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Palo Alto’s AI Panic Selloff Just Met Its Biggest Opponent—The CEO Himself!

Palo Alto Networks entered late March under pressure from two overlapping narratives: a broader software selloff and a fresh wave of anxiety that new AI models could reshape cybersecurity faster than incumbents can adapt. That backdrop had already pushed the stock down roughly 15% in 2026 before another downdraft hit after concerns tied to Anthropic’s latest model spilled across the sector. Then came a move that immediately changed the tone. Chief Executive Officer Nikesh Arora stepped into the open market and bought 68,085 shares for about $10 million at prices between $146.46 and $147.48, a rare purchase that stood out because his SEC filings had largely reflected sales tied to tax and vesting activity. Shortly after, the stock rebounded by roughly 5% to 6%, marking its strongest single-day move in months. The key question is not simply whether insider buying helped the stock bounce.