The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights: Cisco, FireEye, Barracuda, NetApp and Ixia

For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – February 21, 2017 – Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO – Free Report ), FireEye (NASDAQ: FEYE – Free Report ), Barracuda Networks (NYSE: CUDA – Free Report ), NetApp (NASDAQ: NTAP – Free Report ) and Ixia (NASDAQ: XXIA – Free Report )

Today, Zacks is promoting its ''Buy'' stock recommendations. Get #1Stock of the Day pick for free .

Here are highlights from Friday’s Analyst Blog:

Why Cisco Is Increasing Focus on Cybersecurity

Since Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO – Free Report ) provides high-end hardware that connects computing devices at both the edge and core of the network, it can add value to its offerings by making the network more secure.

What’s Going for the Market Right Now

With Internet of Things (IoT) devices continuing to grow and enterprises increasingly adopting policies like bring-your-own device (BYOD), the number of network end-points is increasing rapidly. On the other side, the concept of shared resources in the cloud to be accessed by these devices has greatly increased the need for adequate security at the core.

The changing work environment has greatly increased data flow between devices and the cloud and between each other. The advent of autonomous cars will increase these data flows exponentially, as each car will generate a huge amount of data.

Data is extremely important these days because when analyzed, it can help businesses make better-informed decisions. So securing the data is in the interest of individuals on account of privacy concerns, corporations on business considerations and the government on intelligence considerations.

President Obama recently increased the budget for cybersecurity. But with President Trump taking office last month, cybersecurity is expected to become an area of even greater focus. The draft cybersecurity order, which he has yet to sign, seeks to overhaul a policy under which each government agency was responsible for its own networks.

The responsibility for hacks will now be placed on the White House's Budget and Management Office after a comprehensive review of the most critical hacking vulnerabilities in military, intelligence and civilian government computer systems is completed within 60 days of the day the order is signed. What’s more, the Commerce Secretary will do the necessary to push the private sector to increase “investments in cybersecurity tools, services and software."

Cybersecurity Ventures reportedly estimates that the global cybersecurity space will grow at a CAGR of 9.8% from around $106.3 billion in 2015 to around $170.2 billion by 2020. Approximately $1 trillion is expected to be spent globally on cybersecurity from 2017 to 2021.

IDC estimates that worldwide businesses will spend $101.6 billion on cybersecurity in 2020, a 38% increase from the estimated $73.7 billion spend in 2016 with the banking sector spending the most. Geographically, the U.S. will lead with $31.5 billion on cybersecurity tools and services and Western Europe will be second with $19.5 billion.

The Asia/Pacific region, while still a smaller contributor, will grow the fastest in spending by 2020. (India will be one of the fastest-growing countries, with the Data Security Council of India [DSCI] estimating that the market will grow from $4 billion in 2015 to $35 billion in 2025.) Middle East, Africa and Western Europe will follow Asia.

As a result of the solid prospects, venture funding for security startups is on the rise. CB Insights estimates that VC firms invested $3.1 billion in a record 279 cybersecurity startups in 2016.

The Cisco Solution

Being the dominant provider of high-end networking gear, Cisco has been under pressure to make some big changes. The most important factors driving these changes are increased competition from smaller companies offering traditional products and a fresh challenge from companies selling industry standard hardware coupled with sophisticated software (software-defined networking, or SDN).

Cisco has the resources to expand into adjacencies, and it has had mixed success with these initiatives. One area that has paid dividends and is likely to continue to do so is security.

Cisco has taken a largely acquisitive route to building its security business. In 2013, it acquired Sourcefire (its largest acquisition in the space) for $2.7 billion, as well as a smaller company called Cognitive Security. ThreatGRID and Neophasis were added in 2014. A couple of larger acquisitions followed in 2015 (OpenDNS for $635 million and Lancope for $453 million). In 2016, Cisco acquired CloudLock for nearly $300 million.

All these acquisitions have increased Cisco’s strength in the category, enabling it to announce new products and strategies. The most recent product launch was that of Umbrella, its first Secure Internet Gateway (SIG) in the cloud. Umbrella is a way to secure end points that may be mobile or geographically spread out when not connected through a VPN.

Given the weak outlook announced on its recent earnings call, Cisco shares currently carry a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell). But there are many other buy-ranked technology companies to choose from: FireEye (NASDAQ: FEYE – Free Report ), Barracuda Networks (NYSE: CUDA – Free Report ), NetApp (NASDAQ: NTAP – Free Report ), Ixia (NASDAQ: XXIA – Free Report ), etc. Or, see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here .

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About Zacks Equity Research

Zacks Equity Research provides the best of quantitative and qualitative analysis to help investors know what stocks to buy and which to sell for the long-term.

Continuous coverage is provided for a universe of 1,150 publicly traded stocks. Our analysts are organized by industry which gives them keen insights to developments that affect company profits and stock performance. Recommendations and target prices are six-month time horizons.

Strong Stocks that Should Be in the News

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Cisco Systems, Inc. (CSCO): Free Stock Analysis Report
 
FireEye, Inc. (FEYE): Free Stock Analysis Report
 
Barracuda Networks, Inc. (CUDA): Free Stock Analysis Report
 
NetApp, Inc. (NTAP): Free Stock Analysis Report
 
Ixia (XXIA): Free Stock Analysis Report
 
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