Figures as of the Nov 13, 2026 close. Updated after each trading day. Not a recommendation or a forecast.
From Aug 19, 2004 to the Nov 13, 2026 close, $1,000 in Microsoft (MSFT) became $31,545 and $1,000 in Alphabet (GOOGL) became $118,910, with dividends reinvested.
From Aug 19, 2004 to Nov 13, 2026, Microsoft grew 16.8% a year and Alphabet grew 24.0%. The higher rate, Alphabet's, came with wider daily swings. Volatility was 27.2% for Microsoft and 30.8% for Alphabet. The Sharpe ratio is the yearly return above a fixed 5% risk-free rate, per unit of volatility.
Sharpe ratios were 0.43 for Microsoft and 0.62 for Alphabet. Over the same dates, the price record shows deepest falls of 57.9% for Microsoft and 65.3% for Alphabet. From Aug 20, 2004 to Nov 13, 2026, betas to the S&P 500 were 1.04 for Microsoft and 1.02 for Alphabet.
The growth line has 268 month ends, from Aug 2004 to Nov 2026. At each of them, the $1,000 in Alphabet was worth more than the $1,000 in Microsoft.
At the end of Jun 2026, $1,000 had become $22,419 in Microsoft and $143,583 in Alphabet. In relative terms, that was the widest gap between them at any month end. The $1,000 in Microsoft first doubled to $2,000 at a month end in Mar 2014. The $1,000 in Alphabet did so in Apr 2005.
The $1,000 in Alphabet first stood at $100,000 or more at a month end in Oct 2025. The $1,000 in Microsoft had not reached $100,000 by Nov 2026.
Every row ends at the Nov 13, 2026 close. The "a year" columns give the yearly rate from each start date. The yearly rates were furthest apart over the full span since Aug 2004. Over that span, Microsoft grew 16.8% a year and Alphabet grew 24.0%.
The rates were closest over the last 20 years: 17.6% for Microsoft and 17.4% for Alphabet.
Both had a lower rate over the last year than their 10-year rate. For Microsoft it was 4.9% against 26.1%, and for Alphabet 6.5% against 23.0%. In every row, $1,000 in Microsoft and $1,000 in Alphabet both ended above $1,000.
| Period | $1,000 in Microsoft | $1,000 in Alphabet | Microsoft a year | Alphabet a year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Since both startedfrom Aug 19, 2004 | $31,545 | $118,910 | 16.8% | 24.0% |
| Last 20 yearsfrom Nov 13, 2006 | $25,480 | $24,804 | 17.6% | 17.4% |
| Last 10 yearsfrom Nov 14, 2016 | $10,151 | $7,928 | 26.1% | 23.0% |
| Last 5 yearsfrom Nov 12, 2021 | $1,621 | $2,008 | 10.1% | 14.9% |
| Last yearfrom Nov 13, 2025 | $1,049 | $1,065 | 4.9% | 6.5% |
At the Nov 13, 2026 close, Microsoft was 0.8% below its Jul 2025 month-end high. At the same close, Alphabet was 23.0% below its Apr 2026 month-end high. On daily closes, the deepest falls of Microsoft and Alphabet came in the same stretch. Microsoft fell 57.9% from Nov 1, 2007 to Mar 9, 2009.
Alphabet fell 65.3% from Nov 6, 2007 to Nov 24, 2008. Microsoft closed back at its old high on Apr 30, 2013, 4 years and 1 month after the low. Alphabet closed back at its old high on Sep 24, 2012, 3 years and 10 months after the low.
Microsoft was 20% or more below its high at 50 of 268 month ends. Alphabet was 20% or more below its high at 51.
The S&P 500's 2008 fall ran from its Oct 9, 2007 high to its Mar 9, 2009 low. Over those dates, Microsoft fell 48.2% and Alphabet 52.7%. The S&P 500's COVID fall ran from its Feb 19, 2020 high to its Mar 23, 2020 low. Over those dates, Microsoft fell 27.4% and Alphabet 30.9%.
The S&P 500's 2022 fall ran from its Jan 3, 2022 high to its Oct 12, 2022 low. Over those dates, Microsoft fell 32.1% and Alphabet 32.7%.
The bars cover 21 full calendar years, 2005 to 2025. Microsoft rose in 16 of them and Alphabet in 16. Microsoft's yearly change was higher in 9 years and Alphabet's in 12. Both rose in 14 and both fell in 3. In 4 years, one rose while the other fell.
Both had their lowest year in 2008: Microsoft −44.4%, Alphabet −55.5%. Their highest years were 2009 for Microsoft (+60.5%) and 2005 for Alphabet (+115.2%). The widest one-year gap between Microsoft and Alphabet came in 2005, one of the years above. In 2025, the latest full year, Microsoft rose 15.6% and Alphabet rose 66.0%.
Alphabet's yearly change was the higher one in each of the last 3 full years, 2023 to 2025.
These counts cover 120 full months, Nov 2016 to Oct 2026. Microsoft rose in 75 of them and Alphabet in 75. Both rose in 59, both fell in 29, and in 32 one rose while the other fell. Microsoft's largest monthly fall was −17.2% in Jun 2026, and Alphabet's −18.7% in Oct 2026.
Microsoft's largest monthly rise was +24.6% in Jul 2026, and Alphabet's +33.8% in Apr 2026. Microsoft's longest run of falling months was 6, ending in Mar 2026. Alphabet's longest run of falling months was 4, ending in Aug 2026.
The latest cell is a part month, from the Oct 30, 2026 close to the Nov 13, 2026 close. Over those days, Microsoft changed +0.4% and Alphabet +5.7%.
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | −11.0 | −8.5 | −5.7 | +10.2 | +10.7 | −17.2 | +24.6 | +9.4 | +1.1 | +1.8 | +0.4 | |
| 2025 | −1.5 | −4.2 | −5.4 | +5.3 | +16.7 | +8.0 | +7.3 | −4.9 | +2.2 | −0.0 | −4.8 | −1.7 |
| 2024 | +5.7 | +4.2 | +1.7 | −7.5 | +6.8 | +7.7 | −6.4 | −0.1 | +3.2 | −5.6 | +4.4 | −0.5 |
| 2023 | +3.3 | +0.9 | +15.6 | +6.6 | +7.1 | +3.7 | −1.4 | −2.2 | −3.7 | +7.1 | +12.3 | −0.8 |
| 2022 | −7.5 | −3.7 | +3.2 | −10.0 | −1.8 | −5.5 | +9.3 | −6.7 | −10.9 | −0.3 | +10.2 | −6.0 |
| 2021 | +4.3 | +0.4 | +1.5 | +7.0 | −0.8 | +8.5 | +5.2 | +6.2 | −6.6 | +17.6 | −0.1 | +1.7 |
| 2020 | +7.9 | −4.6 | −2.7 | +13.6 | +2.5 | +11.1 | +0.7 | +10.3 | −6.7 | −3.7 | +6.0 | +3.9 |
| 2019 | +2.8 | +7.7 | +5.3 | +10.7 | −4.9 | +8.3 | +1.7 | +1.5 | +0.8 | +3.1 | +5.9 | +4.2 |
| 2018 | +11.1 | −0.8 | −2.7 | +2.5 | +6.1 | −0.2 | +7.6 | +6.3 | +1.8 | −6.6 | +4.3 | −8.4 |
| 2017 | +4.0 | −0.4 | +2.9 | +3.9 | +2.6 | −1.3 | +5.5 | +3.4 | −0.4 | +11.7 | +1.7 | +1.6 |
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | +8.0 | −7.8 | −7.7 | +33.8 | −1.2 | −6.0 | −0.3 | −4.7 | +1.5 | −18.7 | +5.7 | |
| 2025 | +7.8 | −16.5 | −9.1 | +2.7 | +8.1 | +2.7 | +8.9 | +10.9 | +14.3 | +15.7 | +13.9 | −2.2 |
| 2024 | +0.3 | −1.2 | +9.0 | +7.9 | +6.0 | +5.7 | −5.8 | −4.8 | +1.6 | +3.2 | −1.3 | +12.2 |
| 2023 | +12.0 | −8.9 | +15.2 | +3.5 | +14.5 | −2.6 | +10.9 | +2.6 | −3.9 | −5.2 | +6.8 | +5.4 |
| 2022 | −6.6 | −0.2 | +3.0 | −17.9 | −0.3 | −4.2 | +6.8 | −7.0 | −11.6 | −1.2 | +6.9 | −12.6 |
| 2021 | +4.3 | +10.6 | +2.0 | +14.1 | +0.1 | +3.6 | +10.4 | +7.4 | −7.6 | +10.7 | −4.2 | +2.1 |
| 2020 | +7.0 | −6.5 | −13.2 | +15.9 | +6.4 | −1.1 | +4.9 | +9.5 | −10.1 | +10.3 | +8.6 | −0.1 |
| 2019 | +7.7 | +0.1 | +4.5 | +1.9 | −7.7 | −2.1 | +12.5 | −2.3 | +2.6 | +3.1 | +3.6 | +2.7 |
| 2018 | +12.2 | −6.6 | −6.0 | −1.8 | +8.0 | +2.7 | +8.7 | +0.4 | −2.0 | −9.7 | +1.7 | −5.8 |
| 2017 | +3.5 | +3.0 | +0.3 | +9.0 | +6.8 | −5.8 | +1.7 | +1.0 | +1.9 | +6.1 | +0.3 | +1.7 |
The rolling 1-year return is the change over the 12 months to each month end. From Aug 2005 to Nov 2026, Microsoft's rolling 1-year return ran from −46.6% (12 months to Jan 2009) to +81.3% (to Feb 2010). Over the same months, Alphabet's ran from −57.7% (12 months to Nov 2008) to +179.4% (to Aug 2005).
Microsoft's 12-month change was below zero at 59 of those 256 month ends, and Alphabet's at 50. Microsoft's 12-month change was the higher one at 129 month ends and Alphabet's at 127. That is close to an even split.
These measures cover Aug 19, 2004 to Nov 13, 2026. Over those dates, volatility was 27.2% for Microsoft and 30.8% for Alphabet. The Sortino ratio counts only falling days as risk. Against the same 5% rate, Sortino ratios were 0.64 for Microsoft and 0.93 for Alphabet. The Calmar ratio is the yearly return divided by the deepest fall.
Calmar ratios were 0.29 for Microsoft and 0.37 for Alphabet.
Beta shows how much Microsoft and Alphabet tended to move on the days the S&P 500 (SPY) moved. A beta of 1 means moving by the same amount as the index. From Aug 20, 2004 to Nov 13, 2026, Microsoft's beta was 1.04 and Alphabet's 1.02. By that measure, both tended to move about as much as the index.
The correlation of Microsoft's and Alphabet's daily moves was 0.53, a partial link. A correlation of 1 would mean they always moved together, 0 no link and −1 always opposite.
| Measure | Microsoft | Alphabet |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility, a year | 27.2% | 30.8% |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.43 | 0.62 |
| Sortino ratio | 0.64 | 0.93 |
| Calmar ratio | 0.29 | 0.37 |
| Deepest fall | 57.9% | 65.3% |
| Beta to the S&P 500from Aug 20, 2004 | 1.04 | 1.02 |
| Upside capturemonths from Dec 2016 | 131% | 140% |
| Downside capturemonths from Dec 2016 | 90% | 117% |
| Biggest one-day rise | +18.60%Oct 13, 2008 | +19.99%Apr 18, 2008 |
| Biggest one-day fall | −14.74%Mar 16, 2020 | −12.64%Oct 29, 2026 |
| Price against its 50-day average | +0.9% | −9.9% |
| Price against its 200-day average | +18.9% | −12.5% |
| Correlation of daily movesfrom Aug 20, 2004 | 0.53 | |
What Microsoft and Alphabet do, from each company's latest annual report filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission.
Microsoft Corporation, founded in 1975, develops and supports software, services, devices and solutions. It reports three segments. Productivity and Business Processes includes Microsoft 365 commercial and consumer products and cloud services, LinkedIn, and Dynamics business applications. Intelligent Cloud includes server products and cloud services, among them Azure and GitHub cloud services.
More Personal Computing includes Windows and Devices, with Surface; XBOX hardware, content and services; and search advertising through Bing, Copilot, Microsoft News and Microsoft Edge. The corporate headquarters is in Redmond, Washington. Microsoft's fiscal year ends on June 30, so the latest annual report covers the year ended June 30, 2026.
Source: 10-K (fiscal 2026, ended June 30, 2026), filed Jul 29, 2026 (SEC EDGAR)
Alphabet Inc. is the holding company of Google and of other businesses. It reports Google in two segments. Google Services includes ads, Android, Chrome, devices, Gmail, Google Drive, Google Gemini, Google Maps, Google Photos, Google Play, Search and YouTube. Google Cloud sells infrastructure and platform services, applications and other services to enterprise customers.
Businesses outside Google, such as the autonomous driving company Waymo, are reported together as Other Bets. Google was incorporated in California in September 1998 and reincorporated in Delaware in August 2003. A 2015 holding company reorganization made Alphabet the successor issuer to Google. The headquarters is in Mountain View, California. The fiscal year ends on December 31.
Source: 10-K (fiscal 2025, ended December 31, 2025), filed Feb 5, 2026 (SEC EDGAR)
It depends on the period. Microsoft had the higher total return over the last 20 and 10 years. Alphabet had the higher total return over the full span since Aug 2004, the last 5 years and the last year. From Aug 19, 2004 to the Nov 13, 2026 close, Microsoft returned +3,054% in total and Alphabet +11,791%.
Both include reinvested dividends, before taxes and fees. Over the last 10 years, Microsoft returned +915% and Alphabet +693%. Over the last 5 years, Microsoft returned +62.1% and Alphabet +101%. Over the last year, Microsoft returned +4.9% and Alphabet +6.5%. None of these Microsoft and Alphabet figures is a forecast.
SmartFin does not say which to buy. This page reports what Microsoft and Alphabet prices did. From Aug 19, 2004 to Nov 13, 2026, Microsoft grew 16.8% a year and Alphabet grew 24.0%. The record shows deepest falls of 57.9% for Microsoft and 65.3% for Alphabet. Past returns for Microsoft and Alphabet do not show what either will do next.
Yes. Every MSFT and GOOGL figure here uses closing prices adjusted for stock splits and dividends, so dividends count as reinvested. Taxes, fees and trading costs are left out of the Microsoft and Alphabet figures.
At the Nov 13, 2026 close, Microsoft was 0.8% below its highest month-end value, set in Jul 2025. At the same close, Alphabet was 23.0% below its highest month-end value, set in Apr 2026. Microsoft's deepest fall on daily closes was 57.9%, from Nov 2007 to Mar 2009. Alphabet's deepest fall was 65.3%, from Nov 2007 to Nov 2008.
Compare Microsoft and Alphabet with your own amount and dates in Compare Two Stocks
Daily closing prices adjusted for stock splits, with dividends reinvested, before taxes and fees. Both amounts are invested at the same close and valued at the Nov 13, 2026 close. See also: What if you invested in Microsoft · What if you invested in Alphabet.
This page presents historical market data and calculated results for a defined period. It is not a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold the security, fund, or index shown. Past performance is not indicative of future results.