Compared to some of its peers in the mega-cap tech industry, like Nvidia (NVDA) or Tesla (TSLA), the shares of Bill Gates co-founded Microsoft (MSFT) have had a relatively uneventful 2024 so far. This is despite the fact that the company has been at the forefront of the artificial intelligence (AI) megatrend through its investments in generative

After a memo found that Microsoft was preparing to lay off another 650 employees from its gaming division last week, the company announced this week that it will be spending $60B of its own money to buyback some of its own stocks.

Microsoft's share repurchase program, which has no expiration date, replaces its previous $60 billion authorization announced four years ago. Meanwhile, investors also cheered the news that shareholders of record as of Nov. 21 will receive a quarterly dividend of 83 cents per share, up from the current 75 cents a share.

Microsoft's latest share repurchase plan is expected to please income-oriented investors. Is it the right time to buy the MSFT stock?