PANW
Palo Alto Networks Inc. Technology - Cybersecurity Investor Relations →
Palo Alto Networks Inc. (PANW) closed at $159.32 as of 2026-02-02, trading 11.5% above its 200-week moving average of $142.94. The stock is currently moving closer to the line, down from 24.1% last week. With a 14-week RSI of 24, PANW is in oversold territory.
Over the past 659 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 $111.0 billion, PANW is a large-cap stock. The company generates a free cash flow yield of 2.7%. Return on equity stands at 15.3%, a solid level. The stock trades at 12.7x 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 $2267, compared to $537 for the S&P 500. That represents an annualized return of 27.7% vs 14.1% 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.
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% | +2167.4% |
| Feb 2017 | May 2017 | 13 | 8.5% | +53.0% | +727.3% |
| Mar 2020 | Apr 2020 | 6 | 19.3% | +90.0% | +442.6% |
| Average | 14 | — | +78.5% | — |
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 Friday close, 2026-02-02