PANW vs. PLTR: Palo Alto Networks vs. Palantir Stock Comparison
How do Palo Alto Networks (PANW) and Palantir (PLTR) 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
Palo Alto Networks (PANW) and Palantir (PLTR) both belong to the Software industry, though PANW is classified under Systems Software while PLTR falls under Application Software.
| Profile Item | PANW | PLTR |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Palo Alto Networks, Inc. | Palantir Technologies 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 | Application Software |
| Market Capitalization | 313.18 billion USD | 418.23 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | Nasdaq | Nasdaq |
| Listing Date | July 20, 2012 | September 30, 2020 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | PANW | PLTR |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 121.42% | -3.86% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 51.89% | 122.88% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 43.87% | 47.53% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | PANW | PLTR |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 41.44% | 60.53% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.92 | 1.64 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -36.01% | -79.14% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 7.69M | 42.99M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | PANW | PLTR |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 2.83 | -0.13 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 4.50 | -0.20 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Palantir (PLTR) at 38.10% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Palo Alto Networks (PANW) at 4.83% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for PLTR.
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%
PLTR
Software & Services industry group
38.10%
- Max
- 62.27%
- PLTR
- 38.10%
- Q3
- 16.91%
- Median
- 5.27%
- Q1
- -13.73%
- Min
- -54.87%
Net Margin (TTM)
Palantir (PLTR) at 49.01% converts revenue to bottom-line profit above its industry’s benchmark range, while Palo Alto Networks (PANW) at 7.95% keeps roughly the typical share for its industry.
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%
PLTR
Software & Services industry group
49.01%
- PLTR
- 49.01%
- Max
- 41.99%
- Q3
- 15.18%
- Median
- 3.79%
- Q1
- -5.84%
- Min
- -30.39%
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 Palantir (PLTR) reports 47.12%, ranking against industry peers normally.
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%
PLTR
Software & Services industry group
47.12%
- PLTR
- 47.12%
- Max
- 47.12%
- Q3
- 15.23%
- Median
- 4.59%
- Q1
- -6.33%
- Min
- -32.77%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | PANW | PLTR |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 4.83% | 38.10% |
| ROA (TTM) | 1.77% | 17.29% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 7.95% | 49.01% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | -2.47% | 47.12% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 71.96% | 84.80% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Palantir (PLTR) at 56.18% clears its industry range for revenue growth, far stronger top-line momentum than Palo Alto Networks (PANW) at 14.87%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.
EPS Growth
Palantir (PLTR) at 231.06% delivers above-range EPS growth, while Palo Alto Networks (PANW) at -56.04% falls into the bottom quartile — a wide split in earnings momentum.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | PANW | PLTR |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 14.87% | 56.18% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 18.79% | 32.92% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -56.04% | 231.06% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -- | -- |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Palantir (PLTR) at 7.23 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.
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
PLTR
Software & Services industry group
7.23
- PLTR
- 7.23
- Max
- 5.39
- Q3
- 2.79
- Median
- 1.63
- Q1
- 1.03
- Min
- 0.03
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Palantir (PLTR) at 0.02 keeps leverage in the lower industry quartile, while Palo Alto Networks (PANW) at 0.08 runs a more typical debt-to-equity mix.
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
PLTR
Software & Services industry group
0.02
- Max
- 2.42
- Q3
- 1.07
- Median
- 0.33
- Q1
- 0.06
- PLTR
- 0.02
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | PANW | PLTR |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 0.86 | 7.23 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.08 | 0.02 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -0.66 | -3.45 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Neither Palo Alto Networks (PANW) nor Palantir (PLTR) pays a dividend this period — they may reinvest, use buybacks, or simply not return cash through dividends.
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%
PLTR
Software & Services industry group
0.00%
- PLTR
- 0.00%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Neither Palo Alto Networks (PANW) nor Palantir (PLTR) pays a dividend this period — they may reinvest, use buybacks, or simply not return cash through dividends.
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%
PLTR
Software & Services industry group
0.00%
- PLTR
- 0.00%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | PANW | PLTR |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both Palo Alto Networks (PANW) at 334.15 and Palantir (PLTR) at 148.75 trade above their industries’ P/E ratio peer ranges, pointing to unusually expensive trailing earnings relative to peers.
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
PLTR
Software & Services industry group
148.75
- PLTR
- 148.75
- Max
- 107.17
- Q3
- 61.33
- Median
- 34.31
- Q1
- 16.59
- Min
- 0.39
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Investors are paying well above the peer range per dollar of sales for both Palo Alto Networks (PANW) at 29.53 and Palantir (PLTR) at 67.94 — each P/S ratio clears its industry’s benchmark range.
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
PLTR
Software & Services industry group
67.94
- PLTR
- 67.94
- Max
- 21.27
- Q3
- 10.17
- Median
- 4.61
- Q1
- 2.41
- Min
- 0.02
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Both look rich against book: Palo Alto Networks (PANW) at 11.29 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and Palantir (PLTR) at 42.78 prices even higher, above its industry range.
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
PLTR
Software & Services industry group
42.78
- PLTR
- 42.78
- Max
- 21.34
- Q3
- 9.85
- Median
- 4.58
- Q1
- 2.15
- Min
- -8.85
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | PANW | PLTR |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 334.15 | 148.75 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 29.53 | 67.94 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 11.29 | 42.78 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 1.14% | 0.52% |