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MSFT vs. PS: Microsoft vs. Pershing Square Stock Comparison

How do Microsoft (MSFT) and Pershing Square (PS) 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

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

Microsoft (MSFT) has been public since March 13, 1986, giving it decades of market history across multiple cycles, while Pershing Square (PS) listed only on April 29, 2026 and lacks comparable through-cycle data.

Company profile comparison for Microsoft (MSFT) and Pershing Square (PS)
Profile ItemMSFTPS
NameMicrosoft Corporation Common StockPluralsight Inc
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorInformation TechnologyInformation Technology
GICS Industry GroupSoftware & ServicesSoftware & Services
GICS IndustrySoftwareSoftware
GICS Sub-IndustrySystems SoftwareApplication Software
Market Capitalization3,940.41 billion USD20.58 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNasdaq
Listing DateMarch 13, 1986April 29, 2026
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

MSFT
PS
GSPC
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Microsoft (MSFT) vs. Pershing Square (PS), 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 Microsoft (MSFT) and Pershing Square (PS). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Microsoft (MSFT) and Pershing Square (PS)
MetricMSFTPS
Total Return (1Y)10.30%--
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)15.53%--
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)11.01%--

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

MSFT
PS
GSPC
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Microsoft (MSFT) vs. Pershing Square (PS), 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 Microsoft (MSFT) and Pershing Square (PS). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Pershing Square (PS) carries a highly aggressive beta of 6.25, indicating much higher sensitivity to broad-market moves, whereas Microsoft (MSFT) is closer to market-like at 1.03 — a noticeable difference in market-sensitivity profile.

Microsoft (MSFT) is heavily traded at around 22.95M shares per day, whereas Pershing Square (PS) sees a more moderate 428.47K — larger orders in the latter may require more patience and tighter control over order sizing.

Risk profile metrics for Microsoft (MSFT) and Pershing Square (PS)
MetricMSFTPS
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)33.91%100.16%
Beta (5Y)1.036.25
Max Drawdown (5Y)-37.15%-43.14%
Avg. Volume (3M)22.95M428.47K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

Both MSFT and PS need 1-year volatility and 1-year return to plot risk-return positioning.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Microsoft (MSFT) and Pershing Square (PS)
MetricMSFTPS
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.18--
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.28--

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Capital efficiency shows on one side only: Microsoft (MSFT) earns 34.22% on shareholders’ equity, ranked against its industry; Pershing Square (PS) has no ROE this period.

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%

PS

Software & Services industry group

--

Max
53.85%
Q3
17.90%
Median
6.59%
Q1
-9.59%
Min
-50.52%
PS
--
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Microsoft (MSFT) vs. Pershing Square (PS): PS does not report ROE, so it has no value marker; MSFT is benchmarked against the Software & Services industry group.

Net Margin (TTM)

Pershing Square (PS) reports a negative net margin of -20.98%, usually indicating a net loss over the period. Meanwhile Microsoft (MSFT) reports 41.17%, ranking against industry peers normally.

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%

PS

Software & Services industry group

-20.98%

Max
41.17%
Q3
15.28%
Median
4.63%
Q1
-5.42%
PS
-20.98%
Min
-33.17%
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Microsoft (MSFT) vs. Pershing Square (PS): A comparison of their net margin against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Pershing Square (PS) reports a negative operating margin of -35.45%, usually indicating that operating costs exceeded revenue at the operating-income line. Meanwhile Microsoft (MSFT) reports 49.76%, ranking against industry peers normally.

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%

PS

Software & Services industry group

-35.45%

Max
46.89%
Q3
17.64%
Median
8.73%
Q1
-2.13%
Min
-30.45%
PS
-35.45%
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Microsoft (MSFT) vs. Pershing Square (PS): A comparison of their operating margin against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Microsoft (MSFT) and Pershing Square (PS)
MetricMSFTPS
ROE (TTM)34.22%--
ROA (TTM)14.41%--
Net Margin (TTM)41.17%-20.98%
Operating Margin (TTM)49.76%-35.45%
Gross Margin (TTM)67.66%24.74%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Pershing Square (PS) at 64.66% 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.

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Microsoft (MSFT) vs. Pershing Square (PS): 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; Pershing Square (PS) has no EPS growth figure this period.

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Microsoft (MSFT) vs. Pershing Square (PS): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Microsoft (MSFT) and Pershing Square (PS)
MetricMSFTPS
Revenue Growth (YoY)17.79%64.66%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)16.12%--
EPS Growth (YoY)31.60%--
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)22.86%--

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Short-term liquidity can only be read on one side of this pairing: Microsoft (MSFT) shows current ratio of 1.23 against its industry benchmark, while Pershing Square (PS) has no reading this period.

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

PS

Software & Services industry group

--

Max
5.11
Q3
2.77
Median
1.67
Q1
1.01
Min
0.03
PS
--
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Microsoft (MSFT) vs. Pershing Square (PS): PS does not report current ratio, so it has no value marker; MSFT is benchmarked against the Software & Services industry group.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Microsoft (MSFT) at 0.28 and Pershing Square (PS) at 0.18 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

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

PS

Software & Services industry group

0.18

Max
2.52
Q3
1.13
Median
0.40
PS
0.18
Q1
0.07
Min
0.00
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Microsoft (MSFT) vs. Pershing Square (PS): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Microsoft (MSFT) and Pershing Square (PS)
MetricMSFTPS
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.23--
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.280.18
Net Debt / EBITDA0.344.35

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Microsoft (MSFT) at 0.69% and Pershing Square (PS) at 0.24% yield above their industries’ entire benchmark ranges — high enough that dividend safety, not income, becomes the first question.

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%

PS

Software & Services industry group

0.24%

PS
0.24%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Microsoft (MSFT) vs. Pershing Square (PS): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Pershing Square (PS) reports a negative payout ratio of -10.99%, usually because earnings are negative; the payout ratio is not a useful dividend-sustainability benchmark in that state. Meanwhile Microsoft (MSFT) reports 19.00%, ranking against industry peers normally.

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%

PS

Software & Services industry group

-10.99%

Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
PS
-10.99%
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Microsoft (MSFT) vs. Pershing Square (PS): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Microsoft (MSFT) and Pershing Square (PS)
MetricMSFTPS
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.69%0.24%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)19.00%-10.99%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

An earnings multiple is available for just one side: Microsoft (MSFT) trades at 27.69 times trailing earnings, ranked against its peers, while Pershing Square (PS) has no P/E ratio this period.

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

PS

Software & Services industry group

--

Max
112.94
Q3
60.32
Median
32.91
Q1
18.77
Min
6.69
PS
--
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Microsoft (MSFT) vs. Pershing Square (PS): PS does not report P/E ratio, so it has no value marker; MSFT is benchmarked against the Software & Services industry group.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Both look expensive on sales: Microsoft (MSFT) at 11.37 sits in the upper P/S ratio quartile, and Pershing Square (PS) at 27.11 prices even higher, above its industry range.

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

PS

Software & Services industry group

27.11

PS
27.11
Max
17.91
Q3
8.78
Median
4.25
Q1
2.23
Min
0.02
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Microsoft (MSFT) vs. Pershing Square (PS): 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 Pershing Square (PS) at 15.12 carries an above-peer premium to book — PS is pricier on assets.

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

PS

Software & Services industry group

15.12

Max
16.63
PS
15.12
Q3
8.50
Median
4.30
Q1
1.92
Min
-3.90
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Microsoft (MSFT) vs. Pershing Square (PS): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Microsoft (MSFT) and Pershing Square (PS)
MetricMSFTPS
P/E Ratio (TTM)27.69--
P/S Ratio (TTM)11.3727.11
P/B Ratio (MRQ)8.3815.12
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)0.08%--