New York, Feb 27, 2026, 14:14 (ET) — Regular session in progress.
CrowdStrike Holdings (CRWD.O) dropped roughly 4% on Friday, hit by a stronger-than-expected U.S. inflation reading that pressured software names seen as vulnerable to higher rates. Shares were off about $15, changing hands at $365.67, after touching an intraday low of $359.29. Investing.com
The producer price index—a key measure of wholesale inflation—rose 0.5% in January, according to the Labor Department. On a year-over-year basis, the PPI was up 2.9%. For growth stocks priced on future profits, hotter inflation like this can spell trouble for valuations if yields start climbing. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Economists took the report as further evidence that a rate cut from the Federal Reserve likely isn’t coming until at least the June 16-17 meeting. “We expect the Fed to remain on pause during its upcoming March meeting,” said Ben Ayers, senior economist at Nationwide. Reuters
The stock retreated after a notably strong showing in the previous session. CrowdStrike climbed 4.9% Thursday, ending the day at $381.10 with roughly 6.1 million shares changing hands. MarketWatch data indicates the stock remains about 33% off its 52-week peak. MarketWatch
Quarterly earnings land on March 3, and subscription metrics—most notably annual recurring revenue (ARR)—have traders watching closely. DA Davidson, which holds a buy on the stock, lowered its price target to $425 from $580, projecting net new ARR near $315 million to $320 million. That’s above the consensus, pegged at around $301 million. Investing.com
Jefferies’ Joseph Gallo lowered his price target to $500 from $600, though he’s sticking with his buy call. In a note to clients, Gallo argued the stock’s valuation premium was still “warranted,” citing CrowdStrike’s “insulation from ‘AI’ risk” as a key factor. TipRanks
CrowdStrike rolled out FalconID for general release on Thursday, pushing its new multi-factor authentication tool as a phishing-resistant option. “Traditional MFA is architecturally broken,” said Chief Technology Officer Elia Zaitsev. CrowdStrike
CrowdStrike is bringing its Fal.Con Gov conference to Washington, D.C. on March 18, focusing on government cyber defense. “In the AI era, defending the nation requires real-time intelligence, AI-driven innovation, and coordinated operations,” President Michael Sentonas said. CrowdStrike
Worries from peers are still hanging over the sector. Zscaler dropped around 9% after hours, the stock sliding on a bigger quarterly loss as expenses rose. CEO Jay Chaudhry pointed to “AI is driving demand for security.” Reuters
CrowdStrike fans face a clear risk: pricey tech stocks can keep taking hits, regardless of how the business is doing. “People are getting concerned about lofty valuations,” said Thomas Plumb, chief executive and portfolio manager at Plumb Funds. Reuters
CrowdStrike is on deck with its March 3 earnings release. Analysts are looking for $0.74 in earnings per share, Public data shows. The call will put a spotlight on ARR momentum and free cash flow margins. Another question: has management noticed any improvement in demand for larger security deals? Public
