Microsoft Corporation Valuation – August 2016 $MSFT

Benjamin Graham taught that Intelligent Investors must do a thorough fundamental analysis of investment opportunities to determine their intrinsic value and inherent risk.  This is best done by utilizing a systematic approach to analysis that will provide investors with a sense of how a specific company compares to another company or by reviewing the 10 Companies Benjamin Graham Would Invest In Today - July 2016.  By using the ModernGraham method one can review a company’s historical accomplishments and determine an intrinsic value that can be compared across industries.  What follows is a stock analysis showing a specific look at how Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) fares in the ModernGraham valuation model.

Company Profile (obtained from Google Finance): Microsoft Corporation is a technology company. The Company develops, licenses and supports a range of software products, services and devices. Its segments are Productivity and Business Processes, Intelligent Cloud, and More Personal Computing. Its products include operating systems; cross-device productivity applications; server applications; business solution applications; desktop and server management tools; software development tools; video games, and training and certification of computer system integrators and developers. It also designs, manufactures, and sells devices, including personal computers, tablets, gaming and entertainment consoles, phones, other intelligent devices, and related accessories, that integrate with its cloud-based offerings. It offers an array of services, including cloud-based solutions that provide customers with software, services, platforms, and content, and it provides solution support and consulting services. It also delivers online advertising.

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Downloadable PDF version of this valuation:

ModernGraham Valuation of MSFT – August 2016

Stage 1: Is this company suitable for the Defensive Investor or the Enterprising Investor?

What kind of Intelligent Investor are you?

Defensive Investor; must pass 6 out of the following 7 tests.
1. Adequate Size of the Enterprise Market Cap > $2Bil $448,992,627,141 Pass
2. Sufficiently Strong Financial Condition Current Ratio > 2 2.35 Pass
3. Earnings Stability Positive EPS for 10 years prior Pass
4. Dividend Record Dividend Payments for 10 years prior Pass
5. Earnings Growth Increase of 33% in EPS in past 10 years using 3 year averages at beginning and end 13.42% Fail
6. Moderate PEmg Ratio PEmg < 20 24.99 Fail
7. Moderate Price to Assets PB Ratio < 2.5 OR PB*PEmg < 50 6.39 Fail
Enterprising Investor; must pass 4 out of the following 5 tests, or be suitable for the Defensive Investor.
1. Sufficiently Strong Financial Condition Current Ratio > 1.5 2.35 Pass
2. Sufficiently Strong Financial Condition Debt to NCA < 1.1 0.51 Pass
3. Earnings Stability Positive EPS for 5 years prior Pass
4. Dividend Record Currently Pays Dividend Pass
5. Earnings Growth EPSmg greater than 5 years ago Fail

Stage 2: Determination of Intrinsic Value

MSFT value chart August 2016

EPSmg $2.30
MG Growth Estimate -0.13%
MG Value $18.92
Opinion Overvalued
MG Grade C+
MG Value based on 3% Growth $33.33
MG Value based on 0% Growth $19.54
Market Implied Growth Rate 8.24%
Current Price $57.44
% of Intrinsic Value 303.53%

Microsoft Corporation is suitable for the Enterprising Investor but not the more conservative Defensive Investor. The Defensive Investor is concerned with the insufficient earnings growth over the last ten years, and the high PEmg and PB ratios. The Enterprising Investor is only concerned with the lack of earnings growth over the last five years. As a result, all Enterprising Investors following the ModernGraham approach should feel comfortable proceeding with the analysis.

As for a valuation, the company appears to be Overvalued after seeing its EPSmg (normalized earnings) decline from $2.32 in 2013 to an estimated $2.3 for 2017. This level of demonstrated earnings growth does not support the market’s implied estimate of 8.24% annual earnings growth over the next 7-10 years. As a result, the ModernGraham valuation model, based on the Benjamin Graham value investing formula, returns an estimate of intrinsic value below the price.

At the time of valuation, further research into Microsoft Corporation revealed the company was trading above its Graham Number of $23.93. The company pays a dividend of $1.39 per share, for a yield of 2.4%, putting it among the best dividend paying stocks today. Its PEmg (price over earnings per share – ModernGraham) was 24.99, which was below the industry average of 36.31, which by some methods of valuation makes it one of the most undervalued stocks in its industry. Finally, the company was trading above its Net Current Asset Value (NCAV) of $2.24.

Microsoft Corporation receives an average overall rating in the ModernGraham grading system, scoring a C+.

Stage 3: Information for Further Research

MSFT charts August 2016

Net Current Asset Value (NCAV) $2.24
Graham Number $23.93
PEmg 24.99
Current Ratio 2.35
PB Ratio 6.39
Current Dividend $1.39
Dividend Yield 2.42%
Number of Consecutive Years of Dividend Growth 15

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Most Recent Balance Sheet Figures

Balance Sheet Information 6/1/2016
Total Current Assets $139,660,000,000
Total Current Liabilities $59,357,000,000
Long-Term Debt $40,783,000,000
Total Assets $193,694,000,000
Intangible Assets $21,605,000,000
Total Liabilities $121,697,000,000
Shares Outstanding (Diluted Average) 8,013,000,000

Earnings Per Share History

Next Fiscal Year Estimate $2.76
Jun2016 $2.10
Jun2015 $1.48
Jun2014 $2.63
Jun2013 $2.58
Jun2012 $2.00
Jun2011 $2.69
Jun2010 $2.10
Jun2009 $1.62
Jun2008 $1.87
Jun2007 $1.42
Jun2006 $1.20
Jun2005 $1.12
Jun2004 $0.75
Jun2003 $0.69
Jun2002 $0.48
Jun2001 $0.66
Jun2000 $0.85
Jun1999 $0.71
Jun1998 $0.42
Jun1997 $0.33

Earnings Per Share – ModernGraham History

Next Fiscal Year Estimate $2.30
Jun2016 $2.10
Jun2015 $2.16
Jun2014 $2.46
Jun2013 $2.32
Jun2012 $2.14
Jun2011 $2.12
Jun2010 $1.78
Jun2009 $1.56
Jun2008 $1.44
Jun2007 $1.16
Jun2006 $0.97
Jun2005 $0.82
Jun2004 $0.67
Jun2003 $0.65
Jun2002 $0.63
Jun2001 $0.67

Recommended Reading:

Other ModernGraham posts about the company

Microsoft Corp Valuation – February 2016 $MSFT
Microsoft Corporation Valuation – November 2015 Update $MSFT
Microsoft Corp Valuation – February 2016 $MSFT
Microsoft Corporation Valuation – November 2015 Update $MSFT
Microsoft Corporation Analysis – August 2015 Update $MSFT

Other ModernGraham posts about related companies

Cisco Systems Inc Valuation – August 2016 $CSCO
Oracle Corporation Valuation – July 2016 $ORCL
CA Inc Valuation – July 2016 $CA
Red Hat Inc Valuation – June 2016 $RHT
Yahoo! Inc Valuation – June 2016 $YHOO
Alphabet Inc Valuation – June 2016 $GOOGL
Ansys Inc Valuation – June 2016 $ANSS
Citrix Systems Inc Valuation – May 2016 $CTXS
Symantec Corp Valuation – February 2016 $SYMC
Microsoft Corp Valuation – February 2016 $MSFT

Disclaimer:

The author did not hold a position in any company mentioned in this article at the time of publication and had no intention of changing that position within the next 72 hours.  See my current holdings here.  This article is not investment advice; any reader should speak to a registered investment adviser prior to making any investment decisions.  ModernGraham is not affiliated with the company in any manner.  Please be sure to review our detailed disclaimer.

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