F5 Stock (NASDAQ:FFIV), Trade Ideas

F5 is a market leader in the application delivery controller market. The company sells products for security, application performance, and automation. Its three customer verticals are enterprises, service providers, and government entities. Revenue is evenly split between its services business and products business with revenue trending toward products due to software adoption. The Seattle-based firm was incorporated in 1996, has about 6,500 employees, and generates about 55% its revenue within the Americas, 25% in EMEA, and 20% in APAC/Japan.

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The CNN Money Fear and Greed index showed some decline in the overall market sentiment, with the index moving to the &#34;Greed&#34; zone on Tuesday.

U.S. stocks closed mixed on Tuesday, ahead of the Federal Reserve’s interest rate decision. The Fed will announce its policy decision today, with markets expecting the central bank to keep rates unchanged.

Fear &amp; Greed Index Moves To &#39;Greed&#39; Zone Ahead of Fed&#39;s Rate Decision

F5, Inc. (NASDAQ: FFIV) posted better-than-expected results for its first quarter on Monday.

F5 Analysts Boost Their Forecasts After Better-Than-Expected Q1 Results

F5 Inc

10 analysts have shared their evaluations of F5 (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FFIV#NASDAQ">FFIV</a>) during the recent three months, expressing a mix of bullish and bearish perspectives.
The following table summarizes their recent ratings, shedding light on the changing sentiments within the past 30 days and comparing them to the preceding months.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th></th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Bullish</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Somewhat Bullish</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Indifferent</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Somewhat Bearish</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Bearish</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Total Ratings</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">2</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">7</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Last 30D</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1M Ago</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2M Ago</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3M Ago</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">6</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
The 12-month price targets assessed by analysts reveal further insights, featuring an average target of $203.5, a high estimate of $220.00, and a low estimate of $179.00. This current average reflects an increase of 14.65% from the previous average price target of $177.50. 
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1712858441_0.png" alt="price target chart" />
<h2>Understanding Analyst Ratings: A Comprehensive Breakdown</h2>
A clear picture of F5's perception among financial experts is painted with a thorough analysis of recent analyst actions. The summary below outlines key analysts, their recent evaluations, and adjustments to ratings and price targets.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Analyst</th>
<th>Analyst Firm</th>
<th>Action Taken</th>
<th>Rating</th>
<th>Current Price Target</th>
<th>Prior Price Target</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Samik Chatterjee</td>
<td>JP Morgan</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>$205.00</td>
<td>$197.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Alex Henderson</td>
<td>Needham</td>
<td>Maintains</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$220.00</td>
<td>-</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Matthew Hedberg</td>
<td>RBC Capital</td>
<td>Maintains</td>
<td>Sector Perform</td>
<td>$204.00</td>
<td>-</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Tim Long</td>
<td>Barclays</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Equal-Weight</td>
<td>$206.00</td>
<td>$163.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Matthew Hedberg</td>
<td>RBC Capital</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Sector Perform</td>
<td>$204.00</td>
<td>$185.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>James Fish</td>
<td>Piper Sandler</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>$187.00</td>
<td>$170.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Michael Ng</td>
<td>Goldman Sachs</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>$179.00</td>
<td>$156.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Tim Long</td>
<td>Barclays</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Equal-Weight</td>
<td>$206.00</td>
<td>$163.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Alex Henderson</td>
<td>Needham</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$220.00</td>
<td>$200.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Thomas Blakey</td>
<td>Keybanc</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$204.00</td>
<td>$186.00</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3>Key Insights:</h3>
<ul>
<li>Action Taken: Analysts respond to changes in market conditions and company performance, frequently updating their recommendations. Whether they 'Maintain', 'Raise' or 'Lower' their stance, it reflects their reaction to recent developments related to F5. This information offers a snapshot of how analysts perceive the current state of the company.</li>
<li>Rating: Providing a comprehensive analysis, analysts offer qualitative assessments, ranging from 'Outperform' to 'Underperform'. These ratings reflect expectations for the relative performance of F5 compared to the broader market.</li>
<li>Price Targets: Understanding forecasts, analysts offer estimates for F5's future value. Examining the current and prior targets provides insight into analysts' changing expectations.</li>
</ul>
Assessing these analyst evaluations alongside crucial financial indicators can provide a comprehensive overview of F5's market position. Stay informed and make well-judged decisions with the assistance of our Ratings Table.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/FFIV/analyst-ratings?utm_source=Benzinga Insights">Stay up to date on F5 analyst ratings.</a>
<h2>Get to Know F5 Better</h2>
F5 is a market leader in the application delivery controller market. The company sells products for security, application performance, and automation. Its three customer verticals are enterprises, service providers, and government entities. Revenue is evenly split between its services business and products business with revenue trending toward products due to software adoption. The Seattle-based firm was incorporated in 1996, has about 6,500 employees, and generates about 55% its revenue within the Americas, 25% in EMEA, and 20% in APAC/Japan.
<h3>Unraveling the Financial Story of F5</h3>
Market Capitalization: Indicating a reduced size compared to industry averages, the company's market capitalization poses unique challenges.
Revenue Challenges: F5's revenue growth over 3 months faced difficulties. As of 31 December, 2023, the company experienced a decline of approximately -1.11%. This indicates a decrease in top-line earnings. As compared to its peers, the company achieved a growth rate higher than the average among peers in Information Technology sector.
Net Margin: F5's net margin excels beyond industry benchmarks, reaching 19.98%. This signifies efficient cost management and strong financial health.
Return on Equity (ROE): F5's ROE stands out, surpassing industry averages. With an impressive ROE of 4.89%, the company demonstrates effective use of equity capital and strong financial performance.
Return on Assets (ROA): The company's ROA is a standout performer, exceeding industry averages. With an impressive ROA of 2.61%, the company showcases effective utilization of assets.
Debt Management: F5's debt-to-equity ratio is below the industry average at 0.1, reflecting a lower dependency on debt financing and a more conservative financial approach.
<h2>How Are Analyst Ratings Determined?</h2>
Analysts are specialists within banking and financial systems that typically report for specific stocks or within defined sectors. These people research company financial statements, sit in conference calls and meetings, and speak with relevant insiders to determine what are known as analyst ratings for stocks. Typically, analysts will rate each stock once a quarter. 
Analysts may supplement their ratings with predictions for metrics like growth estimates, earnings, and revenue, offering investors a more comprehensive outlook. However, investors should be mindful that analysts, like any human, can have subjective perspectives influencing their forecasts.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Evaluating F5: Insights From 10 Financial Analysts

Top Wall Street analysts changed their outlook on these top names. For a complete view of all analyst rating changes, including upgrades and downgrades, please see our <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/">analyst ratings page</a>.
<ul>
<li>JP Morgan raised the price target for F5, Inc. (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ffiv#NASDAQ">FFIV</a>) from $197 to $205. JP Morgan analyst Samik Chatterjee maintained a Neutral rating. F5 shares fell 2.5% to close at $191.13 on Wednesday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/FFIV/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>BMO Capital boosted the price target for Gatos Silver, Inc. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/gato#NYSE">GATO</a>) from $8 to $9. BMO Capital analyst Kevin O&#39;Halloran maintained a Market Perform rating. Gatos Silver shares gained 3.4% to close at $9.64 on Wednesday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/GATO/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock.</a></li>
<li>Wedbush cut Walker &amp; Dunlop, Inc. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/wd#NYSE">WD</a>) price target from $130 to $95. Wedbush analyst Henry Coffey downgraded the stock from Outperform to Neutral. Walker &amp; Dunlop shares fell 4.3% to close at $92.64 on Wednesday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/WD/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock.</a></li>
<li>JP Morgan cut the price target for Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/aapl#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) from $215 to $210. JP Morgan analyst Samik Chatterjee maintained an Overweight rating. Apple shares fell 1.1% to close at $167.78 on Wednesday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/AAPL/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock.</a></li>
<li>Barclays raised Atlassian Corporation (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/team#NASDAQ">TEAM</a>) price target from $235 to $275. Barclays analyst Ryan Macwilliams upgraded the stock from Equal-Weight to Overweight. Atlassian shares rose 0.9% to close at $204.74 on Wednesday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/TEAM/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock.</a></li>
<li>Mizuho boosted STAAR Surgical Company (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/staa#NASDAQ">STAA</a>) price target from $45 to $53. Mizuho analyst Anthony Petrone maintained a Buy rating. STAAR Surgical shares fell 2.2% to close at $51.08 on Wednesday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/STAA/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock.</a></li>
<li>B of A Securities cut the price target for The Boeing Company (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ba#NYSE">BA</a>) from $210 to $190. B of A Securities analyst Ronald Epstein maintained a Neutral rating. Boeing shares fell 2% to close at $174.63 on Wednesday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/BA/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock.</a></li>
<li>Berenberg raised Albemarle Corporation (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/alb#NYSE">ALB</a>) price target from $130 to $160. Berenberg analyst Andres Castanos Mollor upgraded the stock from Hold to Buy. Albemarle shares fell 1.2% to close at $127.65 on Wednesday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/ALB/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock.</a></li>
<li>Deutsche Bank raised Delta Air Lines, Inc. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/dal#NYSE">DAL</a>) price target from $50 to $60. Deutsche Bank analyst Michael Linenberg maintained a Buy rating. Delta Air shares fell 2.3% to close at $46.24 on Wednesday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/DAL/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock.</a></li>
<li>B of A Securities increased NIKE, Inc. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/nke#NYSE">NKE</a>) price target from $110 to $113. B of A Securities analyst Lorraine Hutchinson upgraded the stock from Neutral to Buy. NIKE shares fell 2.2% to close at $89.00 on Wednesday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/NKE/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock.</a></li>
</ul>
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JP Morgan analyst Samik Chatterjee maintains F5 (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FFIV#NASDAQ">FFIV</a>) with a Neutral and raises the price target from $197 to $205.

JP Morgan Maintains Neutral on F5, Raises Price Target to $205

Needham analyst Alex Henderson reiterates F5 (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FFIV#NASDAQ">FFIV</a>) with a Buy and maintains $220 price target.

Reiteration

Needham Reiterates Buy on F5, Maintains $220 Price Target

Across the recent three months, 8 analysts have shared their insights on F5 (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FFIV#NASDAQ">FFIV</a>), expressing a variety of opinions spanning from bullish to bearish.
The following table encapsulates their recent ratings, offering a glimpse into the evolving sentiments over the past 30 days and comparing them to the preceding months.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th></th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Bullish</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Somewhat Bullish</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Indifferent</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Somewhat Bearish</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Bearish</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Total Ratings</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">6</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Last 30D</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1M Ago</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">5</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2M Ago</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3M Ago</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Analysts provide deeper insights through their assessments of 12-month price targets, revealing an average target of $201.25, a high estimate of $220.00, and a low estimate of $179.00. This upward trend is evident, with the current average reflecting a 15.19% increase from the previous average price target of $174.71.
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1707498019_0.png" alt="price target chart" />
<h2>Investigating Analyst Ratings: An Elaborate Study</h2>
In examining recent analyst actions, we gain insights into how financial experts perceive F5. The following summary outlines key analysts, their recent evaluations, and adjustments to ratings and price targets.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Analyst</th>
<th>Analyst Firm</th>
<th>Action Taken</th>
<th>Rating</th>
<th>Current Price Target</th>
<th>Prior Price Target</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Matthew Hedberg</td>
<td>RBC Capital</td>
<td>Maintains</td>
<td>Sector Perform</td>
<td>$204.00</td>
<td>-</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Tim Long</td>
<td>Barclays</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Equal-Weight</td>
<td>$206.00</td>
<td>$163.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Matthew Hedberg</td>
<td>RBC Capital</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Sector Perform</td>
<td>$204.00</td>
<td>$185.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>James Fish</td>
<td>Piper Sandler</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>$187.00</td>
<td>$170.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Michael Ng</td>
<td>Goldman Sachs</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>$179.00</td>
<td>$156.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Tim Long</td>
<td>Barclays</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Equal-Weight</td>
<td>$206.00</td>
<td>$163.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Alex Henderson</td>
<td>Needham</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$220.00</td>
<td>$200.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Thomas Blakey</td>
<td>Keybanc</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$204.00</td>
<td>$186.00</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3>Key Insights:</h3>
<ul>
<li>Action Taken: Analysts adapt their recommendations to changing market conditions and company performance. Whether they 'Maintain', 'Raise' or 'Lower' their stance, it reflects their response to recent developments related to F5. This information provides a snapshot of how analysts perceive the current state of the company.</li>
<li>Rating: Analysts unravel qualitative evaluations for stocks, ranging from 'Outperform' to 'Underperform'. These ratings offer insights into expectations for the relative performance of F5 compared to the broader market.</li>
<li>Price Targets: Understanding forecasts, analysts offer estimates for F5's future value. Examining the current and prior targets provides insight into analysts' changing expectations.</li>
</ul>
Capture valuable insights into F5's market standing by understanding these analyst evaluations alongside pertinent financial indicators. Stay informed and make strategic decisions with our Ratings Table.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/FFIV/analyst-ratings?utm_source=Benzinga Insights">Stay up to date on F5 analyst ratings.</a>
<h2>Discovering F5: A Closer Look</h2>
F5 is a market leader in the application delivery controller market. The company sells products for security, application performance, and automation. Its three customer verticals are enterprises, service providers, and government entities. Revenue is evenly split between its services business and products business with revenue trending toward products due to software adoption. The Seattle-based firm was incorporated in 1996, has about 6,500 employees, and generates about 55% its revenue within the Americas, 25% in EMEA, and 20% in APAC/Japan.
<h3>Financial Milestones: F5's Journey</h3>
Market Capitalization Perspectives: The company's market capitalization falls below industry averages, signaling a relatively smaller size compared to peers. This positioning may be influenced by factors such as perceived growth potential or operational scale.
Negative Revenue Trend: Examining F5's financials over 3 months reveals challenges. As of 31 December, 2023, the company experienced a decline of approximately -1.11% in revenue growth, reflecting a decrease in top-line earnings. In comparison to its industry peers, the company trails behind with a growth rate lower than the average among peers in the Information Technology sector.
Net Margin: F5's net margin excels beyond industry benchmarks, reaching 19.98%. This signifies efficient cost management and strong financial health.
Return on Equity (ROE): F5's ROE lags behind industry averages, suggesting challenges in maximizing returns on equity capital. With an ROE of 4.89%, the company may face hurdles in achieving optimal financial performance.
Return on Assets (ROA): F5's ROA stands out, surpassing industry averages. With an impressive ROA of 2.61%, the company demonstrates effective utilization of assets and strong financial performance.
Debt Management: With a below-average debt-to-equity ratio of 0.1, F5 adopts a prudent financial strategy, indicating a balanced approach to debt management.
<h2>Understanding the Relevance of Analyst Ratings</h2>
Experts in banking and financial systems, analysts specialize in reporting for specific stocks or defined sectors. Their comprehensive research involves attending company conference calls and meetings, analyzing financial statements, and engaging with insiders to generate what are known as analyst ratings for stocks. Typically, analysts assess and rate each stock once per quarter.
Some analysts will also offer forecasts for metrics like growth estimates, earnings, and revenue to provide further guidance on stocks. Investors who use analyst ratings should note that this specialized advice comes from humans and may be subject to error.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Deep Dive Into F5 Stock: Analyst Perspectives (8 Ratings)

RBC Capital analyst Matthew Hedberg reiterates F5 (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FFIV#NASDAQ">FFIV</a>) with a Sector Perform and maintains $204 price target.

RBC Capital Reiterates Sector Perform on F5, Maintains $204 Price Target

Barclays analyst Tim Long maintains F5 (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FFIV#NASDAQ">FFIV</a>) with a Equal-Weight and raises the price target from $163 to $206.

Barclays Maintains Equal-Weight on F5, Raises Price Target to $206

The CNN Money Fear and Greed index showed some decline in the overall market sentiment, with the index moving to the &quot;Greed&quot; zone on Tuesday.
U.S. stocks closed mixed on Tuesday, ahead of the Federal Reserve&rsquo;s interest rate decision. The Fed will announce its policy decision today, with markets expecting the central bank to keep rates unchanged.
Shares of General Motors Company (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/gm#NYSE">GM</a>) rose around 7.8% on Tuesday after the company reported better-than-expected fourth-quarter financial results and issued 2024 adjusted EPS guidance above estimates. F5, Inc. (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ffiv#NASDAQ">FFIV</a>) also posted better-than-expected results for its first quarter.
As far as the earnings season is concerned, around 29% of the S&amp;P 500 companies have released quarterly results so far, with around 79% of those exceeding market estimates.
Microsoft (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/msft#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) and Alphabet (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/goog#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/googl#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) released earnings reports&nbsp;after the closing bell on Tuesday.
On the economic data front, the S&amp;P CoreLogic Case-Shiller home price index climbed 5.4% year-over-year in November versus a 4.9% rise in October. The FHFA house price index rose by 0.3% from the prior month in November. The number of job openings climbed by 101,000 from the prior month to 9.026 million in December.
Most sectors on the S&amp;P 500 closed on a positive note, with financial and energy stocks recording the biggest gains on Tuesday. However, real estate and tech stocks bucked the overall market trend, closing the session lower.
The Dow Jones closed higher by around 134 points to 38,467.31 on Tuesday. The S&amp;P 500 fell 0.06% at 4,924.97, while the Nasdaq Composite fell 0.76% at 15,509.90 during Tuesday&rsquo;s session.
Investors are awaiting earnings results from Phillips 66 (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/psx#NYSE">PSX</a>), The Boeing Company (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ba#NYSE">BA</a>), QUALCOMM Incorporated (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/qcom#NASDAQ">QCOM</a>) and Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ma#NYSE">MA</a>) today.
At a current reading of 74.1, the index moved to the &quot;Greed&quot; zone on Tuesday, versus a prior reading of 75.7 .
What is CNN Business Fear &amp; Greed Index?
The Fear &amp; Greed Index is a measure of the current market sentiment. It is based on the premise that higher fear exerts pressure on stock prices, while higher greed has the opposite effect. The index is calculated based on seven equal-weighted indicators. The index ranges from 0 to 100, where 0 represents maximum fear and 100 signals maximum greediness.
&nbsp;
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/24/01/36838707/jim-cramer-says-this-is-a-very-very-expensive-stock-i-say-ka-ching-ka-ching-on-some-of-t"> Jim Cramer Says This Is A &#39;Very, Very Expensive&#39; Stock: &#39;I Say Ka-Ching Ka-Ching On Some Of That One&#39;</a>

Fear & Greed Index Moves To 'Greed' Zone Ahead of Fed's Rate Decision

F5, Inc. (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ffiv#NASDAQ">FFIV</a>) posted better-than-expected results for its <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/01/36840845/why-is-technology-company-f5-stock-rocketing-premarket-tuesday">first quarter on Monday</a>.
Revenue declined 1% Y/Y to $693 million, beating the consensus of $685.3 million. Adjusted EPS of $3.43, beating the consensus of $3.04, according to data from <a href="http://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a>.
For the second quarter, F5 expects revenue of $675 million-$695 million (vs. consensus of $674.54 million), with adjusted EPS of $2.79-$2.91 (vs. $2.95 estimate). The company raised the adjusted EPS growth outlook to 6% to 8% from growth of 5% to 7% for FY24, led by a lower expected tax rate.
&quot;Our team delivered solid first quarter results, including revenue near the high end and earnings per share above the high end of our guidance ranges,&quot; said Fran&ccedil;ois Locoh-Donou, F5&rsquo;s President and CEO. &quot;As a result of our continued operating discipline we delivered more than 1,000 basis points improvement in GAAP operating margin and more than 900 basis points improvement in non-GAAP operating margin year over year. We also delivered strong earnings growth, with 93% GAAP earnings per share growth and 39% non-GAAP earnings per share growth compared to last year.&quot;
F5 shares gained 2.4% to trade at $189.87 on Tuesday.
These analysts made changes to their price targets on F5 after the company reported quarterly results.
<ul>
<li>Needham increased the price target on F5 from $200 to $220. Needham analyst Alex Henderson maintained a Buy rating.</li>
<li>Barclays boosted F5 price target from $163 to $206. Barclays analyst Tim Long maintained an Equal-Weight rating.</li>
<li>Goldman Sachs raised the price target on F5 from $156 to $179. Goldman Sachs analyst Michael Ng maintained a Neutral rating.</li>
<li>RBC Capital boosted the price target on F5 from $185 to $204. RBC Capital analyst Matthew Hedberg maintained a Sector Perform rating.</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
Now Read This: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/01/36841469/meta-to-rally-around-16-here-are-10-top-analyst-forecasts-for-tuesday"> Meta To Rally Around 16%? Here Are 10 Top Analyst Forecasts For Tuesday</a>

RBC Capital analyst Matthew Hedberg maintains F5 (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FFIV#NASDAQ">FFIV</a>) with a Sector Perform and raises the price target from $185 to $204.

RBC Capital Maintains Sector Perform on F5, Raises Price Target to $204

Piper Sandler analyst James Fish maintains F5 (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FFIV#NASDAQ">FFIV</a>) with a Neutral and raises the price target from $170 to $187.

Piper Sandler Maintains Neutral on F5, Raises Price Target to $187-Report Released on 29 January 2024

Goldman Sachs analyst Michael Ng maintains F5 (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FFIV#NASDAQ">FFIV</a>) with a Neutral and raises the price target from $156 to $179.

Goldman Sachs Maintains Neutral on F5, Raises Price Target to $179

WIIM

F5 shares are trading higher after the company reported better-than-expected Q1 financial results.

<h3>Gainers</h3>
<ul>
<li>Castellum (AMEX:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CTM#AMEX">CTM</a>) stock increased by 17.1% to $0.35 during Tuesday's pre-market session. The market value of their outstanding shares is at $16.6 million. </li>
<li>Sanmina (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SANM#NASDAQ">SANM</a>) shares moved upwards by 16.35% to $58.91. The market value of their outstanding shares is at $3.2 billion. As per the press release, Q1 earnings came out yesterday. </li>
<li>Super Micro Computer (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SMCI#NASDAQ">SMCI</a>) stock rose 13.0% to $560.13. The market value of their outstanding shares is at $31.2 billion. The company's, Q2 earnings came out yesterday. </li>
<li>F5 (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FFIV#NASDAQ">FFIV</a>) stock moved upwards by 9.78% to $203.5. The market value of their outstanding shares is at $11.9 billion. As per the press release, Q1 earnings came out yesterday. </li>
<li>Coda Octopus Group (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CODA#NASDAQ">CODA</a>) stock moved upwards by 7.64% to $5.77. The company's market cap stands at $64.4 million. As per the news, the Q4 earnings report came out yesterday. </li>
<li>Mawson Infra Gr (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MIGI#NASDAQ">MIGI</a>) stock moved upwards by 6.47% to $2.63. The company's market cap stands at $43.7 million. </li>
</ul>
<h3>Losers</h3>
<ul>
<li>Calix (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CALX#NYSE">CALX</a>) shares fell 20.5% to $35.25 during Tuesday's pre-market session. The market value of their outstanding shares is at $2.3 billion. As per the press release, Q4 earnings came out yesterday. </li>
<li>Infobird Co (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IFBD#NASDAQ">IFBD</a>) stock fell 15.27% to $0.59. The company's market cap stands at $4.3 million. </li>
<li>Cyngn (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CYN#NASDAQ">CYN</a>) shares fell 13.09% to $0.22. The company's market cap stands at $11.5 million. </li>
<li>Airspan Networks Hldgs (AMEX:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MIMO#AMEX">MIMO</a>) shares decreased by 11.43% to $0.25. The company's market cap stands at $18.9 million. </li>
<li>SMX (Security Matters) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SMX#NASDAQ">SMX</a>) shares fell 8.68% to $0.31. The company's market cap stands at $3.2 million. </li>
<li>MicroAlgo (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MLGO#NASDAQ">MLGO</a>) shares decreased by 7.91% to $0.41. The market value of their outstanding shares is at $24.4 million. 
See Also: <a href="http://www.benzinga.com/money/tech-stocks/" title="www.benzinga.com/money/tech-stocks/">www.benzinga.com/money/tech-stocks/</a></li>
</ul>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Movers

CALX

CODA

IFBD

MAWSON INFRSTRUCTURE GRP by Mawson Infrastructure Group Inc.

MIGI

Airspan Networks Holdings Inc. Common Stock

MIMO

MLGO

SANM

SMCI

12 Information Technology Stocks Moving In Tuesday's Pre-Market Session

Shares of Super Micro Computer, Inc. (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/smci#NASDAQ">SMCI</a>) shares rose sharply in today&rsquo;s pre-market trading as the company posted upbeat results for its second quarter.
Super Micro Computer reported quarterly earnings of $5.59 per share, beating the analyst consensus estimate of $4.93. The company reported quarterly sales of $3.67 billion, which topped the analyst consensus estimate of $3.06 billion.
The company also raised its fiscal year 2024 guidance for revenues from a range of $10 billion to $11 billion to a range of $14.3 billion to $14.7 billion.
Super Micro Computer shares jumped 10.6% to $548.25 in pre-market trading
Here are some other stocks moving in pre-market trading.
<h3>Gainers</h3>
<ul>
<li>Agape ATP Corporation (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/atpc#NASDAQ">ATPC</a>) gained 65.1% to $0.8420 in pre-market trading after gaining around 13% on Monday.</li>
<li>Petros Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ptpi#NASDAQ">PTPI</a>) gained 45.3% to $1.99 in pre-market trading after gaining more than 25% on Monday. Petros Pharmaceuticals recently announced completion of initial cohort of Phase 2 equivalent self-selection study.</li>
<li>C3is Inc. (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ciss#NASDAQ">CISS</a>) shares jumped 40.6% to $0.19 in pre-market trading after a 13G filing showed S.H.N. Financial reported a 9.1% stake in the company.</li>
<li>Cullinan Oncology, Inc. (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/cgem#NASDAQ">CGEM</a>) surged 29.3% to $19.00 in pre-market trading after gaining over 12% on Monday.</li>
<li>Inspire Veterinary Partners, Inc. (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ivp#NASDAQ">IVP</a>) gained 23.2% to $0.2107 in pre-market trading after falling around 24% on Monday. Inspire Veterinary Partners recently filed a prospectus related to up to a $5 million public offering.</li>
<li>Akso Health Group (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ahg#NASDAQ">AHG</a>) shares gained 17.1% to $1.58 in pre-market trading after falling around 4% on Monday.</li>
<li>Sanmina Corporation (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/sanm#NASDAQ">SANM</a>) shares rose 16.3% to $58.90 in pre-market trading after the company reported better-than-expected first-quarter financial results and issued second-quarter guidance above estimates.</li>
<li>Agrify Corporation (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/agfy#NASDAQ">AGFY</a>) shares climbed 16% to $0.5881 in pre-market trading after dipping over 16% on Monday.</li>
<li>F5, Inc. (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ffiv#NASDAQ">FFIV</a>) shares rose 8% to $200.11 in pre-market trading after the company posted better-than-expected results for its first quarter on Monday.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Losers</h3>
<ul>
<li>Marin Software Incorporated (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/mrin#NASDAQ">MRIN</a>) shares dipped 50% to $0.19 in pre-market trading.</li>
<li>Sidus Space, Inc. (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/sidu#NASDAQ">SIDU</a>) shares fell 37.9% to $5.40 in pre-market trading.</li>
<li>Sidus Space priced its public offering of 1,251,700 class A shares at $4.50 per share.</li>
<li>60 Degrees Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/sxtp#NASDAQ">SXTP</a>) shares declined 26.3% to $0.3810 in pre-market trading. 60 Degrees Pharmaceuticals recently announced that, following a Type C meeting held on January 17, 2024, with the FDA, the company will move forward with a pivotal clinical study of tafenoquine in hospitalized babesiosis patients in the U.S.</li>
<li>Calix, Inc. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/calx#NYSE">CALX</a>) fell 25.4% to $33.03 in pre-market trading after the company issued first-quarter adjusted EPS and revenue guidance below estimates.</li>
<li>CNS Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/cnsp#NASDAQ">CNSP</a>) shares fell 24.6% to $0.25 in pre-market trading after the company reported pricing of $4.0 million public offering.</li>
<li>Addex Therapeutics Ltd (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/adxn#NASDAQ">ADXN</a>) fell 23.2% to $10.06 after gaining 7% on Monday.</li>
<li>Nyxoah S.A. (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/nyxh#NASDAQ">NYXH</a>) shares declined 22.4% to $9.58 in pre-market trading after surging 31% on Monday.</li>
<li>Infobird Co., Ltd (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ifbd#NASDAQ">IFBD</a>) declined 20.6% to $0.5510 in pre-market trading after gaining around 35% on Monday.</li>
<li>OneMedNet Corporation (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/onmd#NASDAQ">ONMD</a>) shares fell 20.4% to $1.09 in pre-market trading after jumping 156% on Monday.</li>
<li>Revelation Biosciences, Inc. (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/revb#NASDAQ">REVB</a>) shares dipped 12% to $11.43 in pre-market trading after gaining around 32% on Monday.</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
Now Read This: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/01/36838402/alphabet-microsoft-and-3-stocks-to-watch-heading-into-tuesday"> Alphabet, Microsoft And 3 Stocks To Watch Heading Into Tuesday</a>

Penny Stocks

ADXN

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NYXH

ONMD

PTPI

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SIDU

SXTP

Why Super Micro Computer Shares Are Trading Higher By Over 10%; Here Are 20 Stocks Moving Premarket

The sentiment on Wall Street turned extremely cautious on Tuesday as investors awaited&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/01/36820476/tech-titans-microsoft-apple-lead-magnificent-seven-earnings-wave-this-week-can-mega-caps-ignite-mar" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">key earnings releases</a>&nbsp;from companies&nbsp;like Microsoft Corp.&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>),&nbsp;Alphabet, Inc.&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>), and&nbsp;Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMD#NASDAQ">AMD</a>). 
The Federal Reserve Open Market Committee, the policy-setting arm of the Federal Reserve, began its two-day meeting on Tuesday, with a decision expected on Wednesday. While the futures market indicates an anticipated pause at the meeting, traders will closely analyze the post-meeting policy statement and Fed Chair Jerome Powell&#8217;s press briefing for potential trading cues.
Cues From Monday's Trading:
U.S. stocks opened Monday&#8217;s session higher but exhibited caution in early trading before rallying strongly, particularly in the final hour. This strength emerged despite a lack of significant Main Street catalysts, as traders factored in expectations of a robust tech reporting season. Several tech companies, including the &#8220;Magnificent Seven,&#8221; are scheduled to report this week.
The Dow Industrials, S&amp;P 500 Index, and Nasdaq 100 all closed at fresh records, while the Nasdaq Composite reached a new two-year high.
Small-cap stocks also joined the rally, with the Russell 2,000 Index surpassing the 2,000 level.
Most sectors, except for energy stocks, saw gains, with consumer discretionary, communication services, and IT stocks showing strong increases.
 US Index Performance On Monday
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Index </td>
<td>Performance (+/-)</td>
<td>Value</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nasdaq Composite</td>
<td>+1.12%</td>
<td>15,628.04</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>S&amp;P 500 Index</td>
<td>+0.76%</td>
<td>4,927.93</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dow Industrials</td>
<td>+0.59%</td>
<td>38,333.45</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Russell 2000</td>
<td>+1.67%</td>
<td>2,011.42</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
Analyst Color:
One of the most bullish analysts, who rightly called the S&amp;P 500&#8217;s new high this year, has turned cautious. Fund Strat&#8217;s Tom Lee said in an interview with CNBC flagged a likely pullback.
&#8220;This week is gonna tell us how much further we go,&#8221; Lee said, adding that he is penciling in a move potentially to 5,000. &#8220;And from there.. an air pocket forms,&#8221; he said. He premised the expectation on investors&#8217; worries over potential Fed moves. The market has been having a parabolic move since October and typically such moves end in retracements, he said.
&#8220;We continue to be strong, but then after that, I think there's a big air pocket,&#8221; Lee said. The analyst has a 5,200 target for the S&amp;P 500 this year.
 Futures Performance On Tuesday
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Futures </td>
<td>Performance (+/-)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nasdaq 100</td>
<td>-0.04%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>S&amp;P 500</td>
<td>-0.10%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dow</td>
<td>-0.14%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>R2K</td>
<td>-0.12%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premarket/">In premarket trading</a> on Tuesday, the SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) slipped 0.08% to $490.86 and the Invesco QQQ ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>) edged down 0.02% to $428.06, according to <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/lxquj26b2sag">Benzinga Pro data.</a>
Upcoming Economic Data:
S&amp;P Case-Shiller 20-city composite house price index for November is due at 9 a.m. ET. The index is expected to show a seasonally unadjusted 5.8% in November, faster than the 4.9% increase in October.
The Federal House Finance Agency will also release its house price index around the same time. Its house price index for November is widely expected to show a 0.2% month-over-month increase in November compared to the previous month&#8217;s 0.3% growth.
The Labor Department is scheduled to release its &#8220;Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey&#8221; for December at 10 a.m. ET. Job openings for the month is expected to be at 8.750 million compared to 8.790 million in November.
See also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/futures-vs-options">Futures Vs. Options</a>
Stocks In Focus:
<ul>
<li> F5, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FFIV#NASDAQ">FFIV</a>) climbed over 10% in premarket trading following the release of its quarterly results.</li>
<li>Among the other stocks that are moving on earnings are Sanmina Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SANM#NASDAQ">SANM</a>) (up nearly 16%), General Motors Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GM#NYSE">GM</a>) (up about 6%), and Whirlpool Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WHR#NYSE">WHR</a>) (down about 5%).</li>
<li>Major names on tap to report earnings ahead of the market opening include Pfizer, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PFE#NYSE">PFE</a>), JetBlue Airways Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JBLU#NASDAQ">JBLU</a>), and United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UPS#NYSE">UPS</a>).</li>
<li>AMD, Alphabet, Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EA#NASDAQ">EA</a>), Juniper Networks, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JNPR#NYSE">JNPR</a>), Microsoft, Mondelez International, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MDLZ#NASDAQ">MDLZ</a>), Skyworks Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SWKS#NASDAQ">SWKS</a>), Starbucks Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SBUX#NASDAQ">SBUX</a>) and Unum Group (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNM#NYSE">UNM</a>) are among the key companies reporting after the market close.</li>
</ul>
Commodities, Bonds, Other Global Equity Markets:
Crude oil futures fell 0.07% to $76,73 in early European session on Tuesday following Wednesday's 1.58% pullback.
The benchmark 10-year Treasury note fell 0.029 percentage points to 4.062% on Tuesday.
Asian stocks closed mixed yet again on Tuesday, with the Hong Kong, Chinese, and Indian markets slumping, while the sentiment was lackluster elsewhere. Traders waited to see off the Fed decision due on Wednesday and also remained apprehensive about the U.S. tech earnings. 
The major European markets traded higher by late-morning trading as traders digested mixed GDP data for the region. 
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/01/36831114/fed-meeting-preview-is-a-march-rate-cut-likely">Fed Meeting Preview: Is A March Rate Cut Likely?</a>
Image Via Shutterstock

Equities

Futures

Previews

Economics

Federal Reserve

JBLU

JNPR

MDLZ

SBUX

SWKS

US Stocks Hold Steady Ahead Of Microsoft, Alphabet Earnings: Analyst Warns Of 'Big Air Pocket' In Pivotal Trading Week

Top Wall Street analysts changed their outlook on these top names. For a complete view of all analyst rating changes, including upgrades and downgrades, please see our <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/">analyst ratings page</a>.
<ul>
<li>Morgan Stanley raised Wells Fargo &amp; Company (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/wfc#NYSE">WFC</a>) price target from $54 to $63. Morgan Stanley analyst Betsy Graseck maintained an Overweight rating. Wells Fargo shares rose 0.1% to close at $50.35 on Monday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/WFC/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock.</a></li>
<li>Needham raised the price target for F5, Inc. (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ffiv#NASDAQ">FFIV</a>) from $200 to $220. Needham analyst Alex Henderson maintained a Buy rating. F5 shares gained 1% to close at $185.37 on Monday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/FFIV/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>Wells Fargo raised Western Alliance Bancorporation (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/wal#NYSE">WAL</a>) price target from $62 to $72. Wells Fargo analyst Jared Shaw downgraded the stock from Overweight to Equal-Weight. Western Alliance Bancorporation shares rose 4.1% to close at $70.11 on Monday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/WAL/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>Morgan Stanley boosted the price target for Bank of America Corporation (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/bac#NYSE">BAC</a>) from $32 to $41. Morgan Stanley analyst Betsy Graseck upgraded the stock from Equal-Weight to Overweight. Bank of America shares rose 0.5% to close at $33.61 on Monday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/BAC/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>Barclays cut the price target for Hexcel Corporation (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/hxl#NYSE">HXL</a>) from $80 to $75. Barclays analyst David Strauss maintained an Equal-Weight rating. Hexcel shares fell 0.3% to close at $66.77 on Monday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/HXL/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock.</a></li>
<li>Oppenheimer slashed the price target for Five Below, Inc. (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/five#NASDAQ">FIVE</a>) from $235 to $200. Oppenheimer analyst Brian Nagel downgraded the stock from Outperform to Perform. Five Below shares fell 1.7% to close at $186.91 on Monday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/FIVE/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock.</a></li>
<li>UBS raised Spotify Technology S.A. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/spot#NYSE">SPOT</a>) price target from $170 to $274. UBS analyst Batya Levi upgraded the stock from Neutral to Buy. Spotify shares gained 2% to close at $218.61 on Monday. See how other analysts view this stock.</li>
<li>Keybanc increased Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/meta#NASDAQ">META</a>) price target from $380 to $465. Keybanc analyst Justin Patterson maintained an Overweight rating. Meta shares gained 1.8% to close at $401.02 on Monday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/META/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock.</a></li>
<li>Raymond James raised Stellar Bancorp, Inc. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/stel#NYSE">STEL</a>) price target from $24 to $29. Raymond James analyst David Feaster maintained an Outperform rating. Stellar Bancorp shares rose 1% to close at $26.87 on Monday. S<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/STEL/analyst-ratings">ee how other analysts view this stock.</a></li>
<li>Morgan Stanley boosted JPMorgan Chase &amp; Co. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/jpm#NYSE">JPM</a>) price target from $191 to $221. Morgan Stanley analyst Betsy Graseck maintained an Overweight rating. JPMorgan shares rose 0.3% to close at $172.73 on Monday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/JPM/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock.</a></li>
</ul>
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Check This Out: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/01/36838402/alphabet-microsoft-and-3-stocks-to-watch-heading-into-tuesday"> Alphabet, Microsoft And 3 Stocks To Watch Heading Into Tuesday </a>

FIVE

SPOT

STEL

Meta To Rally Around 16%? Here Are 10 Top Analyst Forecasts For Tuesday

F5 Inc&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FFIV#NASDAQ">FFIV</a>) shares are trading higher after the company reported&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/24/01/b36833181/f5-reports-strong-earnings-growth-in-its-first-quarter-of-fiscal-year-2024" rel="noreferrer noopener">first-quarter FY24 results</a>.
Revenue declined 1% Y/Y to $693 million, beating the consensus of $685.3 million.
Global services revenue rose 7% Y/Y, while product revenue fell 10% Y/Y, reflecting software revenue growth of 2% Y/Y and systems revenue decline of 22% Y/Y.
Adjusted gross profit increased to $575 million from $563 million a year ago, with an adjusted gross margin of 83.1% (vs. 80.4% a year ago).&nbsp;
Adjusted operating profit rose to $246 million from $185 million the prior year, with margin expanding to 35.5% from 26.5% a year ago.
Adjusted EPS of $3.43, beating&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/calendars/earnings" rel="noreferrer noopener">the consensus of $3.04</a>.&nbsp;
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/calendars/guidance" rel="noreferrer noopener">Outlook</a>: For the second quarter, F5 expects revenue of $675 million-$695 million (vs. consensus of $674.54 million), with adjusted EPS of $2.79-$2.91 (vs. $2.95 estimate).
The company raised the adjusted EPS growth outlook to 6% to 8% from growth of 5% to 7% for FY24, led by a lower expected tax rate.
&#8220;Our customers face a growing crisis about how to effectively manage and secure the ever-increasing number of applications and APIs that power their businesses. The situation will be exacerbated by widespread adoption and proliferation of AI, which introduces more demanding, and more distributed applications to the mix.&#8221;
&#8220;F5 is the application and API expert, with deep expertise built over decades securing, delivering, and optimizing demanding applications. The product portfolio we have created through both organic and inorganic innovation in recent years is designed to assist our customers in addressing exactly these challenges.&#8221;
Price Action: FFIV shares are up 10.27% at $204.40 premarket on the last check Tuesday.

Large Cap

Guidance

General

Why Is Technology Company F5 Stock Rocketing Premarket Tuesday?

Needham analyst Alex Henderson maintains F5 (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FFIV#NASDAQ">FFIV</a>) with a Buy and raises the price target from $200 to $220.

Needham Maintains Buy on F5, Raises Price Target to $220

The software industry has been thriving and shows no signs of slowing down, driven by growing digital transformation initiatives among businesses across several sectors and the widespread adoption of cutting-edge technologies. Thus, quality software stocks F5 (FFIV), Amdocs (DOX), and Informatica (INFA) might be ideal buys now to secure your future. Keep reading… The software market is booming due to increased data volume, business automation, digitization, and heightened cybersecurity concerns, further accelerated by the pandemic's impact on remote work. Therefore, investors could consider buying fundamentally sound software stocks F5, Inc. (<a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/FFIV/">FFIV</a>), Amdocs Limited (<a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/DOX/">DOX</a>), and Informatica Inc. (<a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/INFA/">INFA</a>) for a secure future.
The United States has witnessed a significant surge in software demand lately, propelled by factors like the widespread adoption of cloud computing and other emerging technologies, the proliferation of mobile devices, and the escalating significance of data analytics.
This year, software development trends are anticipated to embrace increased artificial intelligence (AI) integration across various products, alongside a potential surge in VR adoption driven by next-gen headset releases from major players. According to Gartner, <a href="https://www.gartner.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/01-17-2024-gartner-forecasts-worldwide-it-spending-to-grow-six-point-eight-percent-in-2024">worldwide software spending</a> is expected to grow by 12.7% year-over-year to $1.03 trillion in 2024.
Besides, the U.S. software market is growing steadily due to increasing digital transformation efforts and rising demand for advanced cybersecurity solutions in response to escalating cyber threats, which are reshaping business operations and driving innovation within the industry. The <a href="https://www.marknteladvisors.com/research-library/us-software-market.html#:~:text=The%20US%20Software%20Market%20is%20expected%20to%20grow%20at%20a,7.17%25%20over%20the%20forecast%20period.">U.S. software market</a> is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 7.2% from 2024 to 2030.
Moreover, the SaaS market is expanding due to the increased adoption of public cloud services. Demand for smart devices and CRM SaaS solutions is also rising, fueled further by the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on cloud software adoption. The global SaaS market size is projected to grow at a <a href="https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/software-as-a-service-saas-market-102222">CAGR of 18.7%</a> to reach $908.21 billion by 2030.
The AI software market is also expanding due to advancements in deep learning and machine learning and widespread adoption across industries. The increasing volume of data, demand for automation, and accessibility of AI via cloud computing platforms also fuel this growth. The global AI software market is projected to grow at a <a href="https://www.verifiedmarketresearch.com/product/artificial-intelligence-ai-software-market/">CAGR of 37.2%</a> to reach $1.35 trillion by 2030.
Considering these encouraging market trends, let's discuss the fundamentals of three software stock picks: FFIV, DOX, and INFA.
F5, Inc. (<a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/FFIV/">FFIV</a>)
FFIV delivers multi-cloud application security and delivery solutions globally, facilitating the deployment and protection of applications across diverse environments. Its offerings include unified security and networking solutions, serving a wide range of clients through a global network of partners.
On March 5, 2024, FFIV integrated Heyhack's automated reconnaissance and penetration testing capabilities into its Distributed Cloud Services, streamlining vulnerability discovery for multi-cloud environments. These enhancements automate scanning and recommend web application firewall rules, furthering its goal of simplifying application security for customers.
On February 7, FFIV launched new capabilities to streamline application and API security in the AI era, addressing the complexities of modern digital environments. With integrated AI-driven solutions in F5 Distributed Cloud Services, customers will benefit from comprehensive protection and enhanced governance across their application lifecycle.
FFIV reported total net revenues of $692.60 million in the first quarter of fiscal year 2024, which ended December 31, 2023. The company's total operating expenses decreased 13.8% year-over-year to $391.69 million. Moreover, its non-GAAP net income and net income per share rose 37.1% and 38.9% from the prior-year quarter to $204.73 million and $3.43, respectively.
For the second quarter of fiscal year 2024, the company anticipates revenue between $675 million and $695 million, alongside non-GAAP earnings projected to be between $2.79 and $2.91 per share.
Analysts expect FFIV's revenue and EPS for the fiscal year (ending September 2025) to increase 4.3% and 10.1% year-over-year to $2.91 billion and $13.87, respectively. Moreover, the company surpassed consensus revenue and EPS estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, which is promising.
The stock has gained 29.3% over the past nine months to close the last trading session at $187.46.
FFIV's <a href="https://stocknews.com/powr-ratings/">POWR Ratings</a> reflect this strong outlook. The stock has an overall rating of A, equating to a Strong Buy in our proprietary rating system. The POWR Ratings are calculated by considering 118 different factors, each weighted optimally.
The stock has an A grade for Quality and a B for Value. In the <a href="https://stocknews.com/category/software-business/">Software - Business</a> industry, FFIV is ranked #2 among 44 stocks.
To access additional ratings for FFIV's Growth, Momentum, Stability, and Sentiment, <a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/FFIV/">click here</a>.
Amdocs Limited (<a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/DOX/">DOX</a>)
DOX offers global software and service solutions, mainly focusing on cloud-based offerings for the communications, entertainment, and media sectors. Its portfolio includes CES23, a customer experience suite for 5G and cloud-native services, alongside modular solutions for billing, revenue management, and network automation.
On February 26, 2024, DOX expanded its partnership with Microsoft Corporation (<a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/MSFT/">MSFT</a>) to introduce verticalized GenAI capabilities for the telecommunications industry, leveraging DOX's amAIz platform and MSFT's Azure OpenAI Service.
The collaboration includes establishing a dedicated lab and center of excellence to drive innovation and accelerate the adoption of GenAI technologies among communications service providers globally.
On February 6, DOX declared its next quarterly <a href="https://www.investopedia.com/terms/c/cashdividend.asp">cash dividend</a> payment, which the company increased to $0.479 per share, payable on April 26, 2024. The company pays $1.92 annually, which translates to a yield of 2.11% on the prevailing price level, higher than its four-year average dividend yield of 1.86%.
The company's dividend payouts have grown at a CAGR of 9.9% and 11.7% over the past three and five years, respectively. Moreover, the company has raised its dividends for seven consecutive years.
In the first quarter of fiscal year 2024, which ended December 31, 2023, DOX's revenue increased 5% year-over-year to $1.25 billion. The company's non-GAAP operating and net income grew 7.5% and 4.1% from the previous year's quarter to $225.24 million and $183.83 million, respectively. Also, its non-GAAP EPS rose 7.1% from the year-ago value to $1.56.
For the second quarter of fiscal 2024, the company anticipates revenue in the range of $1.23 billion to $1.27 billion, with its non-GAAP EPS expected to range from $1.53 to $1.59.
Street expects DOX's revenue and EPS to grow 5% and 9.8% year-over-year to $5.30 billion and $7.14 for the fiscal year ending September 2025, respectively. In addition, the company has topped consensus revenue estimates in each of the trailing four quarters.
DOX's stock has surged 7.7% over the past three months to close the last trading session at $90.77.
DOX's POWR Ratings reflect its robust prospects. The stock has an overall A rating, translating to a Strong Buy in our proprietary rating system.
The stock has a B grade for Value, Stability, and Quality. Within the Software - Business industry, DOX is ranked #7.
<a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/DOX/">Click here</a> to see DOX's ratings for Growth, Momentum, and Sentiment.
Informatica Inc. (<a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/INFA/">INFA</a>)
INFA offers AI-powered data management solutions for enterprise-scale operations, including data integration, API management, and governance products. Its platform unifies data across multi-cloud and hybrid systems, facilitating seamless connectivity and management.
On March 5, 2024, INFA announced that its AI-powered data management cloud platform aids Pharmarack, the largest B2B healthcare network in India, in standardizing catalog quality and enhancing efficiency across India's pharmaceutical value chain.
This solution ensures consistent, high-quality master data, addresses challenges related to spurious medicines, and ensures the availability of quality medicines nationwide.
On February 29, INFA introduced Cloud Data Access Management (CDAM), revolutionizing data access governance with automated sensitive data classifications and intuitive policy authoring, enhancing compliance and trust. Integrated with IDMC, CDAM accelerates data access for analytics, reduces compliance costs, and simplifies controls across complex data operations.
During the fourth quarter, which ended December 31, 2023, INFA's total revenues rose 11.6% year-over-year to $445.18 million. The company's non-GAAP net income and net income per share grew 41.8% and 33.3% from the prior-year quarter to $97.30 million and $0.32, respectively. Also, its adjusted EBITDA increased 40.6% year-over-year to $166.42 million.
For the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024, the company projects its total revenues to be between $1.69 billion and $1.71 billion. Its non-GAAP operating income is estimated to range from $533 million to $553 million. Moreover, its adjusted unlevered FCF is projected to range from $535 million to $555 million.
Analysts expect INFA's revenue and EPS for the fiscal year (ending December 2025) to grow 7.2% and 11% year-over-year to $1.82 billion and $1.20, respectively. Furthermore, the company surpassed the revenue estimates in each of the trailing four quarters.
INFA's shares have surged 86.5% over the past nine months and 79.4% over the past year to close the last trading session at $31.70.
INFA's sound fundaments are reflected in its POWR Ratings. The stock has an overall rating of A, equating to a Strong Buy in our proprietary rating system.
It has an A grade for Growth and a B for Sentiment and Quality. Among the 19 stocks in the B-rated <a href="https://stocknews.com/category/software-saas/">Software - SAAS</a> industry, INFA is ranked #3.
In addition to the POWR Ratings stated above, access INFA's Value, Momentum, and Stability ratings <a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/INFA/">here</a>.
What To Do Next?
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<a href="https://report.stocknews.com/sign-up/stock-market-outlook-2024/?formplacement=artbotad_smo24_rep">2024 Stock Market Outlook &gt;</a>

<hr />
FFIV shares were unchanged in premarket trading Wednesday. Year-to-date, FFIV has gained 4.74%, versus a 7.27% rise in the benchmark S&amp;P 500 index during the same period.
<hr><div style="clear:both;"></div> <h2>About the Author: Kritika Sarmah</h2> <img src='https:/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Kritika-Sarmah_Image-3.jpg' style="float:left; padding:5px;width:125px;">Her interest in risky instruments and passion for writing made Kritika an analyst and financial journalist. She earned her bachelor's degree in commerce and is currently pursuing the CFA program. With her fundamental approach, she aims to help investors identify untapped investment opportunities.<a href="https://stocknews.com/authors/?author=kritika-sarmah">More...</a>The post <a href=https://stocknews.com/news/ffiv-dox-infa-msft-secure-your-future-with-these-3-software-stocks/>Secure Your Future With These 3 Software Stocks</a> appeared first on <a href=https://stocknews.com/>StockNews.com</a>

Secure Your Future With These 3 Software Stocks

F5 Inc (FFIV) is around the top of the Software - Infrastructure industry according to InvestorsObserver. FFIV received an overall rating of 64, which means that it scores higher than 64 percent of all stocks. F5 Inc also achieved a score of 87 in the Software - Infrastructure industry, putting it above 87 percent of Softw

F5 Inc (FFIV) is lower by -0.25% in a Week, Should You Accumulate?

F5 names Kunal Anand as CTO

INFA

Press Releases

F5 to Host Strategy and Product Session for Investors and Financial Analysts

F5 Welcomes Samir Sherif as New Chief Information Security Officer

F5 Reports Strong Earnings Growth in its First Quarter of Fiscal Year 2024

F5 Transforms Application Security for the AI Era

F5 to Participate in the Morgan Stanley Technology, Media & Telecom Conference

Contracts

ePlus Named F5 North America 2023 Strategic Solutions Partner of the Year

F5 Solutions Now Available in AWS Marketplace Through Carahsoft

F5 Welcomes Lyra Schramm as Chief People Officer and Kunal Anand as Chief Technology Officer

F5 to Report Second Quarter Fiscal Year 2024 Financial Results

F5 Recognized by KuppingerCole as a Leader in Web Application Firewall Market in 2024 Leadership Compass Report

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