As they say, the trend is your friend, and it is best to trade with your friend. Promotions such as Palo Alto Networks NASDAQ:PANV, Salesforce New York Stock Exchange: CRMAnd Booking holdings NASDAQ: BCNG are trending upward and are forecast to provide favorable returns this year and next. Trends that support their price action include growth, outperformance, cash flow, and prospects for growth and continued cash flow growth.
The trends supporting their price action also include analysts being bullish and raising their price targets. The average projected increase represents solid double-digit growth and is likely on the low side due to each company’s industry leadership position and quality of performance.
Palo Alto analysts shift gears: raise targets to new highs
Palo Alto Networks Stock Forecast Today
$390.39
Growth potential 0.92%Moderate purchase
Based on ratings from 42 analysts
| High forecast | $455.00 |
|---|---|
| Average forecast | $390.39 |
| Low forecast | $285.00 |
Palo Alto Networks Stock Forecast Details
Palo Alto analysts falsified the situation in 2024 by lowering sentiment, lowering price targets, and then quickly returning to trend. The trend is upward and includes a price target that was up 40% year-over-year and increased following the 2024 third-quarter earnings report.
The stock’s consensus price target suggests fair value with the stock trading at a critical support level, but the revision trend suggests a move to the upper range is approaching. As a result, the stock price will approach $455 and meet technical targets. Technical targets place the stock in the range of $450 to $500 in 2025 and above $600 by the end of 2026.
The reason for the fake analysts was platformization. Palo Alto is a leading cybersecurity provider, but its cybersecurity portfolio was fragmented. Platformization is designed to make it easier to use and resonate with customers. The plan is working so well that the expected temporary slowdown in growth and impact on profitability is far less than feared, and the company is now set to maintain mid-range growth in 2024 and over the long term.
Palo Alto’s growth drivers include increased digitalization of business and increased cyber threats. Advances in artificial intelligence are accelerating cyberattacks, increasing the frequency, time, and cost of mitigation.
Salesforce is a force to be reckoned with
Salesforce stock forecast today
$325.36
Growth potential 0.97%Moderate purchase
Based on ratings from 39 analysts
| High forecast | $425.00 |
|---|---|
| Average forecast | $325.36 |
| Low forecast | $236.00 |
Salesforce Inventory Forecast Details
Salesforce is an early adopter of artificial intelligence, integrating machine learning and data mining into its platform from the start. Growth slows in 2024, but not as quickly as forecast, and profitability improves, strengthening its already strong cash flow and improving shareholder value and return on capital outlook.
Salesforce’s return on capital includes dividends, which are a nominal amount but expected to grow significantly in the coming years, as well as share buybacks. The company will pay out just 8.5% of the 2024 consensus estimate for a yield of about 0.5% with shares around $3.25; Buybacks generate 10 times the dollar value of dividends and cut them 0.5% at the end of the third quarter.
MarketBeat.com tracks 38 analysts who work with Salesforce. They show strong confidence with a Moderate Buy rating and raise their 2024 price targets. As with Palo Alto Networks, the consensus target suggests a fair value close to current trading levels. However, the revision trend is positive and suggests the likelihood of exceeding consensus. The high-quality range puts this market around $400, or 25% above the critical support target.
Booking Holdings: slower growth offset by outperformance and quality
Book your inventory forecast today
$4,785.00
-3.93% DisadvantageModerate purchase
Based on ratings from 32 analysts
| High forecast | US$5600.00 |
|---|---|
| Average forecast | $4,785.00 |
| Low forecast | US$3590.00 |
Inventory forecast details for booking
Booking Holdings is another stock whose share price has faced headwinds due to expectations of slower growth. It will also face tailwinds at the end of 2024 as the slowdown in growth is less than expected and performance is strong.
2024 results include growth slowing to single digits and growth outpacing significantly. Margins are a strength, with adjusted earnings per share growing twice as fast. The 2025 forecast suggests similar performance, but the consensus forecast is likely to be low. The combination of lower interest rates and a business-friendly president will likely create tailwinds for business in the second half of the year.
MarketBeat tracks 32 analysts who rate the stock a Moderate Buy. They believe its fair valuation is $4,750, but the trend is positive and the number is rising. The most recent targets have this stock trading around $5,550, which is about 10% above its all-time high of around $5,000.
Before you consider Palo Alto Networks, you should hear this.
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