Rubrik Inc. (NYSE:RBRK) is one of the best new tech stocks to invest in now. On February 4, Rubrik announced the promotion of Jesse Green to Chief Revenue Officer, where he will lead the company’s global revenue organization. Green previously served as President of Rubrik Americas and brings nearly 25 years of leadership experience from companies such as MongoDB and AppDynamics. He succeeds Brian McCarthy, who is departing for a new opportunity after establishing a strong organizational culture and a tra ...

Core Insights - Varonis Systems Inc. (NASDAQ:VRNS) experienced a significant stock price increase of 13.07%, closing at $25.61, driven by positive ratings from multiple investment firms [1][6]. Group 1: Ratings and Price Targets - Six investment firms, including DA Davidson, UBS, B. Riley, Wedbush, Truist, and RBC, assigned "overweight" and "buy" ratings to Varonis, but lowered their price targets to a range of $30 to $45 from a previous range of $30 to $60 [2]. - Morgan Stanley maintained an "equal weight" rating while reducing its price target to $27 [2]. Group 2: Acquisition and Strategic Positioning - Varonis recently acquired AllTrue.ai, an AI trust, risk, and security management company, which is expected to enhance the company's capabilities in managing AI systems [3]. - The acquisition aims to provide real-time visibility and security for AI systems, complementing Varonis' expertise in enterprise data, identities, and access [3][4]. Group 3: Market Sentiment and Future Outlook - The positive market sentiment surrounding Varonis is reflected in its stock performance, although there are suggestions that other AI stocks may offer higher returns with lower risk [5].

Core Insights - Quantum Secure Encryption Corp. (QSE) has filed its audited annual financial statements for the year ended September 30, 2025, marking a significant milestone for the company [1][3] Business Transformation - In fiscal 2025, QSE underwent a transformation with a strengthened management team and an enhanced product suite, achieving its first revenues through the acquisition of Cloud Codes [2] - The company anticipates building on this success in fiscal 2026 with new user acquisitions and continued expansion of its product line, alongside obtaining Level 1 and 2 certifications under CyberSecure Canada [2] Financial Reporting - The annual filings were completed later than initially planned due to additional time required for the auditor's review of the valuation of the recently acquired Cloud Codes SSO technology, with no disagreements reported [3] Company Overview - QSE specializes in post-quantum data security, encryption, and secure data infrastructure, focusing on protecting sensitive data from current and future cyber threats [4] - The company serves various sectors, including commercial, enterprise, and public sectors, emphasizing long-term data confidentiality and resilience [4] Key Developments - Ted Carefoot has been appointed as the new CEO, bringing experience from leadership roles at Electronic Arts and Disney Online Studies Canada [8] - QSE launched a subscription model for encrypted, quantum-resilient cloud storage solutions and acquired the Cloud Codes business, generating immediate revenue [8] - The company has raised sufficient capital to support its expansion and development needs [8]

Core Viewpoint - The market anticipates Check Point Software (CHKP) to report a year-over-year increase in earnings driven by higher revenues for the quarter ending December 2025, with actual results being crucial for stock price movement [1][2]. Earnings Expectations - The upcoming earnings report is expected to be released on February 12, with a consensus EPS estimate of $2.77, reflecting a +2.6% year-over-year change, and revenues projected at $746.02 million, up 6% from the previous year [3][2]. - The consensus EPS estimate has been revised 1.74% lower in the last 30 days, indicating a reassessment by analysts [4]. Earnings Surprise Prediction - The Zacks Earnings ESP model indicates that Check Point has a positive Earnings ESP of +0.08%, suggesting analysts have recently become more optimistic about the company's earnings prospects [12]. - The stock currently holds a Zacks Rank of 3, indicating a neutral outlook, but the combination of a positive Earnings ESP suggests a likelihood of beating the consensus EPS estimate [12]. Historical Performance - In the last reported quarter, Check Point exceeded the expected EPS of $2.45 by delivering $3.94, resulting in a surprise of +60.82% [13]. - Over the past four quarters, the company has consistently beaten consensus EPS estimates [14]. Conclusion - Check Point is viewed as a strong candidate for an earnings beat, but investors are advised to consider additional factors beyond earnings results when making investment decisions [17].

Core Viewpoint - Quantum Secure Encryption Corp. (QSE) has renewed its enterprise customer agreement with The Muthoot Group in India, reinforcing its strategy to strengthen its presence in the Indian financial services market [1][3][10] Group 1: Agreement Details - The renewed agreement covers approximately 14,000 user licenses, indicating a significant deployment of QSE's secure access and post-quantum readiness platform [2][5][10] - The commercial terms of the agreement are structured to evolve over time as deployment requirements expand and additional service capabilities are introduced [4][10] Group 2: Strategic Importance - The renewal enhances QSE's position in India's financial sector, as Muthoot is recognized as a leading financial services organization with extensive customer reach [3][10] - This agreement serves as a foundation for broader platform adoption, with potential opportunities for introducing additional post-quantum security services as customer requirements evolve [7][10] Group 3: Management Commentary - The CEO of QSE highlighted that the renewal represents an important milestone in strengthening the company's presence in the Indian market and underscores the trust placed in its platform by large, security-sensitive institutions [6][10] Group 4: Future Expansion Potential - QSE intends to continue discussions throughout 2026 regarding potential future extensions of the agreement, including expanded deployment scope and additional platform services [5][10][11]

Core Insights - Leigh Marie Braswell, a partner at Kleiner Perkins, has emerged as a notable figure in venture capital, particularly in the AI sector, despite her unconventional entry into the field [2][3] - Braswell's investment strategy is influenced by her background in poker, emphasizing the importance of tracking probabilities and making informed decisions in uncertain environments [5] Company and Industry Highlights - Braswell began her venture capital journey by angel investing in 2020, with her first investment in Ambience Healthcare, which is now valued at $1.1 billion [2] - At Kleiner Perkins, Braswell has been instrumental in backing significant AI deals, including Windsurf (an Alphabet acquihire) and Neon (acquired by Databricks), showcasing her impact in the venture capital landscape [3] - The current portfolio at Kleiner Perkins under Braswell includes companies like Nooks, Convoke, Reevo, Avoca, and Forge, indicating her diverse investment interests [3] - The venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins is undergoing a turnaround, led by Mamoon Hamid and Ilya Fushman, with Braswell being recognized as a rising star within the firm [2]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In Q4 2025, total ARR was $745.4 million, reflecting a 16% year-over-year increase [21] - SaaS ARR reached $638.5 million, accounting for 86% of total ARR, with a 32% year-over-year increase when excluding conversions [5][19] - Free cash flow for 2025 was $131.9 million, up from $108.5 million in the previous year [22] - Q4 total revenues were $173.4 million, a 9% increase year-over-year, with SaaS revenues at $142.3 million [22] - Net income for Q4 2025 was $11.1 million, or $0.08 per diluted share, down from $23.9 million, or $0.18 per diluted share in Q4 2024 [24] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The SaaS business is highlighted as the future of the company, with a record number of conversions from the self-hosted platform [4][5] - Approximately $65 million of non-SaaS ARR was converted in Q4, with expectations of an additional $50 million to $75 million converting by the end of 2026 [8][19] - The company is focusing on upselling existing SaaS customers and acquiring new customers, with a dollar-based net retention rate of 110% for SaaS customers [20][41] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company is experiencing strong demand from both new and existing customers, particularly in cloud environments [9][15] - The acquisition of Altru is expected to enhance the company's ability to secure AI systems and data, addressing emerging risks in the market [12][74] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is transitioning to a 100% SaaS model by the end of 2026, which is expected to unlock further growth opportunities [5][17] - The focus is on automation and providing higher customer satisfaction through the SaaS platform, which is seen as a significant competitive advantage [6][10] - The company aims to leverage AI to enhance data security and compliance, positioning itself as a leader in the evolving cybersecurity landscape [10][72] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in achieving 2027 financial targets despite anticipated headwinds in 2026 due to the end-of-life announcement for the self-hosted platform [24][66] - The company believes that the transition to SaaS will lead to a healthier financial profile starting in 2027 [24][66] - Management highlighted the importance of understanding AI's impact on data security and the need for robust guardrails around AI tools [11][72] Other Important Information - The company plans to provide more detailed disclosures regarding SaaS ARR growth excluding conversions on a quarterly basis in 2026 [18][27] - The company expects a lower ARR contribution margin and free cash flow in 2026 due to the end-of-life announcement, estimating a $30 million to $50 million headwind [24][66] Q&A Session Summary Question: Clarification on SaaS growth rate assumptions - Management emphasized that the SaaS ARR growth excluding conversions is the key metric to focus on, guiding for 18%-20% growth in 2026 [33][34] Question: Contribution from new versus existing customers - Management indicated that the focus will shift back to acquiring new customers and upselling existing ones, with expectations for improved net retention rates [40][41] Question: Impact of AI on demand - Management noted that AI is a significant driver of demand, with products like Varonis Copilot contributing to growth [46][47] Question: Changes in sales capacity and strategy - Management confirmed ongoing efforts to enhance sales capacity and productivity, particularly in the federal sector [50][53] Question: Understanding the $30 million-$50 million headwind - Management explained that the headwind is due to lower expected renewal rates from the non-SaaS business, but they remain confident in achieving better margins and cash flow in the future [64][66]

Core Insights - Varonis Systems, Inc. is acquiring AllTrue.ai to enhance its capabilities in AI Trust, Risk, and Security Management, enabling organizations to adopt AI safely and compliantly at scale [1][4]. Group 1: Acquisition Details - The acquisition of AllTrue.ai will provide Varonis with real-time visibility and security for AI systems, complementing its existing expertise in enterprise data, identities, and access [2][4]. - The combined platform aims to help organizations protect their AI systems and the data they utilize, addressing the new risks associated with AI's autonomous decision-making capabilities [3][5]. Group 2: AI Security Challenges - As AI systems become integral to business processes, the focus of security shifts from merely preventing breaches to ensuring that these autonomous systems act safely and in compliance with policies [5]. - The unpredictability of AI behavior necessitates a comprehensive understanding of the AI systems in use, their actions, and the data they can access [4][5]. Group 3: Benefits of the Combined Platform - The integration of AllTrue.ai's capabilities will allow organizations to gain visibility into all AI systems, including shadow AI, and enforce real-time guardrails to prevent unsafe actions [4][8]. - Organizations will be able to control AI behavior, reduce risks by understanding data access, and provide accountability for governance and compliance [8].

Group 1 - Rubrik, Inc. (NYSE:RBRK) provides data security and protection solutions across cloud, enterprise, and SaaS environments, focusing on threat analytics, cyber recovery, and data security posture management [3] - The company reported a significant earnings beat, with the stock price soaring from $70 to $86 the day after the announcement, peaking at over $92 before experiencing a pullback to around $69 [3] - The current stock price suggests that investors are essentially getting the benefits of the strong quarterly performance at a discounted rate [3] Group 2 - There is a belief that while Rubrik has potential as an investment, certain AI stocks may offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk [4]

Group 1 - Rubrik, Inc. (NYSE:RBRK) is recognized as one of the 11 best stocks to buy for investment, with shares increasing by over 41% in the past six months and a median price target of $110, indicating a potential upside of over 71% [1] - The company launched Rubrik CXO Visionaries, an exclusive community for Fortune 500 and Enterprise 2000 CIOs, CISOs, and CTOs to facilitate global AI transformation [2] - Rubrik is addressing the growing cyber and AI-driven security threats, with 90% of IT and security leaders reporting cyberattacks in the past year, and 58% anticipating that agentic AI will drive nearly half of attacks this year [3] Group 2 - The Rubrik CXO Visionaries community aims to provide tech leaders with peer insights, strategic influence, and a trusted network to manage security, compliance, and AI risks, enhancing their ability to anticipate cyberattacks [4] - KeyBanc has lowered its price target for Rubrik from $113 to $95 while maintaining an Overweight rating, reflecting a cautious outlook on enterprise security spending [5] - Rubrik offers a range of data security solutions, including unstructured data protection, cloud data protection, and SaaS data protection, to combat cyber and AI threats [6]