SOXX vs. MSFT
SOXX (iShares Semiconductor ETF) is Semiconductors fund tracking the NYSE Semiconductor Index, while MSFT (Microsoft Corporation) is a stock. Over the past 10 years, SOXX returned 35.55%/yr vs 24.39%/yr for MSFT. A 0.58 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined.
Performance
SOXX vs. MSFT - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, SOXX achieves a 98.11% return, which is significantly higher than MSFT's -18.85% return. Over the past 10 years, SOXX has outperformed MSFT with an annualized return of 35.55%, while MSFT has yielded a comparatively lower 24.39% annualized return.
SOXX
- 1D
- 1.59%
- 1M
- 12.86%
- YTD
- 98.11%
- 6M
- 99.51%
- 1Y
- 164.50%
- 3Y*
- 53.00%
- 5Y*
- 33.69%
- 10Y*
- 35.55%
MSFT
- 1D
- 0.10%
- 1M
- -3.36%
- YTD
- -18.85%
- 6M
- -17.98%
- 1Y
- -17.75%
- 3Y*
- 6.16%
- 5Y*
- 9.56%
- 10Y*
- 24.39%
SOXX vs. MSFT - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SOXX iShares Semiconductor ETF | 98.11% | 40.74% | 12.92% | 67.12% | -35.09% | 44.09% | 52.72% | 62.42% | -6.49% | 39.79% |
MSFT Microsoft Corporation | -18.85% | 15.58% | 12.93% | 58.19% | -28.02% | 52.48% | 42.53% | 57.56% | 20.80% | 40.73% |
Correlation
The correlation between SOXX and MSFT is 0.18, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.18 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.43 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.57 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.60 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jul 13, 2001 | 0.58 |
Over the past year, the correlation between SOXX and MSFT has dropped to 0.18 - well below their long-term average of 0.58, suggesting their price drivers have been diverging.
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Return for Risk
SOXX vs. MSFT — Risk / Return Rank
SOXX
MSFT
SOXX vs. MSFT - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX) and Microsoft Corporation (MSFT). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.
Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.
| SOXX | MSFT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +5.13 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +5.22 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.62 | 0.89 | +0.73 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 10.50 | -0.53 | +11.02 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 38.20 | -1.08 | +39.28 |
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Drawdowns
SOXX vs. MSFT - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum SOXX drawdown since its inception was -70.21%, roughly equal to the maximum MSFT drawdown of -69.38%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for SOXX and MSFT.
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Drawdown Indicators
| SOXX | MSFT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -70.21% | -69.38% | -0.83% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -15.77% | -33.91% | +18.14% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -41.36% | -33.91% | -7.45% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -45.75% | -37.15% | -8.60% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -45.75% | -37.15% | -8.60% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -3.16% | -27.46% | +24.30% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -19.95% | -21.78% | +1.83% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 4.33% | 16.48% | -12.15% |
Volatility
SOXX vs. MSFT - Volatility Comparison
iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX) has a higher volatility of 19.42% compared to Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) at 10.52%. This indicates that SOXX's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than MSFT based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| SOXX | MSFT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 19.42% | 10.52% | +8.90% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 31.46% | 22.31% | +9.15% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 37.35% | 25.42% | +11.93% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 36.73% | 26.66% | +10.07% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 33.77% | 27.06% | +6.71% |
Dividends
SOXX vs. MSFT - Dividend Comparison
SOXX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.28%, less than MSFT's 0.91% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MSFT Microsoft Corporation | 0.91% | 0.70% | 0.73% | 0.74% | 1.06% | 0.68% | 0.94% | 1.20% | 1.69% | 1.86% | 2.37% | 2.33% |
SOXX iShares Semiconductor ETF | 0.28% | 0.57% | 0.67% | 0.78% | 1.26% | 0.64% | 0.81% | 1.23% | 1.37% | 0.90% | 1.08% | 1.29% |
Frequently Asked Questions
SOXX and MSFT have a correlation of 0.18, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
SOXX has higher volatility (19.42%) compared to MSFT (10.52%). In terms of maximum drawdown, SOXX dropped -70.21% vs MSFT's -69.38%.
SOXX currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (4.43 vs -0.70), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.
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