Compare StocksCTSH vs MSFT

Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation (CTSH) vs Microsoft Corporation (MSFT)

CTSH
Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation
$61.55
VS
MSFT
Microsoft Corporation
$389.02

Rewards

CTSH
  • Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation has maintained ROIC above 15% for 4 consecutive years, indicating a durable competitive advantage.
  • Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation scores 88/100 on the Economic Moat Score (Wide Moat), with margin stability as the strongest competitive dimension.
  • Each dollar of retained earnings has created $2.22 of market value — management is an exceptional capital allocator.
MSFT
  • Microsoft Corporation has maintained ROIC above 15% for 4 consecutive years, indicating a durable competitive advantage.
  • Gross margin of 68.6% indicates strong pricing power — typical of businesses with significant intellectual property or brand strength.
  • Microsoft Corporation scores 88/100 on the Economic Moat Score (Wide Moat), with revenue predictability as the strongest competitive dimension.

Risks

CTSH
  • 10 insider sales totaling $2.0M with no purchases in the past 3 months — insiders are reducing their exposure.
MSFT
  • FCF yield of 2.5% is below 3%, meaning the market is pricing in substantial future growth to justify the current price.

Key Valuation Metrics

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CTSH
MSFT
Valuation
$2.60B
Free Cash Flow
$71.61B
8.74%
FCF Yield
2.48%
13.50
Trailing P/E
24.33
10.02
Forward P/E
20.64
Quality & Moat
16.48%
ROIC
22.10%
14.85%
ROE
26.05%
33.72%
Gross Margin
68.59%
0.61
PEG Ratio
0.41
Balance Sheet Safety
0.08
Debt / Equity
0.32
N/A
Interest Coverage
N/A
-0.19
Net Debt / EBITDA
0.19
2.14%
Dividend Yield
0.94%
CTSH: 6Ties: 1MSFT: 5
CTSHMSFT

Historical Fundamentals

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CTSH

Price ÷ Earnings Per Share — how many years of current earnings you're paying for at today's price. Lower P/E may indicate undervaluation.

MSFT

Price ÷ Earnings Per Share — how many years of current earnings you're paying for at today's price. Lower P/E may indicate undervaluation.

Price ÷ Earnings Per Share — how many years of current earnings you're paying for at today's price. Lower P/E may indicate undervaluation.

$1 Retained Earnings Test

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CTSH
$2.22
created per $1 retained over 3 years
Exceptional Value Creator
Σ Retained
$4.79B
Δ Market Cap
+$10.65B
Buffett's "$1 Test": For every $1 of earnings retained, has management created at least $1 of market value?
> $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer
MSFT
$9.18
created per $1 retained over 3 years
Exceptional Value Creator
Σ Retained
$196.68B
Δ Market Cap
+$1.81T
Buffett's "$1 Test": For every $1 of earnings retained, has management created at least $1 of market value?
> $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer

Buffett's "$1 Test": For every $1 of earnings retained, has management created at least $1 of market value?
> $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer

Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) Analysis

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CTSH
41.7% Margin of Safety
Price is 41.7% below estimated fair value
Current Price: $61.55
Fair Value: $105.62
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued
MSFT
0.5% Overvalued
Price is 0.5% above estimated fair value
Current Price: $389.02
Fair Value: $387.10
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued

Reverse DCF — Market-Implied Growth

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CTSH

What growth rate is the market pricing in at $62?

+1.8%
Market-Implied Owner Earnings Growth
Standard FCF implies -0.3%

The market implies +1.8% Owner Earnings growth, roughly in line with history — reasonably priced.

Standard FCF implies -0.3%, reflecting ongoing growth investment.

MSFT

What growth rate is the market pricing in at $389?

+12.6%
Market-Implied Owner Earnings Growth
Standard FCF implies +17.4%

The market implies +12.6% Owner Earnings growth, roughly in line with history — reasonably priced.

Standard FCF implies +17.4%, reflecting ongoing growth investment.

Economic Moat Score

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CTSH
88/100
Wide Moat
70+ Wide · 40-69 Narrow · <40 None

Wide moat with strength across all dimensions. Margin Stability is the standout factor.

Composite score measuring competitive advantage durability across four dimensions: returns above cost of capital, pricing power stability, revenue predictability, and capital efficiency. Based on 4 years of fundamental data.
MSFT
88/100
Wide Moat
70+ Wide · 40-69 Narrow · <40 None

Wide moat driven primarily by revenue predictability. Reinvestment Efficiency is the area most vulnerable to competitive pressure.

Composite score measuring competitive advantage durability across four dimensions: returns above cost of capital, pricing power stability, revenue predictability, and capital efficiency. Based on 4 years of fundamental data.

Forensic Accounting

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CTSH
-2.44
Unlikely Manipulator
Above -1.78 = likely manipulator · -2.22 to -1.78 = grey zone

M-Score Trend

Beneish's 8-variable model estimates the probability of earnings manipulation. An M-Score above -1.78 signals elevated risk — companies in this range have historically been 3-5× more likely to be manipulating earnings. Scores between -2.22 and -1.78 fall in a grey zone warranting further investigation.
MSFT
-2.51
Unlikely Manipulator
Above -1.78 = likely manipulator · -2.22 to -1.78 = grey zone

M-Score Trend

Beneish's 8-variable model estimates the probability of earnings manipulation. An M-Score above -1.78 signals elevated risk — companies in this range have historically been 3-5× more likely to be manipulating earnings. Scores between -2.22 and -1.78 fall in a grey zone warranting further investigation.

Beneish's 8-variable model estimates the probability of earnings manipulation. An M-Score above -1.78 signals elevated risk — companies in this range have historically been 3-5× more likely to be manipulating earnings. Scores between -2.22 and -1.78 fall in a grey zone warranting further investigation.

Ownership Breakdown

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CTSH
Insiders 0.1%Institutions 104.5%
No. of Institutional Holders1,543
High insider ownership aligns management incentives with shareholders — a key signal in Buffett-style analysis. Institutional concentration can indicate smart-money conviction but also crowding risk.
MSFT
Insiders 0.1%Institutions 76.0%Retail & Other 23.9%
No. of Institutional Holders8,055
High insider ownership aligns management incentives with shareholders — a key signal in Buffett-style analysis. Institutional concentration can indicate smart-money conviction but also crowding risk.

High insider ownership aligns management incentives with shareholders. Institutional concentration can indicate smart-money conviction but also crowding risk.

Insider Buying Activity

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CTSH
0
Buys (3M)
0
Buys (12M)
No open market insider purchases found.
Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises
MSFT
1
Buys (3M)
2
Buys (12M)
Total value (12M): $3.44M
STANTON JOHN W.
Director
$1.99M
@ $397.35 · 2026-02-18
SMITH BRADFORD LEE
President
$1.45M
@ $377.47 · 2025-04-23
Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises

Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises.

Insider Selling Activity

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CTSH
10
Sells (3M)
27
Sells (12M)
Total value (12M): $7.01M
KERDMAN ALINA
Officer
$7,962
@ $60.78 · 2026-03-16
KERDMAN ALINA
Officer
$9,537
@ $63.16 · 2026-03-02
KERDMAN ALINA
Officer
$10,680
@ $66.75 · 2026-02-17
GUMMADI SURYA KUMARI
Officer
$143,523
@ $83.06 · 2026-02-02
PATSALOS-FOX MICHAEL
Director
$168,460
@ $84.23 · 2026-01-07
PATSALOS-FOX MICHAEL
Director
$245,744
@ $81.91 · 2026-01-05
GUMMADI SURYA KUMARI
Officer
$569,962
@ $81.42 · 2026-01-02
KERDMAN ALINA
Officer
$17,080
@ $84.14 · 2025-12-31
PATSALOS-FOX MICHAEL
Director
$255,514
@ $85.17 · 2025-12-29
PATSALOS-FOX MICHAEL
Director
$596,650
@ $85.24 · 2025-12-24
SINGISETTI RAVI KUMAR
Chief Executive Officer
$250,935
@ $85.06 · 2025-12-19
PATSALOS-FOX MICHAEL
Director
$251,571
@ $83.86 · 2025-12-15
KERDMAN ALINA
Officer
$11,063
@ $84.45 · 2025-12-15
KIM JOHN SUNSHIN
Officer
$418,405
@ $83.68 · 2025-12-12
PATSALOS-FOX MICHAEL
Director
$584,653
@ $83.52 · 2025-12-11
SINGISETTI RAVI KUMAR
Chief Executive Officer
$250,039
@ $80.01 · 2025-12-04
KIM JOHN SUNSHIN
Officer
$200,000
@ $80.00 · 2025-12-04
GUMMADI SURYA KUMARI
Officer
$544,890
@ $77.84 · 2025-12-01
KERDMAN ALINA
Officer
$11,695
@ $77.45 · 2025-12-01
GUMMADI SURYA KUMARI
Officer
$539,578
@ $77.08 · 2025-11-26
KERDMAN ALINA
Officer
$11,350
@ $70.94 · 2025-11-18
KIM JOHN SUNSHIN
Officer
$187,950
@ $75.18 · 2025-10-29
PATSALOS-FOX MICHAEL
Director
$504,823
@ $72.48 · 2025-08-28
KERDMAN ALINA
Officer
$30,897
@ $70.38 · 2025-08-19
SINGISETTI RAVI KUMAR
Chief Executive Officer
$383,675
@ $71.05 · 2025-08-04
GUMMADI SURYA KUMARI
Officer
$399,744
@ $71.38 · 2025-08-04
KIM JOHN SUNSHIN
Officer
$401,200
@ $80.24 · 2025-06-02
KIM JOHN SUNSHIN
Officer
$417,986
@ $83.60 · 2025-03-03
KIM JOHN SUNSHIN
Officer
$417,986
@ $83.60 · 2025-03-03
Direct ownership only · excludes indirect, option exercises, planned (10b5-1) sales & derivatives
MSFT
1
Sells (3M)
13
Sells (12M)
Total value (12M): $172.43M
HOGAN KATHLEEN T
Officer
$5.05M
@ $409.55 · 2026-03-06
NUMOTO TAKESHI
Officer
$1.36M
@ $478.72 · 2025-12-04
ALTHOFF JUDSON
Officer
$6.27M
@ $491.52 · 2025-12-02
SMITH BRADFORD LEE
President
$19.97M
@ $518.64 · 2025-11-03
NADELLA SATYA
Chief Executive Officer
$75.32M
@ $504.78 · 2025-09-03
NUMOTO TAKESHI
Officer
$2.56M
@ $527.32 · 2025-08-12
NUMOTO TAKESHI
Officer
$1.39M
@ $463.00 · 2025-06-03
NUMOTO TAKESHI
Officer
$460,008
@ $460.01 · 2025-05-30
HOGAN KATHLEEN T
Officer
$9.76M
@ $453.77 · 2025-05-21
ALTHOFF JUDSON
Officer
$7.33M
@ $458.18 · 2025-05-19
COLEMAN AMY
Officer
$5.99M
@ $452.04 · 2025-05-15
SMITH BRADFORD LEE
President
$1.68M
@ $438.44 · 2025-05-05
SMITH BRADFORD LEE
President
$35.30M
@ $435.84 · 2025-05-05
NUMOTO TAKESHI
Officer
$1.12M
@ $447.41 · 2024-12-09
NUMOTO TAKESHI
Officer
$874,634
@ $437.32 · 2024-12-04
NUMOTO TAKESHI
Officer
$1.50M
@ $428.76 · 2024-12-02
ALTHOFF JUDSON
Officer
$10.43M
@ $417.00 · 2024-11-22
NUMOTO TAKESHI
Officer
$414,720
@ $414.72 · 2024-11-22
YOUNG CHRISTOPHER DAVID
Officer
$3.05M
@ $423.66 · 2024-11-12
HOGAN KATHLEEN T
Officer
$7.16M
@ $411.86 · 2024-09-10
NUMOTO TAKESHI
Officer
$1.03M
@ $411.04 · 2024-09-10
SMITH BRADFORD LEE
President
$16.10M
@ $402.59 · 2024-09-09
HOOD AMY E
Chief Financial Officer
$15.60M
@ $410.55 · 2024-09-05
NADELLA SATYA
Chief Executive Officer
$32.02M
@ $408.63 · 2024-09-04
NUMOTO TAKESHI
Officer
$235,535
@ $416.14 · 2024-06-03
ALTHOFF JUDSON
Officer
$10.64M
@ $425.68 · 2024-05-23
Direct ownership only · excludes indirect, option exercises, planned (10b5-1) sales & derivatives

Direct ownership only · excludes indirect, option exercises, planned (10b5-1) sales & derivatives.

🎭 Mr. Market's Mood

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CTSH
FearGreed
😨Fear(30/100)

"Market is pessimistic — investigate whether fears are temporary or structural"

Composite sentiment score based on 6 market signals. Inspired by Buffett's "Mr. Market" allegory — fear = potential opportunity, greed = potential risk. Must be used alongside fundamental analysis, not in isolation.
MSFT
FearGreed
😐Neutral(43/100)

"Market is pricing this stock without strong emotion in either direction"

Composite sentiment score based on 6 market signals. Inspired by Buffett's "Mr. Market" allegory — fear = potential opportunity, greed = potential risk. Must be used alongside fundamental analysis, not in isolation.

Composite sentiment score based on market signals. Inspired by Buffett’s "Mr. Market" allegory — fear = potential opportunity, greed = potential risk. Must be used alongside fundamental analysis, not in isolation.

⚖️ Buffett Signal

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CTSH
Awaiting DCF Data

The Buffett Signal cross-references market sentiment with DCF valuation. Configure the DCF Analysis above to generate a signal.

DCF Margin of Safety: N/AMr. Market's Mood: Fear (30)
MSFT
Awaiting DCF Data

The Buffett Signal cross-references market sentiment with DCF valuation. Configure the DCF Analysis above to generate a signal.

DCF Margin of Safety: N/AMr. Market's Mood: Neutral (43)
View CTSH Full AnalysisView MSFT Full Analysis