# ETFs and Stocks That Consistently Outperformed MSFT (Microsoft)

> Source: EasyCompare research, https://easycompare.io/research/etfs-and-stocks-that-outperform-msft
> Data as of October 20, 2026. Total returns include reinvested dividends. Past performance does not predict future results; nothing here is investment advice.

MSFT (Microsoft Corporation) screened against the entire market of over 10,000 stocks and ETFs over 8 periods from 1 month to 10 years, with dividends reinvested. To make the list, an investment had to outperform MSFT in at least 3 of 5 short-term periods and 2 of 3 long-term periods. "All-weather" means outperforming in every long-term period and all but one short-term period. Returns in the tables are total returns over each period; volatility and Sharpe ratio cover 5 years.

## 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

| Investment | Status | Periods outperformed | 1M | 3M | 6M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | 10Y | Volatility | Sharpe |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| MSFT: Microsoft Corporation (benchmark) |  |  | +6.0% | +32.5% | +27.7% | +13.2% | +3.8% | +66.6% | +80.3% | +946% | 28.2% | 0.56 |
| [AAPL](https://easycompare.io/research/aapl): Apple Inc. | Fell short | 2/5 short, 3/3 long | +0.2% | +4.0% | +24.6% | +25.6% | +29.9% | +99.0% | +133% | +1,168% | 28.0% | 0.75 |
| [VGT](https://easycompare.io/research/vgt): Vanguard Information Technology ETF | Fell short | 2/5 short, 2/3 long | −4.2% | +6.3% | +19.1% | +27.6% | +26.7% | +138% | +133% | +779% | 26.0% | 0.78 |
| [XLK](https://easycompare.io/research/xlk): State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF | Fell short | 2/5 short, 2/3 long | −4.8% | +5.7% | +20.3% | +29.0% | +29.3% | +131% | +143% | +767% | 26.0% | 0.82 |
| [QQQ](https://easycompare.io/research/qqq): Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 | Fell short | 2/5 short, 2/3 long | −3.2% | +3.2% | +11.2% | +17.4% | +17.9% | +106% | +97.2% | +553% | 23.0% | 0.71 |
| [CSCO](https://easycompare.io/research/csco): Cisco Systems, Inc. | Fell short | 2/5 short, 2/3 long | −3.9% | −3.2% | +22.6% | +42.2% | +53.8% | +118% | +118% | +374% | 26.1% | 0.73 |
| [IBM](https://easycompare.io/research/ibm): International Business Machines Corporation | Fell short | 0/5 short, 2/3 long | +4.3% | +14.4% | −3.3% | −15.3% | −12.5% | +93.5% | +116% | +151% | 30.5% | 0.66 |
| [INTC](https://easycompare.io/research/intc): Intel Corp. | Fell short | 3/5 short, 1/3 long | −24.7% | −5.5% | +39.6% | +133% | +141% | +167% | +79.8% | +219% | 55.6% | 0.49 |
| [AMZN](https://easycompare.io/research/amzn): Amazon.com, Inc. | Fell short | 2/5 short, 1/3 long | +1.6% | +5.1% | +5.8% | +16.0% | +21.3% | +110% | +53.8% | +548% | 36.6% | 0.42 |
| [VOO](https://easycompare.io/research/voo): Vanguard S&P 500 ETF | Fell short | 1/5 short, 1/3 long | −0.6% | +3.9% | +9.1% | +13.5% | +15.8% | +89.7% | +82.3% | +324% | 16.9% | 0.80 |
| [SPY](https://easycompare.io/research/spy): State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF | Fell short | 1/5 short, 1/3 long | −0.6% | +3.9% | +9.1% | +13.5% | +15.8% | +89.3% | +81.7% | +321% | 17.1% | 0.79 |
| [VTI](https://easycompare.io/research/vti): Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF | Fell short | 1/5 short, 1/3 long | −0.8% | +3.2% | +8.3% | +13.1% | +15.2% | +87.9% | +72.6% | +302% | 17.5% | 0.71 |
| [ORCL](https://easycompare.io/research/orcl): Oracle Corporation | Fell short | 0/5 short, 0/3 long | −11.4% | +8.4% | −25.6% | −32.1% | −52.1% | +33.3% | +45.1% | +300% | 44.3% | 0.38 |

## ETFs that consistently outperformed MSFT

| Investment | Periods outperformed | 1M | 3M | 6M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | 10Y | Volatility | Sharpe | 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 |  |  |
| BNO: United States Brent Oil Fund LP | 5/5 short, 2/3 long | +13.6% | +35.6% | +40.9% | +137% | +141% | +108% | +196% | +348% | 37.1% | 0.77 | 1.15% | $768M |
| DBE: Invesco DB Energy Fund | 4/5 short, 2/3 long | +8.4% | +28.7% | +39.3% | +126% | +126% | +91.6% | +144% | +264% | 30.6% | 0.74 | 0.79% | $132M |
| USO: United States Oil Fund, LP | 4/5 short, 2/3 long | +8.4% | +28.0% | +32.4% | +133% | +137% | +99.0% | +176% | +75.6% | 37.7% | 0.73 | 0.86% | $1.9B |
| IGPT: Invesco AI and Next Gen Software ETF | 3/5 short, 2/3 long | −11.4% | +2.5% | +29.0% | +49.5% | +57.4% | +186% | +95.1% | +525% | 30.1% | 0.60 | 0.57% | $1.4B |
| CIBR: First Trust Nasdaq Cybersecurity ETF | 3/5 short, 2/3 long | −2.6% | +9.4% | +49.9% | +42.4% | +31.9% | +127% | +93.2% | +454% | 26.1% | 0.64 | 0.58% | $17B |
| UGA: United States Gasoline Fund, LP | 3/5 short, 2/3 long | −0.9% | +16.9% | +40.5% | +130% | +130% | +111% | +221% | +399% | 35.1% | 0.84 | 1.08% | $167M |
| CRAK: VanEck Oil Refiners ETF | 3/5 short, 2/3 long | +1.6% | +20.3% | +41.5% | +73.9% | +81.5% | +121% | +146% | +336% | 20.9% | 0.97 | 0.61% | $810M |
| IXC: iShares Global Energy ETF | 3/5 short, 2/3 long | +8.7% | +16.8% | +20.3% | +48.2% | +58.8% | +69.1% | +156% | +183% | 23.2% | 0.93 | 0.37% | $3.3B |
| ILF: iShares Latin America 40 ETF | 3/5 short, 2/3 long | +7.2% | +11.1% | +1.8% | +25.0% | +38.2% | +80.3% | +104% | +99.5% | 23.2% | 0.73 | 0.47% | $4.1B |
| EWZ: iShares MSCI Brazil ETF | 3/5 short, 2/3 long | +12.8% | +21.0% | +5.0% | +34.6% | +48.5% | +70.8% | +100% | +90.3% | 27.7% | 0.64 | 0.59% | $14B |

## Stocks that consistently outperformed MSFT

| Investment | Periods outperformed | 1M | 3M | 6M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | 10Y | Volatility | Sharpe | 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 |  |
| [NTRA](https://easycompare.io/research/ntra): Natera, Inc. | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +9.5% | +54.6% | +95.4% | +77.4% | +115% | +896% | +261% | +3,841% | 57.6% | 0.74 | $59B |
| CVI: CVR Energy, Inc. | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +16.4% | +79.1% | +106% | +147% | +78.5% | +115% | +304% | +1,424% | 52.3% | 0.80 | $6.2B |
| [MPC](https://easycompare.io/research/mpc): Marathon Petroleum Corporation | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +18.1% | +51.1% | +123% | +191% | +159% | +234% | +690% | +1,387% | 33.4% | 1.41 | $133B |
| HALO: Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc. | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +11.6% | +61.3% | +78.8% | +76.9% | +87.1% | +254% | +226% | +1,196% | 40.4% | 0.79 | $14B |
| ANF: Abercrombie & Fitch Co. | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +18.3% | +71.3% | +66.3% | +30.7% | +143% | +166% | +328% | +1,117% | 62.9% | 0.77 | $6.9B |
| [VLO](https://easycompare.io/research/vlo): Valero Energy Corporation | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +10.2% | +38.9% | +93.2% | +166% | +176% | +259% | +524% | +1,061% | 36.9% | 1.18 | $125B |
| [LLY](https://easycompare.io/research/lly): Eli Lilly and Company | 4/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +10.2% | +12.1% | +40.0% | +19.4% | +59.7% | +124% | +451% | +1,807% | 32.8% | 1.21 | $1.2T |
| FRO: Frontline Plc | 4/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +1.0% | +43.2% | +49.3% | +177% | +144% | +215% | +726% | +1,194% | 49.7% | 1.10 | $11B |
| THC: Tenet Healthcare Corporation | 4/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +4.3% | +40.1% | +42.4% | +36.5% | +34.7% | +399% | +315% | +1,058% | 45.1% | 0.86 | $22B |
| DHT: DHT Holdings, Inc. | 4/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +4.0% | +39.2% | +38.2% | +125% | +120% | +200% | +413% | +1,050% | 39.0% | 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.

## More research

- [ETFs and Stocks That Consistently Outperformed NVDA (Nvidia)](https://easycompare.io/research/etfs-and-stocks-that-outperform-nvda)
- [ETFs and Stocks That Consistently Outperformed AAPL (Apple)](https://easycompare.io/research/etfs-and-stocks-that-outperform-aapl)
- [ETFs and Stocks That Consistently Outperformed AMZN (Amazon)](https://easycompare.io/research/etfs-and-stocks-that-outperform-amzn)
- [ETFs and Stocks That Consistently Outperformed GOOG (Alphabet)](https://easycompare.io/research/etfs-and-stocks-that-outperform-goog)
- [ETFs and Stocks That Consistently Outperformed META (Meta Platforms)](https://easycompare.io/research/etfs-and-stocks-that-outperform-meta)
- [ETFs and Stocks That Consistently Outperformed TSLA (Tesla)](https://easycompare.io/research/etfs-and-stocks-that-outperform-tsla)
- [ETFs and Stocks That Consistently Outperformed BRK-B (Berkshire Hathaway)](https://easycompare.io/research/etfs-and-stocks-that-outperform-brk-b)
- [ETFs and Stocks That Consistently Outperformed COST (Costco)](https://easycompare.io/research/etfs-and-stocks-that-outperform-cost)
- [ETFs and Stocks That Consistently Outperformed SPY (S&P 500)](https://easycompare.io/research/etfs-and-stocks-that-outperform-spy)
- [ETFs and Stocks That Consistently Outperformed VOO (S&P 500)](https://easycompare.io/research/etfs-and-stocks-that-outperform-voo)
- [ETFs and Stocks That Consistently Outperformed VTI (Total US Stock Market)](https://easycompare.io/research/etfs-and-stocks-that-outperform-vti)
- [ETFs and Stocks That Consistently Outperformed QQQ (Nasdaq-100)](https://easycompare.io/research/etfs-and-stocks-that-outperform-qqq)

## Explore further

- Full page: https://easycompare.io/research/etfs-and-stocks-that-outperform-msft
- All research pages: https://easycompare.io/llms.txt