Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare SailPoint, Inc. (SAIL) vs Palo Alto Networks, Inc. (PANW) Stock
Analyze side-by-side fundamentals, valuation, growth, and profitability to decide which stock is the better buy.
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Quick Verdict
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | SAIL | 23.2% revenue growth vs PANW's 14.9% |
| Quality / Margins | PANW | 13.0% net margin vs SAIL's -29.2% |
| Stability / Safety | PANW | Beta 1.16 vs SAIL's 1.53 |
| Dividends | Tie | Neither pays a meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | PANW | -21.8% vs SAIL's -41.3% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | PANW | 5.1% ROA vs SAIL's -4.0% |
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
SailPoint is an enterprise identity security company that provides cloud-based and on-premises solutions to manage and secure access to critical data and applications. It generates revenue primarily through subscription fees for its Identity Security Cloud SaaS platform — which accounts for the majority of its business — and license/maintenance fees for its on-premises IdentityIQ solution. The company's competitive advantage lies in its comprehensive identity governance platform that integrates with thousands of applications and systems, creating significant switching costs for enterprise customers.
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
Financial Metrics Comparison
Side-by-side fundamentals across 2 stocks. BestLagging
Financial Scorecard
PANW leads in 4 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). SAIL leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics).
Financial Metrics (TTM)
PANW is the larger business by revenue, generating $9.9B annually — 9.7x SAIL's $1.0B. PANW is the more profitable business, keeping 13.0% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to SAIL's -29.2%. On growth, SAIL holds the edge at +19.8% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | SAILSailPoint, Inc. | PANWPalo Alto Network… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $1.0B | $9.9B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $42M | $1.9B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$297M | $1.3B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $6M | $4.1B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +66.0% | +73.5% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | -16.4% | +14.4% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -29.2% | +13.0% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +0.6% | +41.1% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +19.8% | +14.9% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +85.4% | +57.9% |
Valuation Metrics
On an enterprise value basis, PANW's 64.8x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than SAIL's 182.3x.
| Metric | SAILSailPoint, Inc. | PANWPalo Alto Network… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $7.9B | $104.7B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $8.8B | $102.8B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -7.12x | 93.08x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | — | 40.06x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 182.31x | 64.78x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 9.19x | 11.35x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | — | 13.50x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | 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 SAIL. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), SAIL scores 5/9 vs PANW's 4/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | SAILSailPoint, Inc. | PANWPalo Alto Network… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -4.3% | +13.6% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -4.0% | +5.1% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | — | +17.1% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -2.7% | +8.9% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 4 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | — | 0.04x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $926M | -$1.9B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $121M | $2.3B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $1.0B | $338M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | -0.91x | 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 $6,409 for SAIL. Over the past 12 months, PANW leads with a -21.8% total return vs SAIL's -41.3%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors PANW at 16.5% vs SAIL's -13.8% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | SAILSailPoint, Inc. | PANWPalo Alto Network… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -25.6% | -17.0% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -41.3% | -21.8% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -35.9% | +58.1% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -35.9% | +143.2% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -35.9% | +517.2% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -13.8% | +16.5% |
Risk & Volatility
PANW is the less volatile stock with a 1.16 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than SAIL's 1.53 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 SAIL's 56.5% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | SAILSailPoint, Inc. | PANWPalo Alto Network… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.53x | 1.16x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $24.95 | $223.61 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $12.81 | $139.57 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +56.5% | +66.6% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 41.6 | 35.4 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 2.0M | 7.9M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates SAIL as "Buy" and PANW as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 64.4% upside for SAIL (target: $23) vs 41.9% for PANW (target: $211).
| Metric | SAILSailPoint, Inc. | PANWPalo Alto Network… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $23.18 | $211.29 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 30 | 85 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | — |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +0.1% | 0.0% |
Historical Charts
Charts are rendered on first load. Hover for details.
Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Feb 25 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| SailPoint, Inc. (SAIL) | 100 | 71.45 | -28.5% |
| Palo Alto Networks,… (PANW) | 100 | 95.5 | -4.5% |
Palo Alto Networks,… (PANW) returned +143% over 5 years vs SailPoint, Inc. (SAIL)'s -36%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| SailPoint, Inc. (SAIL) | $95M | $862M | +803.6% |
| Palo Alto Networks,… (PANW) | $1.4B | $9.2B | +569.0% |
SailPoint, Inc.'s revenue grew from $95M (2016) to $862M (2025) — a 27.7% CAGR. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| SailPoint, Inc. (SAIL) | -11.3% | -36.7% | -223.4% |
| Palo Alto Networks,… (PANW) | -16.4% | 12.3% | +175.0% |
SailPoint, Inc.'s net margin went from -11% (2016) to -37% (2025). 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| SailPoint, Inc. (SAIL) | -0.15 | -1.98 | -1220.0% |
| Palo Alto Networks,… (PANW) | -0.43 | 1.6 | +472.1% |
SailPoint, Inc.'s EPS grew from $-0.15 (2016) to $-1.98 (2025). Palo Alto Networks, Inc.'s EPS grew from $-0.43 (2016) to $1.60 (2025).
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
SailPoint, Inc. generated $-120M FCF in 2025 (-322% vs 2021). Palo Alto Networks, Inc. generated $3B FCF in 2025 (+150% vs 2021).
SAIL vs PANW: Frequently Asked Questions
8 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is SAIL or PANW a better buy right now?
Palo Alto Networks, Inc. (PANW) offers the better valuation at 93.1x trailing P/E (40.1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate SailPoint, Inc. (SAIL) a "Buy" — based on 30 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 is the better long-term investment — SAIL or PANW?
Over the past 5 years, Palo Alto Networks, Inc. (PANW) delivered a total return of +143.2%, compared to -35.9% for SailPoint, Inc. (SAIL). 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 SAIL's -35.9%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
03Which is safer — SAIL or PANW?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Palo Alto Networks, Inc. (PANW) is the lower-risk stock at 1.16β versus SailPoint, Inc.'s 1.53β — meaning SAIL is approximately 32% more volatile than PANW relative to the S&P 500.
04Which has better profit margins — SAIL or PANW?
Palo Alto Networks, Inc. (PANW) is the more profitable company, earning 12.3% net margin versus -36.7% for SailPoint, Inc. — meaning it keeps 12.3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: PANW leads at 13.5% versus -21.9% for SAIL. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — PANW leads at 73.4%, 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.
05Is SAIL or PANW more undervalued right now?
Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for SAIL: 64.4% to $23.18.
06Which pays a better dividend — SAIL 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 SAIL 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). SailPoint, Inc. (SAIL) carries a higher beta of 1.53 — 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%, SAIL: -35.9%), 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 SAIL 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. 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.
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