By Key Points
The development of AI cannot happen without cybersecurity. To that end, numerous cybersecurity companies have emerged to meet that need, with many of them experiencing considerable returns and rising to elevated valuations.
Fortune Business Insights estimates a 14% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) for the cybersecurity industry through 2034. Such growth suggests a rising tide will lift all boats for the foreseeable future.
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Nonetheless, that situation may leave investors unsure which cybersecurity stocks are the best choices. Investors cannot look into the future, but it is likely not too late to invest, and these two super growth stocks could drive significant returns with a $5,000 investment as they build the cybersecurity layer of AI.
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SentinelOne
SentinelOne (NYSE: S) stands out in the cybersecurity industry for creating an AI native platform. Every cybersecurity company now uses AI, but SentinelOne’s platform, Singularity, was built specifically for AI to “stop emerging threats at machine speed.”
Within Singularity, its agentic AI security analyst, called Purple AI, automates processes such as threat detection, response workflows, and investigations. It can do this through natural language and can work with models such as Claude or ChatGPT to analyze threats at machine speed, which exceeds human pace.
This approach seems to have taken off with customers. In the first half of 2026, the company generated $569 million in revenue. That is 21% higher than the same period last year and comfortably ahead of the industry CAGR.
The company continues to run a loss, though the $170 million loss in the first two quarters of 2026 improved from the $280 million figure in the same year-ago period. Fortunately, it generated $48 million in adjusted free cash flow, indicating the losses were due to noncash expenses.
Investors are also responding to these improved financial results and the rising demand for AI-native cybersecurity that drives them. The stock began to reverse its downward trend in April and then crushed it in August, resulting in a gain of just more than 55% for the year.
The net losses leave SentinelOne without a price-to-earnings ratio (P/E). Nonetheless, its price-to-sales ratio (P/S) of 7 makes it one of the cheapest stocks in the industry. Also, at the company’s recent price, investors can buy 102 shares of this stock for around $2,410.
Ultimately, with its AI focus, revenue growth, and low valuation, SentinelOne is well positioned to benefit customers and investors alike in the long term.
Fortinet
Fortinet (NASDAQ: FTNT) stands out in the industry for its multifaceted approach to cybersecurity, which analysts have dubbed the “Swiss Army knife” for converging networking and security. It combines custom ASICs (application-specific integrated circuits) with single-operating system convergence (called FortiOS).
It seems difficult to argue with its results: almost $3.9 billion in revenue in the first half of 2026, rising 23% compared with the same time frame in 2025.
Fortinet also stands out among most pure-play cybersecurity companies by earning a profit. Its net income of more than $1.1 billion for the first two quarters of the year increased by 31% year over year.
Investors have taken a particular interest in the stock since the company reported its first-quarter results in April. Improved product revenue growth and rising revenue and billings guidance caused the stock to surge by almost 120% since the beginning of the year.
And it may not be too late to buy despite those gains. Its P/E of 61 does not make it a cheap stock, but investors can buy 15 shares for around $2,590, and with that, the stock could easily continue to move higher.
Should you buy stock in SentinelOne right now?
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Will Healy has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Fortinet. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
