CRCL vs. PANW: Circle Internet vs. Palo Alto Networks Stock Comparison

Company Profile

Circle Internet (CRCL) and Palo Alto Networks (PANW) both belong to the Software industry, though CRCL is classified under Application Software while PANW falls under Systems Software.

Palo Alto Networks (PANW) has been public since July 20, 2012, giving it a longer listed trading history, while Circle Internet (CRCL) listed on June 5, 2025 and still has a shorter public-market record.

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

Trailing Returns

Calendar-Year Returns

Performance Metrics

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

Return Distribution

Risk Metrics

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Profitability

Both Circle Internet (CRCL) at 13.44% and Palo Alto Networks (PANW) at 1.74% land near their industries’ usual ROE ranges, so capital efficiency looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Both Circle Internet (CRCL) at 15.28% and Palo Alto Networks (PANW) at 2.67% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.

Circle Internet (CRCL) at 24.09% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Palo Alto Networks (PANW) at 5.40%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

Profitability Metrics

Growth

Circle Internet (CRCL) at 63.86% clears its industry range for revenue growth, far stronger top-line momentum than Palo Alto Networks (PANW) at 24.50%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.

Neither side shows strong earnings momentum: Palo Alto Networks (PANW) at -75.00% sits in the bottom EPS growth quartile, and Circle Internet (CRCL) at -640.54% is weaker still, below its industry range.

Growth Metrics

Financial Strength

Circle Internet (CRCL) at 1.04 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Palo Alto Networks (PANW) at 0.87 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for PANW.

Circle Internet (CRCL) at 0.00 keeps leverage in the lower industry quartile, while Palo Alto Networks (PANW) at 0.09 runs a more typical debt-to-equity mix.

Financial Strength Metrics

Dividends

Neither Circle Internet (CRCL) nor Palo Alto Networks (PANW) pays a dividend this period — they may reinvest, use buybacks, or simply not return cash through dividends.

Neither Circle Internet (CRCL) nor Palo Alto Networks (PANW) pays a dividend this period — they may reinvest, use buybacks, or simply not return cash through dividends.

Dividend Metrics

Valuation

Circle Internet (CRCL) at 40.89 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Palo Alto Networks (PANW) at 784.60 sits above its peer range — an unusually expensive price for PANW’s trailing earnings.

Circle Internet (CRCL) at 5.75 prices around its industry’s typical P/S ratio, while Palo Alto Networks (PANW) at 22.37 clears its benchmark range — PANW looks notably rich on sales.

Circle Internet (CRCL) at 4.50 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while Palo Alto Networks (PANW) at 9.30 carries an above-peer premium to book — PANW is pricier on assets.

Valuation Metrics