Underpinning the Prospects and Dynamics of Fastly’s Recent Acquisition: A Thorough Review
Fastly Inc., the parent company of Signal Sciences, has become a force to reckon within the tech industry, with the shares of the company offering promising prospects for investors. Fastly acquired Signal Sciences in 2020, integrating its robust security portfolio and expanding its capabilities. The deal has strategically positioned Fastly to take advantage of two thriving sectors – the edge computing and cybersecurity markets, simultaneously. This prosperous alliance brings about timely deliberation on the potential growth and future opportunities of Fastly’s share value.
An Overview of Fastly and Signal Sciences
Fastly, a leading provider of an edge cloud platform, has been exploring novel strategies for scalability, innovation, and security. In contrast, Signal Sciences is recognized for its advanced AI-powered, real-time cybersecurity solutions. Fastly’s acquisition of Signal Sciences signaled the delivery of revolutionary security solutions for developers, with an enhanced product offering including next-gen WAF (Web Application Firewall), and RASP (Runtime Application Self-Protection).
Exploring the Economic Landscape
The edifice of Fastly’s rapid surge in the corporate world is primarily dependent on fast-evolving digital economies. The increasing penetration of digital services and evolving consumer behavior has put tech-based companies into the spotlight. The influence of digitalization trends, Internet of Things (IoT), and Machine Learning on the IT industry has been profound.
Market Trends
- Global Edge Computing: The market size is expected to reach $15.7 billion by 2025, growing at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 34.1% during 2020-2025 (Grand View Research, Inc.).
- Cybersecurity: According to cybersecurity statistics, the global cybersecurity market is expected to reach $248.26 billion by 2023 at a CAGR of 10.6%.
These trends underscore the extensive market opportunities that Fastly, with Signal Sciences, can leverage for expansion.
Growth Drivers
A range of internal and external factors can impact Fastly’s growth trajectory.
Product Integration
Integrating Signal Sciences’ security solutions with Fastly’s edge platform is projected to drive revenue growth. It has allowed them to offer enhanced security services for online businesses.
Market Penetration
As the digital economy expands, the demand for edge computing and cybersecurity solutions escalates. Consequently, the broadening footprint in these markets could act as a significant growth driver.
Customer Expansion
Fastly’s customer base has grown remarkably after the Signal Sciences acquisition. Numerous Fortune 500 companies now utilize their comprehensive security solutions.
Technological Advancements
Fastly’s commitment to technological innovation can significantly contribute to its growth. The ongoing development in edge computing and AI technology are expected to further augment their product offer.
Financial Health
An analysis of the company’s recent financial records suggests potential for future growth.
| Year | Revenue (in $ million) | YoY Growth |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 104.9 | 38% |
| 2018 | 144.6 | 37.9% |
| 2019 | 200.5 | 38.6% |
| 2020 | 290.9 | 45.1% |
The records show a sustainable increment in revenue, reflecting a healthy financial status.
Potential Risks
While Fastly presents numerous growth opportunities, potential risks could impact its trajectory. Regulatory changes, economic downturns, high competition level, and potential declines in the digital services market could adversely impact their performance.
The Verdict
Fastly’s shares have immense growth potential, primarily due to the company’s strategic acquisition of Signal Sciences. Proactive strategies, combined with the burgeoning growth in the edge computing and cybersecurity sectors, bode well for the company’s future. However, considerations for potential risks are essential for prospective investors.
Existing and willing investors must continually watch for market trends, growth drivers, and potential risks while profiling Fastly’s stock. Nonetheless, Fastly, with Signal Sciences ties, appears to be a potential growth stock with promising future prospects.
The information in this article is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute financial advice. It’s important to consult with a financial advisor before making any investments.
Summary of Potential Growth and Future Prospects of Signal Sciences Stock
- Signal Sciences is a leading provider of security for web applications, APIs, and microservices that aims to protect more than 37,000 applications.
- It was recently acquired by Fastly, Inc., a global cloud platform providing solutions including edge computing and CDN services.
- The acquisition aligns both companies’ goals of creating secure, fast and reliable online experiences.
Growth Potential
- Fastly’s Q3 2020 results showed a 42% YoY increase in revenue, signalling strong growth potential for the company and Signal Sciences by extension.
- Edge computing, one of Fastly’s key services, is projected to reach a market size of $15.7 billion by 2025, offering significant growth potential.
- Signal Sciences’ product suite could potentially boost Fastly’s edge security offerings, further driving revenue growth.
Future Prospects
- Fastly’s developer-centric approach and powerful tech stack provide a strong strategic base for Signal Sciences.
- Together, they aim to create a unified web application and API protection platform.
- Already serving prominent customers like Adobe, Datadog, and WeWork, they are uniquely positioned to capture more market share.
Risks and Challenges
- While there are potential gains, risks exist such as the highly competitive tech market, and potential difficulty integrating the companies and products.
- Fastly’s stock fell by more than 27% in October 2020 due to reduced service from its biggest client, TikTok, highlighting the vulnerability from dependence on large clients.
Conclusion
- Despite potential risks, Signal Sciences presents solid future prospects due to Fastly’s impressive growth, its product capabilities and its broadening customer list.
