Palo Alto Networks' aggressive platformization strategy is driving a sharp acceleration in revenue growth, reaching 34.4% year-over-year in 2026Q4, and generating robust free cash flow margins of 37.3% in the same period, demonstrating strong customer adoption.
Price trend, volume and key moving averages
Start with the evidence for owning the stock and the risks that can break the thesis.
Revenue growth has accelerated sharply to 34.4% YoY, but this has coincided with a structural decline in gross margins to 67.6% and inconsistent operating profitability, highlighting the margin trade-offs of the platformization push.
Palo Alto Networks' platformization strategy is driving adoption and growth, as highlighted in bullish theses.
The company's AI innovations are seen as a key driver for future growth and competitive advantage.
Palo Alto Networks has demonstrated strong Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) growth, a positive sign for recurring income.
Trailing total returns as of 11/7/2026, which may include dividends or other distributions. Benchmark is S&P 500 (^GSPC).
Check whether operating performance supports the current valuation.
Recent results and news deserve attention only when they alter the forward view.
| Quarter | EPS (Act vs Est) | Revenue (Act vs Est) |
|---|---|---|
Q4 2026Latest Sep 1, 2026 | $1.02+4.3% vs $0.98 | $3.4B+1.7% vs $3.4B |
Q3 2026 Jun 2, 2026 | $0.85+7.2% vs $0.79 | $3.0B+2.0% vs $2.9B |
Q1 2026 Feb 17, 2026 | $1.03+9.7% vs $0.94 | $2.6B+0.4% vs $2.6B |
Q4 2025 Nov 19, 2025 | $0.93+4.4% vs $0.89 | $2.5B+0.5% vs $2.5B |
Zacks.com users have recently been watching Palo Alto (PANW) quite a bit. Thus, it is worth knowing the facts that could determine the stock's prospects.
The cybersecurity company is seeing growing demand for its services.
Palo Alto Networks is in talks to acquire Clutch Security, a startup that secures AI agents' access to company systems, for $500 million in cash plus additional milestone-based payouts, according to a person familiar with the discussions.
Palo Alto Networks is aggressively shifting to a platformization strategy to consolidate its security services for 70,000 customers. Zscaler continues to dominate the cloud-native zero trust market with a presence in over 50% of the Fortune 500 companies.
Benchmark PANW against direct peers instead of judging its metrics in isolation.
Key metrics vs top competitors for Palo Alto Networks, Inc. (PANW)
| Company | Price | Market Cap | P/E Ratio | Rev Growth (1Y) | Net Margin | ROE | Div Yield |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $313.84 | $213.89B | 196.15 | 14.87% | 12.3% | 17.45% | — | |
| $118.84 | $87.07B | 48.91 | 14.17% | 28.96% | 151.52% | — | |
| $216.90 | $220.86B | -1355.63 | 21.71% | 1.08% | 1.27% | — | |
| $197.66 | $31.96B | -732.07 | 23.31% | -1.88% | -2.76% | — | |
| $144.17 | $14.72B | 14.99 | 6.25% | 31.74% | 31.62% | — | |
| $408.85 | $20.64B | -139.54 | 36.01% | -10.79% | -6.11% | — |
Palo Alto Networks, Inc. (PANW) vs competitors — business, growth, and fundamentals comparison against the closest industry rivals.
Verify the primary filings, follow material updates, and answer the remaining questions.
Palo Alto Networks, Inc. (PANW) SEC filings — annual & quarterly reports (10-K, 10-Q)
Sep 1, 2026·SEC
Aug 21, 2026·SEC
Jun 2, 2026·SEC
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Palo Alto Networks, Inc. (PANW) stock FAQ — growth, dividends, profitability & financials explained
Palo Alto Networks, Inc. (PANW) reported $11.48B in revenue over the trailing twelve months. Revenue was $9.22B in fiscal year 2025. That is 18803% more than the $48.8M of fiscal year 2010.
Palo Alto Networks, Inc. (PANW) grew revenue by 14.9% in fiscal year 2025, compared with the prior fiscal year.
Yes. Palo Alto Networks, Inc. (PANW) earned $307.0M in net income over the trailing twelve months (a 2.7% net margin).
Palo Alto Networks, Inc. (PANW) had a return on equity (ROE) of 17.5% in fiscal year 2025. That is above the market's typical 10-15%.
Palo Alto Networks, Inc. (PANW) generated $4.39B in free cash flow over the trailing twelve months.
