Yield Theory

Information Technology stock comparison

MSFT vs PLTR: which business are you actually underwriting?

Compare Microsoft Corporation with Palantir Technologies Inc. using their business models, SEC classifications, fiscal calendars, current primary filings, and the research questions that matter. This is a thesis framework—not a price target or automatic winner.
Sector
Information
Industry
Same SIC
Shared themes
1
Updated
2026-07-29

MSFT vs PLTR: quick comparison

Company factMSFTPLTR
CompanyMicrosoft CorporationPalantir Technologies Inc.
ExchangeNASDAQNASDAQ
HeadquartersRedmond, WashingtonDenver, Colorado
Founded19752003
SEC industryServices-Prepackaged SoftwareServices-Prepackaged Software
Fiscal year-endJune 30December 31
Latest annual filing10-K · 2026-07-2910-K · 2026-02-17

MSFT vs PLTR: audited financials

MSFT reported about 62.9× the revenue of PLTR in the latest audited fiscal year. On profitability, PLTR converted a larger share of revenue into net income (36.3% versus 36.1%). Scale and margin are starting facts for the thesis, not the verdict.

MetricMSFTPLTR
Revenue$281.7B$4.5B
Net income$101.8B$1.6B
Operating cash flow$136.2B$2.1B
Diluted EPS$13.64$0.63
Net margin36.1%36.3%

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

How the businesses differ

Why this pair belongs in the comparison set

MSFT and PLTR share the SEC industry classification “Services-Prepackaged Software,” giving the comparison a primary-source operating relationship. A shared classification or theme makes the pair useful for a defined research question; it does not mean the companies have identical products, economics, or risks.

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.

Palantir Technologies Inc. (PLTR)

Palantir builds data-integration and analytics platforms used by defense agencies, intelligence services, and commercial enterprises. Its AI platform for operational decision-making has driven rapid growth in its commercial business.

The useful starting point is not which ticker has performed better. It is whether the two companies convert the same economic forces into revenue and cash flow in the same way. MSFT is classified by the SEC as Services-Prepackaged Software, while PLTR is classified as Services-Prepackaged Software. The matching industry code strengthens the peer comparison, although product mix can still differ materially.

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The thesis, the numbers behind it, and what would break it. Full access is $15 a month.

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Which thesis does each company fit?

Use the distinction below to decide which filing deserves deeper work. It is a research routing rule, not a recommendation or prediction.

Study MSFT when…

  • The AI capital-expenditure cycle
  • Interest rates and the cost of long-duration growth
  • Enterprise IT budgets and cloud migration
  • Export controls and the US–China chip race

Study PLTR when…

  • Growth and renewal of US and allied government contracts, including defense and intelligence work
  • Adoption speed of the Artificial Intelligence Platform (AIP) among commercial customers
  • Commercial revenue mix shift and net dollar retention outside of government
  • Valuation relative to growth, given the stock's premium multiple versus software peers

Shared research themes

Artificial intelligence

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 PLTR's ends December 31. Normalize the reporting periods before comparing growth, margins, capital intensity, or guidance.

The current verified House and Senate snapshot contains 204matched transaction rows for MSFTand 50 for PLTR. 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 PLTR FAQs

Are MSFT and PLTR direct competitors?

Microsoft Corporation and Palantir Technologies Inc. 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.

Which is better, MSFT or PLTR?

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 PLTR 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 Palantir Technologies 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 2026-09-25. Business summaries and research themes are maintained by Yield Theory.

Data snapshot: SEC EDGAR submissions API, refreshed 2026-09-25. Independent educational research; not investment advice.

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