Jim Cramer's Cybersecurity Picks: Palo Alto Networks and CrowdStrike Over Fortinet

Jim Cramer, a finance expert with experience at Bloomberg, has identified Fortinet as the "weakest" cybersecurity stock and recommends instead Palo Alto Networks or CrowdStrike. He also downgraded Super Micro Computer due to accounting issues, prefers Dell Technologies, and recommends NVIDIA Corporation over Marvell Technology. Obsidian Energy's oil decline and Marvell's disappointing earnings are also discussed.

In a recent segment on CNBC's "Mad Money Lightning Round," Jim Cramer, a well-known finance expert, provided insights into the cybersecurity and tech sectors, highlighting his preferences and concerns. Cramer identified Fortinet, Inc. (FTNT) as the "weakest" cybersecurity stock, recommending instead Palo Alto Networks, Inc. (PANW) or CrowdStrike Holdings, Inc. (CRWD) .

Cramer's view was supported by Morgan Stanley analyst Meta Marshall, who downgraded Fortinet from Equal-Weight to Underweight, lowering the price target from $78 to $67 . Fortinet shares rose 1.9% to settle at $80.36 on Monday, September 8, 2025 .

For tech stocks, Cramer prefers NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) over Marvell Technology, Inc. (MRVL). Marvell reported quarterly earnings of 67 cents per share, beating the analyst estimate of 66 cents, but revenue missed the Street estimate of $2.009 billion . Marvell Technology shares gained 4.2% to settle at $66.00 on Monday, September 8, 2025 .

Cramer also expressed concerns about Super Micro Computer, Inc. (SMCI), noting accounting issues and recommending Dell Technologies Inc. (DELL) instead. Nokia NOK announced a partnership with Super Micro to provide high-performance, AI-optimized data center networking solutions .

Regarding energy stocks, Cramer advised against investing in Obsidian Energy Ltd. (OBE) due to declining oil prices. Obsidian Energy revised its year-end 2025 net debt guidance to $213 million and completed a share buyback under the current normal course issuer bid .

For a deeper comparison between CrowdStrike and Palo Alto Networks, consider the following key metrics:

- Performance: CRWD achieved a 25.11% YTD return compared to PANW's 8.47% .
- Risk-Adjusted Performance: CRWD's Sharpe Ratio of 1.61 is higher than PANW's 0.49, indicating better risk-adjusted returns .
- Volatility: CRWD has higher volatility (8.56%) than PANW (6.46%) .
- Fundamentals: PANW has a higher market cap ($130.07B) and EPS ($1.59) compared to CRWD ($104.81B, -$1.21) .

In conclusion, Jim Cramer's insights provide valuable guidance for investors navigating the rapidly shifting tech and cybersecurity landscapes. While Fortinet faces challenges, Cramer's recommended stocks like Palo Alto Networks, CrowdStrike, NVIDIA, and Dell offer promising opportunities.

References:
https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/25/09/47567365/jim-cramer-calls-fortinet-the-weakest-cybersecurity-stock-favors-these-2-instead
https://portfolioslab.com/tools/stock-comparison/CRWD/PANW