META vs MSFT
How Meta Platforms, Inc. and Microsoft Corporation compare on business model, dividends and risk — the structural picture, in plain English.
| META | MSFT | |
|---|---|---|
| Sector | Communication Services | Technology |
| Industry | Internet Content & Information | Software — Infrastructure |
| Headquarters | Menlo Park, California, USA | Redmond, Washington, USA |
| Founded | 2004 | 1975 |
| Pays a dividend | Yes | Yes |
| Volatility | Higher than the market | Roughly market-level |
What each company does
Meta Platforms, Inc. (META)
Meta owns Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Messenger, and earns almost all of its money from advertising against that enormous user base. It also spends heavily on Reality Labs, its long-term augmented- and virtual-reality bet.
Microsoft Corporation (MSFT)
Microsoft sells Windows and the Microsoft 365 / Office suite, runs the Azure cloud platform, and owns LinkedIn and Xbox. Its cloud and AI investments — including a deep partnership with OpenAI — are the center of its growth story.
From the latest 10-K filings
| Metric | METAFY 2025, ended Dec 31, 202510-K filed Jan 29, 2026 | MSFTFY 2026, ended Jun 30, 202610-K filed Jul 29, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $201.0B | $331.8B |
| Net income | $60.5B | $133.7B |
| Operating cash flow | $115.8B | $182.9B |
| Source | META 10-K on EDGAR ↗ | MSFT 10-K on EDGAR ↗ |
Microsoft’s fiscal 2026 revenue ($331.8B) was 1.65× Meta’s fiscal 2025 revenue ($201.0B). The fiscal years differ (META’s ended Dec 31, 2025, MSFT’s ended Jun 30, 2026), so the two columns cover different periods.
As reported to the SEC for each company’s own fiscal year; not a valuation or forecast.
Dividends
Both META and MSFT pay a dividend.
META: Meta began paying its first-ever quarterly dividend in 2024. The yield is small; the company also runs large buybacks.
MSFT: Pays a steady quarterly dividend with a long record of annual increases. The yield is modest; Microsoft also buys back stock.
Risk & volatility
Historically, MSFT has been the steadier of the two: META is higher than the market (beta band ~1.2–1.4) while MSFT is roughly market-level (beta band ~0.9–1.0). These are long-run tendencies, not live figures.
Frequently asked
Does META or MSFT pay a dividend?
Both META and MSFT pay a dividend. Yields change with price, so check current figures in the app.
Is META or MSFT more volatile?
Historically, MSFT has been the steadier of the two — META is "higher than the market" and MSFT is "roughly market-level" versus the broad market. These are long-run tendencies, not live figures.
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Comparison is for educational purposes only and is not investment advice or a recommendation to buy or sell META or MSFT. Company profiles reflect long-term, structural facts; volatility bands are approximate historical tendencies, not live data. Always do your own research.