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Stock Comparison · Industry comparison · Software - Infrastructure

CrowdStrike Holdings vs Palo Alto Networks: Which Stock Looks Stronger in 2026?

Palo Alto Networks holds the cleaner structural position, with the lead spread across growth and profitability. CrowdStrike still has the edge on valuation, which keeps the comparison from looking entirely one-sided. The market setup is broadly comparable for both — no clear directional signal from price behavior. The market is not adding a decisive signal either way — the structural read carries the weight.

The comparison is based on similar long-term financial trajectories, not sector labels. Both peer scores are relative to the S&P 500 universe, making them directly comparable.

Updated 2026-05-17

The clearest separation starts in growth, with profitability adding a second layer of support. Palo Alto Networks, Inc. leads by 14 points on the overall comparison score.

INDUSTRY COMPARISON

Both operate in: Software - Infrastructure

This comparison is based on industry proximity, not on functional trajectory similarity. CRWD and PANW share the same industry classification.

For a similarity-based comparison, see how CrowdStrike and Palo Alto Networks each position within their functional peer groups in AssetNext.

Peer-Relative Score
CRWD
CrowdStrike Holdings, Inc.
35
Peer-Score
Signal qualitylow
Peer basis: S&P 500
vs
PANW
Palo Alto Networks, Inc.
49
Peer-Score
Signal qualitylow
Peer basis: S&P 500

Scores reflect position relative to comparable companies with similar long-term financial trajectories.

Score differences across key dimensions.

Dimension spread: CRWD vs PANW Profitability 40 66 Stability 73 74 Valuation 28 14 Growth 0 54 CRWD PANW
Gap Ranking
#1 Growth +54
#2 Profitability +26
#3 Valuation +14
#4 Stability +1
Price Setup

Left means cheaper relative valuation. Higher means stronger structure.

Price setup map for CRWD and PANW Stronger + cheaper Stronger + richer Weaker + cheaper Weaker + richer CRWDPANW Relative valuation Structural strength

The setup is mixed: neither company clearly combines the stronger profile with the more supportive price setup.

Valuation position uses Forward P/E and peer-relative PE percentile (idx_pct_pe) where available.

Entry today — historical context

Where CRWD and PANW each sit in their own 5-year price and valuation history.

BASED ON 5-YEAR HISTORY CRWD Elevated · above norm 0th 50th 100th 0 pct gap PANW Elevated · above norm 0th 50th 100th 99th 99th
CRWD (99th percentile) and PANW (99th percentile) both sit in the upper portion of their own 5-year ranges. The historical entry context is broadly similar for both. This reflects entry timing, not which company is structurally stronger.

Describes historical entry positioning only. Descriptive — not investment advice.

Relative Position vs Comparable Companies
Growth
On growth, Palo Alto Networks, Inc. is positioned higher in the group, while CrowdStrike Holdings, Inc. is closer to the middle.
Profitability
Both rank well on profitability, but Palo Alto Networks, Inc. still holds a clear edge.
Growth — Dominant Gap
CRWD
0
PANW
54
Gap+54in favour of PANW

The clearest distance comes from a stronger growth profile.

What else supports the lead

Profitability reinforces the lead rather than leaving the result tied to one dimension, with a 14.5-point operating margin advantage.

What this means for the comparison

The lead is built on both growth and profitability — though valuation still provides a counterweight.

Explore full peer positioning in AssetNext

Break down the CRWD vs PANW comparison across all dimensions with the full interactive tool.

Explore full breakdown →
Similar growth-driven comparisons

Explore how CRWD and PANW each compare against other companies in their peer groups.

Rule-based, descriptive analysis only. Derived from peer percentile dimensions. Not investment advice. Peer groups are determined algorithmically based on structural similarity — not by sector classification alone.

How AssetNext Peer Scores Work

AssetNext scores reflect each company's structural position within its functional peer group — not a ranking against all stocks simultaneously. Peers are identified by similarity across eight financial dimensions, including revenue growth trajectory, margin structure, capital intensity, and earnings stability. A score of 75 means the company ranks in the top quartile within its own peer group, not the entire market.

Four dimension scores drive the overall peer score: Growth (revenue trajectory and expansion dynamics), Quality (margin structure and capital efficiency), Valuation (peer-relative pricing on standard multiples), and Stability (earnings consistency and financial predictability). Each dimension is scored 0–100 relative to the peer group, then combined into an overall peer score using equal weighting.

Because scores are peer-relative, the same company can have slightly different scores in different index universes. On comparison pages, both companies are shown within their shared peer universe wherever possible — so the scores are directly comparable. The peer basis is stated on each score card.

Scores are recalculated periodically as underlying financial data is updated. All analysis is descriptive and rule-based — AssetNext describes structural realities and never issues buy, sell or hold recommendations.