8 Undervalued Data-Protection Tech Stocks

 | Nov 09, 2017 09:01AM ET

h3 Symantec and Check Point Software are among the technology stocks with the most upside potential.

Data Breaches On The Rise

Data breaches have unfortunately become a fact of digital life and it appears they’re only getting bigger. In early September, Equifax (NYSE:EFX) revealed that hackers had gained access to the personal information of 143 million U.S. consumers after exploiting a vulnerability on its website. That means that personal data had been stolen on nearly half of the entire U.S. population!

The following month, Verizon (NYSE: VZ) reported that the 2013 data breach of its Yahoo (NASDAQ:AABA) business (which it acquired in June) had actually affected all 3 billion of its accounts. Yahoo had previously estimated in December that the hack only affected 1 billion accounts.

As a result of these revelations, the Senate Commerce Committee held a hearing on consumer data security yesterday. Among those who testified included interim CEO of Equifax, Paulino do Rego Barros Jr., previous CEO Richard Smith, and former Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer.

It was disturbing to hear in yesterday’s hearing that Mayer did not have additional information to share other than that Yahoo was hacked. She said that they still have not been able to identify the intrusion that led to the theft. Mayer also disclosed that Yahoo was not even aware of the cyber attack until nearly three years later in November 2016.

After hearing this, Senator Ben Nelson went on to say that “rigorous” data security rules must be implemented. Nelson further explained that stiffer enforcement and stringent penalties are the only way to incentivize companies to properly protect consumer information. Mayer even compared the fight with hackers to an arms race.

h3 Stocks That Help Protect Your Data/h3

Cybersecurity companies are best positioned to benefit from increased public awareness of data breaches. Whether legislation is passed or not, companies (as well as individuals) will likely commit additional resources in order to protect their data. The simple truth is that potential hackings are now a growing concern in our everyday digital life.

The recently launched Ideas Page at finbox.io tracks trending ideas like stocks that keep you safe in an increasingly connected world. It also tracks over 40 investor portfolios from illustrious managers such as Bill Ackman, David Tepper, Steven Cohen and more.

I used the former to help find technology security stocks that are also trading below their intrinsic value. I determined which stocks are trading below their intrinsic value by averaging finbox.io’s Fair Value estimate and the consensus 1-year price target from Wall Street analysts.

h3 8 Undervalued Data-Protection Stocks/h3 h3 The KEYW Holding Corporation (NASDAQ:KEYW)
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KEYW Holding provides technology solutions to support the collection, processing, analysis, and dissemination of information across the intelligence, cyber, and counter-terrorism communities. Its solutions are designed to respond to meet the critical needs for agile intelligence and to assist the U.S. government national security priorities through various cyber operations.

The company serves the U.S. federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies; foreign governments; and other entities in the cyber and counterterrorism markets. The company was founded in 2008 and is based in Hanover, Maryland.