Sentiment toward Microsoft's stock MSFT was already bleak heading into its latest earnings report, and it only got worse despite what Matt Stucky, chief portfolio manager for equities at Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management, called "reasonably good†numbers. Microsoft shares slid 10% on Thursday to log their worst day in more than 12 years. Microsoft's stock hasn't been this cheap in almost three years. But what, exactly, investors should do about that is increasingly a topic of Wall Street debate. ...

Core Insights - Microsoft stock has significantly appreciated over the past decade, making early investors financially independent [1] - A $1,000 investment in Microsoft stock in 2016 would have grown to approximately $10,050 by 2026, reflecting a gain of over 900% [3] - Microsoft is part of the "Magnificent 7" tech stocks, which have all reached a market capitalization of over $1 trillion at some point [6] Investment Performance - On January 15, 2016, Microsoft stock closed at an adjusted price of $44.65 per share [2] - By January 15, 2026, the stock is projected to close at $456.66 per share, resulting in a substantial increase [3] - Investors have also benefited from dividends, with the quarterly dividend increasing from $0.36 in fiscal 2016 to $0.91 currently [4] Analyst Ratings - Analysts remain optimistic about Microsoft, with 53 rating it a "Buy" and an average price target of $629.56, with some expecting it to reach $730 per share [5] - Microsoft is the third-largest company in the S&P 500, indicating its significant presence in major investment funds [7]