Microsoft owns the Windows operating system and trades under the ticker symbol MSFT.
Microsoft was founded by Bill Gates and Paul Allen in 1975. Its Windows operating system became one of the most widely used desktop platforms, while Microsoft Office, Azure, Xbox, and enterprise software expanded the company far beyond personal computers.
Microsoft’s market capitalization has made it one of the world’s richest publicly traded companies. The ticker MSFT is used for its common stock on the Nasdaq exchange. A common mix-up is confusing Microsoft with its products: Windows, Office, Azure, and Xbox are businesses or brands owned and operated by Microsoft rather than separate market-cap companies.