CRWD vs. PANW: CrowdStrike vs. Palo Alto Networks Stock Comparison
How do CrowdStrike (CRWD) 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
CrowdStrike (CRWD) and Palo Alto Networks (PANW) are both classified in the Systems Software sub-industry within the broader Software industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.
| Profile Item | CRWD | PANW |
|---|---|---|
| Name | CrowdStrike Holdings, 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 | Systems Software | Systems Software |
| Market Capitalization | 218.34 billion USD | 296.55 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | Nasdaq | Nasdaq |
| Listing Date | June 12, 2019 | July 20, 2012 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | CRWD | PANW |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 101.81% | 116.45% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 78.43% | 50.09% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 26.89% | 41.39% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | CRWD | PANW |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 47.87% | 41.15% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.25 | 0.90 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -67.69% | -36.01% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 11.91M | 8.05M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | CRWD | PANW |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 2.04 | 2.73 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 3.24 | 4.32 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
CrowdStrike (CRWD) reports a negative ROE of -0.25%; negative ROE can reflect losses or negative shareholders’ equity, so it is harder to read as capital efficiency. Meanwhile Palo Alto Networks (PANW) reports 4.83%, ranking against industry peers normally.
CRWD
Software & Services industry group
-0.25%
- Max
- 62.95%
- Q3
- 17.89%
- Median
- 5.58%
- CRWD
- -0.25%
- Q1
- -13.18%
- Min
- -54.94%
PANW
Software & Services industry group
4.83%
- Max
- 62.95%
- Q3
- 17.89%
- Median
- 5.58%
- PANW
- 4.83%
- Q1
- -13.18%
- Min
- -54.94%
Net Margin (TTM)
CrowdStrike (CRWD) reports a negative net margin of -0.60%, usually indicating a net loss over the period. Meanwhile Palo Alto Networks (PANW) reports 7.95%, ranking against industry peers normally.
CRWD
Software & Services industry group
-0.60%
- Max
- 41.99%
- Q3
- 14.87%
- Median
- 4.36%
- CRWD
- -0.60%
- Q1
- -4.64%
- Min
- -30.39%
PANW
Software & Services industry group
7.95%
- Max
- 41.99%
- Q3
- 14.87%
- PANW
- 7.95%
- Median
- 4.36%
- Q1
- -4.64%
- Min
- -30.39%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both CrowdStrike (CRWD) at -2.21% and Palo Alto Networks (PANW) at -2.47% report negative operating margin values, usually indicating operating losses over the period.
CRWD
Software & Services industry group
-2.21%
- Max
- 47.12%
- Q3
- 15.75%
- Median
- 4.88%
- CRWD
- -2.21%
- Q1
- -7.54%
- Min
- -38.00%
PANW
Software & Services industry group
-2.47%
- Max
- 47.12%
- Q3
- 15.75%
- Median
- 4.88%
- PANW
- -2.47%
- Q1
- -7.54%
- Min
- -38.00%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | CRWD | PANW |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | -0.25% | 4.83% |
| ROA (TTM) | -1.00% | 1.77% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | -0.60% | 7.95% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | -2.21% | -2.47% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 75.14% | 71.96% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both CrowdStrike (CRWD) at 21.71% and Palo Alto Networks (PANW) at 14.87% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
EPS Growth
Only one side can be read here: Palo Alto Networks (PANW) reports EPS growth of -56.04%, ranked against its industry; CrowdStrike (CRWD) has no EPS growth figure this period.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | CRWD | PANW |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 21.71% | 14.87% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 29.01% | 18.79% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -- | -56.04% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -- | -- |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
CrowdStrike (CRWD) at 1.53 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Palo Alto Networks (PANW) at 0.86 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for PANW.
CRWD
Software & Services industry group
1.53
- Max
- 5.55
- Q3
- 2.88
- Median
- 1.68
- CRWD
- 1.53
- Q1
- 1.03
- Min
- 0.03
PANW
Software & Services industry group
0.86
- Max
- 5.55
- Q3
- 2.88
- Median
- 1.68
- Q1
- 1.03
- PANW
- 0.86
- Min
- 0.03
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Both CrowdStrike (CRWD) at 0.18 and Palo Alto Networks (PANW) at 0.08 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.
CRWD
Software & Services industry group
0.18
- Max
- 2.62
- Q3
- 1.15
- Median
- 0.33
- CRWD
- 0.18
- Q1
- 0.06
- Min
- 0.00
PANW
Software & Services industry group
0.08
- Max
- 2.62
- Q3
- 1.15
- Median
- 0.33
- PANW
- 0.08
- Q1
- 0.06
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | CRWD | PANW |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.53 | 0.86 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.18 | 0.08 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -62.90 | -0.66 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Neither CrowdStrike (CRWD) nor Palo Alto Networks (PANW) pays a dividend this period — they may reinvest, use buybacks, or simply not return cash through dividends.
CRWD
Software & Services industry group
0.00%
- CRWD
- 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 CrowdStrike (CRWD) nor Palo Alto Networks (PANW) pays a dividend this period — they may reinvest, use buybacks, or simply not return cash through dividends.
CRWD
Software & Services industry group
0.00%
- CRWD
- 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 | CRWD | PANW |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
An earnings multiple is available for just one side: Palo Alto Networks (PANW) trades at 313.67 times trailing earnings, ranked against its peers, while CrowdStrike (CRWD) has no P/E ratio this period.
CRWD
Software & Services industry group
--
- Max
- 133.34
- Q3
- 65.90
- Median
- 34.61
- Q1
- 17.12
- Min
- 0.37
- CRWD
- --
PANW
Software & Services industry group
313.67
- PANW
- 313.67
- Max
- 133.34
- Q3
- 65.90
- Median
- 34.61
- Q1
- 17.12
- Min
- 0.37
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Investors are paying well above the peer range per dollar of sales for both CrowdStrike (CRWD) at 42.86 and Palo Alto Networks (PANW) at 27.96 — each P/S ratio clears its industry’s benchmark range.
CRWD
Software & Services industry group
42.86
- CRWD
- 42.86
- Max
- 19.74
- Q3
- 9.68
- Median
- 4.31
- Q1
- 2.31
- Min
- 0.02
PANW
Software & Services industry group
27.96
- PANW
- 27.96
- Max
- 19.74
- Q3
- 9.68
- Median
- 4.31
- Q1
- 2.31
- Min
- 0.02
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Both look rich against book: Palo Alto Networks (PANW) at 10.69 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and CrowdStrike (CRWD) at 47.11 prices even higher, above its industry range.
CRWD
Software & Services industry group
47.11
- CRWD
- 47.11
- Max
- 19.84
- Q3
- 9.14
- Median
- 4.33
- Q1
- 2.00
- Min
- -8.65
PANW
Software & Services industry group
10.69
- Max
- 19.84
- PANW
- 10.69
- Q3
- 9.14
- Median
- 4.33
- Q1
- 2.00
- Min
- -8.65
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | CRWD | PANW |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | -- | 313.67 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 42.86 | 27.96 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 47.11 | 10.69 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 0.88% | 1.21% |