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Palo Alto Networks (PANW) Stock Forecast & Price Target

Palo Alto Networks logo
$328.92 -9.57 (-2.83%)
As of 02:31 PM Eastern
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Palo Alto Networks - Analysts' Recommendations and Stock Price Forecast (2026)

Consensus Rating

Sell
0
Hold
11
Buy
39

Based on 50 Wall Street analysts who have issued ratings for Palo Alto Networks in the last 12 months, the stock has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy." Out of the 50 analysts, 11 have given a hold rating, and 39 have given a buy rating for PANW.

Consensus Price Target

$387.60
17.84% Upside
According to the 50 analysts' twelve-month price targets for Palo Alto Networks, the average price target is $387.60. The highest price target for PANW is $475.00, while the lowest price target for PANW is $175.00. The average price target represents a forecasted upside of 17.84% from the current price of $328.92.
MarketBeat calculates consensus analyst ratings for stocks using the most recent rating from each Wall Street analyst that has rated a stock within the last twelve months. Each analyst's rating is normalized to a standardized rating score of 1 (sell), 2 (hold), 3 (buy) or 4 (strong buy). Analyst consensus ratings scores are calculated using the mean average of the number of normalized sell, hold, buy and strong buy ratings from Wall Street analysts. Each stock's consensus analyst rating is derived from its calculated consensus ratings score (0 to .5 = Strong Sell, .5 to 1 = Sell, 1 to 1.5 = Reduce, 1.5 to 2.5 = Hold, 2.5 to 3.0 = Moderate Buy, 3.0 to 3.5 = Buy, >3.5 = Strong Buy). MarketBeat's consensus price targets are a mean average of the most recent available price targets set by each analyst that has set a price target for the stock in the last twelve months. MarketBeat's consensus ratings and consensus price targets may differ from those calculated by other firms due to differences in methodology and available data.
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PANW Analyst Ratings Over Time

TypeCurrent Forecast
9/11/25 to 9/11/26
1 Month Ago
8/12/25 to 8/12/26
3 Months Ago
6/13/25 to 6/13/26
1 Year Ago
9/11/24 to 9/11/25
Strong Buy
0 Strong Buy rating(s)
0 Strong Buy rating(s)
2 Strong Buy rating(s)
0 Strong Buy rating(s)
Buy
39 Buy rating(s)
41 Buy rating(s)
37 Buy rating(s)
28 Buy rating(s)
Hold
11 Hold rating(s)
6 Hold rating(s)
8 Hold rating(s)
10 Hold rating(s)
Sell
0 Sell rating(s)
1 Sell rating(s)
1 Sell rating(s)
2 Sell rating(s)
Consensus Price Target$387.60$337.35$306.59$211.68
Forecasted Upside17.84% Upside-12.83% Downside9.64% Upside6.73% Upside
Consensus RatingModerate BuyModerate BuyModerate BuyModerate Buy

PANW Analyst Recommendations By Month

The chart below shows how a company's ratings by analysts have changed over time. Each bar represents the previous year of ratings for that month. Within each bar, the sell ratings are shown in red, the hold ratings are shown in yellow, the buy ratings are shown in green, and the strong buy ratings are shown in dark green.
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PANW Price Targets by Month

The chart below shows how a company's share price and consensus price target have changed over time. The dark blue line represents the company's actual price. The lighter blue line represents the stock's consensus price target. The even lighter blue range in the background of the two lines represents the low price target and the high price target for each stock.
Skip Chart and View Analyst Price Target HistorySkip Chart & View Price History Table

Palo Alto Networks Stock vs. The Competition

TypePalo Alto NetworksTechnology CompaniesBroader Market
Consensus Rating Score
2.78
2.23
2.53
Consensus RatingModerate BuyHoldModerate Buy
Predicted Upside14.13% Upside430.32% Upside17.26% Upside
News Sentiment Rating
Positive News

See Recent PANW News
Positive News
Positive News
DateBrokerageAnalystActionRatingPrice TargetReport Date
Upside/Downside
Details
9/11/2026
Wedbush logo
Wedbush
5 of 5 stars
Initiated CoverageOutperform$400.00+18.17%
9/8/2026
Cantor Fitzgerald logo
Cantor Fitzgerald
5 of 5 stars
Jonathan Ruykhaver
Jonathan Ruykhaver
3 of 5 stars
Reiterated RatingOverweight$425.00+27.53%
9/7/2026
Citigroup Inc. logo
Citigroup
4 of 5 stars
Fatima Boolani
Fatima Boolani
2 of 5 stars
DowngradeBuyNeutral
9/7/2026 DowngradeModerate BuyHold$320.00 ➝ $346.00+2.68%
9/3/2026 Lower Target$201.00 ➝ $190.00-43.19%
9/3/2026Reiterated RatingBuy$425.00+30.43%
9/2/2026 Reiterated RatingBuy$371.00 ➝ $390.00+18.73%
9/2/2026Set Target$400.00+21.44%
9/2/2026 Reiterated RatingBuy$350.00 ➝ $430.00+29.31%
9/2/2026Set TargetEqual Weight$370.00 ➝ $400.00+21.44%
9/2/2026 Set TargetMarket Perform$302.00 ➝ $360.00+9.30%
9/2/2026Reiterated RatingNeutral$210.00 ➝ $300.00-8.72%
9/2/2026Reiterated RatingOutperform$400.00 ➝ $450.00+24.28%
9/2/2026Reiterated RatingOverweight$345.00 ➝ $410.00+13.23%
9/2/2026Reiterated RatingOverweight$387.00 ➝ $394.00+8.81%
9/2/2026Set TargetOutperform$400.00 ➝ $420.00+15.99%
9/2/2026Reiterated RatingBuy
9/2/2026Reiterated RatingOverweight$370.00 ➝ $375.00+3.57%
9/2/2026Reiterated RatingNeutral
9/2/2026DowngradeSector OutperformHold
9/2/2026 Reiterated RatingOutperform$253.00-30.13%
9/2/2026Boost TargetOutperform$380.00 ➝ $400.00+19.60%
9/2/2026 Boost TargetOverweight$421.00 ➝ $428.00+27.97%
9/2/2026Boost TargetBuy$345.00 ➝ $420.00+27.81%
9/2/2026Boost TargetOutperform$434.00 ➝ $475.00+31.18%
9/2/2026Boost TargetPositive$350.00 ➝ $415.00+14.61%
9/2/2026Boost TargetBuy$380.00 ➝ $404.00+11.57%
9/2/2026Reiterated RatingBuy$425.00+17.37%
9/2/2026Boost TargetBuy$355.00 ➝ $415.00+14.61%
9/1/2026 Reiterated RatingHold (C-)
8/31/2026Reiterated RatingOutperform
8/28/2026Reiterated RatingBuy$335.00 ➝ $450.00+17.54%
8/25/2026Boost TargetOverweight$326.00 ➝ $384.00+9.43%
8/24/2026Boost TargetBuy$340.00 ➝ $400.00+11.72%
8/21/2026Boost TargetHold$290.00 ➝ $350.00+4.66%
8/20/2026Reiterated RatingOutperform$335.00 ➝ $415.00+15.57%
8/19/2026Reiterated RatingNeutral$300.00 ➝ $390.00+8.32%
8/19/2026Set TargetOutperform$305.00 ➝ $415.00+15.26%
8/19/2026Set TargetBuy$330.00 ➝ $415.00+10.92%
8/18/2026 Set Target$415.00+10.44%
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8/17/2026Reiterated RatingOverweight$420.00 ➝ $475.00+23.61%
8/12/2026Boost TargetMarket Outperform$320.00 ➝ $415.00+8.88%
7/15/2026Boost TargetBuy$245.00 ➝ $430.00+19.97%
7/1/2026Reiterated RatingOutperform
6/29/2026 Boost TargetBuy$185.00 ➝ $433.00+42.34%
6/16/2026 Reiterated RatingOutperform
6/3/2026 Reiterated RatingOutperform$320.00+7.68%
6/3/2026Boost TargetBuy$290.00 ➝ $360.00+21.14%
2/24/2026 Lower TargetOutperform$212.00 ➝ $175.00+21.41%
11/20/2025Reiterated RatingHold
10/20/2025Boost TargetBuy$215.00 ➝ $240.00+12.86%
7/31/2025DowngradeOverweightSector Weight
5/21/2025Reiterated RatingBuy$230.00 ➝ $230.00+18.26%
11/7/2024 Reiterated RatingMixedNegative

Analyst ratings data on MarketBeat is provided by Benzinga and other data providers. This page was last refreshed on Friday at 02:27 PM ET.


Should I Buy Palo Alto Networks Stock? PANW Pros and Cons Explained

These pros and cons were generated based on recent news and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest and most accurate insights. They were last updated on Thursday, September 10, 2026. Please send any questions or comments about these Palo Alto Networks pros and cons to contact@marketbeat.com.

Palo Alto Networks
Bull Case

green Wall Street bull icon

Here are some ways that investors could benefit from investing in Palo Alto Networks, Inc.:

  • The company recently reported strong financial performance for the quarter ended September 1, 2026, with revenue of $3.41 billion, which exceeded analyst expectations of $3.35 billion and represented a 34.5% year-over-year increase. This significant growth in top-line revenue indicates robust demand for the company's cybersecurity solutions, providing a solid foundation for future earnings potential.
  • Palo Alto Networks, Inc. has set ambitious guidance for fiscal year 2027, projecting EPS between $4.16 and $4.19, which is a substantial increase from the current fiscal year forecast of $2.30. This upward trajectory in earnings per share suggests that the company expects continued acceleration in profitability and operational efficiency, which could drive further stock appreciation.
  • The stock is currently trading at $335.10, which is below the consensus price target of $385.67 set by 39 analysts who have rated the stock with a Buy rating. This discrepancy between the current market price and the average analyst target suggests that the stock may be undervalued relative to its perceived long-term worth, offering potential upside for investors.
  • Institutional investors have shown continued confidence in the company, with several funds increasing their holdings in the second quarter of 2026. For example, Pinnacle Wealth Management Advisory Group LLC grew its position by 22.3%, and Capital Analysts LLC raised its stake by 1.6%. This accumulation by professional investors often signals positive sentiment and can contribute to sustained demand for the stock.
  • The company's XSIAM ARR (Annual Recurring Revenue) surged by 70% in fiscal 2026, driven by platform adoption, multi-module use, and AI security demand. This rapid growth in a key product line highlights the company's ability to innovate and capture new market segments, particularly in the high-growth area of AI-driven cybersecurity.

Palo Alto Networks
Bear Case

red Wall Street bear icon

Investors should be bearish about investing in Palo Alto Networks, Inc. for these reasons:

  • The stock carries a high price-to-earnings ratio of 657.07, which is significantly above the market average. This premium valuation means that investors are paying a high price for each dollar of earnings, which can limit upside potential if the company fails to meet its aggressive growth targets or if market sentiment shifts.
  • Recent insider activity has been predominantly negative, with insiders selling a total of 38,258 shares worth $11,050,673 over the last ninety days. For instance, Director James J. Goetz sold 20,000 shares in June 2026, and CAO Josh D. Paul sold 900 shares in September 2026. While insider sales can be due to personal financial reasons, a consistent pattern of selling may signal a lack of confidence in the stock's near-term performance.
  • Some analysts have recently downgraded their ratings on the stock. Phillip Securities lowered its rating from "moderate buy" to "hold" in September 2026, and Scotiabank cut its rating from "sector outperform" to "hold" in the same month. These downgrades suggest that some investors believe the stock's current price may not fully reflect its risk profile or future growth prospects.
  • The company's net margin is relatively low at 2.67%, indicating that it retains a small portion of its revenue as profit. This could be a concern for investors who prioritize profitability and may suggest that the company is investing heavily in growth initiatives that have not yet translated into higher margins.
  • Short interest in the stock has been increasing, with 22,414,335 shares shorted as of August 14, 2026, representing a 6.73% month-to-month increase. A rising short interest can indicate that some investors are betting against the stock, which could lead to increased volatility and downward pressure on the share price.

PANW Forecast - Frequently Asked Questions

According to the research reports of 50 Wall Street equities research analysts, the average twelve-month stock price forecast for Palo Alto Networks is $387.60, with a high forecast of $475.00 and a low forecast of $175.00.

50 Wall Street equities research analysts have issued "buy," "hold," and "sell" ratings for Palo Alto Networks in the last year. There are currently 11 hold ratings and 39 buy ratings for the stock. The consensus among Wall Street equities research analysts is that investors should "moderate buy" PANW shares.

According to analysts, Palo Alto Networks's stock has a predicted upside of 17.84% based on their 12-month stock forecasts.

Over the previous 90 days, Palo Alto Networks's stock had 3 downgrades and 1 upgrade by analysts.

Analysts like Palo Alto Networks more than other "technology" companies. The consensus rating for Palo Alto Networks is Moderate Buy while the average consensus rating for "technology" companies is Hold. Learn more on how PANW compares to other companies.


MarketBeat monitors more than a dozen sources for Palo Alto Networks analyst ratings, with the most recent rating issued on 9/11/2026.
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