Palo Alto Networks Inc logo

Palo Alto Networks Inc(PANW)

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EXPLORE ADVISORIES AND THEIR HISTORY
QUALITY SIGNAL
5-STAR RATING
PASS
LAST CLOSE
$326.36
11/10/2026
(24-hour delay)

Advisory History & Simulated Performance *

*as per simulation (see disclosures)
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Upturn Stock price based on last close iconStock price based on last close
Simulated performance—not actual client returns. Excludes advisory subscription fees, trading commissions, and taxes, which would reduce returns. Results depend on calculation assumptions and do not guarantee future outcomes. See Disclosures for full methodology, assumptions, and limitations.

Advisory Performance History (Simulated)Advisory Performance History info

Simulated performance—not actual client returns. Excludes advisory subscription fees, trading commissions, and taxes, which would reduce returns. Results depend on calculation assumptions and do not guarantee future outcomes. See Disclosures for full methodology, assumptions, and limitations.

Upturn Advisory & Investor View for PANW

11/10/2026: PANW (5-star) is currently NOT-A-BUY. Pass it for now.

Palo Alto Networks is a prominent provider of comprehensive cybersecurity solutions, known for its integrated platform strategy spanning network, cloud, and security operations. The company has historically maintained a strong position in the firewall market while successfully expanding into cloud and AI-driven automation. Its primary growth opportunity lies in its ability to consolidate enterprise security spending onto its integrated platform. However, the company faces risks related to intense competition from specialized rivals, high execution demands from frequent acquisitions, and potential macroeconomic sensitivity. It may best suit growth-oriented investors who are comfortable with the high valuation and market volatility associated with a leading technology platform provider.

How to Read the Upturn Advisory

The Upturn Star Rating and the current BUY, SELL, or PASS advisory are generated by Upturn’s AI advisory engine based on proprietary signal analysis, price behavior, advisory history, and historical signal performance.

Company fundamentals, valuation, risks, and news provide supporting context about the business.

Investor Fit

Investor styleFitWhy
Growth investorStrong fitPalo Alto Networks has a track record of consistent revenue growth and market leadership in a critical, expanding industry.
Momentum investorStrong fit while signal remains positiveThe stock often exhibits strong price trends tied to its ability to consistently beat earnings expectations and capture market share.
Value investorWeak fitThe company typically trades at a high valuation multiple consistent with its high growth expectations rather than traditional value metrics.
Dividend investorWeak fitThe company does not pay a dividend, prioritizing reinvestment into R&D and acquisitions.
Low-risk investorMixed fitWhile the business quality is high, the stock's valuation and volatility may exceed the risk tolerance of conservative investors.

Risk Profile

Risk factorLevelWhy it matters
Price volatilityMedium / highHigh-growth tech stocks often experience sharp fluctuations based on quarterly earnings reports and broader market sentiment.
Valuation riskHighThe stock frequently trades at premium multiples, meaning future growth must be sustained to justify current pricing.
Competition risk (AI and cloud incumbents)Medium / highThe company faces constant pressure from nimble cloud-native security firms and large, well-capitalized tech incumbents.
Business qualityStrongPalo Alto Networks possesses a sticky, platform-centric customer base and high recurring revenue margins.
Dividend incomeLow / noneIncome-focused investors will not find yield here as capital is redirected toward expansion.
Execution riskMediumSuccessfully integrating numerous acquisitions into a unified platform remains a core operational challenge.

Price Behavior

Strong Uptrend
PRICE PATH

Strong Uptrend

The stock has maintained a strong upward price trend across the last three quarters.

Choppy
PRICE STABILITY

Choppy

The stock has experienced frequent reversals and pronounced short-term price swings.

Analysis of Past Performance

Type Stock
Historic Profit 47.36%
Avg. Invested days 48
Today’s Advisory PASS
Upturn Advisory Rating upturn star rating icon
Upturn Advisory Performance Upturn Advisory Performance icon 4.0
Stock Returns Performance Upturn Returns Performance icon 3.0
Upturn Profits based on simulation icon Profits based on simulation
Upturn last close icon Last Close 11/10/2026

Upturn Scorecard

Upturn Star Rating

★★★★★
PANW receives a 4-star rating, supported by solid unit economics, and strong analyst coverage. The rating is constrained by weak price momentum.

Company Fundamentals

★★★★★
PANW has moderate overall fundamentals (3 stars), with moderate financial health, moderate growth momentum, and solid ownership. In FY2026 versus FY2025, strong cash generation (FCF margin 35.8%) and solid revenue growth (+24.5%) are partially offset by negative earnings growth (-72.9%), soft profitability (net margin 2.7%), very low insider ownership of 0.62%.

Financial Health Rating

★★★★★
PANW's financial health is supported by strong cash strength, including free-cash-flow generation of $4.1B (35.8% of revenue). Profitability is moderate (3 stars), which helps explain the 3-star overall score.

Growth Momentum Score

★★★★★
Revenue growth is PANW's strongest growth driver at +24.5% FY2026 versus FY2025 (solid, 4 stars). By comparison, free-cash-flow growth (+18.5%, solid) is also solid, while earnings growth (-72.9%, negative) holds the profile back, so recent growth is not broad-based across the business.

Ownership

★★★★★
Institutional ownership is 84.1% and approximately 99.3% of outstanding shares are publicly tradable, supporting liquidity and institutional participation. Insider ownership is only 0.62%, which materially reduces the ownership score.

Top 5 Institutional Investors

BlackRock Inc 9.26%
Vanguard Capital Management, LLC 6.49%
State Street Corp 4.52%
Morgan Stanley - Brokerage Accounts 3.60%
Amvescap Plc. 3.13%

Unit Economics (Per $1K Revenue)

★★★★★
PANW generates approximately $704 of gross profit, $61 of operating income, and $358 of free cash flow for every $1,000 of revenue. Based on FY2026 results. Solid margins and strong cash conversion support the rating, although capital efficiency remains weak.

Economic Dimensions

★★★★★
Effective Tax Rate: 42.72%

Quantitative Style Profile

★★★★★
PANW has a large-cap, liquid profile. Weak momentum is the primary drawback, while soft valuation.

Style Classification

Quality Focused

Large / Mega Cap StabilityHighly Liquid / Institution-Friendly

Key Highlights

Company Size Large-Cap Stock
Market Capitalization 267.11B USD
Price to earnings Ratio 836.82
1Y Target Price 400
Price to earnings Ratio 836.82
1Y Target Price 400
Volume (30-day avg) 5.8M shares
Beta 0.97
52 Weeks Range 139.57 - 432.33
Updated Date 11/10/2026
52 Weeks Range 139.57 - 432.33
Updated Date 11/10/2026
Dividends yield (FY) -
Basic EPS (TTM) 0.39

How Company Makes Money

Business areaWhat it includesRetail investor read
Product RevenueSales of physical firewall appliances and associated hardware components.This is the traditional hardware business, which serves as a foundation for acquiring new customers.
Subscription and SupportRecurring revenue from software licenses, cloud security services, and technical support contracts.This is the primary growth driver and most important metric for long-term valuation.

Analyzing Revenue: Products, Geography and Growth

Revenue by Products

Product revenue - Year on Year

Revenue by Geography

Geography revenue - Year on Year

Earnings Date

Report Date 2026-11-18
When After Market
Estimate 0.52
Actual -

Profitability

Profit Margin 2.67%
Operating Margin (TTM) 5.4%

Management Effectiveness

Return on Assets (TTM) 1.4%
Return on Equity (TTM) 1.74%

Valuation

Trailing PE 836.82
Forward PE 79.37
Enterprise Value 270.24B
Price to Sales(TTM) 23.27
Enterprise Value 270.24B
Price to Sales(TTM) 23.27
Enterprise Value to Revenue 23.54
Enterprise Value to EBITDA 194.28
Shares Outstanding 818.44M
Shares Floating 812.51M
Shares Outstanding 818.44M
Shares Floating 812.51M
Percent Insiders 0.62
Percent Institutions 84.11

Financial Metrics

🧭 Investment Snapshot

Total Revenue (Scale)

Information icon Total money earned from selling products or services before any costs. It is needed to understand the scale of the business and its ability to generate income.

Net Income (Profit)

Information icon Final profit after all expenses, interest, and taxes are deducted. It is needed to determine the overall profitability available to shareholders.

Free Cash Flow (Cash Strength)

Information icon Cash remaining after operating activities and capital expenditures, showing cash available for growth. It is needed to evaluate the company’s ability to invest, pay dividends, or reduce debt.

📈 Growth & Strength

Operating Income (Core Profit)

Information icon Profit from core operations after deducting all operating expenses. It is needed to measure how efficiently the company runs its primary business activities.

EBITDA (Cash Earnings)

Information icon Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, indicating operating cash potential. It is needed to compare operating performance across companies without accounting or financing differences.

Gross Profit (Unit Profitability)

Information icon Revenue minus cost of revenue, showing profit after direct production costs. It is needed to evaluate core business profitability before overhead expenses.

🛡️ Financial Safety

Cash (Liquidity Buffer)

Information icon Total cash and cash equivalents on hand. It is needed to evaluate immediate liquidity and financial flexibility.

Total Debt (Leverage Risk)

Information icon Total debt including both short-term and long-term components. It is needed to assess the company’s leverage and financial risk.

Net Working Capital (Short-Term Health)

Information icon Current assets minus current liabilities, indicating short-term liquidity strength. It is needed to assess whether the company can meet its short-term obligations.

🧱 Balance Sheet Strength

Stockholder Equity (Net Worth)

Information icon Total equity value held by shareholders. It is needed to understand the net worth of the company from the owners’ perspective.

Total Assets (Asset Base)

Information icon The full value of everything the company owns, including cash, inventory, equipment, and investments. It is needed to understand the resource base used to generate revenue.

Income Before Tax (Pre-Tax Earnings)

Information icon Income before provision for income taxes. It is needed to analyze profitability independent of tax structures.

⚙️ Cost & Drag Factors

Cost of Revenue (Production Cost)

Information icon Direct costs required to produce and deliver the products or services sold. It is needed to assess efficiency in production and service delivery.

Total Operating Expenses (Operating Cost)

Information icon Indirect costs of running the business such as salaries, marketing, and administration. It is needed to understand how much it costs to sustain ongoing business operations.

Income Tax Expense (Tax Drag)

Information icon Amount of taxes paid or payable to the government. It is needed to evaluate the impact of taxation on overall profitability.

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