What is PANW's Intrinsic value?

Palo Alto Networks Inc (PANW) Intrinsic Value Analysis

Executive Summary

As of May 22, 2025, Palo Alto Networks Inc's estimated intrinsic value ranges from $9.55 to $66.64 per share, depending on the valuation methodology applied.

Valuation Method Fair Value (USD) Implied Upside/Downside
Discounted Cash Flow (10Y) $42.35 -76.6%
Discounted Cash Flow (5Y) $22.30 -87.7%
Dividend Discount Model (Multi-Stage) $45.82 -74.7%
Dividend Discount Model (Stable) $66.64 -63.2%
Earnings Power Value $9.55 -94.7%

Is Palo Alto Networks Inc (PANW) undervalued or overvalued?

With the current market price at $181.26, the stock appears to be significantly overvalued.

Understanding Intrinsic Value

Intrinsic value represents the "true" worth of a company based on its fundamentals rather than market sentiment. We've employed multiple methodologies to triangulate Palo Alto Networks Inc's intrinsic value, including:

  1. Discounted Cash Flow (DCF): Values the company based on projected future cash flows
  2. Dividend Discount Model (DDM): Values the company based on expected future dividend payments
  3. Earnings Power Value (EPV): Values the company based on its current earnings power, assuming no growth

Weighted Average Cost of Capital (WACC)

The cost of capital is a critical factor in valuation models, representing the required return for investors.

WACC Component Low High
Long-term bond rate 3.9% 4.4%
Equity market risk premium 4.6% 5.6%
Adjusted beta 0.57 0.88
Cost of equity 6.5% 9.8%
Cost of debt 4.0% 4.5%
Tax rate 19.5% 25.0%
Debt/Equity ratio 0.01 0.01
After-tax WACC 6.5% 9.7%

Valuation Methods

1. Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) Valuation

Our DCF model projects cash flows over 5-year and 10-year horizons, with the following key assumptions:

  • Forecast Period: 5-year DCF and 10-year DCF
  • Terminal Growth Rate: 0.0% (range: 3.0% - 5.0%)
  • Discount Rate: 8.1% (range: 0.0% - 9.3%)

Key Projections:

  • Revenue growth from $8,028 (FY07-2024) to $26,085 (FY07-2034)
  • Net profit margin expansion from 32% to 15%
  • Capital expenditures maintained at approximately 3% of revenue
DCF Model Fair Value Enterprise Value % from Terminal Value
5-Year Growth $22 $13,069M 87.0%
10-Year Growth $42 $26,350M 77.8%
5-Year EBITDA $31 $18,525M 90.8%
10-Year EBITDA $45 $28,345M 79.4%

2. Dividend Discount Model (DDM)

The DDM values a company based on its expected future dividend payments. We used two approaches:

Multi-Stage DDM:

  • Current payout ratio: 0.0%
  • Stable payout ratio: 90.0%
  • Growth transition: 5 years
  • Cost of equity: 8.1%
  • Long-term growth rate: 4.0%
  • Fair value: $45.82 (-74.7% from current price)

Stable DDM:

  • Stable payout ratio: 70% (Low) to 90% (High)
  • Cost of equity: 9.8% (Low) to 6.5% (High)
  • Long-term growth rate: 3.0% (Low) to 5.0% (High)
  • Fair value range: $20 to $114
  • Selected fair value: $66.64 (-63.2% from current price)

3. Earnings Power Value (EPV)

EPV assesses a company's value based on its current normalized earnings power, assuming no growth.

EPV Component Value
Normalized Earnings $361M
Discount Rate (WACC) 9.7% - 6.5%
Enterprise Value $3,698M - $5,568M
Net Debt $(1,693)M
Equity Value $5,390M - $7,261M
Outstanding Shares 662M
Fair Value $8 - $11
Selected Fair Value $9.55

Key Financial Metrics

Metric Value
Market Capitalization $120012M
Enterprise Value $118320M
Trailing P/E 95.67
Forward P/E 124.15
Trailing EV/EBITDA 11.10
Current Dividend Yield 0.00%
Dividend Growth Rate (5Y) 0.00%
Debt-to-Equity Ratio 0.01

Investment Decision Framework

To determine the most reliable intrinsic value estimate, we weigh each valuation method based on:

  1. Forecast Certainty: DCF methods rely on long-term projections, while earnings power value focuses on current normalized earnings
  2. Business Model Alignment: Dividend models are more appropriate for mature companies with established dividend policies
  3. Historical Accuracy: How well each method has predicted fair value historically

Valuation Weight Matrix

Valuation Method Weight Weighted Value
Discounted Cash Flow (10Y) 30% $12.71
Discounted Cash Flow (5Y) 25% $5.57
Dividend Discount Model (Multi-Stage) 20% $9.16
Dividend Discount Model (Stable) 15% $10.00
Earnings Power Value 10% $0.96
Weighted Average 100% $38.40

Investment Conclusion

Based on our comprehensive valuation analysis, Palo Alto Networks Inc's weighted average intrinsic value is $38.40, which is approximately 78.8% below the current market price of $181.26.

Key investment considerations:

  • Strong projected earnings growth (32% to 15% margin)
  • Consistent cash flow generation
  • Conservative capital structure (Debt/Equity of 0.01)

Given these factors, we believe Palo Alto Networks Inc is currently significantly overvalued with the potential for long-term appreciation based on the company's growth trajectory and financial strength.