Why Shares of Okta Stock Shot Up 10% This Week

Why Shares of Okta Stock Shot Up 10% This Week

Brett Schafer, The Motley Fool

Fri, September 18, 2026 at 7:43 PM GMT+3 2 min read

• OKTA -3.36%
• NVDA +0.17%

Shares of Okta (NASDAQ: OKTA) have popped 10% this week, according to data from S&P Global Market Intelligence. The authentication platform for enterprise security is riding high along with other cybersecurity names, and recently reported solid earnings.

Wall Street is optimistic about growing demand for authenticators like Okta because of the threats posed by artificial intelligence (AI). Does that make Okta stock a buy today?

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Increasing cyber importance

The cybersecurity incidents coming from the AI labs such as Anthropic and OpenAI have the IT world on edge. But investors see a clear beneficiary from these developments: cybersecurity software. These stocks have soared in the past year, with Wall Street betting on major spending growth in the years ahead.

Okta is an authentication company that helps remote users -- and, in the future, maybe AI agents -- properly log in to enterprise systems. It helps people who should have access to systems log in from anywhere in the world, while keeping out those who shouldn't. AI agent bot swarms trying to access systems make Okta's services that much more important.

Is Okta stock a buy?

Last quarter, Okta's revenue grew a cool 11% year-over-year, with operating earnings also growing. Importantly, its remaining performance obligations grew 17%, indicating that this solid revenue growth will continue in the years ahead.

If you want a cybersecurity stock to bet on the AI revolution, Okta might just be a solid choice for your portfolio.

Should you buy stock in Okta right now?

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Brett Schafer has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Okta. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Why Shares of Okta Stock Shot Up 10% This Week was originally published by The Motley Fool