Information Technology stock comparison

MSFT vs QCOM: which business are you actually underwriting?

Microsoft (MSFT) is the larger business by reported revenue: $281.7B in its fiscal year ended Jun 2025, about 6.4× QCOM's $44.3B (fiscal year ended Sep 2025). MSFT's net margin was 36.1% and QCOM's 12.5%. The SEC classifies them differently (Services-Prepackaged Software; Radio & Tv Broadcasting & Communications Equipment); what connects them is shared exposure to the Artificial intelligence research theme, not a common industry.

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
Different
Separate classifications
Fiscal year ends
Different
MSFT June 30 · QCOM September 27
Reviewed
Jul 29, 2026

MSFT vs QCOM: quick comparison

Company factMSFTQCOM
CompanyMicrosoft CorporationQUALCOMM Incorporated
ExchangeNASDAQNASDAQ
HeadquartersRedmond, WashingtonSan Diego, California
Founded19751985
SEC industryServices-Prepackaged SoftwareRadio & Tv Broadcasting & Communications Equipment
Fiscal year-endJune 30September 27
Latest annual filing10-K · 2026-07-2910-K · 2025-11-05

MSFT vs QCOM: audited financials

  • Scale: MSFT's $281.7B of revenue is about 6.4× QCOM's $44.3B.
  • Net margin: MSFT kept 36.1% of revenue as net income versus 12.5% at QCOM.
  • Cash conversion: operating cash flow equalled MSFT 48.3% of revenue, or 1.34× net income; QCOM 31.6% of revenue, or 2.53× 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 3 months apart (2025-06-30 for MSFT, 2025-09-28 for QCOM), so each figure reflects somewhat different demand and cost conditions.

MSFT: FY ending 2025-06-30 · QCOM: FY ending 2025-09-28. Figures as tagged in each issuer's SEC XBRL filing; fiscal calendars may not align.

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

Overlap

  • Shared research theme: Artificial intelligence.

Differences

  • Different SEC industries: MSFT files as Services-Prepackaged Software; QCOM as Radio & Tv Broadcasting & Communications Equipment.
  • Offset fiscal calendars: MSFT's year ends June 30 and QCOM's September 27, about 3 months apart.
  • Only QCOM maps to Tariffs & trade.
  • Scale: MSFT reported about 6.4× the annual revenue of QCOM.
  • Profitability: net margin of 36.1% for MSFT versus 12.5% for QCOM.

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.

QUALCOMM Incorporated (QCOM)

Qualcomm designs the mobile chipsets and wireless-modem technology that power much of the smartphone industry, and it licenses a deep patent portfolio. It is broadening into automotive, PCs, and on-device AI.

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 QCOM

We have not yet published a company-specific driver list for QCOM. The primary source is Item 1 (Business) and Item 1A (Risk Factors) of its 10-K filed 2025-11-05.

The investment question

You now know MSFT reports about 6.4× QCOM'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 their exposure to artificial intelligence, including “Azure and other cloud services consumption, including AI services” at MSFT, 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 QCOM's ends September 27. Normalize the reporting periods before comparing growth, margins, capital intensity, or guidance.

The current verified House and Senate snapshot contains 204 matched transaction rows for MSFT and 23 matched transaction rows for QCOM. 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 QCOM FAQs

Are MSFT and QCOM direct competitors?

Not necessarily. Microsoft files as Services-Prepackaged Software and QUALCOMM as Radio & Tv Broadcasting & Communications Equipment. The pair is compared because both map to the Artificial intelligence research theme, not because the filings show head-to-head competition.

Is MSFT or QCOM the bigger company by revenue?

Microsoft (MSFT) is the larger business by reported revenue: $281.7B in its fiscal year ended Jun 2025, about 6.4× QCOM's $44.3B (fiscal year ended Sep 2025). MSFT's net margin was 36.1% and QCOM's 12.5%. The SEC classifies them differently (Services-Prepackaged Software; Radio & Tv Broadcasting & Communications Equipment); what connects them is shared exposure to the Artificial intelligence research theme, not a common industry. 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 QCOM?

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 QCOM 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 QUALCOMM Incorporated 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 2026-09-26. Business summaries and research themes are maintained by Yield Theory.

Data snapshot: SEC EDGAR submissions API, refreshed 2026-09-26. Independent educational research; not investment advice.

Which business differences matter to the investment thesis?

MSFT vs QCOM compares reported results. The reports below show how we connect operating evidence to an investment thesis, its assumptions, catalysts, and risks. $15/month or $150/year.

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