MSFT vs NVDA: Microsoft Corporation vs NVIDIA Corporation Historical Returns & Investment Comparison
This MSFT vs NVDA comparison analyzes the historical stock performance of Microsoft Corporation and NVIDIA Corporation side-by-side. Using real, adjusted market data, this tool shows how identical investments in both stocks would have performed over time—highlighting differences in returns, volatility, and consistency across market cycles.
Use the interactive calculator below to adjust the investment amount and time period, visualizing how Microsoft Corporation and NVIDIA Corporation have historically performed against each other.
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Performance Summary
$10,000 invested from 1986 to 2025 (40 years)
Head-to-Head Record
Over the 27-year comparison period, Microsoft Corporation outperformed NVIDIA Corporation in 9 years, while NVIDIA Corporation outperformed Microsoft Corporation in 18 years.
MSFT - Microsoft Corporation
NVDA - NVIDIA Corporation
Overall Winner: NVDA with an average annual return of 68.87% (vs 31.68% for MSFT)
Understanding MSFT vs NVDA Performance
When comparing Microsoft Corporation and NVIDIA Corporation, investors should consider multiple factors beyond just total returns. Volatility, consistency of growth, dividend payments, and sector-specific risks all play crucial roles in determining which stock might be better suited for your investment strategy and risk tolerance.
Historical performance data shows how each stock responded to market downturns, economic expansions, and company-specific events. While past performance doesn't guarantee future results, understanding these patterns can help inform investment decisions and portfolio allocation strategies.
Cumulative Growth Comparison
A $10,000 investment in Microsoft Corporation grew to $63,781,898, compared to $44,125,684 for NVIDIA Corporation over the same period.
Year-by-Year Comparison
| Year | MSFT Return | MSFT Cumulative | NVDA Return | NVDA Cumulative | Difference | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 (Start) | - | $10,000.00 | - | $10,000.00 | - | Initial Investment |
| 1987 | +72.32% | $17,232.21 | - | - | - | Tie |
| 1988 | +127.22% | $39,155.81 | - | - | - | Tie |
| 1989 | -4.91% | $37,233.03 | - | - | - | Tie |
| 1990 | +62.24% | $60,406.07 | - | - | - | Tie |
| 1991 | +69.58% | $102,435.17 | - | - | - | Tie |
| 1992 | +123.24% | $228,680.64 | - | - | - | Tie |
| 1993 | +12.34% | $256,889.66 | - | - | - | Tie |
| 1994 | -5.29% | $243,309.53 | - | - | - | Tie |
| 1995 | +52.57% | $371,227.53 | - | - | - | Tie |
| 1996 | +45.79% | $541,228.97 | - | - | - | Tie |
| 1997 | +84.12% | $996,524.76 | - | - | - | Tie |
| 1998 | +58.35% | $1,577,958.22 | - | - | - | Tie |
| 1999 | +111.53% | $3,337,930.90 | - | - | - | Tie |
| 2000 | +65.60% | $5,527,711.79 | +138.41% | $23,840.93 | -72.81% (NVDA) | NVDA |
| 2001 | -62.79% | $2,056,960.51 | +39.99% | $33,374.04 | -102.77% (NVDA) | NVDA |
| 2002 | +52.74% | $3,141,755.21 | +346.93% | $149,158.43 | -294.19% (NVDA) | NVDA |
| 2003 | -22.88% | $2,422,863.26 | -82.90% | $25,509.97 | +60.02% (MSFT) | MSFT |
| 2004 | +2.80% | $2,490,701.94 | +88.46% | $48,077.36 | -85.67% (NVDA) | NVDA |
| 2005 | +8.81% | $2,710,135.61 | +2.08% | $49,077.24 | +6.73% (MSFT) | MSFT |
| 2006 | -1.01% | $2,682,698.63 | +55.05% | $76,092.71 | -56.06% (NVDA) | NVDA |
| 2007 | +12.86% | $3,027,729.87 | +93.67% | $147,367.29 | -80.81% (NVDA) | NVDA |
| 2008 | +20.84% | $3,658,796.67 | +41.44% | $208,430.04 | -20.59% (NVDA) | NVDA |
| 2009 | -43.79% | $2,056,771.16 | -75.55% | $50,955.17 | +31.77% (MSFT) | MSFT |
| 2010 | +53.44% | $3,155,957.24 | +114.47% | $109,281.55 | -61.02% (NVDA) | NVDA |
| 2011 | -7.94% | $2,905,242.80 | -16.71% | $91,018.71 | +8.77% (MSFT) | MSFT |
| 2012 | -4.75% | $2,767,111.96 | -12.39% | $79,742.08 | +7.63% (MSFT) | MSFT |
| 2013 | +2.60% | $2,838,991.28 | -12.11% | $70,081.53 | +14.71% (MSFT) | MSFT |
| 2014 | +39.54% | $3,961,633.63 | +28.70% | $90,191.48 | +10.85% (MSFT) | MSFT |
| 2015 | +28.42% | $5,087,641.85 | +28.68% | $116,059.32 | -0.26% (NVDA) | NVDA |
| 2016 | +21.88% | $6,200,739.95 | +66.45% | $193,182.34 | -44.57% (NVDA) | NVDA |
| 2017 | +16.51% | $7,224,217.07 | +232.92% | $643,142.17 | -216.41% (NVDA) | NVDA |
| 2018 | +39.74% | $10,095,202.03 | +90.43% | $1,224,712.50 | -50.69% (NVDA) | NVDA |
| 2019 | +20.22% | $12,136,360.37 | -32.85% | $822,449.61 | +53.06% (MSFT) | MSFT |
| 2020 | +58.26% | $19,206,911.25 | +73.41% | $1,426,209.16 | -15.15% (NVDA) | NVDA |
| 2021 | +39.94% | $26,878,701.70 | +118.02% | $3,109,480.38 | -78.08% (NVDA) | NVDA |
| 2022 | +55.79% | $41,874,319.16 | +124.48% | $6,980,043.65 | -68.69% (NVDA) | NVDA |
| 2023 | -27.69% | $30,280,494.98 | -51.44% | $3,389,720.16 | +23.75% (MSFT) | MSFT |
| 2024 | +58.35% | $47,949,092.29 | +246.10% | $11,731,765.59 | -187.75% (NVDA) | NVDA |
| 2025 | +14.50% | $54,902,457.42 | +178.87% | $32,716,858.66 | -164.37% (NVDA) | NVDA |
| 2026 | +16.17% | $63,781,897.96 | +34.87% | $44,125,683.98 | -18.70% (NVDA) | NVDA |
Annual returns include dividends and stock splits. Cumulative values show growth of $10,000 invested from the first year. Positive difference means MSFT outperformed NVDA that year.
Company Profiles
Microsoft Corporation
MSFT
Microsoft Corporation is a global technology powerhouse that develops, licenses, and supports a wide range of software products, services, and devices. As of 2026, the company has successfully transitioned into an 'AI-first' organization, leveraging its strategic partnership with OpenAI to integrate generative AI across its entire tech stack. Microsoft is the dominant provider in enterprise computing through its Windows operating system and Office productivity suite, and it is a leading player in the global cloud market with Azure. Its business model centers on digital transformation, cloud infrastructure, and the emerging economy of autonomous AI agents.
Key Innovations
- ✓Azure AI Services & Copilot Ecosystem
- ✓Windows 11 and Next-Gen 'Copilot+' AI PC architecture
- ✓Microsoft 365 Copilot (Generative AI for productivity)
- ✓HoloLens and Mixed Reality (Industrial Metaverse)
- ✓Custom Silicon: Azure Maia AI Accelerator and Azure Cobalt CPU
- ✓Topological Quantum Computing (Majorana 1 chip)
- ✓Agentic AI: Autonomous digital coworkers built on Copilot Studio
Business Segments
- Intelligent CloudThe company's primary growth engine, consisting of public, private, and hybrid server products and cloud services. Key offerings include Azure—a comprehensive cloud platform for computing, networking, and AI—as well as SQL Server, Windows Server, GitHub, and Nuance Healthcare. In 2026, this segment is heavily focused on scaling AI 'superfactories' and providing the infrastructure for large-scale generative AI workloads.
- Productivity and Business ProcessesFocuses on productivity, communication, and information services. It includes Microsoft 365 (formerly Office), which has evolved into a Copilot-integrated subscription service for both commercial and consumer users. This segment also encompasses LinkedIn (talent and marketing solutions), Dynamics 365 (cloud-based ERP and CRM), and the Microsoft Power Platform for low-code development and hyperautomation.
- More Personal ComputingEncompasses products and services geared toward end-users and developers across devices. This includes Windows OEM and commercial licensing, Surface devices, Search and news advertising (Bing and Copilot), and Gaming. Following the acquisition of Activision Blizzard, the Gaming division includes Xbox hardware, content, and services like Game Pass, making Microsoft one of the largest video game publishers globally.
NVIDIA Corporation
NVDA
NVIDIA Corporation is the pioneer of accelerated computing and the undisputed leader in the era of artificial intelligence. Originally founded to revolutionize PC graphics, the company invented the Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) in 1999, which transformed the gaming industry and redefined modern computer graphics. In the mid-2000s, NVIDIA introduced CUDA, a parallel computing platform that opened GPUs to general-purpose scientific and research computing. Today, NVIDIA is a full-stack computing company, providing the essential infrastructure for the global 'Intelligence Age.' Its chips, software, and networking solutions power nearly every major AI model and data center, while its technologies drive innovations in robotics, autonomous vehicles, and industrial digital twins through the Omniverse platform.
Key Innovations
- ✓GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) - The invention that enabled real-time 3D graphics.
- ✓CUDA (Compute Unified Architecture) - The software layer that made GPU-accelerated computing accessible to developers.
- ✓Tensor Cores - Specialized hardware units designed specifically to accelerate AI matrix math.
- ✓Blackwell Architecture - A generational leap in AI supercomputing featuring 208 billion transistors.
- ✓Rubin Architecture - The next-generation platform (announced for 2026) utilizing 3nm technology and HBM4 memory.
- ✓NVLink - High-speed interconnect technology allowing multiple GPUs to act as a single massive accelerator.
- ✓DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling) - AI-powered image reconstruction that boosts gaming performance.
- ✓Omniverse - A computing platform for physically accurate 3D simulation and collaboration.
Business Segments
- Data CenterNVIDIA's largest and most critical segment, providing accelerated computing platforms for AI, large language models (LLMs), and high-performance computing (HPC). This includes the Blackwell and Hopper GPU architectures, Quantum InfiniBand and Spectrum-X Ethernet networking solutions, and the NVIDIA AI Enterprise software suite. It serves hyperscale cloud providers, enterprises, and sovereign governments building national AI infrastructure.
- GamingThe foundation of NVIDIA's business, focused on the GeForce RTX family of GPUs for PC gamers. This segment leverages AI-driven technologies like DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling) to enhance visual fidelity and performance. It also includes the GeForce NOW cloud gaming service and hardware for handheld gaming consoles.
- Professional VisualizationProvides high-end RTX workstation GPUs and software solutions for design, engineering, and content creation. A key growth driver in this segment is NVIDIA Omniverse, a platform for building and operating metaverse applications and industrial-scale digital twins.
How This Comparison Works
Our stock comparison tool uses adjusted closing prices to calculate year-by-year returns for both stocks. This ensures an apples-to-apples comparison that accounts for:
- ✓Dividends: All dividend payments are reinvested
- ✓Stock splits: Historical prices are adjusted for all splits
- ✓Head-to-head record: Shows which stock outperformed each year
- ✓Statistical analysis: Average returns, best/worst years, and win rates
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Important Disclaimer
This comparison tool is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or trading advice. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Historical returns include dividends and stock splits but do not account for taxes, fees, inflation, or individual circumstances. Stock market investments carry risk, including the potential loss of principal. Always consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The data presented is based on historical market data and may contain inaccuracies or delays.