Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Cognyte Software Ltd. (CGNT) vs Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) vs Oracle Corporation (ORCL) Stock
Analyze side-by-side fundamentals, valuation, growth, and profitability to decide which stock is the better buy.
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Quick Verdict
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | MSFT | 14.9% revenue growth vs ORCL's 8.4% |
| Value | MSFT | Lower P/E (23.8x vs 29.6x) |
| Quality / Margins | MSFT | 39.0% net margin vs CGNT's -1.2% |
| Stability / Safety | MSFT | Beta 0.88 vs ORCL's 1.40, lower leverage |
| Dividends | ORCL | 1.1% yield, 18-year raise streak, vs MSFT's 0.8% |
| Momentum (1Y) | MSFT | -0.2% vs CGNT's -20.6% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | MSFT | 17.9% ROA vs CGNT's -0.9%, ROIC 27.9% vs -2.5% |
Who Each Stock Is For
Income & stability
Growth exposure
Long-term compounding (10Y)
Sleep-well-at-night portfolio
Valuation efficiency (growth/$)
Defensive / Recession hedge
Business Model
What each company does and how it makes money
Cognyte Software provides investigative analytics software to government agencies and enterprises for security and intelligence operations. It generates revenue primarily through software licenses and subscriptions — with government contracts forming the bulk of its business — supplemented by professional services like implementation and support. The company's competitive advantage lies in its specialized, open-architecture platform that integrates diverse data sources for complex investigations, creating high switching costs for security-focused customers.
Microsoft is a global technology company that develops software, cloud services, and hardware products. It generates revenue primarily through cloud services like Azure (~40% of revenue), productivity software including Office 365 and Dynamics, and personal computing through Windows licensing and Surface devices. Its key competitive advantage is the deeply entrenched enterprise ecosystem—Windows and Office dominance creates a powerful network effect that drives adoption of its cloud and productivity suites.
Oracle is a global enterprise software and cloud computing company that provides database management systems, enterprise applications, and cloud infrastructure services. It generates revenue primarily through cloud services and license support (~70% of total revenue) and cloud license and on-premise license sales (~20%), with hardware and services making up the remainder. The company's key moat is its entrenched position in enterprise database software—particularly with its flagship Oracle Database—which creates significant switching costs and lock-in for large corporate customers.
Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Financial Metrics Comparison
Side-by-side fundamentals across 3 stocks. BestLagging
Financial Scorecard
MSFT leads in 4 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). CGNT leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics). 1 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
MSFT is the larger business by revenue, generating $305.5B annually — 811.2x CGNT's $377M. MSFT is the more profitable business, keeping 39.0% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to CGNT's -1.2%.
| Metric | CGNTCognyte Software … | MSFTMicrosoft Corpora… | ORCLOracle Corporation |
|---|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $377M | $305.5B | $61.0B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $16M | $184.8B | $22.6B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$5M | $119.3B | $15.4B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $11M | $77.4B | -$13.2B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +70.9% | +68.6% | +70.7% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +0.9% | +46.7% | +30.3% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -1.2% | +39.0% | +25.3% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +3.0% | +25.3% | -21.6% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +15.5% | +16.7% | +14.2% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +173.6% | +59.8% | +90.9% |
Valuation Metrics
At 28.8x trailing earnings, MSFT trades at a 14% valuation discount to ORCL's 33.5x P/E. Adjusting for growth (PEG ratio), MSFT offers better value at 1.53x vs ORCL's 4.72x — a lower PEG means you pay less per unit of expected earnings growth.
| Metric | CGNTCognyte Software … | MSFTMicrosoft Corpora… | ORCLOracle Corporation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $511M | $2.92T | $408.1B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $434M | $2.95T | $501.5B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -41.71x | 28.79x | 33.50x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 29.64x | 23.84x | 19.71x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 1.53x | 4.72x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 50.87x | 18.12x | 21.02x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.46x | 10.36x | 7.11x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 2.34x | 8.54x | 19.87x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 15.21x | 40.74x | — |
Profitability & Efficiency
ORCL delivers a 50.6% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $51 in annual profit, vs $-2 for CGNT. CGNT carries lower financial leverage with a 0.16x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to ORCL's 4.96x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), MSFT scores 6/9 vs CGNT's 5/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | CGNTCognyte Software … | MSFTMicrosoft Corpora… | ORCLOracle Corporation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -2.0% | +30.5% | +50.6% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -0.9% | +17.9% | +7.5% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | -2.5% | +27.9% | +12.8% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -1.8% | +29.7% | +14.4% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.16x | 0.18x | 4.96x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$77M | $30.3B | $93.3B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $113M | $30.2B | $10.8B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $36M | $60.6B | $104.1B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 21.71x | 56.44x | 3.24x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in ORCL five years ago would be worth $23,146 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $2,302 for CGNT. Over the past 12 months, MSFT leads with a -0.2% total return vs CGNT's -20.6%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors CGNT at 24.2% vs MSFT's 17.3% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | CGNTCognyte Software … | MSFTMicrosoft Corpora… | ORCLOracle Corporation |
|---|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -20.3% | -16.8% | -25.5% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -20.6% | -0.2% | -11.2% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +91.6% | +61.3% | +72.3% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -77.0% | +71.9% | +131.5% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -74.7% | +718.2% | +327.4% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +24.2% | +17.3% | +19.9% |
Risk & Volatility
MSFT is the less volatile stock with a 0.88 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than ORCL's 1.40 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. MSFT currently trades 70.7% from its 52-week high vs ORCL's 42.1% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | CGNTCognyte Software … | MSFTMicrosoft Corpora… | ORCLOracle Corporation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.93x | 0.88x | 1.40x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $11.66 | $555.45 | $345.72 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $6.29 | $344.79 | $118.86 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +60.8% | +70.7% | +42.1% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 39.5 | 39.8 | 41.2 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 289K | 28.4M | 20.9M |
Analyst Outlook
Analyst consensus: CGNT as "Hold", MSFT as "Buy", ORCL as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 103.5% upside for ORCL (target: $296) vs 48.6% for MSFT (target: $584). For income investors, ORCL offers the higher dividend yield at 1.14% vs MSFT's 0.82%.
| Metric | CGNTCognyte Software … | MSFTMicrosoft Corpora… | ORCLOracle Corporation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $14.00 | $583.67 | $295.85 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 5 | 78 | 86 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | +0.8% | +1.1% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 19 | 18 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | $3.23 | $1.65 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +1.0% | +0.6% | +0.4% |
Historical Charts
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Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Feb 21 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cognyte Software Lt… (CGNT) | 100 | 32.77 | -67.2% |
| Microsoft Corporati… (MSFT) | 100 | 178.68 | +78.7% |
| Oracle Corporation (ORCL) | 100 | 241.89 | +141.9% |
Oracle Corporation (ORCL) returned +131% over 5 years vs Cognyte Software Lt… (CGNT)'s -77%. A $10,000 investment in ORCL 5 years ago would be worth $23,146 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cognyte Software Lt… (CGNT) | $56M | $351M | +522.6% |
| Microsoft Corporati… (MSFT) | $91.2B | $281.7B | +209.1% |
| Oracle Corporation (ORCL) | $37.0B | $57.4B | +54.9% |
Microsoft Corporation's revenue grew from $91.2B (2016) to $281.7B (2025) — a 13.4% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cognyte Software Lt… (CGNT) | -1.6% | -3.4% | -119.2% |
| Microsoft Corporati… (MSFT) | 22.5% | 36.1% | +60.4% |
| Oracle Corporation (ORCL) | 24.0% | 21.7% | -9.8% |
Microsoft Corporation's net margin went from 23% (2016) to 36% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 9 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Corporati… (MSFT) | 26.3 | 35.5 | +35.0% |
| Oracle Corporation (ORCL) | 21.4 | 44.9 | +109.8% |
Microsoft Corporation has traded in a 25x–48x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~29x. Oracle Corporation has traded in a 18x–53x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~34x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cognyte Software Lt… (CGNT) | -0.01 | -0.17 | -1056.5% |
| Microsoft Corporati… (MSFT) | 2.1 | 13.64 | +549.5% |
| Oracle Corporation (ORCL) | 2.07 | 4.34 | +109.7% |
Microsoft Corporation's EPS grew from $2.10 (2016) to $13.64 (2025) — a 23% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Cognyte Software Ltd. generated $34M FCF in 2025 (-35% vs 2021). Microsoft Corporation generated $72B FCF in 2025 (+28% vs 2021).
CGNT vs MSFT vs ORCL: Key Questions Answered
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is CGNT or MSFT or ORCL a better buy right now?
Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) offers the better valuation at 28.8x trailing P/E (23.8x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) a "Buy" — based on 78 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.
02Which has the better valuation — CGNT or MSFT or ORCL?
On trailing P/E, Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) is the cheapest at 28.8x versus Oracle Corporation at 33.5x. On forward P/E, Oracle Corporation is actually cheaper at 19.7x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Microsoft Corporation wins at 1.27x versus Oracle Corporation's 2.78x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.
03Which is the better long-term investment — CGNT or MSFT or ORCL?
Over the past 5 years, Oracle Corporation (ORCL) delivered a total return of +131.5%, compared to -77.0% for Cognyte Software Ltd. (CGNT). A $10,000 investment in ORCL five years ago would be worth approximately $23K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: MSFT returned +718.2% versus CGNT's -74.7%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — CGNT or MSFT or ORCL?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) is the lower-risk stock at 0.88β versus Oracle Corporation's 1.40β — meaning ORCL is approximately 59% more volatile than MSFT relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Cognyte Software Ltd. (CGNT) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 16% versus 5% for Oracle Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — CGNT or MSFT or ORCL?
Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) is the more profitable company, earning 36.1% net margin versus -3.4% for Cognyte Software Ltd. — meaning it keeps 36.1% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: MSFT leads at 45.6% versus -1.5% for CGNT. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ORCL leads at 70.5%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.
06Is CGNT or MSFT or ORCL more undervalued right now?
The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential. By this metric, Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 1.27x versus Oracle Corporation's 2.78x. A PEG below 1.5 suggests fair-to-attractive pricing relative to expected growth. On forward earnings alone, Oracle Corporation (ORCL) trades at 19.7x forward P/E versus 29.6x for Cognyte Software Ltd. — 9.9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ORCL: 103.5% to $295.85.
07Which pays a better dividend — CGNT or MSFT or ORCL?
In this comparison, ORCL (1.1% yield), MSFT (0.8% yield) pay a dividend. CGNT does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
08Is CGNT or MSFT or ORCL better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.88), 0.8% yield, +718.2% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (MSFT: +718.2%, CGNT: -74.7%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.
09What are the main differences between CGNT and MSFT and ORCL?
Both stocks operate in the Technology sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both. MSFT, ORCL pay a dividend while CGNT does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.
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