Compare Stocks › MSFT vs NTRS
Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) vs Northern Trust Corporation (NTRS)
MSFT
Microsoft Corporation
$389.02
VS
NTRS
Northern Trust Corporation
$135.78
Rewards
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.
NTRS
- ★Free cash flow has grown at a 41.8% CAGR over the past 4 years, demonstrating strong earnings power growth.
- ★Share count has been reduced by 11% over the past 4 years through buybacks, increasing each share's claim on earnings.
- ★Each dollar of retained earnings has created $2.39 of market value — management is an exceptional capital allocator.
Risks
MSFT
- ⚠FCF yield of 2.5% is below 3%, meaning the market is pricing in substantial future growth to justify the current price.
NTRS
- ⚠Gross margin of 0.0% is low, suggesting a competitive or commodity-like market with limited pricing power.
- ⚠Northern Trust Corporation scores only 22/100 on the Economic Moat Score, suggesting limited durable competitive advantages.
- ⚠PEG ratio of 2.04 indicates the stock is expensive relative to its expected growth — the market may be pricing in more growth than analysts project.
Key Valuation Metrics
Learn more →MSFT
NTRS
Valuation
$71.61B
Free Cash Flow
N/A
2.48%
FCF Yield
N/A
24.33
Trailing P/E
15.54
20.64
Forward P/E
12.19
Quality & Moat
22.10%
ROIC
10.14%
26.05%
ROE
N/A
68.59%
Gross Margin
0.00%
0.41
PEG Ratio
2.04
Balance Sheet Safety
0.32
Debt / Equity
N/A
N/A
Interest Coverage
N/A
0.19
Net Debt / EBITDA
N/A
0.94%
Dividend Yield
2.32%
MSFT: 3Ties: 1NTRS: 3
MSFTNTRS
Historical Fundamentals
Learn more →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.
NTRS
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
Learn more →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
> $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer
NTRS
$2.39
created per $1 retained over 3 years
Exceptional Value Creator
Σ Retained
$2.93B
Δ Market Cap
+$7.01B
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
> $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
Learn more →MSFT
0.5% Overvalued
Price is 0.5% above estimated fair value
Current Price: $389.02
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued
Fair Value: $387.10
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued
NTRS
28.6% Margin of Safety
Price is 28.6% below estimated fair value
Current Price: $135.78
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued
Fair Value: $190.07
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued
Reverse DCF — Market-Implied Growth
Learn more →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.
NTRS
Requires positive FCF to compute implied growth rate.
Economic Moat Score
Learn more →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.
NTRS
22/100
No Moat
70+ Wide · 40-69 Narrow · <40 None
No durable moat detected, though reinvestment efficiency shows some competitive positioning. The business lacks consistent evidence of sustainable advantages.
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
Learn more →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.
NTRS
-2.60
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
Learn more →MSFT
Insiders 0.1%Institutions 76.0%Retail & Other 23.9%
No. of Institutional Holders8,054
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.
NTRS
Insiders 0.9%Institutions 86.0%Retail & Other 13.1%
No. of Institutional Holders1,238
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
Learn more →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
NTRS
2
Buys (3M)
6
Buys (12M)
Total value (12M): $763,181
PETRINO RICHARD
Director
$148,910
@ $148.91 · 2026-02-05
MORITZ ROBERT EDWARD JR.
Director
$37,203
@ $151.85 · 2026-02-02
MORITZ ROBERT EDWARD JR.
Director
$500,266
@ $128.57 · 2025-11-04
MORITZ ROBERT EDWARD JR.
Director
$34,198
@ $126.66 · 2025-10-27
MORITZ ROBERT EDWARD JR.
Director
$32,343
@ $126.34 · 2025-08-13
MORITZ ROBERT EDWARD JR.
Director
$10,261
@ $91.62 · 2025-04-24
Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises
Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises.
Insider Selling Activity
Learn more →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
NTRS
3
Sells (3M)
12
Sells (12M)
Total value (12M): $7.74M
FOX DAVID W JR
Chief Financial Officer
$468,362
@ $143.89 · 2026-03-04
FOX DAVID W JR
Chief Financial Officer
$208,872
@ $144.05 · 2026-02-25
BELLOWS CLIVE
Officer
$166,758
@ $145.26 · 2026-02-12
SOUTH THOMAS A
Officer
$695,150
@ $139.03 · 2025-12-11
LANDERS JOHN P.
Officer
$95,252
@ $124.35 · 2025-11-17
LEVY SUSAN COHEN
General Counsel
$3.54M
@ $128.13 · 2025-11-04
PARKER TERESA A
Officer
$997,458
@ $131.21 · 2025-07-31
HALLINAN AENGUS
Officer
$528.00
@ $105.60 · 2025-05-22
CONWAY KELLEY
Officer
$52,640
@ $105.28 · 2025-05-12
FOX DAVID W JR
Chief Financial Officer
$535,772
@ $105.55 · 2025-05-12
PARKER TERESA A
Officer
$650,710
@ $100.62 · 2025-05-09
BELLOWS CLIVE
Officer
$329,835
@ $99.95 · 2025-05-08
SOUTH THOMAS A
Officer
$429,852
@ $113.00 · 2025-02-19
LANDERS JOHN P.
Officer
$100,296
@ $111.44 · 2025-02-04
KARPINSKI JANE B.
Officer
$251,828
@ $111.33 · 2025-02-03
TYLER JASON J
Officer
$252,043
@ $112.67 · 2025-01-30
CHERECWICH PETER B
Chief Operating Officer
$2.94M
@ $112.36 · 2025-01-29
SOUTH THOMAS A
Officer
$529,000
@ $105.80 · 2024-11-07
PARKER TERESA A
Officer
$447,718
@ $100.86 · 2024-10-25
KARPINSKI JANE B.
Officer
$437,964
@ $100.96 · 2024-10-25
LEVY SUSAN COHEN
General Counsel
$2.00M
@ $102.26 · 2024-10-25
FRADKIN STEVEN L
Officer
$2.80M
@ $100.50 · 2024-10-25
GOSSETT MARK C
Officer
$533,400
@ $88.90 · 2024-08-27
PARKER TERESA A
Officer
$494,525
@ $84.06 · 2024-08-09
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
Learn more →MSFT
😐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.
NTRS
😐Neutral(53/100)
"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
Learn more →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)
NTRS
⚪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 (53)