Oct 13 close Sign in

Software & devices

Palo Alto Networks (PANW)

In the Nasdaq-100.

Your signal

Buy81 / 100

Buy: 81 is at or above your Buy line of 60. Trend (+54% vs 200-day) scores 99 and lifts it; Plays in (66%) scores 66 and holds it back.

Every factor in this score has a tested record: each was checked month by month since 2011 on numbers public at the time.

Factor you weightPANWPointsWeightAdds
Plays in66%664026.4
Off the high−5% from its 1-year high823024.6
Trend+54% vs 200-day993029.7
Email me when it flips

Your signal is the one call Be The Puck makes on a stock, and you set it: weight the plays, analysts, P/E, growth, debt, trend and more, and move the Buy and Sell lines. Every page follows your choice. How the score works

All 18 factors for PANW
FactorPANWPointsWhat it is
Plays in66%66The share of the plays you count that hold it now.
Analysts' upside+0% · 50 analysts29How far analysts' average 12-month target sits above the price (3+ analysts). −20% scores 0, +50% full marks; at most 50 while the price is below its 200-day average, since targets lag a falling price.
Analysts' rating1.7 · buy65The analysts' average recommendation: strong buy scores 100, hold or worse 0.
P/E992.6×0Price over the last four quarters' earnings per share. Lower ranks higher; a loss scores 0. Source: SEC filings to 2026-07-31.
Forward P/E81.4×2Price over next year's expected earnings. Lower ranks higher; an expected loss scores 0. Source: Yahoo Finance.
PEG2.0131P/E divided by expected earnings growth. Lower ranks higher; around 1 is often read as fair for the growth. Source: Yahoo Finance.
Price to sales28.3×3Market value over the last 12 months' revenue. Lower ranks higher. Source: SEC filings to 2026-07-31.
Price to book11.8×14Price over book value (assets minus debts) per share. Lower ranks higher. Source: SEC filings to 2026-07-31.
Dividend yieldnone0Dividends over the last year as a share of the price. Higher ranks higher; no dividend scores 0. Source: Yahoo Finance.
Earnings growth−75%7Earnings per share over the last four quarters against the four before (the latest quarter on a year earlier where filings aren't available). Higher ranks higher. Source: SEC filings to 2026-07-31.
Revenue growth+24%69Revenue over the last four quarters against the four before (the latest quarter on a year earlier where filings aren't available). Higher ranks higher. Source: SEC filings to 2026-07-31.
Profit margin3%26Net profit as a share of revenue. Higher ranks higher. Source: SEC filings to 2026-07-31.
Return on equity1%18Profit as a share of shareholders' equity. Higher ranks higher. Source: SEC filings to 2026-07-31.
Debt to equity0.07×85Debt against shareholders' equity. Lower ranks higher; negative equity scores 0. Source: SEC filings to 2026-07-31.
Off the high−5% from its 1-year high82How far the price sits below its highest close of the last year: 100 points at the high, none at 30% or more below. The exit rule: a stock that keeps falling loses points whatever else it has going for it.
Trend+54% vs 200-day99How far the price sits above its 200-day average. Higher ranks higher.
1-year momentum+86%91The price change over the last 12 months. Higher ranks higher.
Low crash exposure2/10 · low80The storm test: 100 for no exposure, 10 points off per point of exposure.

The read

Test a theory on PANW

This analysis does not constitute trading advice. Please meet with an advisor or independently review sources before making any decision. New to this? Start with the basics.

Plays in66 / 100Every play Be The Puck tests, in 7 families.
Crash exposureLow2 of 10 on the storm testMayer Multiple1.54×Price ÷ its 200-day average (+54%). Higher than on 98% of days since 2013. Above 2.4 is Mayer's overheated zone.

The most accurate play in each family

Each family's play whose calls went the right way most often, tested on 351 stocks since 2005, and what it says about PANW now.

A call is right when the stock rose after an in call or fell after an out call. Trend plays are built to take many small losses for a few big wins, so their hit rates run lower; being right often isn't the same as making the most money. How we test a play.

PANW, day by day

How to read candlesticks

Each candle is one trading day: the box spans the open and close, the thin line the day's high and low. Hollow boxes closed up, filled boxes closed down. Toggle the averages to see the trend the plays read. Dots above the candles mark news and company filings: hover or tap one to see the story and how the stock moved from the last close before it, against the market on the same days.

What moved PANW lately

Its 2 biggest moves against the S&P 500 in the last 30 sessions, the news read on each, and how reliably that kind of news has moved stocks before. How it's measured

Mon Sep 14+13.6% against the S&P 5003.9× a normal day

PANW +13.1%, the S&P 500 −0.5% that session; +10.0% against the S&P 500 over five sessions.

No earnings report, rating change, 8-K filing or news story on PANW was found for this session. Be The Puck's headline archive for PANW starts Oct 2, so news stories from that day aren't in it. The S&P 500 moved −0.5%. The 33 other Software & devices stocks Be The Puck covers moved +2.0% on average, so most of the move was its own.

Wed Sep 2−9.7% against the S&P 5003.0× a normal day

PANW −9.3%, the S&P 500 +0.5% that session; −7.5% against the S&P 500 over five sessions.

  • Small beatEarnings report · Sep 1, 4:00 pm ET

    PANW reported earnings per share of 1.02 against 0.98 expected: a 4.3% beat.

    After small beats, stocks did better than their index at the first close after the news 51% of the time (1,404 of 2,760 on 305 stocks; median move +0.1%). This time the stock went the other way. Low predictability

    PANW after small beats: ahead of its index at the first close after the news 5 of 16 times (median −5.3%).

  • Price target raisedAnalyst rating · Sep 2, 5:51 am ET

    11 firms raised their price targets: Citigroup, Roth Capital, Oppenheimer, Piper Sandler and 7 more.

    Came within two sessions of an earnings report, so the report likely drove the move. Kinds of news are scored without these.

Two years of calls, week by week

InOutShare of plays in

One row per play, grouped by family. When most rows turn green at once, the trend is broad. When they split, the plays disagree and the stock is usually chopping sideways.

Every play on PANW

All 100 plays, by family.

Calls right: how often the play's calls on PANW went the right way since 2005. Record columns: play / buy and hold, annual return and worst drawdown since 2012. Click a column to sort.Sort with the menu above the list.

PlayCallSinceNext moveCalls rightAnnual returnWorst drawdown
Trend following
PB EMABitcoin Playboy · dailyINSep 14, 2026 +6.2%Exit below $391.65 (−1.4%)28% 106/372+11.0% / +29.3%−44.9% / −48.0%
Bull Market Support BandBenjamin Cowen · weeklyINApr 24, 2026 +122.4%Exit below $333.11 (−16.1%)23% 17/73+9.8% / +33.4%−57.0% / −48.0%
Ripster EMA CloudRipster · dailyINSep 14, 2026 +6.2%Exit below $370.82 (−6.6%)28% 62/223+16.3% / +32.4%−48.8% / −48.0%
Trend TemplateMark Minervini · dailyINSep 14, 2026 +6.2%Exit below $373.43 (−5.9%)16% 18/115+7.4% / +35.2%−58.6% / −48.0%
Stage AnalysisStan Weinstein · weeklyINMay 22, 2026 +52.4%Exit below $293.80 (−26.0%)20% 9/45+11.4% / +31.9%−60.5% / −48.0%
Stage 2 + Mansfield RSStan Weinstein · weeklyINMay 15, 2026 +63.5%Exit below $293.80 (−26.0%)27% 18/67+12.1% / +34.6%−53.7% / −48.0%
10-Month SMAMeb Faber · month-endINMay 29, 2026 +40.9%Exit below $266.61 (−32.8%)19% 5/27+14.8% / +33.0%−56.5% / −48.0%
200-Day RulePaul Tudor Jones · dailyINMay 7, 2026 +102.0%Exit below $258.40 (−34.9%)15% 13/85+22.5% / +33.5%−48.3% / −48.0%
Golden CrossMarket tradition · dailyINMay 28, 2026 +54.0%Not on one close21% 4/19+13.2% / +33.5%−75.1% / −48.0%
Granville 200-DayJoseph E. Granville · dailyINMay 18, 2026 +60.4%Exit below $258.40 (−34.9%)15% 10/67+15.5% / +34.4%−51.4% / −48.0%
Hull Moving AverageAlan Hull · weeklyINOct 2, 2026 −1.5%Exit below $317.07 (−20.1%)32% 28/87+13.8% / +31.9%−45.7% / −48.0%
Kaufman Adaptive MAPerry J. Kaufman · dailyINSep 14, 2026 +6.2%Exit below $391.34 (−1.4%)27% 125/468+14.0% / +28.7%−52.4% / −48.0%
TEMA CrossoverPatrick G. Mulloy · dailyINSep 23, 2026 +0.9%Exit below $356.42 (−10.2%)38% 63/168+16.9% / +30.9%−34.2% / −48.0%
Seykota 15/150Ed Seykota · dailyINMay 12, 2026 +84.2%Not on one close20% 5/25+14.6% / +35.4%−72.5% / −48.0%
Guppy Multiple MAsDaryl Guppy · dailyINSep 15, 2026 +5.8%Exit below $282.38 (−28.9%)31% 27/87+13.3% / +31.8%−53.8% / −48.0%
Ichimoku CloudGoichi Hosoda · dailyINApr 20, 2026 +134.2%Exit below $342.08 (−13.8%)28% 20/71+13.9% / +31.7%−56.1% / −48.0%
SupertrendOlivier Seban · dailyINAug 27, 2026 +3.7%Exit below $371.02 (−6.6%)35% 36/104+11.8% / +29.0%−47.0% / −48.0%
Williams AlligatorBill Williams · dailyINSep 22, 2026 +6.0%Not on one close46% 99/216+14.8% / +29.0%−48.9% / −48.0%
Vortex IndicatorEtienne Botes & Douglas Siepman · dailyINSep 22, 2026 +6.0%Exit below $397.96 (+0.2%)35% 130/370+6.7% / +29.6%−55.2% / −48.0%
AroonTushar S. Chande · dailyINSep 23, 2026 +0.9%Exit below $327.05 (−17.6%)39% 53/136+16.2% / +29.3%−40.3% / −48.0%
Parabolic SARJ. Welles Wilder Jr. · dailyOUTOct 8, 2026 −0.4%Enter above $429.49 (+8.2%)37% 117/315+9.0% / +30.6%−54.0% / −48.0%
ADX TrendJ. Welles Wilder Jr. · dailyOUTAug 21, 2026 +10.9%Not on one close36% 44/121+6.7% / +29.2%−41.6% / −48.0%
MACD Zero LineGerald Appel · dailyINSep 15, 2026 +5.8%Exit below $260.13 (−34.5%)33% 39/119+16.6% / +29.4%−46.6% / −48.0%
Zweig 4% ModelMartin Zweig · weeklyINSep 18, 2026 +9.2%Exit below $402.03 (+1.3%)33% 56/172+10.6% / +29.0%−43.7% / −48.0%
MAMA/FAMA CrossJohn F. Ehlers · dailyINSep 17, 2026 +5.9%Not on one close34% 50/145+10.7% / +29.4%−49.6% / −48.0%
Schaff Trend CycleDoug Schaff · dailyINSep 23, 2026 +0.9%Exit below $395.80 (−0.3%)39% 54/137+17.2% / +30.9%−35.7% / −48.0%
Zero Lag EC CrossJohn F. Ehlers & Ric Way · dailyINSep 15, 2026 +5.8%Exit below $270.58 (−31.8%)33% 37/111+17.0% / +32.4%−46.6% / −48.0%
DP Trend ModelCarl Swenlin & Erin Swenlin · dailyINApr 22, 2026 +119.1%Not on one close29% 18/63+12.8% / +32.4%−59.8% / −48.0%
Elder Triple ScreenAlexander Elder · dailyINSep 28, 2026 +1.3%Exit below $367.27 (−7.5%)38% 40/105+13.5% / +32.3%−27.5% / −48.0%
Holy GrailLinda Bradford Raschke & Larry Connors · dailyOUTAug 10, 2026 +3.1%Not on one close44% 16/36+1.6% / +29.4%−23.1% / −48.0%
Breakouts & channels
Four-Week RuleRichard Donchian · dailyINApr 8, 2026 +128.5%Exit below $356.00 (−10.3%)39% 33/84+12.0% / +29.0%−42.8% / −48.0%
Turtle System 1Richard Dennis & William Eckhardt · dailyINOct 6, 2026 −5.4%Exit below $387.02 (−2.5%)23% 24/105+0.7% / +29.8%−57.0% / −48.0%
Turtle System 2Richard Dennis & William Eckhardt · dailyINApr 22, 2026 +119.1%Exit below $356.00 (−10.3%)22% 16/73+4.6% / +29.8%−56.3% / −48.0%
Clenow TrendAndreas F. Clenow · dailyINSep 30, 2026 −0.1%Exit below $365.71 (−7.9%)21% 15/73+3.0% / +32.4%−57.2% / −48.0%
Darvas BoxNicolas Darvas · dailyINOct 2, 2026 −1.5%Exit below $328.00 (−17.4%)35% 27/77+9.7% / +29.0%−49.0% / −48.0%
Keltner ChannelChester W. Keltner & Linda Bradford Raschke · dailyINOct 6, 2026 −5.4%Exit below $392.49 (−1.1%)29% 32/111+2.8% / +28.7%−44.5% / −48.0%
Bollinger BreakoutJohn Bollinger · dailyOUTAug 20, 2026 +13.6%Enter above $428.24 (+7.9%)30% 41/137+5.7% / +28.7%−46.1% / −48.0%
Chandelier ExitChuck LeBeau · dailyINSep 23, 2026 +0.9%Exit below $380.35 (−4.2%)36% 48/133+7.6% / +29.3%−42.7% / −48.0%
Wilder Volatility SystemJ. Welles Wilder Jr. · dailyINSep 23, 2026 +0.9%Exit below $368.43 (−7.2%)37% 43/116+11.5% / +29.0%−47.5% / −48.0%
P&F Double TopA.W. Cohen & Thomas J. Dorsey · dailyINSep 23, 2026 +0.9%Exit below $365.47 (−7.9%)36% 30/84+13.3% / +29.5%−47.3% / −48.0%
Chande Kroll StopTushar S. Chande & Stanley Kroll · dailyINSep 14, 2026 +6.2%Exit below $385.27 (−3.0%)30% 65/220+12.0% / +29.4%−39.4% / −48.0%
Acceleration BandsPrice Headley · dailyOUTAug 14, 2026 +3.3%Not on one close34% 47/138+6.9% / +29.0%−14.8% / −48.0%
TTM SqueezeJohn F. Carter · dailyOUTJan 20, 2026 +115.7%Not on one close38% 26/68+2.7% / +28.7%−24.3% / −48.0%
NR7 BreakoutToby Crabel · dailyOUTOct 13, 2026 0.0%Enter above $407.92 (+2.7%)35% 157/446+8.6% / +30.2%−44.0% / −48.0%
Bollinger SqueezeJohn Bollinger · dailyOUTDec 9, 2024 +104.2%Not on one close25% 6/24+0.2% / +31.8%−24.8% / −48.0%
Momentum
12-Month MomentumMoskowitz, Ooi & Pedersen · month-endINMay 29, 2026 +40.9%Exit below $228.37 (−42.5%)21% 4/19+16.3% / +34.3%−53.9% / −48.0%
12-1 MomentumNarasimhan Jegadeesh & Sheridan Titman · month-endINJun 30, 2026 +16.4%Not on one close37% 10/27+15.9% / +34.3%−51.8% / −48.0%
Dual MomentumGary Antonacci · month-endINMay 29, 2026 +40.9%Exit below $253.93 (−36.0%)32% 6/19+15.7% / +34.3%−41.3% / −48.0%
Stocks on the MoveAndreas F. Clenow · dailyINMay 12, 2026 +84.2%Sell above $456.58 (+15.0%)17% 20/115+2.7% / +32.5%−62.1% / −48.0%
52-Week HighThomas J. George & Chuan-Yang Hwang · month-endINMay 29, 2026 +40.9%Exit below $356.93 (−10.1%)22% 5/23+8.9% / +35.6%−44.9% / −48.0%
Levy Relative StrengthRobert A. Levy · weeklyINMay 8, 2026 +91.0%Exit below $322.17 (−18.9%)31% 23/75+14.6% / +31.6%−46.0% / −48.0%
MACD Signal CrossGerald Appel · dailyOUTOct 13, 2026 0.0%Enter above $413.19 (+4.1%)33% 89/266+16.1% / +29.4%−46.6% / −48.0%
Elder ImpulseAlexander Elder · dailyOUTOct 13, 2026 0.0%Enter above $410.31 (+3.3%)33% 143/427+20.1% / +29.4%−33.6% / −48.0%
Know Sure ThingMartin J. Pring · dailyINSep 17, 2026 +5.9%Exit below $350.60 (−11.7%)43% 85/199+13.7% / +29.3%−44.0% / −48.0%
Coppock CurveEdwin S. C. Coppock · month-endINMay 29, 2026 +40.9%Not on one close27% 3/11+15.3% / +32.3%−48.0% / −48.0%
CCI +100Donald R. Lambert · dailyOUTOct 12, 2026 −1.7%Enter above $422.89 (+6.5%)27% 118/432+6.4% / +29.0%−32.4% / −48.0%
TRIX Signal CrossJack K. Hutson · dailyINSep 22, 2026 +6.0%Exit below $265.41 (−33.2%)41% 68/165+21.4% / +32.4%−34.7% / −48.0%
TSI Zero LineWilliam Blau · dailyINSep 15, 2026 +5.8%Exit below $253.91 (−36.0%)31% 36/117+16.0% / +32.4%−48.2% / −48.0%
13612W MomentumWouter J. Keller & Jan Willem Keuning · month-endINApr 30, 2026 +121.4%Exit below $327.86 (−17.4%)29% 12/42+21.3% / +34.3%−58.4% / −48.0%
Market-State MomentumMichael J. Cooper, Roberto C. Gutierrez Jr. & Allaudeen Hameed · month-endINJun 30, 2026 +16.4%Not on one close29% 7/24+7.2% / +25.7%−50.9% / −48.0%
Frog in the PanZhi Da, Umit G. Gurun & Mitch Warachka · dailyINJun 30, 2026 +16.4%Not on one close32% 8/25+11.9% / +34.3%−52.6% / −48.0%
PMO Signal CrossCarl Swenlin · dailyINSep 17, 2026 +5.9%Exit below $398.33 (+0.3%)35% 70/198+17.3% / +30.9%−35.0% / −48.0%
Mean reversion
RSI 30/70J. Welles Wilder Jr. · dailyOUTJun 3, 2026 +41.6%Not on one close66% 21/32+18.5% / +29.4%−30.1% / −48.0%
RSI(2) PullbackLarry Connors & Cesar Alvarez · dailyOUTAug 27, 2026 +3.7%Buy below $379.78 (−4.3%)55% 104/188+5.9% / +33.5%−42.2% / −48.0%
Double 7sLarry Connors & Cesar Alvarez · dailyINOct 13, 2026 0.0%Sell above $419.91 (+5.8%)57% 138/243+5.5% / +33.5%−67.0% / −48.0%
Bollinger ReversionJohn Bollinger · dailyOUTSep 14, 2026 +6.2%Buy below $358.14 (−9.8%)62% 69/112+9.9% / +28.7%−38.1% / −48.0%
Stochastic 20/80George C. Lane · dailyOUTSep 18, 2026 +9.2%Not on one close60% 58/96+10.6% / +28.8%−38.7% / −48.0%
Williams %RLarry Williams · dailyOUTSep 18, 2026 +9.2%Not on one close58% 99/170+13.4% / +29.6%−39.9% / −48.0%
DeMark 9-CountTom DeMark · dailyINAug 26, 2026 +17.0%Not on one close67% 37/55+17.1% / +30.5%−42.8% / −48.0%
Mayer MultipleTrace Mayer · dailyINMay 8, 2013 +4,697.0%Sell above $624.56 (+57.3%)–+33.5% / +33.5%−48.0% / −48.0%
ConnorsRSI PullbackLarry Connors & Cesar Alvarez & Matt Radtke · dailyOUTNov 28, 2025 +108.8%Not on one close54% 14/26+4.3% / +30.9%−9.0% / −48.0%
Laguerre RSIJohn F. Ehlers · dailyOUTOct 13, 2026 0.0%Not on one close44% 89/200+18.9% / +28.7%−36.8% / −48.0%
StochRSI 20/80Tushar S. Chande & Stanley Kroll · dailyINOct 9, 2026 −5.2%Not on one close58% 160/276+13.7% / +28.7%−55.8% / −48.0%
IBS ReversionAlexander S. Pagonidis · dailyINOct 13, 2026 0.0%Sell above $397.03 (0.0%)57% 617/1086+6.5% / +31.0%−35.5% / −48.0%
Connors %bLarry Connors & Cesar Alvarez · dailyOUTSep 15, 2026 +5.8%Not on one close58% 43/74+13.8% / +33.5%−37.0% / −48.0%
Fisher TransformJohn F. Ehlers · dailyOUTOct 7, 2026 −2.1%Enter above $440.04 (+10.8%)36% 246/681+14.4% / +29.4%−50.9% / −48.0%
1-Month ReversalNarasimhan Jegadeesh & Bruce N. Lehmann · month-endOUTAug 31, 2026 +3.9%Buy below $405.32 (+2.1%)55% 46/84+7.2% / +28.5%−52.2% / −48.0%
Volume & money flow
On-Balance VolumeJoseph E. Granville · dailyOUTOct 13, 2026 0.0%Enter above $397.03 (+0.0%)30% 125/413+26.8% / +28.7%−31.9% / −48.0%
Chaikin Money FlowMarc Chaikin · dailyINAug 5, 2026 +9.5%Not on one close40% 52/129+7.7% / +29.0%−54.8% / −48.0%
Money Flow IndexGene Quong & Avrum Soudack · dailyOUTMar 18, 2026 +135.1%Not on one close75% 24/32+15.0% / +29.4%−34.2% / −48.0%
Negative Volume IndexNorman Fosback & Paul Dysart · dailyINOct 9, 2023 +214.1%Not on one close43% 9/21+29.1% / +34.3%−47.0% / −48.0%
Force IndexAlexander Elder · dailyINSep 14, 2026 +6.2%Exit below $395.56 (−0.4%)30% 112/376+15.6% / +29.3%−47.2% / −48.0%
Buff AveragesBuff Dormeier · dailyINSep 15, 2026 +5.8%Exit below $334.44 (−15.8%)36% 84/236+6.7% / +28.7%−48.1% / −48.0%
Chaikin OscillatorMarc Chaikin · dailyOUTOct 13, 2026 0.0%Enter above $397.03 (+0.0%)35% 135/383+4.0% / +29.0%−56.9% / −48.0%
Volume Flow IndicatorMarkos Katsanos · dailyINMay 13, 2026 +74.3%Not on one close34% 21/61+17.5% / +34.1%−48.0% / −48.0%
Klinger OscillatorStephen J. Klinger · dailyOUTOct 8, 2026 −0.4%Not on one close38% 212/551+19.1% / +31.8%−48.3% / −48.0%
Candles & chart patterns
Engulfing SwitchSteve Nison & Thomas N. Bulkowski · dailyOUTSep 11, 2026 +20.1%Enter above $397.51 (+0.1%)55% 51/92+18.4% / +30.1%−36.9% / −48.0%
HikkakeDaniel L. Chesler · dailyINMay 29, 2026 +40.9%Exit below $243.04 (−38.8%)22% 15/67+2.8% / +29.7%−49.5% / −48.0%
Turtle Soup Plus OneLinda Bradford Raschke & Larry Connors · dailyOUTSep 27, 2024 +136.5%Not on one close54% 15/28+3.6% / +29.2%−11.8% / −48.0%
Calendar
Halloween IndicatorSven Bouman & Ben Jacobsen & Yale Hirsch & Jeffrey Hirsch · dailyOUTApr 30, 2026 +121.4%Buys Oct 3046% 13/28+11.1% / +31.0%−48.2% / −48.0%
Best Six + MACDYale Hirsch & Jeffrey Hirsch · dailyOUTApr 14, 2026 +145.7%Enter above $427.09 (+7.6%)48% 13/27+10.3% / +29.4%−47.0% / −48.0%
Seasonal TimingSy Harding · dailyOUTJun 8, 2026 +49.1%Window opens Oct 1650% 14/28+14.8% / +29.4%−50.7% / −48.0%
Santa Claus RallyYale Hirsch & Jeffrey Hirsch · dailyOUTJan 5, 2026 +118.0%Buys Dec 2325% 7/28−0.5% / +31.0%−15.1% / −48.0%
Turn of the MonthJosef Lakonishok & Seymour Smidt & Robert A. Ariel · dailyOUTOct 5, 2026 −2.4%Buys Oct 2947% 161/342−2.1% / +31.0%−61.6% / −48.0%
Presidential Sweet SpotYale Hirsch & Jeffrey Hirsch · dailyINSep 30, 2026 −0.1%Sells Jun 3029% 2/7+8.1% / +31.0%−33.1% / −48.0%
Pre-HolidayRobert A. Ariel & Josef Lakonishok & Seymour Smidt · dailyOUTSep 4, 2026 +19.1%Buys Nov 2450% 132/262+4.1% / +31.0%−19.2% / −48.0%
January BarometerYale Hirsch & Jeffrey Hirsch · month-endINDec 30, 2022 +469.1%Not on one close42% 5/12+18.4% / +32.2%−36.0% / −48.0%
Weekend EffectKenneth French & Josef Lakonishok & Seymour Smidt · dailyINOct 12, 2026 −1.7%Sells Oct 1650% 743/1485+16.0% / +31.0%−44.1% / −48.0%
Pre-FOMC DriftDavid Lucca & Emanuel Moench · dailyOUTSep 16, 2026 +5.7%Buys Oct 2744% 99/226+0.7% / +31.0%−14.8% / −48.0%
Lunar CycleKathy Yuan, Lu Zheng & Qiaoqiao Zhu · dailyINOct 2, 2026 −1.5%Sells Oct 1651% 180/352+13.2% / +31.0%−63.8% / −48.0%
Benchmark
Buy & HoldJohn C. Bogle · benchmarkINJul 20, 2012Always in–+30.7%−48.0%

If the market cracks: the storm test

How the storm test works
ExposureLow2 of 10 points
  • Market swings1/3
  • Past crashes0/2
  • Debt0/3
  • Run-up1/2
  • It moves about 1.3× its index.
  • It is up 113% in two years, a run-up size that crashed about half the time in history.

Past crashes, peak to low

COVID crash Feb 2020 to Mar 2020 · back to its old high Jul 2020

PANW−47%
S&P 500−34%

2022 bear market Jan 2022 to May 2022 · back to its old high Aug 2022

PANW−20%
S&P 500−25%
  • Beta1.30Moves about 1.3× as much as the S&P 500 week to week.
  • Downside capture−65%In months the S&P 500 fell, this fell -65% as much on average (it often rose anyway).
  • Two-year change+113%Run-ups of 100%+ crashed 40% or more within two years about half the time (Greenwood, Shleifer & You).
  • From 52-week high−5%
  • Debt to equity0.09×
  • Net debt / EBITDANet cashHolds more cash than debt.

A crash marks every stock down; debt decides which companies come through. The storm test scores both halves: how hard the stock swings with the market, and how much debt it carries into a downturn. It describes fragility; it does not predict a crash.

The business behind the price

How to judge these numbers

Software - Infrastructure · Palo Alto Networks, Inc. provides cybersecurity solutions in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Asia Pacific, and Japan. It offers Prisma Access, a secure access service edge solution; Strata Cloud Manager, a network security management solution; and Prisma AIRS to protect customers' entire AI ecosystem.

Size and valuation
Market cap$325BWhat the whole company is worth at today's price: share price × shares outstanding.
Revenue (last 12 months)$11.5BTotal sales. The market values it at 28.3× sales.
P/E ratio992.6×Buyers pay $993 for each $1 of the last year's profit.
Forward P/E81.4×Price against analysts' estimate of next year's profit. Lower than the P/E means profit is expected to grow.
Price to book11.8×Price against the company's net assets (its equity) per share.
Profit and growth
Profit margin2.7%Keeps 3¢ of each dollar of sales as profit.
Revenue growth+24.5%The last four quarters' sales against the four before.
Earnings growth−75.0%Same comparison for profit.
Return on equity1.1%Yearly profit as a share of shareholders' money in the business.
Free cash flow$4.2BCash left after running and investing in the business.
Balance sheet
Total equity$27.5BWhat it owns minus what it owes.
Total debt$2.6BLoans and bonds it has to pay back, with interest.
Cash$3.1BCash and short-term investments on hand.
Debt to equity0.09×Comfortable.
Wall Street
Average analyst target$397.920% above the close, from 50 analysts (range $190.00 to $525.00).
Consensus ratingBuyAnalysts' average recommendation. Ratings lean positive: sell ratings are rare.

P/E, price to sales and book, growth, margin and return on equity from the company's SEC filings for the quarter to 2026-07-31; other company figures from Yahoo Finance, fetched Oct 14, 2026. Analyst targets are opinions, not forecasts Be The Puck checks.

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