Palo Alto Networks, Inc. (PANW)
Palo Alto Networks provides next-generation firewalls, cloud security, and AI-driven threat detection for enterprises.
Information Technology stock comparison
PANW vs PLTR: which business are you actually underwriting?
Compare Palo Alto Networks, Inc. with Palantir Technologies 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
- 1
- Updated
- 2026-09-10
PANW vs PLTR: quick comparison
| Company fact | PANW | PLTR |
|---|---|---|
| Company | Palo Alto Networks, Inc. | Palantir Technologies Inc. |
| Exchange | NASDAQ | NASDAQ |
| Headquarters | — | Denver, Colorado |
| Founded | — | 2003 |
| SEC industry | Computer Peripheral Equipment, NEC | Services-Prepackaged Software |
| Fiscal year-end | July 31 | December 31 |
| Latest annual filing | 10-K · 2026-09-10 | 10-K · 2026-02-17 |
PANW vs PLTR: audited financials
PANW reported about 2.1× the revenue of PLTR in the latest audited fiscal year. On profitability, PLTR converted a larger share of revenue into net income (36.3% versus 12.3%). Scale and margin are starting facts for the thesis, not the verdict.
| Metric | PANW | PLTR |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $9.2B | $4.5B |
| Net income | $1.1B | $1.6B |
| Operating cash flow | $3.7B | $2.1B |
| Diluted EPS | $1.60 | $0.63 |
| Net margin | 12.3% | 36.3% |
PANW: FY ending 2025-07-31 · PLTR: FY ending 2025-12-31. Figures as tagged in each issuer's SEC XBRL filing; fiscal calendars may not align.
How the businesses differ
Why this pair belongs in the comparison set
PANW and PLTR have different SEC industry classifications, but both map to the maintained Artificial intelligence research theme inside the Information Technology sector. A shared classification or theme makes the pair useful for a defined research question; it does not mean the companies have identical products, economics, or risks.
Palantir Technologies Inc. (PLTR)
Palantir builds data-integration and analytics platforms used by defense agencies, intelligence services, and commercial enterprises. Its AI platform for operational decision-making has driven rapid growth in its commercial business.
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. PANW is classified by the SEC as Computer Peripheral Equipment, NEC, while PLTR is classified as Services-Prepackaged Software. The different industry codes are a warning against treating sector membership as proof of identical economics.
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The thesis, the numbers behind it, and what would break it. Full access is $15 a month.
Read the full researchWhich 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 PANW when…
- Next-Generation Security annualized recurring revenue
- Platformization deals that consolidate point products onto Strata, Prisma, and Cortex
- Mix of hardware firewall product revenue versus subscription and support
- Distributor concentration and channel partner performance
Study PLTR when…
- Growth and renewal of US and allied government contracts, including defense and intelligence work
- Adoption speed of the Artificial Intelligence Platform (AIP) among commercial customers
- Commercial revenue mix shift and net dollar retention outside of government
- Valuation relative to growth, given the stock's premium multiple versus software peers
Shared research themes
Artificial intelligence
SEC filing comparison and disclosure evidence
Start with primary filings because fiscal calendars and accounting presentation can make superficially similar quarters incomparable.PANW's fiscal year ends July 31, while PLTR's ends December 31. Normalize the reporting periods before comparing growth, margins, capital intensity, or guidance.
The current verified House and Senate snapshot contains 37matched transaction rows for PANWand 50 for PLTR. These delayed, range-based disclosures can identify a filing to inspect; they do not establish motive, conviction, or a real-time trading signal.
PANW primary filings
PLTR 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.
PANW vs PLTR FAQs
Are PANW and PLTR direct competitors?
Palo Alto Networks, Inc. and Palantir Technologies 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, PANW or PLTR?
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 PANW vs PLTR comparison include live prices?
No. Yield Theory does not republish unlicensed real-time market data. The financial figures on this page are the audited annual numbers Palo Alto Networks, Inc. and Palantir Technologies Inc. tagged in their SEC XBRL filings. Use a regulated broker or licensed quote provider for current prices and valuation multiples.
Where does the company information come from?
Company classifications, fiscal year-ends, and filing links come from the SEC EDGAR submissions API snapshot refreshed 2026-09-26. Business summaries and research themes are maintained by Yield Theory.
Data snapshot: SEC EDGAR submissions API, refreshed 2026-09-26. Independent educational research; not investment advice.
A comparison is the setup. The thesis is the call.
PANW vs PLTR shows how the businesses differ. Membership is the monthly sourced view of who could benefit, what could break, and what evidence matters next. $15/month or $150/year.
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