Do you use Microsoft Defender on your PC? Tech giant Microsoft (MSFT) likely hopes you do, but for most of us, we believe a little extra firepower is called for beyond the antivirus system that came with our PC. Microsoft, however, remains adamant that Defender is really all you need, for the most part. Investors did not get behind this notion, and sent shares plunging nearly 5% in Thursday afternoon’s trading.
Claim 55% Off TipRanks
- Unlock hedge fund-level data and powerful investing tools for smarter, sharper decisions
- Discover top-performing stock ideas and upgrade to a portfolio of market leaders with Smart Investor Picks
Basically, Microsoft went on the record recently to declare that, for most users, Microsoft Defender was all they really needed. For most users, Defender would do the job and no one needed any additional antivirus software. The relevant blog post from Microsoft noted, “For many Windows 11 users, Microsoft Defender Antivirus covers everyday risk without requiring additional software. The choice to add third party antivirus depends on how you use your PC and which features you value.”
However, that word “many” likely caught quite a bit of attention, as Microsoft quickly qualified its confidence by calling for some “power users” to bring in a third-party antivirus candidate. For those who managed multiple devices, meanwhile, some extra security might also be called for. And for those who wanted parental controls, that too would be out of Defender’s formerly endless wheelhouse.
Xbox Mobile Store?
The idea of an Xbox mobile store might have been reasonable back when Microsoft was riding high on the “This is an Xbox” concept. But with that campaign largely dead, it would be easy to think that an Xbox mobile store might also be out. That is not the case, assures Asha Sharma, who apparently still wants to get an Xbox mobile store up and running.
The idea is still somewhat tenuous. Sharma admits she is still “learning” a lot of the basics and what can and cannot be done with this platform. But in the same breath, Sharma noted that “…mobile competition still matters…” and that “…the future of play should be more open.” So a mobile store is not necessarily dead yet, though just what it will look like is currently anyone’s guess.
Is Microsoft a Buy, Hold or Sell?
Turning to Wall Street, analysts have a Strong Buy consensus rating on MSFT stock based on 34 Buys and two Holds assigned in the past three months, as indicated by the graphic below. After a 11.78% rally in its share price over the past year, the average MSFT price target of $573.99 per share implies 38.43% upside potential.
