National Pension Service Has $323.09 Million Stock Position in Palo Alto Networks, Inc. $PANW

Key Points

• National Pension Service increased its Palo Alto Networks stake by 1.7% in the fourth quarter, ending with 1,754,036 shares valued at about $323.1 million.
• Several other institutional investors also added or established positions, and institutions now own 79.82% of Palo Alto Networks’ shares.
• Despite some insider selling, analysts remain generally bullish: recent price-target increases from firms like Benchmark, Wedbush, Wells Fargo, and Mizuho have kept sentiment positive around PANW’s growth outlook.

National Pension Service lifted its holdings in shares of Palo Alto Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ:PANW - Free Report) by 1.7% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 1,754,036 shares of the network technology company's stock after buying an additional 28,936 shares during the period. National Pension Service owned about 0.25% of Palo Alto Networks worth $323,093,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Darwin Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in Palo Alto Networks during the 2nd quarter worth $25,000. Steph & Co. grew its position in Palo Alto Networks by 88.2% during the 4th quarter. Steph & Co. now owns 143 shares of the network technology company's stock worth $26,000 after acquiring an additional 67 shares during the last quarter. Knuff & Co LLC bought a new stake in Palo Alto Networks during the 4th quarter worth $26,000. Luken Investment Analytics LLC grew its position in 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 worth $28,000 after acquiring an additional 102 shares during the last quarter. Finally, WHI TRUST Co LLC bought a new stake in Palo Alto Networks during the 4th quarter worth $28,000. Institutional investors own 79.82% of the company's stock.

Insider Transactions at Palo Alto Networks

In other Palo Alto Networks news, EVP Lee Klarich sold 62,904 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Friday, May 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $258.65, for a total value of $16,270,119.60. Following the sale, the executive vice president owned 235,983 shares in the company, valued at approximately $61,037,002.95. The trade was a 21.05% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, Director John P. Key sold 1,572 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, April 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $173.32, for a total value of $272,459.04. Following the completion of the sale, the director owned 20,000 shares in the company, valued at $3,466,400. This trade represents a 7.29% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. In the last three months, insiders have sold 93,660 shares of company stock worth $21,346,475. 1.40% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Palo Alto Networks Trading Up 3.7%

NASDAQ PANW opened at $257.77 on Friday. The business's 50-day moving average price is $190.33 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $183.27. Palo Alto Networks, Inc. has a 12 month low of $139.57 and a 12 month high of $261.41. The firm has a market capitalization of $210.34 billion, a PE ratio of 142.41, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 8.96 and a beta of 0.77.

More Palo Alto Networks News

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

• Positive Sentiment: Multiple Wall Street firms raised their price targets on PANW this week, including Benchmark to $270, Wedbush to $300, and Wells Fargo reaffirming a Buy with a $285 target, reinforcing optimism around the company’s long-term growth story. Benchmark price target increase
• Positive Sentiment: Analysts remain upbeat on Palo Alto Networks’ platform expansion and cybersecurity demand, with coverage framing the company as a potential beneficiary of AI-driven security needs. AI security supercycle article
• Neutral Sentiment: Reports ahead of Q3 earnings highlight strong platform growth, but investors are waiting for confirmation in the company’s results and guidance before making a bigger move. Q3 earnings preview
• Neutral Sentiment: Market chatter around the upcoming earnings release and key operating metrics is keeping PANW in focus, but this is more of a wait-and-see catalyst than a fresh driver. Wall Street estimates preview
• Negative Sentiment: Some investors are cautious because acquisition costs are rising and share dilution could pressure near-term earnings quality. Acquisition costs and dilution concern
• Negative Sentiment: Sentiment across cybersecurity stocks has also been pressured by weak peer guidance, and an insider sale by EVP Lee Klarich added a modest overhang. Insider sale

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities research analysts recently weighed in on PANW shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price objective on Palo Alto Networks from $225.00 to $200.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, February 19th. HSBC reduced their price objective on Palo Alto Networks from $157.00 to $114.00 in a research report on Thursday, February 19th. UBS Group restated a "neutral" rating on shares of Palo Alto Networks in a research report on Wednesday. Weiss Ratings restated a "hold (c)" rating on shares of Palo Alto Networks in a research report on Friday, May 22nd. Finally, Mizuho boosted their price objective on Palo Alto Networks from $200.00 to $265.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research report on Monday, May 18th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirty-five have given a Buy rating, eight have assigned a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $234.28.

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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