Google's 'Poker Move' With Wiz Could Be The Kick Off For Big Tech M&A In 2025: Analyst
As Google parent Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) (NASDAQ:GOOGL) is reportedly near a historic $23-billion acquisition of cloud security startup Wiz Inc, the move is being touted as a strategic “poker move” that could set the stage for a seismic shift in the Big Tech M&A landscape.
Analysts are abuzz with insights on how this potential deal will reshape the industry and what it means for future mergers and acquisitions.
Wedbush Securities On Google’s ‘Poker Move’ To Acquire Wiz
Wedbush Securities analyst Daniel Ives describes Alphabet’s potential $23-billion acquisition of cybersecurity giant Wiz as a strategic “poker move.” This would be the company’s largest M&A deal, building on its 2022 Mandiant acquisition.
Ives foresees an accelerated M&A environment for Big Tech if Trump wins the White House in November, predicting that “a potential Google/Wiz deal would be just the tip of the iceberg to a massive M&A cycle for Big Tech in 2025.”
Rosenblatt On Strategic Importance Of The Deal
Rosenblatt analyst Catharine Trebnick highlights the strategic importance of the deal, noting Wiz’s AI-powered solutions and robust financials.
She emphasizes that the acquisition would surpass Alphabet’s previous record $5.4 billion acquisition of Mandiant, underscoring the growth potential in the cloud security market. “Wiz is a formidable force in the Cloud Security market,” Trebnick said.
Cantor Fitzgerald On Valuation Benchmark
According to Cantor Fitzgerald analyst Yi Fu Lee, Alphabet's $23 billion bid “has effectively almost doubled Wiz's post-month valuation in about two months.”
He suggests that even if the transaction doesn’t materialize, it sets a valuation benchmark for other CNAPP (Cloud Native Application Protection Platform) vendors. Lee recommends keeping an eye on CrowdStrike, Palo Alto Networks and Zscaler.
KeyBanc Sees Wiz Strengthening Google Cloud’s Capabilities
KeyBanc Capital Markets analyst Justin Patterson sees the acquisition as a significant boost to Alphabet’s Cloud’s cybersecurity capabilities.
With Wiz reportedly having $350 million in ARR, Patterson believes this acquisition would be predominantly funded through cash, enhancing Alphabet’s cloud security differentiation.
Oppenheimer Sees Google Positioning As A Leader In The Cloud Security Vendor
Oppenheimer analyst Ittai Kidron notes that the acquisition would position Alphabet as a leading cloud security vendor and a top 10 player in the broader security space.
He expects the deal to accelerate market consolidation, affecting competitors like Microsoft and AWS and opening opportunities for other security vendors.
Overall, Alphabet’s prospective acquisition of Wiz is more than just a high-profile deal; it represents a pivotal moment in the tech industry’s ongoing evolution.
As analysts speculate on the broader implications, it becomes clear that this move could be a harbinger of a more active M&A landscape for Big Tech in the coming years.
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