PALO ALTO NETWORKS, INC vs Sandisk Corporation, two Computer Hardware stocks. A side-by-side on valuation, growth, margins, returns, and what each price is betting.
Economically this pair is a subscription estate under construction next to a commodity franchise enjoying the weather. Palo Alto sells security platforms whose revenue arrives as deferred contracts, running a negative 6.1% operating margin while it consolidates the category; Sandisk sells flash memory whose 69.1% operating margin is what a shortage pays until new supply arrives. The market prices the construction site above the harvest, 248.9 times earnings against 72.5, both extreme by any ordinary standard. Both are debt-free; Sandisk's 4.8 current ratio is cycle winnings held in reserve, Palo Alto's 0.86 is billing-model efficiency. Neither price survives its story failing, and the stories could not be less alike.
Comparison updated 2026-07-10.
| Metric | PANW | SNDK |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $303.60 | $2084.54 |
| Market cap | $243.2B | $327.3B |
| Sector | Computer Hardware | Computer Hardware |
| Stage | Growth | Growth |
| P/E | 248.8 | 72.5 |
| P/B | 8.79 | 23.76 |
| P/S | 22.93 | 24.82 |
| EV/EBITDA | 217.2 | 59.9 |
| Revenue growth | +19.4% | +111.6% |
| Gross margin | 67.5% | 78.3% |
| Operating margin | -6.1% | 69.1% |
| Net margin | 8.0% | 34.2% |
| Return on equity | 3.0% | 32.7% |
| Return on assets | 1.8% | 26.4% |
| Return on invested capital | 2.9% | 34.3% |
| FCF yield | 1.6% | 1.4% |
| Debt / equity | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Current ratio | 0.86 | 4.78 |
| Altman Z (solvency) | 6.28 | 8.30 |
| Piotroski F (quality) | 4 / 9 | 6 / 9 |
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The stronger value is highlighted per metric where one is strictly better on that single number; it is not an overall verdict on either company. For informational and research purposes only. Not investment advice. Not a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any security. boothcheck is not a registered investment adviser. Past performance does not guarantee future results.