Risks To Shareholder Returns Are Elevated At These Prices For Palo Alto Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ:PANW)

With a price-to-sales (or "P/S") ratio of 15.1x Palo Alto Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ:PANW) may be sending very bearish signals at the moment, given that almost half of all the Software companies in the United States have P/S ratios under 5x and even P/S lower than 1.9x are not unusual. However, the P/S might be quite high for a reason and it requires further investigation to determine if it's justified.

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Check out our latest analysis for Palo Alto Networks

What Does Palo Alto Networks' Recent Performance Look Like?

There hasn't been much to differentiate Palo Alto Networks' and the industry's revenue growth lately. One possibility is that the P/S ratio is high because investors think this modest revenue performance will accelerate. You'd really hope so, otherwise you're paying a pretty hefty price for no particular reason.

If you'd like to see what analysts are forecasting going forward, you should check out our free report on Palo Alto Networks.

Do Revenue Forecasts Match The High P/S Ratio?

Palo Alto Networks' P/S ratio would be typical for a company that's expected to deliver very strong growth, and importantly, perform much better than the industry.

If we review the last year of revenue growth, the company posted a worthy increase of 14%. Pleasingly, revenue has also lifted 72% in aggregate from three years ago, partly thanks to the last 12 months of growth. Therefore, it's fair to say the revenue growth recently has been superb for the company.

Looking ahead now, revenue is anticipated to climb by 15% per annum during the coming three years according to the analysts following the company. That's shaping up to be similar to the 16% each year growth forecast for the broader industry.

In light of this, it's curious that Palo Alto Networks' P/S sits above the majority of other companies. Apparently many investors in the company are more bullish than analysts indicate and aren't willing to let go of their stock right now. Although, additional gains will be difficult to achieve as this level of revenue growth is likely to weigh down the share price eventually.

The Final Word

It's argued the price-to-sales ratio is an inferior measure of value within certain industries, but it can be a powerful business sentiment indicator.

Given Palo Alto Networks' future revenue forecasts are in line with the wider industry, the fact that it trades at an elevated P/S is somewhat surprising. The fact that the revenue figures aren't setting the world alight has us doubtful that the company's elevated P/S can be sustainable for the long term. A positive change is needed in order to justify the current price-to-sales ratio.

We don't want to rain on the parade too much, but we did also find 1 warning sign for Palo Alto Networks that you need to be mindful of.

If companies with solid past earnings growth is up your alley, you may wish to see this free collection of other companies with strong earnings growth and low P/E ratios.

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This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.