Sign in

You're signed outSign in or to get full access.

Charlie Zhou

Vice President and equity research analyst at Evercore Wealth Management, LLC

Charlie Zhou is a Vice President and equity research analyst at Evercore ISI, specializing in the coverage of the US software sector with a focus on prominent public companies such as Adobe, Salesforce, ServiceNow, and Workday. Noted for delivering fundamental analysis and actionable investment recommendations, he is ranked among the top analysts for software equities on platforms tracking analyst performance, including recognition for a high success rate and positive returns on his calls. Zhou began his career at J.P. Morgan in their investment banking division before joining Evercore ISI in 2021, where he continues to build his track record as a leading voice in software equity research. He holds FINRA Series 7, 63, and 86/87 licenses, confirming his professional credentials in securities analysis and sales.

Charlie Zhou's questions to Cognyte Software (CGNT) leadership

Question · Q3 2026

Charlie Zhou asked about the primary drivers behind Cognyte's impressive margin outperformance in the quarter, specifically regarding gross margin and operating margin, noting that the 73% gross margin target for FY28 was already achieved. He sought insight into the future gross margin expansion trajectory and updated color on the Adjusted EBITDA margin, including whether the 800 basis points expansion towards the greater than 20% target for FY28 should be considered linear.

Answer

David Abadi (CFO, Cognyte) expressed satisfaction with the 73% gross margin, noting quarterly fluctuations but a positive trend. He attributed the improvement to customers' willingness to pay premium prices for advanced analytics solutions, Cognyte's focus on value over pricing competition, and R&D investments. He also mentioned efficiencies in COGS, partly due to applying AI capabilities internally. For Adjusted EBITDA, he highlighted the $47 million guidance for the year (60% year-over-year growth) as evidence of operational leverage and commitment to profitable growth. He stated that the expansion towards the FY28 Adjusted EBITDA margin target would be a gradual improvement over time, without providing a linear breakdown for future years.

Ask follow-up questions

Fintool

Fintool can predict Cognyte Software logo CGNT's earnings beat/miss a week before the call

Question · Q2 2026

Charlie Zhou asked about the overall deal pipeline's trend compared to six to twelve months ago, any incremental macro pressures observed, and new trends in the public sector threat landscape.

Answer

CEO Elad Sharon described a healthy demand environment globally, driven by increasing security pressures, blurred lines between criminal and terror activities, and adversaries leveraging advanced technology. He emphasized the growing need for customers to modernize solutions, handle more data, and utilize advanced analytics and predictive capabilities to stay ahead. Sharon noted strong traction in POCs, demos, existing customer upgrades, and industry conferences, indicating robust demand drivers.

Ask follow-up questions

Fintool

Fintool can write a report on Cognyte Software logo CGNT's next earnings in your company's style and formatting