PANW
Palo Alto Networks Inc. Technology - Cybersecurity Investor Relations →
Palo Alto Networks Inc. (PANW) closed at $162.95 as of 2026-03-20, trading 12.3% above its 200-week moving average of $145.04. The stock is currently moving closer to the line, down from 15.5% last week. The 14-week RSI sits at 36, indicating neutral momentum.
Trading volume is running at 1.2x of its 14-week average, which is in the normal range. The balance between buying and selling volume (1.30 ratio) is neutral — neither side is clearly dominating.
Over the past 665 weeks of data, PANW has crossed below its 200-week moving average 3 times. On average, these episodes lasted 14 weeks. Historically, investors who bought PANW at the start of these episodes saw an average one-year return of +78.5%.
With a market cap of $133.0 billion, PANW is a large-cap stock. The company generates a free cash flow yield of 2.1%. Return on equity stands at 16.3%, a solid level. The stock trades at 12.2x book value.
Share count has increased 11.8% over three years, indicating dilution. PANW passes our Buffett quality screen: high return on equity, low debt, and positive free cash flow.
Over the past 12.8 years, a hypothetical investment of $100 in PANW would have grown to $2319, compared to $506 for the S&P 500. That represents an annualized return of 27.8% vs 13.5% for the index — confirming PANW as a market-beating investment and the kind of quality company where buying during 200-week moving average touches has historically been rewarded.
Free cash flow has been growing at a 24.6% compound annual rate, with 4 consecutive years of positive cash generation.
Business Health
Annual financials — how the underlying business has performed over the past several years.
Cash Flow Free cash flow & net income ($M)
Revenue Annual revenue ($M) — business growth proxy
Total Debt Balance sheet debt ($M)
ROIC Return on invested capital (%)
FCF Yield Free cash flow / market cap (%) — Yartseva signal
Gross Margin Pricing power & competitive moat (%)
Shares Outstanding Buybacks vs dilution (millions)
Growth of $100: PANW vs S&P 500
Monthly data normalized to $100 at start. Vertical dashed lines mark 200-week MA touches.
What Happens After PANW Crosses Below the Line?
Across 3 historical episodes, buying PANW when it crossed below its 200-week moving average produced an average return of +83.3% after 12 months (median +95.0%), compared to +32.7% for the S&P 500 over the same periods. 100% of those episodes were profitable after one year. After 24 months, the average return was +233.3% vs +45.3% for the index.
Each line shows $100 invested at the moment PANW crossed below its 200-week MA. Bold blue = stock average. Gray dashed = S&P 500 average over same periods.
Historical Touches
PANW has crossed below its 200-week MA 3 times with an average 1-year return of +78.5% after recovery.
| Crossed Below | Recovered | Weeks | Max Depth | 1-Year Return | Return Since Touch |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 2013 | Dec 2013 | 24 | 23.8% | +92.6% | +2219.0% |
| Feb 2017 | May 2017 | 13 | 8.5% | +53.0% | +746.1% |
| Mar 2020 | Apr 2020 | 6 | 19.3% | +90.0% | +455.0% |
| Average | 14 | — | +78.5% | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is PANW below its 200-week moving average?
No. Palo Alto Networks Inc. (PANW) is currently 12.3% above its 200-week moving average of $145.04. It would need to fall to $145.04 to cross below the line.
What is PANW's 200-week moving average price?
Palo Alto Networks Inc.'s 200-week moving average is $145.04 as of 2026-03-20. This is the average weekly closing price over roughly the last 4 years, and it acts as a long-term trend line. When a stock drops below this level, it can signal that the price has fallen far enough from the long-term trend to attract value-oriented investors.
What happens when PANW drops below its 200-week moving average?
PANW has crossed below its 200-week moving average 3 times in our data. On average, buying at that moment produced a one-year return of +78.5%. These dips have historically been decent entry points. These episodes lasted 14 weeks on average.
Is PANW a good value right now?
Here's what our data says about PANW as of 2026-03-20: The stock is above its 200-week moving average, so it doesn't currently meet our primary signal. The 14-week RSI is 36. Free cash flow yield is 2.1%. Return on equity is 16.3%. Price-to-book is 12.2x. This is not a buy or sell recommendation — always do your own research.
How does PANW compare to the S&P 500?
Over the past 12.8 years, $100 invested in PANW would have grown to $2319, compared to $506 for the S&P 500. That's 27.8% annualized vs 13.5% for the index. PANW has outperformed the broader market over this period.
Not financial advice. This is an educational tool. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Do your own research before making investment decisions.
Data as of week of 2026-03-20