Palo Alto Networks (PANW) vs Toast (TOST)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 9, 2026.
Summary
Palo Alto Networks (PANW) has outperformed Toast (TOST) over the past year, gaining 83.0% versus a loss of 16.8%. Over five years, PANW leads with a +370.8% price change compared with -45.7% for TOST. Palo Alto Networks is the larger company by market cap ($338.94 billion vs $18.00 billion), about 18.8 times the size.
On valuation, Toast trades at a lower forward P/E (17.9x vs 84.9x for Palo Alto Networks). Toast converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 5.6% 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 | PANW | TOST |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $414.35 | $31.15 |
| Market cap | $338.94B | $18.00B |
| 1-day change | +3.98% | +2.03% |
| YTD return | +116.34% | -14.02% |
| 1-year return | +82.97% | -16.81% |
| 5-year return | +370.81% | -45.69% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | — | 39.43 |
| Forward P/E | 84.92 | 17.95 |
| EPS (TTM) | $0.40 | $0.79 |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Annual dividend | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $11.48B | $6.15B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +24.50% | +24.05% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $307.00M | $342.00M |
| Gross margin | 70.36% | 25.89% |
| Operating margin | 6.05% | 4.75% |
| Net margin | 2.67% | 5.56% |
| 52-week high | $432.33 | $39.73 |
| 52-week low | $139.57 | $22.26 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -4.16% | -21.59% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | -4.21% | +24.94% |
| Average volume | 6.08M | 9.11M |
| Shares outstanding | 818.00M | 514.00M |
| Employees | 21,921 | 6,500 |
| Sector | Technology | Technology |
| Industry | Computer peripheral equipment | EDP Services |
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
- Palo Alto Networks is about 18.8 times larger than Toast by market value ($338.94B vs $18.00B).
- PANW has outperformed TOST by 99.8 percentage points over the past year.
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
About Toast
TOST stock →Toast, Inc. operates a cloud-based digital technology platform for the restaurant industry in the United States, Ireland, India, and internationally.
Technology · EDP Services · 6,500 employees
PANW vs TOST FAQ
Which is bigger, Palo Alto Networks or Toast?
Palo Alto Networks (PANW) is larger, with a market capitalization of $338.94B compared with $18.00B for Toast (TOST).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, PANW or TOST?
PANW returned +82.97% over the past 12 months, compared with -16.81% for TOST (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Are Palo Alto Networks and Toast in the same industry?
Both are in the Technology sector, but in different industries: Computer peripheral equipment for Palo Alto Networks and EDP Services for Toast.