APP vs. PANW: AppLovin vs. Palo Alto Networks Stock Comparison
How do AppLovin (APP) and Palo Alto Networks (PANW) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.
Company Profile
AppLovin (APP) and Palo Alto Networks (PANW) both belong to the Software industry, though APP is classified under Application Software while PANW falls under Systems Software.
| Profile Item | APP | PANW |
|---|---|---|
| Name | AppLovin Corporation Class A Common Stock | Palo Alto Networks, Inc. |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Information Technology | Information Technology |
| GICS Industry Group | Software & Services | Software & Services |
| GICS Industry | Software | Software |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Application Software | Systems Software |
| Market Capitalization | 160.27 billion USD | 247.92 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | Nasdaq | Nasdaq |
| Listing Date | April 15, 2021 | July 20, 2012 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | APP | PANW |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 37.31% | 50.34% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
AppLovin (APP) carries a highly aggressive beta of 2.51, indicating much higher sensitivity to broad-market moves, whereas Palo Alto Networks (PANW) is closer to market-like at 0.91 — a noticeable difference in market-sensitivity profile.
Risk Metrics
| Metric | APP | PANW |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 71.28% | 39.30% |
| Beta (5Y) | 2.51 | 0.91 |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 4.88M | 8.29M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
AppLovin (APP) at 266.44% clears its industry range for ROE, a sharper capital-efficiency signal than Palo Alto Networks (PANW) at 4.83%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.
APP
Software & Services industry group
266.44%
- APP
- 266.44%
- Max
- 53.38%
- Q3
- 16.53%
- Median
- 5.38%
- Q1
- -13.43%
- Min
- -55.27%
PANW
Software & Services industry group
4.83%
- Max
- 53.38%
- Q3
- 16.53%
- Median
- 5.38%
- PANW
- 4.83%
- Q1
- -13.43%
- Min
- -55.27%
Net Margin (TTM)
AppLovin (APP) at 64.29% converts revenue to bottom-line profit above its industry’s benchmark range, while Palo Alto Networks (PANW) at 7.95% keeps roughly the typical share for its industry.
APP
Software & Services industry group
64.29%
- APP
- 64.29%
- Max
- 44.20%
- Q3
- 14.93%
- Median
- 3.32%
- Q1
- -5.99%
- Min
- -34.99%
PANW
Software & Services industry group
7.95%
- Max
- 44.20%
- Q3
- 14.93%
- PANW
- 7.95%
- Median
- 3.32%
- Q1
- -5.99%
- Min
- -34.99%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Palo Alto Networks (PANW) reports a negative operating margin of -2.47%, usually indicating that operating costs exceeded revenue at the operating-income line. Meanwhile AppLovin (APP) reports 78.15%, ranking against industry peers normally.
APP
Software & Services industry group
78.15%
- APP
- 78.15%
- Max
- 60.45%
- Q3
- 16.49%
- Median
- 4.46%
- Q1
- -12.92%
- Min
- -53.94%
PANW
Software & Services industry group
-2.47%
- Max
- 60.45%
- Q3
- 16.49%
- Median
- 4.46%
- PANW
- -2.47%
- Q1
- -12.92%
- Min
- -53.94%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | APP | PANW |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 266.44% | 4.83% |
| ROA (TTM) | 44.24% | 1.77% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 64.29% | 7.95% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 78.15% | -2.47% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 88.37% | 71.96% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Revenue Growth Metrics
| Metric | APP | PANW |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 69.99% | 14.87% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 24.84% | 18.79% |
EPS Growth
EPS Growth Metrics
| Metric | APP | PANW |
|---|---|---|
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 115.23% | -56.04% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -- | -- |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
AppLovin (APP) at 3.24 carries current ratio above its industry’s typical mid-range, while Palo Alto Networks (PANW) at 0.86 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — different working-capital profiles, both worth examining.
APP
Software & Services industry group
3.24
- Max
- 5.55
- APP
- 3.24
- Q3
- 2.88
- Median
- 1.72
- Q1
- 1.07
- Min
- 0.03
PANW
Software & Services industry group
0.86
- Max
- 5.55
- Q3
- 2.88
- Median
- 1.72
- Q1
- 1.07
- PANW
- 0.86
- Min
- 0.03
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Palo Alto Networks (PANW) at 0.08 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while AppLovin (APP) at 1.63 uses more debt funding than most peers.
APP
Software & Services industry group
1.63
- Max
- 2.31
- APP
- 1.63
- Q3
- 1.06
- Median
- 0.32
- Q1
- 0.06
- Min
- 0.00
PANW
Software & Services industry group
0.08
- Max
- 2.31
- Q3
- 1.06
- Median
- 0.32
- PANW
- 0.08
- Q1
- 0.06
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | APP | PANW |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 3.24 | 0.86 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 1.63 | 0.08 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 0.22 | -0.66 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Neither AppLovin (APP) nor Palo Alto Networks (PANW) pays a dividend this period — they may reinvest, use buybacks, or simply not return cash through dividends.
APP
Software & Services industry group
0.00%
- APP
- 0.00%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
PANW
Software & Services industry group
0.00%
- PANW
- 0.00%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Neither AppLovin (APP) nor Palo Alto Networks (PANW) pays a dividend this period — they may reinvest, use buybacks, or simply not return cash through dividends.
APP
Software & Services industry group
0.00%
- APP
- 0.00%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
PANW
Software & Services industry group
0.00%
- PANW
- 0.00%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | APP | PANW |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
AppLovin (APP) at 41.49 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Palo Alto Networks (PANW) at 266.84 sits above its peer range — an unusually expensive price for PANW’s trailing earnings.
APP
Software & Services industry group
41.49
- Max
- 114.57
- Q3
- 59.78
- APP
- 41.49
- Median
- 29.42
- Q1
- 16.20
- Min
- 0.40
PANW
Software & Services industry group
266.84
- PANW
- 266.84
- Max
- 114.57
- Q3
- 59.78
- Median
- 29.42
- Q1
- 16.20
- Min
- 0.40
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Investors are paying well above the peer range per dollar of sales for both AppLovin (APP) at 26.00 and Palo Alto Networks (PANW) at 23.37 — each P/S ratio clears its industry’s benchmark range.
APP
Software & Services industry group
26.00
- APP
- 26.00
- Max
- 17.86
- Q3
- 8.79
- Median
- 4.10
- Q1
- 2.13
- Min
- 0.03
PANW
Software & Services industry group
23.37
- PANW
- 23.37
- Max
- 17.86
- Q3
- 8.79
- Median
- 4.10
- Q1
- 2.13
- Min
- 0.03
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Both look rich against book: Palo Alto Networks (PANW) at 8.94 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and AppLovin (APP) at 67.88 prices even higher, above its industry range.
APP
Software & Services industry group
67.88
- APP
- 67.88
- Max
- 17.72
- Q3
- 8.62
- Median
- 3.82
- Q1
- 1.97
- Min
- -7.65
PANW
Software & Services industry group
8.94
- Max
- 17.72
- PANW
- 8.94
- Q3
- 8.62
- Median
- 3.82
- Q1
- 1.97
- Min
- -7.65
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | APP | PANW |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 41.49 | 266.84 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 26.00 | 23.37 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 67.88 | 8.94 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 1.98% | 1.44% |