Here’s a clear comparison of MSN Money, Yahoo Finance, and Google Finance—highlighting how they differ in terms of content, tools, and audience focus:
MSN
Money / MSN Money (Microsoft)
- Overview: MSN is a
broad Microsoft-run web portal featuring news, weather, sports, and
finance sections. The finance part, often called MSN Money, offers
a range of personal finance tools.(Dividend
Earner)
- Key Features:
- Stock
tickers and market updates (with approximately 30-minute delays)
- Watchlists
for tracking public companies
- Financial
calculators (currency converter, mortgage planner, ROI tools)
- Tools
for tracking finances and browsing bonds and other assets(Wikipedia)
- Best For: Users
seeking a visually intuitive finance hub within a broader portal. Great
for casual use, not deep analytics.
Yahoo
Finance
- Overview: A
dedicated finance platform launched in 1997, now one of the most popular
financial news and research websites.(Wikipedia)
- Key Features:
- Comprehensive coverage:
real-time quotes, news, press releases, earnings reports, and original
content by staff journalists(Wikipedia)
- Portfolio and Watchlist
Tools: build and manage investments with interactive charts
and screening tools(Dividend
Earner)
- Video Programming:
live finance shows and video content across various platforms including
YouTube, TV apps, etc.(Wikipedia)
- Subscriber Perks:
Offers a premium subscription for advanced charting, analysis, and
portfolio tools(Tech Life Unity)
- Best For: Serious
investors wanting a wealth of data, analytical tools, and market news in
one place.
Google
Finance
- Overview: Google’s
financial portal, first launched in 2006 and significantly redesigned
around 2020 in a move toward simplicity and usability.(Wikipedia)
- Key Features:
- Clean,
minimalist design designed for ease-of-use
- Real-time
quotes, trends, news, and key metrics like market cap and P/E ratios(Wikipedia)
- Portfolio & Watchlist:
track investments and compare performance
- Event Integration:
Links with Google Calendar for earnings and corporate events
- “Playground” Mode:
Simulated trading without real money(Wikipedia)
- Search Integration:
When you type a ticker into Google, it surfaces key info powered by
Google Finance(Wikipedia)
- Limitations: Lacks
in-depth charting tools, advanced trading indicators, and detailed
financial data like Level 2 quotes or extensive filings(Wikipedia)
Community
Insights: Calculation & Data Differences
On Reddit, users noted that Google Finance and Yahoo Finance use different formulas
for calculating returns—Google uses opening price at start and
closing price at end, while Yahoo relies on closing prices only, resulting in
different return percentages.(reddit.com)
Also, historical discussions mention that MSN and Google Finance may not adjust for dividends or stock
splits, unlike Yahoo Finance, which typically does—making Yahoo a
more reliable source for long-term data analysis.(elitetrader.com)
Quick
Feature Comparison
|
Feature
/ Aspect |
MSN
Money |
Yahoo
Finance |
Google
Finance |
|
Launch |
As part of MSN portal |
1997 |
2006 (redesign in 2020) |
|
Target Audience |
Casual / portal users |
Investors seeking depth |
Casual and new investors |
|
News & Analysis |
Curated feeds via MSN portal |
Extensive original journalism & videos |
Summarized, simple format |
|
Portfolio Tools |
Basic watchlists, calculators |
Advanced tracking, premium features |
Watchlists, simulated investing |
|
Charting & Indicators |
Basic graphs (no splits/dividend adjustments) |
Advanced, dividend/split-adjusted charts |
Minimalist charting |
|
Unique Features |
Financial calculators, integrated finance tools |
Live broadcasts, crypto, stock screeners |
Google Calendar sync, alerts, search integration |
|
Data Accuracy |
Moderate (delayed, limited adjustments) |
High (adjusted and verified) |
Clean but limited |
Which
One Should You Use?
- For casual finance and ease
of use: Google
Finance—great for quick lookups and simple tracking.
- For comprehensive data and
tools: Yahoo
Finance—ideal if you want in-depth analysis and portfolio
management.
- For integrated, tool-rich
experience within a portal: MSN Money—best if you use MSN for news,
weather, etc., and want finance tools included.
Let me know if you want a deeper dive into any platform—like how to use their watchlists, screeners, or how they handle international markets!