DOCU vs. MSFT: DocuSign vs. Microsoft Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do DocuSign (DOCU) 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

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

Company profile comparison for DocuSign (DOCU) and Microsoft (MSFT)
Profile Item	DOCU	MSFT
Name	DocuSign Inc.	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	14.51 billion USD	3,940.41 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	Nasdaq	Nasdaq
Listing Date	April 27, 2018	March 13, 1986
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

DOCU

MSFT

GSPC

DocuSign (DOCU) 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 DocuSign (DOCU) and Microsoft (MSFT). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for DocuSign (DOCU) and Microsoft (MSFT)
Metric	DOCU	MSFT
Total Return (1Y)	12.03%	10.30%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	24.94%	15.53%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	-22.27%	11.01%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

DOCU

MSFT

GSPC

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for DocuSign (DOCU) and Microsoft (MSFT)
Metric	DOCU	MSFT
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	48.32%	33.91%
Beta (5Y)	0.79	1.03
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-86.00%	-37.15%
Avg. Volume (3M)	2.99M	22.95M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

DOCU 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 DocuSign (DOCU) and Microsoft (MSFT)
Metric	DOCU	MSFT
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	0.16	0.18
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	0.23	0.28

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Microsoft (MSFT) at 34.22% sits in the top ROE quartile, while DocuSign (DOCU) at 17.80% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for MSFT.

DOCU

Software & Services industry group

17.80%

Max: 53.85%
Q3: 17.90%
DOCU: 17.80%
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%

DocuSign (DOCU) 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 DocuSign (DOCU) at 9.82%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

DOCU

Software & Services industry group

9.82%

Max: 41.17%
Q3: 15.28%
DOCU: 9.82%
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%

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

Operating Margin (TTM)

Microsoft (MSFT) at 49.76% turns sales into operating profit above its industry’s benchmark range, while DocuSign (DOCU) at 13.43% operates around its industry’s norm.

DOCU

Software & Services industry group

13.43%

Max: 46.89%
Q3: 17.64%
DOCU: 13.43%
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%

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

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for DocuSign (DOCU) and Microsoft (MSFT)
Metric	DOCU	MSFT
ROE (TTM)	17.80%	34.22%
ROA (TTM)	6.35%	14.41%
Net Margin (TTM)	9.82%	41.17%
Operating Margin (TTM)	13.43%	49.76%
Gross Margin (TTM)	79.61%	67.66%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both DocuSign (DOCU) at 8.16% 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.

DocuSign (DOCU) 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 DocuSign (DOCU) at -70.87% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker earnings momentum.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for DocuSign (DOCU) and Microsoft (MSFT)
Metric	DOCU	MSFT
Revenue Growth (YoY)	8.16%	17.79%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	8.57%	16.12%
EPS Growth (YoY)	-70.87%	31.60%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	--	22.86%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Microsoft (MSFT) at 1.23 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while DocuSign (DOCU) at 0.64 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for DOCU.

DOCU

Software & Services industry group

0.64

Max: 5.11
Q3: 2.77
Median: 1.67
Q1: 1.01
DOCU: 0.64
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

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

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both DocuSign (DOCU) at 0.11 and Microsoft (MSFT) at 0.28 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

DOCU

Software & Services industry group

0.11

Max: 2.52
Q3: 1.13
Median: 0.40
DOCU: 0.11
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

DocuSign (DOCU) 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 DocuSign (DOCU) and Microsoft (MSFT)
Metric	DOCU	MSFT
Current Ratio (MRQ)	0.64	1.23
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.11	0.28
Net Debt / EBITDA	-1.35	0.34

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

DocuSign (DOCU) 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.

DOCU

Software & Services industry group

0.00%

DOCU: 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%

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

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

DocuSign (DOCU) 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.

DOCU

Software & Services industry group

0.00%

DOCU: 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%

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

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for DocuSign (DOCU) and Microsoft (MSFT)
Metric	DOCU	MSFT
Dividend Yield (TTM)	0.00%	0.69%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	0.00%	19.00%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both DocuSign (DOCU) at 47.32 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.

DOCU

Software & Services industry group

47.32

Max: 112.94
Q3: 60.32
DOCU: 47.32
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

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

P/S Ratio (TTM)

DocuSign (DOCU) at 4.32 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.

DOCU

Software & Services industry group

4.32

Max: 17.91
Q3: 8.78
DOCU: 4.32
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

DocuSign (DOCU) 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 DocuSign (DOCU) at 8.50 and Microsoft (MSFT) at 8.38 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.

DOCU

Software & Services industry group

8.50

Max: 16.63
DOCU: 8.50
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

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

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for DocuSign (DOCU) and Microsoft (MSFT)
Metric	DOCU	MSFT
P/E Ratio (TTM)	47.32	27.69
P/S Ratio (TTM)	4.32	11.37
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	8.50	8.38
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	9.05%	0.08%