What were the best and worst years for Microsoft since 1996?

The best year was 2001, up about 41%. The toughest was 2000, when it fell about 34%. Across the window, 151 of 354 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 $10,045 over the same window, while Microsoft reached $37,826. Microsoft came out ahead.

How much would I haveif…

If I'd invested in Microsoft since 1996

$1,000 put into Microsoft at the end of 1996 would be worth about $37,826 today — a 37.8× return, or roughly 13.1% a year. Change the amount below to run your own number.

Invested in

I'd have invested

Starting in 1996

19862025

How

You'd have

$37,826

from $1,000 invested — up 3683%.

Multiple37.8×

Per year13.1%

In today's $$37,826

shares held96.81 shares

The story behind the number

Best year+41%2001

Worst year−34%2000

Steepest drop−72%1999→2009

vs S&P 5003.77× aheadS&P 500 → $10,045

Microsoft since 1996 has been a remarkably smooth ride. $1,000 put in at the end of 1996 grew to $37,826 — a 37.8× return, or about 13.1% a year. That beat the S&P 500, which turned the same $1,000 into $10,045 — you'd have come out roughly 3.77× 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 1996?: $1,000 invested in Microsoft at the end of 1996 would be worth about $37,826 today — a 37.8× return, or roughly 13.1% per year.
What were the best and worst years for Microsoft since 1996?: The best year was 2001, up about 41%. The toughest was 2000, when it fell about 34%. Across the window, 151 of 354 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 $10,045 over the same window, while Microsoft reached $37,826. 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 1996 →

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