Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare ACI Worldwide, Inc. (ACIW) 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 | ACIW | Lower P/E (15.7x vs 19.7x), PEG 0.55 vs 2.78 |
| Quality / Margins | MSFT | 39.0% net margin vs ACIW's 12.9% |
| 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 ACIW's -30.8% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | MSFT | 17.9% ROA vs ACIW's 7.3%, ROIC 27.9% vs 11.4% |
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
ACI Worldwide is a software company that provides digital payment processing solutions to financial institutions, merchants, and billers globally. It generates revenue primarily through software licensing, maintenance fees, and transaction-based processing services — with its enterprise payments platform serving as the core revenue driver. The company's competitive advantage lies in its deep integration with legacy banking systems and its comprehensive, real-time payment processing capabilities that are difficult for new entrants to replicate.
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 3 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). ACIW leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics). 1 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
MSFT is the larger business by revenue, generating $305.5B annually — 173.6x ACIW's $1.8B. MSFT is the more profitable business, keeping 39.0% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to ACIW's 12.9%. On growth, MSFT holds the edge at +16.7% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ACIWACI Worldwide, In… | MSFTMicrosoft Corpora… | ORCLOracle Corporation |
|---|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $1.8B | $305.5B | $61.0B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $427M | $184.8B | $22.6B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $227M | $119.3B | $15.4B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $298M | $77.4B | -$13.2B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +49.0% | +68.6% | +70.7% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +18.7% | +46.7% | +30.3% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +12.9% | +39.0% | +25.3% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +16.9% | +25.3% | -21.6% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +6.3% | +16.7% | +14.2% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -33.3% | +59.8% | +90.9% |
Valuation Metrics
At 18.4x trailing earnings, ACIW trades at a 45% valuation discount to ORCL's 33.5x P/E. Adjusting for growth (PEG ratio), ACIW offers better value at 0.65x vs ORCL's 4.72x — a lower PEG means you pay less per unit of expected earnings growth.
| Metric | ACIWACI Worldwide, In… | MSFTMicrosoft Corpora… | ORCLOracle Corporation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $4.1B | $2.92T | $408.1B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $4.7B | $2.95T | $501.5B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 18.37x | 28.79x | 33.50x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 15.70x | 23.84x | 19.71x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 0.65x | 1.53x | 4.72x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 11.09x | 18.12x | 21.02x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 2.32x | 10.36x | 7.11x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 2.74x | 8.54x | 19.87x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 13.20x | 40.74x | — |
Profitability & Efficiency
ORCL delivers a 50.6% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $51 in annual profit, vs $15 for ACIW. MSFT carries lower financial leverage with a 0.18x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to ORCL's 4.96x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), ACIW scores 7/9 vs ORCL's 6/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | ACIWACI Worldwide, In… | MSFTMicrosoft Corpora… | ORCLOracle Corporation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +14.9% | +30.5% | +50.6% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +7.3% | +17.9% | +7.5% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +11.4% | +27.9% | +12.8% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +13.7% | +29.7% | +14.4% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 7 | 6 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.55x | 0.18x | 4.96x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $644M | $30.3B | $93.3B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $196M | $30.2B | $10.8B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $840M | $60.6B | $104.1B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 8.33x | 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 $10,081 for ACIW. Over the past 12 months, MSFT leads with a -0.2% total return vs ACIW's -30.8%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors ORCL at 19.9% vs ACIW's 15.4% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ACIWACI Worldwide, In… | MSFTMicrosoft Corpora… | ORCLOracle Corporation |
|---|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -13.1% | -16.8% | -25.5% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -30.8% | -0.2% | -11.2% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +53.5% | +61.3% | +72.3% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +0.8% | +71.9% | +131.5% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +112.6% | +718.2% | +327.4% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +15.4% | +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 | ACIWACI Worldwide, In… | MSFTMicrosoft Corpora… | ORCLOracle Corporation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.11x | 0.88x | 1.40x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $58.14 | $555.45 | $345.72 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $38.05 | $344.79 | $118.86 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +68.2% | +70.7% | +42.1% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 42.8 | 39.8 | 41.2 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 599K | 28.4M | 20.9M |
Analyst Outlook
Analyst consensus: ACIW as "Buy", 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 | ACIWACI Worldwide, In… | MSFTMicrosoft Corpora… | ORCLOracle Corporation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $70.00 | $583.67 | $295.85 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 17 | 78 | 86 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | +0.8% | +1.1% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 1 | 19 | 18 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | $3.23 | $1.65 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +5.0% | +0.6% | +0.4% |
Historical Charts
Charts are rendered on first load. Hover for details.
Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Mar 20 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACI Worldwide, Inc. (ACIW) | 100 | 151.34 | +51.3% |
| Microsoft Corporati… (MSFT) | 100 | 257.35 | +157.4% |
| Oracle Corporation (ORCL) | 100 | 327.66 | +227.7% |
Oracle Corporation (ORCL) returned +131% over 5 years vs ACI Worldwide, Inc. (ACIW)'s +1%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACI Worldwide, Inc. (ACIW) | $1.0B | $1.8B | +75.0% |
| Microsoft Corporati… (MSFT) | $91.2B | $281.7B | +209.1% |
| Oracle Corporation (ORCL) | $37.0B | $57.4B | +54.9% |
ACI Worldwide, Inc.'s revenue grew from $1.0B (2016) to $1.8B (2025) — a 6.4% CAGR. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACI Worldwide, Inc. (ACIW) | 12.9% | 12.9% | -0.0% |
| Microsoft Corporati… (MSFT) | 22.5% | 36.1% | +60.4% |
| Oracle Corporation (ORCL) | 24.0% | 21.7% | -9.8% |
ACI Worldwide, Inc.'s net margin went from 13% (2016) to 13% (2025). Microsoft Corporation's net margin went from 23% (2016) to 36% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 9 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACI Worldwide, Inc. (ACIW) | 46.9 | 22.1 | -52.9% |
| Microsoft Corporati… (MSFT) | 26.3 | 35.5 | +35.0% |
| Oracle Corporation (ORCL) | 21.4 | 44.9 | +109.8% |
ACI Worldwide, Inc. has traded in a 19x–67x P/E range over 8 years; current trailing P/E is ~18x. Microsoft Corporation has traded in a 25x–48x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~29x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACI Worldwide, Inc. (ACIW) | 1.09 | 2.16 | +98.2% |
| Microsoft Corporati… (MSFT) | 2.1 | 13.64 | +549.5% |
| Oracle Corporation (ORCL) | 2.07 | 4.34 | +109.7% |
ACI Worldwide, Inc.'s EPS grew from $1.09 (2016) to $2.16 (2025) — a 8% CAGR. Microsoft Corporation's EPS grew from $2.10 (2016) to $13.64 (2025) — a 23% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
ACI Worldwide, Inc. generated $310M FCF in 2025 (+77% vs 2021). Microsoft Corporation generated $72B FCF in 2025 (+28% vs 2021).
ACIW vs MSFT vs ORCL: Key Questions Answered
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is ACIW or MSFT or ORCL a better buy right now?
ACI Worldwide, Inc. (ACIW) offers the better valuation at 18.4x trailing P/E (15.7x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate ACI Worldwide, Inc. (ACIW) a "Buy" — based on 17 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 — ACIW or MSFT or ORCL?
On trailing P/E, ACI Worldwide, Inc. (ACIW) is the cheapest at 18.4x versus Oracle Corporation at 33.5x. On forward P/E, ACI Worldwide, Inc. is actually cheaper at 15.7x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: ACI Worldwide, Inc. wins at 0.55x versus Oracle Corporation's 2.78x — a PEG below 1.0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — ACIW or MSFT or ORCL?
Over the past 5 years, Oracle Corporation (ORCL) delivered a total return of +131.5%, compared to +0.8% for ACI Worldwide, Inc. (ACIW). 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 ACIW's +112.6%. 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 — ACIW 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, Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 18% versus 5% for Oracle Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — ACIW or MSFT or ORCL?
Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) is the more profitable company, earning 36.1% net margin versus 12.9% for ACI Worldwide, Inc. — 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 18.7% for ACIW. 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 ACIW 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, ACI Worldwide, Inc. (ACIW) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0.55x versus Oracle Corporation's 2.78x. A PEG below 1.0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, ACI Worldwide, Inc. (ACIW) trades at 15.7x forward P/E versus 23.8x for Microsoft Corporation — 8.1x 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 — ACIW or MSFT or ORCL?
In this comparison, ORCL (1.1% yield), MSFT (0.8% yield) pay a dividend. ACIW does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
08Is ACIW 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%, ACIW: +112.6%), 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 ACIW 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 ACIW 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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