Covering IPOs, Healthcare and Technology Stocks

Andrei Zakharov

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>Splunk shares outperformed in 2023 and rose ~69% as total ARR exceeded $4B, operating loss narrowed, and FCF margin improved. The company executed well to drive long-term durable growth.</li>
<li>Over the past 2 years, Splunk transformed itself into a cloud company. In 2022, WSJ reported that Cisco made a $20B+ takeover offer. However, no deal was on the table. </li>
<li>Following M&amp;A rumors, the company’s cloud transition, and strong fundamentals, Cisco offered a $157 per share to acquire Splunk in a $28B mega all-cash deal on September 21, 2023. </li>
</ul>


Splunk shares outperformed in 2023 and rose ~69% as total ARR exceeded $4B, operating loss narrowed, and FCF margin improved. The company executed well to drive long-term durable growth.
Over the past 2 years, Splunk transformed itself into a cloud company. In 2022, WSJ reported that Cisco made a $20B+ takeover offer. However, no deal was on the table. 
Following M&amp;A rumors, the company’s cloud transition, and strong fundamentals, Cisco offered a $157 per share to acquire Splunk in a $28B mega all-cash deal on September 21, 2023. 


Splunk and $28B Mega Deal: Will Cisco Overpay For San Francisco-Based Software Company?

<ul>
<li>Freshworks, a cloud-based customer services software unicorn, held its first Investor Day on September 7, 2023. Management highlighted the long-term target to deliver the Rule of 40 by 2025. </li>
<li>The 2023 Investor Day agenda included company vision and strategy, solutions in action, strategy for durable growth, customer spotlight, and financial overview, among others. </li>
<li>Management plans to deliver a long-term balance of growth and profitability, with the 2026 model leading to an FCF margin of 20%+ and $1B+ revenue. </li>
</ul>


Freshworks, a cloud-based customer services software unicorn, held its first Investor Day on September 7, 2023. Management highlighted the long-term target to deliver the Rule of 40 by 2025. 
The 2023 Investor Day agenda included company vision and strategy, solutions in action, strategy for durable growth, customer spotlight, and financial overview, among others. 
Management plans to deliver a long-term balance of growth and profitability, with the 2026 model leading to an FCF margin of 20%+ and $1B+ revenue. 


Freshworks: 2023 Investor Day and Valuation Update

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/elastic-nv" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27526:1" rel="noopener">Elastic NV (ESTC US)</a> delivered a high quality beat and raise and reported a modest upside to revenue and profitability. The start of the fiscal year looked strong.</li>
<li>The leading provider of search engine for enterprises and SMBs guided FY24 ahead of consensus estimates. I reiterate our Overweight rating on ESTC.</li>
<li>The 1Q print was outstanding, with +17% y/y revenue growth, a record non-GAAP Op Margin of ~10% and FCF margin of ~13%.</li>
</ul>



Elastic NV (ESTC US) delivered a high quality beat and raise and reported a modest upside to revenue and profitability. The start of the fiscal year looked strong.
The leading provider of search engine for enterprises and SMBs guided FY24 ahead of consensus estimates. I reiterate our Overweight rating on ESTC.
The 1Q print was outstanding, with +17% y/y revenue growth, a record non-GAAP Op Margin of ~10% and FCF margin of ~13%.


Elastic: Blowout 1QFY24 Earnings. Shares Popped ~20% On Heavy Volume

<ul>
<li>Following takeover rumors surrounding <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/new-relic-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:16283:1" rel="noopener">New Relic Inc (NEWR US)</a> , private equity firms finally agreed to acquire a US-based low-cost observability provider for ~$6.5B.</li>
<li>American private equity firm Francisco Partners and global alternative asset manager TPG offered $87 per <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/new-relic-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:16283:1" rel="noopener">New Relic Inc (NEWR US)</a> share in an all-cash transaction.</li>
<li>The <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/new-relic-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:16283:1" rel="noopener">New Relic Inc (NEWR US)</a> Board of Directors approved the buyout deal, and is expected to close in late 2023 or early 2024.</li>
</ul>


Following takeover rumors surrounding New Relic Inc (NEWR US) , private equity firms finally agreed to acquire a US-based low-cost observability provider for ~$6.5B.
American private equity firm Francisco Partners and global alternative asset manager TPG offered $87 per New Relic Inc (NEWR US) share in an all-cash transaction.
The New Relic Inc (NEWR US) Board of Directors approved the buyout deal, and is expected to close in late 2023 or early 2024.


New Relic Takeover Valuation Analysis: The Buyout Price Looks Reasonable

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/elastic-nv" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27526:1" rel="noopener">Elastic NV (ESTC US)</a> reported a solid 4QFY23, reflecting a stronger-than-expected non-GAAP operating margin of ~9% and GAAP subscription gross margin of ~79%. </li>
<li>Elastic cloud revenue grew 28% y/y, representing 40% of total revenue. Elastic cloud is scaling well, and margins improved faster-than-anticipated. </li>
<li>We are concerned about slowing H1 FY24 y/y growth in total revenue and failure to achieve the $2B revenue mark in FY25. Price target to $112.</li>
</ul>



Elastic NV (ESTC US) reported a solid 4QFY23, reflecting a stronger-than-expected non-GAAP operating margin of ~9% and GAAP subscription gross margin of ~79%. 
Elastic cloud revenue grew 28% y/y, representing 40% of total revenue. Elastic cloud is scaling well, and margins improved faster-than-anticipated. 
We are concerned about slowing H1 FY24 y/y growth in total revenue and failure to achieve the $2B revenue mark in FY25. Price target to $112.


Focus On Profitability Expansion And Durable Growth: PT Reduced To $112 From $133

United States

New Relic, Inc. provides cloud based application performance management solutions for cloud and data center applications. The Company offers a solution including real user, application, and availability monitoring features that enable developers and operations teams to manage web application performance in real-time. New Relic conducts its business in the United States.

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New Relic Inc (NEWR US)

Splunk and $28B Mega Deal: Will Cisco Overpay For San Francisco-Based Software Company?

Despite a transaction price of $157 per share offered by Cisco to acquire Splunk in a $28B mega deal, investors should take profits now.

Andrei Zakharov

Freshworks: 2023 Investor Day and Valuation Update

2023 Investor Day highlights massive TAM, ongoing business momentum, adoption of multi-product strategy, and AI monetization opportunities: PT...

Andrei Zakharov

Elastic: Blowout 1QFY24 Earnings. Shares Popped ~20% On Heavy Volume

Elastic beats expectations with strong Q1FY24 results, guiding FY24 ahead of consensus estimates. I remain bullish on the stock and see further...

Andrei Zakharov

New Relic Takeover Valuation Analysis: The Buyout Price Looks Reasonable

Private equity firms Francisco Partners and TPG have agreed to acquire New Relic for ~$6.5B, with the deal expected to close in late 2023 or early...

Andrei Zakharov

Focus On Profitability Expansion And Durable Growth: PT Reduced To $112 From $133

Elastic remains my top pick in the observability and search space, and I see the potential for revenue growth re-acceleration in 2024.

Andrei Zakharov

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Splunk and $28B Mega Deal: Will Cisco Overpay For San Francisco-Based Software Company?

Despite a transaction price of $157 per share offered by Cisco to acquire Splunk in a $28B mega deal, investors should take profits now.

Andrei Zakharov

Freshworks: 2023 Investor Day and Valuation Update

2023 Investor Day highlights massive TAM, ongoing business momentum, adoption of multi-product strategy, and AI monetization opportunities: PT...

Andrei Zakharov

Elastic: Blowout 1QFY24 Earnings. Shares Popped ~20% On Heavy Volume

​Elastic beats expectations with strong Q1FY24 results, guiding FY24 ahead of consensus estimates. I remain bullish on the stock and see further...

Andrei Zakharov

New Relic Takeover Valuation Analysis: The Buyout Price Looks Reasonable

​Private equity firms Francisco Partners and TPG have agreed to acquire New Relic for ~$6.5B, with the deal expected to close in late 2023 or early...

Andrei Zakharov

Focus On Profitability Expansion And Durable Growth: PT Reduced To $112 From $133

Elastic remains my top pick in the observability and search space, and I see the potential for revenue growth re-acceleration in 2024.

Andrei Zakharov

Elastic beats expectations with strong Q1FY24 results, guiding FY24 ahead of consensus estimates. I remain bullish on the stock and see further...

Private equity firms Francisco Partners and TPG have agreed to acquire New Relic for ~$6.5B, with the deal expected to close in late 2023 or early...