MSFT vs NOW: how the two businesses compare

  • Bigger business: MSFT, with $281.7B of yearly revenue, about 21× NOW's $13.3B.
  • More profitable: MSFT keeps 36 cents of each sales dollar as profit, against 13 cents at NOW.
  • More cash from each sale: MSFT turns 48 cents of each sales dollar into operating cash flow, against 41 cents at NOW.

From each company's latest annual SEC filing. Fiscal years can end on different dates.

Microsoft (MSFT) is the larger business by reported revenue: $281.7B in its fiscal year ended Jun 2025, about 21× NOW's $13.3B (fiscal year ended Dec 2025). MSFT's net margin was 36.1% and NOW's 13.2%. Both file with the SEC under the same industry code, SIC 7372 (Services-Prepackaged Software).

Figures come from each company's own SEC filings. This page compares the businesses; it is not a price target or a verdict.

Sector
Information Technology
SEC industry
Prepackaged Software
Same classification
Fiscal year ends
Different
MSFT June 30 · NOW December 31
Reviewed
Jul 29, 2026

MSFT vs NOW: quick comparison

Company factMSFTNOW
CompanyMicrosoft CorporationServiceNow, Inc.
ExchangeNASDAQNYSE
HeadquartersRedmond, WashingtonSanta Clara, California
Founded19752004
SEC industryServices-Prepackaged SoftwareServices-Prepackaged Software
Fiscal year-endJune 30December 31
Latest annual filing10-K · 2026-07-2910-K · 2026-01-29

MSFT vs NOW: audited financials

  • Scale: MSFT's $281.7B of revenue is about 21× NOW's $13.3B.
  • Net margin: MSFT kept 36.1% of revenue as net income versus 13.2% at NOW.
  • Cash conversion: operating cash flow equalled MSFT 48.3% of revenue, or 1.34× net income; NOW 41.0% of revenue, or 3.11× net income. A ratio well above 1× usually reflects non-cash charges or working-capital release; well below 1× can reflect working-capital build or non-cash gains.
  • Periods: the fiscal years end about 6 months apart (2025-06-30 for MSFT, 2025-12-31 for NOW), so each figure reflects somewhat different demand and cost conditions.

MSFT: FY ending 2025-06-30 · NOW: FY ending 2025-12-31. Figures as tagged in each issuer's SEC XBRL filing; fiscal calendars may not align.

Where MSFT and NOW overlap, and where they don't

Overlap

  • Same SEC industry: both report under SIC 7372, Services-Prepackaged Software.
  • Shared research theme: Artificial intelligence.

Differences

  • Offset fiscal calendars: MSFT's year ends June 30 and NOW's December 31, about 6 months apart.
  • Scale: MSFT reported about 21× the annual revenue of NOW.
  • Profitability: net margin of 36.1% for MSFT versus 13.2% for NOW.

Overlap is drawn from SEC classifications and Yield Theory research themes. It is not evidence that the companies sell to the same customers or compete product for product.

Microsoft Corporation (MSFT)

Microsoft sells productivity software, the Windows operating system, and the Azure cloud platform, and has become a leading distributor of generative AI through its partnership with OpenAI. Its enterprise footprint spans nearly every large organization in the world.

ServiceNow, Inc. (NOW)

ServiceNow runs a cloud workflow platform that automates IT, HR, and customer-service processes for large organizations. It has emerged as a prominent vendor of enterprise AI-driven workflow automation.

What moves each company

Company-specific drivers maintained by Yield Theory. Use them to decide which filing deserves deeper work; they are not predictions.

What moves MSFT

  • Azure and other cloud services consumption, including AI services
  • Microsoft 365 commercial seat growth, pricing and Copilot adoption
  • Data-center capital spending, leases and the depreciation that follows
  • Economics of the OpenAI partnership

What moves NOW

  • Subscription revenue growth and remaining performance obligations
  • Adoption of Now Assist and consumption-priced AI offerings
  • Expansion of large customers with annual contract value above $5 million
  • Public-sector and regulated-industry sales cycles

The investment question

You now know MSFT reports about 21× NOW's revenue, and MSFT keeps more of each dollar as net income. Those are the facts. The investment question is what each share price already assumes about “Azure and other cloud services consumption, including AI services” at MSFT and “Subscription revenue growth and remaining performance obligations” at NOW, and which evidence in the next filings would prove that assumption wrong.

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SEC filing comparison and disclosure evidence

Start with primary filings because fiscal calendars and accounting presentation can make superficially similar quarters incomparable. MSFT's fiscal year ends June 30, while NOW's ends December 31. Normalize the reporting periods before comparing growth, margins, capital intensity, or guidance.

The current verified House and Senate snapshot contains 208 matched transaction rows for MSFT and 37 matched transaction rows for NOW. These delayed, range-based disclosures can identify a filing to inspect; they do not establish motive, conviction, or a real-time trading signal.

What this comparison cannot tell you

This page does not contain licensed live prices, a valuation model, earnings estimates, portfolio constraints, or a forecast of future returns. SEC classifications can be broad, company descriptions can lag strategic change, and the latest annual filing may predate a material acquisition or divestiture. Read subsequent quarterly and current reports before making a decision.

A stronger business is not automatically the better stock. Starting valuation, expectations, capital structure, cyclicality, dilution, and the probability of each thesis determine the investment outcome. Use this comparison to frame the work, then verify the numbers in the linked filings and current company disclosures.

MSFT vs NOW FAQs

Are MSFT and NOW direct competitors?

Microsoft and ServiceNow share the SEC industry classification “Services-Prepackaged Software.” That makes the operating comparison relevant, but it does not prove that every product, customer, or revenue stream competes directly.

Is MSFT or NOW the bigger company by revenue?

Microsoft (MSFT) is the larger business by reported revenue: $281.7B in its fiscal year ended Jun 2025, about 21× NOW's $13.3B (fiscal year ended Dec 2025). MSFT's net margin was 36.1% and NOW's 13.2%. Both file with the SEC under the same industry code, SIC 7372 (Services-Prepackaged Software). Each figure is the annual amount tagged in the company's own SEC XBRL filing; market value depends on live prices, which this page does not publish.

Which is better, MSFT or NOW?

There is no context-free winner. Compare the operating exposures, filing evidence, valuation, balance sheet, and risks against the specific thesis you are testing. This page deliberately does not turn a static profile into a buy or sell recommendation.

Does this MSFT vs NOW comparison include live prices?

No. Yield Theory does not republish unlicensed real-time market data. The financial figures on this page are the audited annual numbers Microsoft Corporation and ServiceNow, Inc. tagged in their SEC XBRL filings. Use a regulated broker or licensed quote provider for current prices and valuation multiples.

Where does the company information come from?

Company classifications, fiscal year-ends, and filing links come from the SEC EDGAR submissions API snapshot refreshed 2026-10-10. Business summaries and research themes are maintained by Yield Theory.

Data snapshot: SEC EDGAR submissions API, refreshed 2026-10-10. Independent educational research; not investment advice.

Which business differences matter to the investment thesis?

MSFT vs NOW compares reported results. The reports below show how we connect operating evidence to an investment thesis, its assumptions, catalysts, and risks. $39/month or $249/year.

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