Palo Alto Networks (NASDAQ:PANW – Free Report) had its price target lifted by BTIG Research from $380.00 to $404.00 in a report published on Wednesday, Marketbeat reports. BTIG Research currently has a buy rating on the network technology company’s stock.
Other equities research analysts have also recently issued research reports about the stock. Stifel Nicolaus set a $415.00 price objective on shares of Palo Alto Networks and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 19th. Northland Securities boosted their target price on shares of Palo Alto Networks from $190.00 to $302.00 and gave the company a “market perform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, June 3rd. Piper Sandler reissued an “overweight” rating and set a $345.00 price target (up from $265.00) on shares of Palo Alto Networks in a report on Wednesday, June 3rd. Stephens raised their price target on shares of Palo Alto Networks from $180.00 to $300.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, June 3rd. Finally, William Blair reaffirmed an “outperform” rating on shares of Palo Alto Networks in a report on Tuesday, June 16th. Forty investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and nine have given a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Palo Alto Networks has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $385.67.
Get Our Latest Research Report on PANW
Palo Alto Networks Stock Performance
Palo Alto Networks (NASDAQ:PANW – Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, September 1st. The network technology company reported $1.02 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.98 by $0.04. The firm had revenue of $3.41 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.35 billion. Palo Alto Networks had a return on equity of 8.50% and a net margin of 2.67%.The company’s revenue was up 34.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $0.95 earnings per share. Palo Alto Networks has set its FY 2027 guidance at 4.160-4.190 EPS and its Q1 2027 guidance at 0.960-0.980 EPS. On average, equities analysts forecast that Palo Alto Networks will post 2.27 earnings per share for the current year.
Insider Transactions at Palo Alto Networks
In other Palo Alto Networks news, EVP Dipak Golechha sold 5,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, June 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $289.56, for a total transaction of $1,447,800.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 145,250 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $42,058,590. This trade represents a 3.33% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, Director Aparna Bawa sold 290 shares of Palo Alto Networks stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, July 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $348.74, for a total transaction of $101,134.60. Following the completion of the sale, the director owned 6,437 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,244,839.38. This trade represents a 4.31% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders have sold 38,635 shares of company stock worth $11,150,578 in the last ninety days. Company insiders own 1.40% of the company’s stock.
Institutional Inflows and Outflows
Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Darwin Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in Palo Alto Networks during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $25,000. Knuff & Co LLC purchased a new position in shares of Palo Alto Networks in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Solstein Capital LLC purchased a new position in shares of Palo Alto Networks in the second quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Sittner & Nelson LLC boosted its stake in shares of Palo Alto Networks by 73.8% in the fourth quarter. Sittner & Nelson LLC now owns 146 shares of the network technology company’s stock worth $27,000 after acquiring an additional 62 shares during the last quarter. Finally, N.E.W. Advisory Services LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Palo Alto Networks in the second quarter worth approximately $27,000. 79.82% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.
Palo Alto Networks News Roundup
Here are the key news stories impacting Palo Alto Networks this week:
- Positive Sentiment: Technical and earnings support: A bullish hammer chart pattern suggests potential near-term support after the recent pullback. Rising earnings estimates and the company’s fiscal fourth-quarter beat—$1.02 in adjusted EPS versus $0.98 expected, with revenue up 34.5% to $3.41 billion—also support the possibility of a rebound. Palo Alto Could Find a Support Soon
- Positive Sentiment: Analyst optimism: DA Davidson raised its price target to $420, while Susquehanna and BTIG lifted targets to $415 and $404, respectively. Cantor Fitzgerald reiterated an overweight rating, adding to a generally bullish Wall Street view. DA Davidson Raises Price Target
- Positive Sentiment: Long-term AI opportunity: Analysts and commentary continue to highlight Palo Alto Networks’ expanding cybersecurity platform and products designed to protect enterprises from AI-related threats. The company’s strong growth profile has helped sustain investor interest despite recent volatility. Palo Alto Networks AI Cybersecurity Growth
- Neutral Sentiment: Sector pressure is limiting momentum: Zscaler’s softer fiscal 2027 growth outlook overshadowed its earnings beat and weighed on cybersecurity peers. Palo Alto Networks has been more resilient than some competitors, but sector-wide concerns remain. Zscaler Growth Guidance Pressures Cybersecurity Stocks
- Neutral Sentiment: AI acquisition: Palo Alto Networks reportedly paid about $500 million in cash and stock for Console, an AI help-desk automation startup. The deal could broaden its AI capabilities, although integration and valuation risks may limit its immediate stock impact. Palo Alto Networks Console Acquisition
- Negative Sentiment: Premium valuation and insider sale: PANW’s very high valuation leaves little room for disappointment, while Chief Accounting Officer Josh Paul’s sale of 900 shares worth approximately $336,000 adds a minor cautionary signal. However, the sale reduced his holdings by only 1.23%, limiting its significance.
Palo Alto Networks Company Profile
Palo Alto Networks (NASDAQ: PANW) is a cybersecurity company founded in 2005 and headquartered in Santa Clara, California. The firm develops a broad suite of security products and services designed to prevent successful cyberattacks and protect enterprise networks, clouds, and endpoints. Built around a platform strategy, its offerings target threat prevention, detection, response and governance across hybrid and multi-cloud environments.
The company’s product portfolio includes next‑generation firewalls as a core on‑premises capability, alongside cloud‑delivered security services and software for securing public and private clouds.
Featured Stories
- Five stocks we like better than Palo Alto Networks
- Revolution Medicines Got Its Breakthrough—What Moves It Next?
- Retail Earnings Just Exposed a Bigger Divide in the U.S. Consumer Economy
- FB Financial’s Southern Expansion and Buybacks Drive Analyst Optimism
- AST SpaceMobile Stock Soared 12%—This Was the Catalyst
Receive News & Ratings for Palo Alto Networks Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Palo Alto Networks and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
