Transformation pays off for investors

Article Excerpt

Microsoft has been one of the stock market’s shining stars during the COVID-19 pandemic. That’s mainly due to CEO Satya Nadella’s 2014 plan to expand the company’s cloud-computing operations. The move has helped it profit during the outbreak as more people work from home. Looking beyond COVID-19, we feel the stock can move higher. Microsoft’s expansion into new growth areas like video conferencing will help to drive that growth. Steady cash flow from selling its software as a subscription also gives the company plenty of room to invest in new products and to raise its dividend. MICROSOFT CORP. $198 is a buy. The company (Nasdaq symbol MSFT; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 7.6 billion; Market cap: $1.5 trillion; Price-to-sales ratio: 10.8; Dividend yield: 1.0%; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; www.microsoft.com) began operating in 1975 and is now the world’s largest computer software company. Its Windows operating system powers about 85% of the world’s personal computers. Microsoft’s other main product—its Office suite, with its…