Palo Alto Networks (PANW) Competitors

Cisco Systems (NASDAQ:CSCO) and Palo Alto Networks (NASDAQ:PANW) are both large-cap computer and technology companies, but which is the superior business? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their valuation, analyst recommendations, risk, media sentiment, dividends, earnings, institutional ownership, community ranking and profitability.

Which has more risk & volatility, CSCO or PANW?

Cisco Systems has a beta of 0.88, suggesting that its share price is 12% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Palo Alto Networks has a beta of 0.97, suggesting that its share price is 3% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Do insiders and institutionals hold more shares of CSCO or PANW?

73.3% of Cisco Systems shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 79.8% of Palo Alto Networks shares are held by institutional investors. 0.0% of Cisco Systems shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 2.5% of Palo Alto Networks shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Does the media prefer CSCO or PANW?

In the previous week, Cisco Systems had 23 more articles in the media than Palo Alto Networks. MarketBeat recorded 73 mentions for Cisco Systems and 50 mentions for Palo Alto Networks. Palo Alto Networks' average media sentiment score of 1.39 beat Cisco Systems' score of 1.22 indicating that Palo Alto Networks is being referred to more favorably in the news media.

Company	Very Positive	Positive	Neutral	Negative	Very Negative	Overall Sentiment
Cisco Systems	59 Very Positive mention(s)	1 Positive mention(s)	8 Neutral mention(s)	1 Negative mention(s)	0 Very Negative mention(s)	Positive
Palo Alto Networks	43 Very Positive mention(s)	0 Positive mention(s)	3 Neutral mention(s)	1 Negative mention(s)	0 Very Negative mention(s)	Positive

Does the MarketBeat Community favor CSCO or PANW?

Cisco Systems received 222 more outperform votes than Palo Alto Networks when rated by MarketBeat users. However, 78.47% of users gave Palo Alto Networks an outperform vote while only 73.01% of users gave Cisco Systems an outperform vote.

Company	Underperform	Outperform
Cisco Systems	Outperform Votes 2453 73.01%	Underperform Votes 907 26.99%
Palo Alto Networks	Outperform Votes 2231 78.47%	Underperform Votes 612 21.53%

Is CSCO or PANW more profitable?

Cisco Systems has a net margin of 16.96% compared to Palo Alto Networks' net margin of 14.64%. Cisco Systems' return on equity of 26.08% beat Palo Alto Networks' return on equity.

Company	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
Cisco Systems	16.96%	26.08%	9.65%
Palo Alto Networks	14.64%	21.93%	6.07%

Do analysts recommend CSCO or PANW?

Cisco Systems currently has a consensus target price of $68.00, indicating a potential upside of 3.93%. Palo Alto Networks has a consensus target price of $208.00, indicating a potential upside of 6.66%. Given Palo Alto Networks' higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe Palo Alto Networks is more favorable than Cisco Systems.

Company	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
Cisco Systems	0 Sell rating(s)	8 Hold rating(s)	12 Buy rating(s)	2 Strong Buy rating(s)	2.73
Palo Alto Networks	2 Sell rating(s)	13 Hold rating(s)	27 Buy rating(s)	0 Strong Buy rating(s)	2.60

Which has higher valuation and earnings, CSCO or PANW?

Cisco Systems has higher revenue and earnings than Palo Alto Networks. Cisco Systems is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Palo Alto Networks, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Company	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
Cisco Systems	$55.62B	4.66	$10.32B	$2.45	26.70
Palo Alto Networks	$8.87B	14.65	$2.58B	$1.75	111.43

Summary

Cisco Systems beats Palo Alto Networks on 10 of the 19 factors compared between the two stocks.