MSFT vs PANW
Microsoft Corp (MSFT) and Palo Alto Networks, Inc. Common Stock (PANW) compared on valuation, profitability, price performance and market sentiment. MSFT sentiment is positive; PANW is neutral. Last analyzed Jun 24, 2026 and Jul 30, 2026.
Performance
Each rebased to 0% at the start of its recent history — the gap is relative out/under-performance.
- Last close
- $373.94$314.15
- Market cap
- $2.71T$262.02B
- P/E (TTM)
- Stronger: 21.8277.2
- Forward P/E
- Stronger: 18.977.9
- Price / book
- Stronger: 6.69.4
- Net margin
- Stronger: 39.34%7.95%
- Revenue growth
- —+31.10%
- Dividend yield
- 0.97%—
- Beta
- 1.10.91
- 52-week high
- $555.45$368.80
- 52-week low
- $356.28$139.57
marks the stronger side on ratios, margins, growth and yield. Levels like price and market cap aren’t scored.
Where they differ
Microsoft Corp
Technology · Software - Infrastructure
Microsoft develops and licenses software for businesses and consumers, and is best known for the Windows operating system and the Office productivity suite. Its business is organized into three segments of broadly similar scale. Productivity and Business Processes covers Office and Microsoft 365 productivity applications, Exchange, SharePoint, Teams, LinkedIn, and the Dynamics business applications. Intelligent Cloud comprises server products and cloud services, including the Azure platform, Windows Server, and SQL Server. More Personal Computing includes the Windows client business, Xbox and gaming, Bing search and advertising, and Surface devices. Alongside its software and cloud businesses, the company invests in artificial intelligence, integrating AI assistants and services across its products and its Azure platform.
Full MSFT overview →Palo Alto Networks, Inc. Common Stock
Technology · Software - Infrastructure
Palo Alto Networks is a cybersecurity company headquartered in Santa Clara, California, serving customers across the Americas, EMEA, and Asia Pacific. Its portfolio spans three broad areas: network security, including hardware and virtual firewalls, the Prisma Access secure access service edge offering, and centralized management through Strata Cloud Manager; cloud security, covering protection for applications and workloads across multi-cloud and hybrid environments; and security operations, delivered through the Cortex platform, which includes XSIAM for AI-driven security operations, XDR for threat detection and response, XSOAR for orchestration and automation, and Xpanse for attack surface management. The company also offers security for AI deployments and provides threat intelligence and incident response services under the Unit 42 name. Much of the business is subscription-based, with services covering areas such as threat prevention, URL filtering, DNS security, data loss prevention, IoT security, and SaaS application security, alongside support, professional services, and training and certification programs. Palo Alto Networks was incorporated in 2005 and sells through channel partners as well as directly to enterprises, service providers, and government organizations across industries including financial services, healthcare, energy, manufacturing, telecommunications, education, and the public sector.
Full PANW overview →MSFT vs PANW: frequently asked questions
Which has the higher market cap, MSFT or PANW?
MSFT has the higher market capitalization. MSFT is about $2.71T, compared with about $262.02B for PANW.
Which has the lower trailing P/E, MSFT or PANW?
MSFT has the lower trailing P/E. MSFT trades at 21.8 times trailing earnings, versus 277.2 for PANW.
Which has stronger market sentiment, MSFT or PANW?
MSFT has the stronger composite sentiment score. MSFT scores 31 and PANW scores 12 on a −100 to +100 scale.
Go deeper on MSFT and PANW
Line up margins, growth, valuation and shared ETF exposure side by side — then read the full thesis, signals and risk levels behind each name.