17, the stock trades about 35% below the US$224.12 analyst target. ✅ Simply Wall St Valuation: The shares are assessed as trading 37.9% below estimated fair value. ✅ Recent Momentum: The 30 day return of 23.8% shows strong recent momentum.
There is only one way to know the right time to buy, sell or hold Zscaler. Head to Simply Wall St's company report for the latest analysis of Zscaler's Fair Value.
Key Considerations
📊 The IXT integration pushes Zscaler deeper into IoT and OT security for critical infrastructure, which could broaden how you think about its potential market reach. 📊 Watch how management reports uptake of SIM level Zero Trust products, pricing for these offerings, and any commentary on critical infrastructure wins. ⚠️ Recent significant insider selling and a very high negative P/E of 347.5 highlight execution risk if expectations around growth and profitability shift.
Dig Deeper
For the full picture including more risks and rewards, check out the complete Zscaler analysis. Alternatively, you can visit the community page for Zscaler to see how other investors believe this latest news will impact the company's narrative.
Story Continues
This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
Companies discussed in this article include ZS.
Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com
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