For Apple vs microsoft please.

4. What is the overall market/economic trend over these three years? Are any of these companies outperforming the market? To do this use an index like the S&P/TSX for Canada (if you are doing Canadian companies) or S&P 500 if you are comparing American companies. Calculate the average rate of return for the index for EACH year over this three year period, and compare the two companys stock price gain/loss to determine how well they performed compared to the overall stock market. All we are doing is seeing by what percentage does the companys stock price change during each year, and does that price change match, meet, or beat the general stock market index gain or loss.