PANW vs. MSFT
PANW (Palo Alto Networks, Inc.) and MSFT (Microsoft Corporation) are both stocks. Both operate in the Software - Infrastructure industry within the Technology sector. Over the past 10 years, PANW returned 28.21%/yr vs 24.97%/yr for MSFT. At a 0.42 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.
Performance
PANW vs. MSFT - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, PANW achieves a 51.60% return, which is significantly higher than MSFT's -11.10% return. Over the past 10 years, PANW has outperformed MSFT with an annualized return of 28.21%, while MSFT has yielded a comparatively lower 24.97% annualized return.
PANW
- 1D
- -0.42%
- 1M
- 51.78%
- YTD
- 51.60%
- 6M
- 42.71%
- 1Y
- 43.89%
- 3Y*
- 35.04%
- 5Y*
- 36.21%
- 10Y*
- 28.21%
MSFT
- 1D
- 0.17%
- 1M
- 4.28%
- YTD
- -11.10%
- 6M
- -10.58%
- 1Y
- -6.98%
- 3Y*
- 9.26%
- 5Y*
- 12.20%
- 10Y*
- 24.97%
PANW vs. MSFT - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PANW Palo Alto Networks, Inc. | 51.60% | 1.23% | 23.41% | 111.32% | -24.81% | 56.66% | 53.68% | 22.78% | 29.95% | 15.91% |
MSFT Microsoft Corporation | -11.10% | 15.58% | 12.93% | 58.19% | -28.02% | 52.48% | 42.53% | 57.56% | 20.80% | 40.73% |
Correlation
The correlation between PANW and MSFT is 0.46, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.46 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.46 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.51 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.48 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jul 23, 2012 | 0.42 |
The correlation between PANW and MSFT has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.42 to 0.51 - a consistent structural relationship.
Fundamentals
PANW:
$207.76B
MSFT:
$3.19T
PANW:
$1.17
MSFT:
$16.79
PANW:
238.15
MSFT:
25.50
PANW:
0.02
MSFT:
1.78
PANW:
18.92
MSFT:
10.03
PANW:
7.51
MSFT:
7.69
PANW:
$10.61B
MSFT:
$318.27B
PANW:
$7.63B
MSFT:
$217.41B
PANW:
$1.33B
MSFT:
$200.96B
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Return for Risk
PANW vs. MSFT — Risk / Return Rank
PANW
MSFT
PANW vs. MSFT - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Palo Alto Networks, Inc. (PANW) and Microsoft Corporation (MSFT). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.
| PANW | MSFT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +1.43 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +1.85 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.22 | 0.97 | +0.25 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.22 | -0.21 | +1.43 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 2.79 | -0.44 | +3.22 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
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Sharpe Ratios by Period
| PANW | MSFT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.15 | -0.28 | +1.43 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.87 | 0.46 | +0.41 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.73 | 0.93 | -0.19 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.72 | 0.75 | -0.02 |
Drawdowns
PANW vs. MSFT - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum PANW drawdown since its inception was -47.98%, smaller than the maximum MSFT drawdown of -69.38%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for PANW and MSFT.
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Drawdown Indicators
| PANW | MSFT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -47.98% | -69.38% | +21.40% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -36.01% | -33.91% | -2.10% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -36.01% | -33.91% | -2.10% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -36.01% | -37.15% | +1.14% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -47.98% | -37.15% | -10.83% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -7.07% | -20.53% | +13.46% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -14.69% | -21.78% | +7.09% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 15.80% | 16.00% | -0.20% |
Volatility
PANW vs. MSFT - Volatility Comparison
Palo Alto Networks, Inc. (PANW) has a higher volatility of 16.96% compared to Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) at 9.93%. This indicates that PANW's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than MSFT based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| PANW | MSFT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 16.96% | 9.93% | +7.03% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 31.66% | 22.32% | +9.34% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 38.38% | 25.12% | +13.26% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 41.63% | 26.61% | +15.02% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 38.57% | 27.03% | +11.54% |
Dividends
PANW vs. MSFT - Dividend Comparison
PANW has not paid dividends to shareholders, while MSFT's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.83%.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MSFT Microsoft Corporation | 0.83% | 0.70% | 0.73% | 0.74% | 1.06% | 0.68% | 0.94% | 1.20% | 1.69% | 1.86% | 2.37% | 2.33% |
PANW Palo Alto Networks, Inc. | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Financials
PANW vs. MSFT - Financials Comparison
This section allows you to compare key financial metrics between Palo Alto Networks, Inc. and Microsoft Corporation. You can select fields from income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements to easily visualize and compare the financial health of both companies.
Total Revenue: Total amount of money received from sales and other business activities
PANW vs. MSFT - Profitability Comparison
PANW - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Palo Alto Networks, Inc. reported a gross profit of 2.03B and revenue of 3.00B. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 67.6%.
MSFT - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Microsoft Corporation reported a gross profit of 56.06B and revenue of 82.89B. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 67.6%.
PANW - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Palo Alto Networks, Inc. reported an operating income of -186.00M and revenue of 3.00B, resulting in an operating margin of -6.2%.
MSFT - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Microsoft Corporation reported an operating income of 38.40B and revenue of 82.89B, resulting in an operating margin of 46.3%.
PANW - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Palo Alto Networks, Inc. reported a net income of -177.00M and revenue of 3.00B, resulting in a net margin of -5.9%.
MSFT - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Microsoft Corporation reported a net income of 31.78B and revenue of 82.89B, resulting in a net margin of 38.3%.
Frequently Asked Questions
PANW and MSFT have a correlation of 0.46, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
PANW has higher volatility (16.96%) compared to MSFT (9.93%). In terms of maximum drawdown, PANW dropped -47.98% vs MSFT's -69.38%.
PANW currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.15 vs -0.28), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.
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