Yes, but we're comparing executives, not companies. Jobs returned to Apple in 1996. Ballmer became CEO of Microsoft in 2000. It's relevant to compare the stock performance under their tenure.
Yeah, I was just responding to a post. What you say must be put in context though. Sure, without Jobs there would be no modern Apple - it's a fact, let alone current growth. However, considering microsoft during and after late 90's you must take into account there was this thing called dot-com bubble. Take a look at Cisco for example, during the same period (late 90's) http://www.google.com/finance?chdnp=1&chdd=1&chds=1&...
I think they were the first company in history worth a trillion dollars if I remember correctly.
edit: or it was a talk about it being the first big T company, can't remember correctly, it was a crazy time with madness like DOW 36,000 and fantasies like that.
