Benchmark research · Microsoft
ETFs and Stocks That Consistently Outperformed MSFT (Microsoft)
Any investment can look great over a single hand-picked timeframe. To find what truly kept ahead of MSFT (Microsoft Corporation), we screened MSFT against the entire market of over 10,000 stocks and ETFs across 8 different time windows from 1 month to 10 years, including reinvested dividends. A contender had to come out ahead in both the short term and the long term to make the list. Data as of October 20, 2026.
Compare the entire market against MSFT live →Key findings
- How hard it was to top MSFT: Across over 10,000 stocks and ETFs, only 10 of 958 eligible ETFs (1.0%) and 118 of 1501 eligible stocks (7.9%) outperformed MSFT in at least 3 of 5 short-term and 2 of 3 long-term timeframes. None of the qualifying ETFs were all-weather, while 10 of the qualifying stocks outperformed in every long-term timeframe and all but one short-term timeframe.
- Who came out ahead across the three groups:
- Popular alternatives: AAPL kept ahead in all 3 long-term timeframes but only 2 of 5 short-term periods, so it fell short of the consistency rule. VGT, XLK, and QQQ each outperformed in 2 of 5 short-term and 2 of 3 long-term periods, also short of the bar. No same-index clones were excluded.
- Top ETFs: Commodities led the group, with 3 of the top ETFs, while international funds contributed 3 and technology funds contributed 2. BNO, DBE, USO, and IGPT were standouts, each outpacing MSFT in 2 of 3 long-term periods and at least 3 of 5 short-term periods.
- Top stocks: 118 stocks made the cut. NTRA and HALO from healthcare, and CVI and MPC from energy, were among the standouts, each outpacing MSFT in all 5 short-term and all 3 long-term periods.
- The risk trade-off: Over 5 years, the top ETFs had median volatility of 28.9%, similar to MSFT's 28.2%, and all 10 had higher Sharpe ratios than MSFT. The top stocks had much higher median volatility, 42.8%, but all 10 also had higher Sharpe ratios, meaning they delivered more return per unit of risk over that period despite a bumpier ride.
How popular alternatives compare
Well-known funds and stocks investors often compare against MSFT, sorted by long-term periods outperformed, then short-term.
| Investment | Periods outperformed | Short term | Long term | Risk · 5 years | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1M | 3M | 6M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | 10Y | Volatilitylower is calmer | Sharpe ratiohigher is better | ||
| MSFT Microsoft Corporation (benchmark) | — | +6.0% | +32.5% | +27.7% | +13.2% | +3.8% | +66.6% | +80.3% | +946% | 28.2% | 0.56 |
| AAPL Fell shortApple Inc. | 2/5 short3/3 long | +0.2% | +4.0% | +24.6% | +25.6% | +29.9% | +99.0% | +133% | +1,168% | 28.0%1.0× MSFT | 0.75 |
| VGT Fell shortVanguard Information Technology ETF | 2/5 short2/3 long | −4.2% | +6.3% | +19.1% | +27.6% | +26.7% | +138% | +133% | +779% | 26.0%0.9× MSFT | 0.78 |
| XLK Fell shortState Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF | 2/5 short2/3 long | −4.8% | +5.7% | +20.3% | +29.0% | +29.3% | +131% | +143% | +767% | 26.0%0.9× MSFT | 0.82 |
| QQQ Fell shortInvesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 | 2/5 short2/3 long | −3.2% | +3.2% | +11.2% | +17.4% | +17.9% | +106% | +97.2% | +553% | 23.0%0.8× MSFT | 0.71 |
| CSCO Fell shortCisco Systems, Inc. | 2/5 short2/3 long | −3.9% | −3.2% | +22.6% | +42.2% | +53.8% | +118% | +118% | +374% | 26.1%0.9× MSFT | 0.73 |
| IBM Fell shortInternational Business Machines Corporation | 0/5 short2/3 long | +4.3% | +14.4% | −3.3% | −15.3% | −12.5% | +93.5% | +116% | +151% | 30.5%1.1× MSFT | 0.66 |
| INTC Fell shortIntel Corp. | 3/5 short1/3 long | −24.7% | −5.5% | +39.6% | +133% | +141% | +167% | +79.8% | +219% | 55.6%2.0× MSFT | 0.49 |
| AMZN Fell shortAmazon.com, Inc. | 2/5 short1/3 long | +1.6% | +5.1% | +5.8% | +16.0% | +21.3% | +110% | +53.8% | +548% | 36.6%1.3× MSFT | 0.42 |
| VOO Fell shortVanguard S&P 500 ETF | 1/5 short1/3 long | −0.6% | +3.9% | +9.1% | +13.5% | +15.8% | +89.7% | +82.3% | +324% | 16.9%0.6× MSFT | 0.80 |
| SPY Fell shortState Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF | 1/5 short1/3 long | −0.6% | +3.9% | +9.1% | +13.5% | +15.8% | +89.3% | +81.7% | +321% | 17.1%0.6× MSFT | 0.79 |
| VTI Fell shortVanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF | 1/5 short1/3 long | −0.8% | +3.2% | +8.3% | +13.1% | +15.2% | +87.9% | +72.6% | +302% | 17.5%0.6× MSFT | 0.71 |
| ORCL Fell shortOracle Corporation | 0/5 short0/3 long | −11.4% | +8.4% | −25.6% | −32.1% | −52.1% | +33.3% | +45.1% | +300% | 44.3%1.6× MSFT | 0.38 |
ETFs that consistently outperformed MSFT
Top 10 by long-term periods outperformed, then short-term, then by 10Y return. Green cells outperformed MSFT in that period. Excludes leveraged and inverse funds, ETFs under $100M in assets, stocks under $2.0B in market cap, and anything without 10 years of history.
| # | Investment | Periods outperformed | Short term | Long term | Risk · 5 years | Fund | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1M | 3M | 6M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | 10Y | Volatilitylower is calmer | Sharpe ratiohigher is better | Expense | Assets | |||
| — | MSFT Microsoft Corporation (benchmark) | — | +6.0% | +32.5% | +27.7% | +13.2% | +3.8% | +66.6% | +80.3% | +946% | 28.2% | 0.56 | ||
| 1 | BNO CommoditiesUnited States Brent Oil Fund LP | 5/5 short2/3 long | +13.6% | +35.6% | +40.9% | +137% | +141% | +108% | +196% | +348% | 37.1%1.3× MSFT | 0.77 | 1.15% | $768M |
| 2 | DBE AlternativesInvesco DB Energy Fund | 4/5 short2/3 long | +8.4% | +28.7% | +39.3% | +126% | +126% | +91.6% | +144% | +264% | 30.6%1.1× MSFT | 0.74 | 0.79% | $132M |
| 3 | USO CommoditiesUnited States Oil Fund, LP | 4/5 short2/3 long | +8.4% | +28.0% | +32.4% | +133% | +137% | +99.0% | +176% | +75.6% | 37.7%1.3× MSFT | 0.73 | 0.86% | $1.9B |
| 4 | IGPT TechnologyInvesco AI and Next Gen Software ETF | 3/5 short2/3 long | −11.4% | +2.5% | +29.0% | +49.5% | +57.4% | +186% | +95.1% | +525% | 30.1%1.1× MSFT | 0.60 | 0.57% | $1.4B |
| 5 | CIBR TechnologyFirst Trust Nasdaq Cybersecurity ETF | 3/5 short2/3 long | −2.6% | +9.4% | +49.9% | +42.4% | +31.9% | +127% | +93.2% | +454% | 26.1%0.9× MSFT | 0.64 | 0.58% | $17B |
| 6 | UGA CommoditiesUnited States Gasoline Fund, LP | 3/5 short2/3 long | −0.9% | +16.9% | +40.5% | +130% | +130% | +111% | +221% | +399% | 35.1%1.2× MSFT | 0.84 | 1.08% | $167M |
| 7 | CRAK EnergyVanEck Oil Refiners ETF | 3/5 short2/3 long | +1.6% | +20.3% | +41.5% | +73.9% | +81.5% | +121% | +146% | +336% | 20.9%0.7× MSFT | 0.97 | 0.61% | $810M |
| 8 | IXC InternationaliShares Global Energy ETF | 3/5 short2/3 long | +8.7% | +16.8% | +20.3% | +48.2% | +58.8% | +69.1% | +156% | +183% | 23.2%0.8× MSFT | 0.93 | 0.37% | $3.3B |
| 9 | ILF InternationaliShares Latin America 40 ETF | 3/5 short2/3 long | +7.2% | +11.1% | +1.8% | +25.0% | +38.2% | +80.3% | +104% | +99.5% | 23.2%0.8× MSFT | 0.73 | 0.47% | $4.1B |
| 10 | EWZ InternationaliShares MSCI Brazil ETF | 3/5 short2/3 long | +12.8% | +21.0% | +5.0% | +34.6% | +48.5% | +70.8% | +100% | +90.3% | 27.7%1.0× MSFT | 0.64 | 0.59% | $14B |
Stocks that consistently outperformed MSFT
Top 10 by long-term periods outperformed, then short-term, then by 10Y return. Individual stocks swing far more than funds; check the volatility column.
| # | Investment | Periods outperformed | Short term | Long term | Risk · 5 years | Company | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1M | 3M | 6M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | 10Y | Volatilitylower is calmer | Sharpe ratiohigher is better | Market cap | |||
| — | MSFT Microsoft Corporation (benchmark) | — | +6.0% | +32.5% | +27.7% | +13.2% | +3.8% | +66.6% | +80.3% | +946% | 28.2% | 0.56 | |
| 1 | NTRA Medical - Diagnostics & ResearchNatera, Inc. | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +9.5% | +54.6% | +95.4% | +77.4% | +115% | +896% | +261% | +3,841% | 57.6%2.0× MSFT | 0.74 | $59B |
| 2 | CVI Oil & Gas Refining & MarketingCVR Energy, Inc. | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +16.4% | +79.1% | +106% | +147% | +78.5% | +115% | +304% | +1,424% | 52.3%1.9× MSFT | 0.80 | $6.2B |
| 3 | MPC Oil & Gas Refining & MarketingMarathon Petroleum Corporation | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +18.1% | +51.1% | +123% | +191% | +159% | +234% | +690% | +1,387% | 33.4%1.2× MSFT | 1.41 | $133B |
| 4 | HALO BiotechnologyHalozyme Therapeutics, Inc. | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +11.6% | +61.3% | +78.8% | +76.9% | +87.1% | +254% | +226% | +1,196% | 40.4%1.4× MSFT | 0.79 | $14B |
| 5 | ANF Apparel - RetailAbercrombie & Fitch Co. | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +18.3% | +71.3% | +66.3% | +30.7% | +143% | +166% | +328% | +1,117% | 62.9%2.2× MSFT | 0.77 | $6.9B |
| 6 | VLO Oil & Gas Refining & MarketingValero Energy Corporation | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +10.2% | +38.9% | +93.2% | +166% | +176% | +259% | +524% | +1,061% | 36.9%1.3× MSFT | 1.18 | $125B |
| 7 | LLY Drug Manufacturers - GeneralEli Lilly and Company | 4/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +10.2% | +12.1% | +40.0% | +19.4% | +59.7% | +124% | +451% | +1,807% | 32.8%1.2× MSFT | 1.21 | $1.2T |
| 8 | FRO Marine ShippingFrontline Plc | 4/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +1.0% | +43.2% | +49.3% | +177% | +144% | +215% | +726% | +1,194% | 49.7%1.8× MSFT | 1.10 | $11B |
| 9 | THC Medical - Care FacilitiesTenet Healthcare Corporation | 4/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +4.3% | +40.1% | +42.4% | +36.5% | +34.7% | +399% | +315% | +1,058% | 45.1%1.6× MSFT | 0.86 | $22B |
| 10 | DHT Marine ShippingDHT Holdings, Inc. | 4/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +4.0% | +39.2% | +38.2% | +125% | +120% | +200% | +413% | +1,050% | 39.0%1.4× MSFT | 1.04 | $3.8B |
What stands out
The ETF leaders were spread across commodities, international, and technology, while the top stocks included several energy and healthcare companies. That points to a varied set of sources for the results, rather than a single dominant sector. Still, the top-ranked stocks show a clear concentration in energy and healthcare, and the top ETF list included several commodity funds.
The strongest stocks held their lead across both short- and long-term periods, while none of the qualifying ETFs met the all-weather test. Risk was mixed: ETF volatility was similar to MSFT's, and stock volatility was much higher. Yet every top ETF and top stock had a higher Sharpe ratio than MSFT, suggesting stronger risk-adjusted returns over the measured period.
Methodology
- Short-term periods: 1M, 3M, 6M, YTD, 1Y. Long-term periods: 3Y, 5Y, 10Y. An investment outperformed a period when its total return, with dividends reinvested, was higher than MSFT's. Returns within 0.5 points or 3% of MSFT's (whichever is larger) count as a tie and are shown in gray.
- Consistent means outperforming in at least 3 of 5 short-term periods and 2 of 3 long-term periods, so a recent hot streak alone is not enough. All-weather means outperforming in every long-term period and all but one short-term period. Rankings use long-term periods outperformed, then short-term, then the 10Y return.
- Excludes leveraged and inverse funds, ETFs under $100M in assets, stocks under $2.0B in market cap, and anything without 10 years of history.
- Volatility is the annualized standard deviation of daily returns over 5 years. The Sharpe ratio is return above cash divided by volatility over the same period: higher means more return per unit of risk.
- Returns and risk figures are computed from daily adjusted prices and update with each market day. Past performance does not predict future results.