Assessing Microsoft's Performance Against Competitors In Software Industry

In the ever-evolving and intensely competitive business landscape, conducting a thorough company analysis is of utmost importance for investors and industry followers. In this article, we will carry out an in-depth industry comparison, assessing Microsoft MSFT alongside its primary competitors in the Software industry. By meticulously examining key financial metrics, market positioning, and growth prospects, we aim to offer valuable insights to 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).

When conducting a detailed analysis of Microsoft, the following trends become clear:

• A Price to Earnings ratio of 31.99 significantly below the industry average by 0.26x suggests undervaluation. This can make the stock appealing for those seeking growth.

• With a Price to Book ratio of 9.75, significantly falling below the industry average by 0.58x, it suggests undervaluation and the possibility of untapped growth prospects.

• The stock's relatively high Price to Sales ratio of 11.33, surpassing the industry average by 1.08x, may indicate an aspect of overvaluation in terms of sales performance.

• With a Return on Equity (ROE) of 8.17% that is 0.45% below the industry average, it appears that the company exhibits potential inefficiency in utilizing equity to generate profits.

• The company exhibits higher Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization (EBITDA) of $36.79 Billion, which is 66.89x above the industry average, implying stronger profitability and robust cash flow generation.

• Compared to its industry, the company has higher gross profit of $47.83 Billion, which indicates 38.89x above the industry average, indicating stronger profitability and higher earnings from its core operations.

• With a revenue growth of 12.27%, which surpasses the industry average of 11.24%, the company is demonstrating robust sales expansion and gaining market share.

Debt To Equity Ratio

The debt-to-equity (D/E) ratio assesses the extent to which a company relies on borrowed funds compared to its equity.

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.

In light of the Debt-to-Equity ratio, a comparison between Microsoft and its top 4 peers reveals the following information:

• Compared to its top 4 peers, Microsoft has a stronger financial position indicated by its lower debt-to-equity ratio of 0.21.

• This suggests that the company relies less on debt financing and has a more favorable balance between debt and equity, which can be seen as a positive attribute by investors.

Key Takeaways

For Microsoft in the Software industry, the PE and PB ratios suggest that the company is undervalued compared to its peers. However, the high PS ratio indicates that the market values Microsoft's sales more highly. In terms of ROE, EBITDA, gross profit, and revenue growth, Microsoft shows strong performance with high profitability and revenue growth compared to its industry peers.

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