Microsoft (MSFT) Stock: Reddit Investors Feel the Pain of a 4-Year Flat Return

MSFT stock has returned just 4.4% since November 2021, a period that saw the stock drop 25% this year alone, according to a r/stocks post.
Reddit traders on r/wallstreetbets are sharing their frustration with averaging down and selling calls to manage losses.
A broad market sell-off on March 27, 2026, pushed the Nasdaq into correction territory, with crude oil surging above $110 per barrel.

MSFT's Stagnant Four-Year Run

A post on r/stocks highlighted a striking comparison:

$MSFT on November 19, 2021, was $343.11. On March 27, 2026, it was $358.56 — a total return of just 4.4% over four years. The post noted the stock has dropped 25% this year alone, calling the performance "mind-blowing" given the company's market position. The post's author picked a peak period in 2021, but the flat return still underscores the frustration among retail investors.

On r/wallstreetbets, multiple posts with the title "Microsoft Pounding" shared similar stories. One trader with 1,419 upvotes and 197 comments described becoming a long-term

$MSFT investor after trying to scalp vacation money. Another post with 32 upvotes detailed a strategy of averaging down and selling calls to bring the cost basis down to roughly $414, while warning others: "if you think it can't go lower, just check and see if I own it."

Broader Market Context

The same-day news context adds to the picture. On March 27, 2026, the Dow Jones fell nearly 800 points and the S&P 500 posted its fifth consecutive weekly loss, the worst streak since 2022. The sell-off was driven by crude oil surging above $110 per barrel amid geopolitical tensions, with the Strait of Hormuz closed. The Nasdaq entered correction territory, falling over 10% from its October high. Energy stocks gained while tech mega-caps declined, with AI spending concerns and lawsuit pressures weighing on the sector.

Despite the broad market downturn, a Motley Fool article on the same day recommended

$MSFT as one of three AI stocks to buy before the next leg up, noting the stock is valued near decade lows despite strong Azure revenue growth of 39% year-over-year.

MSFT

$MSFT

Reddit Sentiment

The sentiment across r/wallstreetbets posts about

$MSFT was mixed but leaning bearish, with an average sentiment of 0.276. The stock's 25% decline this year has turned some short-term traders into long-term holders, as they sell calls to generate income and reduce their cost basis. The overall tone is one of frustration with the stock's inability to break out, even as the company remains one of the largest and most profitable in the world.

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