Analyst Ratings January 30, 2026

Cantor Fitzgerald Cuts Tenable Price Target to $30 Citing Federal Visibility Concerns

Firm keeps Overweight rating while flagging software multiple contraction and potential government spending impacts on the cybersecurity vendor

By Leila Farooq TENB
Cantor Fitzgerald Cuts Tenable Price Target to $30 Citing Federal Visibility Concerns
TENB

Cantor Fitzgerald reduced its price target for Tenable to $30 from $42 but retained an Overweight rating, pointing to software multiple compression and limited visibility into federal spending as drivers of the revision. The firm still sees upside tied to Tenable One, cloud security demand, M&A and execution on AI and cloud initiatives, while other brokerages have also adjusted their targets amid varied operational and billing signals.

Key Points

  • Cantor Fitzgerald cut Tenable’s price target to $30 from $42 but retained an Overweight rating, with the stock trading near its 52-week low and down over 50% year-over-year. - Sectors impacted: cybersecurity, software, public sector contractors.
  • The firm cited software multiple contraction and limited federal visibility - specifically the risk of a government shutdown - as primary reasons for the downward revision, while still pointing to Tenable One, cloud security demand and M&A as potential upside drivers. - Sectors impacted: federal IT procurement, cloud services.
  • Other analysts also adjusted targets: DA Davidson to $25 (reduced free cash flow estimates), Truist to $27 (Buy rating maintained after strong Q3), Needham to $28 (billing pattern shifts), and Stifel holding at $35 (cash flow projection changes). - Sectors impacted: financial analysts coverage of software and cybersecurity firms.

Overview

Cantor Fitzgerald on Friday lowered its 12-month price target for Tenable Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:TENB) to $30.00 from $42.00 while keeping an Overweight rating on the cybersecurity company. Tenable shares were trading at $22.04 at that time, marginally above their 52-week low of $21.26, and the stock has declined by more than 50% over the last year.


Reasoning behind the revision

The research note attributes the reduced target primarily to recent contraction in software multiples and what Cantor Fitzgerald describes as limited visibility into federal spending. The firm singled out concerns about a potential government shutdown as a particular risk that could affect Tenable’s business, given the company’s exposure to federal budgets and contracts.


Continuing conviction and upside catalysts

Despite the lower price target, Cantor Fitzgerald continued to portray Tenable as a value opportunity. The firm highlighted several sources of potential upside, including ongoing adoption of the Tenable One platform, strategic mergers and acquisitions activity, and increasing demand for the company’s cloud security offerings. Cantor Fitzgerald also noted that management’s execution on AI and cloud initiatives could serve as catalysts for a re-rating of the stock over time.

The note references a valuation of 2.6x FY26E enterprise value to sales, suggesting Cantor Fitzgerald believes the market is not fully reflecting Tenable’s longer-term fundamentals and growth prospects at current prices.


Third-party valuation and recent operational performance

Supporting the view that Tenable may be undervalued, InvestingPro analysis is cited as indicating the company trades below its Fair Value. That same analysis points out that Tenable’s revenue rose 11% over the past twelve months and notes analyst expectations that the company will reach profitability this year.


Product developments

On the product front, Tenable has introduced Tenable One AI Exposure, an enhancement to its exposure management platform intended to improve AI protection, discovery and governance for enterprise customers. The feature is positioned as an effort to close the so-called "AI Exposure Gap" by providing visibility into AI usage across varied environments.


Other analyst actions and firm-level adjustments

Several other brokerages have revised their targets or ratings for Tenable in recent weeks. DA Davidson reduced its price target to $25, citing lower free cash flow estimates while still forecasting solid fourth-quarter results. Truist Securities cut its target to $27 but kept a Buy rating after Tenable’s strong third-quarter performance that exceeded guidance on revenue and other metrics. Needham trimmed its target to $28, linking the move to changing billing patterns expected through 2025. Stifel maintained a Hold rating with a $35 target, adjusting cash flow projections based on recent earnings and competitive information.


What this means market-wise

The string of analyst adjustments underscores active debate about Tenable’s near-term cash flow dynamics and the timing of any valuation recovery. Cantor Fitzgerald’s note frames the company as having meaningful upside should execution on cloud and AI initiatives proceed as planned, but it also highlights macro- and government-related risks that may weigh on performance in the short term.


Limitations and outlook

The research note and the referenced third-party analysis present contrasting signals: on one hand, a lower price target based on multiple compression and federal visibility constraints; on the other, indications of revenue growth and potential undervaluation. Where the balance ultimately falls will depend on Tenable’s operational execution, the trajectory of federal spending and broader software valuation trends.

Risks

  • Potential government shutdown or other federal spending disruptions that could negatively affect Tenable’s federal contracts and revenue - impacts federal IT contracting and cybersecurity vendors.
  • Contraction in software valuation multiples that has already driven a lower price target for the stock, reflecting market re-pricing risk for software and SaaS companies. - impacts software and cloud valuations.
  • Operational and cash flow uncertainties reflected in analyst revisions, including reduced free cash flow estimates and changes in billing patterns, which could affect near-term financial performance and investor sentiment. - impacts company financials and investor coverage.

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