Head-to-head · free
Microsoft vs ServiceNow
MSFT vs NOW — return on capital, cash generation, margins and balance sheet side by side.
MSFT
6 / 10
measures where MSFT leads
NOW
4 / 10
measures where NOW leads
A simple count of which company scores better on each measure — not a recommendation to buy or sell.
| Measure | MSFT · FY2026 | NOW · FY2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $331.8B | $13.3B |
| Net income | $133.7B | $1.7B |
| Revenue growth (yearly, multi-year) | 13.7% | 22.5% |
| Free cash flow | $67.0B | $4.6B |
| Free cash flow margin | 20.2% | 34.5% |
| Net cash / (debt) | (107.9B) | — |
| ROIC | 27.5% | 10.2% |
| Return on equity | 34.0% | 15.5% |
| Gross margin | 67.9% | 77.5% |
| Operating margin | 46.8% | 13.7% |
| Net debt / EBITDA | 0.10x | -0.87x |
Figures are as reported by each company; latest fiscal year shown.
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)
Where ServiceNow's cash went (FY2025)
- Capital spending
- $868.0M
- Buybacks
- —
- Dividends
- —
- Acquisitions
- —
- Net debt issued / (repaid)
- —
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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