Palo Alto Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ: PANW) finished the Christmas Eve session with a modest dip—and then edged slightly lower in after-hours trading as liquidity thinned following the holiday-shortened day.
Key takeaway: There is no regular U.S. stock market session tomorrow (Thursday, Dec. 25, 2025) because NYSE and Nasdaq are closed for Christmas Day. The next U.S. equity market open is Friday, Dec. 26, 2025. Nasdaq
PANW after-hours check: the numbers that matter tonight
- Close (Dec. 24):$187.22, down $0.90 (-0.48%) in the regular session. Finviz
- After hours (as last quoted late afternoon):$186.70, down $0.52 (-0.28%) from the close. MarketWatch
- Day’s range (regular session):High $187.84 / Low $184.80. Investing
- Volume (regular session): about 1.77M shares. Investing
That after-hours drift is small, and on a holiday week it often reflects thin trading more than a decisive change in fundamentals—especially because U.S. markets closed early today.
“After the bell” was earlier than usual: the holiday trading schedule matters
U.S. markets ran a holiday-shortened session on Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2025, with NYSE and Nasdaq closing early at 1:00 p.m. ET. New York Stock Exchange
They will be closed Thursday, Dec. 25 for Christmas Day and return Friday, Dec. 26. Barron’s
Why this matters for PANW (and any large-cap tech name):
- Price moves can look “muted” because many desks are lightly staffed.
- Spreads can widen after hours and around the open on the next session.
- Single prints can exaggerate direction when volume is low.
Market context today: risk-on tape, record closes, light volume
PANW’s slight decline came on a day when the broader market tone was strong. U.S. stocks closed higher in the shortened session, with the S&P 500 and Dow setting new highs as holiday volume stayed light. AP News
That context is important heading into Friday: if the broader “Santa rally” mood persists, high-quality mega-cap and large-cap software names can move with the tape even without company-specific headlines. Reuters
What news moved Palo Alto Networks today?
1) No new company press release dated Dec. 24—latest headline catalyst remains the Google Cloud expansion
Palo Alto Networks’ most prominent recent corporate headline is still the expanded partnership with Google Cloud announced Dec. 19, 2025 (not today), which positions PANW’s AI security platform (including Prisma AIRS) alongside Google Cloud’s AI stack and aims to secure AI workloads “from code to cloud.” Palo Alto Networks
The company highlighted several practical components: protecting AI workloads on Google Cloud (including Vertex AI/Agent Engine), deeper integrations for VM-Series software firewalls, Prisma SASE enhancements, and a “pre-vetted” joint approach meant to reduce integration friction for customers. Palo Alto Networks
Reuters reported the expanded partnership was described by a source as approaching $10 billion over several years, while noting the companies did not confirm detailed financial terms. Reuters
Why it still matters for Friday: traders often revisit the last major catalyst when there’s no fresh news—especially in holiday weeks.
2) “Today’s” PANW headlines were mostly positioning/ownership stories (13F-style updates)
Several widely circulated stories dated Dec. 24 focused on institutional-position updates (based on prior-quarter filings) and summarized Street sentiment around the name. These reports are not “new transactions today,” but they can influence retail/information flow.
Common elements across those updates included:
- Institutional ownership cited around ~79.82%
- A consensus view described as “Moderate Buy” with an average target price around $226.20
- Notes that insiders have been net sellers in recent months (as reported in those summaries) MarketBeat
Analyst forecasts and key “expectations” investors are watching
Wall Street price targets: generally bullish, but PANW is trading below key moving averages
A frequently cited consensus target is in the mid-$220s:
- MarketBeat lists a consensus target price of $226.20 and a “Moderate Buy” consensus. MarketBeat
- StockAnalysis summarizes an average target around $224 (based on its tracked analyst set). StockAnalysis
- Yahoo Finance shows a 1-year target estimate around $225.42. Yahoo Finance
At the same time, some market summaries note PANW has been trading below its 50-day and 200-day moving averages (figures around $201 and $197, respectively, in one widely circulated snapshot). MarketBeat
How to read that mix: targets imply upside, but the chart trend many traders follow still signals “repair mode,” meaning catalysts and execution updates matter.
Next major catalyst: earnings timing is still an estimate
Multiple market calendars currently estimate Palo Alto Networks’ next earnings around Feb. 12, 2026, while also noting the company may not have confirmed the date yet:
- Nasdaq earnings page shows an estimated date of 02/12/2026 (algorithm-derived). Nasdaq
- Yahoo Finance also displays an estimated earnings date around Feb 12, 2026. Yahoo Finance
- Zacks likewise lists Feb. 12, 2026 as the next expected report date. Zacks
For a stock like PANW, earnings are usually the next major volatility event—so positioning often starts weeks in advance.
What to know before the next open (Friday, Dec. 26): a practical checklist
1) Expect thinner liquidity than a normal Friday
Holiday weeks often bring:
- lower volume,
- wider spreads at the open,
- and more “index/tape-driven” moves.
That means PANW can gap on relatively small order flow—even without news. AP News
2) Watch for follow-through (or fade) in the post-Google Cloud narrative
With no new company release today, the market may keep trading the implications of the Google Cloud partnership expansion:
- product integration traction,
- customer adoption of Prisma AIRS / AI security features,
- and whether investors treat the partnership as a durable growth lever into 2026. Palo Alto Networks
3) Remember: SEC EDGAR closure can delay “official” filing visibility
The SEC announced the EDGAR system will be closed Dec. 24 through Dec. 26, resuming normal operations Monday, Dec. 29, 2025. SEC
That doesn’t prevent companies from issuing press releases, but it can affect when certain filings become publicly available through EDGAR—useful context if you’re expecting routine year-end paperwork.
4) Track cybersecurity peer sympathy and AI/security sentiment
In holiday sessions, PANW can trade as part of a “basket” with other cybersecurity leaders (CrowdStrike, Fortinet, etc.). Even generic sector lists and screeners today highlighted that the group remains a focus area for investors into 2026. MarketBeat
5) Re-check your “levels” using simple, widely cited reference points
Into Friday, many traders will key off:
- Today’s low ($184.80) as a near-term downside reference
- Today’s high ($187.84) as a near-term upside reference Investing
- The idea that PANW has recently traded below its widely cited moving averages (trend signal). MarketBeat
No single level guarantees anything—especially in thin markets—but they often shape short-term trading behavior.
Bottom line for PANW heading into Friday’s session
Palo Alto Networks stock ended Dec. 24, 2025 slightly lower at $187.22 and ticked down to around $186.70 after hours—nothing dramatic, but notable given the holiday backdrop and reduced liquidity. Investing
With U.S. markets closed on Dec. 25 and reopening Dec. 26, the most important things for investors to monitor aren’t “tomorrow’s open,” but rather:
- holiday liquidity conditions,
- whether the broader market’s risk-on mood holds,
- and any incremental developments tied to PANW’s AI-driven product and partnership push—especially the still-fresh Google Cloud expansion narrative. Barron’s
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.
