Compare StocksMSFT vs SYF

Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) vs Synchrony Financial (SYF)

MSFT
Microsoft Corporation
$414.19
VS
SYF
Synchrony Financial
$75.76

Rewards

MSFT
  • Microsoft Corporation has maintained ROIC above 15% for 4 consecutive years, indicating a durable competitive advantage.
  • Gross margin of 68.3% 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.
SYF
  • Free cash flow has grown at a 13.7% CAGR over the past 4 years, demonstrating strong earnings power growth.
  • Share count has been reduced by 21% over the past 4 years through buybacks, increasing each share's claim on earnings.
  • PEG ratio of 0.39 suggests the stock is undervalued relative to its growth rate — paying less than 1x for each unit of earnings growth.

Risks

MSFT
  • FCF yield of 2.3% is below 3%, meaning the market is pricing in substantial future growth to justify the current price.
SYF
  • Gross margin of 0.0% is low, suggesting a competitive or commodity-like market with limited pricing power.
  • Altman Z-Score of 0.58 places the company in the distress zone — financial patterns resemble those of companies that experienced bankruptcy.
  • 13 insider sales totaling $33.7M with no purchases in the past 3 months — insiders are reducing their exposure.

Key Valuation Metrics

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MSFT
SYF
Valuation
$71.61B
Free Cash Flow
N/A
2.33%
FCF Yield
N/A
24.68
Trailing P/E
7.84
21.46
Forward P/E
7.23
Quality & Moat
21.58%
ROIC
22.85%
24.58%
ROE
N/A
68.31%
Gross Margin
0.00%
1.05
PEG Ratio
0.39
Balance Sheet Safety
0.30
Debt / Equity
N/A
N/A
Interest Coverage
N/A
0.26
Net Debt / EBITDA
N/A
0.88%
Dividend Yield
1.58%
MSFT: 1Ties: 1SYF: 5
MSFTSYF

Historical Fundamentals

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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.

SYF

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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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
SYF
$1.86
created per $1 retained over 3 years
Value Creator
Σ Retained
$7.86B
Δ Market Cap
+$14.58B
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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MSFT
3.0% Overvalued
Price is 3.0% above estimated fair value
Current Price: $414.19
Fair Value: $402.01
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued
SYF
76.1% Margin of Safety
Price is 76.1% below estimated fair value
Current Price: $75.76
Fair Value: $317.53
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued

Reverse DCF — Market-Implied Growth

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MSFT

What growth rate is the market pricing in at $414?

+13.5%
Market-Implied Owner Earnings Growth
Standard FCF implies +18.3%

The market implies +13.5% Owner Earnings growth, roughly in line with history — reasonably priced.

Standard FCF implies +18.3%, reflecting ongoing growth investment.

SYF

Requires positive FCF to compute implied growth rate.

Economic Moat Score

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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.
SYF
45/100
Narrow Moat
70+ Wide · 40-69 Narrow · <40 None

Narrow moat with revenue predictability as the key competitive advantage. Improving reinvestment efficiency would strengthen the moat.

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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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.
SYF
-2.82
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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MSFT
Insiders 0.1%Institutions 75.9%Retail & Other 24.0%
No. of Institutional Holders8,016
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.
SYF
Insiders 0.4%Institutions 110.3%
No. of Institutional Holders1,373
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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MSFT
1
Buys (3M)
1
Buys (12M)
Total value (12M): $1.99M
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
SYF
0
Buys (3M)
0
Buys (12M)
No open market insider purchases found.
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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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
SYF
13
Sells (3M)
26
Sells (12M)
Total value (12M): $47.67M
WENZEL BRIAN J SR.
Chief Financial Officer
$4.49M
@ $67.32 · 2026-03-03
CASELLAS ALBERTO B
Officer
$974,956
@ $67.71 · 2026-03-02
HOWSE CURTIS
Officer
$533,690
@ $67.71 · 2026-03-02
DOUBLES BRIAN D
Chief Executive Officer
$14.94M
@ $68.68 · 2026-03-02
JUEL CAROL D
Chief Technology Officer
$1.14M
@ $67.71 · 2026-03-02
SCHALLER BARTON W
Officer
$878,876
@ $67.71 · 2026-03-02
OWENS DARRELL
Officer
$261,699
@ $67.71 · 2026-03-02
GENTLEMAN COURTNEY
Officer
$293,726
@ $67.71 · 2026-03-02
CASELLAS ALBERTO B
Officer
$2.93M
@ $70.60 · 2026-02-17
JUEL CAROL D
Chief Operating Officer
$3.14M
@ $70.60 · 2026-02-17
SCHALLER BARTON W
Officer
$2.49M
@ $70.60 · 2026-02-17
OWENS DARRELL
Officer
$727,462
@ $70.60 · 2026-02-17
GENTLEMAN COURTNEY
Officer
$850,377
@ $70.60 · 2026-02-17
COVIELLO ARTHUR W JR
Director
$289,280
@ $72.32 · 2026-02-02
HOWSE CURTIS
Officer
$3.80M
@ $72.32 · 2026-02-02
MOTHNER JONATHAN S
Officer
$2.33M
@ $72.80 · 2025-11-17
COVIELLO ARTHUR W JR
Director
$591,440
@ $73.93 · 2025-11-03
HOWSE CURTIS
Officer
$894,606
@ $74.02 · 2025-11-03
OWENS DARRELL
Officer
$221,246
@ $74.02 · 2025-11-03
WENZEL BRIAN J SR.
Chief Financial Officer
$595,980
@ $70.00 · 2025-08-05
NAYLOR JEFFREY G
Director
$1.38M
@ $68.75 · 2025-08-05
OWENS DARRELL
Officer
$40,770
@ $67.95 · 2025-08-04
GENTLEMAN COURTNEY
Officer
$48,177
@ $67.95 · 2025-08-04
HOWSE CURTIS
Officer
$739,700
@ $65.00 · 2025-06-24
NAYLOR JEFFREY G
Director
$650,000
@ $65.00 · 2025-06-24
MOTHNER JONATHAN S
Officer
$2.44M
@ $60.07 · 2025-05-19
CASELLAS ALBERTO B
Officer
$3.48M
@ $60.01 · 2025-03-03
WENZEL BRIAN J SR.
Chief Financial Officer
$3.76M
@ $60.01 · 2025-03-03
HOWSE CURTIS
Officer
$2.04M
@ $60.01 · 2025-03-03
JUEL CAROL D
Officer
$5.41M
@ $59.19 · 2025-03-03
SCHALLER BARTON W
Officer
$4.45M
@ $59.18 · 2025-03-03
OWENS DARRELL
Officer
$664,611
@ $60.01 · 2025-03-03
GENTLEMAN COURTNEY
Officer
$600,700
@ $60.01 · 2025-03-03
DOUBLES BRIAN D
Chief Executive Officer
$8.94M
@ $60.09 · 2025-02-28
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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MSFT
FearGreed
😐Neutral(48/100)

"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.
SYF
FearGreed
😐Neutral(54/100)

"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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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 (48)
SYF
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 (54)
View MSFT Full AnalysisView SYF Full Analysis
MSFT vs SYF: Which Is the Better Buy? | SafetyMargin.io