PANW vs SPY: which was the better investment?
Palo Alto Networks, Inc. against SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust on real daily total-return data — every dividend reinvested, from Jul 20, 2012 to Jul 15, 2026.
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Frequently asked questions
Did PANW beat SPY?
Yes — measured from Jul 20, 2012 to Jul 15, 2026 with dividends reinvested, PANW came out ahead: $404,935 versus $70,487 from a $10,000 start. That gap compounds from a 30.3% annual return against 15.0%.
What would $10,000 in PANW be worth today?
$10,000 invested in Palo Alto Networks, Inc. (PANW) on Jul 20, 2012 would be worth about $404,935 as of Jul 15, 2026, a total return of 3949.4% (30.3% per year). The same $10,000 in SPY would be worth $70,487.
Which was riskier — PANW or SPY?
PANW swung with an annualized volatility of 39.5% and a worst peak-to-trough drop of -48.0%; SPY ran at 16.7% volatility with a -33.7% maximum drawdown. Risk-adjusted (Sharpe ratio), that is 0.72 for PANW vs 0.78 for SPY.
What data is this comparison based on?
Daily adjusted closing prices covering Jul 20, 2012 through Jul 15, 2026 — the full period where both assets have price history. Adjusted prices include dividends and splits, so these are total returns. The page refreshes with new market data every day.
Can I change the dates, amounts, or add monthly investing?
Yes — the interactive tool on this page is pre-loaded with PANW vs SPY. You can set any start and end date, change the starting amount, add monthly contributions, or build a multi-asset portfolio and compare it against any benchmark.