CRWD vs. MSFT: CrowdStrike vs. Microsoft Stock Comparison

September 7, 2026

How do CrowdStrike (CRWD) 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

CrowdStrike (CRWD) and Microsoft (MSFT) are both classified in the Systems Software sub-industry within the broader Software industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.

Company profile comparison for CrowdStrike (CRWD) and Microsoft (MSFT)
Profile Item	CRWD	MSFT
Name	CrowdStrike Holdings Inc. Class A 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	Systems Software	Systems Software
Market Capitalization	218.20 billion USD	3,710.55 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	Nasdaq	Nasdaq
Listing Date	June 12, 2019	March 13, 1986
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

CRWD

MSFT

GSPC

CrowdStrike (CRWD) 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 CrowdStrike (CRWD) and Microsoft (MSFT). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for CrowdStrike (CRWD) and Microsoft (MSFT)
Metric	CRWD	MSFT
Total Return (1Y)	106.66%	-0.82%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	74.21%	15.88%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	25.10%	11.57%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

CRWD

MSFT

GSPC

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for CrowdStrike (CRWD) and Microsoft (MSFT)
Metric	CRWD	MSFT
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	54.03%	32.50%
Beta (5Y)	1.22	1.10
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-67.69%	-37.15%
Avg. Volume (3M)	10.57M	36.60M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

CRWD 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 CrowdStrike (CRWD) and Microsoft (MSFT)
Metric	CRWD	MSFT
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	1.90	-0.15
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	3.16	-0.23

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Microsoft (MSFT) at 34.04% sits in the top ROE quartile, while CrowdStrike (CRWD) at 1.46% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for MSFT.

CRWD

Software & Services industry group

1.46%

Max: 62.95%
Q3: 18.06%
Median: 5.27%
CRWD: 1.46%
Q1: -14.02%
Min: -59.77%

MSFT

Software & Services industry group

34.04%

Max: 62.95%
MSFT: 34.04%
Q3: 18.06%
Median: 5.27%
Q1: -14.02%
Min: -59.77%

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

Net Margin (TTM)

Microsoft (MSFT) at 40.31% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of CrowdStrike (CRWD) at 0.83%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

CRWD

Software & Services industry group

0.83%

Max: 41.43%
Q3: 14.96%
Median: 3.57%
CRWD: 0.83%
Q1: -6.01%
Min: -35.38%

MSFT

Software & Services industry group

40.31%

Max: 41.43%
MSFT: 40.31%
Q3: 14.96%
Median: 3.57%
Q1: -6.01%
Min: -35.38%

CrowdStrike (CRWD) vs. Microsoft (MSFT): A comparison of their net margin against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

CrowdStrike (CRWD) reports a negative operating margin of -2.26%, usually indicating that operating costs exceeded revenue at the operating-income line. Meanwhile Microsoft (MSFT) reports 45.11%, ranking against industry peers normally.

CRWD

Software & Services industry group

-2.26%

Max: 47.12%
Q3: 15.43%
Median: 4.85%
CRWD: -2.26%
Q1: -7.31%
Min: -39.13%

MSFT

Software & Services industry group

45.11%

Max: 47.12%
MSFT: 45.11%
Q3: 15.43%
Median: 4.85%
Q1: -7.31%
Min: -39.13%

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

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for CrowdStrike (CRWD) and Microsoft (MSFT)
Metric	CRWD	MSFT
ROE (TTM)	1.46%	34.04%
ROA (TTM)	-0.78%	14.09%
Net Margin (TTM)	0.83%	40.31%
Operating Margin (TTM)	-2.26%	45.11%
Gross Margin (TTM)	75.19%	67.94%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both CrowdStrike (CRWD) at 21.71% 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.

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

EPS Growth

Only one side can be read here: Microsoft (MSFT) reports EPS growth of 31.60%, ranked against its industry; CrowdStrike (CRWD) has no EPS growth figure this period.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for CrowdStrike (CRWD) and Microsoft (MSFT)
Metric	CRWD	MSFT
Revenue Growth (YoY)	21.71%	17.79%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	29.01%	16.12%
EPS Growth (YoY)	--	31.60%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	--	22.86%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both CrowdStrike (CRWD) at 1.57 and Microsoft (MSFT) at 1.23 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

CRWD

Software & Services industry group

1.57

Max: 5.39
Q3: 2.83
Median: 1.63
CRWD: 1.57
Q1: 1.01
Min: 0.03

MSFT

Software & Services industry group

1.23

Max: 5.39
Q3: 2.83
Median: 1.63
MSFT: 1.23
Q1: 1.01
Min: 0.03

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

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both CrowdStrike (CRWD) at 0.16 and Microsoft (MSFT) at 0.29 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

CRWD

Software & Services industry group

0.16

Max: 2.62
Q3: 1.10
Median: 0.35
CRWD: 0.16
Q1: 0.06
Min: 0.00

MSFT

Software & Services industry group

0.29

Max: 2.62
Q3: 1.10
Median: 0.35
MSFT: 0.29
Q1: 0.06
Min: 0.00

CrowdStrike (CRWD) 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 CrowdStrike (CRWD) and Microsoft (MSFT)
Metric	CRWD	MSFT
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.57	1.23
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.16	0.29
Net Debt / EBITDA	-39.24	0.27

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

CrowdStrike (CRWD) 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 0.71%, ranking against industry peers normally.

CRWD

Software & Services industry group

0.00%

CRWD: 0.00%
Max: 0.00%
Q3: 0.00%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

MSFT

Software & Services industry group

0.71%

MSFT: 0.71%
Max: 0.00%
Q3: 0.00%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

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

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

CrowdStrike (CRWD) 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 19.83%, ranking against industry peers normally.

CRWD

Software & Services industry group

0.00%

CRWD: 0.00%
Max: 0.00%
Q3: 0.00%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

MSFT

Software & Services industry group

19.83%

MSFT: 19.83%
Max: 0.00%
Q3: 0.00%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

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

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for CrowdStrike (CRWD) and Microsoft (MSFT)
Metric	CRWD	MSFT
Dividend Yield (TTM)	0.00%	0.71%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	0.00%	19.83%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Microsoft (MSFT) at 27.85 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while CrowdStrike (CRWD) at 5,327.50 sits above its peer range — an unusually expensive price for CRWD’s trailing earnings.

CRWD

Software & Services industry group

5,327.50

CRWD: 5,327.50
Max: 107.29
Q3: 58.41
Median: 31.75
Q1: 16.98
Min: 0.36

MSFT

Software & Services industry group

27.85

Max: 107.29
Q3: 58.41
Median: 31.75
MSFT: 27.85
Q1: 16.98
Min: 0.36

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

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Both look expensive on sales: Microsoft (MSFT) at 11.18 sits in the upper P/S ratio quartile, and CrowdStrike (CRWD) at 40.44 prices even higher, above its industry range.

CRWD

Software & Services industry group

40.44

CRWD: 40.44
Max: 20.34
Q3: 9.61
Median: 4.72
Q1: 2.37
Min: 0.02

MSFT

Software & Services industry group

11.18

Max: 20.34
MSFT: 11.18
Q3: 9.61
Median: 4.72
Q1: 2.37
Min: 0.02

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

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Microsoft (MSFT) at 8.39 sits near its industry’s typical P/B ratio, while CrowdStrike (CRWD) at 42.77 prices above its benchmark range — CRWD looks rich relative to book.

CRWD

Software & Services industry group

42.77

CRWD: 42.77
Max: 19.49
Q3: 9.71
Median: 4.50
Q1: 2.11
Min: -4.91

MSFT

Software & Services industry group

8.39

Max: 19.49
Q3: 9.71
MSFT: 8.39
Median: 4.50
Q1: 2.11
Min: -4.91

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

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for CrowdStrike (CRWD) and Microsoft (MSFT)
Metric	CRWD	MSFT
P/E Ratio (TTM)	5,327.50	27.85
P/S Ratio (TTM)	40.44	11.18
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	42.77	8.39
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	0.91%	0.45%