FrançaisAre analysts right about Palo Alto Networks (PANW)?
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Historical analyst accuracy
For Palo Alto Networks, we replayed every analyst price target of the past 12 months and measured the real outcome: 64% were profitable, average return +30% (644 calls). At 3 months: +9% average return (59% profitable). The higher the %, the more often analysts were right on this stock.
Most reliable analysts on this stock (past track record)
Their past track record on this stock (targets replayed against real prices) — not a forecast of what will happen.
| Analyst / broker | Calls i | % profitable i | Avg return i |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morgan Stanley | 41 | 71% | +37% |
| Barclays | 40 | 65% | +29% |
| JMP Securities | 31 | 61% | +33% |
| Keybanc | 28 | 64% | +24% |
| RBC Capital | 27 | 63% | +23% |
Valuation
Is Palo Alto Networks overvalued, and is it a good time to buy Palo Alto Networks right now? If you're wondering, here's a recap to make up your own mind: Palo Alto Networks's valuation vs its sector median, to weigh alongside analyst reliability (above) and past performance. Educational information, not buy advice.
The P/E (price ÷ earnings per share) = how many years of earnings you pay for the stock. The higher it is, the more growth the market expects — but the pricier the stock, so more vulnerable if growth disappoints. The forward P/E uses next year's expected earnings: lower than the current P/E = rising expected earnings. We compare it to the sector median to see whether the stock is expensive relative to its peers.
| Metric | Palo Alto Networks | Sector median (Information Technology) |
|---|---|---|
| P/E | 294.5 | 39.4 |
| Forward P/E | 93.1 | 20.6 |
| Net margin | 8% | 16% |
👉 Palo Alto Networks trades above its sector median (294.5 vs 39.4) — the market expects higher growth; watch out for disappointment.
📖 P/E, PEG, margin…: see the glossary
Frequently asked questions
Is Palo Alto Networks a buy right now?
The analyst consensus on Palo Alto Networks (PANW) is "Buy" (112 bullish, 1 bearish calls over 12 months). This is not advice: historically, 64% of their targets on this stock turned out profitable over 1 year.
What is Palo Alto Networks's price target?
The median 12-month price target is $386 (+1% vs $383), ranging from $210 to $475 (32 analysts).
Are analysts accurate on Palo Alto Networks?
Over 1 year, 64% of analyst targets on Palo Alto Networks were profitable, for an average return of +30% (across 644 timestamped calls). This is JPI Invest's accuracy metric.
What is the Palo Alto Networks stock forecast?
Analysts target a median of $386 within 12 months, i.e. +1% vs the current price. The most bullish targets $475, the most cautious $210.
What is the Palo Alto Networks stock forecast for 2026 or long term (2030)?
Note: analyst targets are 12-month (median $386, +1%), NOT 2030. No reliable 5-10 year price forecast exists (« 2030 prediction » models are speculative). The most useful inputs: the 12-month median above, these analysts' historical accuracy (64%), and the stock's past trajectory.
Is Palo Alto Networks overvalued?
Its P/E is 294.5, forward P/E 93.1. A forward P/E lower than the current P/E means earnings are expected to grow.
📊 See the full interactive analysis of Palo Alto Networks →
What is JPI Invest?
JPI Invest aggregates analyst recommendations across the entire S&P 500 (plus the S&P MidCap 400), replays them against real prices and measures who predicts best — on results, not reputation. Instead of taking a price target at face value, you see each analyst's track record on each stock.
- 🏆 Analyst leaderboard by real reliability (beating their sector, not just riding the rally)
- 🎯 What to buy: 3 backtested methods over 6 years, from cautious to aggressive
- 💬 AI assistant: ask anything about any stock, with the numbers
- 📊 Portfolio tracking + 🔔 price alerts by email
⚠️ Educational information, not investment advice. Analyst price targets are 12-month and can be wrong. Data via Yahoo Finance, recomputed by JPI Invest.