Strong earnings from Palo Alto Networks Inc (PANW) is lifting other stocks in the cybersecurity sector
Palo Alto Networks Inc (NYSE:PANW) was scheduled to report its fiscal second-quarter earnings report after the bell on Thursday, but due to what the company's deeming a "manual error," the results were released slightly early. While this isn't a good look for a company that's primary objective is to keep information secure, Wall Street has responded positively to the results, as its earnings and revenue
topped expectations. PANW finished yesterday's session up 9.7%.
PANW is continuing this uptrend today, adding another 2.6% at $143.98. Analysts have been weighing in, with FBR and RBC raising their price targets to $170 and $195, respectively -- though Imperial Capital lowered its price target to $190 from $205.
In the options pits, call players have to be
happy about the stock's recent price action. Palo Alto Networks Inc's 10-day call/put volume ratio at the International Securities Exchange (ISE), Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX) is 1.20, meaning call buying has been more popular than put buying recently. Meanwhile, the shares' bullish price action is spreading to other stocks in the cybersecurity sector.
Sector peer
Cyberark Software Ltd (NASDAQ:CYBR) has gained 2.9% to trade at $37.94, as it tries to
chip away at its year-over-year loss of 36%.
FireEye Inc (NASDAQ:FEYE) is even better off, picking up 4.3% at $16.46, though the shares are currently testing their descending 50-day moving average.
Even
BlackBerry Ltd (NASDAQ:BBRY), which recently
entered the security space, is storming higher on the news. Shares of BBRY are up 4.5% at $7.59, but stalled out near their 50-day trendline, which has oscillated between support and resistance in recent months. It should be noted that -- like PANW -- CYBR, FEYE, and BBRY have all experienced heavy doses of call buying during the past 10 days at the ISE, CBOE, and PHLX. So cybersecurity bulls across the board are likely cheering this end-of-week surge.