Akamai Technologies Upgraded to Overweight by Morgan Stanley
Akamai Technologies (AKAM) experienced a 4.38% increase in regular trading, reaching a 20-day high.
The stock surged after Morgan Stanley upgraded its rating from Underweight to Overweight, raising the price target from $83 to $115. This reflects optimism about Akamai's growth prospects, particularly as its content delivery segment stabilizes and its security segment maintains high-single-digit growth. Additionally, the compute segment has shown a remarkable 40% growth rate, driven by contributions from the public cloud unit Linode and the newly launched Akamai Inference Cloud service.
This upgrade signals strong confidence in Akamai's business transformation and growth trajectory, suggesting that the company is well-positioned to capitalize on increasing demand for cloud services.
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- High Customer Recommendation: Akamai achieved a 99% recommendation rate in the January 2026 Gartner Peer Insights report, being one of only two vendors recognized, showcasing its strong market validation in network security microsegmentation.
- Market Maturity Indicator: The release of Gartner's first Voice of the Customer report for network security microsegmentation signals market maturity, indicating that microsegmentation is now an essential control for enterprises rather than a luxury.
- Exceptional User Experience: Akamai's CTO Patrick Sullivan noted that this recognition reflects the company's relentless focus on customer experience, reinforcing its commitment to delivering high-quality services and solidifying its leadership in the cybersecurity sector.
- Positive Customer Feedback: Numerous customers praised Akamai's microsegmentation solutions for their user-friendly interface and exceptional support, indicating the effectiveness and reliability of Akamai in meeting security needs.
- Enhanced API Security Services: Deutsche Telekom Security utilizes Akamai’s Security Certified Service Provider initiative to deliver comprehensive API security lifecycle management for clients in critical sectors like finance and insurance, significantly improving their compliance capabilities.
- Strengthened Operational Management: By offering hybrid deployments, quarterly business reviews, and API audits, Deutsche Telekom Security achieves continuous end-to-end management, helping clients maintain compliance and security in a complex cybersecurity landscape.
- Market Demand Response: Akamai's 2025 State of the Internet report revealed a surge in API attacks to 150 billion between 2023 and 2024, and Deutsche Telekom Security's service expansion directly addresses this growing market need, ensuring clients can effectively counter cyber threats.
- Industry Leadership: With extensive experience and compliance expertise in the financial sector, Deutsche Telekom Security successfully implemented Akamai’s software-defined segmentation solution for a major state bank in Germany, ensuring the security and compliance of sensitive infrastructure.

- Positive Catalyst Watch: Citi has placed Akamai on a Positive Catalyst Watch, highlighting a potential numbers shift and the boost from artificial intelligence, anticipating accelerated growth in 2026 due to AI advancements.
- Stock Performance: Akamai's shares have risen 4% year-to-date, reflecting a steadily constructive market sentiment and optimism regarding the company's prospects for topline rejuvenation after years of stagnation.
- AI Opportunity Assessment: Analysts believe that key AI opportunities across Akamai's three segments (Compute's Inference Cloud, AI-driven demand in Security and Delivery) are not fully priced in, indicating significant growth potential ahead.
- Valuation Margin of Safety: Despite the stock trading below historical levels, Akamai's
- Analyst Confidence Boost: As earnings season begins, analysts are revising earnings expectations upward for mid-to-low cap tech stocks, indicating strong market confidence in these companies' profitability outlook, which may attract more investor interest.
- Impressive EPS Ratings: Ten tech stocks, including Akamai Technologies (AKAM) and Amphenol (APH), have received the highest EPS revision rating of A+, suggesting significant improvements in profitability expectations that could drive their stock prices higher.
- Increased Market Appeal: With analysts raising earnings forecasts for these companies, investors may reassess their portfolios, particularly in the tech sector, likely leading to increased capital inflows.
- Optimistic Industry Outlook: The positive revision ratings from analysts reflect the overall health of the tech industry, especially in emerging fields like AI and quantum computing, which are expected to drive performance in related stocks moving forward.

- Earnings Call Announcement: Akamai Technologies will hold an investor conference call on February 19, 2026, at 4:30 p.m. ET to discuss Q4 and full-year 2025 financial results, which may include forward-looking guidance, aiding investors in assessing future performance.
- Dial-in Information: The call can be accessed in the U.S. at (833) 634-5020 and internationally at (412) 902-4238, with the password 'Akamai Technologies', ensuring global investor participation and enhancing transparency and communication efficiency.
- Replay Availability: Following the call, a replay will be available for two weeks by calling (855) 669-9658 (or (412) 317-0088 for international) using Conference ID 5393108, allowing investors who missed the live event to access key information.
- Webcast and Archive: The event will be broadcast live on Akamai's Investor Relations page, with an archived version accessible on the Akamai website, further improving information accessibility and investor engagement.

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