Cybersecurity Stocks & IPOs: Mid‑2025 Deep Dive
By Portugal, 24 July 2025
1. Market Performance YTD
2. Fresh IPO Activity
3. Post‑IPO Trading Snapshot
4. M&A Tailwinds
Palo Alto Networks continues to roll‑up smaller vendors, announcing three tuck‑in deals worth $1 bn in 2025 alone. Consolidation keeps valuations firm and provides exit optionality for late‑stage start‑ups.
5. ETF Flows
The First Trust NASDAQ CEA Cybersecurity ETF (CIBR) has attracted $1.2 bn of net inflows YTD, signalling institutional appetite for the theme.
6. What Wall Street Is Saying
Jim Cramer told CNBC on 21 July 2025 that investors should "buy the dip in CrowdStrike and Palo Alto" after Microsoft’s cloud breach (see source). He argues that every attack is "a commercial" for the sector.
7. Key Risks
8. My Take
I remain overweight cybersecurity. I plan to participate in the SailPoint IPO and add to CIBR on weakness. For speculative exposure, I’m watching Wiz’s roadshow closely.
Sources
Disclosure: This post is for educational purposes only and is not investment advice.
By Portugal, 24 July 2025
"Cyber threats are no longer an IT problem – they’re a board‑level risk." – IBM Security report, 2025
1. Market Performance YTD
- The Nasdaq CTA Cybersecurity Index (NQCYBR) is up ~18% YTD, beating the S&P 500’s ~12%.
- Leaders: CrowdStrike (+42%), Palo Alto Networks (+37%), Zscaler (+30%).
- Laggards: Okta (‑8%) after guidance cut.
2. Fresh IPO Activity
- SailPoint Technologies re‑entered public markets on 11 Feb 2025, aiming for a $12.6 bn valuation. The company priced 38 m shares at $34‑$38 according to Reuters (see source). Early demand suggests the deal could be upsized.
- Wiz confidentially filed with the SEC in June; bankers target a valuation north of $20 bn, which would make it the largest pure‑play cyber IPO ever.
- Arctic Wolf revived its 2023 filing and is expected to launch in Q3 2025 at ~$6 bn.
- Snyk is interviewing underwriters for a possible Q4 listing after hitting $1.8 bn ARR.
3. Post‑IPO Trading Snapshot
| Company | Ticker | IPO Date | Issue Price | Current Price | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rubrik | RBRK | Apr‑2025 | 37 | 45 | +21% |
| SailPoint | SAIL | Feb‑2025 | 36 (mid‑range est.) | — | N/A |
4. M&A Tailwinds
Palo Alto Networks continues to roll‑up smaller vendors, announcing three tuck‑in deals worth $1 bn in 2025 alone. Consolidation keeps valuations firm and provides exit optionality for late‑stage start‑ups.
5. ETF Flows
The First Trust NASDAQ CEA Cybersecurity ETF (CIBR) has attracted $1.2 bn of net inflows YTD, signalling institutional appetite for the theme.
6. What Wall Street Is Saying
Jim Cramer told CNBC on 21 July 2025 that investors should "buy the dip in CrowdStrike and Palo Alto" after Microsoft’s cloud breach (see source). He argues that every attack is "a commercial" for the sector.
7. Key Risks
- Valuation compression if Fed tightening resumes.
- Slower enterprise spending could hit billings growth.
- IPO window could slam shut if volatility spikes.
8. My Take
I remain overweight cybersecurity. I plan to participate in the SailPoint IPO and add to CIBR on weakness. For speculative exposure, I’m watching Wiz’s roadshow closely.
Sources
- Reuters – "Cybersecurity firm SailPoint sets sights on $12.6 billion valuation in US IPO" (11 Feb 2025): Link
- CNBC – "Jim Cramer says buy these 2 cybersecurity stocks in the wake of Microsoft’s attack" (21 Jul 2025): Link
Disclosure: This post is for educational purposes only and is not investment advice.