CAH vs MSFT Stock Comparison
MSFT currently leads CAH in this stock comparison, with AIQ scores of 65 vs 51. The clearest difference is quality, while CAH has the stronger value profile.
What is the main difference between CAH 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
Cardinal Health, Inc. vs Microsoft Corporation
MSFT leads
MSFT leads by 14 AIQ points, primarily on Quality and Risk Resilience, but the lead has narrowed from 21 points over 30 sessions.
Competitive: 4 of 6 evidence groups support MSFT, its lead is narrowing, and its current signal state is conflicted.
Cardinal Health, Inc.
Microsoft Corporation
The Algovestiq AIQ Score currently favors MSFT over CAH, 65 versus 51 as of Oct 31, 2026. MSFT's advantage is driven primarily by stronger quality and risk resilience, while CAH holds the stronger value profile. MSFT also shows the weaker technical structure relative to its 50-day moving average. 4 of 6 covered evidence groups favor MSFT today, and the comparison is rated Competitive on stability: the leader's advantage has been narrowing. MSFT lead: Weakening — the AIQ differential moved from 21 to 14 points over 30 sessions.
Compare Cardinal Health, 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 CAH 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.
- Quality32 vs 89MSFT +57
- Risk Resilience55 vs 69MSFT +14
- Value56 vs 44CAH +12
- Momentum67 vs 60CAH +7
4 of 6 evidence groups favor MSFT. MSFT’s edge is concentrated in quality and risk resilience; CAH keeps a meaningful value 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 -9
New signals
- MACD Bearish Crossover — bearish, momentum, short horizon
Largest factor move: Momentum +4
No signal started or stopped since the prior session; its 4 active signals are unchanged.
MSFT's lead widened by 4 AIQ points in the latest session.
Deeper signal detail for each name lives on its own signals page — CAH and MSFT both carry a full feed there.
The central trade-off
MSFT (Microsoft Corporation): the stronger current systematic profile, led by quality and risk resilience.
CAH (Cardinal Health, Inc.): the counter-case, on value, momentum, valuation — but at materially higher volatility, 26.8% against 19.5%.
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
MSFTMSFT on combined revenue and EPS growth.
Value
CAHCAH on the peer-relative Value factor, by 12 points.
Momentum
CAHCAH on the Momentum factor, by 7 points.
Lower downside
MSFTMSFT on Risk Resilience, by 14 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 | CAH | MSFT | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Implied upside to target | +10.1% | +10.3% | Level |
| Target dispersion | +16.3% | +56.5% | Lower is tighter analyst agreement |
| Consensus | Buy | Buy | Context, not a primary driver |
| Analysts covering | 9 | 23 | Higher coverage generally improves confidence |
Analyst targets are expectations, not predictions. Dispersion matters as much as the midpoint.
Dividend growth
| Dividend metric | CAH | MSFT |
|---|---|---|
| 5Y dividend CAGR | 0.95% | 10.22% |
| 2020 regular DPS | $1.939 | $2.090 |
| 2025 regular DPS | $2.033 | $3.400 |
| Years increased | 4 | 5 |
| No cut in window | No (1) | Yes |
| Cohort rank | not ranked | #93 |
MSFT grew its split-adjusted regular dividend faster over 2020–2025 — 10.22% a year against CAH's 0.95%. MSFT never reduced its regular dividend in the window; CAH did in 1 year.
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
4 of 6 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 | 51 vs 65 |
| Fundamentals | MSFT | revenue growth 4.8% vs 8.6%; EPS growth 1.2% vs 12.4%; TTM ROE -59.7% vs 33.2%; gross margin 3.8% vs 67.9%; operating margin 1% vs 46.8% |
| Valuation | CAH | Value 56 vs 44 |
| Technicals | MSFT | Price vs 50-day 5.7% vs 2.1%; vs 200-day 10.4% vs 21.4% |
| Risk Resilience | MSFT | Risk Resilience 55 vs 69 |
| Analyst expectations | Even | Target upside 10.1% vs 10.3% |
✓ agrees with the overall verdict · ✕ points the other way. Groups marked “not covered” lack data on one or both of CAH 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 14 points. (supports the conclusion holding)
- The leader's advantage has been narrowing. (argues the conclusion is provisional)
- 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 29 – Oct 28MSFT lead: Weakening — the AIQ differential moved from 21 to 14 points over 30 sessions.
- Today
- MSFT +14
- 51 vs 65
- 7 sessions ago
- MSFT +8
- 56 vs 64
- 30 sessions ago
- MSFT +21
- 50 vs 71
- 90 sessions ago
- MSFT +11
- 50 vs 61
The lead changed hands once in this window, most recently on Jul 1 when MSFT moved ahead of CAH.
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.
CAH and MSFT carry the same 4 signals, so the signals do not separate them: Golden Cross Active, EMA Ribbon Expansion Bullish, Uptrend Structure Active, 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 down over the latest session (price -0.24%, AIQ -3 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.
- 1CAH closes the Quality gap — currently 57 points behind, the largest single contributor to MSFT's edge.
- 2CAH generates a confirmed bullish trend signal it does not currently carry, such as MACD Bullish Crossover.
- 3MSFT's conflicting signal state resolves bearish — it currently carries 3 bullish and 1 bearish rules at once.
- 4The narrowing continues — the lead has already given back 7 points over 30 sessions, and a further 14-point move would eliminate MSFT's advantage entirely.
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 | CAH | MSFT |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue growth (YoY) | 4.8% | 8.6% |
| EPS growth (YoY) | 1.2% | 12.4% |
| Gross margin | 3.8% | 67.9% |
| Operating margin | 1% | 46.8% |
| Return on equity (TTM) | -59.7% | 33.2% |
| Debt to equity | -3.45 | 0.29 |
Performance
Split across windows| Metric | CAH | MSFT |
|---|---|---|
| 1 week (5 sessions) | -4.9% | -0.4% |
| 1 month (20 sessions) | 10% | 3.5% |
| 3 months (63 sessions) | 7.8% | 17.7% |
| 6 months (126 sessions) | 20.7% | 25.1% |
| Year to date | 19.1% | 9.8% |
| 1 year (252 sessions) | 51.2% | 1.4% |
Technicals
MSFT has the stronger structure| Metric | CAH | MSFT |
|---|---|---|
| RSI (14) | 57.1 | 55.3 |
| ADX (14) | 22.1 | 24.7 |
| Price vs 50-day | 5.7% | 2.1% |
| Price vs 200-day | 10.4% | 21.4% |
| Volatility (1M, annualized) | 26.8% | 19.5% |
Risk
MSFT is the more resilient| Metric | CAH | MSFT |
|---|---|---|
| Beta | -0.12 | 1.02 |
| Sharpe ratio | 1.39 | -0.02 |
| Sortino ratio | 2.56 | -0.03 |
| Max drawdown | -20.6% | -34.9% |
| Current drawdown | -5% | -2.3% |
| Annualized volatility | 29.9% | 32.9% |
| Value at risk (95%) | -2.5% | -2.8% |
Straight answers
Each answer is regenerated from the current snapshot, not written once and left to age.
Which is better, CAH or MSFT?
On the Algovestiq AIQ Score, MSFT is the stronger of the two as of Oct 31, 2026, scoring 65 against CAH's 51. The edge comes from quality and risk resilience. CAH is not without a case — it holds the better value 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 CAH or MSFT the better buy right now?
MSFT carries the stronger systematic profile as of Oct 31, 2026, and the comparison is rated Competitive — 4 of 6 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 CAH?
The composite weights Quality, Value, Momentum and Risk Resilience. MSFT leads Quality by 57 points; MSFT leads Risk Resilience by 14 points; CAH leads Value by 12 points. Where the two split, the factor with the larger weight carries the result.
Which has more analyst upside, CAH or MSFT?
Analyst price targets imply +10.1% upside for CAH and +10.3% 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, CAH or MSFT?
CAH is the better-valued of the two on the peer-relative Value factor. CAH on the peer-relative Value factor, by 12 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, CAH or MSFT?
MSFT 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, CAH or MSFT?
CAH on the Momentum factor, by 7 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, CAH or MSFT?
MSFT is the more resilient of the two, so the other name carries the higher downside risk. MSFT on Risk Resilience, by 14 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 CAH more profitable than MSFT?
MSFT leads on the comparable margin measures — gross margin 3.8% vs 67.9%; operating margin 1% vs 46.8%; ttm roe -59.7% vs 33.2%.
Is MSFT's lead over CAH getting stronger or weaker?
MSFT lead: Weakening — the AIQ differential moved from 21 to 14 points over 30 sessions. This is measured from 120 daily comparison snapshots between 2026-06-29 and 2026-10-28. The lead has changed hands once in that window, most recently on 2026-07-01, when MSFT moved ahead of CAH.
What would change the CAH vs MSFT verdict?
The result is a state, not a forecast, so it changes when the underlying evidence changes. Concretely: CAH closes the Quality gap — currently 57 points behind, the largest single contributor to MSFT's edge; CAH generates a confirmed bullish trend signal it does not currently carry, such as MACD Bullish Crossover; MSFT's conflicting signal state resolves bearish — it currently carries 3 bullish and 1 bearish rules at once; the narrowing continues — the lead has already given back 7 points over 30 sessions, and a further 14-point move would eliminate MSFT's advantage entirely.
What do the current signals say about CAH and MSFT?
CAH: 3 bullish / 1 bearish, 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 CAH is Golden Cross Active (bullish, long horizon). On MSFT it is Golden Cross Active (bullish, long horizon).
Compare CAH 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.