Geode Capital Management LLC Acquires 540,756 Shares of Palo Alto Networks, Inc. $PANW

Key Points

• Geode Capital Management increased its Palo Alto Networks stake by 3.5% in the fourth quarter, adding 540,756 shares and bringing its total holding to 15.99 million shares worth about $2.93 billion.
• Insider activity was mixed: EVP Dipak Golechha sold 5,000 shares, while CEO Nikesh Arora bought 68,085 shares in late March, signaling differing transactions within company leadership.
• Wall Street sentiment remains broadly positive, with multiple analysts raising or reiterating bullish ratings and price targets; the consensus rating is “Moderate Buy” with an average target of $234.28.

Geode Capital Management LLC grew its position in shares of Palo Alto Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ:PANW - Free Report) by 3.5% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 15,989,257 shares of the network technology company's stock after buying an additional 540,756 shares during the quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC owned 2.29% of Palo Alto Networks worth $2,934,935,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of PANW. Darwin Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Palo Alto Networks during the 2nd quarter valued at $25,000. Steph & Co. lifted its holdings in shares of Palo Alto Networks by 88.2% during the 4th quarter. Steph & Co. now owns 143 shares of the network technology company's stock valued at $26,000 after buying an additional 67 shares during the period. Knuff & Co LLC bought a new position in shares of Palo Alto Networks during the 4th quarter valued at $26,000. Luken Investment Analytics LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Palo Alto Networks by 196.2% during the 4th quarter. Luken Investment Analytics LLC now owns 154 shares of the network technology company's stock valued at $28,000 after buying an additional 102 shares during the period. Finally, WHI TRUST Co LLC bought a new position in shares of Palo Alto Networks during the 4th quarter valued at $28,000. 79.82% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, EVP Dipak Golechha sold 5,000 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Wednesday, April 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $160.42, for a total value of $802,100.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 150,250 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $24,103,105. This trade represents a 3.22% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, CEO Nikesh Arora purchased 68,085 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Friday, March 27th. The stock was acquired at an average price of $146.87 per share, with a total value of $9,999,643.95. Following the purchase, the chief executive officer directly owned 343,394 shares in the company, valued at $50,434,276.78. This represents a 24.73% increase in their position. The SEC filing for this purchase provides additional information. Insiders sold 93,660 shares of company stock worth $21,346,475 in the last quarter. Company insiders own 1.40% of the company's stock.

Palo Alto Networks Stock Performance

Shares of Palo Alto Networks stock opened at $248.47 on Thursday. Palo Alto Networks, Inc. has a one year low of $139.57 and a one year high of $261.41. The stock's fifty day moving average is $188.56 and its 200 day moving average is $182.95. The stock has a market cap of $202.75 billion, a P/E ratio of 137.28, a P/E/G ratio of 9.26 and a beta of 0.77.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Daiwa Securities Group lowered their price target on Palo Alto Networks from $212.00 to $175.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, February 24th. UBS Group reissued a "neutral" rating on shares of Palo Alto Networks in a report on Wednesday. Scotiabank reissued an "outperform" rating on shares of Palo Alto Networks in a report on Wednesday, February 18th. DA Davidson set a $190.00 price target on Palo Alto Networks and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Wednesday, February 18th. Finally, Citizens Jmp restated a "market outperform" rating and issued a $250.00 price objective on shares of Palo Alto Networks in a research note on Wednesday, February 18th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirty-five have assigned a Buy rating, eight have given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Palo Alto Networks presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $234.28.

Trending Headlines about Palo Alto Networks

Here are the key news stories impacting Palo Alto Networks this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Benchmark raised its price target on Palo Alto Networks to $270 from $200 and kept a Buy rating, reinforcing the view that the stock still has meaningful upside. Benchmark price target increase
• Positive Sentiment: Wedbush also lifted its target sharply, to $300 from $225, while reiterating an Outperform rating, signaling continued confidence in Palo Alto Networks’ growth outlook. Wedbush price target increase
• Positive Sentiment: Wells Fargo reiterated a Buy rating with a $285 target, and earlier coverage from other firms also pointed to higher targets, adding to the bullish analyst momentum around PANW. Wells Fargo reiterates Buy
• Neutral Sentiment: Media coverage continues to frame Palo Alto Networks as a potential beneficiary of AI-driven cybersecurity demand, which supports the long-term investment story but is not an immediate catalyst. AI security supercycle article
• Negative Sentiment: Shares have also faced some sector-wide selling after weak guidance from a peer, Zscaler, which dragged on sentiment across cybersecurity stocks. Cybersecurity gloom article
• Negative Sentiment: EVP Lee Klarich sold 62,904 shares at an average price of $258.65, a transaction investors may view cautiously, although the executive still retains a sizable stake. Insider sale filing

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.

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