Does Palo Alto Networks Stock Lead the Pack?
Palo Alto Networks’ (PANW) stock has underperformed over the past year, but how does the cybersecurity leader truly measure up against peers scaling the digital defense market? A closer look reveals robust revenue growth and exceptional free cash flow margins, yet its valuation remains notably high. Upside may hinge on sustained innovation in a competitive security landscape.
- PANW’s 13.5% operating margin is robust, reflecting growth investments in the expanding cybersecurity market, yet trails mature CSCO’s 22.1% due to scale.
- PANW’s 14.9% LTM revenue growth signals strong cybersecurity demand and platform-centric adoption, outpacing more diverse peers like CSCO.
- PANW’s 6.5% 1-year stock dip, lagging peers, suggests investor valuation corrections or acquisition concerns despite its high 109.9 PE implying future growth.
Here’s how Palo Alto Networks stacks up across size, valuation, and profitability versus key peers.
| PANW | CSCO | CRSR | MITK | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Market Cap ($ Bil) | 124.6 | 301.3 | 0.7 | 0.4 |
| Revenue ($ Bil) | 9.2 | 56.7 | 1.4 | 0.2 |
| PE Ratio | 109.9 | 29.6 | -16.5 | 26.1 |
| LTM Revenue Growth | 14.9% | 5.3% | 9.8% | 7.0% |
| LTM Operating Margin | 13.5% | 22.1% | -1.3% | 11.7% |
| LTM FCF Margin | 37.6% | 23.5% | 3.9% | 31.3% |
| 12M Market Return | -6.5% | 30.9% | -16.0% | -5.5% |
For more details on Palo Alto Networks, read Buy or Sell PANW Stock. Below we compare PANW’s growth, margin, and valuation with peers across years
Revenue Growth Comparison
| LTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PANW | 14.9% | 14.9% | 16.5% | 25.3% | |
| CSCO | 5.3% | 5.3% | -5.6% | 10.6% | |
| CRSR | 9.8% | – | -9.8% | 6.2% | -27.8% |
| MITK | 7.0% | – | -0.3% | 19.2% | 20.9% |
Operating Margin Comparison
| LTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PANW | 13.5% | 13.5% | 8.5% | 5.6% | |
| CSCO | 22.1% | 22.1% | 24.1% | 27.3% | |
| CRSR | -1.3% | – | -3.8% | 0.7% | -4.0% |
| MITK | 11.7% | – | 2.3% | 10.2% | 9.7% |
PE Ratio Comparison
| LTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PANW | 109.9 | 106.3 | 36.5 | 96.2 | |
| CSCO | 29.6 | 23.1 | 19.8 | 15.5 | |
| CRSR | -16.5 | – | -8.1 | -557.9 | -24.0 |
| MITK | 26.1 | – | 158.1 | 74.0 | 117.0 |
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