This Tech Stock to Buy Just Handed Us 20% in 1 Day - That's Just the Start

There's no denying the growth potential of the cloud computing industry. In fact, International Business Machines Corp. (NYSE: IBM) estimates the cloud computing market will be worth $200 billion by 2020. It is a gold mine waiting to be exploited.

That's why we're bringing Money Morning Members a tech stock to buy today that will be a primary beneficiary of this industry's massive growth.

ipo stocks to watchThe cloud is just a concept for a network of computers and servers working for you in another location. They store, manage, and process data, and even host that thing we call the Internet. Do you use Instagram? That runs in the cloud.

It's revolutionary because now you can outsource your computing needs and access your data and applications from anywhere and on any device. Companies no longer have to invest in vast arrays of computers and the expertise to manage them. And if they grow, the cloud grows with them.

The industry is also providing us with some of the best tech stocks to buy now...

Money Morning Director of Technology & Venture Capital Research Michael Robinson has had his eye on one cloud company that makes high-speed server switches and related networking software.

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Analysts did not see what Robinson saw as they cited challenges to continued growth and a patent battle with major networking rival Cisco Systems Inc. (Nasdaq: CSCO). As it turned out, Robinson was right. The company he's recommending today had a superior earnings report. And in his words, that patent dispute is a load of baloney.

Plus, this company has taken market share from Cisco because its high-speed Ethernet switches are better. On top of that, this company has invented new software for its switches known as extensible operating system (EOS), which Robinson believes are better than Cisco's.

Robinson recommended this tech stock to readers on Aug. 1, and it provided investors a nearly 20% return in one day on Aug. 3.

This Tech Stock to Buy Can Double Your Money

Robinson's favorite cloud company is Arista Networks Inc. (NYSE: ANET), which was co-founded by one of Silicon Valley's top technologists, Andy Bechtolsheim. In 1982, he also co-founded computing pioneer Sun Microsystems. Sun invented the Java programming language and was later sold to Oracle Corp. (Nasdaq: ORCL) for $7.4 billion.

Starting in 2004, he helped invent products and build a management team that has delivered 195% gains in just the past 19 months.

On Aug. 1, Robinson recommended Arista. After the bell on Aug. 3, the cloud-networking software company's quarterly results and outlook crushed Wall Street estimates, and the next day it soared nearly 20%. Volume was extremely heavy at more than six times its average daily turnover.

Not a bad call! But according to Robinson, this is just the start for the stock, as he sees it as a long-term investment. According to his research, Arista stock can double in price in two-and-a-half years.

Arista also passed all of Robinson's filters for finding the best tech stocks - before they take off.

These 4 Factors Will Continue Driving Growth

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According to Robinson, great companies have great operations and top-notch leaders. Aside from Bechtolsheim, Arista is led by CEO Jayshree Ullal, who formerly served as a senior vice president at Cisco, where she was in charge of $10 billion in sales from the firm's Data Center Switches unit. It certainly does not hurt to have a CEO intimately knowledgeable about the competition.

Great companies also have better products. We've already mentioned that Arista's new EOS software is better than Cisco's. And the company won a key federal ruling that allows it to continue importing key gear needed for its product suite. The International Trade Commission may rule on that patent challenge from Cisco in September. Robinson believes the chances that Cisco prevails are small at best.

Arista sits in the sweet spot of technological change. By investing in cloud players like Arista, you're tapping several high-growth trends at once. After all, data centers factor heavily in everything from online video and music streaming, to social networking and Big Data, to smart homes and connected cars.

The company has one of the strongest growth rates, and we get a good sense here that it still has plenty of runway left. Sales growth has remained stable for 13 quarters. Over the past three years, sales have climbed by an average 42%, doubling roughly every 18 months.

Profits are still rising faster than sales - they were up 123% in the March quarter.

That's important, because this is a tech leader that clearly knows how to manage its growth. It has just over $1 billion in cash on hand and modest debt of $39 million.

A well-managed, fast-growing company in the hottest subsector (cloud) of the hottest main sector (technology) creates the type of stock we want to own. Don't be afraid of its 79% year-to-date gain. If the market dips this year, it will only make Arista more attractive as an investment.

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