Group 1 - U.S. stocks showed mixed performance, with the Dow Jones increasing by approximately 100 points on Thursday [1] - HubSpot reported quarterly earnings of $3.09 per share, surpassing the analyst estimate of $2.99 [1] - Quarterly revenue for HubSpot reached $846.75 million, exceeding the Street estimate of $830.54 million and up from $703.17 million in the same period last year [1] - Following the earnings report, HubSpot shares rose by 9.4% to $228.93 on Thursday [1]

Cambridge, Massachusetts-based Akamai Technologies, Inc. (AKAM) engages in the provision of security, delivery, and cloud computing solutions in the United States and internationally. With a market cap. of $13.6 billion, it offers security solutions that include web application and application programming interface (API) protection. Shares of Akamai Technologies have lagged behind the broader market over the past 52 weeks. AKAM stock has declined 6% over this time frame, while the broader S&P 500 Index ( ...

Company Overview - Akamai Technologies, Inc. has transformed from a content delivery network (CDN) provider to a broader distributed cloud, cybersecurity, and edge computing platform, with cybersecurity now being the primary growth engine [3] - The company operates one of the most distributed networks globally, with thousands of edge locations in over 130 countries, enabling low latency and high reliability for enterprises [3] Financial Performance - The content delivery segment is facing pressure, with revenues expected to be flat to down modestly due to increased competition and pricing compression [4] - The security business is projected to grow around 10%, driven by the critical nature of cybersecurity spending [4] - The cloud computing segment, while smaller, is expected to grow at an annual recurring revenue rate of 40-45% by year-end, contributing to overall segment growth of just under 15% [4] Valuation Metrics - Akamai trades at a forward P/E of approximately 13x and an EV/EBITDA of around 9x, making it one of the cheaper options among peers in the security and cloud sectors [5] - The company has actively reduced its share count over the past decade through aggressive share buybacks, with significant authorization remaining [5] - Despite concerns over elevated stock-based compensation affecting economic margins, the company's essential products and improving mix towards higher-growth segments create a cautiously bullish risk-reward profile [5] Market Comparison - A comparison with Cloudflare, Inc. highlights similar views on infrastructure software, emphasizing valuation discipline and transformation-led upside at Akamai Technologies, Inc. [6]

Core Insights - The fourth-quarter 2025 earnings for Internet stocks were significantly influenced by the acceleration of artificial intelligence (AI) adoption and substantial infrastructure investments, with major tech companies increasing capital expenditures, notably Meta's spending nearly doubling to $115-$135 billion for 2026 to support AI initiatives [1][4] - AI-driven demand led to strong revenue growth, particularly benefiting software analytics companies and cloud computing providers, while social media platforms saw revenue boosts from strong advertising demand and improved AI-powered recommendation algorithms [1][4] Company Performance - Meta Platforms (META) experienced a strong fourth-quarter performance, benefiting from increased AI integration across its services, which reach over 3.58 billion users daily, and an improved recommendation system that enhances user engagement [2] - Spotify Technology is expected to report fourth-quarter revenues of €4.5 billion, reflecting a 13% year-over-year growth, with significant user engagement driven by AI-driven personalization and a 54% surge in video podcast consumption [12] - Fastly anticipates fourth-quarter revenues between $159-$163 million, with a non-GAAP EPS of 4-8 cents, supported by accelerating security revenue and successful cross-sell initiatives [14] - Akamai Technologies is projected to benefit from robust growth in Cloud Infrastructure Services, with annual recurring revenue growth of 40-45%, driven by major contract wins and AI-driven demand [16] - Five9 expects sequential revenue growth towards a guided $297.7 million midpoint, fueled by strong backlog conversion and a 41% year-over-year surge in enterprise AI revenue [18] Market Dynamics - The digital advertising market showed resilience, benefiting from improved targeting technologies that enhanced return on investment for advertisers, while cloud infrastructure demand continued to expand as enterprises accelerated digital transformation initiatives [5] - The Federal Reserve's monetary easing cycle has supported growth-oriented Internet stocks, creating a more favorable financial environment, alongside seasonal market patterns that historically boost fourth-quarter performance [6] - Despite these positive dynamics, tariff-related uncertainties and economic deceleration concerns pose challenges, particularly for advertising-dependent business models and traditional software application companies [7][8]

Core Insights - The Invesco NASDAQ Next Gen 100 ETF (QQQJ) is highlighted as a notable option for investors seeking exposure to promising tech stocks, despite the common focus on larger ETFs like QQQ and QQQM [1] - QQQJ, with a market capitalization of $883.64 million, primarily includes mid-cap and smaller large-cap stocks, featuring an average market cap of $23.88 billion across its 107 holdings [1] Group 1: ETF Overview - QQQJ has been operational for five years and serves as a proving ground for stocks aspiring to enter the Nasdaq-100 Index [1] - The ETF's holdings include companies that Morningstar identifies as top tech names, such as Fiserv and Akamai Technologies [1] Group 2: Notable Holdings - Fiserv (FISV), a key holding in QQQJ, is recognized for its core processing and complementary services for US banks, with shares considered 47% undervalued relative to a fair value estimate of $126 [1] - Akamai Technologies (AKAM) is another significant holding, noted for its investments in cloud computing and edge computing, with a strong network presence that positions it well against major competitors [1]

Core Insights - The Harbor Mid Cap Value ETF achieved a return of 2.00% in Q4 2025, surpassing its benchmark, the Russell Midcap® Value Index [2] Performance Summary - The performance of the Harbor Mid Cap Value ETF in Q4 2025 indicates a positive trend in mid-cap value investments, reflecting a strong market position [2] - The outperformance against the Russell Midcap® Value Index suggests effective management and strategic positioning within the mid-cap sector [2]

Company Overview - Akamai Technologies (AKAM) shares increased by 4.7% to close at $103.26, with notable trading volume compared to typical sessions, and an overall gain of 11.8% over the past four weeks [1] - Akamai has been recognized by Gartner as the preferred choice for network security micro-segmentation, achieving a 99% recommendation rate, highlighting its focus on customer experience [2] Earnings Expectations - The upcoming quarterly earnings report for Akamai is expected to show earnings of $1.75 per share, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 5.4%, with revenues projected at $1.08 billion, up 5.6% from the previous year [3] - Despite the positive earnings and revenue growth expectations, there has been a marginal downward revision in the consensus EPS estimate over the last 30 days, which typically does not correlate with price appreciation [4] Industry Context - Akamai operates within the Zacks Internet - Services industry, where Lyft (LYFT) has experienced a decline of 2.4% to close at $17.54, with a return of -6.1% over the past month [4] - Lyft's consensus EPS estimate has increased by 4% to $0.32, indicating a year-over-year change of 6.7%, and it currently holds a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy) [5]

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Jan. 27, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Akamai Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: AKAM), has been named a Customers’ Choice in the January 2026 Gartner Peer Insights “Voice of the Customer” for Network Security Microsegmentation. Akamai earned a 99% recommendation rate and was one of two vendors to receive this in the report. Network security microsegmentation tools allow organizations to create dynamic access policies between individual assets and applications across cloud environments. Gartner define ...

Group 1 - Akamai Technologies, Inc. announced that Deutsche Telekom Security is utilizing its Security Certified Service Provider program to provide advanced cybersecurity services to sectors such as finance, insurance, critical infrastructure, and the public sector [1][4] - The program is designed to enhance organizations' cybersecurity through expert-led managed security services, allowing partners to deliver Akamai's advanced security solutions with deep technical expertise [2][4] - Akamai is extending its Guardicore Segmentation support through Deutsche Telekom Security, offering managed segmentation administration, incident response, and audit and compliance services on a sovereign cloud [3][8] Group 2 - Akamai has enhanced its Security Certified Service Provider programs to address the increasing demand for stronger API security and microsegmentation in targeted industries, aiming to strengthen customer relationships and expand into regulated markets [4][8] - The company is well-positioned to meet the rising demand for API security and managed services globally by combining its global edge platform with certified partners [4][8]

Core Insights - Akamai Technologies has seen significant institutional investment, with UMB Bank n.a. increasing its stake by 50.8% in Q2, and other firms also boosting their holdings, indicating strong institutional confidence in the company [1] - The company's stock performance shows a market capitalization of $13.68 billion, with a PE ratio of 27.88 and a 52-week price range between $67.51 and $103.75, reflecting a stable market presence [2] - Akamai reported quarterly earnings of $1.86 EPS, exceeding estimates, with a revenue of $1.05 billion, marking a 5.0% year-over-year increase, showcasing solid financial health [3] Institutional Holdings - Institutional investors and hedge funds own 94.28% of Akamai's stock, highlighting a strong institutional backing [1] - Notable increases in holdings include Mutual Advisors LLC (4.0% increase), Main Management ETF Advisors LLC (1.7% increase), and Meridian Wealth Management LLC (3.2% increase) [1] Stock Performance Metrics - The stock opened at $95.08, with a 50-day moving average of $88.58 and a 200-day moving average of $81.05, indicating a positive trend in stock performance [2] - The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.87, and both quick and current ratios are at 2.28, suggesting strong liquidity [2] Analyst Ratings - Recent analyst ratings show a mix of opinions, with TD Cowen raising the price target to $104.00 while Bank of America lowered it to $80.00, reflecting varied market sentiment [4] - The average target price for Akamai is currently $96.11, with a consensus rating of "Hold" from analysts [4] Insider Transactions - Recent insider selling includes CTO Robert Blumofe selling 3,500 shares at $97.00, and EVP Mani Sundaram selling 10,438 shares at $89.25, indicating some level of insider profit-taking [5][7] - Insiders have sold a total of 32,318 shares valued at approximately $2.89 million over the last three months, while insiders own 2.00% of the company's stock [7] Company Overview - Akamai Technologies is a leading provider of content delivery network (CDN) services and cloud security solutions, optimizing digital experiences for various sectors [8] - The company's core offerings include content acceleration, web and mobile performance optimization, media delivery, and cybersecurity solutions [9]