Microsoft’s stock may extend a record stretch of lagging performance that’s ignited fierce debate

Microsoft’s stock may extend a record stretch of lagging performance that’s ignited fierce debateListen(3 min)Listen(3 min)Microsoft’s stock is on track to trail the S&P 500 for the eighth month in a row, reflecting a continued loss of faith in the company’s artificial-intelligence efforts. While Microsoft shares MSFT edged 0.6% higher on Monday, they’ve lost roughly 9% so far in March, while the S&P 500 SPX has declined roughly 8% on a month-to-date basis. If Microsoft shares end March with lagging relative performance, that would extend a record streak of monthly underperformance to eight months, according to Jefferies trading-desk analyst Jeffrey Favuzza and confirmed by Dow Jones Market Data.About the AuthorHannah Pedone is a New York–based technology reporter for MarketWatch.A Dow Jones CompanyCopyright © 2026 MarketWatch, Inc. All rights reserved.