New York, Feb 6, 2026, 07:27 EST — Premarket
- CrowdStrike shares climb in premarket trading following a steep decline the previous day
- SEC filing highlights a planned sale linked to a trust that holds the stock
- Saudi expansion back in spotlight as Aramco partnership talks resume
Shares of CrowdStrike Holdings (CRWD.O) rose about 2% in premarket trading Friday, bouncing back slightly after a 9.2% drop Thursday amid a broader tech selloff hitting cybersecurity stocks. Ryan Lee, senior vice president of product and strategy at Direxion, noted, “The Street has made it clear this quarter that there is little tolerance for capex without accompanying monetization.” 1
This shift is significant as the market goes through a turbulent revaluation of software and data-services stocks. Investors are weighing if emerging AI tools will curb demand and if Big Tech can back another surge in spending. Volatility has been sharp and chaotic, with stocks once seen as reliable growers now behaving like volatile, high-beta plays.
CrowdStrike’s early gains on Friday face headwinds from a fresh regulatory filing hinting at possible stock sales, alongside moves to expand in Saudi Arabia. With the next earnings report looming, traders are shifting focus from patience to active positioning.
Late Thursday, PK Giving Trust filed a Form 144 revealing plans to sell up to 252,538 shares of CrowdStrike. The filing values the shares at roughly $104.9 million and names J.P. Morgan Securities as the broker. Remember, a Form 144 signals intent to sell under SEC Rule 144 but doesn’t confirm any actual sale. 2
On Thursday, CrowdStrike announced it had signed a memorandum of understanding — a usually non-binding agreement — with Saudi Arabia’s Aramco. CEO George Kurtz expressed pride in partnering with Aramco, while Aramco’s executive vice president Ahmad O. Al Khowaiter highlighted the goal of advancing “world-class technologies.” Abdul Aziz S. Al Shafi, Aramco’s cybersecurity chief, said the partnership’s impact would extend “beyond Aramco’s borders.” 3
The company announced plans to develop and manage cybersecurity on a national scale in the Kingdom. This includes setting up possible regional headquarters and in-country cloud services, using its Falcon platform as the foundation for defending critical infrastructure and operational technology. 3
Cybersecurity shares took a hit Thursday. Zscaler ended the day over 8% lower, while Datadog and Palo Alto Networks each dropped more than 7%. A Nasdaq market wrap pointed to a wider selloff in tech and crypto dragging the sector down. 4
Thursday’s market mood soured sharply: the Nasdaq Composite slid 1.6%, while the S&P 500 lost roughly 1.2%. Investors wrestled with disappointing labor data and rising concerns over economic growth, all amid the persistent debate over AI-related spending. 5
Some bullish analysts are embracing the turmoil. Wedbush’s Dan Ives labeled this week’s “software armageddon” a tech stock “garage sale,” setting a $600 price target on CrowdStrike. He insists the “gold standard” cybersecurity narrative remains intact. 6
The near-term outlook remains fragile. The Aramco deal is just an MoU, not a binding revenue contract, and the Form 144 serves as a notice rather than confirmation of an actual sale. If the broader software sector continues to slide, CrowdStrike could still get caught in the downdraft with its peers.
CrowdStrike will release its fourth-quarter and fiscal-year 2026 results after the market closes on March 3. A conference call will follow at 5:00 p.m. ET. 7
