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 | 277.93 billion USD | 279.69 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
Performance Metrics
| Metric | PANW | PLTR |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 66.64% | -14.41% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Risk Metrics
| Metric | PANW | PLTR |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 40.33% | 51.16% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.91 | 1.56 |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 8.32M | 44.95M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Palantir (PLTR) at 32.59% 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
- 53.38%
- Q3
- 16.53%
- Median
- 5.38%
- PANW
- 4.83%
- Q1
- -13.43%
- Min
- -55.27%
PLTR
Software & Services industry group
32.59%
- Max
- 53.38%
- PLTR
- 32.59%
- Q3
- 16.53%
- Median
- 5.38%
- Q1
- -13.43%
- Min
- -55.27%
Net Margin (TTM)
Palantir (PLTR) at 43.67% 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.
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%
PLTR
Software & Services industry group
43.67%
- Max
- 44.20%
- PLTR
- 43.67%
- Q3
- 14.93%
- Median
- 3.32%
- Q1
- -5.99%
- Min
- -34.99%
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 46.18%, ranking against industry peers normally.
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%
PLTR
Software & Services industry group
46.18%
- Max
- 60.45%
- PLTR
- 46.18%
- Q3
- 16.49%
- Median
- 4.46%
- Q1
- -12.92%
- Min
- -53.94%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | PANW | PLTR |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 4.83% | 32.59% |
| ROA (TTM) | 1.77% | 14.70% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 7.95% | 43.67% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | -2.47% | 46.18% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 71.96% | 84.07% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Revenue Growth Metrics
| Metric | PANW | PLTR |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 14.87% | 56.18% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 18.79% | 32.92% |
EPS Growth
EPS Growth Metrics
| Metric | PANW | PLTR |
|---|---|---|
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -56.04% | 231.06% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -- | -- |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Palantir (PLTR) at 6.91 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
- 5.55
- Q3
- 2.88
- Median
- 1.72
- Q1
- 1.07
- PANW
- 0.86
- Min
- 0.03
PLTR
Software & Services industry group
6.91
- PLTR
- 6.91
- Max
- 5.55
- Q3
- 2.88
- Median
- 1.72
- Q1
- 1.07
- 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
- 2.31
- Q3
- 1.06
- Median
- 0.32
- PANW
- 0.08
- Q1
- 0.06
- Min
- 0.00
PLTR
Software & Services industry group
0.02
- Max
- 2.31
- Q3
- 1.06
- Median
- 0.32
- Q1
- 0.06
- PLTR
- 0.02
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | PANW | PLTR |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 0.86 | 6.91 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.08 | 0.02 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -0.66 | -3.87 |
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 293.98 and Palantir (PLTR) at 131.09 trade above their industries’ P/E ratio peer ranges, pointing to unusually expensive trailing earnings relative to peers.
PANW
Software & Services industry group
293.98
- PANW
- 293.98
- Max
- 126.50
- Q3
- 60.82
- Median
- 30.49
- Q1
- 16.22
- Min
- 0.41
PLTR
Software & Services industry group
131.09
- PLTR
- 131.09
- Max
- 126.50
- Q3
- 60.82
- Median
- 30.49
- Q1
- 16.22
- Min
- 0.41
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Investors are paying well above the peer range per dollar of sales for both Palo Alto Networks (PANW) at 26.20 and Palantir (PLTR) at 53.54 — each P/S ratio clears its industry’s benchmark range.
PANW
Software & Services industry group
26.20
- PANW
- 26.20
- Max
- 18.72
- Q3
- 8.93
- Median
- 4.21
- Q1
- 2.14
- Min
- 0.02
PLTR
Software & Services industry group
53.54
- PLTR
- 53.54
- Max
- 18.72
- Q3
- 8.93
- Median
- 4.21
- Q1
- 2.14
- Min
- 0.02
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Both look rich against book: Palo Alto Networks (PANW) at 10.02 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and Palantir (PLTR) at 33.10 prices even higher, above its industry range.
PANW
Software & Services industry group
10.02
- Max
- 18.46
- PANW
- 10.02
- Q3
- 8.62
- Median
- 4.00
- Q1
- 1.94
- Min
- -7.57
PLTR
Software & Services industry group
33.10
- PLTR
- 33.10
- Max
- 18.46
- Q3
- 8.62
- Median
- 4.00
- Q1
- 1.94
- Min
- -7.57
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | PANW | PLTR |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 293.98 | 131.09 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 26.20 | 53.54 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 10.02 | 33.10 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 1.29% | 0.63% |