WallStSmart

Palo Alto Networks Inc (PANW)vsPaymentus Holdings, Inc. (PAY)

VS

Smart Verdict

WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison

Palo Alto Networks Inc generates 727% more annual revenue ($9.89B vs $1.20B). PANW leads profitability with a 13.0% profit margin vs 5.6%. PAY trades at a lower P/E of 48.2x. PANW earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 58/100 (C).

PANW

Buy

58

out of 100

Grade: C

Growth: 8.0Profit: 7.0Value: 2.0Quality: 5.0
Piotroski: 1/9Altman Z: 1.02

PAY

Buy

52

out of 100

Grade: C-

Growth: 9.3Profit: 5.5Value: 6.3Quality: 8.5
Piotroski: 3/9Altman Z: 6.56
IV

Intrinsic Value Comparison

Multi-model valuation · Graham Formula

PANWSignificantly Overvalued (-81.9%)

Margin of Safety

-81.9%

Fair Value

$84.24

Current Price

$153.22

$68.98 premium

UndervaluedFair: $84.24Overvalued
PAYFair Value (-0.8%)

Margin of Safety

-0.8%

Fair Value

$24.34

Current Price

$25.10

$0.76 premium

UndervaluedFair: $24.34Overvalued

Key Strengths & Concerns

Side-by-side fundamental analysis

Key Strengths

PANW3 strengths · Avg: 9.7/10
EPS GrowthGrowth
60.5%10/10

Earnings expanding 60.5% YoY

Debt/EquityHealth
0.0410/10

Conservative balance sheet, low leverage

Market CapQuality
$128.28B9/10

Large-cap with strong market position

PAY4 strengths · Avg: 9.5/10
EPS GrowthGrowth
51.7%10/10

Earnings expanding 51.7% YoY

Debt/EquityHealth
0.0110/10

Conservative balance sheet, low leverage

Altman Z-ScoreHealth
6.5610/10

Safe zone — low bankruptcy risk

Revenue GrowthGrowth
28.1%8/10

Revenue surging 28.1% year-over-year

Areas to Watch

PANW4 concerns · Avg: 2.8/10
Price/BookValuation
11.5x4/10

Trading at 11.5x book value

Piotroski F-ScoreQuality
1/93/10

Weak financial health signals

PEG RatioValuation
2.962/10

Expensive relative to growth rate

P/E RatioValuation
87.3x2/10

Premium valuation, high expectations priced in

PAY3 concerns · Avg: 2.7/10
Profit MarginProfitability
5.6%3/10

5.6% margin — thin

Piotroski F-ScoreQuality
3/93/10

Weak financial health signals

P/E RatioValuation
48.2x2/10

Premium valuation, high expectations priced in

Comparative Analysis Report

WallStSmart Research

Bull Case : PANW

The strongest argument for PANW centers on EPS Growth, Debt/Equity, Market Cap. Revenue growth of 14.9% demonstrates continued momentum.

Bull Case : PAY

The strongest argument for PAY centers on EPS Growth, Debt/Equity, Altman Z-Score. Revenue growth of 28.1% demonstrates continued momentum.

Bear Case : PANW

The primary concerns for PANW are Price/Book, Piotroski F-Score, PEG Ratio. A P/E of 87.3x leaves little room for execution misses.

Bear Case : PAY

The primary concerns for PAY are Profit Margin, Piotroski F-Score, P/E Ratio. A P/E of 48.2x leaves little room for execution misses.

Key Dynamics to Monitor

PANW profiles as a value stock while PAY is a growth play — different risk/reward profiles.

PAY carries more volatility with a beta of 1.50 — expect wider price swings.

PAY is growing revenue faster at 28.1% — sustainability is the question.

PANW generates stronger free cash flow (470M), providing more financial flexibility.

Bottom Line

PANW scores higher overall (58/100 vs 52/100) and 14.9% revenue growth. Both earn "Buy" and "Buy" ratings respectively — the choice depends on your investment horizon and risk tolerance.

This analysis is generated from publicly available financial data. Not financial advice.

Palo Alto Networks Inc

TECHNOLOGY · SOFTWARE - INFRASTRUCTURE · USA

Palo Alto Networks, Inc. provides cybersecurity platform solutions globally. The company is headquartered in Santa Clara, California.

Paymentus Holdings, Inc.

TECHNOLOGY · SOFTWARE - INFRASTRUCTURE · USA

Paymentus Holdings, Inc. provides electronic bill submission and payment services. The company is headquartered in Redmond, Washington with additional offices in the United States, Canada, and India.

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