AAPL vs MSFT
OPEN IN CHARTApple Inc. (AAPL) vs Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) total return over 5Y: AAPL +135.20%, MSFT +78.92%. Regime AAPL BULL · MSFT BULL. As of Oct 19, 2026. Research only.
NOTE · WRITTEN 2026-10-13Apple (AAPL) closed at $340.7 on 2026‑10‑12 (Monday, US session), while Microsoft (MSFT) settled at $542.2 the same day. Over the past five years the total‑return overlay—capturing dividends and splits—has risen +143.0% for Apple versus +86.6% for Microsoft, underscoring a stronger cumulative gain for the consumer‑electronics leader. Both stocks sit in a bullish market regime, with EMA crossovers reinforcing the upward bias. Apple’s signal shows a BUY direction, score 3 and a Balanced archetype; Microsoft carries a BUY direction, score 5 and a Dividend Compounder (blended) archetype. The respective quality scores (Apple 33.5, Microsoft 71.0) reflect divergent risk‑return profiles. Readers can open each stock’s page or consult the methodology for full overlay detail.Figures in the note are as of that date; the table below is live.
Total return · dividends and splits
AAPL
MSFT
| SYMBOL | PRICE | CHANGE | 5Y % | PREV CLOSE | DIR | REGIME |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AAPLApple Inc. | $342.94 | —-0.15% | +135.20% | — | BUY | BULL |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corporation | $533.52 | —+0.84% | +78.92% | — | BUY | BULL |
DRAWDOWN · THIS RANGE
| SYMBOL | CURRENT | PEAK | WORST | TROUGH |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AAPL | -0.15% | 2026-10-16 | -33.36% | 2025-04-08 |
| MSFT | -1.83% | 2026-10-13 | -37.14% | 2022-11-03 |
PERIODS · 5Y BOOK
| SYMBOL | 1Y | 2Y | 3Y | 5Y |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AAPL | - | - | - | - |
| MSFT | - | - | - | - |
ANNUAL · 5Y BOOK
| YEAR | AAPL | MSFT |
|---|---|---|
| - | - | - |
Compare FAQ
- What does the AAPL vs MSFT overlay show?
- LOPJLB overlays AAPL vs MSFT as total return (dividends and splits) from the first adjusted close in the selected 5Y window. Each path starts at 0% so you can read relative holding performance, not raw tape price.
- Is this holding return or tape close?
- Holding return. The series uses split- and dividend-adjusted close (Yahoo-style backward adjustment) when dividend coverage is sufficient, otherwise it falls back to tape close. Candles and technical overlays on /chart stay tape.
- Which windows are public?
- Public visitors can share 1M, 3M, 6M, YTD, 1Y, and 5Y. MAX is Research+. Direction and regime in the table follow the desk ladder: SPY25 on Free, full book on Essential+.
- How do I read the drawdown, period, and annual tables?
- Drawdowns are current and worst peak-to-trough on the visible range. Periods are calendar lookbacks (1Y / 2Y / 3Y / 5Y, plus 10Y on MAX) from the last bar. Annual is calendar-year holding return, with the latest year labeled YTD.
- How has AAPL vs MSFT performed on a normalized basis?
- AAPL vs MSFT holding-return overlay: 5Y AAPL +135.20% · MSFT +78.92%; worst drawdown AAPL -33.36% · MSFT -37.14%; YTD AAPL +26.89% · MSFT +13.53%. Numbers update from the live compare-series book.
- Is ticker compare investment advice?
- No. The overlay is research context only — not a recommendation to buy or sell any security.
Related: AAPL, MSFT, methodology, chart