Microsoft has a "problem" other companies could only wish for: what to do with its huge hoard of cash? And everyone seems to have an answer for spending the $38.7 billion in cash and short-term securities reported on Microsoft's balance sheet on June 30. Consumer advocate Ralph Nader believes the Redmond, Wash.-based behemoth should pay a dividend. Credit Suisse First Boston analysts want the company to buy back more stock. And one investor joked that Microsoft could have helped bail out WorldCom by giving the bankrupt telco a few billion dollars.
|