With the announcement of its cash dispersal already made, some analysts have suggested that Microsoft's results will bring better news than expected. With the cash question settled, investors will be looking elsewhere on Microsoft's balance sheet for answers. After asking investors for months of patience, Microsoft on Tuesday announced a plan to return $75bn (£41bn) to shareholders over four years through a combination of increased dividends, stock buybacks and a one-time payout of $32bn. That had been a major concern of analysts who felt that a distribution of cash could boost Microsoft's share price, which has been flat for some time.
|