Autodesk, Inc. (ADSK)
Autodesk makes design and engineering software such as AutoCAD and Revit used in architecture, construction, and manufacturing.
Information Technology stock comparison
ADSK vs PANW: which business are you actually underwriting?
Compare Autodesk, Inc. with Palo Alto Networks, Inc. using their business models, SEC classifications, fiscal calendars, current primary filings, and the research questions that matter. This is a thesis framework—not a price target or automatic winner.
- Sector
- Information
- Industry
- Different SIC
- Shared themes
- 2
- Updated
- 2026-03-03
ADSK vs PANW: quick comparison
| Company fact | ADSK | PANW |
|---|---|---|
| Company | Autodesk, Inc. | Palo Alto Networks, Inc. |
| Exchange | NASDAQ | NASDAQ |
| Headquarters | Not recorded | Not recorded |
| Founded | Not recorded | Not recorded |
| SEC industry | Services-Prepackaged Software | Computer Peripheral Equipment, NEC |
| Fiscal year-end | January 31 | July 31 |
| Latest annual filing | 10-K · 2026-03-03 | 10-K · 2025-08-29 |
How the businesses differ
Palo Alto Networks, Inc. (PANW)
Palo Alto Networks provides next-generation firewalls, cloud security, and AI-driven threat detection for enterprises.
The useful starting point is not which ticker has performed better. It is whether the two companies convert the same economic forces into revenue and cash flow in the same way. ADSK is classified by the SEC as Services-Prepackaged Software, while PANW is classified as Computer Peripheral Equipment, NEC. The different industry codes are a warning against treating sector membership as proof of identical economics.
Which thesis does each company fit?
Use the distinction below to decide which filing deserves deeper work. It is a research routing rule, not a recommendation or prediction.
Study ADSK when…
- The AI capital-expenditure cycle
- Interest rates and the cost of long-duration growth
- Enterprise IT budgets and cloud migration
- Export controls and the US–China chip race
Study PANW when…
- The AI capital-expenditure cycle
- Interest rates and the cost of long-duration growth
- Enterprise IT budgets and cloud migration
- Export controls and the US–China chip race
Shared research themes
Artificial intelligenceUS markets
SEC filing comparison and disclosure evidence
Start with primary filings because fiscal calendars and accounting presentation can make superficially similar quarters incomparable.ADSK's fiscal year ends January 31, while PANW's ends July 31. Normalize the reporting periods before comparing growth, margins, capital intensity, or guidance.
The current verified House Clerk snapshot contains 0matched transaction rows for ADSKand 2 for PANW. These delayed, range-based disclosures can identify a filing to inspect; they do not establish motive, conviction, or a real-time trading signal.
ADSK primary filings
PANW primary filings
What this comparison cannot tell you
This page does not contain licensed live prices, a valuation model, earnings estimates, portfolio constraints, or a forecast of future returns. SEC classifications can be broad, company descriptions can lag strategic change, and the latest annual filing may predate a material acquisition or divestiture. Read subsequent quarterly and current reports before making a decision.
A stronger business is not automatically the better stock. Starting valuation, expectations, capital structure, cyclicality, dilution, and the probability of each thesis determine the investment outcome. Use this comparison to frame the work, then verify the numbers in the linked filings and current company disclosures.
ADSK vs PANW FAQs
Are ADSK and PANW direct competitors?
Autodesk, Inc. and Palo Alto Networks, Inc. sit in the same Information Technology sector but have different SEC industry classifications. The comparison is most useful for portfolio role and sector exposure, not as a claim that every product competes directly.
Which is better, ADSK or PANW?
There is no context-free winner. Compare the operating exposures, filing evidence, valuation, balance sheet, and risks against the specific thesis you are testing. This page deliberately does not turn a static profile into a buy or sell recommendation.
Does this ADSK vs PANW comparison include live prices?
No. Yield Theory does not republish unlicensed real-time market data. Use a regulated broker or licensed quote provider for current prices, then use the primary filings here to test the business thesis.
Where does the company information come from?
Company classifications, fiscal year-ends, and filing links come from the SEC EDGAR submissions API snapshot refreshed 2026-08-10. Business summaries and research themes are maintained by Yield Theory.
Data snapshot: SEC EDGAR submissions API, refreshed 2026-08-10. Independent educational research; not investment advice.
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