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Okta stock sees 12% price target reduction as DA Davidson keeps Neutral rating after user event

EditorAhmed Abdulazez Abdulkadir
Published 10/18/2024, 12:32 AM
OKTA
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On Thursday, DA Davidson made adjustments to its outlook on Okta, Inc (NASDAQ: NASDAQ:OKTA), reducing the price target from $85.00 to $75.00, while keeping a Neutral rating on the stock. The firm's decision came after participating in Oktane 2024, Okta's annual user conference, which took place earlier in the week in Las Vegas, Nevada. The event also included an Investor Q&A Session with Okta's management team held today.

The analyst from DA Davidson noted that several new product enhancements were unveiled at the event for Okta's Workforce & Customer Identity product suites. Despite these announcements, the firm did not consider any of the enhancements to be particularly transformative. The analyst also mentioned an increased focus on partnerships, which could potentially be positive, but it was deemed too early to predict the impact.

Feedback gathered from discussions with customers and channel partners at the event revealed that Okta's newer Identity Governance and Administration (IGA) and Privileged Access Management (PAM) products have seen limited traction. Additionally, there seems to be little opportunity for further expansion of Okta's customer base and the company continues to face competitive challenges.

In other recent news, Okta Inc . experienced a series of financial adjustments following the release of its second-quarter fiscal year 2025 results. The company reported a 16% year-over-year revenue increase to $646 million, primarily due to a 17% rise in subscription revenue. Despite these positive results, Okta's third-quarter calculated remaining performance obligations (cRPO) guidance fell short of projections.

Analyst firms such as BTIG, TD Cowen, and JPMorgan have adjusted their outlook on Okta. BTIG revised its revenue estimate for Okta's fiscal year 2026 downwards to $2,750 million, while TD Cowen sustained its Hold rating for Okta with a consistent price target of $110.00. JPMorgan reiterated its Neutral rating on Okta with a steady price target of $105.00.

Meanwhile, ServiceNow (NYSE:NOW) faces potential business disruption due to a Department of Justice (DOJ) investigation involving one of its partners, Carahsoft. Keybanc highlighted that the outcome of this investigation is a matter of interest for investors and stakeholders in ServiceNow, given the scale of the company's government-related revenue.

InvestingPro Insights

Recent InvestingPro data provides additional context to DA Davidson's cautious stance on Okta, Inc (NASDAQ: OKTA). Despite the lowered price target, Okta's financials show some promising aspects. The company's revenue for the last twelve months as of Q2 2025 stood at $2.45 billion, with a notable 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 strong pricing power in its core offerings.

However, aligning with the analyst's concerns about growth prospects, Okta's 3-month price total return of -21.28% indicates recent market skepticism. This decline might reflect the limited traction of newer products and competitive challenges mentioned in the DA Davidson report.

InvestingPro Tips highlight that Okta holds more cash than debt on its balance sheet and has liquid assets exceeding short-term obligations. These factors provide the company with financial flexibility to navigate challenges and potentially invest in product improvements or partnerships, as discussed at Oktane 2024.

It's worth noting that while Okta is not currently profitable, analysts predict the company will turn profitable this year. This expectation, combined with 31 analysts revising their earnings upwards for the upcoming period, suggests a potentially improving financial outlook despite current challenges.

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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