AYI vs MSFT Stock Comparison
AYI currently leads MSFT in this stock comparison, with AIQ scores of 70 vs 65. The clearest difference is momentum, while MSFT has the stronger quality profile.
What is the main difference between AYI and MSFT?
AYI leads the current stock comparison as Acuity Brands, Inc., with the clearest separation coming from momentum and the broader AIQ evidence mix.
AlgovestIQ AIQ Comparison
Acuity Brands, Inc. vs Microsoft Corporation
AYI leads
AYI leads by 5 AIQ points, primarily on Momentum and Value, having only recently taken the lead back from MSFT.
Fragile: 3 of 6 evidence groups support AYI, the lead recently changed hands, and its signal state is cleanly positive.
Acuity Brands, Inc.
Microsoft Corporation
The Algovestiq AIQ Score currently favors AYI over MSFT, 70 versus 65 as of Oct 31, 2026. AYI's advantage is driven primarily by stronger momentum and value, while MSFT holds the stronger quality profile. AYI also shows the weaker technical structure relative to its 50-day moving average. 3 of 6 covered evidence groups favor AYI today, and the comparison is rated Fragile on stability: the AIQ gap is narrow at 5 points. AYI lead: Reversed — MSFT led by 12 AIQ points 30 sessions ago; AYI now leads by 5.
Compare Acuity Brands, Inc. 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 AYI and MSFT against another ticker
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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.
- Momentum86 vs 60AYI +26
- Quality65 vs 89MSFT +24
- Value65 vs 44AYI +21
- Risk Resilience66 vs 69Even
3 of 6 evidence groups favor AYI. AYI’s edge is concentrated in momentum and value; MSFT keeps a meaningful quality edge.
What changed since the last close
Latest scored session 2026-10-28, compared against the prior scored session 2026-10-27.
Largest factor move: Momentum -3
No signal started or stopped since the prior session; its 3 active signals are unchanged.
Largest factor move: Momentum +4
No signal started or stopped since the prior session; its 4 active signals are unchanged.
AYI's lead narrowed by 2 AIQ points in the latest session.
Deeper signal detail for each name lives on its own signals page — AYI and MSFT both carry a full feed there.
The central trade-off
AYI (Acuity Brands, Inc.): the stronger current systematic profile, led by momentum and value.
MSFT (Microsoft Corporation): the counter-case, on quality, fundamentals, technicals.
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
AYIAYI on the overall AIQ Score, which weights Quality and Value most heavily.
Growth
AYIAYI on combined revenue and EPS growth.
Value
AYIAYI on the peer-relative Value factor, by 21 points.
Momentum
AYIAYI on the Momentum factor, by 26 points.
Lower downside
MSFTMSFT carries the lower 1-month annualized volatility.
Analyst upside
AYIAYI on implied upside to the consensus price target.
AIQ vs Wall Street
Where the systematic read and the analyst consensus line up — and where they do not.
| Measure | AYI | MSFT | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Implied upside to target | +23.4% | +10.3% | AYI has more room |
| Target dispersion | +29.8% | +56.5% | Lower is tighter analyst agreement |
| Consensus | Buy | Buy | Context, not a primary driver |
| Analysts covering | 4 | 23 | Higher coverage generally improves confidence |
Analyst targets are expectations, not predictions. Dispersion matters as much as the midpoint.
Dividend growth
| Dividend metric | AYI | MSFT |
|---|---|---|
| 5Y dividend CAGR | 5.51% | 10.22% |
| 2020 regular DPS | $0.520 | $2.090 |
| 2025 regular DPS | $0.680 | $3.400 |
| Years increased | 2 | 5 |
| No cut in window | Yes | Yes |
| Cohort rank | #228 | #93 |
MSFT grew its split-adjusted regular dividend faster over 2020–2025 — 10.22% a year against AYI's 5.51%. Neither company reduced its regular dividend in any year of the window.
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 6 covered evidence groups favor AYI. A wide gap backed by one group is a weaker case than a narrow gap backed by five.
| Evidence group | Favors | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| AIQ Score | AYI | 70 vs 65 |
| Fundamentals | MSFTon balance | revenue growth 13.5% vs 8.6%; EPS growth 47.5% vs 12.4%; TTM ROE 16.9% vs 33.2%; gross margin 49.3% vs 67.9%; operating margin 14.5% vs 46.8% — MSFT takes 3 of 5 decided legs, not all of them |
| Valuation | AYI | Value 65 vs 44 |
| Technicals | MSFT | Price vs 50-day 0.7% vs 2.1%; vs 200-day 2.4% vs 21.4% |
| Risk Resilience | Even | Risk Resilience 66 vs 69 |
| Analyst expectations | AYI | Target upside 23.4% vs 10.3% |
✓ agrees with the overall verdict · ✕ points the other way. Groups marked “not covered” lack data on one or both of AYI and MSFT and are excluded from the count.
AIQ Decision Stability
The conclusion is sensitive to small changes. Treat the lead as provisional and watch the flip conditions below.
- The AIQ gap is narrow at 5 points. (argues the conclusion is provisional)
- Only 3 of 6 covered evidence groups agree. (argues the conclusion is provisional)
- The lead has already changed hands inside the comparison window. (argues the conclusion is provisional)
- The lead has swung materially session to session. (argues the conclusion is provisional)
- The leader's signal state is cleanly positive. (supports the conclusion holding)
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 AYI.
How the comparison changed
120 daily snapshots · Jun 29 – Oct 28AYI lead: Reversed — MSFT led by 12 AIQ points 30 sessions ago; AYI now leads by 5.
- Today
- AYI +5
- 70 vs 65
- 7 sessions ago
- AYI +6
- 70 vs 64
- 30 sessions ago
- MSFT +12
- 59 vs 71
- 90 sessions ago
- MSFT +2
- 59 vs 61
The lead changed hands 6 times in this window, most recently on Oct 22 when AYI moved ahead of MSFT.
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.
3 bullish / 0 bearish
Only AYI
- MACD Bullish Crossover — bullish, momentum, short horizon
3 bullish / 1 bearish, conflicted
Only MSFT
- EMA Ribbon Expansion Bullish — bullish, trend, medium horizon
- MACD Bearish Crossover — bearish, momentum, short horizon
Both carry 2 more signals that do not separate them: Golden Cross Active, Uptrend Structure Active.
MSFT is conflicted, so the timing case there is weaker than the score alone suggests.
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 down over the latest session (price -2.82%, AIQ -1 points).
Price is down while the AIQ Score moved up 1 points over the same session — price and model disagree (price -1.55%, 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.
- 1MSFT closes the Momentum gap — currently 26 points behind, the largest single contributor to AYI's edge.
- 2MSFT generates a confirmed bullish trend signal it does not currently carry, such as MACD Bullish Crossover.
- 3AYI's Golden Cross Active breaks down — it is the strongest rule currently supporting the verdict.
- 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 | AYI | MSFT |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue growth (YoY) | 13.5% | 8.6% |
| EPS growth (YoY) | 47.5% | 12.4% |
| Gross margin | 49.3% | 67.9% |
| Operating margin | 14.5% | 46.8% |
| Return on equity (TTM) | 16.9% | 33.2% |
| Debt to equity | 0.28 | 0.29 |
Performance
MSFT leads 5 of 6 windows| Metric | AYI | MSFT |
|---|---|---|
| 1 week (5 sessions) | 0.1% | -0.4% |
| 1 month (20 sessions) | 2.3% | 3.5% |
| 3 months (63 sessions) | -6.1% | 17.7% |
| 6 months (126 sessions) | 10.9% | 25.1% |
| Year to date | -11.9% | 9.8% |
| 1 year (252 sessions) | -13.9% | 1.4% |
Technicals
MSFT has the stronger structure| Metric | AYI | MSFT |
|---|---|---|
| RSI (14) | 68.3 | 55.3 |
| ADX (14) | 24.3 | 24.7 |
| Price vs 50-day | 0.7% | 2.1% |
| Price vs 200-day | 2.4% | 21.4% |
| Volatility (1M, annualized) | 24.5% | 19.5% |
Risk
Split| Metric | AYI | MSFT |
|---|---|---|
| Beta | 1.41 | 1.02 |
| Sharpe ratio | -0.27 | -0.02 |
| Sortino ratio | -0.37 | -0.03 |
| Max drawdown | -31.6% | -34.9% |
| Current drawdown | -15.8% | -2.3% |
| Annualized volatility | 37.9% | 32.9% |
| Value at risk (95%) | -3.2% | -2.8% |
Straight answers
Each answer is regenerated from the current snapshot, not written once and left to age.
Which is better, AYI or MSFT?
On the Algovestiq AIQ Score, AYI is the stronger of the two as of Oct 31, 2026, scoring 70 against MSFT's 65. The edge comes from momentum and value. MSFT is not without a case — it holds the better quality profile, which matters more if that is the objective you are optimizing for. 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 AYI or MSFT the better buy right now?
AYI carries the stronger systematic profile as of Oct 31, 2026, and the comparison is rated Fragile — 3 of 6 covered evidence groups agree. A Fragile rating means the conclusion is sensitive: the AIQ gap is narrow at 5 points. Treat the lead as provisional.
Why does the AIQ Score favor AYI over MSFT?
The composite weights Quality, Value, Momentum and Risk Resilience. AYI leads Momentum by 26 points; MSFT leads Quality by 24 points; AYI leads Value by 21 points. Where the two split, the factor with the larger weight carries the result.
Which has more analyst upside, AYI or MSFT?
Analyst price targets imply +23.4% upside for AYI and +10.3% for MSFT, so the Street currently favors AYI. 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, AYI or MSFT?
AYI is the better-valued of the two on the peer-relative Value factor. AYI on the peer-relative Value factor, by 21 points. 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, AYI or MSFT?
AYI 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, AYI or MSFT?
AYI on the Momentum factor, by 26 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, AYI or MSFT?
MSFT is the more resilient of the two, so the other name carries the higher downside risk. MSFT carries the lower 1-month annualized volatility. Risk Resilience is a weighted factor in the composite; position sizing usually responds to it more usefully than the buy/avoid decision does.
Is AYI more profitable than MSFT?
MSFT leads on the comparable margin measures — gross margin 49.3% vs 67.9%; operating margin 14.5% vs 46.8%; ttm roe 16.9% vs 33.2%.
Is AYI's lead over MSFT getting stronger or weaker?
AYI lead: Reversed — MSFT led by 12 AIQ points 30 sessions ago; AYI now leads by 5. This is measured from 120 daily comparison snapshots between 2026-06-29 and 2026-10-28. The lead has changed hands 6 times in that window, most recently on 2026-10-22, when AYI moved ahead of MSFT.
What would change the AYI vs MSFT verdict?
The result is a state, not a forecast, so it changes when the underlying evidence changes. Concretely: MSFT closes the Momentum gap — currently 26 points behind, the largest single contributor to AYI's edge; MSFT generates a confirmed bullish trend signal it does not currently carry, such as MACD Bullish Crossover; AYI's Golden Cross Active breaks down — it is the strongest rule currently supporting the verdict; 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 AYI and MSFT?
AYI: 3 bullish / 0 bearish. 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 AYI is Golden Cross Active (bullish, long horizon). On MSFT it is Golden Cross Active (bullish, long horizon).
Compare AYI and MSFT with others
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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.