Satya Nadella and Tim Cook lead the two most valuable companies in the world. Both have delivered extraordinary returns since taking the helm—Nadella at Microsoft in 2014 and Cook at Apple in 2011. But their performance profiles reveal distinct approaches to value creation.
Nadella's CEORaterScore of 81 edges out Cook's CEORaterScore of 75, ranking both well above the S&P 500 average of 54.8. The difference comes down to revenue growth—a metric where Nadella has a commanding lead.
Microsoft
Apple
| Metric | Nadella | Cook |
|---|---|---|
| CEORaterScore | 81 | 75 |
| AlphaScore | 91 | 93 |
| RevenueCAGRScore | 78 | 30 |
| CompScore | D | C |
| TSR During Tenure | 1,311% | 2,200% |
| TSR vs. SPY | 926% | 1,700% |
| Avg Annual TSR | 109% | 152% |
| Avg Annual TSR vs. SPY | 77% | 107% |
| Revenue CAGR | 12.4% | 1.8% |
| Tenure | 12.0 years | 13.5 years |
| FY Compensation | $79.1M | $74.6M |
Stock Performance
Cook holds the edge on stock performance. His AlphaScore of 93 reflects Apple's remarkable 2,200% TSR during tenure, outperforming SPY by approximately 1,700%. Nadella's AlphaScore of 91 represents Microsoft's 1,311% TSR during tenure, outperforming SPY by 926%.
On an annualized basis, Cook's 152% Average Annual TSR (107% vs. SPY) outpaces Nadella's 109% Average Annual TSR (77% vs. SPY). Both demonstrate consistent year-over-year market outperformance throughout their tenures.
Revenue Growth
This is where the profiles diverge dramatically. Nadella's RevenueCAGRScore of 78 reflects a 12.4% Revenue CAGR, driven by Microsoft's aggressive expansion into cloud computing and enterprise services through Azure and Microsoft 365.
Cook's RevenueCAGRScore of 30 reflects a 1.8% Revenue CAGR—a function of Apple's focus on maximizing profitability from a more mature product portfolio rather than top-line growth. The substantial gap in RevenueCAGRScores (78 vs. 30) is the primary driver of the overall CEORaterScore difference.
Compensation Efficiency
Cook holds an advantage on compensation efficiency. His $74.6M in most recent fiscal year compensation earns a CompScore of C, translating to $0.490M cost per 1% of Average Annual TSR.
Nadella's $79.1M compensation earns a CompScore of D, at $0.724M cost per 1% of Average Annual TSR—roughly 48% more expensive per unit of return generated.
The Takeaway: Nadella's higher CEORaterScore (81 vs. 75) is driven by the substantial gap in revenue growth. While Cook delivers stronger stock performance and better compensation efficiency, Nadella's 12.4% Revenue CAGR versus Cook's 1.8% reflects Microsoft's transformation under his leadership—and that revenue growth carries significant weight in the CEORaterScore methodology.
Both CEOs rank well above the median CEORaterScore of 52 for S&P 500 executives, placing them among the elite performers in corporate America.
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