Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Oracle Corporation (ORCL) vs Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) vs Palantir Technologies Inc. (PLTR) 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 | PLTR | 56.2% revenue growth vs ORCL's 8.4% |
| Value | MSFT | Lower P/E (23.8x vs 106.7x) |
| Quality / Margins | MSFT | 39.0% net margin vs ORCL's 25.3% |
| Stability / Safety | MSFT | Beta 0.88 vs PLTR's 1.97 |
| Dividends | ORCL | 1.1% yield, 18-year raise streak, vs MSFT's 0.8% |
| Momentum (1Y) | PLTR | +61.6% vs ORCL's -11.2% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | PLTR | 18.3% ROA vs ORCL's 7.5%, ROIC 22.3% vs 12.8% |
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
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.
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.
Palantir Technologies builds and operates advanced data analytics platforms that help government agencies and large enterprises integrate, analyze, and act on complex data. It generates revenue primarily through government contracts—particularly with defense and intelligence agencies—and commercial enterprise software subscriptions, with government work historically representing the majority of its business. The company's key advantage lies in its deep expertise in handling sensitive, classified data and its proprietary software platforms that have been battle-tested in national security applications for nearly two decades.
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
PLTR leads in 3 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). MSFT leads in 2 (Valuation Metrics, Risk & Volatility). 1 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
MSFT is the larger business by revenue, generating $305.5B annually — 68.3x PLTR's $4.5B. MSFT is the more profitable business, keeping 39.0% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to ORCL's 25.3%. On growth, PLTR holds the edge at +70.0% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ORCLOracle Corporation | MSFTMicrosoft Corpora… | PLTRPalantir Technolo… |
|---|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $61.0B | $305.5B | $4.5B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $22.6B | $184.8B | $1.4B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $15.4B | $119.3B | $1.6B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$13.2B | $77.4B | $2.1B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +70.7% | +68.6% | +82.4% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +30.3% | +46.7% | +31.6% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +25.3% | +39.0% | +36.3% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -21.6% | +25.3% | +47.0% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +14.2% | +16.7% | +70.0% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +90.9% | +59.8% | +6.7% |
Valuation Metrics
At 28.8x trailing earnings, MSFT trades at a 87% valuation discount to PLTR's 217.8x 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 | ORCLOracle Corporation | MSFTMicrosoft Corpora… | PLTRPalantir Technolo… |
|---|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $408.1B | $2.92T | $313.4B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $501.5B | $2.95T | $312.2B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 33.50x | 28.79x | 217.76x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 19.71x | 23.84x | 106.66x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 4.72x | 1.53x | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 21.02x | 18.12x | 216.78x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 7.11x | 10.36x | 70.02x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 19.87x | 8.54x | 47.00x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | 40.74x | 149.19x |
Profitability & Efficiency
ORCL delivers a 50.6% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $51 in annual profit, vs $22 for PLTR. PLTR carries lower financial leverage with a 0.03x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to ORCL's 4.96x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), PLTR scores 8/9 vs MSFT's 6/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | ORCLOracle Corporation | MSFTMicrosoft Corpora… | PLTRPalantir Technolo… |
|---|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +50.6% | +30.5% | +21.7% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +7.5% | +17.9% | +18.3% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +12.8% | +27.9% | +22.3% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +14.4% | +29.7% | +21.6% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 6 | 8 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 4.96x | 0.18x | 0.03x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $93.3B | $30.3B | -$1.2B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $10.8B | $30.2B | $1.4B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $104.1B | $60.6B | $229M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 3.24x | 56.44x | — |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in PLTR five years ago would be worth $55,296 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $17,186 for MSFT. Over the past 12 months, PLTR leads with a +61.6% total return vs ORCL's -11.2%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors PLTR at 159.6% vs MSFT's 17.3% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ORCLOracle Corporation | MSFTMicrosoft Corpora… | PLTRPalantir Technolo… |
|---|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -25.5% | -16.8% | -18.3% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -11.2% | -0.2% | +61.6% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +72.3% | +61.3% | +1649.9% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +131.5% | +71.9% | +453.0% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +327.4% | +718.2% | +1344.1% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +19.9% | +17.3% | +159.6% |
Risk & Volatility
MSFT is the less volatile stock with a 0.88 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than PLTR's 1.97 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 | ORCLOracle Corporation | MSFTMicrosoft Corpora… | PLTRPalantir Technolo… |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.40x | 0.88x | 1.97x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $345.72 | $555.45 | $207.52 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $118.86 | $344.79 | $66.12 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +42.1% | +70.7% | +66.1% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 41.2 | 39.8 | 42.3 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 20.9M | 28.4M | 39.1M |
Analyst Outlook
Analyst consensus: ORCL as "Buy", MSFT as "Buy", PLTR as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 103.5% upside for ORCL (target: $296) vs 44.8% for PLTR (target: $199). For income investors, ORCL offers the higher dividend yield at 1.14% vs MSFT's 0.82%.
| Metric | ORCLOracle Corporation | MSFTMicrosoft Corpora… | PLTRPalantir Technolo… |
|---|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $295.85 | $583.67 | $198.71 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 86 | 78 | 24 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +1.1% | +0.8% | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 18 | 19 | — |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $1.65 | $3.23 | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +0.4% | +0.6% | +0.0% |
Historical Charts
Charts are rendered on first load. Hover for details.
Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Oct 20 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oracle Corporation (ORCL) | 100 | 268.2 | +168.2% |
| Microsoft Corporati… (MSFT) | 100 | 199.27 | +99.3% |
| Palantir Technologi… (PLTR) | 99.58 | 1,555.37 | +1461.9% |
Palantir Technologi… (PLTR) returned +453% over 5 years vs Microsoft Corporati… (MSFT)'s +72%. A $10,000 investment in PLTR 5 years ago would be worth $55,296 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oracle Corporation (ORCL) | $37.0B | $57.4B | +54.9% |
| Microsoft Corporati… (MSFT) | $91.2B | $281.7B | +209.1% |
| Palantir Technologi… (PLTR) | $595M | $4.5B | +651.7% |
Oracle Corporation's revenue grew from $37.0B (2016) to $57.4B (2025) — a 5.0% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oracle Corporation (ORCL) | 24.0% | 21.7% | -9.8% |
| Microsoft Corporati… (MSFT) | 22.5% | 36.1% | +60.4% |
| Palantir Technologi… (PLTR) | -97.4% | 36.3% | +137.3% |
Oracle Corporation's net margin went from 24% (2016) to 22% (2025). Microsoft Corporation's net margin went from 23% (2016) to 36% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 9 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oracle Corporation (ORCL) | 21.4 | 44.9 | +109.8% |
| Microsoft Corporati… (MSFT) | 26.3 | 35.5 | +35.0% |
| Palantir Technologi… (PLTR) | 188.1 | 282.1 | +50.0% |
Oracle Corporation has traded in a 18x–53x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~34x. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oracle Corporation (ORCL) | 2.07 | 4.34 | +109.7% |
| Microsoft Corporati… (MSFT) | 2.1 | 13.64 | +549.5% |
| Palantir Technologi… (PLTR) | -0.89 | 0.63 | +170.8% |
Oracle Corporation's EPS grew from $2.07 (2016) to $4.34 (2025) — a 9% CAGR. Microsoft Corporation's EPS grew from $2.10 (2016) to $13.64 (2025) — a 23% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Oracle Corporation generated $-394M FCF in 2025 (-103% vs 2021). Microsoft Corporation generated $72B FCF in 2025 (+28% vs 2021).
ORCL vs MSFT vs PLTR: Key Questions Answered
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is ORCL or MSFT or PLTR 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 Oracle Corporation (ORCL) a "Buy" — based on 86 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 — ORCL or MSFT or PLTR?
On trailing P/E, Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) is the cheapest at 28.8x versus Palantir Technologies Inc. at 217.8x. 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 — ORCL or MSFT or PLTR?
Over the past 5 years, Palantir Technologies Inc. (PLTR) delivered a total return of +453.0%, compared to +71.9% for Microsoft Corporation (MSFT). A $10,000 investment in PLTR five years ago would be worth approximately $55K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: PLTR returned +1344% versus ORCL's +327.4%. 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 — ORCL or MSFT or PLTR?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) is the lower-risk stock at 0.88β versus Palantir Technologies Inc.'s 1.97β — meaning PLTR is approximately 123% more volatile than MSFT relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Palantir Technologies Inc. (PLTR) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 3% versus 5% for Oracle Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — ORCL or MSFT or PLTR?
Palantir Technologies Inc. (PLTR) is the more profitable company, earning 36.3% net margin versus 21.7% for Oracle Corporation — meaning it keeps 36.3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: MSFT leads at 45.6% versus 30.8% for ORCL. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — PLTR leads at 82.4%, 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 ORCL or MSFT or PLTR 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 106.7x for Palantir Technologies Inc. — 87.0x 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 — ORCL or MSFT or PLTR?
In this comparison, ORCL (1.1% yield), MSFT (0.8% yield) pay a dividend. PLTR does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
08Is ORCL or MSFT or PLTR 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). Palantir Technologies Inc. (PLTR) carries a higher beta of 1.97 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (MSFT: +718.2%, PLTR: +1344%), 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 ORCL and MSFT and PLTR?
Both stocks operate in the Technology sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both. ORCL, MSFT pay a dividend while PLTR 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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