WallStSmart

Alibaba Group Holding Ltd (BABA)vsMicrosoft Corporation (MSFT)

VS

Smart Verdict

WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison

Alibaba Group Holding Ltd generates 219% more annual revenue ($1.02T vs $318.27B). MSFT leads profitability with a 39.3% profit margin vs 8.9%. BABA appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 0.81. MSFT earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 72/100 (B).

BABA

Buy

50

out of 100

Grade: C-

Growth: 4.0Profit: 6.0Value: 8.0Quality: 5.8
Piotroski: 5/9Altman Z: 2.39

MSFT

Strong Buy

72

out of 100

Grade: B

Growth: 8.0Profit: 9.5Value: 4.7Quality: 6.5
Piotroski: 4/9Altman Z: 2.51
IV

Intrinsic Value Comparison

Multi-model valuation · Graham Formula

BABAUndervalued (+72.8%)

Margin of Safety

+72.8%

Fair Value

$558.77

Current Price

$140.06

$418.71 discount

UndervaluedFair: $558.77Overvalued
MSFTSignificantly Overvalued (-75.3%)

Margin of Safety

-75.3%

Fair Value

$240.06

Current Price

$415.12

$175.06 premium

UndervaluedFair: $240.06Overvalued

Key Strengths & Concerns

Side-by-side fundamental analysis

Key Strengths

BABA4 strengths · Avg: 8.5/10
Market CapQuality
$349.01B10/10

Mega-cap, among the largest globally

PEG RatioValuation
0.818/10

Growing faster than its price suggests

Price/BookValuation
2.1x8/10

Reasonable price relative to book value

Free Cash FlowQuality
$6.76B8/10

Generating 6.8B in free cash flow

MSFT6 strengths · Avg: 9.7/10
Market CapQuality
$3.13T10/10

Mega-cap, among the largest globally

Return on EquityProfitability
34.0%10/10

Every $100 of equity generates 34 in profit

Profit MarginProfitability
39.3%10/10

Keeps 39 of every $100 in revenue as profit

Operating MarginProfitability
46.3%10/10

Strong operational efficiency at 46.3%

Free Cash FlowQuality
$15.80B10/10

Generating 15.8B in free cash flow

Revenue GrowthGrowth
18.3%8/10

18.3% revenue growth

Areas to Watch

BABA2 concerns · Avg: 3.0/10
Revenue GrowthGrowth
1.7%4/10

1.7% revenue growth

EPS GrowthGrowth
-70.9%2/10

Earnings declined 70.9%

MSFT1 concerns · Avg: 4.0/10
P/E RatioValuation
25.0x4/10

Moderate valuation

Comparative Analysis Report

WallStSmart Research

Bull Case : BABA

The strongest argument for BABA centers on Market Cap, PEG Ratio, Price/Book. PEG of 0.81 suggests the stock is reasonably priced for its growth.

Bull Case : MSFT

The strongest argument for MSFT centers on Market Cap, Return on Equity, Profit Margin. Profitability is solid with margins at 39.3% and operating margin at 46.3%. Revenue growth of 18.3% demonstrates continued momentum.

Bear Case : BABA

The primary concerns for BABA are Revenue Growth, EPS Growth.

Bear Case : MSFT

The primary concerns for MSFT are P/E Ratio.

Key Dynamics to Monitor

BABA profiles as a value stock while MSFT is a growth play — different risk/reward profiles.

MSFT carries more volatility with a beta of 1.09 — expect wider price swings.

MSFT is growing revenue faster at 18.3% — sustainability is the question.

MSFT generates stronger free cash flow (15.8B), providing more financial flexibility.

Bottom Line

MSFT scores higher overall (72/100 vs 50/100), backed by strong 39.3% margins and 18.3% revenue growth. BABA offers better value entry with a 72.8% margin of safety. Both earn "Strong Buy" and "Buy" ratings respectively — the choice depends on your investment horizon and risk tolerance.

This analysis is generated from publicly available financial data. Not financial advice.

Alibaba Group Holding Ltd

CONSUMER CYCLICAL · INTERNET RETAIL · USA

Alibaba Group Holding Limited, also known as Alibaba Group and Alibaba.com, is a Chinese multinational technology company specializing in e-commerce, retail, Internet, and technology. Founded on 28 June 1999 in Hangzhou, Zhejiang, the company provides consumer-to-consumer (C2C), business-to-consumer (B2C), and business-to-business (B2B) sales services via web portals, as well as electronic payment services, shopping search engines and cloud computing services. It owns and operates a diverse portfolio of companies around the world in numerous business sectors.

Microsoft Corporation

TECHNOLOGY · SOFTWARE - INFRASTRUCTURE · USA

Microsoft Corporation is an American multinational technology company which produces computer software, consumer electronics, personal computers, and related services. Its best known software products are the Microsoft Windows line of operating systems, the Microsoft Office suite, and the Internet Explorer and Edge web browsers. Its flagship hardware products are the Xbox video game consoles and the Microsoft Surface lineup of touchscreen personal computers. Microsoft ranked No. 21 in the 2020 Fortune 500 rankings of the largest United States corporations by total revenue; it was the world's largest software maker by revenue as of 2016. It is considered one of the Big Five companies in the U.S. information technology industry, along with Google, Apple, Amazon, and Facebook.

Visit Website →

Want to dig deeper into these stocks?