There are no safe havens in the stock market. Every stock carries risk. But some less than others. This column features stocks that have shown one or more of the following characteristics: less volatility, better earnings, larger market caps, safe and increasing dividends. In these times of turmoil, our goal is to show readers better opportunities for investing with fewer risks.

January 7, 2011 - Microsoft Corporation (MSFT-NASDAQ) develops, licenses, and supports a range of software products and services for various computing devices worldwide.

Windows & Windows Live Division offers PC operating systems that primarily includes Windows 7 and Windows Vista; Windows live suite of applications and Web services; and Microsoft PC hardware products.

Online Services provides online information and content through Bing, MSN portals, and adCenter, as well as Atlas online tools for advertisers. Microsoft Business Division offers Microsoft office; Microsoft Exchange; Microsoft SharePoint; Microsoft Lync; Microsoft Dynamics ERP and CRM; and Microsoft Office Web Apps, as well as office 365, an online service, offering Microsoft Office, Exchange, SharePoint, and Lync.

Entertainment and Devices Division provides the Xbox 360 entertainment platform, which includes the Xbox 360 gaming and entertainment console, Kinect for Xbox 360, Xbox 360 video games, Xbox LIVE, and Xbox 360 accessories; Mediaroom, an Internet protocol television software; and Windows Phone that provide Microsoft Office and Xbox LIVE functionality. It markets and distributes through original equipment manufacturers, distributors, and resellers, as well as online. Microsoft was founded in 1975 and is headquartered in Redmond, Washington.

Latest News:

From Bloomberg: Apple is becoming a favorite of information technology departments, with the popularity of the iPad and Mac computers eroding what businesses are spending on Microsoft machines, according to a new report.

The Cupertino, California-based company will sell $10 billion worth of iPads and $9 billion of Mac computers toenterprise customers this year, a 58 percent jump, Forrester Research said in its global IT market outlook report. By contrast, computers and tablets running Microsoft's Windows software will decline 3 percent this year.

Apple is the "biggest disruptive force in the computer equipment market," Forrester said in the report released today.

The company is leading the so-called consumerization of IT,in which people use technology gadgets for both personal and work tasks. By expanding its leadership in consumer electronicsto business customers, Apple is bucking a global slowdown in IT spending. Forrester estimates that global IT purchases will rise 5 percent to $2.12 trillion in 2012, versus last year's 10 percent growth rate, as companies ratchet back spending amid a sluggish global economy.

Apple doesn't break down how much of its sales are from business customers, though in October it said that 92 percent of Fortune 500 companies are testing or deploying the iPad. Forrester said that Apple isn't doing much to drive the sales and that businesses are adopting its devices because of their popularity for personal use.

"The Apple assault on the corporate market has so far taken place without much formal Apple support, and probably with Apple itself understanding its full extent," Forrester said.

Microsoft software and Intel Corp. semiconductors still dominate the corporate market. Businesses are projected to buy $69 billion worth of Windows-Intel PCs and tablets in 2012, and $68 billion in 2013, the report said. Apple's Mac and iPad sales to businesses will total $28 billion in 2013, according to Forrester.

Expectations:

- Fourth quarter 2011: 77 cents vs 77 cents in 2010's fourth period. Earnings will be announced on January 19.
- Fulll year, 2011: $2.74 compared to $2.69.
- Full year, 2012: $3.03

Important Numbers 

- Trailing P/E: 10.22
- Forward P/E: 9.28
- Price to sales ratio: 3.27
- Price to book: 3.92
- Operating margin: 38.78%
- Profit margin: 33.01%
- Return on equity: 44.16%
- Return on assets: 17.33%
- Revenues (last 12 months): $71.12 billion
- Cash: $55.94 billion
- Cash per share: $6.65
- Beta: .98
- 52-week change: -3.22%
- Shares Outstanding: 8.41 billion
- Float: 7.55 billion
- Insiders own: 10.91%
- Institutions own: 64%
- Dividend: 80 cents
- Yield: 2.9%

- Company Web site: www.microsoft.com

-  Ted Allrich