One would be hard-pressed to find a time when 16 cents had such sweeping implications.
After 16 years, Microsoft has finally decided to share its monopoly money, offering shareholders a cash dividend of 16 cents a share per quarter. Wall Street, not without reason, decided to focus its attention on the fact that the Redmond, Wash.-based software giant issued earnings guidance below estimates -- sending the stock down about 7% to $51.46. Meanwhile, some folks grumbled that the dividend equals a concession that Microsoft's heady growth days are over.
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