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ADSK vs. MSFT: Autodesk vs. Microsoft Stock Comparison

How do Autodesk (ADSK) and Microsoft (MSFT) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.

Company Profile

Autodesk (ADSK) and Microsoft (MSFT) both belong to the Software industry, though ADSK is classified under Application Software while MSFT falls under Systems Software.

Company profile comparison for Autodesk (ADSK) and Microsoft (MSFT)
Profile ItemADSKMSFT
NameAutodesk Inc.Microsoft Corporation Common Stock
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorInformation TechnologyInformation Technology
GICS Industry GroupSoftware & ServicesSoftware & Services
GICS IndustrySoftwareSoftware
GICS Sub-IndustryApplication SoftwareSystems Software
Market Capitalization54.70 billion USD3,940.41 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNasdaq
Listing DateJune 28, 1985March 13, 1986
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

ADSK
MSFT
GSPC
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Autodesk (ADSK) vs. Microsoft (MSFT), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for Autodesk (ADSK) and Microsoft (MSFT). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Autodesk (ADSK) and Microsoft (MSFT). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Autodesk (ADSK) and Microsoft (MSFT)
MetricADSKMSFT
Total Return (1Y)-11.86%10.30%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)8.57%15.53%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)-4.48%11.01%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

ADSK
MSFT
GSPC
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Autodesk (ADSK) vs. Microsoft (MSFT), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for Autodesk (ADSK) and Microsoft (MSFT). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Autodesk (ADSK) and Microsoft (MSFT)
MetricADSKMSFT
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)40.23%33.91%
Beta (5Y)1.221.03
Max Drawdown (5Y)-50.75%-37.15%
Avg. Volume (3M)2.05M22.95M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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ADSK and MSFT are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Autodesk (ADSK) and Microsoft (MSFT)
MetricADSKMSFT
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.400.18
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-0.570.28

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Autodesk (ADSK) at 53.85% and Microsoft (MSFT) at 34.22% sit in the top peer quartile for ROE, suggesting each generates more profit from shareholders’ equity than typical industry peers.

ADSK

Software & Services industry group

53.85%

ADSK
53.85%
Max
53.85%
Q3
17.90%
Median
6.59%
Q1
-9.59%
Min
-50.52%

MSFT

Software & Services industry group

34.22%

Max
53.85%
MSFT
34.22%
Q3
17.90%
Median
6.59%
Q1
-9.59%
Min
-50.52%
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Autodesk (ADSK) vs. Microsoft (MSFT): A comparison of their ROE against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

For every dollar of sales, both Autodesk (ADSK) at 21.08% and Microsoft (MSFT) at 41.17% retain more as net profit than most peers, landing in the top net margin quartile of their industries.

ADSK

Software & Services industry group

21.08%

Max
41.17%
ADSK
21.08%
Q3
15.28%
Median
4.63%
Q1
-5.42%
Min
-33.17%

MSFT

Software & Services industry group

41.17%

MSFT
41.17%
Max
41.17%
Q3
15.28%
Median
4.63%
Q1
-5.42%
Min
-33.17%
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Autodesk (ADSK) vs. Microsoft (MSFT): A comparison of their net margin against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Microsoft (MSFT) at 49.76% shows unusually strong operating efficiency — above its industry’s operating margin range — and Autodesk (ADSK) at 29.23% also operates in the top quartile.

ADSK

Software & Services industry group

29.23%

Max
46.89%
ADSK
29.23%
Q3
17.64%
Median
8.73%
Q1
-2.13%
Min
-30.45%

MSFT

Software & Services industry group

49.76%

MSFT
49.76%
Max
46.89%
Q3
17.64%
Median
8.73%
Q1
-2.13%
Min
-30.45%
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Autodesk (ADSK) vs. Microsoft (MSFT): A comparison of their operating margin against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Autodesk (ADSK) and Microsoft (MSFT)
MetricADSKMSFT
ROE (TTM)53.85%34.22%
ROA (TTM)11.47%14.41%
Net Margin (TTM)21.08%41.17%
Operating Margin (TTM)29.23%49.76%
Gross Margin (TTM)92.50%67.66%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Autodesk (ADSK) at 17.53% and Microsoft (MSFT) at 17.79% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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Autodesk (ADSK) vs. Microsoft (MSFT): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Autodesk (ADSK) at 2.15% and Microsoft (MSFT) at 31.60% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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Autodesk (ADSK) vs. Microsoft (MSFT): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Autodesk (ADSK) and Microsoft (MSFT)
MetricADSKMSFT
Revenue Growth (YoY)17.53%17.79%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)12.92%16.12%
EPS Growth (YoY)2.15%31.60%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)11.43%22.86%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Microsoft (MSFT) at 1.23 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Autodesk (ADSK) at 0.86 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for ADSK.

ADSK

Software & Services industry group

0.86

Max
5.11
Q3
2.77
Median
1.67
Q1
1.01
ADSK
0.86
Min
0.03

MSFT

Software & Services industry group

1.23

Max
5.11
Q3
2.77
Median
1.67
MSFT
1.23
Q1
1.01
Min
0.03
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Autodesk (ADSK) vs. Microsoft (MSFT): A comparison of their current ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Autodesk (ADSK) at 1.10 and Microsoft (MSFT) at 0.28 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

ADSK

Software & Services industry group

1.10

Max
2.52
Q3
1.13
ADSK
1.10
Median
0.40
Q1
0.07
Min
0.00

MSFT

Software & Services industry group

0.28

Max
2.52
Q3
1.13
Median
0.40
MSFT
0.28
Q1
0.07
Min
0.00
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Autodesk (ADSK) vs. Microsoft (MSFT): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Autodesk (ADSK) and Microsoft (MSFT)
MetricADSKMSFT
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.861.23
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.100.28
Net Debt / EBITDA-0.200.34

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Autodesk (ADSK) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Microsoft (MSFT) reports a yield of 0.69%, ranking against industry peers normally.

ADSK

Software & Services industry group

0.00%

ADSK
0.00%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

MSFT

Software & Services industry group

0.69%

MSFT
0.69%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Autodesk (ADSK) vs. Microsoft (MSFT): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Autodesk (ADSK) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Microsoft (MSFT) reports a payout of 19.00%, ranking against industry peers normally.

ADSK

Software & Services industry group

0.00%

ADSK
0.00%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

MSFT

Software & Services industry group

19.00%

MSFT
19.00%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Autodesk (ADSK) vs. Microsoft (MSFT): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Autodesk (ADSK) and Microsoft (MSFT)
MetricADSKMSFT
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.00%0.69%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)0.00%19.00%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Autodesk (ADSK) at 33.95 and Microsoft (MSFT) at 27.69 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.

ADSK

Software & Services industry group

33.95

Max
112.94
Q3
60.32
ADSK
33.95
Median
32.91
Q1
18.77
Min
6.69

MSFT

Software & Services industry group

27.69

Max
112.94
Q3
60.32
Median
32.91
MSFT
27.69
Q1
18.77
Min
6.69
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Autodesk (ADSK) vs. Microsoft (MSFT): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Autodesk (ADSK) at 7.02 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Microsoft (MSFT) at 11.37 sits in the pricier quartile — MSFT costs more per dollar of sales.

ADSK

Software & Services industry group

7.02

Max
17.91
Q3
8.78
ADSK
7.02
Median
4.25
Q1
2.23
Min
0.02

MSFT

Software & Services industry group

11.37

Max
17.91
MSFT
11.37
Q3
8.78
Median
4.25
Q1
2.23
Min
0.02
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Autodesk (ADSK) vs. Microsoft (MSFT): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Microsoft (MSFT) at 8.38 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while Autodesk (ADSK) at 16.17 carries an above-peer premium to book — ADSK is pricier on assets.

ADSK

Software & Services industry group

16.17

Max
16.63
ADSK
16.17
Q3
8.50
Median
4.30
Q1
1.92
Min
-3.90

MSFT

Software & Services industry group

8.38

Max
16.63
Q3
8.50
MSFT
8.38
Median
4.30
Q1
1.92
Min
-3.90
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Autodesk (ADSK) vs. Microsoft (MSFT): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Autodesk (ADSK) and Microsoft (MSFT)
MetricADSKMSFT
P/E Ratio (TTM)33.9527.69
P/S Ratio (TTM)7.0211.37
P/B Ratio (MRQ)16.178.38
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)5.77%0.08%