Oracle (ORCL) vs Palo Alto Networks (PANW)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
Palo Alto Networks (PANW) has outperformed Oracle (ORCL) over the past year, gaining 92.2% versus a loss of 49.5%. Over five years, PANW leads with a +379.2% price change compared with +50.6% for ORCL. Oracle is the larger company by market cap ($429.34 billion vs $334.66 billion), about 1.3 times the size, while Palo Alto Networks is growing revenue faster (+24.5% vs +17.3%).
On valuation, Oracle trades at a lower forward P/E (12.9x vs 83.9x for Palo Alto Networks). Oracle pays a dividend yielding 1.41%, while Palo Alto Networks does not currently pay one. Oracle converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 25.4% versus 2.7%.
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | ORCL | PANW |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $141.63 | $409.12 |
| Market cap | $429.34B | $334.66B |
| 1-day change | -1.35% | +0.88% |
| YTD return | -26.35% | +120.18% |
| 1-year return | -49.49% | +92.18% |
| 5-year return | +50.59% | +379.16% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 22.20 | — |
| Forward P/E | 12.88 | 83.85 |
| EPS (TTM) | $6.38 | $0.40 |
| Dividend yield | 1.41% | 0.00% |
| Annual dividend | $2.00 | $0.00 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $67.36B | $11.48B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +17.35% | +24.50% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $17.09B | $307.00M |
| Gross margin | — | 70.36% |
| Operating margin | 30.59% | 6.05% |
| Net margin | 25.37% | 2.67% |
| 52-week high | $322.54 | $432.33 |
| 52-week low | $114.50 | $139.57 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -56.09% | -5.37% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +68.03% | -2.98% |
| Average volume | 31.63M | 6.14M |
| Shares outstanding | 3.03B | 818.00M |
| Employees | 141,000 | 21,921 |
| Sector | Technology | Technology |
| Industry | Computer Software: Prepackaged Software | Computer peripheral equipment |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- PANW has outperformed ORCL by 141.7 percentage points over the past year.
- Oracle offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (1.41% vs 0.00%).
- Oracle is more profitable, keeping 25.4 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus 2.7 cents for Palo Alto Networks.
- Palo Alto Networks grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+24.50% vs +17.35%).
About Oracle
ORCL stock →Oracle Corporation offers products and services that build, run and support enterprise information technology frameworks worldwide. Its Oracle cloud software as a service offering includes various cloud software applications, including Oracle Fusion cloud enterprise resource planning ERP, Oracle Fusion cloud enterprise performance management EPM, Oracle Fusion cloud supply chain and manufacturing management SCM, Oracle Fusion cloud human capital management HCM, and NetSuite applications suite, Oracle Health applications, as well as Oracle Fusion Sales, Service, and Marketing.
Technology · Computer Software: Prepackaged Software · 141,000 employees
About Palo Alto Networks
PANW stock →Palo Alto Networks, Inc. provides cybersecurity solutions in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Asia Pacific, and Japan.
Technology · Computer peripheral equipment · 21,921 employees
ORCL vs PANW FAQ
Which is bigger, Oracle or Palo Alto Networks?
Oracle (ORCL) is larger, with a market capitalization of $429.34B compared with $334.66B for Palo Alto Networks (PANW).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, ORCL or PANW?
PANW returned +92.18% over the past 12 months, compared with -49.49% for ORCL (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which pays a higher dividend, Oracle or Palo Alto Networks?
Oracle pays a dividend yielding 1.41%, while Palo Alto Networks does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are Oracle and Palo Alto Networks in the same industry?
Both are in the Technology sector, but in different industries: Computer Software: Prepackaged Software for Oracle and Computer peripheral equipment for Palo Alto Networks.