PANW vs ZS: which was the better investment?
Palo Alto Networks, Inc. against Zscaler, Inc. on real daily total-return data — every dividend reinvested, from Mar 16, 2018 to Jul 15, 2026.
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Frequently asked questions
Did PANW beat ZS?
Yes — measured from Mar 16, 2018 to Jul 15, 2026 with dividends reinvested, PANW came out ahead: $113,875 versus $46,411 from a $10,000 start. That gap compounds from a 33.9% annual return against 20.2%.
What would $10,000 in PANW be worth today?
$10,000 invested in Palo Alto Networks, Inc. (PANW) on Mar 16, 2018 would be worth about $113,875 as of Jul 15, 2026, a total return of 1038.8% (33.9% per year). The same $10,000 in ZS would be worth $46,411.
Which was riskier — PANW or ZS?
PANW swung with an annualized volatility of 39.5% and a worst peak-to-trough drop of -48.0%; ZS ran at 58.3% volatility with a -76.4% maximum drawdown. Risk-adjusted (Sharpe ratio), that is 0.81 for PANW vs 0.31 for ZS.
What data is this comparison based on?
Daily adjusted closing prices covering Mar 16, 2018 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 ZS. 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.