PANW vs. SO
PANW (Palo Alto Networks, Inc.) and SO (The Southern Company) are both stocks. PANW operates in Software - Infrastructure (Technology), while SO operates in Utilities - Regulated Electric (Utilities). Over the past 10 years, PANW returned 29.12%/yr vs 10.77%/yr for SO. At a 0.03 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.
Performance
PANW vs. SO - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, PANW achieves a 51.80% return, which is significantly higher than SO's 10.02% return. Over the past 10 years, PANW has outperformed SO with an annualized return of 29.12%, while SO has yielded a comparatively lower 10.77% annualized return.
PANW
- 1D
- 0.03%
- 1M
- 15.15%
- YTD
- 51.80%
- 6M
- 45.87%
- 1Y
- 42.47%
- 3Y*
- 33.77%
- 5Y*
- 35.61%
- 10Y*
- 29.12%
SO
- 1D
- 1.22%
- 1M
- 2.86%
- YTD
- 10.02%
- 6M
- 13.62%
- 1Y
- 7.91%
- 3Y*
- 14.19%
- 5Y*
- 12.20%
- 10Y*
- 10.77%
PANW vs. SO - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PANW Palo Alto Networks, Inc. | 51.80% | 1.23% | 23.41% | 111.32% | -24.81% | 56.66% | 53.68% | 22.78% | 29.95% | 15.91% |
SO The Southern Company | 10.02% | 9.47% | 21.72% | 2.21% | 8.24% | 16.34% | 0.63% | 51.65% | -3.75% | 2.42% |
Correlation
The correlation between PANW and SO is -0.18, meaning they tend to move in opposite directions. This is especially valuable for risk management - when one declines, the other has historically tended to hold steady or rise.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | -0.18 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | -0.08 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | -0.02 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.02 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jul 20, 2012 | 0.03 |
The correlation between PANW and SO shifts across timeframes, from -0.18 (1 year) to 0.03 (all time), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
Fundamentals
PANW:
$208.04B
SO:
$106.03B
PANW:
$1.17
SO:
$3.92
PANW:
238.46
SO:
23.98
PANW:
0.02
SO:
1.49
PANW:
18.95
SO:
3.47
PANW:
7.52
SO:
2.86
PANW:
$10.61B
SO:
$30.17B
PANW:
$7.63B
SO:
$13.01B
PANW:
$1.33B
SO:
$14.44B
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Return for Risk
PANW vs. SO — Risk / Return Rank
PANW
SO
PANW vs. SO - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Palo Alto Networks, Inc. (PANW) and The Southern Company (SO). 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.
Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.
| PANW | SO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.58 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.76 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.21 | 1.10 | +0.11 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.16 | 0.53 | +0.63 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 2.62 | 1.24 | +1.38 |
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Drawdowns
PANW vs. SO - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum PANW drawdown since its inception was -47.98%, which is greater than SO's maximum drawdown of -38.43%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for PANW and SO.
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Drawdown Indicators
| PANW | SO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -47.98% | -38.43% | -9.55% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -36.01% | -14.99% | -21.02% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -36.01% | -14.99% | -21.02% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -36.01% | -23.28% | -12.73% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -47.98% | -38.43% | -9.55% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -6.94% | -3.95% | -2.99% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -14.68% | -6.87% | -7.81% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 15.87% | 6.39% | +9.48% |
Volatility
PANW vs. SO - Volatility Comparison
Palo Alto Networks, Inc. (PANW) has a higher volatility of 16.97% compared to The Southern Company (SO) at 6.03%. This indicates that PANW's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than SO based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| PANW | SO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 16.97% | 6.03% | +10.94% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 32.33% | 13.07% | +19.26% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 38.96% | 16.21% | +22.75% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 41.72% | 18.67% | +23.05% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 38.62% | 21.96% | +16.66% |
Dividends
PANW vs. SO - Dividend Comparison
PANW has not paid dividends to shareholders, while SO's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.60%.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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% |
SO The Southern Company | 3.60% | 3.37% | 3.47% | 3.96% | 3.78% | 3.82% | 4.13% | 3.86% | 5.42% | 4.78% | 4.52% | 4.60% |
Financials
PANW vs. SO - Financials Comparison
This section allows you to compare key financial metrics between Palo Alto Networks, Inc. and The Southern Company. 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. SO - 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%.
SO - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, The Southern Company reported a gross profit of 3.90B and revenue of 8.40B. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 46.5%.
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%.
SO - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, The Southern Company reported an operating income of 2.02B and revenue of 8.40B, resulting in an operating margin of 24.0%.
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%.
SO - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, The Southern Company reported a net income of 1.36B and revenue of 8.40B, resulting in a net margin of 16.2%.
Frequently Asked Questions
PANW and SO have a correlation of -0.18, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
PANW has higher volatility (16.97%) compared to SO (6.03%). In terms of maximum drawdown, PANW dropped -47.98% vs SO's -38.43%.
PANW currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.07 vs 0.49), 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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