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PANW vs. PS: Palo Alto Networks vs. Pershing Square Stock Comparison

How do Palo Alto Networks (PANW) and Pershing Square (PS) 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 Pershing Square (PS) both belong to the Software industry, though PANW is classified under Systems Software while PS falls under Application Software.

Palo Alto Networks (PANW) has been public since July 20, 2012 with a meaningfully longer listed history, while Pershing Square (PS) only listed on April 29, 2026 — long-window metrics on the PS side should be interpreted with caution.

Company profile comparison for Palo Alto Networks (PANW) and Pershing Square (PS)
Profile ItemPANWPS
NamePalo Alto Networks, Inc.Pluralsight Inc
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorInformation TechnologyInformation Technology
GICS Industry GroupSoftware & ServicesSoftware & Services
GICS IndustrySoftwareSoftware
GICS Sub-IndustrySystems SoftwareApplication Software
Market Capitalization256.86 billion USD20.58 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNasdaq
Listing DateJuly 20, 2012April 29, 2026
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

PANW
PS
GSPC
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Palo Alto Networks (PANW) vs. Pershing Square (PS), 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 Palo Alto Networks (PANW) and Pershing Square (PS). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Palo Alto Networks (PANW) and Pershing Square (PS)
MetricPANWPS
Total Return (1Y)53.99%--
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)39.16%--
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)30.80%--

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

PANW
PS
GSPC
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Palo Alto Networks (PANW) vs. Pershing Square (PS), 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 Palo Alto Networks (PANW) and Pershing Square (PS). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Pershing Square (PS) carries a highly aggressive beta of 6.25, indicating much higher sensitivity to broad-market moves, whereas Palo Alto Networks (PANW) is closer to market-like at 1.00 — a noticeable difference in market-sensitivity profile.

Risk profile metrics for Palo Alto Networks (PANW) and Pershing Square (PS)
MetricPANWPS
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)51.34%100.16%
Beta (5Y)1.006.25
Max Drawdown (5Y)-36.01%-43.14%
Avg. Volume (3M)6.03M428.47K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

Both PANW and PS need 1-year volatility and 1-year return to plot risk-return positioning.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Palo Alto Networks (PANW) and Pershing Square (PS)
MetricPANWPS
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.97--
Sortino Ratio (1Y)1.49--

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Capital efficiency shows on one side only: Palo Alto Networks (PANW) earns 1.74% on shareholders’ equity, ranked against its industry; Pershing Square (PS) has no ROE this period.

PANW

Software & Services industry group

1.74%

Max
53.85%
Q3
17.90%
Median
6.59%
PANW
1.74%
Q1
-9.59%
Min
-50.52%

PS

Software & Services industry group

--

Max
53.85%
Q3
17.90%
Median
6.59%
Q1
-9.59%
Min
-50.52%
PS
--
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Palo Alto Networks (PANW) vs. Pershing Square (PS): PS does not report ROE, so it has no value marker; PANW is benchmarked against the Software & Services industry group.

Net Margin (TTM)

Pershing Square (PS) reports a negative net margin of -20.98%, usually indicating a net loss over the period. Meanwhile Palo Alto Networks (PANW) reports 2.67%, ranking against industry peers normally.

PANW

Software & Services industry group

2.67%

Max
41.17%
Q3
15.28%
Median
4.63%
PANW
2.67%
Q1
-5.42%
Min
-33.17%

PS

Software & Services industry group

-20.98%

Max
41.17%
Q3
15.28%
Median
4.63%
Q1
-5.42%
PS
-20.98%
Min
-33.17%
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Palo Alto Networks (PANW) vs. Pershing Square (PS): A comparison of their net margin against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Pershing Square (PS) reports a negative operating margin of -35.45%, usually indicating that operating costs exceeded revenue at the operating-income line. Meanwhile Palo Alto Networks (PANW) reports 5.40%, ranking against industry peers normally.

PANW

Software & Services industry group

5.40%

Max
46.89%
Q3
17.64%
Median
8.73%
PANW
5.40%
Q1
-2.13%
Min
-30.45%

PS

Software & Services industry group

-35.45%

Max
46.89%
Q3
17.64%
Median
8.73%
Q1
-2.13%
Min
-30.45%
PS
-35.45%
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Palo Alto Networks (PANW) vs. Pershing Square (PS): A comparison of their operating margin against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Palo Alto Networks (PANW) and Pershing Square (PS)
MetricPANWPS
ROE (TTM)1.74%--
ROA (TTM)1.40%--
Net Margin (TTM)2.67%-20.98%
Operating Margin (TTM)5.40%-35.45%
Gross Margin (TTM)70.38%24.74%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Pershing Square (PS) at 64.66% clears its industry range for revenue growth, far stronger top-line momentum than Palo Alto Networks (PANW) at 24.50%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.

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Palo Alto Networks (PANW) vs. Pershing Square (PS): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Only one side can be read here: Palo Alto Networks (PANW) reports EPS growth of -75.00%, ranked against its industry; Pershing Square (PS) has no EPS growth figure this period.

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Palo Alto Networks (PANW) vs. Pershing Square (PS): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Palo Alto Networks (PANW) and Pershing Square (PS)
MetricPANWPS
Revenue Growth (YoY)24.50%64.66%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)18.54%--
EPS Growth (YoY)-75.00%--
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-14.50%--

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Short-term liquidity can only be read on one side of this pairing: Palo Alto Networks (PANW) shows current ratio of 0.87 against its industry benchmark, while Pershing Square (PS) has no reading this period.

PANW

Software & Services industry group

0.87

Max
5.11
Q3
2.77
Median
1.67
Q1
1.01
PANW
0.87
Min
0.03

PS

Software & Services industry group

--

Max
5.11
Q3
2.77
Median
1.67
Q1
1.01
Min
0.03
PS
--
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Palo Alto Networks (PANW) vs. Pershing Square (PS): PS does not report current ratio, so it has no value marker; PANW is benchmarked against the Software & Services industry group.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Palo Alto Networks (PANW) at 0.09 and Pershing Square (PS) at 0.18 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

PANW

Software & Services industry group

0.09

Max
2.52
Q3
1.13
Median
0.40
PANW
0.09
Q1
0.07
Min
0.00

PS

Software & Services industry group

0.18

Max
2.52
Q3
1.13
Median
0.40
PS
0.18
Q1
0.07
Min
0.00
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Palo Alto Networks (PANW) vs. Pershing Square (PS): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Palo Alto Networks (PANW) and Pershing Square (PS)
MetricPANWPS
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.87--
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.090.18
Net Debt / EBITDA-0.324.35

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 Pershing Square (PS) reports a yield of 0.24%, ranking against industry peers normally.

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%

PS

Software & Services industry group

0.24%

PS
0.24%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Palo Alto Networks (PANW) vs. Pershing Square (PS): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Pershing Square (PS) reports a negative payout ratio of -10.99%, usually because earnings are negative; Palo Alto Networks (PANW) pays no dividend (payout 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%

PS

Software & Services industry group

-10.99%

Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
PS
-10.99%
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Palo Alto Networks (PANW) vs. Pershing Square (PS): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Palo Alto Networks (PANW) and Pershing Square (PS)
MetricPANWPS
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.00%0.24%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)0.00%-10.99%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

An earnings multiple is available for just one side: Palo Alto Networks (PANW) trades at 784.60 times trailing earnings, ranked against its peers, while Pershing Square (PS) has no P/E ratio this period.

PANW

Software & Services industry group

784.60

PANW
784.60
Max
112.94
Q3
60.32
Median
32.91
Q1
18.77
Min
6.69

PS

Software & Services industry group

--

Max
112.94
Q3
60.32
Median
32.91
Q1
18.77
Min
6.69
PS
--
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Palo Alto Networks (PANW) vs. Pershing Square (PS): PS does not report P/E ratio, so it has no value marker; PANW is benchmarked against the Software & Services industry group.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Investors are paying well above the peer range per dollar of sales for both Palo Alto Networks (PANW) at 22.37 and Pershing Square (PS) at 27.11 — each P/S ratio clears its industry’s benchmark range.

PANW

Software & Services industry group

22.37

PANW
22.37
Max
17.91
Q3
8.78
Median
4.25
Q1
2.23
Min
0.02

PS

Software & Services industry group

27.11

PS
27.11
Max
17.91
Q3
8.78
Median
4.25
Q1
2.23
Min
0.02
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Palo Alto Networks (PANW) vs. Pershing Square (PS): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Both Palo Alto Networks (PANW) at 9.30 and Pershing Square (PS) at 15.12 carry a premium to book value versus peers, sitting in the upper P/B ratio quartile of their industries.

PANW

Software & Services industry group

9.30

Max
16.63
PANW
9.30
Q3
8.50
Median
4.30
Q1
1.92
Min
-3.90

PS

Software & Services industry group

15.12

Max
16.63
PS
15.12
Q3
8.50
Median
4.30
Q1
1.92
Min
-3.90
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Palo Alto Networks (PANW) vs. Pershing Square (PS): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Palo Alto Networks (PANW) and Pershing Square (PS)
MetricPANWPS
P/E Ratio (TTM)784.60--
P/S Ratio (TTM)22.3727.11
P/B Ratio (MRQ)9.3015.12
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)1.65%--