CRCL vs. MSFT: Circle Internet vs. Microsoft Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Circle Internet (CRCL) 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

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

Microsoft (MSFT) carries decades of public-market history since March 13, 1986, while Circle Internet (CRCL) listed on June 5, 2025 — long-window comparisons have far more historical data on the MSFT side.

Company profile comparison for Circle Internet (CRCL) and Microsoft (MSFT)
Profile Item	CRCL	MSFT
Name	Circle Internet Group, Inc. Class A	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	17.41 billion USD	3,940.41 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	Nasdaq
Listing Date	June 5, 2025	March 13, 1986
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

CRCL

MSFT

GSPC

Circle Internet (CRCL) 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 Circle Internet (CRCL) and Microsoft (MSFT). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Circle Internet (CRCL) and Microsoft (MSFT)
Metric	CRCL	MSFT
Total Return (1Y)	-33.88%	10.30%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	--	15.53%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	--	11.01%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

CRCL

MSFT

GSPC

Circle Internet (CRCL) 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 Circle Internet (CRCL) and Microsoft (MSFT). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Circle Internet (CRCL) and Microsoft (MSFT)
Metric	CRCL	MSFT
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	96.01%	33.91%
Beta (5Y)	0.84	1.03
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-80.93%	-37.15%
Avg. Volume (3M)	12.74M	22.95M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

CRCL 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 Circle Internet (CRCL) and Microsoft (MSFT)
Metric	CRCL	MSFT
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	-0.40	0.18
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	-0.61	0.28

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Microsoft (MSFT) at 34.22% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Circle Internet (CRCL) at 13.44% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for MSFT.

CRCL

Software & Services industry group

13.44%

Max: 53.85%
Q3: 17.90%
CRCL: 13.44%
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%

Circle Internet (CRCL) vs. Microsoft (MSFT): A comparison of their ROE against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Microsoft (MSFT) at 41.17% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Circle Internet (CRCL) at 15.28%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

CRCL

Software & Services industry group

15.28%

Max: 41.17%
CRCL: 15.28%
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%

Circle Internet (CRCL) 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 Circle Internet (CRCL) at 24.09% also operates in the top quartile.

CRCL

Software & Services industry group

24.09%

Max: 46.89%
CRCL: 24.09%
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%

Circle Internet (CRCL) vs. Microsoft (MSFT): A comparison of their operating margin against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Circle Internet (CRCL) and Microsoft (MSFT)
Metric	CRCL	MSFT
ROE (TTM)	13.44%	34.22%
ROA (TTM)	0.28%	14.41%
Net Margin (TTM)	15.28%	41.17%
Operating Margin (TTM)	24.09%	49.76%
Gross Margin (TTM)	26.58%	67.66%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Circle Internet (CRCL) at 63.86% clears its industry range for revenue growth, far stronger top-line momentum than Microsoft (MSFT) at 17.79%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.

Circle Internet (CRCL) vs. Microsoft (MSFT): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Microsoft (MSFT) at 31.60% is around its peer norm for EPS growth, while Circle Internet (CRCL) at -640.54% falls below its industry range, a notably weak earnings reading.

Circle Internet (CRCL) vs. Microsoft (MSFT): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Circle Internet (CRCL) and Microsoft (MSFT)
Metric	CRCL	MSFT
Revenue Growth (YoY)	63.86%	17.79%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	52.66%	16.12%
EPS Growth (YoY)	-640.54%	31.60%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	--	22.86%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Circle Internet (CRCL) at 1.04 and Microsoft (MSFT) at 1.23 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

CRCL

Software & Services industry group

1.04

Max: 5.11
Q3: 2.77
Median: 1.67
CRCL: 1.04
Q1: 1.01
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

Circle Internet (CRCL) vs. Microsoft (MSFT): A comparison of their current ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Circle Internet (CRCL) at 0.00 keeps leverage in the lower industry quartile, while Microsoft (MSFT) at 0.28 runs a more typical debt-to-equity mix.

CRCL

Software & Services industry group

0.00

Max: 2.52
Q3: 1.13
Median: 0.40
Q1: 0.07
CRCL: 0.00
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

Circle Internet (CRCL) 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 Circle Internet (CRCL) and Microsoft (MSFT)
Metric	CRCL	MSFT
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.04	1.23
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.00	0.28
Net Debt / EBITDA	-4.68	0.34

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Circle Internet (CRCL) 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.

CRCL

Software & Services industry group

0.00%

CRCL: 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%

Circle Internet (CRCL) vs. Microsoft (MSFT): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Circle Internet (CRCL) 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.

CRCL

Software & Services industry group

0.00%

CRCL: 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%

Circle Internet (CRCL) vs. Microsoft (MSFT): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Circle Internet (CRCL) and Microsoft (MSFT)
Metric	CRCL	MSFT
Dividend Yield (TTM)	0.00%	0.69%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	0.00%	19.00%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Circle Internet (CRCL) at 40.89 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.

CRCL

Software & Services industry group

40.89

Max: 112.94
Q3: 60.32
CRCL: 40.89
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

Circle Internet (CRCL) vs. Microsoft (MSFT): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Circle Internet (CRCL) at 5.75 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.

CRCL

Software & Services industry group

5.75

Max: 17.91
Q3: 8.78
CRCL: 5.75
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

Circle Internet (CRCL) vs. Microsoft (MSFT): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

On P/B ratio, both Circle Internet (CRCL) at 4.50 and Microsoft (MSFT) at 8.38 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.

CRCL

Software & Services industry group

4.50

Max: 16.63
Q3: 8.50
CRCL: 4.50
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

Circle Internet (CRCL) vs. Microsoft (MSFT): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Circle Internet (CRCL) and Microsoft (MSFT)
Metric	CRCL	MSFT
P/E Ratio (TTM)	40.89	27.69
P/S Ratio (TTM)	5.75	11.37
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	4.50	8.38
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	1.43%	0.08%