Compare StocksPANW vs UNH

Palo Alto Networks, Inc. (PANW) vs UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH)

PANW
Palo Alto Networks, Inc.
$181.09
VS
UNH
UnitedHealth Group Incorporated
$368.78

Rewards

PANW
  • Gross margin of 73.5% indicates strong pricing power — typical of businesses with significant intellectual property or brand strength.
  • Free cash flow has grown at a 24.6% CAGR over the past 4 years, demonstrating strong earnings power growth.
  • Each dollar of retained earnings has created $3.75 of earning power — management is an exceptional capital allocator.
UNH
  • Dividend yield of 2.40% with a consistent or growing payout over the past 4 years.

Risks

PANW
  • Share count has increased by 12% over the past 4 years, diluting existing shareholders.
  • Despite buyback spending, shares outstanding increased in 2 out of 3 years — stock-based compensation is offsetting repurchases.
  • FCF yield of 1.9% is below 3%, meaning the market is pricing in substantial future growth to justify the current price.
UNH
  • ROIC has declined by 7.9 percentage points over the observed period, which may signal competitive erosion.
  • Gross margin of 18.8% is low, suggesting a competitive or commodity-like market with limited pricing power.
  • FCF yield of 5.3% suggests reasonable valuation assuming continued moderate growth.

Key Valuation Metrics

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PANW
UNH
Valuation
$2.86B
Free Cash Flow
$17.69B
1.95%
FCF Yield
5.28%
101.17
Trailing P/E
27.85
45.62
Forward P/E
17.77
Quality & Moat
12.30%
ROIC
15.60%
12.07%
ROE
11.45%
73.50%
Gross Margin
18.80%
1.67
PEG Ratio
39.79
Balance Sheet Safety
0.05
Debt / Equity
0.74
N/A
Interest Coverage
N/A
-2.65
Net Debt / EBITDA
2.18
N/A
Dividend Yield
2.40%
PANW: 5Ties: 1UNH: 5
PANWUNH

Historical Fundamentals

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PANW

Price ÷ Earnings Per Share — how many years of current earnings you're paying for at today's price. Lower P/E may indicate undervaluation.

UNH

Price ÷ Earnings Per Share — how many years of current earnings you're paying for at today's price. Lower P/E may indicate undervaluation.

Price ÷ Earnings Per Share — how many years of current earnings you're paying for at today's price. Lower P/E may indicate undervaluation.

$1 Retained Earnings Test

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PANW
$19.59
created per $1 retained over 3 years
Exceptional Value Creator
Σ Retained
$4.15B
Δ Market Cap
+$81.33B
Buffett's "$1 Test": For every $1 of earnings retained, has management created at least $1 of market value?
> $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer
UNH
$-7.37
created per $1 retained over 3 years
Market Cap Declined
Σ Retained
$26.63B
Δ Market Cap
$-196.16B
Buffett's "$1 Test": For every $1 of earnings retained, has management created at least $1 of market value?
> $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer

Buffett's "$1 Test": For every $1 of earnings retained, has management created at least $1 of market value?
> $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer

Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) Analysis

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PANW
421.4% Overvalued
Price is 421.4% above estimated fair value
Current Price: $181.09
Fair Value: $34.73
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued
UNH
9.6% Overvalued
Price is 9.6% above estimated fair value
Current Price: $368.78
Fair Value: $336.33
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued

Reverse DCF — Market-Implied Growth

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PANW

What growth rate is the market pricing in at $181?

+33.2%
Market-Implied Owner Earnings Growth
Standard FCF implies +20.2%

The market implies +33.2% Owner Earnings growth, below historical trends — potential opportunity.

Standard FCF implies a more demanding +20.2%, reflecting heavy growth investment expected to generate future returns.

UNH

What growth rate is the market pricing in at $369?

+13.9%
Market-Implied Owner Earnings Growth
Standard FCF implies +8.7%

The market implies +13.9% Owner Earnings growth, above historical trends.

Standard FCF implies a demanding +8.7%, reflecting heavy growth investment.

Economic Moat Score

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PANW
49/100
Narrow Moat
70+ Wide · 40-69 Narrow · <40 None

Narrow moat with reinvestment efficiency as the key competitive advantage. Improving roic consistency would strengthen the moat.

Composite score measuring competitive advantage durability across four dimensions: returns above cost of capital, pricing power stability, revenue predictability, and capital efficiency. Based on 4 years of fundamental data.
UNH
64/100
Narrow Moat
70+ Wide · 40-69 Narrow · <40 None

Narrow moat with revenue predictability as the key competitive advantage. Improving margin stability would strengthen the moat.

Composite score measuring competitive advantage durability across four dimensions: returns above cost of capital, pricing power stability, revenue predictability, and capital efficiency. Based on 4 years of fundamental data.

Forensic Accounting

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PANW
-2.59
Unlikely Manipulator
Above -1.78 = likely manipulator · -2.22 to -1.78 = grey zone

M-Score Trend

Beneish's 8-variable model estimates the probability of earnings manipulation. An M-Score above -1.78 signals elevated risk — companies in this range have historically been 3-5× more likely to be manipulating earnings. Scores between -2.22 and -1.78 fall in a grey zone warranting further investigation.
UNH
-2.45
Unlikely Manipulator
Above -1.78 = likely manipulator · -2.22 to -1.78 = grey zone

M-Score Trend

Beneish's 8-variable model estimates the probability of earnings manipulation. An M-Score above -1.78 signals elevated risk — companies in this range have historically been 3-5× more likely to be manipulating earnings. Scores between -2.22 and -1.78 fall in a grey zone warranting further investigation.

Beneish's 8-variable model estimates the probability of earnings manipulation. An M-Score above -1.78 signals elevated risk — companies in this range have historically been 3-5× more likely to be manipulating earnings. Scores between -2.22 and -1.78 fall in a grey zone warranting further investigation.

Ownership Breakdown

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PANW
Insiders 0.8%Institutions 74.8%Retail & Other 24.4%
No. of Institutional Holders3,345
High insider ownership aligns management incentives with shareholders — a key signal in Buffett-style analysis. Institutional concentration can indicate smart-money conviction but also crowding risk.
UNH
Insiders 0.8%Institutions 84.7%Retail & Other 14.5%
No. of Institutional Holders4,077
High insider ownership aligns management incentives with shareholders — a key signal in Buffett-style analysis. Institutional concentration can indicate smart-money conviction but also crowding risk.

High insider ownership aligns management incentives with shareholders. Institutional concentration can indicate smart-money conviction but also crowding risk.

Insider Buying Activity

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PANW
1
Buys (3M)
1
Buys (12M)
Total value (12M): $10.00M
ARORA NIKESH
Chief Executive Officer
$10.00M
@ $146.87 · 2026-03-27
Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises
UNH
0
Buys (3M)
5
Buys (12M)
Total value (12M): $31.61M
HEMSLEY STEPHEN J
Chief Executive Officer
$25.02M
@ $288.57 · 2025-05-16
REX JOHN F
President
$5.00M
@ $291.12 · 2025-05-16
GIL KRISTEN
Director
$1.00M
@ $271.17 · 2025-05-15
NOSEWORTHY JOHN H
Director
$93,647
@ $312.16 · 2025-05-14
FLYNN TIMOTHY PATRICK
Director
$491,786
@ $320.80 · 2025-05-14
FLYNN TIMOTHY PATRICK
Director
$511,575
@ $511.57 · 2025-01-17
Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises

Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises.

Insider Selling Activity

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PANW
4
Sells (3M)
32
Sells (12M)
Total value (12M): $449.39M
KEY JOHN PHILLIP
Director
$272,459
@ $173.32 · 2026-04-08
GOLECHHA DIPAK
Chief Financial Officer
$802,077
@ $160.42 · 2026-04-01
PAUL JOSHUA D.
Officer
$177,540
@ $161.40 · 2026-04-01
PAUL JOSHUA D.
Officer
$251,430
@ $147.90 · 2026-03-02
KLARICH LEE
Chief Technology Officer
$23.07M
@ $191.03 · 2026-01-08
PAUL JOSHUA D.
Officer
$147,848
@ $184.81 · 2026-01-02
JENKINS WILLIAM D JR
President
$167,068
@ $184.81 · 2026-01-02
JENKINS WILLIAM D JR
President
$1.17M
@ $188.07 · 2025-12-26
GOLECHHA DIPAK
Chief Financial Officer
$940,910
@ $188.18 · 2025-12-23
KLARICH LEE
Chief Technology Officer
$23.18M
@ $191.91 · 2025-12-03
PAUL JOSHUA D.
Officer
$132,573
@ $189.39 · 2025-12-01
KLARICH LEE
Chief Technology Officer
$26.32M
@ $217.94 · 2025-11-03
PAUL JOSHUA D.
Officer
$153,979
@ $219.97 · 2025-11-03
KLARICH LEE
Chief Technology Officer
$25.59M
@ $211.92 · 2025-10-06
PAUL JOSHUA D.
Officer
$141,512
@ $202.16 · 2025-10-01
GOLECHHA DIPAK
Chief Financial Officer
$1.02M
@ $204.19 · 2025-09-23
ARORA NIKESH
Chief Executive Officer
$172.72M
@ $204.06 · 2025-09-23
KLARICH LEE
Chief Technology Officer
$23.08M
@ $191.11 · 2025-09-03
PAUL JOSHUA D.
Officer
$131,334
@ $187.62 · 2025-09-02
PAUL JOSHUA D.
Officer
$128,940
@ $184.20 · 2025-08-21
KLARICH LEE
Officer
$20.72M
@ $171.58 · 2025-08-04
ZUK NIR
Chief Technology Officer
$17.28M
@ $172.80 · 2025-08-01
KLARICH LEE
Officer
$24.26M
@ $200.86 · 2025-07-07
PAUL JOSHUA D.
Officer
$122,400
@ $204.00 · 2025-07-01
ZUK NIR
Chief Technology Officer
$19.87M
@ $198.66 · 2025-07-01
GOLECHHA DIPAK
Chief Financial Officer
$1.01M
@ $201.85 · 2025-06-23
PAUL JOSHUA D.
Officer
$160,840
@ $201.05 · 2025-06-20
KLARICH LEE
Officer
$23.57M
@ $195.14 · 2025-06-04
ZUK NIR
Chief Technology Officer
$19.34M
@ $193.36 · 2025-06-02
BAWA APARNA
Director
$99,940
@ $190.00 · 2025-05-30
JENKINS WILLIAM D JR
President
$500,198
@ $186.15 · 2025-05-23
KLARICH LEE
Officer
$22.86M
@ $189.27 · 2025-05-05
PAUL JOSHUA D.
Officer
$75,564
@ $188.91 · 2025-05-01
ZUK NIR
Chief Technology Officer
$18.78M
@ $187.80 · 2025-05-01
KLARICH LEE
Officer
$18.25M
@ $151.13 · 2025-04-07
GOLECHHA DIPAK
Chief Financial Officer
$750,000
@ $150.00 · 2025-04-07
ARORA NIKESH
Chief Executive Officer
$133.33M
@ $169.11 · 2025-04-03
PAUL JOSHUA D.
Officer
$151,668
@ $168.52 · 2025-04-01
PAUL JOSHUA D.
Officer
$129,850
@ $185.50 · 2025-03-20
ARORA NIKESH
Chief Executive Officer
$12.70M
@ $181.56 · 2025-03-05
ARORA NIKESH
Chief Executive Officer
$132.77M
@ $184.80 · 2025-03-04
KLARICH LEE
Officer
$18.79M
@ $188.56 · 2025-03-03
JENKINS WILLIAM D JR
President
$493,370
@ $205.49 · 2025-02-19
ARORA NIKESH
Chief Executive Officer
$143.81M
@ $182.40 · 2025-02-04
KLARICH LEE
Officer
$18.19M
@ $182.45 · 2025-02-03
PAUL JOSHUA D.
Officer
$126,854
@ $181.22 · 2025-02-03
KLARICH LEE
Officer
$21.56M
@ $179.70 · 2025-01-06
ARORA NIKESH
Chief Executive Officer
$143.09M
@ $181.50 · 2025-01-06
PAUL JOSHUA D.
Officer
$258,300
@ $184.50 · 2025-01-02
MCCARTHY MARY PAT
Director
$2.40M
@ $400.16 · 2024-12-12
BAWA APARNA
Director
$100,004
@ $400.02 · 2024-12-04
ESCHENBACH CARL M
Director
$3.65M
@ $405.38 · 2024-12-04
GOLECHHA DIPAK
Chief Financial Officer
$975,600
@ $390.24 · 2024-12-02
PAUL JOSHUA D.
Officer
$78,048
@ $390.24 · 2024-12-02
KLARICH LEE
Officer
$23.36M
@ $389.41 · 2024-12-02
JENKINS WILLIAM D JR
President
$506,288
@ $387.96 · 2024-11-25
ZUK NIR
Chief Technology Officer
$65.08M
@ $387.39 · 2024-11-25
KLARICH LEE
Officer
$21.64M
@ $360.65 · 2024-11-04
PAUL JOSHUA D.
Officer
$71,806
@ $359.03 · 2024-11-01
ARORA NIKESH
Chief Executive Officer
$30.02M
@ $367.99 · 2024-10-10
KLARICH LEE
Officer
$20.39M
@ $339.81 · 2024-10-04
ZUK NIR
Chief Technology Officer
$11.97M
@ $332.50 · 2024-10-01
ARORA NIKESH
Chief Executive Officer
$22.87M
@ $342.98 · 2024-09-04
KLARICH LEE
Officer
$20.70M
@ $344.98 · 2024-09-04
GOLECHHA DIPAK
Chief Financial Officer
$897,675
@ $359.07 · 2024-09-03
PAUL JOSHUA D.
Officer
$71,814
@ $359.07 · 2024-09-03
ZUK NIR
Chief Technology Officer
$12.93M
@ $359.17 · 2024-09-03
MCCARTHY MARY PAT
Director
$3.48M
@ $348.49 · 2024-08-27
KEY JOHN PHILLIP
Director
$1.05M
@ $349.68 · 2024-08-23
ARORA NIKESH
Chief Executive Officer
$59.94M
@ $367.36 · 2024-08-20
MCCARTHY MARY PAT
Director
$341,441
@ $341.44 · 2024-08-19
ARORA NIKESH
Chief Executive Officer
$22.09M
@ $333.79 · 2024-08-13
ARORA NIKESH
Chief Executive Officer
$166,529
@ $333.06 · 2024-08-09
KLARICH LEE
Officer
$17.76M
@ $295.93 · 2024-08-05
PAUL JOSHUA D.
Officer
$64,682
@ $323.41 · 2024-08-01
ZUK NIR
Chief Technology Officer
$11.44M
@ $317.77 · 2024-08-01
KLARICH LEE
Officer
$42.16M
@ $335.00 · 2024-07-08
Direct ownership only · excludes indirect, option exercises, planned (10b5-1) sales & derivatives
UNH
1
Sells (3M)
2
Sells (12M)
Total value (12M): $463,645
CONWAY PATRICK HUGH M.D.
Officer
$284,000
@ $355.00 · 2026-04-23
CONWAY PATRICK HUGH M.D.
Chief Executive Officer
$179,645
@ $305.00 · 2025-06-10
Direct ownership only · excludes indirect, option exercises, planned (10b5-1) sales & derivatives

Direct ownership only · excludes indirect, option exercises, planned (10b5-1) sales & derivatives.

🎭 Mr. Market's Mood

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PANW
FearGreed
😐Neutral(54/100)

"Market is pricing this stock without strong emotion in either direction"

Composite sentiment score based on 6 market signals. Inspired by Buffett's "Mr. Market" allegory — fear = potential opportunity, greed = potential risk. Must be used alongside fundamental analysis, not in isolation.
UNH
FearGreed
😏Greed(65/100)

"Market is optimistic — be cautious and ensure you have a margin of safety"

Composite sentiment score based on 6 market signals. Inspired by Buffett's "Mr. Market" allegory — fear = potential opportunity, greed = potential risk. Must be used alongside fundamental analysis, not in isolation.

Composite sentiment score based on market signals. Inspired by Buffett’s "Mr. Market" allegory — fear = potential opportunity, greed = potential risk. Must be used alongside fundamental analysis, not in isolation.

⚖️ Buffett Signal

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PANW
Awaiting DCF Data

The Buffett Signal cross-references market sentiment with DCF valuation. Configure the DCF Analysis above to generate a signal.

DCF Margin of Safety: N/AMr. Market's Mood: Neutral (54)
UNH
Awaiting DCF Data

The Buffett Signal cross-references market sentiment with DCF valuation. Configure the DCF Analysis above to generate a signal.

DCF Margin of Safety: N/AMr. Market's Mood: Greed (65)
View PANW Full AnalysisView UNH Full Analysis
PANW vs UNH: Which Is the Better Buy? | SafetyMargin.io