What were the best and worst years for Microsoft since 1994?

The best year was 2001, up about 41%. The toughest was 2000, when it fell about 34%. Across the window, 155 of 378 years finished lower than they started.

What was the biggest drop along the way?

The steepest decline was about 72%, from a peak in 1999 to a low in 2009, with the value recovering above its prior high by 2014.

Would I have done better in S&P 500?

No — the S&P 500 turned $1,000 into about $16,281 over the same window, while Microsoft reached $102,288. Microsoft came out ahead.

How much would I haveif…

If I'd invested in Microsoft since 1994

$1,000 put into Microsoft at the end of 1994 would be worth about $102,288 today — a 102× return, or roughly 15.9% a year. Change the amount below to run your own number.

Invested in

I'd have invested

Starting in 1994

19862025

How

You'd have

$102,288

from $1,000 invested — up 10129%.

Multiple102×

Per year15.9%

In today's $$102,288

shares held261.78 shares

The story behind the number

Best year+41%2001

Worst year−34%2000

Steepest drop−72%1999→2009

vs S&P 5006.28× aheadS&P 500 → $16,281

Microsoft since 1994 has been a remarkably smooth ride. $1,000 put in at the end of 1994 grew to $102,288 — a 102× return, or about 15.9% a year. That beat the S&P 500, which turned the same $1,000 into $16,281 — you'd have come out roughly 6.28× ahead of simply buying the index.

The ride mattered as much as the destination. The strongest single year was 2001, up 41%; the worst was 2000, down 34%.

Holding on took nerve: the position fell as much as 72% from its 1999 peak to its 2009 low, before climbing back above that high by 2014.

Common questions

How much would I have if I'd invested $1,000 in Microsoft in 1994?: $1,000 invested in Microsoft at the end of 1994 would be worth about $102,288 today — a 102× return, or roughly 15.9% per year.
What were the best and worst years for Microsoft since 1994?: The best year was 2001, up about 41%. The toughest was 2000, when it fell about 34%. Across the window, 155 of 378 years finished lower than they started.
What was the biggest drop along the way?: The steepest decline was about 72%, from a peak in 1999 to a low in 2009, with the value recovering above its prior high by 2014.
Would I have done better in S&P 500?: No — the S&P 500 turned $1,000 into about $16,281 over the same window, while Microsoft reached $102,288. Microsoft came out ahead.

The chart above shows the whole journey, not just the destination. Try switching to a bit each year to see how spreading your buying would have changed the outcome — or skip the latte to find out what a small daily habit could have grown into instead.

Compare Microsoft head-to-head since 1994 →

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