Figures as of the Nov 13, 2026 close. Updated after each trading day. Not a recommendation or a forecast.
From Nov 14, 2016 to the Nov 13, 2026 close, $1,000 in Microsoft (MSFT) became $10,151 and $1,000 in SPY became $4,078, with dividends reinvested.
From Nov 14, 2016 to Nov 13, 2026, Microsoft grew 26.1% a year and SPY grew 15.1%. The higher rate, Microsoft's, came with wider daily swings. Volatility was 27.9% for Microsoft and 18.0% for SPY. The Sharpe ratio is the yearly return above a fixed 5% risk-free rate, per unit of volatility.
Sharpe ratios were 0.76 for Microsoft and 0.56 for SPY. Over the same dates, the price record shows deepest falls of 37.1% for Microsoft and 33.7% for SPY. From Nov 15, 2016 to Nov 13, 2026, betas to the S&P 500 were 1.18 for Microsoft and 1.00 for SPY.
The growth line has 121 month ends, from Nov 2016 to Nov 2026. At each of them, the $1,000 in Microsoft was worth more than the $1,000 in SPY.
At the end of Jul 2025, $1,000 had become $10,236 in Microsoft and $3,371 in SPY. 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 Aug 2018. The $1,000 in SPY did so in Apr 2021.
The $1,000 in Microsoft first stood at $10,000 or more at a month end in Jul 2025. The $1,000 in SPY had not reached $10,000 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 last 10 years. Over that span, Microsoft grew 26.1% a year and SPY grew 15.1%. The rates were closest over the last 5 years: 10.1% for Microsoft and 11.5% for SPY.
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 SPY 13.5% against 15.1%. In every row, $1,000 in Microsoft and $1,000 in SPY both ended above $1,000.
| Period | $1,000 in Microsoft | $1,000 in SPY | Microsoft a year | SPY a year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Since both startedfrom Jan 29, 1993 | $319,281 | $31,362 | 18.6% | 10.7% |
| Last 20 yearsfrom Nov 13, 2006 | $25,480 | $7,846 | 17.6% | 10.8% |
| Last 10 yearsfrom Nov 14, 2016 | $10,151 | $4,078 | 26.1% | 15.1% |
| Last 5 yearsfrom Nov 12, 2021 | $1,621 | $1,726 | 10.1% | 11.5% |
| Last yearfrom Nov 13, 2025 | $1,049 | $1,135 | 4.9% | 13.5% |
At the Nov 13, 2026 close, Microsoft was 0.8% below its Jul 2025 month-end high. At the same close, SPY was 1.4% below its Aug 2026 month-end high. On daily closes, Microsoft's deepest fall was 37.1% from Nov 19, 2021 to Nov 3, 2022. SPY's deepest fall was 33.7% from Feb 19, 2020 to Mar 23, 2020.
Microsoft closed back at its old high on Jun 15, 2023, 7 months after the low. SPY closed back at its old high on Aug 10, 2020, 4 months after the low. Microsoft was 20% or more below its high at 12 of 121 month ends. SPY was 20% or more below its high at 1.
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 SPY 33.7%. 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 SPY 24.5%.
The bars cover 9 full calendar years, 2017 to 2025. Microsoft rose in 8 of them and SPY in 7. Microsoft's yearly change was higher in 6 years and SPY's in 3. Both rose in 7 and both fell in 1. In 1 year, one rose while the other fell.
Both had their lowest year in 2022: Microsoft −28.0%, SPY −18.2%. Their highest years were 2023 for Microsoft (+58.2%) and 2019 for SPY (+31.2%). The widest one-year gap between Microsoft and SPY came in 2023, one of the years above. In 2025, the latest full year, Microsoft rose 15.6% and SPY rose 17.7%.
These counts cover 119 full months, Dec 2016 to Oct 2026. Microsoft rose in 74 of them and SPY in 83. Both rose in 66, both fell in 28, and in 25 one rose while the other fell. Microsoft's largest monthly fall was −17.2% in Jun 2026, and SPY's −12.5% in Mar 2020.
Microsoft's largest monthly rise was +24.6% in Jul 2026, and SPY's +12.7% in Apr 2020. Microsoft's longest run of falling months was 6, ending in Mar 2026. SPY's longest run of falling months was 3, ending in Mar 2020.
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 SPY −0.2%.
| 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 | +1.5 | −0.9 | −4.9 | +10.5 | +5.3 | −1.0 | +0.0 | +2.7 | −0.3 | −0.9 | −0.2 | |
| 2025 | +2.7 | −1.3 | −5.6 | −0.9 | +6.3 | +5.1 | +2.3 | +2.1 | +3.6 | +2.4 | +0.2 | +0.1 |
| 2024 | +1.6 | +5.2 | +3.3 | −4.0 | +5.1 | +3.5 | +1.2 | +2.3 | +2.1 | −0.9 | +6.0 | −2.4 |
| 2023 | +6.3 | −2.5 | +3.7 | +1.6 | +0.5 | +6.5 | +3.3 | −1.6 | −4.7 | −2.2 | +9.1 | +4.6 |
| 2022 | −5.3 | −3.0 | +3.8 | −8.8 | +0.2 | −8.2 | +9.2 | −4.1 | −9.2 | +8.1 | +5.6 | −5.8 |
| 2021 | −1.0 | +2.8 | +4.5 | +5.3 | +0.7 | +2.2 | +2.4 | +3.0 | −4.7 | +7.0 | −0.8 | +4.6 |
| 2020 | −0.0 | −7.9 | −12.5 | +12.7 | +4.8 | +1.8 | +5.9 | +7.0 | −3.7 | −2.5 | +10.9 | +3.7 |
| 2019 | +8.0 | +3.2 | +1.8 | +4.1 | −6.4 | +7.0 | +1.5 | −1.7 | +1.9 | +2.2 | +3.6 | +2.9 |
| 2018 | +5.6 | −3.6 | −2.7 | +0.5 | +2.4 | +0.6 | +3.7 | +3.2 | +0.6 | −6.9 | +1.9 | −8.8 |
| 2017 | +1.8 | +3.9 | +0.1 | +1.0 | +1.4 | +0.6 | +2.1 | +0.3 | +2.0 | +2.4 | +3.1 | +1.2 |
The rolling 1-year return is the change over the 12 months to each month end. From Nov 2017 to Nov 2026, Microsoft's rolling 1-year return ran from −29.4% (12 months to Oct 2022) to +67.2% (to Feb 2024). Over the same months, SPY's ran from −18.2% (12 months to Dec 2022) to +56.2% (to Mar 2021).
Microsoft's 12-month change was below zero at 18 of those 109 month ends, and SPY's at 14. Microsoft's 12-month change was the higher one at 76 month ends and SPY's at 33.
These measures cover Nov 14, 2016 to Nov 13, 2026. Over those dates, volatility was 27.9% for Microsoft and 18.0% for SPY. The Sortino ratio counts only falling days as risk. Against the same 5% rate, Sortino ratios were 1.13 for Microsoft and 0.79 for SPY. The Calmar ratio is the yearly return divided by the deepest fall.
Calmar ratios were 0.70 for Microsoft and 0.45 for SPY.
Beta shows how much Microsoft 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 Nov 15, 2016 to Nov 13, 2026, Microsoft's beta was 1.18, so it tended to move more than the index.
SPY's beta is 1.00 by definition, since SPY stands for the index here. The correlation of Microsoft's and SPY's daily moves was 0.76, a partial link. A correlation of 1 would mean they always moved together, 0 no link and −1 always opposite.
| Measure | Microsoft | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility, a year | 27.9% | 18.0% |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.76 | 0.56 |
| Sortino ratio | 1.13 | 0.79 |
| Calmar ratio | 0.70 | 0.45 |
| Deepest fall | 37.1% | 33.7% |
| Beta to the S&P 500from Nov 15, 2016 | 1.18 | 1.00 |
| Upside capturemonths from Dec 2016 | 131% | 100% |
| Downside capturemonths from Dec 2016 | 90% | 100% |
| Biggest one-day rise | +15.51%Jul 30, 2026 | +10.50%Apr 9, 2025 |
| Biggest one-day fall | −14.74%Mar 16, 2020 | −10.94%Mar 16, 2020 |
| Price against its 50-day average | +0.9% | −1.3% |
| Price against its 200-day average | +18.9% | +3.4% |
| Correlation of daily movesfrom Nov 15, 2016 | 0.76 | |
What Microsoft does and what SPY holds, from their latest filings 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)
The State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an exchange-traded fund structured as a unit investment trust. A unit investment trust is a type of registered investment company. The issuer states that the fund seeks to provide investment results that, before expenses, correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the S&P 500 Index.
The issuer describes that index as designed to measure the performance of the large-cap segment of the US equity market, weighted by float-adjusted market capitalization. The fund's inception date is January 22, 1993, and it lists on NYSE Arca. Its trustee is State Street Global Advisors Trust Company.
Its fiscal year ends on September 30, according to its SEC filer record.
Source: Issuer fund page (State Street, ssga.com) (issuer page)
It depends on the period. Microsoft had the higher total return over the full span since Jan 1993 and the last 20 and 10 years. SPY had the higher total return over the last 5 years and the last year. From Jan 29, 1993 to the Nov 13, 2026 close, Microsoft returned +31,828% in total and SPY +3,036%.
Both include reinvested dividends, before taxes and fees. Over the last 10 years, Microsoft returned +915% and SPY +308%. Over the last 5 years, Microsoft returned +62.1% and SPY +72.6%. Over the last year, Microsoft returned +4.9% and SPY +13.5%. None of these Microsoft and SPY figures is a forecast.
SmartFin does not say which to buy. This page reports what Microsoft and SPY prices did. From Nov 14, 2016 to Nov 13, 2026, Microsoft grew 26.1% a year and SPY grew 15.1%. The record shows deepest falls of 37.1% for Microsoft and 33.7% for SPY. Past returns for Microsoft and SPY do not show what either will do next.
Yes. Every MSFT and SPY 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 SPY 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, SPY was 1.4% below its highest month-end value, set in Aug 2026. Microsoft's deepest fall on daily closes was 37.1%, from Nov 2021 to Nov 2022. SPY's deepest fall was 33.7%, from Feb 2020 to Mar 2020.
Compare Microsoft and SPY 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 SPY.
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.