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Okta shares see 16% price target cut as Truist keeps Hold rating following user conference

EditorAhmed Abdulazez Abdulkadir
Published 10/18/2024, 12:30 AM
OKTA
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On Thursday, Truist Securities revised the price target for Okta, Inc (NASDAQ: NASDAQ:OKTA) to $80 from the previous target of $95, while maintaining a Hold rating on the stock. The adjustment follows insights from Okta's user conference, Oktane24, where the company showcased new product innovations and furthered their vision for a unified identity cloud.

The company's emphasis on new customer offerings at the conference left analysts with a positive impression of Okta's potential to continue innovating. The ability of Okta to execute on its vision and re-accelerate growth amid a challenging macroeconomic environment was a key point of discussion during its Investor Q&A session.

Truist Securities reaffirmed their Hold rating, acknowledging the promising developments but also recognizing the importance of execution in translating these innovations into growth. The revised price target reflects a cautious optimism balanced with the current economic landscape.

The analyst from Truist Securities highlighted that while the new product offerings are promising, the company's success hinges on its execution abilities. The revised price target indicates a level of confidence in the company's innovation but also factors in the broader challenges that may affect growth.

The market will continue to monitor Okta's performance, especially in terms of how well it can implement its strategic vision and whether this will lead to the anticipated re-acceleration of growth in a complex economic context.

In other recent news, Okta Inc . reported a 16% year-over-year revenue increase to $646 million, largely due to a 17% rise in subscription revenue. Despite these gains, Okta's third-quarter calculated remaining performance obligations (cRPO) guidance fell short of projections, prompting a series of financial adjustments.

Analyst firms such as JPMorgan, Jefferies, DA Davidson, BTIG, and TD Cowen have revised their outlook on Okta. JPMorgan maintained a Neutral rating with a $105 price target, while Jefferies held steady with an $85 price target. DA Davidson lowered its price target from $85 to $75, BTIG reduced its price target from $128 to $98, and TD Cowen maintained a $110 price target.

These adjustments came after Okta's recent event, Oktane 2024, where the company showcased new product demonstrations and held discussions with customers, partners, and employees. However, feedback from the event was mixed as Okta navigates through short-term challenges. In other developments, ServiceNow (NYSE:NOW) faces potential disruption due to a Department of Justice investigation involving one of its partners, Carahsoft.

InvestingPro Insights

To complement Truist Securities' analysis of Okta, Inc (NASDAQ: OKTA), recent data from InvestingPro offers additional context to the company's financial position and market sentiment. Despite the lowered price target, InvestingPro Tips highlight that Okta holds more cash than debt on its balance sheet, which could provide financial flexibility as the company pursues its innovation strategy. Additionally, 31 analysts have revised their earnings upwards for the upcoming period, suggesting a potentially positive outlook that aligns with the company's focus on new product offerings.

InvestingPro data shows that Okta's revenue for the last twelve months as of Q2 2023 stands at $2.45 billion, with a revenue growth of 18.74% over the same period. This growth, while solid, may explain Truist's cautious stance and the importance placed on Okta's ability to re-accelerate growth. The company's impressive gross profit margin of 75.82% underscores its efficiency in core operations, which could be crucial as it rolls out new innovations.

It's worth noting that while Okta was not profitable over the last twelve months, InvestingPro Tips indicate that analysts predict the company will be profitable this year. This projection, combined with the upward earnings revisions, suggests that the market anticipates Okta's strategic initiatives may soon translate into improved financial performance.

For investors seeking a more comprehensive analysis, InvestingPro offers additional tips and insights, with 7 more tips available for Okta on the platform.

This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.

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