What was Palo Alto Networks's compound annual growth rate (CAGR) since 2023?

Palo Alto Networks's CAGR from 2023 to September 2026 was 58.4% per year. For comparison, the S&P 500 has historically averaged around 10% annually. Palo Alto Networks significantly outperformed traditional equity markets on an annualized basis.

How does Palo Alto Networks compare to the S&P 500 since 2023?

The same $1,000 invested in an S&P 500 index fund in 2023 would be worth approximately $2,104.49 today. Palo Alto Networks outperformed the index by $3,492.59 — 2.66x the return of the S&P 500.

How much of the Palo Alto Networks gain would you keep after taxes?

Sold today, the $4,597.08 gain would be a long-term capital gain for US federal tax. At the 15% rate most people pay, you'd keep about $4,907.52. At the top rate of 23.8% (20% plus the 3.8% net investment income tax) you'd keep about $4,502.98, and lower incomes pay 0%. State tax is extra, and gains inside a Roth IRA aren't taxed.

What is the inflation-adjusted return on $1,000 in Palo Alto Networks since 2023?

Adjusted for cumulative US inflation since 2023, the real purchasing-power value of the Palo Alto Networks position is approximately $5,231.38 in 2023 dollars. Even after inflation, this is an extraordinary real return — inflation only marginally reduces gains of this magnitude.

How did Palo Alto Networks perform in 2023?

Palo Alto Networks rose 109% during 2023, from $69.22 at the start of the year to $144.46 at the start of 2024.

What If You Invested $1,000 in Palo Alto Networks in 2023?

Q: Did Palo Alto Networks pay dividends?

No. Palo Alto Networks paid no dividends over this period, so the whole return came from its share price.

Try your own numbers

If I had putintoat the start of…

it would be worth today

$5,597

+$4,597 profit5.60x58.4% a year

The same $1,000 in an S&P 500 index fund: $2,104

Aftertax on the gain, you’d keep$4,908

US federal long-term rates: 15% for most people, 0% on lower incomes, 20% + 3.8% on high incomes. No state tax included; none inside a Roth IRA.

Compare with

Growth Over Time

Performance Metrics

Total Invested

$1,000.00

Current Value

$5,597.08

Total Profit

$4,597.08

Multiplier

5.60x

CAGR

58.4%

Max Drawdown

-32.4%

Inflation-Adjusted

$5,231.38

Benchmark Comparison

How does $1,000.00 invested in 2023 compare across different asset classes?

Asset	Value Today	Return
Palo Alto Networks	$5,597.08	5.60x
S&P 500	$2,104.49	2.10x
Gold	$2,303.29	2.30x
Savings (2% APY)	$1,076.98	1.08x

Dividends

Palo Alto Networks paid no dividends over this period, so the whole return came from its share price.

Dividends from Yahoo Finance. Shares today assume every dividend was reinvested.

Back in 2023

In November 2023, Palo Alto Networks confirmed it had acquired Talon Cyber Security, an enterprise browser maker, its second Israeli security acquisition within a week. techcrunch.com
In 2023, a gallon of gas averaged $3.52 and the new iPhone 15 Pro started at $999. eia.gov apple.com
During 2023 itself, Palo Alto Networks rose 109%, #20 of the 113 investments we track. The best was Solana (+913%); the worst was AMC Entertainment (−84%). Full 2023 results →

$1,000 in Palo Alto Networks, year by year

Of the 113 investments we track that were available at the start of 2023, Palo Alto Networks ranks #15 by growth to today — just behind Coinbase and ahead of Bitcoin. See the full 2023 ranking →

Palo Alto Networks started 2023 24% below its start-of-2022 high, after falling 24% in 2022. It has been worth more than the $1,000 put in at every January since, and still is today. Today's $5,597 is more than it was worth at any January since. It rose in 2 of the 3 full years since. It has been ahead of the same $1,000 in the S&P 500 at every January since, and still is. Month by month, the deepest fall ran from Oct 2025 ($3,179) to Feb 2026 ($2,149), a drop of 32%.

When	Worth	Change	S&P 500
Start of 2023	$1,000	—	$1,000
Start of 2024	$2,087	+109%	$1,263
Start of 2025	$2,611	+25%	$1,579
Start of 2026	$2,591	−0.8%	$1,861
Today	$5,597	+116%	$2,104

Values at the start of each year (first trading day for stocks). The S&P 500 column includes reinvested dividends, like the stock values.

Historical Context

At the start of 2023, Palo Alto Networks was priced at $69.22 (adjusted for later splits and dividends). $1,000 would have bought about 14.45 shares. Palo Alto Networks sells cybersecurity products. It went public in July 2012.

Measured from one January to the next, Palo Alto Networks's best year since then was 2023 (+109%) and its worst was 2025 (−0.8%).

Frequently Asked Questions

A $1,000 investment in Palo Alto Networks at the start of 2023 would be worth approximately $5,597.08 today — a 5.60x return ($4,597.08 profit) over 3.7 years.

Methodology & Sources

Price data: Historical prices are the closing price on the first trading day of each year, adjusted for splits and dividends (so returns assume dividends were reinvested), from Yahoo Finance and MacroTrends. Current prices come from Yahoo Finance and refresh hourly; if that source is unavailable, the last saved price is used.

Calculation: Assumes a single purchase at the start of 2023 (or the first trading day, for companies that listed that year), held until today. No transaction fees, taxes, or slippage are included.

Benchmarks: The S&P 500 comparison uses the S&P 500 Total Return index (dividends reinvested, like an index fund) at the start of2023 and today. Gold uses the price per troy ounce. Savings account assumes a 2% APY compounded annually.

Inflation adjustment: Uses U.S. CPI-U annual averages from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The 2026 CPI value is estimated.

Educational purposes only. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Not financial advice.