New York, Feb 18, 2026, 05:06 EST — Premarket
- CrowdStrike fell around 3.5%, changing hands lately at $414.29.
- Truist trimmed its price target to $550 from $600 but kept the “buy” call—a point traders mentioned following Tuesday’s drop. GuruFocus
- Palo Alto Networks lowered its annual profit forecast, citing deal costs—cybersecurity stocks didn’t escape notice.
CrowdStrike Holdings (CRWD.O) stock was flat before Wednesday’s bell, after slipping 3.6% the day before. Analysts trimmed their price target again, but kept a buy call in place.
Timing matters. Lately, software names haven’t been getting any slack—investors have been quick to punish at the hint that AI might disrupt budgets or upend business models. Even minor tweaks from analysts are enough to send these stocks on wild rides.
Junaid Siddiqui at Truist Securities lowered his price target on the stock to $550 from $600 but stuck with a buy rating, GuruFocus reported.
Yet some players aren’t shying away. Wedbush, spotlighted by Investopedia, called CrowdStrike the “gold standard of cybersecurity”—grouping it alongside Palo Alto Networks (PANW.O) and Zscaler (ZS.O) at the top of the heap. According to the firm, these companies are well-placed as organizations start directing more budget toward defending against AI-driven threats. Investopedia
Just days back, HSBC lifted its view on CrowdStrike, shifting to a “buy” from “hold,” as flagged in a report by Nasdaq. Nasdaq
Palo Alto Networks sharply cut its profit guidance for fiscal 2026, citing higher costs from acquisitions. The stock dropped nearly 8% in after-hours trading Tuesday on the news. Sector reactions were mixed following the update.
CrowdStrike’s next test: can it keep demand steady as clients push to pare down their vendor rosters and expect faster payoffs? Boards are scrutinizing budgets closely. The company’s Falcon platform remains central, a lever for selling more modules to its existing base.
But here’s the snag: if guidance comes in weak, or if talk about deals and security budgets fades, the stock might drop fast. Software valuations have investors jumpy already.
Insider activity’s in focus too. In February, CEO George Kurtz filed a Form 4 detailing stock sales, emphasizing, “All reported sales were made to cover tax withholdings due on vesting of restricted stock unit awards.” RSUs remain a routine piece of equity comp. Sec
Next up: Zscaler’s earnings call is set for Feb. 26. Investors are watching for the latest clues on demand trends among major cybersecurity players.
CrowdStrike reports its Q4 and full-year results after the U.S. close on March 3. Executives are scheduled to hold a conference call at 5 p.m. Eastern.
