The framework has shifted from distribution to markup since the last review. Price is trending higher with momentum. The crowd has caught on and buyers are in control. Price has moved up 26.1% since our last review. Ethical screening: PASS with strong ethical credentials. The risk-adjusted return profile shows modest positive risk-adjusted returns. Our composite framework grades it B, carrying a low risk profile. Technically it is sitting below its long-term trend line with momentum reading neutral. Over the past year the shares are down 15%. Our forward projection puts the odds of a 10% gain over the next month near 12%. The street (54 analysts) rates it strong buy, with a mean price target of $561. Insiders have been net sellers over the past quarter.
Microsoft
MSFT · a US exchange · USD · Market cap $3.57T · 228,000 employees
Microsoft Corporation develops and supports software, services, devices, and solutions worldwide.
PASS · Titan Ethical · score 89.7At the last full screen
2026-08-20
Screened 2026-08-20 · the tape above runs as of 00:05 UTC · two dates, stated on purpose · verdict and workings shown in full · never trimmed
This name holds its markup label.
Microsoft holds its Markup at $481.15. The statistical read favours the buyers, held for 60 days.
| Phase | Markup |
| Quantitative state | The statistical read favours the buyers, held for 60 days |
| Price at the screen | $481.15 |
| Valuation | 26.78 trailing · 20.41 forward price to earnings |
| Values screen | PASS · score 89.7 |
| Beta | 1.10 |
Five Screens, Shown in Full
Full pass across all five screens. This security clears the Titan Ethical Standard: its business and its balance sheet both stay inside the lines.
| Test | Figure | Limit | What it means | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business activity | Permissible | Core business clean | Its core business isn't built on prohibited lines: no gambling, alcohol, tobacco, weapons, or interest-based lending. | Pass |
| Debt load | 9.79% | Below 33% | Interest-bearing debt is just 9.8% of its assets, well under the one-third ceiling: it does not run on borrowed money. | Pass |
| Interest-bearing cash | 0.40% | Below 33% | Cash held in interest-bearing accounts and securities is 0.4% of assets, under the one-third limit. | Pass |
| Receivables | 16.18% | Below 49% | Money owed to the company is 16.2% of assets, under the 49% limit. | Pass |
| Revenue purity | 0.94% | Below 5% | Only 0.9% of revenue comes from non-compliant sources, under the 5% line. | Pass |
Five checks adapted from AAOIFI screening standards: business activity plus four balance-sheet ratios. All five must pass for ethical clearance. Every figure is arithmetic on public accounts, not judgement.
What the Numbers Say It Is WorthThe Fair Value Range
Our framework reads FAIR VALUE: it trades at roughly a 21% discount to our $581.45 fair value, strong competitive moat, 17.70% revenue growth.
Fair value range in USD, drawn from the 2026-08-20 screen. The gold marker is the market price at the same screen. A 20.8% margin of safety to the base estimate.
Third-party analyst targets: 53 covering, consensus Strong Buy. The average target sits +14% from the screen price.
Reading the gap · Both our model and the analysts see meaningful upside from here.
Price History & ProjectionsWhere it has been, where the models see it going. History from market close data; projection points are our fair-value estimates and third-party analyst targets, dated to the 2026-08-20 screen.
Fair value and rating are our own model estimates; the Street's range reflects third-party analyst estimates. Analysis, not advice.
The Business, in Plain WordsTech Giant with Solid Ethical and Financial Scores
Imagine every time someone opens a Word document or collaborates on a PowerPoint, Microsoft is there, quietly powering it. This tech titan's reach is vast, and its revenue growth is a testament to its enduring relevance. With a strong 18% revenue growth, Microsoft stands out not just for its financial performance but also for its ethical standards, passing our ethical screen with flying colors.
The numbers paint a compelling picture. At a current price of $481.15, Microsoft is undervalued against our fair value estimate of $581.45, offering a healthy margin of safety of +21%. Its profitability is evident with a robust 40% profit margin and a 34% return on equity. These metrics, coupled with a strong moat, position Microsoft as a formidable player in the tech landscape.
Risks are moderate, given the consensus strong buy rating from 53 analysts, who have a median target price of $550. The forward P/E of 20.4x is a reflection of the market's confidence in Microsoft's future earnings. While the technology sector is competitive, Microsoft's diverse portfolio and ethical practices provide a solid foundation for growth. Analysis, not advice.
| Forward P/E | 20.4xfairly priced for its growth rate |
| Trailing P/E | 26.8xa premium valuation |
| EPS, trailing | 17.97 |
| EPS, forward | 23.57 |
| Revenue growth | +17.7%steady growth |
| Profit margin | 40.3%highly profitable on every dollar of sales |
| Return on equity | 34.0%an exceptional return on shareholder capital |
| FCF yield | 0.46% |
| Dividend yield | 0.89% |
| Debt to equity | 0.29minimal debt: a conservative balance sheet |
| Current ratio | 1.23adequate liquidity, worth monitoring |
| Beta | 1.10moves a little more than the market |
| Short interest, float | 0.01% |
| 52-week range | 349.20 - 553.72 |
| Moat | STRONG |
| Market cap | $3.57T |
| Employees | 228,000 |
The risks · The main risks here are ordinary market swings and the chance our fair-value read proves too optimistic.
Plain-English interpretation of our own screen data. Analysis, not advice.
Where & How to TradeMSFT trades on a US exchange. As a listed security it is accessible through almost any international broker offering its home market. New to this, or investing from abroad? Our guide to accessing global markets covers brokers, currencies and the practical steps.
Every Entry, As Written
The framework reads distribution. Smart money appears to be selling into strength. Institutional holders may be rotating out. Price has moved down 0.0% since our last review. Ethical screening: PASS with strong ethical credentials. The risk-adjusted return profile shows modest positive risk-adjusted returns. Our composite framework grades it B, carrying a low risk profile. Technically it is sitting below its long-term trend line with momentum reading neutral. Over the past year the shares are down 15%. Our forward projection puts the odds of a 10% gain over the next month near 12%. The street (54 analysts) rates it strong buy, with a mean price target of $561. Insiders have been net sellers over the past quarter. It reported earnings in this window, a natural checkpoint for the thesis.
The framework reads distribution. Smart money appears to be selling into strength. Institutional holders may be rotating out. Price has moved down 0.0% since our last review. Ethical screening: PASS with strong ethical credentials. The risk-adjusted return profile shows modest positive risk-adjusted returns. Our composite framework grades it B, carrying a low risk profile. Technically it is sitting below its long-term trend line with momentum reading neutral. Over the past year the shares are down 15%. Our forward projection puts the odds of a 10% gain over the next month near 12%. The street (54 analysts) rates it strong buy, with a mean price target of $561. Insiders have been net sellers over the past quarter. It reported earnings in this window, a natural checkpoint for the thesis.
The framework reads distribution. Smart money appears to be selling into strength. Institutional holders may be rotating out. Price has moved down 0.0% since our last review. Ethical screening: PASS with strong ethical credentials. The risk-adjusted return profile shows modest positive risk-adjusted returns. Our composite framework grades it B, carrying a low risk profile. Technically it is sitting below its long-term trend line with momentum reading neutral. Over the past year the shares are down 15%. Our forward projection puts the odds of a 10% gain over the next month near 12%. The street (54 analysts) rates it strong buy, with a mean price target of $561. Insiders have been net sellers over the past quarter. It reported earnings in this window, a natural checkpoint for the thesis.
The framework reads distribution. Smart money appears to be selling into strength. Institutional holders may be rotating out. Price has moved down 3.1% since our last review. Ethical screening: PASS with strong ethical credentials. The risk-adjusted return profile shows modest positive risk-adjusted returns. Our composite framework grades it B, carrying a low risk profile. Technically it is sitting below its long-term trend line with momentum reading neutral. Over the past year the shares are down 15%. Our forward projection puts the odds of a 10% gain over the next month near 12%. The street (54 analysts) rates it strong buy, with a mean price target of $561. Insiders have been net sellers over the past quarter. It reported earnings in this window, a natural checkpoint for the thesis.
The framework reads distribution. Smart money appears to be selling into strength. Institutional holders may be rotating out. Price has moved down 0.0% since our last review. Ethical screening: PASS with strong ethical credentials. The risk-adjusted return profile shows modest positive risk-adjusted returns. Our composite framework grades it B, carrying a low risk profile. Technically it is sitting below its long-term trend line with momentum reading neutral. Over the past year the shares are down 15%. Our forward projection puts the odds of a 10% gain over the next month near 12%. The street (54 analysts) rates it strong buy, with a mean price target of $561. Insiders have been net sellers over the past quarter. It reported earnings in this window, a natural checkpoint for the thesis.
The framework reads distribution. Smart money appears to be selling into strength. Institutional holders may be rotating out. Price has moved down 0.0% since our last review. Ethical screening: PASS with strong ethical credentials. The risk-adjusted return profile shows modest positive risk-adjusted returns. Our composite framework grades it B, carrying a low risk profile. Technically it is sitting below its long-term trend line with momentum reading neutral. Over the past year the shares are down 15%. Our forward projection puts the odds of a 10% gain over the next month near 12%. The street (54 analysts) rates it strong buy, with a mean price target of $561. Insiders have been net sellers over the past quarter. It reported earnings in this window, a natural checkpoint for the thesis.
The framework reads distribution. Smart money appears to be selling into strength. Institutional holders may be rotating out. Price has moved down 0.0% since our last review. Ethical screening: PASS with strong ethical credentials. The risk-adjusted return profile shows modest positive risk-adjusted returns. Our composite framework grades it B, carrying a low risk profile. Technically it is sitting below its long-term trend line with momentum reading neutral. Over the past year the shares are down 15%. Our forward projection puts the odds of a 10% gain over the next month near 12%. The street (54 analysts) rates it strong buy, with a mean price target of $561. Insiders have been net sellers over the past quarter. It reported earnings in this window, a natural checkpoint for the thesis.
The framework reads distribution. Smart money appears to be selling into strength. Institutional holders may be rotating out. Price has moved down 5.5% since our last review. Ethical screening: PASS with strong ethical credentials. The risk-adjusted return profile shows modest positive risk-adjusted returns. Our composite framework grades it B, carrying a low risk profile. Technically it is sitting below its long-term trend line with momentum reading neutral. Over the past year the shares are down 15%. Our forward projection puts the odds of a 10% gain over the next month near 12%. The street (54 analysts) rates it strong buy, with a mean price target of $561. Insiders have been net sellers over the past quarter.
The framework reads distribution. Smart money appears to be selling into strength. Institutional holders may be rotating out. Price has moved down 0.0% since our last review. Ethical screening: PASS with strong ethical credentials. The risk-adjusted return profile shows modest positive risk-adjusted returns.
Each entry above was written on its date, before the outcome. A journal you can prune is not a journal.
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Headlines from third-party outlets, linked for reference: not our reporting, not advice.
Screened names in the same industry · explore each on its own page.
| Date | Insider | Title | Type | Shares | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-05-14 | Coleman Amy | EVP, Chief HR Off | Sale | 1,262 | $519,242 |
| 2026-03-06 | Hogan Kathleen T | EVP, Strategy | Sale | 12,321 | $5,045,643 |
| 2026-02-18 | Stanton John W | Dir | Purchase | 5,000 | $1,986,750 |
| 2025-04-23 | Smith Bradford L | Vice Chair, Pres | Purchase | 3,842 | $1,450,221 |
| 2025-04-30 | Smith Bradford L | Vice Chair, Pres | Sale | 3,842 | $1,684,498 |
| 2025-12-04 | Numoto Takeshi | EVP, CMO | Sale | 2,850 | $1,364,352 |
| 2025-12-02 | Althoff Judson | CEO Microsoft Commercial | Sale | 12,750 | $6,266,829 |
| 2025-11-03 | Smith Bradford L | Vice Chair, Pres | Sale | 38,500 | $19,967,707 |
| 2025-09-03 | Nadella Satya | CEO | Sale | 149,205 | $75,315,121 |
| 2025-08-12 | Numoto Takeshi | EVP, CMO | Sale | 4,850 | $2,557,506 |
Public filings, recorded as found. The full tape lives at Insider Intelligence.
| Date | Politician | Party | Type | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 Sept2024 | Tracey Mann | Republican | sell | 1K–15K |
| 9 Sept2024 | Tracey Mann | Republican | sell | 1K–15K |
| 7 Oct2025 | Tommy Tuberville | Republican | sell | 15K–50K |
| 7 Oct2025 | Tommy Tuberville | Republican | sell | 15K–50K |
| 5 Feb2026 | Michael Rulli | Republican | buy | 1K–15K |
| Period | Price then | Price return | Divs per share | $1,000 became | Total return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 month | $411.77 | -3.2% | $0.91 | $970 | -3.0% |
| 2 months | $370.07 | +7.7% | $0.91 | $1,080 | +8.0% |
| 3 months | $400.99 | -0.6% | $0.91 | $996 | -0.4% |
| 6 months | $481.33 | -17.2% | $1.82 | $832 | -16.8% |
| 1 year | $467.19 | -14.7% | $3.56 | $861 | -13.9% |
| 2 years | $421.25 | -5.4% | $6.80 | $962 | -3.8% |
| 3 years | $319.24 | +24.9% | $9.73 | $1,279 | +27.9% |
| 5 years | $247.50 | +61.1% | $14.81 | $1,670 | +67.0% |
Historical returns from market close data. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
This entry now belongs to the ledger. Whatever MSFT does next, these words stay.
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