Security software spending is on the rise following a series of high-profile hacks against a number of businesses this year. Now, security software companies are starting to report earnings, and it’s clear that business will be great for some time to come. That’s because these companies tend to operate on a recurring revenue basis, so whether a customer is now or upgrading their security software, they’ll also be making regular payments to ensure upgrades and monitoring. One company seeing big results isPalo Alto Networks (PANW). The company just reported earnings after the bell on M...

One of the biggest trends of the past few years has been the rise of companies using cloud-based services. That bypasses the need for a company to run its own data centers, and has created some powerhouse firms. However, in the short-run, fears of slow growth can lead to major selloffs in cloud-based companies, which in turn can spell a long-term entry point for patient buyers. Case in point?Snowflake (SNOW). The cloud storage giant has seen its shares shed one-third of their peak value since last December. Shares have been declining recently ahead of earnings, on concerns of a signi...

A number of companies are synonymous with certain eras. FromGeneral Motors (GM) in the 1950s orInternational Business Machines (IBM) in the 1960s, these companies have changed with the times, but aren’t quite as big a player in their industries as they once were. Kicking off the tech bubble of the 1990s,Cisco Systems (CSCO) was best known for making internet routing equipment. Shares have finally topped their early 2000 peak in the second half of 2021. But it’s also become a different company. Cisco has shifted its business mix to include more high-profit margin software, as well as ...

BeforeApple (AAPL) invented the iPod, the company controlled about 10 percent of the PC market at its peak. That didn’t generate huge business. But by reinventing towards having the most user-friendly consumer tech, and some software behind it, the company managed to become a multi-trillion-dollar behemoth. Other companies are making similar pivots today, finding new lines of businesses with higher profit margins and growth potential. One such play?BlackBerry (BB). Known for its phones before the iPhone grabbed the bulk of the market, the company noted that its systems had the best t...

While it’s usually a good idea in investing not to fight a central bank, it can sometimes be a good idea to buy when a regulatory authority is stepping up its bounds. That’s especially true when targeting a company that can thrive even under a stricter regulatory regime. Chinese companies have come under fire in recent weeks, as many tech companies are looking to tighten up how their data is protected, deal with the effects of increased antitrust laws, and the like. The selloff has been sharp and steep enough to suggest that it’s time to look at a contrarian buy. Among China’s bigges...

The past few years have seen a number of companies have their data hacked. This can include everything from customer sales data to personal information as well. These hacks tend to lead to a drop in share price of a company, but they tend to recover in time. The most recent company to see a big hack isT-Mobile (TMUS). The telecom giant has reported that the latest hack is a big one. While unfortunate, the effects of the hack are likely to be limited in terms of costs to the company, as many firms have found out over the years. T-Mobile is one of just a handful of mobile telecom co...

Home prices continue to move higher at a record pace. That’s led to a strong demand for more housing to meet this lack of supply, and existing homeowners are looking to upgrade their homes as well. These trends point strongly to home supplier companies, and that trend looks set to continue even if home prices moderate in the coming months ahead. The top two players for home improvement are, by far,Home Depot (HD) andLowe’s (LOW). Both companies have reported better-than-expected results in recent quarters thanks to trends in home improvements, a trend that looks likely to continue as...

In fact, no asset moves up or down in a straight line. Even a stock or sector in a hot uptrend can be hit with a wild downtrend. Traders astute enough to recognize a temporary setback rather than a cyclical change are likely able to fare well by buying a dip and obtaining the best possible profit. Last week,Morgan Stanley (MS) warned on memory maker stocks, nothing that the pricing environment would be difficult going into next year. Time will tell if that’s the case, given rising memory needs for a number of new devices hitting the markets today. In any event, the warning caused a n...

The past few years has seen an explosion in companies going public through the IPO process. Most are successes, seeing shares immediately rise as they start trading. However, there have been a number of companies that have initially slid from their opening price, creating what’s called a “failed IPO.” Some companies have been able to recover in time, most famously social media giantFacebook (FB) which had a failed IPO when it first went public. The most recent failed IPO?Coinbase (COIN). The cryptocurrency brokerage company went public right as Bitcoin prices were peaking in the spri...

The only constant in the world is change. Companies that have been around for decades (or even over a century) need to either adapt or die. Some companies are getting the message that if they want to stay relevant tomorrow, they need to make changes today. Big tech companies have fared well in this regard, expanding into new areas and new technologies. But other large companies are making moves too. One surprising play has beenWalmart (WMT). The retailer has expanded online to compete with rising  ecommerce sales. But the company is also looking to expand everyday low prices to cu...