CRM vs. PANW: Salesforce vs. Palo Alto Networks Stock Comparison
How do Salesforce (CRM) 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
Salesforce (CRM) and Palo Alto Networks (PANW) both belong to the Software industry, though CRM is classified under Application Software while PANW falls under Systems Software.
| Profile Item | CRM | PANW |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Salesforce, Inc. | 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 | 175.83 billion USD | 256.86 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | Nasdaq |
| Listing Date | June 23, 2004 | July 20, 2012 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | CRM | PANW |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | -9.04% | 53.99% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 1.64% | 39.16% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | -6.57% | 30.80% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | CRM | PANW |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 47.53% | 51.34% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.24 | 1.00 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -58.67% | -36.01% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 11.36M | 6.03M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | CRM | PANW |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | -0.28 | 0.97 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | -0.45 | 1.49 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Salesforce (CRM) at 19.38% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Palo Alto Networks (PANW) at 1.74% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for CRM.
CRM
Software & Services industry group
19.38%
- Max
- 53.85%
- CRM
- 19.38%
- Q3
- 17.90%
- Median
- 6.59%
- Q1
- -9.59%
- Min
- -50.52%
PANW
Software & Services industry group
1.74%
- Max
- 53.85%
- Q3
- 17.90%
- Median
- 6.59%
- PANW
- 1.74%
- Q1
- -9.59%
- Min
- -50.52%
Net Margin (TTM)
Salesforce (CRM) at 21.99% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Palo Alto Networks (PANW) at 2.67%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.
CRM
Software & Services industry group
21.99%
- Max
- 41.17%
- CRM
- 21.99%
- Q3
- 15.28%
- Median
- 4.63%
- Q1
- -5.42%
- Min
- -33.17%
PANW
Software & Services industry group
2.67%
- Max
- 41.17%
- Q3
- 15.28%
- Median
- 4.63%
- PANW
- 2.67%
- Q1
- -5.42%
- Min
- -33.17%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Salesforce (CRM) at 21.38% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Palo Alto Networks (PANW) at 5.40%, which runs around its industry’s norm.
CRM
Software & Services industry group
21.38%
- Max
- 46.89%
- CRM
- 21.38%
- Q3
- 17.64%
- Median
- 8.73%
- Q1
- -2.13%
- Min
- -30.45%
PANW
Software & Services industry group
5.40%
- Max
- 46.89%
- Q3
- 17.64%
- Median
- 8.73%
- PANW
- 5.40%
- Q1
- -2.13%
- Min
- -30.45%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | CRM | PANW |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 19.38% | 1.74% |
| ROA (TTM) | 5.70% | 1.40% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 21.99% | 2.67% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 21.38% | 5.40% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 77.28% | 70.38% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both Salesforce (CRM) at 9.58% and Palo Alto Networks (PANW) at 24.50% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
EPS Growth
Salesforce (CRM) at 22.64% is around its peer norm for EPS growth, while Palo Alto Networks (PANW) at -75.00% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker earnings momentum.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | CRM | PANW |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 9.58% | 24.50% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 9.82% | 18.54% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 22.64% | -75.00% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 233.65% | -14.50% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Both Salesforce (CRM) at 0.84 and Palo Alto Networks (PANW) at 0.87 run current ratio in the tighter-liquidity quartile of industry peers, leaving thinner cushions against current liabilities than typical competitors.
CRM
Software & Services industry group
0.84
- Max
- 5.11
- Q3
- 2.77
- Median
- 1.67
- Q1
- 1.01
- CRM
- 0.84
- Min
- 0.03
PANW
Software & Services industry group
0.87
- Max
- 5.11
- Q3
- 2.77
- Median
- 1.67
- Q1
- 1.01
- PANW
- 0.87
- Min
- 0.03
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Both Salesforce (CRM) at 1.10 and Palo Alto Networks (PANW) at 0.09 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.
CRM
Software & Services industry group
1.10
- Max
- 2.52
- Q3
- 1.13
- CRM
- 1.10
- Median
- 0.40
- Q1
- 0.07
- Min
- 0.00
PANW
Software & Services industry group
0.09
- Max
- 2.52
- Q3
- 1.13
- Median
- 0.40
- PANW
- 0.09
- Q1
- 0.07
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | CRM | PANW |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 0.84 | 0.87 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 1.10 | 0.09 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 2.40 | -0.32 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Palo Alto Networks (PANW) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Salesforce (CRM) reports a yield of 0.77%, ranking against industry peers normally.
CRM
Software & Services industry group
0.77%
- CRM
- 0.77%
- 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)
Palo Alto Networks (PANW) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Salesforce (CRM) reports a payout of 15.66%, ranking against industry peers normally.
CRM
Software & Services industry group
15.66%
- CRM
- 15.66%
- 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 | CRM | PANW |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.77% | 0.00% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 15.66% | 0.00% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Salesforce (CRM) at 19.55 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.
CRM
Software & Services industry group
19.55
- Max
- 112.94
- Q3
- 60.32
- Median
- 32.91
- CRM
- 19.55
- Q1
- 18.77
- Min
- 6.69
PANW
Software & Services industry group
784.60
- PANW
- 784.60
- Max
- 112.94
- Q3
- 60.32
- Median
- 32.91
- Q1
- 18.77
- Min
- 6.69
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Salesforce (CRM) at 4.00 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.
CRM
Software & Services industry group
4.00
- Max
- 17.91
- Q3
- 8.78
- Median
- 4.25
- CRM
- 4.00
- Q1
- 2.23
- Min
- 0.02
PANW
Software & Services industry group
22.37
- PANW
- 22.37
- Max
- 17.91
- Q3
- 8.78
- Median
- 4.25
- Q1
- 2.23
- Min
- 0.02
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Salesforce (CRM) at 4.58 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.
CRM
Software & Services industry group
4.58
- Max
- 16.63
- Q3
- 8.50
- CRM
- 4.58
- Median
- 4.30
- Q1
- 1.92
- Min
- -3.90
PANW
Software & Services industry group
9.30
- Max
- 16.63
- PANW
- 9.30
- Q3
- 8.50
- Median
- 4.30
- Q1
- 1.92
- Min
- -3.90
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | CRM | PANW |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 19.55 | 784.60 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 4.00 | 22.37 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 4.58 | 9.30 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 10.08% | 1.65% |