Microsoft investors 'hang on to dream' |
Register here for our next TechFlash Live networking event, March 23, featuring an expert panel discussing the future of online advertising.
Microsoft investors 'hang on to dream'
Karen Robbins listens to Steve Ballmer.
Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer is an optimistic guy, particularly about the company he runs. During the Q&A session at the company's annual meeting today, one shareholder tried to hold him accountable for the positive outlook he's given in the past.
"I love Microsoft. I believe in the company. It is my only individual stock still left in my portfolio," said investor Karen Robbins of Seattle. "I'm still hanging on to Microsoft and the dream. ... I remember I sat in this very same room, several years ago, and I believe it was Mr. Steve Ballmer who said, 'The best is yet to come.' So, Mr. Ballmer, what year do you predict the best is yet to come?"
As the audience applauded, a smiling Ballmer replied, "For Microsoft, every year is better than the last one."
That was about as contentious as it got during Microsoft's annual meeting of shareholders this morning in Bellevue. Afterward, some investors expressed disappointment in the company's share price, which was stagnant long before the recent economic turmoil. But despite the stock's performance, they said they're still optimistic about Microsoft's long-term prospects.
"It's sort of been flat for a while, but it's a large company," said Ann Gruber of Post Falls, Idaho. "We feel very positive about Microsoft."
Jack Nash of Bellevue, who has owned Microsoft shares since the early 1990s, offered a similar take. He said he is enthusiastic about Microsoft but hoping to see the company come up with new technologies that will improve its financial position.
"Hopefully the economic situation will improve and they'll come out with something that will liven up the stock," he said.
For the record, it hasn't happened yet. Microsoft shares fell with the broader market today, closing at $18.29, down more than 6.7 percent on the day.
Earlier: Ballmer: No Yahoo acquisition, but Microsoft still open to search deal
About Todd Bishop
Todd Bishop is co-founder and managing editor of TechFlash. He has covered Microsoft and the technology industry for more than five years, most recently as a daily newspaper reporter and blogger based in Seattle.
READ FULL BIOGRAPHYRecent Sponsor Posts
Seattle University Software Engineering
Chinwe Okeke (MSE’08) pursued her graduate degree while working as a developer and technical analyst for the Boeing Company. She picked the SU-MSE program for small class sizes and real world learning opportunities offered through the academic service-learning and capstone projects.
The MSE program at Seattle University is geared for working professionals with classes offered in the evenings. The program builds upon the computing experience of its students and offers courses in a variety of technical and management areas of software engineering, with an emphasis on teamwork and a disciplined approach to problem solving.
Marchex is one of Seattle’s largest ad technology companies with 300+ employees providing call and click based performance marketing products, and managing over $100m in ad budget for tens of thousands of advertisers. Our customers range from local businesses to the Fortune 500.
Our talented and creative product engineering group is hiring.
If you are an innovative software design engineer interested in solving difficult problems at scale, across a wide array of technologies from Lucene to Hadoop to Asterisk and SIP then we’d love to hear from you!
Apply now.
Technology Tax Planning – Did You Take The Deduction?
Technology companies require professional advisors who can assist in all aspects of the business. The BDO Technology Practice provides a full range of services tailored to help address the changing needs of domestic and international companies. In addition to core audit and tax services, BDO professionals can assist technology companies with:
· Revenue recognition
· Business combination accounting
· R&D tax credits
· Compensation and benefits
· Business valuations
Backed by 38 national offices and an international network in 110 countries, we have the domestic and global footprint to serve growing technology companies. Contact sphilpott@bdo.com (audit partner), mreeves@bdo.com (audit partner), psmith@bdo.com (tax partner), tzambito@bdovaluation.us.com (valuation), tfiscus@bdo.com, Director, 206.624.2020
Job Listings
- LEAD SDET, Mobile Device Strategy and Commercialization - 705105
- Microsoft Corporation
- Sr. SDE - 712257
- Microsoft Corporation
- Principal SDE - Software Development Engineer - External - 704722
- Microsoft Corporation
- Software Development Engineer - Display Advertising
- Business Services Company
- Principal IT / OPS Program Mgr - 711209
- Microsoft Corporation
