Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Alarum Technologies Ltd. (ALAR) vs Palo Alto Networks, Inc. (PANW) Stock
Analyze side-by-side fundamentals, valuation, growth, and profitability to decide which stock is the better buy.
Selected Stocks
Add up to 10 tickers. Use presets or search to get started.
Quick Verdict
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | ALAR | 20.9% revenue growth vs PANW's 14.9% |
| Value | ALAR | Lower P/E (7.7x vs 40.1x) |
| Quality / Margins | PANW | 13.0% net margin vs ALAR's 3.3% |
| Stability / Safety | PANW | Beta 1.16 vs ALAR's 1.68, lower leverage |
| Dividends | Tie | Neither pays a meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | ALAR | -0.1% vs PANW's -21.8% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | PANW | 5.1% ROA vs ALAR's 2.7%, ROIC 17.1% vs 59.0% |
Who Each Stock Is For
Income & stability
Growth exposure
Long-term compounding (10Y)
Sleep-well-at-night portfolio
Defensive / Recession hedge
Business Model
What each company does and how it makes money
Alarum Technologies provides cybersecurity and privacy solutions for both consumers and enterprises. It generates revenue through software subscriptions for its threat protection tools — including iShield and AdBlocker — and proxy network services, with its residential proxy network being a significant revenue driver. The company's competitive advantage lies in its proprietary proxy network technology and integrated cybersecurity platform that combines consumer privacy tools with enterprise-grade security solutions.
Palo Alto Networks is a cybersecurity company that provides a comprehensive platform of security products and services to protect organizations from cyber threats. It generates revenue primarily through subscription services — which account for over 80% of total revenue — along with product sales and support contracts. The company's key advantage is its integrated security platform approach, which creates switching costs and network effects as customers adopt more of its ecosystem.
Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Segment breakdown not available.
Financial Metrics Comparison
Side-by-side fundamentals across 2 stocks. BestLagging
Financial Scorecard
PANW leads in 3 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). ALAR leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics). 1 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
PANW is the larger business by revenue, generating $9.9B annually — 272.3x ALAR's $36M. PANW is the more profitable business, keeping 13.0% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to ALAR's 3.3%. On growth, ALAR holds the edge at +80.3% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ALARAlarum Technologi… | PANWPalo Alto Network… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $36M | $9.9B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $1M | $1.9B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $1M | $1.3B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $0 | $4.1B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +62.8% | +73.5% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +1.6% | +14.4% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +3.3% | +13.0% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +27.5% | +41.1% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +80.3% | +14.9% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -99.0% | +57.9% |
Valuation Metrics
At 7.7x trailing earnings, ALAR trades at a 92% valuation discount to PANW's 93.1x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, ALAR's 4.4x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than PANW's 64.8x.
| Metric | ALARAlarum Technologi… | PANWPalo Alto Network… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $47M | $104.7B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $34M | $102.8B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 7.66x | 93.08x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | — | 40.06x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 4.41x | 64.78x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.47x | 11.35x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.69x | 13.50x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 5.36x | 30.17x |
Profitability & Efficiency
PANW delivers a 13.6% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $14 in annual profit, vs $4 for ALAR. PANW carries lower financial leverage with a 0.04x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to ALAR's 0.06x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), ALAR scores 6/9 vs PANW's 4/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | ALARAlarum Technologi… | PANWPalo Alto Network… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +3.8% | +13.6% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +2.7% | +5.1% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +59.0% | +17.1% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +32.8% | +8.9% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 4 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.06x | 0.04x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$13M | -$1.9B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $15M | $2.3B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $2M | $338M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 17.18x | 1559.00x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in PANW five years ago would be worth $24,321 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $3,427 for ALAR. Over the past 12 months, ALAR leads with a -0.1% total return vs PANW's -21.8%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors ALAR at 45.4% vs PANW's 16.5% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ALARAlarum Technologi… | PANWPalo Alto Network… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -26.3% | -17.0% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -0.1% | -21.8% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +207.1% | +58.1% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -65.7% | +143.2% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -99.7% | +517.2% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +45.4% | +16.5% |
Risk & Volatility
PANW is the less volatile stock with a 1.16 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than ALAR's 1.68 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. PANW currently trades 66.6% from its 52-week high vs ALAR's 36.2% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ALARAlarum Technologi… | PANWPalo Alto Network… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.68x | 1.16x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $18.00 | $223.61 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $5.45 | $139.57 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +36.2% | +66.6% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 34.9 | 35.4 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 51K | 7.9M |
Analyst Outlook
| Metric | ALARAlarum Technologi… | PANWPalo Alto Network… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | — | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | — | $211.29 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | — | 85 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 2 | — |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Historical Charts
Charts are rendered on first load. Hover for details.
Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Feb 20 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alarum Technologies… (ALAR) | 100 | 44.91 | -55.1% |
| Palo Alto Networks,… (PANW) | 100 | 570.1 | +470.1% |
Palo Alto Networks,… (PANW) returned +143% over 5 years vs Alarum Technologies… (ALAR)'s -66%. A $10,000 investment in PANW 5 years ago would be worth $24,321 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alarum Technologies… (ALAR) | $845846.00 | $32M | +3680.2% |
| Palo Alto Networks,… (PANW) | $1.4B | $9.2B | +569.0% |
Palo Alto Networks, Inc.'s revenue grew from $1.4B (2016) to $9.2B (2025) — a 23.5% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alarum Technologies… (ALAR) | -10.6% | 18.2% | +271.6% |
| Palo Alto Networks,… (PANW) | -16.4% | 12.3% | +175.0% |
Palo Alto Networks, Inc.'s net margin went from -16% (2016) to 12% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 3 Years
| Stock | 2023 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palo Alto Networks,… (PANW) | 230.4 | 115.1 | -50.0% |
Palo Alto Networks, Inc. has traded in a 50x–230x P/E range over 3 years; current trailing P/E is ~93x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alarum Technologies… (ALAR) | -6,192 | 0.85 | +100.0% |
| Palo Alto Networks,… (PANW) | -0.43 | 1.6 | +472.1% |
Palo Alto Networks, Inc.'s EPS grew from $-0.43 (2016) to $1.60 (2025).
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Alarum Technologies Ltd. generated $9M FCF in 2024 (+194% vs 2021). Palo Alto Networks, Inc. generated $3B FCF in 2025 (+150% vs 2021).
ALAR vs PANW: Frequently Asked Questions
8 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is ALAR or PANW a better buy right now?
Alarum Technologies Ltd. (ALAR) offers the better valuation at 7.7x trailing P/E, making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Palo Alto Networks, Inc. (PANW) a "Buy" — based on 85 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.
02Which has the better valuation — ALAR or PANW?
On trailing P/E, Alarum Technologies Ltd. (ALAR) is the cheapest at 7.7x versus Palo Alto Networks, Inc. at 93.1x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — ALAR or PANW?
Over the past 5 years, Palo Alto Networks, Inc. (PANW) delivered a total return of +143.2%, compared to -65.7% for Alarum Technologies Ltd. (ALAR). A $10,000 investment in PANW five years ago would be worth approximately $24K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: PANW returned +517.2% versus ALAR's -99.7%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — ALAR or PANW?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Palo Alto Networks, Inc. (PANW) is the lower-risk stock at 1.16β versus Alarum Technologies Ltd.'s 1.68β — meaning ALAR is approximately 45% more volatile than PANW relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Palo Alto Networks, Inc. (PANW) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 4% versus 6% for Alarum Technologies Ltd. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — ALAR or PANW?
Alarum Technologies Ltd. (ALAR) is the more profitable company, earning 18.2% net margin versus 12.3% for Palo Alto Networks, Inc. — meaning it keeps 18.2% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ALAR leads at 21.1% versus 13.5% for PANW. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ALAR leads at 74.3%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.
06Which pays a better dividend — ALAR or PANW?
None of the stocks in this comparison currently pay a material dividend. All are effectively zero-yield and should be held for capital appreciation rather than income.
07Is ALAR or PANW better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Palo Alto Networks, Inc. (PANW) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1.16), +517.2% 10Y return). Alarum Technologies Ltd. (ALAR) carries a higher beta of 1.68 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (PANW: +517.2%, ALAR: -99.7%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.
08What are the main differences between ALAR and PANW?
Both stocks operate in the Technology sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both. In terms of investment character: ALAR is a small-cap deep-value stock; PANW is a mid-cap quality compounder stock. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.
Find Stocks Like These
Explore pre-built screens for each stock's profile, or build a custom screen to find stocks that beat both.