Key Highlights

● Palo Alto Networks shares fell 7.63% to close at $342 on October 16.

● The consensus 12-month price target is $398.52, implying about 16.5% upside.

● Analysts are split 42 Buy, 11 Hold, and 2 Sell on the stock.

● Targets range from $190 to $525 across 55 analysts.

Palo Alto Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ:PANW) closed at $342.00 on Friday October 16, 2026. The consensus analyst price target is $398.52, which implies upside of about 16.5% from that close. Palo Alto Networks is a constituent of the S&P 500. The shares fell 7.63% on Friday despite a run of target increases from brokers earlier in the month.

What Is the Latest Analyst Price Target?

According to market data, 55 analysts cover the stock. The mean target is $398.52, the median is $415.00, the highest is $525.00 and the lowest is $190.00. The consensus rating is Buy. The analyst data is dated October 15, 2026, and the price is the 16 October close, so the two may not be perfectly aligned.

What Are Analysts Saying?

The rating split is 42 Buy (32 Strong Buy, 10 Buy), 11 Hold, 2 Sell. Recent actions include Citi raising its target from $410 to $440 (15 October), Wells Fargo from $475 to $525 (12 October), Yorkville Ives & Co initiating at Buy with $500 (7 October), TD Cowen from $400 to $440 (2 October), and BTIG from $404 to $425 (28 September). Phillip Securities was also reported to have downgraded the stock to Reduce from Neutral around 11 October.

What Could Help the Stock Reach the Price Target?

Palo Alto reported fiscal 2026 revenue of $11.48 billion, up 24.5%, and announced a cybersecurity service built on Anthropic and OpenAI models on 22 September. If demand for security platforms stays firm, the consensus target suggests meaningful upside.

What Could Prevent the Stock Reaching the Target?

Fiscal 2026 net income of $307 million fell about 73%, and valuation leaves limited room for disappointment. The target range is wide, from $190 to $525, and the latest price move came after the analyst data was compiled.

What Should Investors Watch Next?

The next earnings report is estimated for November 18, 2026 (unconfirmed). Investors may wish to follow platform adoption, margins, acquisition integration and further target changes.

Some Catching Up to Do

The consensus target suggests upside of about 16.5% from the latest close, but it is a forecast, and the stock could fall short of it.