Cisco Systems (CSCO) has announced its intent to acquire privately held ThousandEyes, Inc. for a reported sum of close to $1B, in a deal that is expected to close before the end of Cisco’s Q1 FY’21.San Francisco-based ThousandEyes is a SaaS-based NPM vendor focused on diagnosing performance issues with applications and underlying network infrastructure (cloud, enterprise, and Internet) using synthetic and user experience monitoring methods. Notably, the company recently announced that its customer contractual commitments surpassed $100M in FY20, growing almost 80% year-over-year.Cisco will incorporate ThousandEyes’ capabilities across Cisco’s core Enterprise Networking and Cloud, and AppDynamics portfolios.“The combination of Cisco and ThousandEyes will enable deeper and broader visibility to pin-point deficiencies and improve the network and application performance across all networks” cheered Todd Nightingale of Cisco Enterprise Networking and Cloud.Oppenheimer’s Ittai Kidron remarked that he is ‘positive on the acquistion’ and reiterated his CSCO buy rating on May 28, writing “We see a strong synergetic opportunity for Cisco and believe ThousandEyes’ global network could be bundled with and enhance the value proposition of AppDynamics (bundle NPM/APM), SDWAN/branch portfolio (improve route performance/visibility), and ISR router portfolio (extend visibility reach).”The analyst believes ThousandEyes can also add automation capabilities using AI and machine learning longer-term to further reduce customer OpEx.Overall, CSCO scores a cautiously optimistic Moderate Buy analyst consensus, with 11 recent buy ratings offset by 10 hold ratings. Meanwhile the average analyst price target of $47 indicates 4% upside potential lies ahead. Shares are currently trading down 5% year-to-date. (See Cisco stock analysis on TipRanks).Related News: Salesforce Sinks 3.5% After-Hours As Guidance Slashed Microsoft Seeks $2B Stake In India’s Jio Platforms- Report Apple Snaps Up AI Startup Inductiv, As Analysts Boost PTs On Store Reopenings More recent articles from Smarter Analyst: * Elon Musk Reaps Payout Worth $775M, As Analyst Admits Tesla Is ‘Turning A Corner’ * Costco Pulls Back On Earnings; Top Analyst Sees Buying Opportunity * Salesforce Sinks 3.5% After-Hours As Guidance Slashed * 5G’s Significant Memory Content a Key Growth Driver for Micron, Says 5-Star Analyst
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Top news and what to watch in the markets on Friday, May 29, 2020.
Rosneft does not have enough crude to ship to buyers with which it has long-term supply deals, making it hard for the Russian company to continue with record oil cuts beyond June, four sources familiar with the matter told Reuters on Thursday. Rosneft has told the energy ministry it would be difficult to maintain cuts to the end of the year, as it has had to cut shipments to major buyers, such as Glencore and Trafigura, despite good demand, two sources close to the talks said on condition of anonymity. “There is no doubt Rosneft will strictly fulfil all obligations under supply contracts with its foreign and Russian counterparties despite output cuts made by the company as a part of OPEC+ deal,” Rosneft CEO Igor Sechin said in a statement on Friday.