Comparative Study: Microsoft And Industry 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 (NASDAQ: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).

Company	P/E	P/B	P/S	ROE	EBITDA (in billions)	Gross Profit (in billions)	Revenue Growth
Microsoft Corp	37.95	11.34	13.58	8.27%	$40.71	$48.15	13.27%
Oracle Corp	52.99	31.59	11.48	18.43%	$6.83	$11.16	11.31%
ServiceNow Inc	137.01	20.63	18.39	4.66%	$0.72	$2.44	18.63%
Palo Alto Networks Inc	113.20	18.16	15.72	3.85%	$0.4	$1.67	15.33%
Fortinet Inc	42.06	39.86	12.87	25.08%	$0.56	$1.25	13.77%
Gen Digital Inc	28.95	8.15	4.73	6.43%	$0.53	$0.81	4.77%
Monday.Com Ltd	299.72	13.99	15.22	2.57%	$0.01	$0.25	30.12%
CommVault Systems Inc	101.48	23.35	7.74	10.11%	$0.03	$0.23	23.17%
Dolby Laboratories Inc	28.81	2.84	5.61	3.61%	$0.14	$0.33	1.38%
Qualys Inc	29.44	10.50	8.60	9.75%	$0.06	$0.13	9.67%
Progress Software Corp	41.46	5.13	2.76	3.85%	$0.08	$0.19	35.57%
Teradata Corp	16.45	14.03	1.33	30.24%	$0.09	$0.25	-10.11%
N-able Inc	102.25	2	3.28	-0.93%	$0.01	$0.09	3.91%
Rapid7 Inc	58.56	29.26	1.78	5.98%	$0.02	$0.15	2.51%
Average	80.95	16.88	8.42	9.51%	$0.73	$1.46	12.31%

After examining Microsoft, the following trends can be inferred:

• A Price to Earnings ratio of 37.95 significantly below the industry average by 0.47x suggests undervaluation. This can make the stock appealing for those seeking growth.

• Considering a Price to Book ratio of 11.34, which is well below the industry average by 0.67x, the stock may be undervalued based on its book value compared to its peers.

• The Price to Sales ratio of 13.58, which is 1.61x the industry average, suggests the stock could potentially be overvalued in relation to its sales performance compared to its peers.

• With a Return on Equity (ROE) of 8.27% that is 1.24% below the industry average, it appears that the company exhibits potential inefficiency in utilizing equity to generate profits.

• Compared to its industry, the company has higher Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization (EBITDA) of $40.71 Billion, which is 55.77x above the industry average, indicating stronger profitability and robust cash flow generation.

• With higher gross profit of $48.15 Billion, which indicates 32.98x above the industry average, the company demonstrates stronger profitability and higher earnings from its core operations.

• With a revenue growth of 13.27%, which surpasses the industry average of 12.31%, the company is demonstrating robust sales expansion and gaining market share.

Debt To Equity Ratio

The debt-to-equity (D/E) ratio helps evaluate the capital structure and financial leverage of a company.

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:

• 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 0.19, 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, outperforming industry peers and indicating a healthy financial position for future growth.

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