Performance Comparison: Microsoft And Competitors In Software Industry

In the ever-changing and fiercely competitive business landscape, conducting thorough company analysis is crucial for investors and industry experts. In this article, we will undertake a comprehensive industry comparison, evaluating Microsoft MSFT and its primary competitors in the Software industry. By closely examining key financial metrics, market position, and growth prospects, our aim is to provide valuable insights for investors and shed light on company's performance within the industry.

Microsoft Background

Microsoft develops and licenses consumer and enterprise software. It is known for its Windows operating systems and Office productivity suite. The company is organized into three equally sized broad segments: productivity and business processes (legacy Microsoft Office, cloud-based Office 365, Exchange, SharePoint, Skype, LinkedIn, Dynamics), intelligence cloud (infrastructure- and platform-as-a-service offerings Azure, Windows Server OS, SQL Server), and more personal computing (Windows Client, Xbox, Bing search, display advertising, and Surface laptops, tablets, and desktops).

By closely studying Microsoft, we can observe the following trends:

• The stock's Price to Earnings ratio of 36.73 is lower than the industry average by 0.26x, suggesting potential value in the eyes of market participants.

• With a Price to Book ratio of 12.44, significantly falling below the industry average by 0.63x, it suggests undervaluation and the possibility of untapped growth prospects.

• With a relatively high Price to Sales ratio of 13.38, which is 1.51x the industry average, the stock might be considered overvalued based on sales performance.

• With a Return on Equity (ROE) of 8.93% that is 4.0% below the industry average, it appears that the company exhibits potential inefficiency in utilizing equity to generate profits.

• The Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization (EBITDA) of $33.55 Billion is 59.91x above the industry average, highlighting stronger profitability and robust cash flow generation.

• With higher gross profit of $43.35 Billion, which indicates 35.24x above the industry average, the company demonstrates stronger profitability and higher earnings from its core operations.

• With a revenue growth of 17.03%, which surpasses the industry average of 12.44%, the company is demonstrating robust sales expansion and gaining market share.

Debt To Equity Ratio

The debt-to-equity (D/E) ratio provides insights into the proportion of debt a company has in relation to its equity and asset value.

Considering the debt-to-equity ratio in industry comparisons allows for a concise evaluation of a company's financial health and risk profile, aiding in informed decision-making.

When comparing Microsoft with its top 4 peers based on the Debt-to-Equity ratio, the following insights can be observed:

• When considering the debt-to-equity ratio, Microsoft exhibits a stronger financial position compared to its top 4 peers.

• This indicates that the company has a favorable balance between debt and equity, with a lower debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32, which can be perceived as a positive aspect by investors.

Key Takeaways

For Microsoft in the Software industry, the PE and PB ratios suggest the stock is undervalued compared to peers, indicating potential for growth. However, the high PS ratio implies the stock may be overvalued based on revenue. In terms of ROE, EBITDA, gross profit, and revenue growth, Microsoft shows strong performance and growth potential compared to industry peers.

This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.