Microsoft operates the Windows, Azure, and Xbox businesses and trades under the ticker MSFT.
Microsoft was founded by Bill Gates and Paul Allen in 1975. It became famous for software used on personal computers, especially the MS-DOS operating system and Windows. Over time, the company expanded into cloud computing, gaming, business software, hardware, and professional networking.
Azure is Microsoft’s cloud-computing platform and has become a major growth engine alongside productivity products such as Microsoft 365. Xbox represents its gaming business, while Windows remains one of the company’s best-known software brands.
Microsoft is sometimes described only as a PC software company, but that description is outdated. Its market capitalization reflects recurring enterprise subscriptions, cloud infrastructure, gaming, search advertising, and other activities. The ticker MSFT identifies Microsoft shares on Nasdaq; it should not be confused with the names of individual Microsoft products or divisions.