Best Cybersecurity Stocks for 2026 and How to Invest - The Motley Fool

Best Cybersecurity Stocks for 2026 and How to Invest Looking to invest in the leading cybersecurity companies? Here are the top six cybersecurity ETFs to consider investing in. By Anders Bylund – Updated Apr 14, 2026 at 10:35 PM EST | Fact-checked by Frank Bass Follow us Share KEY POINTS Cybersecurity market growth is driven by increased corporate security breaches. Investors can consider companies like Palo Alto, CrowdStrike, and Fortinet. The sector's expansion is anticipated to continue, reaching nearly $700 billion by 2034. 10 stocks we like better than iShares Trust - iShares Cybersecurity And Tech ETF › Cybersecurity stocks represent one of the most critical growth opportunities in the technology sector. A Verizon (VZ -0.14%) report found 10,747 corporate security breaches in 2025, up from 6,963 in 2024. A steady migration to cloud-based IT infrastructure and a hybrid workforce that spends significant time outside the office aren't making security any easier. And attackers are cooking up new threats with AI tools. As a result, cybersecurity is a big and fast-growing industry. That rising risk is fueling growth across the sector, and investors looking for direct exposure to the trend have several strong companies to consider. Top cybersecurity stocks Given the growing demand for cybersecurity, it's no surprise that investors have plenty of companies vying for their attention. Here are some of the top names worth a closer look. 1. Palo Alto Networks Collapse NASDAQ: PANW Palo Alto Networks Today's Change (-0.57%) $-0.92 Current Price $161.59 PANW YTD 1W 1M 3M 6M 1Y 5Y PRICE VS S&P KEY DATA POINTS Market Cap $132B Day's Range $158.83 - $165.64 52wk Range $139.57 - $223.61 Volume 35K Avg Vol 11M Gross Margin 73.50% Palo Alto Networks (PANW -0.57%) is one of the heavyweights in this space, and it got there by doing a little bit of everything. Firewalls, cloud security, AI-powered threat detection; if a company needs to keep hackers out, Palo Alto probably has a product for it. The company has been on an acquisition spree over the years, snapping up smaller players to build out a comprehensive platform. That "one-stop shop" pitch has worked well with large enterprises tired of juggling dozens of security vendors. 2. CrowdStrike Expand NASDAQ: CRWD CrowdStrike Today's Change (-0.93%) $-3.75 Current Price $398.49 KEY DATA POINTS Market Cap $101B Day's Range $393.40 - $411.44 52wk Range $342.72 - $566.90 Volume 17K Avg Vol 4.2M Gross Margin 74.53% CrowdStrike (CRWD -0.88%) made its name by rethinking how endpoint security should work. Instead of bulky software installed on every machine, its Falcon platform runs in the cloud and uses AI to spot threats as they happen. That approach has won over many customers, and the company's subscription model keeps them paying month after month. CrowdStrike continues to expand its product offerings and has built a reputation for stopping high-profile breaches. 3. Fortinet Expand NASDAQ: FTNT Fortinet Today's Change (-0.02%) $-0.01 Current Price $78.72 KEY DATA POINTS Market Cap $58B Day's Range $77.75 - $80.03 52wk Range $70.12 - $109.33 Volume 2 Avg Vol 6.8M Gross Margin 80.46% Fortinet (FTNT -0.02%) has been in the security game for over two decades, and its FortiGate firewalls are a staple in corporate networks throughout the world. One thing that sets Fortinet apart is that it builds its own security chips rather than relying on generic hardware. The company serves a broad customer base, from small businesses to large enterprises and government agencies. Its integrated security platform approach has driven consistent profitability and steady market share gains. 4. Broadcom Expand NASDAQ: AVGO Broadcom Today's Change (0.17%) $0.66 Current Price $380.41 KEY DATA POINTS Market Cap $1.8T Day's Range $376.31 - $382.22 52wk Range $161.61 - $414.61 Volume 9.3K Avg Vol 27M Gross Margin 64.96% Dividend Yield 0.65% Broadcom (AVGO +0.17%) is not a pure-play cybersecurity company, but its 2019 acquisition of Symantec's enterprise security division made it a significant player in the space. It inherited a portfolio of endpoint protection and data security tools that still carry weight in the industry. With its massive scale and diversified business plan, Broadcom has staying power. Its security products slot neatly into its broader enterprise software lineup. 5. Zscaler Expand NASDAQ: ZS Zscaler Today's Change (0.03%) $0.04 Current Price $122.66 KEY DATA POINTS Market Cap $20B Day's Range $120.80 - $125.98 52wk Range $114.63 - $336.99 Volume 236 Avg Vol 2.9M Gross Margin 76.28% Zscaler (ZS +0.05%) specializes in cloud-based security, offering a platform that routes enterprise traffic through its global network to inspect and secure data without the need for traditional security hardware. That zero-trust approach has been a hit with companies embracing remote and hybrid work. The stock can be a wild ride, as growth stocks tend to swing hard on any earnings surprise. However, the underlying business shows robust growth. Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? One little-known company, called an "Indispensable Monopoly" owns the technology Nvidia, AMD, and Intel cannot function without. And it is still just a fraction of Nvidia’s size. We just released a brand-new report with the full story and the company’s name.  Continue › How to buy a cybersecurity stock Open your brokerage account: Log in to your brokerage account where you handle your investments. If you don't have one yet, take a look at our favorite brokers and trading platforms to find the right one for you. Search for a cybersecurity stock, such as Crowdstrike: Enter the ticker “CRWD” into the search bar to bring up the stock's trading page. Decide how many shares to buy: Consider your investment goals and how much of your portfolio you want to allocate to this stock. Select order type: Choose between a market order to buy at the current price or a limit order to specify the maximum price you're willing to pay. Submit your order: Confirm the details and submit your buy order. Review your purchase: Check your portfolio to ensure your order was filled as expected and adjust your investment strategy accordingly. Benefits and risks of investing in cybersecurity stocks Like most investments, cybersecurity stocks come with both potential rewards and notable risks. Here's what to consider before adding them to your portfolio. Pros: The cybersecurity market is projected to grow from $248 billion in 2026 to nearly $700 billion by 2034, providing a long runway for revenue expansion. Security budgets are sticky. No CFO wants to be the one who cut corners right before a breach makes headlines. Emerging threats from AI and quantum computing aren't going away, which means demand for protection isn't either. Cons: Cybersecurity stocks can be highly volatile, particularly growth-oriented names that trade at premium valuations. Economic downturns can slow enterprise IT spending, even on essential line items like security. Should you invest in cybersecurity stocks? Cybersecurity isn't going away. If anything, the threats are getting worse, the stakes are getting higher, and the companies fighting back are getting more business thrown at them. The market could nearly triple by 2034, driven by AI advancements, quantum computing threats, and the ever-expanding volume of data flowing across networks. That said, picking individual stocks in this space isn't for the faint of heart. These names can be volatile, and today's darling can become tomorrow's disappointment if a competitor eats its lunch or a product stumbles. Spreading your bets across a few different companies can help smooth out the bumps. Should you buy stock in iShares Trust - iShares Cybersecurity And Tech ETF right now? Before you buy stock in iShares Trust - iShares Cybersecurity And Tech ETF, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and iShares Trust - iShares Cybersecurity And Tech ETF wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $556,335!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,160,572!* Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 975% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 193% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors. See the 10 stocks › *Stock Advisor returns as of April 15, 2026. Related investing topics 7 Best Tech ETFs to Buy Now Here's how to get tech exposure without the single-stock risk. 5 Best Artificial Intelligence (AI) ETFs to Buy in 2026 An in-depth look at the top artificial intelligence (AI) ETFs in the U.S. stock market this year. Best Electric Vehicle ETFs to Buy in 2026 and How to Invest in Them With the auto world switching to electric vehicles (EVs), these exchange-traded funds could drive value. Best SaaS Stocks to Buy in 2026 and How to Invest in Them Software as a service has been a growth driver in the tech industry. Learn about SaaS stocks and how to invest in them here. FAQ Cybersecurity ETF FAQ What is the most trusted cybersecurity company? Do cybersecurity ETFs pay dividends? How are cybersecurity ETFs different from tech ETFs? What is the best cybersecurity ETF? Are cybersecurity ETFs a good investment? How do I invest in cybersecurity ETFs? Can cybersecurity ETFs be part of a long-term investment strategy? What is the fastest growing cybersecurity company? ABOUT THE AUTHOR Anders Bylund is a contributing Motley Fool media and technology analyst covering semiconductors, cloud computing, internet infrastructure, quantum computing, and streaming media. Previously, Anders was a systems administrator for Nielsen Technology and CSX, gaining hands-on experience with enterprise-class systems. He was also a freelance writer for Ars Technica, TIME, USA Today, CNN, WIRED, and AOL's Daily Finance. He holds a bachelor’s degree in English and a master’s degree in library and information sciences from Florida State University. He believes in coyotes and time as an abstract. TMFZahrim @TMFZahrim Matt Frankel, CFP has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Cisco Systems and Zscaler. The Motley Fool recommends BlackRock. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Motley Fool issues A.I. buy alert This tech could reach $80 trillion. Imagine a technology worth over 35 Amazons. What in the world could be worth 35 Amazons? The answer is a radical tech breakthrough that our experts think is transforming every walk of life. And this giant leap forward has many on Wall Street very excited. Continue › STOCKS MENTIONED Broadcom NASDAQ: AVGO $380.41 (+0.17%) +$0.66 Motley Fool Stock Advisor's Latest Pick Get Access 975% AVG RETURN* Zscaler NASDAQ: ZS $122.68 (+0.05%) +$0.06 Verizon Communications NYSE: VZ $45.36 (-0.14%) -$0.07 CrowdStrike NASDAQ: CRWD $398.49 (-0.93%) -$3.75 Palo Alto Networks NASDAQ: PANW $161.59 (-0.57%) -$0.92 Fortinet NASDAQ: FTNT $78.73 (-0.02%) -$0.02 *Average returns of all recommendations since inception. Cost basis and return based on previous market day close. Ad Limited-Time Offer: Top Card Now Offers $250 Bonus Our experts' top-rated cash back card just got even better. For a limited time, earn a $250 bonus after spending just $500 in the first 3 months. Plus, earn unlimited cash back and pay 0% intro APR until well into 2027. Don't wait — this offer ends soon. Click here to see the card Advertisement Advertisement