February Market Review and Outlook
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Feb 28 2026
0mins
Should l Buy CRWD?
Source: CNBC
- Nvidia Stock Decline: Despite Nvidia reporting a strong quarter and even stronger forward guidance, its shares fell 7.3% in February, primarily due to concerns about whether its major clients can sustain their capital expenditure plans, which negatively impacted investor confidence.
- Tech Sector Downturn: The S&P 500 and Nasdaq dropped 0.4% and nearly 1% respectively, with monthly declines of nearly 1% for the S&P 500 and 3.4% for the Nasdaq marking the worst performance since March 2025, highlighting the disruptive impact of AI on the market.
- Geopolitical Market Influence: The future direction of the markets may hinge on geopolitical developments, particularly regarding Iran, as President Trump expressed dissatisfaction with the nuclear deal negotiations, potentially increasing market uncertainty, even as oil prices have risen about 17% year to date.
- Upcoming Earnings Reports: Next week will see Berkshire Hathaway's first earnings report under new CEO Greg Abel, alongside earnings from Norwegian Cruise Line and Target, with market expectations high for these companies' performances in a competitive retail landscape.
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Analyst Views on CRWD
Wall Street analysts forecast CRWD stock price to rise
34 Analyst Rating
23 Buy
11 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 399.120
Low
353.00
Averages
559.71
High
640.00
Current: 399.120
Low
353.00
Averages
559.71
High
640.00
About CRWD
CrowdStrike Holdings, Inc. is a global cybersecurity company that provides cloud-delivered protection of endpoints, cloud workloads, identity and data. Its Falcon platform is designed for cybersecurity consolidation, purpose-built to stop breaches. The platforms collect and integrate data from across the enterprise, including endpoints, cloud workloads, identities, and third-party sources. It offers 29 cloud modules on its Falcon platform via a software as a service (SaaS) subscription-based model that spans multiple large markets, including corporate endpoint and cloud workload security, managed security services, security and vulnerability management, information technology (IT) operations management, identity protection, next-generation security information and event management (SIEM) and log management, threat intelligence services, data protection, SaaS security posture management, automation and response (SOAR) and artificial intelligence powered workflow automation, and others.
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.
Seagate and CrowdStrike Options Trading Volume Surge
- Surge in Options Volume: Seagate Technology (STX) saw options trading volume reach 15,851 contracts today, representing approximately 1.6 million shares, which is about 45.1% of its average daily trading volume of 3.5 million shares over the past month, indicating heightened market interest in its future performance.
- High Demand for Put Options: Within STX, the $400 strike put option has seen 1,258 contracts traded today, representing around 125,800 underlying shares, reflecting investor expectations of potential price declines, which could impact stock price volatility.
- CrowdStrike Options Activity: CrowdStrike Holdings (CRWD) recorded an options trading volume of 14,803 contracts today, equating to approximately 1.5 million shares, which accounts for 42% of its average daily trading volume of 3.5 million shares over the past month, showcasing active trading sentiment in the market.
- Bullish Sentiment on Call Options: The $400 strike call option for CRWD has traded 2,326 contracts today, involving about 232,600 underlying shares, indicating investor confidence in its future upside potential, which may drive the stock price higher.
See More
Quantum Secure Encryption Corp Launches New Migration Platform
- Migration Platform Launch: QSE officially launched its QPA v2 enterprise post-quantum cryptographic migration platform on March 31, 2026, transforming the traditional manual assessment process into a structured, data-driven workflow that enhances organizations' quantum readiness and risk management capabilities.
- Technological Innovation and Integration: QPA v2 introduces a PQC Planning Wizard and AI-enhanced assessment modules that support governance design, budgeting, and migration strategy development, providing real-time visibility into quantum readiness and helping organizations effectively identify and manage risk exposure in complex environments.
- Market Demand and Competitive Advantage: Despite the finalized NIST standards and set NSA migration deadlines, most organizations have yet to begin their migration, and QSE's QPA v2 fills this market gap, enabling enterprises to transition from understanding quantum risks to actively planning their responses.
- Full-Stack Security Ecosystem: QPA v2 integrates with QSE's broader security solutions, providing comprehensive support for cryptographic resilience, ensuring that organizations are well-equipped to face quantum computing threats, and further solidifying QSE's leadership position in the post-quantum security landscape.
See More
Quantum Secure Encryption Corp Launches New Migration Platform
- Migration Platform Launch: QSE officially launched its enterprise post-quantum cryptographic migration platform, QPA v2, on March 31, 2026, transforming the traditional manual assessment process into a structured, data-driven workflow that enhances organizations' quantum security readiness and risk management capabilities.
- Technological Innovation and Integration: The platform introduces a PQC Planning Wizard that supports governance design, budgeting, timelines, and migration strategy development, while integrated AI assessment modules provide real-time evaluations of cryptographic posture and compliance readiness, significantly improving organizations' quantum security preparedness.
- Market Demand and Competitive Advantage: Despite the finalized NIST standards and set NSA migration deadlines, most organizations have yet to begin their migration; QSE's QPA v2 platform fills this market gap, enabling enterprises to shift from understanding quantum risks to actively planning their responses.
- Full-Stack Security Ecosystem: QPA v2 integrates with QSE's broader security solutions, creating a comprehensive cryptographic resilience framework that supports long-term security needs in the quantum era, ensuring its competitive edge in the rapidly evolving cybersecurity market.
See More
Market Rebound and Analyst Rating Updates
- Market Rebound Expectations: The S&P 500 rose on Monday amid hopes for a potential U.S.-Iran ceasefire, despite President Trump's threats of military action, as the market believes he may postpone the deadline, providing short-term optimism for investors.
- Wells Fargo Price Target Increase: Goldman Sachs raised Wells Fargo's price target from $93 to $96, with analysts stating the stock is well-positioned ahead of earnings; Jim Cramer advised against trimming positions at the current price of around $81, noting it is far from its all-time high.
- CrowdStrike Buyback Program Expansion: CrowdStrike increased its share buyback program by $500 million to $1.5 billion, viewing the stock's decline as an investment opportunity; Jim Cramer emphasized that the rise of AI actually increases the need for cybersecurity, countering market fears of AI disruption.
- Capital One Price Target Downgrade: Barclays cut Capital One's price target from $287 to $226, with Jim Cramer criticizing Wall Street analysts for underestimating the company's potential, particularly regarding the Discover acquisition and its undervalued stock price.
See More
CrowdStrike Increases Share Repurchase Program by $500 Million
- Repurchase Program Expansion: CrowdStrike's board has authorized an additional $500 million for its share repurchase program, increasing total authorization to $1.5 billion, reflecting strong confidence in the company's stock value.
- Share Buyback Status: The company has repurchased 413,130 shares at an average price of $364.57 per share, totaling $150.6 million spent, indicating proactive measures to protect shareholder interests amid market fluctuations.
- Flexible Buyback Strategy: The repurchase program has no fixed expiration date and does not require the company to buy a specific number of shares, allowing for adjustments based on market conditions and enhancing financial flexibility.
- Positive Market Reaction: In pre-market trading on Nasdaq, CrowdStrike's stock rose by 0.72% to $402, reflecting investor optimism regarding the company's buyback plan, which may further drive stock price appreciation.
See More
CrowdStrike Expands Stock Buyback Program to $1.5 Billion
- Buyback Program Expansion: CrowdStrike announced an increase of $500 million to its stock buyback program, raising total authorization to $1.5 billion, reflecting the company's confidence in future growth and commitment to shareholders.
- Repurchase Execution: Under the existing buyback program, CrowdStrike has repurchased 413,130 shares of its Class A common stock at an average price of $364.57 per share, totaling $150.6 million, indicating proactive capital management amid market fluctuations.
- Strategic Goals: CFO Burt Podbere stated that the increase in buyback authorization aims to opportunistically return value to shareholders while progressing towards a goal of $20 billion in ending ARR by FY36, showcasing confidence in future revenue growth.
- Positive Market Reaction: CrowdStrike's stock has performed well, with Benchmark recently initiating a “Buy” rating, further enhancing investor confidence in the company's long-term value.
See More
Seagate and CrowdStrike Options Trading Volume Surge
- Surge in Options Volume: Seagate Technology (STX) saw options trading volume reach 15,851 contracts today, representing approximately 1.6 million shares, which is about 45.1% of its average daily trading volume of 3.5 million shares over the past month, indicating heightened market interest in its future performance.
- High Demand for Put Options: Within STX, the $400 strike put option has seen 1,258 contracts traded today, representing around 125,800 underlying shares, reflecting investor expectations of potential price declines, which could impact stock price volatility.
- CrowdStrike Options Activity: CrowdStrike Holdings (CRWD) recorded an options trading volume of 14,803 contracts today, equating to approximately 1.5 million shares, which accounts for 42% of its average daily trading volume of 3.5 million shares over the past month, showcasing active trading sentiment in the market.
- Bullish Sentiment on Call Options: The $400 strike call option for CRWD has traded 2,326 contracts today, involving about 232,600 underlying shares, indicating investor confidence in its future upside potential, which may drive the stock price higher.
See More
Quantum Secure Encryption Corp Launches New Migration Platform
- Migration Platform Launch: QSE officially launched its QPA v2 enterprise post-quantum cryptographic migration platform on March 31, 2026, transforming the traditional manual assessment process into a structured, data-driven workflow that enhances organizations' quantum readiness and risk management capabilities.
- Technological Innovation and Integration: QPA v2 introduces a PQC Planning Wizard and AI-enhanced assessment modules that support governance design, budgeting, and migration strategy development, providing real-time visibility into quantum readiness and helping organizations effectively identify and manage risk exposure in complex environments.
- Market Demand and Competitive Advantage: Despite the finalized NIST standards and set NSA migration deadlines, most organizations have yet to begin their migration, and QSE's QPA v2 fills this market gap, enabling enterprises to transition from understanding quantum risks to actively planning their responses.
- Full-Stack Security Ecosystem: QPA v2 integrates with QSE's broader security solutions, providing comprehensive support for cryptographic resilience, ensuring that organizations are well-equipped to face quantum computing threats, and further solidifying QSE's leadership position in the post-quantum security landscape.
See More
Quantum Secure Encryption Corp Launches New Migration Platform
- Migration Platform Launch: QSE officially launched its enterprise post-quantum cryptographic migration platform, QPA v2, on March 31, 2026, transforming the traditional manual assessment process into a structured, data-driven workflow that enhances organizations' quantum security readiness and risk management capabilities.
- Technological Innovation and Integration: The platform introduces a PQC Planning Wizard that supports governance design, budgeting, timelines, and migration strategy development, while integrated AI assessment modules provide real-time evaluations of cryptographic posture and compliance readiness, significantly improving organizations' quantum security preparedness.
- Market Demand and Competitive Advantage: Despite the finalized NIST standards and set NSA migration deadlines, most organizations have yet to begin their migration; QSE's QPA v2 platform fills this market gap, enabling enterprises to shift from understanding quantum risks to actively planning their responses.
- Full-Stack Security Ecosystem: QPA v2 integrates with QSE's broader security solutions, creating a comprehensive cryptographic resilience framework that supports long-term security needs in the quantum era, ensuring its competitive edge in the rapidly evolving cybersecurity market.
See More
Market Rebound and Analyst Rating Updates
- Market Rebound Expectations: The S&P 500 rose on Monday amid hopes for a potential U.S.-Iran ceasefire, despite President Trump's threats of military action, as the market believes he may postpone the deadline, providing short-term optimism for investors.
- Wells Fargo Price Target Increase: Goldman Sachs raised Wells Fargo's price target from $93 to $96, with analysts stating the stock is well-positioned ahead of earnings; Jim Cramer advised against trimming positions at the current price of around $81, noting it is far from its all-time high.
- CrowdStrike Buyback Program Expansion: CrowdStrike increased its share buyback program by $500 million to $1.5 billion, viewing the stock's decline as an investment opportunity; Jim Cramer emphasized that the rise of AI actually increases the need for cybersecurity, countering market fears of AI disruption.
- Capital One Price Target Downgrade: Barclays cut Capital One's price target from $287 to $226, with Jim Cramer criticizing Wall Street analysts for underestimating the company's potential, particularly regarding the Discover acquisition and its undervalued stock price.
See More
CrowdStrike Increases Share Repurchase Program by $500 Million
- Repurchase Program Expansion: CrowdStrike's board has authorized an additional $500 million for its share repurchase program, increasing total authorization to $1.5 billion, reflecting strong confidence in the company's stock value.
- Share Buyback Status: The company has repurchased 413,130 shares at an average price of $364.57 per share, totaling $150.6 million spent, indicating proactive measures to protect shareholder interests amid market fluctuations.
- Flexible Buyback Strategy: The repurchase program has no fixed expiration date and does not require the company to buy a specific number of shares, allowing for adjustments based on market conditions and enhancing financial flexibility.
- Positive Market Reaction: In pre-market trading on Nasdaq, CrowdStrike's stock rose by 0.72% to $402, reflecting investor optimism regarding the company's buyback plan, which may further drive stock price appreciation.
See More
CrowdStrike Expands Stock Buyback Program to $1.5 Billion
- Buyback Program Expansion: CrowdStrike announced an increase of $500 million to its stock buyback program, raising total authorization to $1.5 billion, reflecting the company's confidence in future growth and commitment to shareholders.
- Repurchase Execution: Under the existing buyback program, CrowdStrike has repurchased 413,130 shares of its Class A common stock at an average price of $364.57 per share, totaling $150.6 million, indicating proactive capital management amid market fluctuations.
- Strategic Goals: CFO Burt Podbere stated that the increase in buyback authorization aims to opportunistically return value to shareholders while progressing towards a goal of $20 billion in ending ARR by FY36, showcasing confidence in future revenue growth.
- Positive Market Reaction: CrowdStrike's stock has performed well, with Benchmark recently initiating a “Buy” rating, further enhancing investor confidence in the company's long-term value.
See More
