BSY vs. MSFT: Bentley Systems vs. Microsoft Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Bentley Systems (BSY) 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

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

Microsoft (MSFT) has more than two decades of public-market history since March 13, 1986, whereas Bentley Systems (BSY) listed on September 23, 2020 and has a much shorter record to draw on.

Company profile comparison for Bentley Systems (BSY) and Microsoft (MSFT)
Profile Item	BSY	MSFT
Name	Bentley Systems, Incorporated Class B Common Stock	Microsoft Corporation Common Stock
Country/Region	United States	United States
GICS Sector	Information Technology	Information Technology
GICS Industry Group	Software & Services	Software & Services
GICS Industry	Software	Software
GICS Sub-Industry	Application Software	Systems Software
Market Capitalization	13.50 billion USD	3,940.41 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	Nasdaq	Nasdaq
Listing Date	September 23, 2020	March 13, 1986
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

BSY

MSFT

GSPC

Bentley Systems (BSY) 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 Bentley Systems (BSY) and Microsoft (MSFT). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Bentley Systems (BSY) and Microsoft (MSFT)
Metric	BSY	MSFT
Total Return (1Y)	-2.57%	10.30%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	-3.01%	15.53%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	-5.13%	11.01%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

BSY

MSFT

GSPC

Bentley Systems (BSY) 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 Bentley Systems (BSY) and Microsoft (MSFT). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Bentley Systems (BSY) and Microsoft (MSFT)
Metric	BSY	MSFT
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	41.49%	33.91%
Beta (5Y)	0.92	1.03
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-53.94%	-37.15%
Avg. Volume (3M)	2.67M	22.95M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

BSY 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 Bentley Systems (BSY) and Microsoft (MSFT)
Metric	BSY	MSFT
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	-0.17	0.18
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	-0.25	0.28

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Bentley Systems (BSY) at 26.03% 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.

BSY

Software & Services industry group

26.03%

Max: 53.85%
BSY: 26.03%
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%

Bentley Systems (BSY) vs. Microsoft (MSFT): A comparison of their ROE against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

For every dollar of sales, both Bentley Systems (BSY) at 19.57% and Microsoft (MSFT) at 41.17% retain more as net profit than most peers, landing in the top net margin quartile of their industries.

BSY

Software & Services industry group

19.57%

Max: 41.17%
BSY: 19.57%
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%

Bentley Systems (BSY) 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 Bentley Systems (BSY) at 29.81% also operates in the top quartile.

BSY

Software & Services industry group

29.81%

Max: 46.89%
BSY: 29.81%
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%

Bentley Systems (BSY) vs. Microsoft (MSFT): A comparison of their operating margin against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Bentley Systems (BSY) and Microsoft (MSFT)
Metric	BSY	MSFT
ROE (TTM)	26.03%	34.22%
ROA (TTM)	7.73%	14.41%
Net Margin (TTM)	19.57%	41.17%
Operating Margin (TTM)	29.81%	49.76%
Gross Margin (TTM)	82.37%	67.66%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Bentley Systems (BSY) at 10.99% 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.

Bentley Systems (BSY) vs. Microsoft (MSFT): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Bentley Systems (BSY) at 18.06% 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.

Bentley Systems (BSY) vs. Microsoft (MSFT): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Bentley Systems (BSY) and Microsoft (MSFT)
Metric	BSY	MSFT
Revenue Growth (YoY)	10.99%	17.79%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	10.97%	16.12%
EPS Growth (YoY)	18.06%	31.60%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	15.62%	22.86%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Microsoft (MSFT) at 1.23 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Bentley Systems (BSY) at 0.65 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for BSY.

BSY

Software & Services industry group

0.65

Max: 5.11
Q3: 2.77
Median: 1.67
Q1: 1.01
BSY: 0.65
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

Bentley Systems (BSY) vs. Microsoft (MSFT): A comparison of their current ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Bentley Systems (BSY) at 0.94 and Microsoft (MSFT) at 0.28 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

BSY

Software & Services industry group

0.94

Max: 2.52
Q3: 1.13
BSY: 0.94
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

Bentley Systems (BSY) 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 Bentley Systems (BSY) and Microsoft (MSFT)
Metric	BSY	MSFT
Current Ratio (MRQ)	0.65	1.23
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.94	0.28
Net Debt / EBITDA	2.12	0.34

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Bentley Systems (BSY) at 0.62% and Microsoft (MSFT) at 0.69% yield above their industries’ entire benchmark ranges — high enough that dividend safety, not income, becomes the first question.

BSY

Software & Services industry group

0.62%

BSY: 0.62%
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%

Bentley Systems (BSY) vs. Microsoft (MSFT): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Bentley Systems (BSY) at 27.72% and Microsoft (MSFT) at 19.00% pay out more of their earnings than any of their industry peers — the thinnest cover in their groups, so dividend headroom deserves attention.

BSY

Software & Services industry group

27.72%

BSY: 27.72%
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%

Bentley Systems (BSY) vs. Microsoft (MSFT): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Bentley Systems (BSY) and Microsoft (MSFT)
Metric	BSY	MSFT
Dividend Yield (TTM)	0.62%	0.69%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	27.72%	19.00%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Bentley Systems (BSY) at 44.21 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.

BSY

Software & Services industry group

44.21

Max: 112.94
Q3: 60.32
BSY: 44.21
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

Bentley Systems (BSY) vs. Microsoft (MSFT): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Bentley Systems (BSY) at 8.19 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.

BSY

Software & Services industry group

8.19

Max: 17.91
Q3: 8.78
BSY: 8.19
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

Bentley Systems (BSY) 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 Bentley Systems (BSY) at 10.79 carries an above-peer premium to book — BSY is pricier on assets.

BSY

Software & Services industry group

10.79

Max: 16.63
BSY: 10.79
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

Bentley Systems (BSY) vs. Microsoft (MSFT): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Bentley Systems (BSY) and Microsoft (MSFT)
Metric	BSY	MSFT
P/E Ratio (TTM)	44.21	27.69
P/S Ratio (TTM)	8.19	11.37
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	10.79	8.38
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	2.74%	0.08%