MSTR vs. PANW: Strategy vs. Palo Alto Networks Stock Comparison
How do Strategy (MSTR) 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
Strategy (MSTR) and Palo Alto Networks (PANW) both belong to the Software industry, though MSTR is classified under Application Software while PANW falls under Systems Software.
| Profile Item | MSTR | PANW |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Strategy 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 | 29.45 billion USD | 247.92 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | Nasdaq | Nasdaq |
| Listing Date | June 11, 1998 | July 20, 2012 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | MSTR | PANW |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | -78.70% | 50.34% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Strategy (MSTR) carries a highly aggressive beta of 3.60, 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 | MSTR | PANW |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 73.18% | 39.30% |
| Beta (5Y) | 3.60 | 0.91 |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 19.82M | 8.29M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Strategy (MSTR) reports a negative ROE of -30.76%; 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.
MSTR
Software & Services industry group
-30.76%
- Max
- 53.38%
- Q3
- 16.53%
- Median
- 5.38%
- Q1
- -13.43%
- MSTR
- -30.76%
- 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)
Both Strategy (MSTR) at 0.00% and Palo Alto Networks (PANW) at 7.95% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.
MSTR
Software & Services industry group
0.00%
- Max
- 44.20%
- Q3
- 14.93%
- Median
- 3.32%
- MSTR
- 0.00%
- 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)
Both Strategy (MSTR) at -11,641.53% and Palo Alto Networks (PANW) at -2.47% report negative operating margin values, usually indicating operating losses over the period.
MSTR
Software & Services industry group
-11,641.53%
- Max
- 60.45%
- Q3
- 16.49%
- Median
- 4.46%
- Q1
- -12.92%
- Min
- -53.94%
- MSTR
- -11,641.53%
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 | MSTR | PANW |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | -30.76% | 4.83% |
| ROA (TTM) | -17.81% | 1.77% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 0.00% | 7.95% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | -11,641.53% | -2.47% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 68.11% | 71.96% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Revenue Growth Metrics
| Metric | MSTR | PANW |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 2.97% | 14.87% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | -1.49% | 18.79% |
EPS Growth
EPS Growth Metrics
| Metric | MSTR | PANW |
|---|---|---|
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -- | -56.04% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -- | -- |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Strategy (MSTR) at 6.05 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.
MSTR
Software & Services industry group
6.05
- MSTR
- 6.05
- Max
- 5.55
- 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)
Both Strategy (MSTR) at 0.18 and Palo Alto Networks (PANW) at 0.08 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.
MSTR
Software & Services industry group
0.18
- Max
- 2.31
- Q3
- 1.06
- Median
- 0.32
- MSTR
- 0.18
- 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 | MSTR | PANW |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 6.05 | 0.86 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.18 | 0.08 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -- | -0.66 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Neither Strategy (MSTR) nor Palo Alto Networks (PANW) pays a dividend this period — they may reinvest, use buybacks, or simply not return cash through dividends.
MSTR
Software & Services industry group
0.00%
- MSTR
- 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 Strategy (MSTR) nor Palo Alto Networks (PANW) pays a dividend this period — they may reinvest, use buybacks, or simply not return cash through dividends.
MSTR
Software & Services industry group
0.00%
- MSTR
- 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 | MSTR | 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 266.84 times trailing earnings, ranked against its peers, while Strategy (MSTR) has no P/E ratio this period.
MSTR
Software & Services industry group
--
- Max
- 114.57
- Q3
- 59.78
- Median
- 29.42
- Q1
- 16.20
- Min
- 0.40
- MSTR
- --
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 Strategy (MSTR) at 60.04 and Palo Alto Networks (PANW) at 23.37 — each P/S ratio clears its industry’s benchmark range.
MSTR
Software & Services industry group
60.04
- MSTR
- 60.04
- 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)
Strategy (MSTR) at 0.78 looks cheap against book in the lower P/B ratio quartile, while Palo Alto Networks (PANW) at 8.94 carries a premium in the upper quartile — a clear price-to-book gap.
MSTR
Software & Services industry group
0.78
- Max
- 17.72
- Q3
- 8.62
- Median
- 3.82
- Q1
- 1.97
- MSTR
- 0.78
- 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 | MSTR | PANW |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | -- | 266.84 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 60.04 | 23.37 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 0.78 | 8.94 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -29.54% | 1.44% |