NKE vs PANW: Which Is the Better Buy?

Side-by-side comparison of NIKE, Inc. and Palo Alto Networks, Inc. β€” fair value, conviction, valuation metrics, and QuantHub research signals. Updated 2026-07-01.
NIKE, Inc. Β· Consumer Cyclical
$41.05
+45.0% upside to fair value
Grade B High Quality
VS
Palo Alto Networks, Inc. Β· Technology
$287.78
+2.9% upside to fair value
Grade B High Quality
QuantHub Verdict
NKE has more upside to fair value (+45.0%). NKE trades at a lower forward P/E (19.6x). These are model outputs β€” not personalized investment advice. See all research β†’
Valuation & Fundamentals
Metric NKE PANW
Current Price $41.05 $287.78
Fair Value Estimate $59.52 $296.19
Upside to Fair Value +45.0% +2.9%
Market Cap $60.7B $196.1B
Forward P/E 19.6x 248.9x
EV / EBITDA 14.2x 85.9x
Price / Sales 1.3x 18.5x
Price / FCF 57.9x 45.7x
Revenue Growth YoY -1.1% +31.1%
Gross Margin 42.9% 71.9%
Operating Margin 8.2% 9.6%
Return on Equity 22.0% 6.3%
Dividend Yield 0% 0%
FCF Yield 1.73% 2.19%
Analyst Consensus Hold Strong Buy
Investment Thesis
NKE β€” NIKE, Inc.
NIKE, Inc. is a leading global athletic footwear and apparel company with a durable competitive moat supported by its strong brand, scale, and global distribution infrastructure. The company is currently led by CEO Elliott Hill, a seasoned Nike veteran who returned in October 2024 to navigate intensifying competition and channel complexity. Despite its market leadership and solid profitability me…
PANW β€” Palo Alto Networks, Inc.
Palo Alto Networks is a leading cybersecurity company specializing in next-generation security platforms with a strong subscription and support revenue base comprising approximately 81% of total revenue. The company benefits from a wide and expanding competitive moat driven by its AI- and platform-driven cybersecurity solutions, led by a seasoned management team. Despite strong revenue growth of …
Accumulation Zones
Metric NKE PANW
Zone Low $44.64 $222.14
Zone High $50.59 $251.76
In Buy Zone? Yes No
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