Analyst Sees Faster Growth For F5 Networks

F5 Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ: FFIV) is likely to meet first-quarter expectations and see accelerating revenue growth later this year, an analyst said Monday.

F5 shares are down about 13 percent year-to-date, but traded recently at $113.33, up $0.97.

DB = Overweight

Deutsche Bank's Brian Modoff maintained an Overweight rating on F5 Monday, along with a $140 price target.

Modoff believes that security and cloud services will help boost the company's revenue growth rate to a mid-teens percentage by the end of 2016, versus a Street consensus calling for low teens growth.

Related Link: Wedbush F5 Networks Will Have "Another Run At $140"

Past Missed Expectations

The Seattle-based application delivery services provider missed fourth-quarter expectations in January on smaller-than-expected size of average deals, as well as a lag in signing certain key contracts.

Looking Ahead

Observers are divided on whether F5 can sustain anything like its growth rate of the past couple of years.

Among those following the company, 24 maintain Buy or Overweight ratings, while 15 rate the shares Hold and two are at Underweight or Sell.

However, Modoff thinks the company's market is growing at a faster rate than peers.

"This is a positive setup for upward estimates revisions heading into the seasonally strong June and September quarters," Modoff said.