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PANW vs ZS
Which Stock Would AI Choose? Palo Alto Networks (PANW) vs. Zscaler (ZS) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- PANW has delivered stronger year-to-date performance with gains exceeding 100%, compared to ZS which remains down approximately 18% year-to-date as of late August 2026.
- Both companies operate in the cybersecurity sector with exposure to AI-driven security demand, though PANW maintains a significantly larger market capitalization of roughly $303 billion versus ZS at about $30 billion.
- Recent market activity shows PANW benefiting from analyst upgrades and sector momentum ahead of its fiscal fourth-quarter results scheduled for September 1, 2026.
- ZS reported solid fiscal third-quarter results with 25% revenue growth and received price-target increases, including from JPMorgan, supporting a recovery in its share price during recent weeks.
- PANW offers broader platform capabilities and profitability, while ZS specializes in cloud-native Zero Trust architecture with emphasis on security service edge solutions.
- Relative performance reflects contrasting scale and investor positioning, with PANW demonstrating greater stability in recent market conditions.
Introduction
Investors and traders frequently compare PANW and ZS as leading cybersecurity providers navigating the shift toward AI-enhanced defenses and cloud security. Both stocks attract attention from growth-oriented portfolios seeking exposure to enterprise digital transformation and threat mitigation trends. This comparison examines observable differences in business models, recent price behavior, and market positioning to assist those evaluating relative opportunities within the sector. Participants in algorithmic trading strategies or sector rotation may find particular relevance in assessing how these names have responded to broader technology sentiment over recent weeks.
PANW Overview and Recent Performance
Palo Alto Networks delivers a comprehensive cybersecurity platform encompassing network security, cloud protection, and AI-driven threat intelligence. The company has maintained leadership in enterprise environments through integrated solutions that address evolving attack surfaces. In recent market activity, PANW shares experienced notable upward movement, including surges of approximately 10-13% on analyst support and sector interest in AI security tools. The stock traded near $372 as of August 28, 2026, within a 52-week range of $139.57 to $398.88. Positive sentiment has been influenced by strategic partnerships, product expansions such as observability acquisitions, and anticipation surrounding fiscal fourth-quarter results due September 1, 2026. Broader investor focus on cybersecurity resilience amid AI advancements has contributed to relative outperformance versus broader market indices in recent weeks.
ZS Overview and Recent Performance
Zscaler provides a cloud-native Zero Trust security platform emphasizing secure access service edge (SASE) and security service edge (SSE) capabilities. The company targets organizations transitioning workloads to cloud and hybrid environments with an architecture designed to reduce attack surfaces. During recent market activity, ZS shares traded near $184 as of August 28, 2026, after registering gains supported by analyst price-target increases including a JPMorgan adjustment to $215. The stock operates within a 52-week range of $114.63 to $336.99. Performance has reflected recovery momentum following earlier fiscal 2026 results that showed 25% revenue growth and improved operating margins. Channel expansions and recognition in industry evaluations have supported sentiment, though year-to-date returns remain negative amid sector rotation dynamics.
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Head-to-Head Comparison
PANW operates at larger scale with diversified revenue streams and established profitability, providing greater resilience across market cycles compared to ZS, which remains focused on high-growth Zero Trust and SSE offerings with narrower but specialized exposure. Growth drivers for both center on AI integration and cloud adoption, yet PANW benefits from broader platform reach while ZS emphasizes pure-play cloud-native architecture. Recent momentum has favored PANW through stronger price appreciation and analyst attention ahead of earnings, whereas ZS has shown more measured recovery tied to specific upgrades. Risk factors include valuation premiums for both, with PANW carrying higher absolute market capitalization and ZS exhibiting greater historical volatility. Sector exposure overlaps significantly in cybersecurity, though differing emphasis on firewall heritage versus cloud security creates distinct positioning relative to peers.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Based on observable factors such as trend consistency, relative stability, and positioning ahead of near-term catalysts, Tickeron’s AI would currently assign a higher probabilistic weighting to PANW over ZS. The larger company’s recent price behavior and scale appear to align more closely with sustained momentum signals in available data. This assessment remains probabilistic and subject to evolving market inputs rather than a definitive outlook.
Disclaimer
The information on this webpage is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as investment advice, a recommendation to purchase or sell any security, or an offer or solicitation related to investments. It does not consider your personal financial situation, goals, or risk profile, and all investing carries inherent risks, including the possibility of losing your entire investment. For more details, please review our full disclaimer.
To compare these two companies we present long-term analysis, their fundamental ratings and make comparative short-term technical analysis which are presented below. The conclusion is PANW is a Hold and ZS is a Hold.
| PANW | ZS | PANW / ZS | |
| Capitalization | 307B | 32.2B | 953% |
| EBITDA | 1.39B | 179M | 777% |
| Gain YTD | 97.383 | -12.204 | -798% |
| P/E Ratio | 937.65 | N/A | - |
| Revenue | 11.5B | 3.35B | 343% |
| Total Cash | 3.07B | 3.47B | 88% |
| Total Debt | 2.5B | 1.86B | 135% |
PANW | ZS | ||
|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 18 | 84 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 99 Overvalued | 60 Fair valued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 5 | 100 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 89 | 92 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 6 | 40 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 2 | 100 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | 50 | 50 |
Tickeron ratings are formulated such that a rating of 1 designates the most successful stocks in a given industry, while a rating of 100 points to the least successful stocks for that industry.
ZS's Valuation (60) in the Packaged Software industry is somewhat better than the same rating for PANW (99) in the Computer Communications industry. This means that ZS’s stock grew somewhat faster than PANW’s over the last 12 months.
PANW's Profit vs Risk Rating (5) in the Computer Communications industry is significantly better than the same rating for ZS (100) in the Packaged Software industry. This means that PANW’s stock grew significantly faster than ZS’s over the last 12 months.
PANW's SMR Rating (89) in the Computer Communications industry is in the same range as ZS (92) in the Packaged Software industry. This means that PANW’s stock grew similarly to ZS’s over the last 12 months.
PANW's Price Growth Rating (6) in the Computer Communications industry is somewhat better than the same rating for ZS (40) in the Packaged Software industry. This means that PANW’s stock grew somewhat faster than ZS’s over the last 12 months.
PANW's P/E Growth Rating (2) in the Computer Communications industry is significantly better than the same rating for ZS (100) in the Packaged Software industry. This means that PANW’s stock grew significantly faster than ZS’s over the last 12 months.
| PANW | ZS | |
|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 69% | 2 days ago 89% |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 69% | 2 days ago 72% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 80% | 2 days ago 79% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 65% | 2 days ago 73% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 74% | 2 days ago 78% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 61% | 2 days ago 80% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 77% | 4 days ago 76% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 67% | 11 days ago 81% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | N/A | 4 days ago 65% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 59% | 2 days ago 74% |
Long-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a long-term outlook for a ticker by using Fundamental Analysis (FA) ratings. The rating of 1 to 100, where 1 is best and 100 is worst, is divided into thirds. The first third (a green rating of 1-33) indicates that the ticker is undervalued; the second third (a grey number between 34 and 66) means that the ticker is valued fairly; and the last third (red number of 67 to 100) reflects that the ticker is overvalued. We use an FA Score to show how many ratings show the ticker to be undervalued (green) or overvalued (red).
PANW’s FA Score shows that 3 FA rating(s) are green while ZS’s FA Score has 0 green FA rating(s).
- PANW’s FA Score: 3 green, 2 red.
- ZS’s FA Score: 0 green, 5 red.
Short-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a short-term outlook for a ticker by using Technical Analysis (TA) indicators. We use Odds of Success as the percentage of outcomes which confirm successful trade signals in the past.
If the Odds of Success (the likelihood of the continuation of a trend) for each indicator are greater than 50%, then the generated signal is confirmed. A green percentage from 90% to 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bullish trend. A red percentage from 90% - 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bearish trend. All grey percentages are below 50% and are considered not to confirm the trend signal.
PANW’s TA Score shows that 5 TA indicator(s) are bullish while ZS’s TA Score has 4 bullish TA indicator(s).
- PANW’s TA Score: 5 bullish, 4 bearish.
- ZS’s TA Score: 4 bullish, 4 bearish.
Price Growth
PANW (@Computer Communications) experienced а +9.96% price change this week, while ZS (@Computer Communications) price change was +19.92% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Computer Communications industry was +6.70%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was -4.22%, and the average quarterly price growth was +19.61%.
Reported Earning Dates
PANW is expected to report earnings on Nov 12, 2026.
ZS is expected to report earnings on Dec 01, 2026.
Industries' Descriptions
@Computer Communications (+6.70% weekly)Computer communications industry develops technology that allows computing devices to exchange data with each other using connections/data links between nodes. Common types of computer network include Cloud (IAN), Internet, Wide (WAN, Local (LAN)/Wireless(WLAN) etc. The industry is an ever-more important part of technology, and is set to become even bigger as the Internet of Things (IoT) rapidly forays into the various aspects of our lives. Cisco Systems, Inc., Palo Alto Networks, Inc. and Arista Networks, Inc., Fortinet, Inc. are some of the major computer communications companies.
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PANW and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, PANW has been closely correlated with CRWD. These tickers have moved in lockstep 82% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is a high statistical probability that if PANW jumps, then CRWD could also see price increases.
| Ticker / NAME | Correlation To PANW | 1D Price Change % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PANW | 100% | -3.06% | ||
| CRWD - PANW | 82% Closely correlated | -3.28% | ||
| FTNT - PANW | 75% Closely correlated | -1.59% | ||
| OKTA - PANW | 68% Closely correlated | -4.03% | ||
| NOW - PANW | 62% Loosely correlated | -2.17% | ||
| TENB - PANW | 61% Loosely correlated | -1.75% | ||
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ZS and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, ZS has been closely correlated with CRWD. These tickers have moved in lockstep 67% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is a high statistical probability that if ZS jumps, then CRWD could also see price increases.