Microsoft uses the stock ticker MSFT and was founded by Bill Gates and Paul Allen in 1975.
The two founders established Microsoft in Albuquerque, New Mexico, after developing and licensing a version of the BASIC programming language for the Altair 8800 microcomputer. The company’s name combines “microcomputer” and “software.” Its early success came from software licensing rather than manufacturing the computers themselves.
Microsoft later became central to personal computing through MS-DOS and Windows, then expanded into productivity software, cloud computing, gaming, and enterprise services. MSFT identifies Microsoft shares on the Nasdaq stock market. The company’s market value has been driven by several businesses, so it is inaccurate to describe Microsoft only as a Windows maker.