MSFT vs SAIC Stock Comparison

SAIC currently leads MSFT in this stock comparison, with AIQ scores of 68 vs 65. The clearest difference is value, while MSFT has the stronger quality profile.

Market data as of Oct 31, 2026 market close· AIQ score gap 3 points
MSFT
Technology
vs
SAIC
Technology
MSFT
Microsoft Corporation
Price
$522
Day move
-1.55%
AIQ Score
65/100
Best edge
Quality
Sector
Technology
SAIC
Science Applications International Corporation
Leads
Price
$152
Day move
+0.67%
AIQ Score
68/100
Best edge
Value
Sector
Technology

What is the main difference between MSFT and SAIC?

SAIC leads the current stock comparison as Science Applications International Corporation, with the clearest separation coming from value and the broader AIQ evidence mix.

AlgovestIQ AIQ Comparison

Microsoft Corporation vs Science Applications International Corporation

Data as of Oct 31, 2026· market close· Technology· Coverage 66/66 fields· High confidence
AIQ VerdictFragileAIQ Comparison Conviction 3/10

SAIC leads

SAIC leads by 3 AIQ points, primarily on Value and Momentum, having only recently taken the lead back from MSFT. Wall Street currently favors MSFT on target upside.

Fragile: 2 of 6 evidence groups support SAIC, the lead recently changed hands, and its current signal state is conflicted.

Evidence agreement: 2 of 6Comparison trend: Reversed
MSFT

Microsoft Corporation

AIQ Score
65/100
AIQ Edge Score
9/10
SAIC

Science Applications International Corporation

Leads
AIQ Score
68/100
AIQ Edge Score
9/10

The Algovestiq AIQ Score currently favors SAIC over MSFT, 68 versus 65 as of Oct 31, 2026. SAIC's advantage is driven primarily by stronger value and momentum, while MSFT holds the stronger quality profile. SAIC also shows the stronger technical structure relative to its 50-day moving average, though analyst target upside currently favors MSFT. 2 of 6 covered evidence groups favor SAIC today, and the comparison is rated Fragile on stability: the AIQ gap is narrow at 3 points. SAIC lead: Reversed — MSFT led by 17 AIQ points 30 sessions ago; SAIC now leads by 3.

Compare Microsoft Corporation and Science Applications International Corporation across the Algovestiq AIQ Score, valuation, quality, momentum, risk, technicals and analyst expectations.

Currently unavailable

Performance over time

Total return with distributions reinvested, from daily closes.

MSFT
+68.0%
SAIC
+74.3%

Total return comparison

Growth of $10,000, distributions reinvested

MSFT $16,800 · SAIC $17,426

Split-adjusted closes; each distribution is reinvested at the close on its ex-dividend date. Taxes and trading costs are not modeled.

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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.

MSFT advantage
0
SAIC advantage
  • Quality89 vs 59
    MSFT +30
  • Value44 vs 73
    SAIC +29
  • Momentum60 vs 84
    SAIC +24
  • Risk Resilience69 vs 49
    MSFT +20

2 of 6 evidence groups favor SAIC. SAIC’s edge is concentrated in value and momentum; 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.

MSFT+1 AIQ

Largest factor move: Momentum +4

No signal started or stopped since the prior session; its 4 active signals are unchanged.

SAIC0 AIQ

Largest factor move: Momentum -1, not enough on its own to move the overall score.

No signal started or stopped since the prior session; its 7 active signals are unchanged.

SAIC's lead narrowed by 1 AIQ point in the latest session.

Deeper signal detail for each name lives on its own signals page — MSFT and SAIC both carry a full feed there.

The central trade-off

SAIC (Science Applications International Corporation): the stronger current systematic profile, led by value and momentum.

MSFT (Microsoft Corporation): the counter-case, on quality, risk resilience, fundamentals.

The AIQ Score and Wall Street therefore point in different directions on this pair.

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

SAIC

SAIC on the overall AIQ Score, which weights Quality and Value most heavily.

Growth

SAIC

SAIC on combined revenue and EPS growth.

Value

SAIC

SAIC on the peer-relative Value factor, by 29 points.

Momentum

SAIC

SAIC on the Momentum factor, by 24 points.

Lower downside

MSFT

MSFT on Risk Resilience, by 20 points.

Analyst upside

MSFT

MSFT on implied upside to the consensus price target.

AIQ vs Wall Street

The model and the Street disagree here: AIQ favors SAIC, analyst targets favor MSFT. That disagreement is the most useful thing on this page.

MeasureMSFTSAICNote
Implied upside to target+10.3%-22.2%MSFT has more room
Target dispersion+56.5%+49.9%Lower is tighter analyst agreement
ConsensusBuyHoldContext, not a primary driver
Analysts covering234Higher coverage generally improves confidence

The two are measuring different things. The AIQ Score reads current fundamentals, valuation, trend and risk; analyst targets price forward expectations. A divergence of this kind is either a contrarian opportunity or a sign the model is missing something already priced in — it is worth resolving before acting on either.

Analyst targets are expectations, not predictions. Dispersion matters as much as the midpoint.

Dividend growth

MSFT vs SAIC: regular dividend growth
Dividend metricMSFTSAIC
5Y dividend CAGR10.22%0.00%
2020 regular DPS$2.090$1.480
2025 regular DPS$3.400$1.480
Years increased50
No cut in windowYesYes
Cohort rank#93#349

MSFT grew its split-adjusted regular dividend faster over 2020–2025 — 10.22% a year against SAIC's 0.00%. 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

2 of 6 covered evidence groups favor SAIC. A wide gap backed by one group is a weaker case than a narrow gap backed by five.

Evidence groupFavorsReading
AIQ ScoreEven65 vs 68
FundamentalsMSFTon balancerevenue growth 8.6% vs 8.9%; EPS growth 12.4% vs 39.2%; TTM ROE 33.2% vs 25.9%; gross margin 67.9% vs 12.6%; operating margin 46.8% vs 7.8% — MSFT takes 3 of 4 decided legs, not all of them
ValuationSAICValue 44 vs 73
TechnicalsSAICPrice vs 50-day 2.1% vs 15.5%; vs 200-day 21.4% vs 34.9%
Risk ResilienceMSFTRisk Resilience 69 vs 49
Analyst expectationsMSFTTarget upside 10.3% vs -22.2%

✓ agrees with the overall verdict · ✕ points the other way. Groups marked “not covered” lack data on one or both of MSFT and SAIC and are excluded from the count.

AIQ Decision Stability

Fragile

The conclusion is sensitive to small changes. Treat the lead as provisional and watch the flip conditions below.

  • The AIQ gap is narrow at 3 points. (argues the conclusion is provisional)
  • Only 2 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 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 SAIC.

How the comparison changed

120 daily snapshots · Jun 29 – Oct 28

SAIC lead: Reversed — MSFT led by 17 AIQ points 30 sessions ago; SAIC now leads by 3.

Jun 29MSFT leads above the line · SAIC leads belowOct 28
Today
SAIC +3
65 vs 68
7 sessions ago
SAIC +4
64 vs 68
30 sessions ago
MSFT +17
71 vs 54
90 sessions ago
MSFT +5
61 vs 56

The lead changed hands once in this window, most recently on Sep 10 when SAIC 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.

MSFTConflicted

3 bullish / 1 bearish, conflicted

Only MSFT

  • MACD Bearish Crossover — bearish, momentum, short horizon
SAICConflicted

6 bullish / 1 bearish, conflicted

Only SAIC

  • Keltner Channel Breakout — bullish, volatility, short horizon
  • RSI Overbought — bearish, momentum, short horizon
  • 52-Week High Proximity — bullish, risk, long horizon (0.6%)
  • MACD Bullish Crossover — bullish, momentum, short horizon

Both carry 3 more signals that do not separate them: Golden Cross Active, EMA Ribbon Expansion Bullish, Uptrend Structure Active.

SAIC 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.

MSFTDivergence

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).

SAICNo material change

Neither the price nor the AIQ Score moved enough in the latest session to confirm or contradict the other (price +0.67%, AIQ 0 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.

  1. 1MSFT closes the Value gap — currently 29 points behind, the largest single contributor to SAIC's edge.
  2. 2MSFT generates a confirmed bullish trend signal it does not currently carry, such as MACD Bullish Crossover.
  3. 3SAIC's conflicting signal state resolves bearish — it currently carries 6 bullish and 1 bearish rules at once.
  4. 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
MetricMSFTSAIC
Revenue growth (YoY)8.6%8.9%
EPS growth (YoY)12.4%39.2%
Gross margin67.9%12.6%
Operating margin46.8%7.8%
Return on equity (TTM)33.2%25.9%
Debt to equity0.290.18

Performance

SAIC leads 6 of 6 windows
MetricMSFTSAIC
1 week (5 sessions)-0.4%8.9%
1 month (20 sessions)3.5%16.8%
3 months (63 sessions)17.7%28.7%
6 months (126 sessions)25.1%56.6%
Year to date9.8%44.6%
1 year (252 sessions)1.4%54.3%

Technicals

SAIC has the stronger structure
MetricMSFTSAIC
RSI (14)55.384.8
ADX (14)24.731.9
Price vs 50-day2.1%15.5%
Price vs 200-day21.4%34.9%
Volatility (1M, annualized)19.5%34.8%

Risk

MSFT is the more resilient
MetricMSFTSAIC
Beta1.020.15
Sharpe ratio-0.021.31
Sortino ratio-0.031.84
Max drawdown-34.9%-28.1%
Current drawdown-2.3%-0.4%
Annualized volatility32.9%39.5%
Value at risk (95%)-2.8%-3%

Straight answers

Each answer is regenerated from the current snapshot, not written once and left to age.

Which is better, MSFT or SAIC?

On the Algovestiq AIQ Score, SAIC is the stronger of the two as of Oct 31, 2026, scoring 68 against MSFT's 65. The edge comes from value and momentum. 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 MSFT or SAIC the better buy right now?

SAIC carries the stronger systematic profile as of Oct 31, 2026, and the comparison is rated Fragile — 2 of 6 covered evidence groups agree. A Fragile rating means the conclusion is sensitive: the AIQ gap is narrow at 3 points. Treat the lead as provisional.

Why does the AIQ Score favor SAIC over MSFT?

The composite weights Quality, Value, Momentum and Risk Resilience. MSFT leads Quality by 30 points; SAIC leads Value by 29 points; SAIC leads Momentum by 24 points. Where the two split, the factor with the larger weight carries the result.

Which has more analyst upside, MSFT or SAIC?

Analyst price targets imply +10.3% upside for MSFT and -22.2% for SAIC, so the Street currently favors MSFT. That points the opposite way to the AIQ Score, which favors SAIC. The two are measuring different things: the model reads current fundamentals, valuation, trend and risk; the Street is pricing forward expectations. A divergence of this kind is either a contrarian opportunity or a sign the model is missing something the analysts have already priced — it is the single most useful row on this page to investigate. Analyst targets are expectations, not predictions, and dispersion matters as much as the midpoint.

Which is better value, MSFT or SAIC?

SAIC is the better-valued of the two on the peer-relative Value factor. SAIC on the peer-relative Value factor, by 29 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, MSFT or SAIC?

SAIC 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, MSFT or SAIC?

SAIC on the Momentum factor, by 24 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, MSFT or SAIC?

MSFT is the more resilient of the two, so the other name carries the higher downside risk. MSFT on Risk Resilience, by 20 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 MSFT more profitable than SAIC?

MSFT leads on the comparable margin measures — gross margin 67.9% vs 12.6%; operating margin 46.8% vs 7.8%; ttm roe 33.2% vs 25.9%.

Is SAIC's lead over MSFT getting stronger or weaker?

SAIC lead: Reversed — MSFT led by 17 AIQ points 30 sessions ago; SAIC now leads by 3. 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 2026-09-10, when SAIC moved ahead of MSFT.

What would change the MSFT vs SAIC verdict?

The result is a state, not a forecast, so it changes when the underlying evidence changes. Concretely: MSFT closes the Value gap — currently 29 points behind, the largest single contributor to SAIC's edge; MSFT generates a confirmed bullish trend signal it does not currently carry, such as MACD Bullish Crossover; SAIC's conflicting signal state resolves bearish — it currently carries 6 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 MSFT and SAIC?

MSFT: 3 bullish / 1 bearish, conflicted. SAIC: 6 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 MSFT is Golden Cross Active (bullish, long horizon). On SAIC it is Golden Cross Active (bullish, long horizon).

Compare MSFT and SAIC 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.