Oracle Corporation (ORCL)
Oracle is a global technology giant that provides the essential software, cloud infrastructure, and database systems that keep large businesses running.
Is Oracle Corporation a good stock for a UK beginner?
The honest version: Oracle is a global technology giant that provides the essential software, cloud infrastructure, and database systems that keep large businesses running.
Over about 2 years to 2026-07-31. This is the share price only - reinvesting the dividends would add to it. And it's the USD return - as a UK investor your actual £ return also moves with the exchange rate. Past performance is not a guide to the future, and it could just as easily have fallen.
Based on beta - how much the price swings versus the whole market. Bumpier isn't bad; it just means a rougher ride, which matters more the sooner you might need the money.
Prices move on results, news and the mood of the whole market - no single headline explains a day, and a quiet week is usually just noise, not a signal.
Dominance in enterprise cloud computing
Technological obsolescence or failure to innovate
What does Oracle Corporation do?
Oracle helps big organisations manage their data and operations through its massive cloud computing network and business software. Subscription fees from companies using these digital tools and hosting services are what bring in the cash. Much depends on whether they can scale up their cloud business fast enough to keep pace with rival tech giants.
On our factor screen it looks strongest on growth and quality, and weakest on momentum.
- ✓Pays a dividend - about 1.6% a year
- ✓Growing - revenue up about 21% over the year
- ✓Very profitable - turns about 25% of sales into profit
- !Carries a lot of debt - roughly 3.9x its equity
- ✓Strong return on shareholder money (ROE 53%)
- Strong profit margins showing efficient operations
- High return on equity indicates effective use of capital
- Essential services create a sticky customer base
- Momentum screens low (6/100)
- Rapid changes in technology could make current offerings less relevant
- Economic downturns may lead companies to cut IT spending
- Heavy reliance on large enterprise contracts
What do Oracle Corporation's numbers mean?
How much money does Oracle Corporation make?
Revenue and profit by quarter, and how much of each sale turns into profit.
Does Oracle Corporation pay a dividend?
Yes - Oracle Corporation currently pays a dividend of about 1.6% a year (the yearly payout as a share of the price). A dividend is a slice of profit handed to shareholders; the yield moves as the price moves, and a company can cut or stop it.
When does Oracle Corporation report earnings, and how did recent quarters go?
Oracle Corporation is next scheduled to report on about 2026-09-09 - dates can move, and we don't predict results; this just tells you when to look.
Each quarter a company reports its results against what analysts expected. ‘Beating’ or ‘missing’ is about that expectation, not whether the business is doing well in absolute terms.
| Reported | Expected EPS: The earnings per share analysts expected for the quarter - the average of their forecasts. 'Beating' or 'missing' is measured against this number. | Actual EPS | vs expected |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-10 | $1.96 | $2.11 | Beat +8% |
| 2026-03-10 | $1.69 | $1.79 | Beat +6% |
| 2025-12-10 | $1.64 | $2.26 | Beat +38% |
| 2025-09-09 | $1.48 | $1.47 | In line |
| 2025-06-11 | $1.64 | $1.70 | Beat +3% |
| 2025-03-10 | $1.49 | $1.47 | Missed -1% |
Across the last 6 quarters here, Oracle Corporation came in ahead of what analysts expected 4 times. One quarter is noise, not a trend.
See who else reports over the next two weeks →
Reported vs expected earnings per share (EPS) from published results; the expectation is the analyst consensus, not our view. Report dates are estimates that can move.
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Hewlett Packard EnterpriseWhat are the scenarios for Oracle Corporation?
An illustrative range for the year ahead, with the assumption behind each case — not a prediction or a price target.
What are the pros and cons of Oracle Corporation?
How many points the write-up makes each way — a balance check, not a score or verdict.
- Strong profit margins showing efficient operations
- High return on equity indicates effective use of capital
- Essential services create a sticky customer base
- High price-to-book ratio suggests a premium valuation
- High beta means the share price can be quite volatile
- Significant competition from other major cloud providers
- Rapid changes in technology could make current offerings less relevant
- Economic downturns may lead companies to cut IT spending
- Heavy reliance on large enterprise contracts
The write-up's own warning lights — if these start happening, the case above changes.
- A sustained drop in revenue growth rates
- Significant loss of major enterprise clients to competitors
Built from public filings & market prices, checked for an education-only tone, and never a price target. How we make these →
This plain-English summary was auto-generated on 2026-08-01 from public data and checked for an education-only, no-advice tone (the figures above carry their own, usually fresher, 'as of' date). It's information, never a recommendation.