Palo Alto Networks Inc vs Paycom Software Inc — how do they compare? Palo Alto Networks Inc trades at $335.95 (market cap $274.64B), while Paycom Software Inc trades at $214.7 (market cap $9.88B). The key difference: Palo Alto Networks Inc is far larger — about 27.8× Paycom Software Inc's market cap, and Paycom Software Inc pays a 0.68% dividend while Palo Alto Networks Inc pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| PANW | PAYC | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $274.64B | $9.88B |
Sector | Technology | Technology |
52-Week High | $396.00 | $240.52 |
52-Week Low | $141.67 | $113.59 |
Enterprise Value | $273.60B | $10.66B |
Dividend Yield | — | 0.68% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Palo Alto Networks (PANW) trades at $336.98, up 1.12% today, with a bearish technical signal despite recent earnings beats. Revenue grew to $9.22B in FY2025, with strong gross margins of 71.94%, but valuation ratios are elevated (P/E 293.03, P/S 23.39). The company is set to join the S&P 500, reflecting its leadership in AI cybersecurity, though rising costs and premium pricing pose challenges.
Outlook remains positive due to AI-driven security demand and platformization strategy, but high valuation and competitive pressures warrant caution. Analyst consensus is bullish with a $410.48 price target, yet near-term volatility may persist as the stock digests recent gains and faces execution risks in a dynamic cybersecurity landscape.
Paycom Software (PAYC) trades at $219.16, down 5.4% today but maintains strong fundamentals with consistent earnings beats and robust profitability. The stock shows a bullish technical signal despite recent weakness, supported by positive analyst sentiment and institutional accumulation. Recent Q2 2026 results exceeded expectations with EPS of $2.78 beating estimates of $2.38, driving management's raised full-year guidance.
Outlook remains positive with a consensus price target of $231.70 offering 5.7% upside potential. Key opportunities include sustained revenue growth and expanding margins, while risks involve competitive pressures and market volatility. The company's strong cash flow generation and shareholder returns through dividends and buybacks support long-term value creation.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
Palo Alto Networks is a pure-play cybersecurity vendor that sells security appliances, subscriptions, and support into enterprises, government entities, and service providers. The company's product portfolio includes firewall appliances, virtual firewalls, endpoint protection, cloud security, and cybersecurity analytics. The Santa Clara, California, firm was established in 2005 and sells its products worldwide.
Read more on PANW →Paycom is a fast-growing provider of payroll and human capital management, or HCM, software primarily targeting clients with 50-10,000 employees in the United States. Paycom was established in 1998 and services about 18,000 clients as of 2021, based on parent company grouping. Alongside its core payroll software, Paycom offers various HCM add-on modules, including time and attendance, talent management, and benefits administration.
Read more on PAYC →