Investment Q&A

Q: Hi - Wondering if you could elaborate a bit on the Anthropic release of Mythos AI and its connection to Crowdstrike? What kind of impact do you think this could have on the CRWD's share price? Thank you!

Q: SaaS and Software Companies at Risk

The software sector has taken it on the chin in the last few weeks based on the "AI will eat software" theme.

In my opinion, you buy software companies that own things AI cannot generate or scrape.

Therefore, the survivor software companies should have two broad “moats” in the new AI age:

1. Data that is unique and private. If an AI can't get the data elsewhere, the value of this data increases.

2. Regulation. Hospitals won't switch to a chatbot that isn't FDA-approved. Same for governments.

Therefore, I wondering which companies will likely face challenges while others will thrive in this new world. I offered a few below, but please feel free to jump in or revise:

Thrive - For example: CSU, TRI, CRWD, PLTR, SNPS/CDNS, SHOP (not sure) etc.

Challenged - For example: CRM, Adobe, SAP, SNOW, NOW (not sure), etc.

Thanks 5i and Cheers.

PK

Q: Hello Team 5i & Everyone,

If no one has already asked, may I please have your take on Crowdstrikes earnings?

Thank you!

Sandra

Q: Can you provide your comments on the growth profiles, historical and in the next few years, for both of them?
Which one of the two would you side with today, if growth and valuation both are equally important. Suggest if you have a new name instead.

Q: After recent news/earnings and along the thinking that AI will not completely replace SAAS but work along side it and even provide positive tailwinds, do you think its time to rotate a bit more from hardware to software or proceed with caution still? I hold CLS, NVDA, NBIS, VRT in hardware and CSU,LMN,TOI,SPOT, SHOP,CRWD,BKNG,TRI in software. Also own GOOG. I'm trying to find the right balance. If we look at SOXX/IGV, are we going to see mean reversion back to the mean?

Also what part of the market or credit cycle do you think we are in? Mid to late cycle? Should we be more defensive or still slowly adding to growth names? Thanks!

Q: Would you comfortable initiating a position in either of the above? If yes, which one is your preferred and why?

Thanks

Q: Morning 5i!!!

Are APP and CRWD becoming a buy here, although we may drift a little lower on sentiment? Anything you like or don’t on them in the current state?

Q: Good Morning Team 5i & Everyone,

Do I have this right? The cybersecurity sector is selling off because of the fear that AI will eat their businesses? I’ve heard that Claude has the ability to scan databases for vulnerabilities and suggest targeted software patches for human review, allowing teams to find and fix issues that traditional tools miss. What I don’t understand is why Crowdstrike and the rest wouldn’t just use the same AI or some clone of Claude to make themselves even better at cybersecurity? Can you flush this topic out for me if you’re able to please? I’d like to understand the bear and bull case going forward.

Thank you very much & hope you have a nice weekend,

Sandra

Q: Crowdstrike a buy at these levels? Almost at pounding table buy? Thanks

Q: Hi 5i,
Could you provide your opinion on the impact if any, of AI on cybersecurity software/companies. They can certainly use AI to their benefit, but can AI provide the same level of protection long term?

Q: Sorry to sound like a broken record, but I'm kind of a deer stuck in headlights right now with regards to these software names, notably CUS, LMN, TOI, and with the news impacting TRI this morning. I've largely held onto these names and I'm not sure what to do here. Seeing constant and relentless daily selling is tough to stomach and time will only tell how much AI will impact these companies fundamentals.

In the meantime, what do I do? I don't want to hold onto losers and continue to see these go down further, at the same time, I don't want to sell at these lows. I know trimming some is an option. I have positions in these other names, do you feel any of these are vulnerable to AI severely impacting them? CRWD, SHOP, SRAD, GENI, SPOT

Thanks!

Q: I am a 75 year old pensioner and hold these stocks in my Rrif at a significant loss:Csu -20%,Clbt -17% and Crwd -20%.Is there any point in holding on to these considering my age and probably not a long term view(say 2-3 years)?What is the likeliehood that they will each be 10% above my purchase price in that time?

Q: I am looking at starting a position in ENS, and I am at a loss in terms of what investment to sell in order to fund the purchase. I am targeting an initial position of 2.5%-3%, and ideally I would like to sell another investment in the same sector, but there are few candidates in my portfolio which would fit this need. The potential candidates I have listed (WSP, REGN, HL, ATD, CRWD) are all in different sectors, and for all but ATD (small gain at this point) and CRWD (in registered account), would involve recognition of significant capital gains.

I would rather not use margin to initiate such a position, but I could if absolutely needed. I am trying to think outside of the box in terms of starting this investment, but I would prefer to stay disciplined in regards to funding new positions while maintaining diversification. If it helps further, my materials exposure has increaseOnd a fair amount over the last year (as has everyone's), and I have a relatively robust exposure to the technology sector, so if it was prudent for me to trim there, I could probably manage.

I'd appreciate any insights you may be willing to share. Thanks so much, and I look forward to reading your response.

Q: hello 5i:
Years ago, we bought PANW as, back then, you considered it a "best of breed". We are not at all unhappy with results. But in continuing the "best of breed", do you see CRWD as being sufficiently "better enough" to warrant making a trade? This is not a short term hold. Can you also comment on the possibility of CRWD being acquired (doubtful that PANW) could or would be.
thanks
Paul L

Q: I’ve held The Trade Desk for a long time and it is at a very low price at the moment compared to historic prices, but it sounds like you're skeptical about its near-term growth potential. Should I look to exit? Between Crwd, ens, app, and png …which offers the highest growth ceiling for a five-year horizon? If you have another company to recommend, feel free … Thanks

Q: Peter, I found your answer to Nick about best stock decision to be thought provoking. When you bought NVDA it was some where in the 2 to 3 dollar range. What was your thinking at the time that made you like the stock? What was it about the stock that kept you holding ?
Do you see any early stage stocks today that warrant looking at?
I would like to add my appreciation to all at 5i for all the help and insight over the years.
Peter

Q: Could you please share your take on PANW as an early 2026 buy for growth over a long-term hold (10+ years) irrespective of sector allocation or diversification in a portfolio.

What are its core strengths (moats if any?), competitive positioning, threats, etc.?

(A response in January is fine.)

Thanks!

Marc.

Q: I hold Crowdstrike (CRWD) and Palo Alto (PANW) in the cybersecurity space. PANW has done well for me but last year it struggled. I’m thinking of selling some, or all, of PANW and buying Fortinet (FTNT). Could I please get your thoughts? If you were to hold just two, or all three, could you please tell me what percentage you would allocate to each? Thank you.

Q: Happy holidays. No rush to respond but I’d like to add a cyber security stock to my portfolio. Leaning towards CRWD but curious if you think this is the best bet or there are other better options

Thanks!

Q: I am looking to consolidate my growth portfolio. What are your suggestions on replacing these stocks

CHKP,KO, MCD, MDT,HSIC,UPS,NFLX
with
CRWD/PANW,TSM,ISRG,NVDA,LLY,UNH,COST