Seeking Alpha: Chronic Execution Issues Still The Story At Riverbed Technology

I've kept networking technology company Riverbed Technology (NASDAQ:RVBD) on my watch list primarily because I continue to see value in the business when, or if, management can finally iron out its ongoing execution challenges. Unfortunately, there's just no particular reason to believe the end of those challenges is in sight, so it is almost irrelevant that the Street seems a little too bearish on the growth potential of the businesses. I believe management is starting to run short on time; every fumbled quarter makes the relative certainty of Elliott Management's $21 bid look better and if a strong second half rebound doesn't materialize, shareholders may start agitating for that option.

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Chronic Execution Issues Still The Story At Riverbed Technology

Seeking Alpha: NetScout's Performance Management Managing Good Performance

Competing with a varied mix of hardware, software, and integrated rivals like Danaher (DHR), IBM (IBM), and CA (CA) is no picnic, but NetScout Systems (NTCT) believes it has found a winning combination with a mixed hardware and software approach to network and application performance management. The company still generates the bulk of its revenue from three verticals (finance, telecom services, government), but the relatively new nGeniusONE platform should meaningfully expand its addressable market and could fuel strong growth for multiple years. While backward-looking valuation metrics may not scream "bargain" on these shares, high single-digit free cash flow would support a fair value in the mid-$40s.

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NetScout's Performance Management Managing Good Performance

Seeking Alpha: Will A Different Model Lead To Sustainably Different Results For SolarWinds?

Over the last decade or so, a host of software companies have tried to build successful businesses with models different than those used by industry giants including IBM (IBM), Oracle (ORCL), and Microsoft (MSFT). While Salesforce.com (CRM) and NetSuite (N) have gone the software-as-a-service (SaaS, or Cloud) route, others like Red Hat (RHT) have looked to maintenance and support instead of the software itself as the source of value.

That brings us to SolarWinds (SWI). There's nothing unusual per se about network management tools - companies like IBM and Hewlett-Packard (HPQ) have been selling them for years. What's different about SolarWinds is both the sales model (a low-touch model that relies on 3rd parties like search engines) and the product positioning (lagging tech, but cheap and easy to use). So far, the results have been impressive as SolarWinds has posted exceptional revenue growth and operating margins. As is so often the case, though, the question is whether the company can maintain this momentum and whether the Street is already ahead of the story.

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Will A Different Model Lead To Sustainably Different Results For SolarWinds?