Microsoft (MSFT): seasonality, best and worst months, and drawdowns
Information Technology · 40.6 years of daily prices, Mar 13, 1986 to Oct 29, 2026
Since 1986, MSFT has closed higher in 60% of months and 77% of calendar years. Its strongest month on average has been January (+5.1%), and its weakest February (-0.8%). Its deepest drop was -69%, from Dec 27, 1999 to Mar 9, 2009, and it was back to the old high by Jul 16, 2014.
Average return by calendar month
| Average | Up | Years | |||
| Jan | +5.1% | 65% | 40 | ||
| Feb | -0.8% | 45% | 40 | ||
| Mar | +2.9% | 65% | 40 | ||
| Apr | +3.5% | 68% | 41 | ||
| May | +3.1% | 66% | 41 | ||
| Jun | +1.9% | 56% | 41 | ||
| Jul | +0.3% | 54% | 41 | ||
| Aug | +1.8% | 61% | 41 | ||
| Sep | +0.6% | 59% | 41 | ||
| Oct | +4.9% | 65% | 40 | ||
| Nov | +2.9% | 63% | 40 | ||
| Dec | +1.5% | 57% | 40 | ||
"Up" is the share of years that month closed higher. Unfinished months aren't counted.
Best and worst
| Best | Worst | |
|---|---|---|
| Day | +19.5% Oct 19, 2000 |
-30.1% Oct 19, 1987 |
| Month | +51.5% January 1987 |
-34.4% April 2000 |
| Year | +125% 1987 |
-63% 2000 |
This year so far: +10.1%.
Drawdowns
MSFT has fallen 20% or more from a high 14 times and 10% or more 38 times since 1986. In a typical year it has dropped 20% from that year's high at some point, even in years it ended up.
How it moves
| Days that close higher | 51% |
| Typical daily move (1 std. dev.) | ±2.1% |
| Typical monthly move | ±9.4% |
| Moves beyond 3 std. dev. vs. a bell curve | 5.4× as often |
| Beta to the S&P 500 (5 yrs) | 1.15 |
| Price growth per year | +25.1% |
| ... missing its 10 best days | +21.0% |
Price only, before dividends.
See all of MSFT's stats
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Start the free options lessons →Updated Oct 30, 2026 from daily closing prices. Educational information, not investment advice. Past patterns don't guarantee future results. All stock pages