Greenwood Capital Associates LLC lifted its holdings in Palo Alto Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ:PANW – Free Report) by 16.2% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 60,794 shares of the network technology company’s stock after buying an additional 8,497 shares during the quarter. Palo Alto Networks makes up 1.1% of Greenwood Capital Associates LLC’s portfolio, making the stock its 21st biggest position. Greenwood Capital Associates LLC’s holdings in Palo Alto Networks were worth $9,746,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.
Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund grew its holdings in shares of Palo Alto Networks by 18.1% during the first quarter. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund now owns 92,525 shares of the network technology company’s stock valued at $14,834,000 after purchasing an additional 14,179 shares during the last quarter. Taylor Frigon Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Palo Alto Networks during the 1st quarter worth approximately $1,575,000. Sageworth Trust Co bought a new stake in shares of Palo Alto Networks in the 1st quarter worth approximately $305,000. Stenger Family Office LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Palo Alto Networks by 6.5% in the 1st quarter. Stenger Family Office LLC now owns 25,599 shares of the network technology company’s stock worth $4,104,000 after purchasing an additional 1,560 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Lmcg Investments LLC boosted its position in Palo Alto Networks by 71.0% during the 1st quarter. Lmcg Investments LLC now owns 81,228 shares of the network technology company’s stock valued at $13,022,000 after purchasing an additional 33,727 shares during the period. 79.82% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.
Palo Alto Networks Price Performance
Shares of NASDAQ:PANW opened at $320.59 on Thursday. The stock has a market cap of $261.28 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 262.78, a PEG ratio of 12.51 and a beta of 0.91. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.04, a current ratio of 0.86 and a quick ratio of 0.86. Palo Alto Networks, Inc. has a 12 month low of $139.57 and a 12 month high of $368.17. The stock’s 50 day moving average price is $268.04 and its 200 day moving average price is $204.73.
Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades
A number of research analysts recently commented on the company. Barclays restated an “overweight” rating and set a $315.00 price objective (up from $220.00) on shares of Palo Alto Networks in a research note on Wednesday, June 3rd. William Blair reaffirmed an “outperform” rating on shares of Palo Alto Networks in a report on Tuesday, June 16th. The Goldman Sachs Group reiterated a “buy” rating and issued a $330.00 price objective on shares of Palo Alto Networks in a research report on Wednesday, June 3rd. DA Davidson boosted their target price on shares of Palo Alto Networks from $190.00 to $345.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, June 3rd. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein upped their target price on shares of Palo Alto Networks from $209.00 to $253.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, June 3rd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirty-nine have given a Buy rating, eight have assigned a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Palo Alto Networks has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $318.65.
View Our Latest Research Report on Palo Alto Networks
Insider Buying and Selling at Palo Alto Networks
In other Palo Alto Networks news, EVP Lee Klarich sold 62,904 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, May 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $258.65, for a total value of $16,270,119.60. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 235,983 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $61,037,002.95. This represents a 21.05% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, Director John P. Key sold 7,500 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, June 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $279.24, for a total transaction of $2,094,300.00. Following the transaction, the director owned 12,500 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $3,490,500. This trade represents a 37.50% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 101,239 shares of company stock valued at $27,174,360. Corporate insiders own 1.40% of the company’s stock.
Palo Alto Networks News Roundup
Here are the key news stories impacting Palo Alto Networks this week:
- Positive Sentiment: Needham raised its price target on Palo Alto Networks from $350 to $425 and reiterated a buy rating, signaling confidence in further upside for the cybersecurity leader.
- Positive Sentiment: BTIG also lifted its price target on PANW from $333 to $380 while keeping a buy rating, adding to the bullish analyst momentum.
- Positive Sentiment: Recent commentary highlighted strong business momentum, including roughly 60% growth in next-gen security revenue and a sharp share-price rally over the past six months, which supports the bullish long-term thesis. Palo Alto (PANW) Up More than 96% Over The Past 6 Months, Is it The Best Performing Agentic AI Stock?
- Neutral Sentiment: Several articles focused on the stock’s strong run and its role in the agentic AI and cybersecurity themes, reinforcing investor interest but offering no new fundamental catalyst. Shares Soar on Palo Alto’s 60% Next Gen Security Growth
- Neutral Sentiment: One report noted PANW remains near its all-time high and that analysts still expect more gains, but it also flagged that the stock may be vulnerable if expectations become too stretched. Here’s the key risk facing the Palo Alto Networks stock today
- Negative Sentiment: Director Helle Thorning-Schmidt sold 700 shares at $346.85, reducing her position by 10.61%, which can be read as a small negative signal for sentiment.
- Negative Sentiment: Some commentary warned that PANW’s valuation re-rating may have gone too far and that extreme exuberance is a risk, which may be pressuring the stock despite strong fundamentals.
Palo Alto Networks 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.
Read More
- Five stocks we like better than Palo Alto Networks
- A Market Panic Just Discounted the AI Highway’s Tollbooth
- Why Exxon Could Be the Market’s Next Big Comeback Stock
- The Market Just Got Shaken—These 3 ETFs May Come Out Stronger
- Meta Platforms’ Cloud Push: Growth Opportunity Versus AI Concerns
Want to see what other hedge funds are holding PANW? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Palo Alto Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ:PANW – Free Report).
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.
