Seek Returns

ASML vs. MSFT: ASML vs. Microsoft Stock Comparison

How do ASML (ASML) 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

ASML (ASML) and Microsoft (MSFT) share the Information Technology sector but sit in different industry groups — ASML in Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment and MSFT in Software & Services.

Microsoft (MSFT) trades as ordinary local shares, while ASML (ASML) trades as an ADR — compare with FX exposure, depositary-program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.

Company profile comparison for ASML (ASML) and Microsoft (MSFT)
Profile ItemASMLMSFT
NameASML Holding N.V. NY Registered SharesMicrosoft Corporation Common Stock
Country/RegionNetherlandsUnited States
GICS SectorInformation TechnologyInformation Technology
GICS Industry GroupSemiconductors & Semiconductor EquipmentSoftware & Services
GICS IndustrySemiconductors & Semiconductor EquipmentSoftware
GICS Sub-IndustrySemiconductor Materials & EquipmentSystems Software
Market Capitalization549.12 billion USD3,940.41 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNasdaq
Listing DateMarch 15, 1995March 13, 1986
Security TypeADRCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

ASML
MSFT
GSPC
Loading price history…
ASML (ASML) 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

Loading price history…
Trailing total returns for ASML (ASML) and Microsoft (MSFT). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

Loading price history…
Calendar-year total returns for ASML (ASML) and Microsoft (MSFT). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for ASML (ASML) and Microsoft (MSFT)
MetricASMLMSFT
Total Return (1Y)50.12%10.30%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)34.80%15.53%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)13.32%11.01%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

ASML
MSFT
GSPC
Loading price history…
ASML (ASML) 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

Loading price history…
Distribution of monthly total returns for ASML (ASML) and Microsoft (MSFT). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for ASML (ASML) and Microsoft (MSFT)
MetricASMLMSFT
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)48.80%33.91%
Beta (5Y)1.801.03
Max Drawdown (5Y)-56.47%-37.15%
Avg. Volume (3M)1.42M22.95M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

Loading chart…
ASML and MSFT are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. Each dashed Capital Allocation Line uses that stock's own industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for ASML (ASML) and Microsoft (MSFT)
MetricASMLMSFT
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.940.18
Sortino Ratio (1Y)1.390.28

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both companies show strong equity returns, but ASML (ASML) at 65.64% is the standout with ROE above its industry range; Microsoft (MSFT) at 34.22% also sits in the top quartile.

ASML

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

65.64%

ASML
65.64%
Max
52.82%
Q3
22.26%
Median
10.58%
Q1
1.29%
Min
-16.89%

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%
Loading chart…
ASML (ASML) vs. Microsoft (MSFT): A comparison of their ROE against their respective Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment and Software & Services industry group benchmarks.

Net Margin (TTM)

For every dollar of sales, both ASML (ASML) at 34.14% and Microsoft (MSFT) at 41.17% retain more as net profit than most peers, landing in the top net margin quartile of their industries.

ASML

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

34.14%

Max
63.80%
ASML
34.14%
Q3
28.36%
Median
11.44%
Q1
0.90%
Min
-37.77%

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%
Loading chart…
ASML (ASML) vs. Microsoft (MSFT): A comparison of their net margin against their respective Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment and Software & Services industry group benchmarks.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Microsoft (MSFT) at 49.76% shows unusually strong operating efficiency — above its industry’s operating margin range — and ASML (ASML) at 44.36% also operates in the top quartile.

ASML

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

44.36%

Max
58.66%
ASML
44.36%
Q3
30.23%
Median
15.91%
Q1
7.54%
Min
-25.74%

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%
Loading chart…
ASML (ASML) vs. Microsoft (MSFT): A comparison of their operating margin against their respective Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment and Software & Services industry group benchmarks.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for ASML (ASML) and Microsoft (MSFT)
MetricASMLMSFT
ROE (TTM)65.64%34.22%
ROA (TTM)18.28%14.41%
Net Margin (TTM)34.14%41.17%
Operating Margin (TTM)44.36%49.76%
Gross Margin (TTM)54.34%67.66%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both ASML (ASML) at 15.58% 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.

Loading chart…
ASML (ASML) vs. Microsoft (MSFT): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both ASML (ASML) at 28.43% 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.

Loading chart…
ASML (ASML) vs. Microsoft (MSFT): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for ASML (ASML) and Microsoft (MSFT)
MetricASMLMSFT
Revenue Growth (YoY)15.58%17.79%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)15.55%16.12%
EPS Growth (YoY)28.43%31.60%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)15.42%22.86%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Microsoft (MSFT) at 1.23 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while ASML (ASML) at 1.49 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for ASML.

ASML

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

1.49

Max
10.33
Q3
5.62
Median
3.33
Q1
2.35
ASML
1.49
Min
1.03

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
Loading chart…
ASML (ASML) vs. Microsoft (MSFT): A comparison of their current ratio against their respective Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment and Software & Services industry group benchmarks.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both ASML (ASML) at 0.09 and Microsoft (MSFT) at 0.28 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

ASML

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

0.09

Max
1.46
Q3
0.65
Median
0.27
ASML
0.09
Q1
0.04
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
Loading chart…
ASML (ASML) vs. Microsoft (MSFT): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against their respective Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment and Software & Services industry group benchmarks.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for ASML (ASML) and Microsoft (MSFT)
MetricASMLMSFT
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.491.23
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.090.28
Net Debt / EBITDA-0.670.34

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

ASML (ASML) at 0.55% pays an industry-typical yield; Microsoft (MSFT) at 0.69% is above its entire peer range — the higher number, but one that calls for a look at payout sustainability before treating it as an advantage.

ASML

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

0.55%

Max
1.37%
Q3
0.65%
ASML
0.55%
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%
Loading chart…
ASML (ASML) vs. Microsoft (MSFT): A comparison of their dividend yield against their respective Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment and Software & Services industry group benchmarks.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both pay out more than their industries’ typical bands, and MSFT more so: ASML (ASML) at 22.26% sits above the band, while Microsoft (MSFT) at 19.00% exceeds every peer in its group.

ASML

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

22.26%

Max
49.64%
ASML
22.26%
Q3
21.71%
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%
Loading chart…
ASML (ASML) vs. Microsoft (MSFT): A comparison of their payout ratio against their respective Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment and Software & Services industry group benchmarks.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for ASML (ASML) and Microsoft (MSFT)
MetricASMLMSFT
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.55%0.69%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)22.26%19.00%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both ASML (ASML) at 35.06 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.

ASML

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

35.06

Max
110.34
Q3
66.81
Median
37.02
ASML
35.06
Q1
23.96
Min
8.12

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
Loading chart…
ASML (ASML) vs. Microsoft (MSFT): A comparison of their P/E ratio against their respective Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment and Software & Services industry group benchmarks.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Both ASML (ASML) at 13.91 and Microsoft (MSFT) at 11.37 command a richer price per dollar of sales than most peers, sitting in the upper P/S ratio quartile of their industries.

ASML

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

13.91

Max
21.42
ASML
13.91
Q3
12.27
Median
5.76
Q1
2.73
Min
0.00

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
Loading chart…
ASML (ASML) vs. Microsoft (MSFT): A comparison of their P/S ratio against their respective Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment and Software & Services industry group benchmarks.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Microsoft (MSFT) at 8.38 sits near its industry’s typical P/B ratio, while ASML (ASML) at 1,223.36 prices above its benchmark range — ASML looks rich relative to book.

ASML

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

1,223.36

ASML
1,223.36
Max
14.06
Q3
7.44
Median
4.29
Q1
2.30
Min
0.20

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
Loading chart…
ASML (ASML) vs. Microsoft (MSFT): A comparison of their P/B ratio against their respective Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment and Software & Services industry group benchmarks.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for ASML (ASML) and Microsoft (MSFT)
MetricASMLMSFT
P/E Ratio (TTM)35.0627.69
P/S Ratio (TTM)13.9111.37
P/B Ratio (MRQ)1,223.368.38
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)1.89%0.08%