PANW vs. SAP: Palo Alto Networks vs. SAP Stock Comparison
How do Palo Alto Networks (PANW) and SAP (SAP) 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 SAP (SAP) both belong to the Software industry, though PANW is classified under Systems Software while SAP falls under Application Software.
Palo Alto Networks (PANW) trades as ordinary local shares, while SAP (SAP) trades as an ADR — compare with FX exposure, depositary-program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.
| Profile Item | PANW | SAP |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Palo Alto Networks, Inc. | SAP SE Sponsored ADR |
| Country/Region | United States | Germany |
| 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 | 181.69 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | Nasdaq | NYSE |
| Listing Date | July 20, 2012 | September 18, 1995 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | ADR |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | PANW | SAP |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 66.64% | -48.44% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Risk Metrics
| Metric | PANW | SAP |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 40.33% | 35.01% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.91 | 1.15 |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 8.32M | 3.38M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both Palo Alto Networks (PANW) at 4.83% and SAP (SAP) at 16.35% land near their industries’ usual ROE ranges, so capital efficiency looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
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%
SAP
Software & Services industry group
16.35%
- Max
- 53.38%
- Q3
- 16.53%
- SAP
- 16.35%
- Median
- 5.38%
- Q1
- -13.43%
- Min
- -55.27%
Net Margin (TTM)
SAP (SAP) at 19.58% 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%
SAP
Software & Services industry group
19.58%
- Max
- 44.20%
- SAP
- 19.58%
- 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 SAP (SAP) reports 30.03%, 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%
SAP
Software & Services industry group
30.03%
- Max
- 60.45%
- SAP
- 30.03%
- Q3
- 16.49%
- Median
- 4.46%
- Q1
- -12.92%
- Min
- -53.94%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | PANW | SAP |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 4.83% | 16.35% |
| ROA (TTM) | 1.77% | 9.08% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 7.95% | 19.58% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | -2.47% | 30.03% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 71.96% | 73.72% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Revenue Growth Metrics
| Metric | PANW | SAP |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 14.87% | 7.68% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 18.79% | 7.63% |
EPS Growth
EPS Growth Metrics
| Metric | PANW | SAP |
|---|---|---|
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -56.04% | 130.19% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -- | 46.25% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
SAP (SAP) at 1.07 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.
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
SAP
Software & Services industry group
1.07
- Max
- 5.55
- Q3
- 2.88
- Median
- 1.72
- SAP
- 1.07
- Q1
- 1.07
- Min
- 0.03
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Both Palo Alto Networks (PANW) at 0.08 and SAP (SAP) at 0.17 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.
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
SAP
Software & Services industry group
0.17
- Max
- 2.31
- Q3
- 1.06
- Median
- 0.32
- SAP
- 0.17
- Q1
- 0.06
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | PANW | SAP |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 0.86 | 1.07 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.08 | 0.17 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -0.66 | -0.19 |
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 SAP (SAP) reports a yield of 1.61%, 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%
SAP
Software & Services industry group
1.61%
- SAP
- 1.61%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
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 SAP (SAP) reports a payout of 37.15%, 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%
SAP
Software & Services industry group
37.15%
- SAP
- 37.15%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | PANW | SAP |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.00% | 1.61% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 0.00% | 37.15% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
SAP (SAP) at 21.71 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Palo Alto Networks (PANW) at 293.98 sits above its peer range — an unusually expensive price for PANW’s trailing earnings.
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
SAP
Software & Services industry group
21.71
- Max
- 126.50
- Q3
- 60.82
- Median
- 30.49
- SAP
- 21.71
- Q1
- 16.22
- Min
- 0.41
P/S Ratio (TTM)
SAP (SAP) at 4.87 prices around its industry’s typical P/S ratio, while Palo Alto Networks (PANW) at 26.20 clears its benchmark range — PANW looks notably rich on sales.
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
SAP
Software & Services industry group
4.87
- Max
- 18.72
- Q3
- 8.93
- SAP
- 4.87
- Median
- 4.21
- Q1
- 2.14
- Min
- 0.02
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
SAP (SAP) at 3.45 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while Palo Alto Networks (PANW) at 10.02 carries an above-peer premium to book — PANW is pricier on assets.
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
SAP
Software & Services industry group
3.45
- Max
- 18.46
- Q3
- 8.62
- Median
- 4.00
- SAP
- 3.45
- Q1
- 1.94
- Min
- -7.57
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | PANW | SAP |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 293.98 | 21.71 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 26.20 | 4.87 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 10.02 | 3.45 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 1.29% | 4.48% |