Okta (OKTA) has recently been on Zacks.com's list of the most searched stocks. Therefore, you might want to consider some of the key factors that could influence the stock's performance in the near future.

Shares of this cloud identity management company have returned -23.1% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +4.9% change. The Zacks Internet - Software and Services industry, to which Okta belongs, has lost 8.9% over this period. Now the key question is: Where could the stock be headed in the near term?

While media releases or rumors about a substantial change in a company's business prospects usually make its stock 'trending' and lead to an immediate price change, there are always some fundamental facts that eventually dominate the buy-and-hold decision-making.

Revisions to Earnings Estimates

Rather than focusing on anything else, we at Zacks prioritize evaluating the change in a company's earnings projection. This is because we believe the fair value for its stock is determined by the present value of its future stream of earnings.

Our analysis is essentially based on how sell-side analysts covering the stock are revising their earnings estimates to take the latest business trends into account. When earnings estimates for a company go up, the fair value for its stock goes up as well. And when a stock's fair value is higher than its current market price, investors tend to buy the stock, resulting in its price moving upward. Because of this, empirical studies indicate a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and short-term stock price movements.

For the current quarter, Okta is expected to post earnings of $0.57 per share, indicating a change of +29.6% from the year-ago quarter. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has changed +60.5% over the last 30 days.

For the current fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $2.57 points to a change of +60.6% from the prior year. Over the last 30 days, this estimate has changed +127.9%.

For the next fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $2.83 indicates a change of +9.8% from what Okta is expected to report a year ago. Over the past month, the estimate has changed +2.9%.

Having a strong externally audited track record, our proprietary stock rating tool, the Zacks Rank, offers a more conclusive picture of a stock's price direction in the near term, since it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions. Due to the size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, Okta is rated Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).

The chart below shows the evolution of the company's forward 12-month consensus EPS estimate:

12 Month EPS

Revenue Growth Forecast

Even though a company's earnings growth is arguably the best indicator of its financial health, nothing much happens if it cannot raise its revenues. It's almost impossible for a company to grow its earnings without growing its revenue for long periods. Therefore, knowing a company's potential revenue growth is crucial.

In the case of Okta, the consensus sales estimate of $649.35 million for the current quarter points to a year-over-year change of +11.2%. The $2.56 billion and $2.82 billion estimates for the current and next fiscal years indicate changes of +13.1% and +10.1%, respectively.

Last Reported Results and Surprise History

Okta reported revenues of $646 million in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +16.2%. EPS of $0.72 for the same period compares with $0.31 a year ago.

Compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $632.24 million, the reported revenues represent a surprise of +2.18%. The EPS surprise was +18.03%.

The company beat consensus EPS estimates in each of the trailing four quarters. The company topped consensus revenue estimates each time over this period.

Valuation

Without considering a stock's valuation, no investment decision can be efficient. In predicting a stock's future price performance, it's crucial to determine whether its current price correctly reflects the intrinsic value of the underlying business and the company's growth prospects.

Comparing the current value of a company's valuation multiples, such as its price-to-earnings (P/E), price-to-sales (P/S), and price-to-cash flow (P/CF), to its own historical values helps ascertain whether its stock is fairly valued, overvalued, or undervalued, whereas comparing the company relative to its peers on these parameters gives a good sense of how reasonable its stock price is.

As part of the Zacks Style Scores system, the Zacks Value Style Score (which evaluates both traditional and unconventional valuation metrics) organizes stocks into five groups ranging from A to F (A is better than B; B is better than C; and so on), making it helpful in identifying whether a stock is overvalued, rightly valued, or temporarily undervalued.

Okta is graded F on this front, indicating that it is trading at a premium to its peers. Click here to see the values of some of the valuation metrics that have driven this grade.

Bottom Line

The facts discussed here and much other information on Zacks.com might help determine whether or not it's worthwhile paying attention to the market buzz about Okta. However, its Zacks Rank #1 does suggest that it may outperform the broader market in the near term.

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