ASX vs MSFT Stock Comparison
MSFT currently leads ASX in this stock comparison, with AIQ scores of 67 vs 42. The clearest difference is quality.
What is the main difference between ASX and MSFT?
MSFT leads the current stock comparison as Microsoft Corporation, with the clearest separation coming from quality and the broader AIQ evidence mix.
AlgovestIQ AIQ Comparison
ASE Technology Holding Co., Ltd. vs Microsoft Corporation
MSFT leads
MSFT leads by 25 AIQ points, primarily on Quality and Momentum, and the lead has widened from 15 points over 30 sessions.
Competitive: 3 of 5 evidence groups support MSFT, its lead is widening, and its current signal state is conflicted.
ASE Technology Holding Co., Ltd.
Microsoft Corporation
The Algovestiq AIQ Score currently favors MSFT over ASX, 67 versus 42 as of Oct 21, 2026. MSFT's advantage is driven primarily by stronger quality and momentum. MSFT also shows the stronger technical structure relative to its 50-day moving average. 3 of 5 covered evidence groups favor MSFT today, and the comparison is rated Competitive on stability: the leader is throwing conflicting signals. MSFT lead: Strengthening — the AIQ differential moved from 15 to 25 points over 30 sessions.
Compare ASE Technology Holding Co., Ltd. and Microsoft Corporation across the Algovestiq AIQ Score, valuation, quality, momentum, risk, technicals and analyst expectations.
Performance over time
Total return with distributions reinvested, from daily closes.
Total return comparison
Growth of $10,000, distributions reinvested
Split-adjusted closes; each distribution is reinvested at the close on its ex-dividend date. Taxes and trading costs are not modeled.
Compare ASX and MSFT against another ticker
Open a multi-ticker workspace without changing this focused pair page.
AIQ Factor Divergence
Where the two separate, on the four dimensions behind the AIQ Score. Bars read outward from a shared zero: further from the centre is a wider gap.
- Quality45 vs 89MSFT +44
- Momentum36 vs 70MSFT +34
- Risk Resilience34 vs 67MSFT +33
- Value47 vs 44Even
3 of 5 evidence groups favor MSFT. MSFT’s edge is concentrated in quality and momentum.
What changed since the last close
Latest scored session 2026-10-20, compared against the prior scored session 2026-10-19.
Largest factor move: Momentum +1
No signal started or stopped since the prior session; its 5 active signals are unchanged.
Largest factor move: Momentum -4
No signal started or stopped since the prior session; its 4 active signals are unchanged.
MSFT's lead narrowed by 2 AIQ points in the latest session.
Deeper signal detail for each name lives on its own signals page — ASX and MSFT both carry a full feed there.
The central trade-off
MSFT (Microsoft Corporation): the stronger current systematic profile, led by quality and momentum.
ASX (ASE Technology Holding Co., Ltd.): the counter-case, on technicals — but at materially higher volatility, 51.8% against 21.7%.
Which one fits your objective
The same two names rank differently depending on what you are optimizing for. All six reads are shown at once — none of them is hidden behind a toggle.
Balanced
MSFTMSFT on the overall AIQ Score, which weights Quality and Value most heavily.
Growth
ASXASX on combined revenue and EPS growth.
Value
EvenThe two are level on Value.
Momentum
MSFTMSFT on the Momentum factor, by 34 points.
Lower downside
MSFTMSFT on Risk Resilience, by 33 points.
Analyst upside
EvenAnalyst targets are level or not covered for both names.
AIQ vs Wall Street
Where the systematic read and the analyst consensus line up — and where they do not.
| Measure | ASX | MSFT | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Implied upside to target | — | +6% | Level |
| Target dispersion | — | +57.5% | Lower is tighter analyst agreement |
| Consensus | Buy | Buy | Context, not a primary driver |
| Analysts covering | 1 | 24 | Higher coverage generally improves confidence |
Analyst targets are expectations, not predictions. Dispersion matters as much as the midpoint.
Dividend growth
| Dividend metric | ASX | MSFT |
|---|---|---|
| 5Y dividend CAGR | 21.17% | 10.22% |
| 2020 regular DPS | $0.136 | $2.090 |
| 2025 regular DPS | $0.356 | $3.400 |
| Years increased | 4 | 5 |
| No cut in window | No (1) | Yes |
| Cohort rank | not ranked | #93 |
ASX grew its split-adjusted regular dividend faster over 2020–2025 — 21.17% a year against MSFT's 10.22%. MSFT never reduced its regular dividend in the window; ASX did in 1 year. They are ranked in different cohorts — variable-dividend payers and US dividend-paying corporations — so their ranks are not comparable with each other.
Yield and payout ratio shown elsewhere on this page are current values, not part of the study window.
Split-adjusted regular dividends per share, 2020–2025, excluding special dividends. Research as of Sep 19, 2026.
AIQ Agreement Matrix
3 of 5 covered evidence groups favor MSFT. A wide gap backed by one group is a weaker case than a narrow gap backed by five.
| Evidence group | Favors | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| AIQ Score | MSFT | 42 vs 67 |
| Fundamentals | MSFTon balance | revenue growth 8.9% vs 8.6%; EPS growth 50% vs 12.4%; TTM ROE 17.3% vs 33.2%; gross margin 19.5% vs 67.9%; operating margin 9.8% vs 46.8% — MSFT takes 3 of 4 decided legs, not all of them |
| Valuation | Even | Value 47 vs 44 |
| Technicals | ASX | Price vs 50-day 3.4% vs 5.2%; vs 200-day 25.8% vs 22% |
| Risk Resilience | MSFT | Risk Resilience 34 vs 67 |
| Analyst expectations | Not covered | Not covered |
✓ agrees with the overall verdict · ✕ points the other way. Groups marked “not covered” lack data on one or both of ASX and MSFT and are excluded from the count.
AIQ Decision Stability
The two are close enough that your objective, not the score, should decide.
- The AIQ gap is wide at 25 points. (supports the conclusion holding)
- The leader's advantage has been widening. (supports the conclusion holding)
- The leader is throwing conflicting signals. (argues the conclusion is provisional)
Stability combines the score gap, how broadly the evidence agrees, how steady the lead has been across daily snapshots, the current signal state on both names, and analyst dispersion on MSFT.
How the comparison changed
120 daily snapshots · Jun 21 – Oct 20MSFT lead: Strengthening — the AIQ differential moved from 15 to 25 points over 30 sessions.
- Today
- MSFT +25
- 42 vs 67
- 7 sessions ago
- MSFT +24
- 46 vs 70
- 30 sessions ago
- MSFT +15
- 52 vs 67
- 90 sessions ago
- MSFT +19
- 51 vs 70
The lead has not changed hands in this window.
AIQ Signal Divergence
Only the signals that bear on the head-to-head. A conflicted name is carrying bullish and bearish rules at the same time — the technical evidence is not pointing one way.
2 bullish / 2 bearish / 1 neutral, conflicted
Only ASX
- ATR Expansion - Breakout Mode — neutral, volatility, short horizon (4.96%)
- Beta Spike Warning — bearish, risk, long horizon
3 bullish / 1 bearish, conflicted
Only MSFT
- Uptrend Structure Active — bullish, trend, long horizon
Both carry 3 more signals that do not separate them: Golden Cross Active, EMA Ribbon Expansion Bullish, MACD Bearish Crossover.
MSFT leads the comparison while carrying a conflicted signal state, which is one reason the stability rating is not higher.
Price vs model alignment
Whether the latest session's price move confirms what the model did over the same session, or contradicts it.
Price and the AIQ Score both moved up over the latest session (price +4.02%, AIQ +1 points).
Price is up while the AIQ Score moved down 1 points over the same session — price and model disagree (price +0.2%, AIQ -1 points).
What would flip this result
A state, not a forecast. These are the specific, observable changes that would reverse the verdict — not a price prediction.
- 1ASX closes the Quality gap — currently 44 points behind, the largest single contributor to MSFT's edge.
- 2ASX's Beta Spike Warning resolves — a bearish risk rule currently active against it.
- 3MSFT's conflicting signal state resolves bearish — it currently carries 3 bullish and 1 bearish rules at once.
- 4A regime shift changes factor weighting — Quality and Value carry the heaviest weights in the composite, so a rotation toward either would move the result most.
The full evidence
Every number behind the verdict. The leader is called above each group so you are not left to solve it from the table.
Fundamentals
MSFT leads on balance| Metric | ASX | MSFT |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue growth (YoY) | 8.9% | 8.6% |
| EPS growth (YoY) | 50% | 12.4% |
| Gross margin | 19.5% | 67.9% |
| Operating margin | 9.8% | 46.8% |
| Return on equity (TTM) | 17.3% | 33.2% |
| Debt to equity | 0.76 | 0.29 |
Performance
Split across windows| Metric | ASX | MSFT |
|---|---|---|
| 1 week (5 sessions) | -14.3% | -2.1% |
| 1 month (20 sessions) | -9.8% | 6.8% |
| 3 months (63 sessions) | 0.7% | 36.3% |
| 6 months (126 sessions) | 39.2% | 25.4% |
| Year to date | 153.2% | 10% |
| 1 year (252 sessions) | 226.4% | 4% |
Technicals
ASX has the stronger structure| Metric | ASX | MSFT |
|---|---|---|
| RSI (14) | 39.2 | 62.3 |
| ADX (14) | 23.2 | 34.6 |
| Price vs 50-day | 3.4% | 5.2% |
| Price vs 200-day | 25.8% | 22% |
| Volatility (1M, annualized) | 51.8% | 21.7% |
Risk
MSFT is the more resilient| Metric | ASX | MSFT |
|---|---|---|
| Beta | 2.52 | 1.02 |
| Sharpe ratio | 2.28 | 0.15 |
| Sortino ratio | 3.48 | 0.24 |
| Max drawdown | -31% | -34.9% |
| Current drawdown | -14.3% | -2.1% |
| Annualized volatility | 56.7% | 33% |
| Value at risk (95%) | -5.5% | -2.8% |
Straight answers
Each answer is regenerated from the current snapshot, not written once and left to age.
Which is better, ASX or MSFT?
On the Algovestiq AIQ Score, MSFT is the stronger of the two as of Oct 21, 2026, scoring 67 against ASX's 42. The edge comes from quality and momentum. This is a systematic score, not a recommendation: it ranks the two on the same evidence, it does not know your holding period or tax position.
Is ASX or MSFT the better buy right now?
MSFT carries the stronger systematic profile as of Oct 21, 2026, and the comparison is rated Competitive — 3 of 5 covered evidence groups agree. A Competitive rating means the two are close enough that your objective, not the score, should decide.
Why does the AIQ Score favor MSFT over ASX?
The composite weights Quality, Value, Momentum and Risk Resilience. MSFT leads Quality by 44 points; MSFT leads Momentum by 34 points; MSFT leads Risk Resilience by 33 points. Where the two split, the factor with the larger weight carries the result.
Which has more analyst upside, ASX or MSFT?
Analyst price targets imply not covered upside for ASX and +6% for MSFT. The model and the Street agree here, which is a broader base of evidence than either alone. Analyst targets are expectations, not predictions, and dispersion matters as much as the midpoint.
Which is better value, ASX or MSFT?
Neither name separates on the peer-relative Value factor. The two are level on Value. The Value factor reads valuation relative to sector peers and to the company's own fundamental quality, so it is not the same as simply having the lower multiple.
Which has stronger growth, ASX or MSFT?
ASX on combined revenue and EPS growth. Growth here is measured on reported revenue and earnings, not on forward estimates — it describes what the businesses have delivered, not what the Street expects next.
Which has stronger momentum, ASX or MSFT?
MSFT on the Momentum factor, by 34 points. Momentum is one of the four weighted factors in the AIQ composite. It has documented persistence over three- to twelve-month horizons, which makes it a timing input rather than a reason to hold something indefinitely.
Which is riskier, ASX or MSFT?
MSFT is the more resilient of the two, so the other name carries the higher downside risk. MSFT on Risk Resilience, by 33 points. Risk Resilience is a weighted factor in the composite; position sizing usually responds to it more usefully than the buy/avoid decision does.
Is ASX more profitable than MSFT?
MSFT leads on the comparable margin measures — gross margin 19.5% vs 67.9%; operating margin 9.8% vs 46.8%; ttm roe 17.3% vs 33.2%.
Is MSFT's lead over ASX getting stronger or weaker?
MSFT lead: Strengthening — the AIQ differential moved from 15 to 25 points over 30 sessions. This is measured from 120 daily comparison snapshots between 2026-06-21 and 2026-10-20. The lead has not changed hands in that window.
What would change the ASX vs MSFT verdict?
The result is a state, not a forecast, so it changes when the underlying evidence changes. Concretely: ASX closes the Quality gap — currently 44 points behind, the largest single contributor to MSFT's edge; ASX's Beta Spike Warning resolves — a bearish risk rule currently active against it; MSFT's conflicting signal state resolves bearish — it currently carries 3 bullish and 1 bearish rules at once; a regime shift changes factor weighting — Quality and Value carry the heaviest weights in the composite, so a rotation toward either would move the result most.
What do the current signals say about ASX and MSFT?
ASX: 2 bullish / 2 bearish / 1 neutral, conflicted. MSFT: 3 bullish / 1 bearish, conflicted. A conflicted state means bullish and bearish rules are active on the same name at once — the technical evidence is not pointing one way, and a decision taken on it carries more timing risk. The most decision-relevant rule on ASX is Golden Cross Active (bullish, long horizon). On MSFT it is Golden Cross Active (bullish, long horizon).
Compare ASX and MSFT with others
Continue your research
This page answers which of the two. These answer the questions on either side of it.
How this comparison is scored
The Algovestiq AIQ Score composites four factors — Quality, Value, Momentum and Risk, each carrying a fixed weight. Sentiment is reported separately as SentimentPulse and is not folded into the composite. Scores refresh every trading day, and this page regenerates from the latest snapshot rather than being written once.
The verdict names a leader, states how broadly six independent evidence groups agree, and rates how durable that conclusion is given the score gap, its recent trajectory and the current signal state on both names.
How to use side-by-side comparison →This comparison is informational and educational, not investment advice. AIQ scores update daily; re-check after earnings, guidance or macro data that materially changes either name’s factor profile.