NEW YORK, Feb 6, 2026, 14:14 (EST) — Regular session
- Palo Alto Networks shares climbed 2.4% to $158.44 in afternoon trading, rebounding from Thursday’s 7.2% drop.
- The company launched an updated NextWave partner program designed to boost bundled platform sales in the “AI era.”
- Investors are eyeing the company’s Feb. 17 quarterly report for clues on demand.
Palo Alto Networks shares climbed 2.4% to $158.44 in afternoon trading Friday, bouncing back from a steep drop the day before. Investors digested a revamped partner program aimed at “platformization” — pushing a bundled approach to selling the company’s products. Chief Partnerships Officer Simone Gammeri emphasized the channel’s growing importance, calling it “more critical than ever.” Meanwhile, Orange Cyberdefense CEO Hugues Foulon described the changes as “a catalyst” for tighter collaboration. Palo Alto Networks
The stock dropped 7.17% on Thursday, marking one of the sharpest falls among major cybersecurity firms as the S&P 500 slipped 1.23%, according to MarketWatch data.
The swings in software stocks this week highlight the shifting investor view on AI’s impact, with some betting on its potential and others wary of the disruptions it brings to business models, Reuters columnist Jamie McGeever noted.
In a talk with CRN, Palo Alto Networks Channel Chief Michael Khoury revealed the company has “transformed the entire incentive and rebates model” for partners. This revamp includes dropping some discount caps that previously restricted rebates. He also highlighted new training resources, such as an “AI Roleplay” tool designed to mimic customer interactions. CRN
Cybersecurity stocks showed varied moves on Friday, though gains were the norm. Fortinet climbed around 3.5%, CrowdStrike advanced close to 4.5%, and Check Point edged up about 1.5%. Zscaler bucked the trend, slipping roughly 1.7%. Meanwhile, the Nasdaq-focused QQQ and S&P 500’s SPY both gained nearly 2% by the afternoon session.
Fortinet’s earnings gave the market a boost. The cybersecurity firm posted adjusted profits of 81 cents per share, topping estimates, on $1.91 billion in revenue. Billings, a forward-looking indicator of contracted sales, climbed 18% to $2.37 billion, according to Investors.com.
Partner-program sweeteners come with risks. While bigger rebates and flexible pricing can seal deals, they also squeeze margins if discounts grow or clients drag their feet on major platform buys.
Palo Alto Networks is set to release its fiscal second-quarter results after U.S. markets close on Feb. 17. The company will follow up with a webcast at 4:30 p.m. Eastern that same day.
