Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare CyberArk Software Ltd. (CYBR) vs Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) 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 | CYBR | 36.0% revenue growth vs MSFT's 14.9% |
| Value | MSFT | Lower P/E (23.8x vs 81.9x) |
| Quality / Margins | MSFT | 39.0% net margin vs CYBR's -10.8% |
| Stability / Safety | MSFT | Beta 0.88 vs CYBR's 1.05, lower leverage |
| Dividends | MSFT | 0.8% yield; 19-year raise streak; CYBR pays no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | CYBR | +12.4% vs MSFT's -0.2% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | MSFT | 17.9% ROA vs CYBR's -3.0%, ROIC 27.9% vs -3.2% |
Who Each Stock Is For
Income & stability
Growth exposure
Long-term compounding (10Y)
Sleep-well-at-night portfolio
Defensive / Recession hedge
Business Model
What each company does and how it makes money
CyberArk is a cybersecurity company specializing in privileged access management — protecting organizations' most critical accounts and credentials from cyberattacks. It generates revenue primarily through software license sales and subscription services — including SaaS offerings — with maintenance and professional services contributing additional recurring income. The company's competitive advantage lies in its deep specialization in the privileged access security niche, where it has established market leadership and a comprehensive platform that's difficult for competitors 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.
Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Financial Metrics Comparison
Side-by-side fundamentals across 2 stocks. BestLagging
Financial Scorecard
MSFT leads in 2 of 6 categories (Valuation Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). CYBR leads in 1 (Total Returns). 2 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
MSFT is the larger business by revenue, generating $305.5B annually — 224.4x CYBR's $1.4B. MSFT is the more profitable business, keeping 39.0% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to CYBR's -10.8%.
| Metric | CYBRCyberArk Software… | MSFTMicrosoft Corpora… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $1.4B | $305.5B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $23M | $184.8B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$147M | $119.3B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $259M | $77.4B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +74.3% | +68.6% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | -7.7% | +46.7% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -10.8% | +39.0% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +19.0% | +25.3% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +18.5% | +16.7% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +83.2% | +59.8% |
Valuation Metrics
On an enterprise value basis, MSFT's 18.1x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than CYBR's 908.2x.
| Metric | CYBRCyberArk Software… | MSFTMicrosoft Corpora… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $20.6B | $2.92T |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $21.2B | $2.95T |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -139.54x | 28.79x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 81.87x | 23.84x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 1.53x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 908.21x | 18.12x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 15.16x | 10.36x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 8.54x | 8.54x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 79.60x | 40.74x |
Profitability & Efficiency
MSFT delivers a 30.5% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $31 in annual profit, vs $-6 for CYBR. MSFT carries lower financial leverage with a 0.18x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to CYBR's 0.51x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), MSFT scores 6/9 vs CYBR's 3/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | CYBRCyberArk Software… | MSFTMicrosoft Corpora… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -6.1% | +30.5% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -3.0% | +17.9% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | -3.2% | +27.9% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -3.3% | +29.7% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 3 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.51x | 0.18x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $599M | $30.3B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $623M | $30.2B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $1.2B | $60.6B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | — | 56.44x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in CYBR five years ago would be worth $26,916 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $17,186 for MSFT. Over the past 12 months, CYBR leads with a +12.4% total return vs MSFT's -0.2%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors CYBR at 41.3% vs MSFT's 17.3% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | CYBRCyberArk Software… | MSFTMicrosoft Corpora… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -6.1% | -16.8% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +12.4% | -0.2% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +182.4% | +61.3% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +169.2% | +71.9% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +991.1% | +718.2% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +41.3% | +17.3% |
Risk & Volatility
MSFT is the less volatile stock with a 0.88 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than CYBR's 1.05 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. CYBR currently trades 77.7% from its 52-week high vs MSFT's 70.7% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | CYBRCyberArk Software… | MSFTMicrosoft Corpora… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.05x | 0.88x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $526.19 | $555.45 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $288.63 | $344.79 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +77.7% | +70.7% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 38.9 | 39.8 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 810K | 28.4M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates CYBR as "Buy" and MSFT as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 48.6% upside for MSFT (target: $584) vs 14.0% for CYBR (target: $466). MSFT is the only dividend payer here at 0.82% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | CYBRCyberArk Software… | MSFTMicrosoft Corpora… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $466.17 | $583.67 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 49 | 78 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | +0.8% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | 19 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | $3.23 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +0.0% | +0.6% |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| CyberArk Software L… (CYBR) | 100 | 399.88 | +299.9% |
| Microsoft Corporati… (MSFT) | 100 | 245.02 | +145.0% |
CyberArk Software L… (CYBR) returned +169% over 5 years vs Microsoft Corporati… (MSFT)'s +72%. A $10,000 investment in CYBR 5 years ago would be worth $26,916 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| CyberArk Software L… (CYBR) | $217M | $1.4B | +528.4% |
| Microsoft Corporati… (MSFT) | $91.2B | $281.7B | +209.1% |
CyberArk Software Ltd.'s revenue grew from $217M (2016) to $1.4B (2025) — a 22.7% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| CyberArk Software L… (CYBR) | 13.0% | -10.8% | -183.1% |
| Microsoft Corporati… (MSFT) | 22.5% | 36.1% | +60.4% |
CyberArk Software Ltd.'s net margin went from 13% (2016) to -11% (2025). Microsoft Corporation's net margin went from 23% (2016) to 36% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 9 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| CyberArk Software L… (CYBR) | 94.1 | 72 | -23.5% |
| Microsoft Corporati… (MSFT) | 26.3 | 35.5 | +35.0% |
CyberArk Software Ltd. has traded in a 58x–94x P/E range over 3 years; current trailing P/E is ~-140x. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| CyberArk Software L… (CYBR) | 0.78 | -2.93 | -475.6% |
| Microsoft Corporati… (MSFT) | 2.1 | 13.64 | +549.5% |
CyberArk Software Ltd.'s EPS grew from $0.78 (2016) to $-2.93 (2025) — a NaN% CAGR. Microsoft Corporation's EPS grew from $2.10 (2016) to $13.64 (2025) — a 23% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
CyberArk Software Ltd. generated $259M FCF in 2025 (+294% vs 2021). Microsoft Corporation generated $72B FCF in 2025 (+28% vs 2021).
CYBR vs MSFT: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is CYBR or MSFT 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 CyberArk Software Ltd. (CYBR) a "Buy" — based on 49 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 — CYBR or MSFT?
On forward P/E, Microsoft Corporation is actually cheaper at 23.8x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — CYBR or MSFT?
Over the past 5 years, CyberArk Software Ltd. (CYBR) delivered a total return of +169.2%, compared to +71.9% for Microsoft Corporation (MSFT). A $10,000 investment in CYBR five years ago would be worth approximately $27K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CYBR returned +991.1% versus MSFT's +718.2%. 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 — CYBR or MSFT?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) is the lower-risk stock at 0.88β versus CyberArk Software Ltd.'s 1.05β — meaning CYBR is approximately 19% 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 51% for CyberArk Software Ltd. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — CYBR or MSFT?
Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) is the more profitable company, earning 36.1% net margin versus -10.8% for CyberArk 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 -7.7% for CYBR. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CYBR leads at 74.3%, 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 CYBR or MSFT more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) trades at 23.8x forward P/E versus 81.9x for CyberArk Software Ltd. — 58.0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for MSFT: 48.6% to $583.67.
07Which pays a better dividend — CYBR or MSFT?
In this comparison, MSFT (0.8% yield) pays a dividend. CYBR does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
08Is CYBR or MSFT 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%, CYBR: +991.1%), 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 CYBR and MSFT?
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 pays a dividend while CYBR 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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