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ORCL vs. PANW: Oracle vs. Palo Alto Networks Stock Comparison

How do Oracle (ORCL) 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

Oracle (ORCL) 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.

Company profile comparison for Oracle (ORCL) and Palo Alto Networks (PANW)
Profile ItemORCLPANW
NameOracle CorporationPalo Alto Networks, Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorInformation TechnologyInformation Technology
GICS Industry GroupSoftware & ServicesSoftware & Services
GICS IndustrySoftwareSoftware
GICS Sub-IndustrySystems SoftwareSystems Software
Market Capitalization433.57 billion USD313.18 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENasdaq
Listing DateMarch 12, 1986July 20, 2012
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

ORCL
PANW
GSPC
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Oracle (ORCL) vs. Palo Alto Networks (PANW), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for Oracle (ORCL) and Palo Alto Networks (PANW). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Oracle (ORCL) and Palo Alto Networks (PANW). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Oracle (ORCL) and Palo Alto Networks (PANW)
MetricORCLPANW
Total Return (1Y)-37.85%121.42%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)10.50%51.89%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)12.24%43.87%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

ORCL
PANW
GSPC
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Oracle (ORCL) vs. Palo Alto Networks (PANW), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for Oracle (ORCL) and Palo Alto Networks (PANW). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Oracle (ORCL) and Palo Alto Networks (PANW)
MetricORCLPANW
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)67.40%41.44%
Beta (5Y)1.750.92
Max Drawdown (5Y)-64.58%-36.01%
Avg. Volume (3M)31.75M7.69M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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ORCL and PANW are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Oracle (ORCL) and Palo Alto Networks (PANW)
MetricORCLPANW
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.622.83
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-1.034.50

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Oracle (ORCL) at 53.38% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Palo Alto Networks (PANW) at 4.83% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for ORCL.

ORCL

Software & Services industry group

53.38%

Max
62.27%
ORCL
53.38%
Q3
16.91%
Median
5.27%
Q1
-13.73%
Min
-54.87%

PANW

Software & Services industry group

4.83%

Max
62.27%
Q3
16.91%
Median
5.27%
PANW
4.83%
Q1
-13.73%
Min
-54.87%
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Oracle (ORCL) vs. Palo Alto Networks (PANW): A comparison of their ROE against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Oracle (ORCL) at 25.37% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Palo Alto Networks (PANW) at 7.95%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

ORCL

Software & Services industry group

25.37%

Max
41.99%
ORCL
25.37%
Q3
15.18%
Median
3.79%
Q1
-5.84%
Min
-30.39%

PANW

Software & Services industry group

7.95%

Max
41.99%
Q3
15.18%
PANW
7.95%
Median
3.79%
Q1
-5.84%
Min
-30.39%
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Oracle (ORCL) vs. Palo Alto Networks (PANW): A comparison of their net margin against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

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 Oracle (ORCL) reports 36.20%, ranking against industry peers normally.

ORCL

Software & Services industry group

36.20%

Max
47.12%
ORCL
36.20%
Q3
15.23%
Median
4.59%
Q1
-6.33%
Min
-32.77%

PANW

Software & Services industry group

-2.47%

Max
47.12%
Q3
15.23%
Median
4.59%
PANW
-2.47%
Q1
-6.33%
Min
-32.77%
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Oracle (ORCL) vs. Palo Alto Networks (PANW): A comparison of their operating margin against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Oracle (ORCL) and Palo Alto Networks (PANW)
MetricORCLPANW
ROE (TTM)53.38%4.83%
ROA (TTM)6.51%1.77%
Net Margin (TTM)25.37%7.95%
Operating Margin (TTM)36.20%-2.47%
Gross Margin (TTM)65.82%71.96%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Oracle (ORCL) at 17.35% 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.

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Oracle (ORCL) vs. Palo Alto Networks (PANW): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Oracle (ORCL) at 34.33% is around its peer norm for EPS growth, while Palo Alto Networks (PANW) at -56.04% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker earnings momentum.

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Oracle (ORCL) vs. Palo Alto Networks (PANW): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Oracle (ORCL) and Palo Alto Networks (PANW)
MetricORCLPANW
Revenue Growth (YoY)17.35%14.87%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)10.48%18.79%
EPS Growth (YoY)34.33%-56.04%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)23.84%--

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Oracle (ORCL) at 1.12 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.

ORCL

Software & Services industry group

1.12

Max
5.39
Q3
2.79
Median
1.63
ORCL
1.12
Q1
1.03
Min
0.03

PANW

Software & Services industry group

0.86

Max
5.39
Q3
2.79
Median
1.63
Q1
1.03
PANW
0.86
Min
0.03
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Oracle (ORCL) vs. Palo Alto Networks (PANW): A comparison of their current ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Palo Alto Networks (PANW) at 0.08 is near its industry mid-range for debt-to-equity ratio, while Oracle (ORCL) at 3.89 sits above its benchmark range, pointing to a heavier debt load relative to equity.

ORCL

Software & Services industry group

3.89

ORCL
3.89
Max
2.42
Q3
1.07
Median
0.33
Q1
0.06
Min
0.00

PANW

Software & Services industry group

0.08

Max
2.42
Q3
1.07
Median
0.33
PANW
0.08
Q1
0.06
Min
0.00
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Oracle (ORCL) vs. Palo Alto Networks (PANW): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Oracle (ORCL) and Palo Alto Networks (PANW)
MetricORCLPANW
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.120.86
Debt / Equity (MRQ)3.890.08
Net Debt / EBITDA4.44-0.66

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 Oracle (ORCL) reports a yield of 1.28%, ranking against industry peers normally.

ORCL

Software & Services industry group

1.28%

ORCL
1.28%
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%
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Oracle (ORCL) vs. Palo Alto Networks (PANW): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

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 Oracle (ORCL) reports a payout of 34.31%, ranking against industry peers normally.

ORCL

Software & Services industry group

34.31%

ORCL
34.31%
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%
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Oracle (ORCL) vs. Palo Alto Networks (PANW): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Oracle (ORCL) and Palo Alto Networks (PANW)
MetricORCLPANW
Dividend Yield (TTM)1.28%0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)34.31%0.00%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Oracle (ORCL) at 25.82 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Palo Alto Networks (PANW) at 334.15 sits above its peer range — an unusually expensive price for PANW’s trailing earnings.

ORCL

Software & Services industry group

25.82

Max
107.17
Q3
61.33
Median
34.31
ORCL
25.82
Q1
16.59
Min
0.39

PANW

Software & Services industry group

334.15

PANW
334.15
Max
107.17
Q3
61.33
Median
34.31
Q1
16.59
Min
0.39
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Oracle (ORCL) vs. Palo Alto Networks (PANW): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Oracle (ORCL) at 6.44 prices around its industry’s typical P/S ratio, while Palo Alto Networks (PANW) at 29.53 clears its benchmark range — PANW looks notably rich on sales.

ORCL

Software & Services industry group

6.44

Max
21.27
Q3
10.17
ORCL
6.44
Median
4.61
Q1
2.41
Min
0.02

PANW

Software & Services industry group

29.53

PANW
29.53
Max
21.27
Q3
10.17
Median
4.61
Q1
2.41
Min
0.02
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Oracle (ORCL) vs. Palo Alto Networks (PANW): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Both Oracle (ORCL) at 11.54 and Palo Alto Networks (PANW) at 11.29 carry a premium to book value versus peers, sitting in the upper P/B ratio quartile of their industries.

ORCL

Software & Services industry group

11.54

Max
21.34
ORCL
11.54
Q3
9.85
Median
4.58
Q1
2.15
Min
-8.85

PANW

Software & Services industry group

11.29

Max
21.34
PANW
11.29
Q3
9.85
Median
4.58
Q1
2.15
Min
-8.85
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Oracle (ORCL) vs. Palo Alto Networks (PANW): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Oracle (ORCL) and Palo Alto Networks (PANW)
MetricORCLPANW
P/E Ratio (TTM)25.82334.15
P/S Ratio (TTM)6.4429.53
P/B Ratio (MRQ)11.5411.29
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)-5.66%1.14%