Head-to-head · free
Alphabet vs Microsoft
GOOGL vs MSFT — return on capital, cash generation, margins and balance sheet side by side.
GOOGL
4 / 11
measures where GOOGL leads
MSFT
7 / 11
measures where MSFT leads
A simple count of which company scores better on each measure — not a recommendation to buy or sell.
| Measure | GOOGL · FY2025 | MSFT · FY2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $402.8B | $331.8B |
| Net income | $132.2B | $133.7B |
| Revenue growth (yearly, multi-year) | 11.8% | 13.7% |
| Free cash flow | $73.3B | $67.0B |
| Free cash flow margin | 18.2% | 20.2% |
| Net cash / (debt) | (28.6B) | (107.9B) |
| ROIC | 26.0% | 27.5% |
| Return on equity | 35.7% | 34.0% |
| Gross margin | 59.7% | 67.9% |
| Operating margin | 32.0% | 46.8% |
| Net debt / EBITDA | 0.11x | 0.10x |
Figures are as reported by each company; latest fiscal year shown.
Where Alphabet's cash went (FY2025)
- Capital spending
- $91.4B
- Buybacks
- $45.7B
- Dividends
- $10.0B
- Acquisitions
- $1.6B
- Net debt issued / (repaid)
- $32.1B
Where Microsoft's cash went (FY2026)
- Capital spending
- $115.9B
- Buybacks
- $22.3B
- Dividends
- $26.4B
- Acquisitions
- $1.7B
- Net debt issued / (repaid)
- (3.0B)
Ask which business is stronger
"Which one reinvests at higher returns?" "Who carries more risk in its filings?" Get answers drawn straight from both companies' filings.
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