The Emergence of AI Agents Poses an Unforeseen Risk
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Jan 22 2026
0mins
Should l Buy OKTA?
Source: Barron's
AI Agents Expected in 2026: Artificial-intelligence companies anticipate that 2026 will mark the introduction of AI agents capable of autonomously performing complex tasks based on simple instructions.
Security Concerns: The emergence of this new technology raises significant security vulnerabilities, creating opportunities for cybersecurity firms to address these challenges.
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Analyst Views on OKTA
Wall Street analysts forecast OKTA stock price to rise
31 Analyst Rating
22 Buy
8 Hold
1 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 72.520
Low
75.00
Averages
114.03
High
145.00
Current: 72.520
Low
75.00
Averages
114.03
High
145.00
About OKTA
Okta, Inc. is an independent identity partner. The Company’s Okta Platform and Auth () Platform enable its customers to securely connect the right people to the right technologies and services at the right time. It offers independent and neutral cloud-based identity solutions that allow customers to integrate with nearly any application, service or cloud that they choose through its platforms. Organizations use the Company’s Identity Platform to collaborate with their partners, and to provide their customers with secure experiences in the cloud and via mobile devices. Developers leverage the Workforce Identity Cloud and Customer Identity Cloud, powered by Auth (), to securely and efficiently embed identity into the software they build, allowing them to innovate and focus on their core missions. Its Okta Platform enables its customers to automate and secure access across their ecosystem of employees, contractors and partners, increasing collaboration across their workforces.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Okta, Broadcom, Veeva Among Companies Reporting Strong Earnings
- Okta Earnings Beat: Okta reported adjusted earnings of $0.90 per share and revenue of $761 million for Q4, surpassing analysts' expectations of $0.85 and $749 million, leading to a 2% increase in stock price, indicating strong performance in the identity security sector.
- Broadcom Strong Results: Broadcom's fiscal Q1 revenue grew 29% year-over-year, with adjusted earnings per share of $2.05 and revenue of $19.31 billion, both exceeding analyst expectations, and the revenue guidance for the upcoming quarter also surpassed estimates, highlighting the company's growth potential in the semiconductor market.
- StubHub Revenue Miss: StubHub's Q4 revenue of $449 million fell short of the consensus estimate of $484 million, although adjusted EBITDA was $62.7 million, roughly in line with expectations, resulting in a 6% drop in stock price, reflecting pressure in the secondary ticketing market.
- Veeva Systems Strong Performance: Veeva Systems reported Q4 earnings of $2.06 per share and revenue of $836 million, both exceeding analyst estimates, leading to a 9% jump in stock price in after-hours trading, indicating robust demand for its cloud solutions.
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Okta Reports Strong Earnings, AI as Future Growth Engine
- Strong Earnings Report: Okta's non-GAAP EPS of $0.90 exceeded expectations by $0.05, indicating ongoing improvements in profitability, which is likely to have a positive impact on its stock price.
- Revenue Growth: The reported revenue of $761 million surpassed market expectations by $11.5 million, demonstrating enhanced competitiveness in the market, which may attract more investor interest.
- AI as a Growth Catalyst: Analysts highlight that artificial intelligence will serve as a future growth catalyst for Okta, expected to drive further expansion in the security market and increase its market share.
- Intensifying Market Competition: With more competitors entering the agentic AI security market, Okta must accelerate its technological innovations to maintain its leadership position and address market challenges.
See More
Okta Q4 Earnings Beat Expectations but Q1 Guidance Falls Short
- Earnings Beat: Okta reported adjusted EPS of $0.90 for Q4 FY2026, exceeding the market expectation of $0.85, indicating improved profitability despite a 1% drop in after-hours trading.
- Significant Revenue Growth: The company achieved a 12% year-over-year revenue increase to $761 million, surpassing the $749.5 million estimate, reflecting strong demand in the identity management market.
- Guidance Lags: For Q1 FY2027, Okta expects revenue between $749 million and $753 million, with a midpoint of $751 million, falling short of the $754 million estimate, highlighting short-term challenges.
- Optimistic Long-Term Outlook: Despite the weaker short-term guidance, Okta projects FY2027 revenue between $3.17 billion and $3.19 billion, with an adjusted EPS midpoint of $3.78, both exceeding market expectations, demonstrating confidence in future growth.
See More
Okta Reports Significant Profit Growth in Q4
- Significant Profit Growth: Okta reported a profit of $63 million in Q4, translating to $0.35 per share, a substantial increase from $23 million and $0.13 per share in the same period last year, indicating strong profitability improvement.
- Adjusted Earnings Performance: Excluding items, Okta's adjusted earnings reached $167 million or $0.90 per share, demonstrating ongoing growth and enhanced profitability in its core business operations.
- Steady Revenue Increase: The company's revenue rose 11.6% year-over-year to $761 million, up from $682 million last year, reflecting robust market demand and an expanding customer base.
- Positive Future Outlook: Okta's guidance for the next quarter projects EPS between $0.84 and $0.86, with revenue expected to range from $749 million to $753 million, showcasing the company's confidence in sustained growth and performance potential.
See More
Okta Reports Q4 Fiscal 2026 Financial Results Exceeding Estimates
- Earnings Beat: Okta reported Q4 revenue of $761 million, surpassing analyst expectations of $748.79 million, indicating strong performance in the cybersecurity sector despite a challenging market environment.
- Adjusted Earnings Growth: The company posted adjusted earnings of $0.90 per share, exceeding the forecast of $0.85 per share, reflecting positive progress in cost control and operational efficiency, which boosts investor confidence.
- Cash Flow Situation: Although net cash provided by operations was $258 million, down from $286 million year-over-year, the company maintains approximately $2.55 billion in cash and short-term investments, ensuring future financial flexibility.
- Cautious Future Outlook: Okta expects first-quarter revenue between $749 million and $753 million, slightly below market expectations, demonstrating a cautious approach in navigating market challenges while also reflecting strategic planning for future growth.
See More
Okta Surpasses Q4 Estimates Amid AI Demand
- Earnings Beat: Okta reported adjusted earnings per share of 90 cents for Q4, exceeding the expected 85 cents, with revenue of $761 million surpassing the $749 million forecast, indicating strong performance in identity management despite market pressures.
- Revenue Growth: The company achieved an 11% year-over-year revenue increase, with net income reaching $63 million, showcasing its significant market share gains in the rapidly growing AI security demand, thereby enhancing its competitive position in the identity market.
- Cautious Outlook: Despite a strong Q4, Okta's first-quarter guidance fell short of analyst expectations, projecting revenue between $749 million and $753 million, reflecting management's prudent approach to market conditions, which may impact short-term investor confidence.
- Subscription Backlog Increase: Remaining performance obligations rose 15% year-over-year to $4.83 billion, exceeding the StreetAccount estimate of $4.62 billion, indicating a healthy long-term contract status and enhancing revenue predictability for the future.
See More
Okta, Broadcom, Veeva Among Companies Reporting Strong Earnings
- Okta Earnings Beat: Okta reported adjusted earnings of $0.90 per share and revenue of $761 million for Q4, surpassing analysts' expectations of $0.85 and $749 million, leading to a 2% increase in stock price, indicating strong performance in the identity security sector.
- Broadcom Strong Results: Broadcom's fiscal Q1 revenue grew 29% year-over-year, with adjusted earnings per share of $2.05 and revenue of $19.31 billion, both exceeding analyst expectations, and the revenue guidance for the upcoming quarter also surpassed estimates, highlighting the company's growth potential in the semiconductor market.
- StubHub Revenue Miss: StubHub's Q4 revenue of $449 million fell short of the consensus estimate of $484 million, although adjusted EBITDA was $62.7 million, roughly in line with expectations, resulting in a 6% drop in stock price, reflecting pressure in the secondary ticketing market.
- Veeva Systems Strong Performance: Veeva Systems reported Q4 earnings of $2.06 per share and revenue of $836 million, both exceeding analyst estimates, leading to a 9% jump in stock price in after-hours trading, indicating robust demand for its cloud solutions.
See More
Okta Reports Strong Earnings, AI as Future Growth Engine
- Strong Earnings Report: Okta's non-GAAP EPS of $0.90 exceeded expectations by $0.05, indicating ongoing improvements in profitability, which is likely to have a positive impact on its stock price.
- Revenue Growth: The reported revenue of $761 million surpassed market expectations by $11.5 million, demonstrating enhanced competitiveness in the market, which may attract more investor interest.
- AI as a Growth Catalyst: Analysts highlight that artificial intelligence will serve as a future growth catalyst for Okta, expected to drive further expansion in the security market and increase its market share.
- Intensifying Market Competition: With more competitors entering the agentic AI security market, Okta must accelerate its technological innovations to maintain its leadership position and address market challenges.
See More
Okta Q4 Earnings Beat Expectations but Q1 Guidance Falls Short
- Earnings Beat: Okta reported adjusted EPS of $0.90 for Q4 FY2026, exceeding the market expectation of $0.85, indicating improved profitability despite a 1% drop in after-hours trading.
- Significant Revenue Growth: The company achieved a 12% year-over-year revenue increase to $761 million, surpassing the $749.5 million estimate, reflecting strong demand in the identity management market.
- Guidance Lags: For Q1 FY2027, Okta expects revenue between $749 million and $753 million, with a midpoint of $751 million, falling short of the $754 million estimate, highlighting short-term challenges.
- Optimistic Long-Term Outlook: Despite the weaker short-term guidance, Okta projects FY2027 revenue between $3.17 billion and $3.19 billion, with an adjusted EPS midpoint of $3.78, both exceeding market expectations, demonstrating confidence in future growth.
See More
Okta Reports Significant Profit Growth in Q4
- Significant Profit Growth: Okta reported a profit of $63 million in Q4, translating to $0.35 per share, a substantial increase from $23 million and $0.13 per share in the same period last year, indicating strong profitability improvement.
- Adjusted Earnings Performance: Excluding items, Okta's adjusted earnings reached $167 million or $0.90 per share, demonstrating ongoing growth and enhanced profitability in its core business operations.
- Steady Revenue Increase: The company's revenue rose 11.6% year-over-year to $761 million, up from $682 million last year, reflecting robust market demand and an expanding customer base.
- Positive Future Outlook: Okta's guidance for the next quarter projects EPS between $0.84 and $0.86, with revenue expected to range from $749 million to $753 million, showcasing the company's confidence in sustained growth and performance potential.
See More
Okta Reports Q4 Fiscal 2026 Financial Results Exceeding Estimates
- Earnings Beat: Okta reported Q4 revenue of $761 million, surpassing analyst expectations of $748.79 million, indicating strong performance in the cybersecurity sector despite a challenging market environment.
- Adjusted Earnings Growth: The company posted adjusted earnings of $0.90 per share, exceeding the forecast of $0.85 per share, reflecting positive progress in cost control and operational efficiency, which boosts investor confidence.
- Cash Flow Situation: Although net cash provided by operations was $258 million, down from $286 million year-over-year, the company maintains approximately $2.55 billion in cash and short-term investments, ensuring future financial flexibility.
- Cautious Future Outlook: Okta expects first-quarter revenue between $749 million and $753 million, slightly below market expectations, demonstrating a cautious approach in navigating market challenges while also reflecting strategic planning for future growth.
See More
Okta Surpasses Q4 Estimates Amid AI Demand
- Earnings Beat: Okta reported adjusted earnings per share of 90 cents for Q4, exceeding the expected 85 cents, with revenue of $761 million surpassing the $749 million forecast, indicating strong performance in identity management despite market pressures.
- Revenue Growth: The company achieved an 11% year-over-year revenue increase, with net income reaching $63 million, showcasing its significant market share gains in the rapidly growing AI security demand, thereby enhancing its competitive position in the identity market.
- Cautious Outlook: Despite a strong Q4, Okta's first-quarter guidance fell short of analyst expectations, projecting revenue between $749 million and $753 million, reflecting management's prudent approach to market conditions, which may impact short-term investor confidence.
- Subscription Backlog Increase: Remaining performance obligations rose 15% year-over-year to $4.83 billion, exceeding the StreetAccount estimate of $4.62 billion, indicating a healthy long-term contract status and enhancing revenue predictability for the future.
See More
