What five years of weekly data say
- MSFT returned +11.5% a year and GOOGL +20.0% a year over the past five years, dividends reinvested.
- MSFT was the calmer ride: 27% annual volatility, against 32%.
- Related (correlation 0.55). They share a direction more often than not, with real room to diverge.
- MSFT pays more income: a 0.79% yield, against 0.25% for GOOGL.
The numbers side by side
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | $493.78 | $349.54 |
| Market value | $3.67T | $4.27T |
| 1-year return | −3.9% | +37.6% (ahead) |
| 3-year return, a year | +16.8% | +39.4% (ahead) |
| 5-year return, a year | +11.4% | +19.9% (ahead) |
| Volatility, a year | 27% (ahead) | 32% |
| Worst drawdown | −35% (ahead) | −42% |
| Worst week | −7.7% (ahead)Jan 2026 | −10.1%Oct 2022 |
| Beta | 1.11 | 1.23 |
| P/E ratio | 27.5× | 17.5× |
| Dividend yield | 0.79% | 0.25% |
Do MSFT and GOOGL move together?
Correlation compares MSFT’s and GOOGL’s weekly returns from Sep 2021 to Sep 2026. Two holdings near +1 fall on the same weeks, so owning both doesn’t cushion anything. Your portfolio has more than two lines, and Portfolio Terminal runs this check across every pair you hold.
How far each one fell
MSFT
−35%
From its Nov 2021 high to Oct 2022. Back at that high by Jun 2023.
GOOGL
−42%
From its Nov 2021 high to Oct 2022. Back at that high by Jan 2024.
Worst peak-to-trough fall on weekly closes · dividends reinvested
MSFT vs GOOGL: what people ask
Is MSFT better than GOOGL?
Over the past five years, GOOGL delivered the higher return: +20.0% a year against +11.5% for MSFT, dividends reinvested. It also fell further at its worst (−42% against −35%), so the extra return came with a rougher ride. Which is better depends on the job it does in your portfolio, and past returns don’t predict future ones.
What is the difference between MSFT and GOOGL?
MSFT is Microsoft Corporation (Software—Infrastructure), worth $3.67T. GOOGL is Alphabet Inc. (Internet Content & Information), worth $4.27T.
Should I own both MSFT and GOOGL?
Their weekly returns had a correlation of 0.55 over the past five years. They share a direction more often than not, with real room to diverge. Whether that suits you depends on everything else you hold, which is the check Portfolio Terminal runs across a whole portfolio.
Which is riskier, MSFT or GOOGL?
GOOGL swung more: 32% annual volatility against 27% for MSFT. At their worst, MSFT fell 35% and GOOGL 42% from a previous high. Against the broad market, their betas are 1.11 and 1.23.
Which pays a higher dividend, MSFT or GOOGL?
MSFT currently yields 0.79%, against 0.25% for GOOGL. Yields move with price, so a higher yield can also mean a falling price.
Returns use weekly closes adjusted for dividends and splits, from Sep 2021 to Sep 2026. Quotes, fees and holdings come from public market data and refresh hourly. This page describes what happened; it is not investment advice, and past performance doesn’t predict future returns.