As M&A Heats Up, Some Possible Targets

Corporate deal teams, bankers and analysts say the technology sector could see lots of buying and selling over the next few quarters. (See related story.)

Signs of a boom are already evident. The value of global tech M&A has hit $104 billion so far this year, Dealogic data shows, a pace that’s on track to hit deal values not seen since 2007. The trend isn’t limited to technology. Global M&A as a whole has also hit a high not seen in seven years, with $1.4 trillion worth of deals announced this year.

“The weaker the stock market, the higher the probability that an acquirer can pick up good companies at reasonable valuations,” says Peter Goldmacher, a Cowen & Company analyst.

Here are six publicly traded companies in businesses where older tech companies are weak: cloud computing and ad-tech. They have strong revenue growth and low price to sales ratios. Market watchers say that these elements combined make them possible deal targets should we see an M&A resurgence.