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Okta shares see price target cut by 12%, Mizuho holds Neutral rating as competitive pressure rises

EditorAhmed Abdulazez Abdulkadir
Published 10/18/2024, 12:28 AM
OKTA
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On Thursday, Mizuho Securities adjusted its outlook on shares of Okta, Inc (NASDAQ: NASDAQ:OKTA), a leading identity management company. The firm's analyst revised the price target downward to $92.00 from the previous $104.00, while the stock's rating remains at Neutral. The adjustment follows observations and insights gathered from Okta's annual user conference, Oktane24, which took place earlier this week in San Francisco.

At the conference, Okta introduced several platform enhancements and new solutions, including an AI-based authentication offering and a new portal designed for developers. Despite these advancements, feedback from the event indicated a mixed reception among participants.

The company's position as a dominant entity in the identity management market was acknowledged, yet concerns were raised regarding Okta's market performance and competition.

The analyst noted that Okta is contending with increased competitive pressures, particularly from Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT), and has experienced inconsistent execution in recent years. The firm's cautious stance is also influenced by a lack of confidence in Okta's ability to achieve a consistent fundamental turnaround at present.

The revised price target of $92 reflects a more conservative valuation multiple applied to Okta's shares. This decision was influenced by reduced financial estimates that were previously updated following Okta's second-quarter financial report. Despite the price target reduction, Mizuho's Neutral rating suggests a wait-and-see approach to the stock, recognizing the company's market leadership but also factoring in the challenges it faces.

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

Analyst firms such as Truist Securities, JPMorgan, Jefferies, DA Davidson, BTIG, and TD Cowen have revised their outlook on Okta. Truist Securities revised Okta's price target to $80 from $95, maintaining a Hold rating.

JPMorgan and Jefferies held steady with price targets of $105 and $85 respectively, while DA Davidson lowered its price target from $85 to $75. BTIG revised its price target to $98 from $128, and TD Cowen maintained a $110 price target. These adjustments followed Okta's recent event, Oktane 2024, where the company unveiled new product innovations and discussed its growth strategy.

InvestingPro Insights

To complement Mizuho Securities' analysis of Okta, Inc (NASDAQ: OKTA), recent data from InvestingPro offers additional context to the company's financial position and market performance. Despite the challenges noted in the analyst's report, InvestingPro Tips highlight that Okta holds more cash than debt on its balance sheet, indicating a strong liquidity position. This financial stability could provide Okta with the flexibility to navigate the competitive pressures mentioned in the article.

Moreover, InvestingPro data shows that Okta's revenue for the last twelve months as of Q2 2025 stands at $2.45 billion, with a revenue growth of 18.74% over the same period. This growth, coupled with an impressive gross profit margin of 75.82%, suggests that Okta maintains a solid financial foundation despite the competitive landscape.

However, aligning with the cautious outlook presented in the article, InvestingPro data reveals that Okta's P/E ratio is currently negative at -93.41, reflecting the company's current unprofitability. Yet, an InvestingPro Tip indicates that analysts predict the company will be profitable this year, which could potentially address some of the concerns raised about Okta's execution and market performance.

For investors seeking a more comprehensive analysis, InvestingPro offers 7 additional tips for Okta, providing a deeper understanding of the company's financial health and market position.

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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