Microsoft Boosts Dividend 25 Percent

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Microsoft, in a move to appease stockholders, just announced a a 25 percent increase in its quarterly dividend.

The increase, following a 23 percent hike last year, is on the high-end of the range expected by Wall Street, but still may disappoint some investors hoping for a greater payout from Microsoft's $53 billion pile of cash and short-term investments. The latest increase, payable on December 8 to shareholders of record as of November 15, 2011, means Microsoft's dividend yield is now about 3 percent.
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In before android fanbois, "What percentage of that came from new android devices?"
 
They should take the advice Dell gave to Apple. "What would I do? I'd shut it down and give the money back to the shareholders."
 
So there their saying that they have no possible investments that are worthwhile? What about spending the money on Skype so video chat actually works on android?
 
Hmm.. good reason to buy it.

Even though a lot of people in tech loathe M$... you have to admit they will last quite a long while from now, no?
 
Who knew that threatening people with lawsuits for using Linux could be so profitable?
 
Yes, many tech companies have obvious paths (some long, some you should definitely short... netflix cough)
 
Well thats the price you pay for using "free" software. Google stole those idea's and patents and thought they could get away with it by giving someone elses idea's away for free. It dont work that way, and MS just levels the playing field. Thats the only reason there was such a HUGE boom in Android handsets, and with that gone, it will allow other players on the field.
 
Gibbage said:
Well thats the price you pay for using "free" software. Google stole those idea's and patents and thought they could get away with it by giving someone elses idea's away for free. It dont work that way, and MS just levels the playing field. Thats the only reason there was such a HUGE boom in Android handsets, and with that gone, it will allow other players on the field.
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is this a joke?

are you not following the patent war at all? Do you think google bought motorola for $6bil so it could get all of it's cool ideas and not have to steal them anymore?
 
Gibbage said:
MS just levels the playing field
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MS just shakes down companies with the threat of shipping injunctions and protracted court cases. Even if the patents didn't infringe in any way, the mere threat of years of litigation is all it takes to convince a company to cough up the money.

Paying the protection racket is cheaper than fighting them in court. Some companies (like bleem) have died proving they were right. You don't have to be right in court; you just have to have enough money to outlast your opponent.
 
Dividends aren't a reason for buying a certain stock. This will just keep current shareholders happy.
 
I've always wondered why No one seems to like Microsoft stock all that much. It's not like the company hasn't made money hand over fist for the last 20 years and is still doing very very well and seems to be moving in a profitable direction. Dividends are nice, but it seems like the stock in and of itself never seems to do as well as what their profits and growth show.
 
wtiger said:
I've always wondered why No one seems to like Microsoft stock all that much. It's not like the company hasn't made money hand over fist for the last 20 years and is still doing very very well and seems to be moving in a profitable direction. Dividends are nice, but it seems like the stock in and of itself never seems to do as well as what their profits and growth show.
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This is because M$ is a saturated company. Investors like stock with growth potential. M$ owned over 90% of the desktop market, the question is how can anyone grow past 90% and even if you do you are only looking at 10% gain. Now take google or apple whom 10 years ago had almost nothing. People see possibility of growth because they can double without even blinking and that is why they love google and apple stock and are indifferent to M$ stock. It is sort of a lose lose situation when you are a mature company. What is funny is that if M$ starts really making headway with WP7 you will see their stock go up a small amount but you will see google or apples stock drop fast. The point being you will not see the explosive growth in M$ stock just the imploding crash of their competitors.

However the way a company counteracts this is they pay dividends which is exactly what they are doing, the right thing. Just keep doing the best you can and accept that you need to maintain your dominant position then pay the shareholders a piece of the profit.
 
fattypants said:
Paying the protection racket is cheaper than fighting them in court. Some companies (like bleem) have died proving they were right. You don't have to be right in court; you just have to have enough money to outlast your opponent.
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Good point. Creative's business model was suing its competitors out of business. Creative was able to bankrupt companies, before they won in court.
 
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