Microsoft Stock has been in my portfolio for over 10 years. It has been on my website since 2009. Microsoft stock symbol is MSFT. While analysts have been busy following the rise of Apple, Microsoft seems to have fallen out of the limelight which suits me just fine. Microsoft is enormous in both size, scope of products and profit margin. To understand more about my strategy check my Microsoft Stock trade journal. Since year one, Microsoft stock has returned annual double-digit returns to my USA stock portfolio. Analysts and investors have ignored Microsoft stock over the past 10 years. What they have missed is that this stock is very strong with limited downside. While investors are focusing on the upside potential, I have focused on trading the range which Microsoft stock has been in. During this 10 years period on any major sell-off I can step in and buy shares of the stock and then unload them when the stock recovers back to its trading range. The rest of the year I engage in put selling. What’s not to like about Microsoft stock for investing? Any time it falls, I can buy it confident it will recover because Microsoft is not going to disappear. It is an incredibly diverse and powerful company. Over the past 10 years Microsoft stock has returned better than 925% through put selling alone. This Microsoft stock article presents why Microsoft has been better than gold for investment purposes. It has been a spectacular stock. This Microsoft Stock link will take you to Microsoft Investor Relations. Below are my trades for 2012.

Review Microsoft Stock Trades For 2011
Review Microsoft Stock Trades For 2010
Review Microsoft Stock Trades For 2009

Microsoft Stock Trades For 2012

Current Microsoft Stock Status – Year 4

Capital Currently In Use: $62655.00
Income Earned in 2012: $14668.10
Total Income Earned Since Trade Started In 2009: $31825.10
Total Of My Own Capital Required If All Naked Puts Were Assigned: $30829.90
(This is Capital in Use less Total Income Earned)
Number Of Shares If All Naked Puts Were Assigned: 2500
Share Price Valuation (Total Capital Required/Number of shares): $12.33


Date Stock At
Time Of
Trade
Action Taken (All Figures Are US Dollars)
ACTIVE TRADES ARE HIGHLIGHTED
Comm. Shares
Held
Capital
In Use
Gain/Loss Total
Income
Dec 19 2011 25.55 Final Microsoft Stock Trade for 2011 / Sold 10 18FEB12 $23 puts @ .35 (status: expired) 13.25 23019.50 330.50 17157.00
END OF 2011 TRADES

Jan 3 2012 26.50 Sold 20 Naked Puts 18FEB12 $26 strike at .58 32.00 52032.00 1128.00 18285.00
Jan 11 2012 27.45 Sold 10 Naked Puts 18FEB12 $27 strike at $1.04 (status: expired) 19.50 26980.50 1020.50 19305.50
Jan 11 2012 27.45 Sold 10 naked puts 17MAR12 $26 strike for .65 (status: expired) 19.50 25980.50 630.50 19936.00
Jan 12 2012 27.80 Sold 20 naked puts 18FEB12 $27 strike for .47 (status: expired) 32.00 54032.00 908.00 20844.00
Jan 24 2012 29.35 Bought To Close 20 18FEB12 $26 Naked Puts for .04 cents 32.00 (112.00) 20732.00
Jan 24 2012 29.35 Sold 20 naked puts 17MAR12 $29 strike for .61 (status: expired) 32.00 58032.00 1188.00 21920.00
Feb 1 2012 29.85 Bought To Close 20 18FEB12 $27 Naked Puts for .04 cents 32.00 (112.00) 21808.00
Feb 1 2012 29.85 Sold 20 naked puts 17MAR12 $30 strike for .45 (status: expired) 32.00 868.00 22676.00
Feb 14 2012 30.15 Sold 10 Naked Puts 21APR12 $28 strike for .47 19.50 28019.50 450.50 23126.50
Feb 14 2012 30.15 Sold 10 Naked Puts 21APR12 $26 strike for .20
Comments: To under these put selling trades from Feb 14 read this Microsoft stock article which discussed why I sold the $28 and the $26 naked puts.
19.50 26019.50 180.50 23307.00
Feb 17 2012 31.25 Options Expiry: All Feb Options Expired
Feb 27 2012 31.25 Sold 20 naked puts 17MAR12 $31 strike for .42 (status: expired) 32.00 62032.00 808.00 24115.00
Mar 16 2012 32.60 Options Expiry: All March Options Expired
Mar 23 2012 31.85 Sold 20 Naked Puts 21APR12 $31 strike for .35
COMMENTS: To understand these naked puts trades read this article which discusses put selling against a rising stock. (status: Expired)
32.00 62032.00 668.00 24783.00
Apr 3 2012 31.66 Sold 5 Naked Puts 21APR12 $31 strike for .27  (Status: Expired)
COMMENTS: With the rally in Microsoft now stalled the question is how low can it fall. If it reaches my goal of below $31.00 I will be watching the Ultimate Oscillator to buy some stock for a quick run-up. I will also watch to see if put values below $30.00 move up making put selling below $30.00 profitable. Click here to read the article about this trade.
32.00 15513.25 121.75 24904.75
Apr 9 2012 31.25 Bought to Close 20 Naked Puts 21APR12 $26 strike for .02 32.00 (72.00) 24832.75
Apr 9 2012 31.25 Bought to Close 20 Naked Puts 21APR12 $28 strike for .04 32.00 (112.00) 24720.75
Apr 11 2012 30.35 Sold 5 Naked Puts 19MAY12 $28 for .30   Status: Expired 13.25 14013.25 136.75 24857.50
Apr 12 2012 30.65 Bought 1000 shares Microsoft Stock 7.00 1000 (30657.00)
Apr 13 2012 31.00 Sold 1000 shares Microsoft Stock
COMMENTS: With the stock looking for support, I made two recent trades. To read the strategy in use and understand the past two trades read this article.
7.00 0 30993.00 336.00 25193.50
Apr 20 2012 32.42 April Options Expiry: All April options expired
May 3 2012 31.69 Sold 10 Naked Puts 19MAY12 $31 for .25 – (STATUS: Bought to close for .45 cents, then rolled out 4 to Oct $28 for .88 and 3 to Oct $26 for .51 for net profit on the roll out and down)
Comment: Read this MSFT Stock article to understand my reasons for this trade and how the fast stochastic was used in this trade.
19.50 31019.50 240.50 25434.00
May 11 2012 31.25 BTC 10 Naked Puts Microsoft Stock 19MAY12 for .45
Comment: This will be a roll out and roll down of naked puts. The May $31 are obviously going to end up in the money. The stock has become soft with all the selling and will be moving lower. I still like the stock and see no reason to buy to close for a loss on the stock. The better strategy is to buy back the 10 naked puts and then sell less puts still for a net credit and spread them out further at two different strikes.
19.50 (469.50) 24964.50
May 11 2012 31.20 STO 4 Naked Puts Microsoft Stock Oct $28 for $.88 (status: expired)
12.00  11212.00 340.00 25304.50
May 11 2012 31.20 STO 3 Naked Puts Microsoft Stock Oct $26 for $.51 (status: expired)
10.75  7810.75 142.25 25446.75
May 18 12 29.29 May Options Expiry: May $28 naked puts expired
Jun 5 2012 28.44 Sold 10 Naked Puts Microsoft Stock 16JUN12 $28 for .18 19.50 28019.50 160.50 25607.25
Jun 15 2012 30.02 June Options Expiry June $28 puts expired
Jun 18 2012 29.84 Sold 5 Naked Puts Microsoft Stock 21JUL12 $28 for .33 Status: Expired 13.25 13986.75 151.75 25759.00
Jun 18 2012 29.84 Sold 5 Naked Puts Microsoft Stock 18AUG12 $27 for .35 (status: expired)
Comments: I sold just 5 for each month as I am expecting the stock to fall on the news of their tablet release. You can read my Microsoft Stock trade comments for this trade here.
13.25 13513.25 161.75 25920.75
July 20 2012 30.12 July Options Expiry: July $28 puts expired
July 26 2012 29.18 Sold 10 Naked Puts 18AUG12 $29.00 for .84 (status: expired) 19.50 29019.50 820.50 26741.25
Aug 2 2012 29.05 Sold 10 Naked Puts Microsoft Stock 22 SEP12 $28 for .52 19.50 28019.50 500.50 27241.75
Aug 3 2012 29.55 Sold 10 Naked Puts Microsoft Stock 17NOV12 $28 for .89 (status: closed Nov 6 for .04)
19.50 28019.50 870.50 28112.25
Aug 17 2012 30.90 August Expiry: 5 Naked Puts Aug $27 and 10 naked Puts Aug $29 expired
Sept 21 2012 31.19 Sept Options Expiry 10 Naked Puts Microsoft Stock $28 expired
Sept 27 2012 29.99 Sold 5 Naked Puts Microsoft Stock 19JAN13 $27 for .53 (status closed Nov 6 for .19)
13.25 13513.25 251.75 28364.00
Sept 28 2012 29.84 Sold 5 Naked Puts Microsoft Stock 22DEC12 $28 for .60 (status closed Nov 6 for .24) 13.25 14013.25 286.75 28650.75
Oct 12 2012 28.89 Sold 5 Naked Puts Microsoft Stock 22DEC12 $27 for .40 (status closed Nov 6 for .12)
13.25 13513.25 186.75 28837.50
Oct 12 2012 28.89 Sold 5 Naked Puts Microsoft Stock 19JAN13 $26 for .42
To understand these trades read this Microsoft Stock article. (status: closed for 6 cents) 
13.25 13013.25 196.75 29034.25
Oct 19 28.64 Oct Options Expiry Oct $28 and $26 expired
Oct 25 27.90 Bought 500 shares Microsoft Stock for $27.90  (status: Sold Nov 6 for $29.90)
Comments: With the stock continued to move sideways I believe buying here with the Fast Stochastic showing the stock ready for a bounce could be an excellent trade
7.00 500 (13957.00)
Oct 25 27.90 Sold 5 Naked Puts Microstock Stock 22DEC12 $27 for .39 (status: closed Nov 6 for .12)
13.25 13513.25 181.75
Oct 25 27.90 Sold 5 Naked Puts Microsoft Stock 19JAN13 $26 @ .31 (status: closed Nov 6 for .11)
Comments: To understand this trade see this Microsoft Stock article on the roll down of puts.
13.25 13013.25 141.75
Nov 6 29.90 Sold 500 shares of Microsoft Stock for $29.90 7.00 0 14943.00 986.00 30343.75
Nov 6 30.00 Buy To Close (BTC) 5 Naked Puts Microsoft Stock Nov $28 for .04 cents 13.25 (33.25) 30310.50
Nov 6 30.00 Buy To Close (BTC) 5 Naked Puts Microsoft Stock DEC $28 for .24 cents 13.25 (133.25) 30177.25
Nov 6 30.00 Buy To Close (BTC) 5 Naked Puts Microsoft Stock Jan $27 for .19 cents 13.25 (108.25) 30069.00
Nov 6 30.00 Buy To Close (BTC) 10 Naked Puts Microsoft Stock Dec $27 for .12 cents 19.50 (139.50) 29929.50
Nov 6 29.95 Buy To Close (BTC) 5 Naked Puts Microsoft Stock Dec $26 for .06 cents 13.25 (43.25) 29886.25
Nov 6 29.95 Buy To Close (BTC) 5 Naked Puts Microsoft Stock Jan $26 for .11 cents 13.25 (68.25) 29818.00
Nov 7 29.10 Sell To Open (STO) 3 Naked Puts Microsoft Stock Dec $28 for .59 (not change in Commissions to $1.00 plus $5.00)
Status: BTC Nov 13 3 NP for $1.24 and rolled 5 NP to Feb $26 for .98
8.00 8407.95 169.05 29987.05
Nov 7 29.10 Sell To Open (STO) 3 Naked Puts Microsoft Stock Jan $27 for .79 Status: BTC Nov 16 for $1.17 and rolled 5 NP To Feb 5 at .70 8.00 8107.95 229.05 30216.10
Nov 7 29.10 Sell To Open (STO) 5 Naked Puts Microsoft Stock Jan $26 for .53 10.00 13010.00 255.00 30471.10
Nov 13 27.18 Buy To Close (BTC) 3 Naked Puts Microsoft Stock Dec $28 for $1.24 8.00 (380.00) 30091.10
Nov 13 26.80 Sell To Open (STO) 5 Naked Puts Microsoft Stock Feb $26 for .98 10.00 13010.00 480.00 30571.10
Nov 16 26.55 Buy To Close (BTC) 3 Naked Puts Microsoft Stock Jan $27 for $1.17 8.00 (359.00) 30212.10
Nov 16 26.40 Sell To Open (STO) 6 Naked Puts Microsoft Stock Feb $25 for .70 11.00 15011.00 409.00 30621.10
Nov 16 26.40 Sell To Open (STO) 3 Naked Puts Microsoft Stock Jan $25 for .50 8.00 7508.00 142.00 30763.10
Nov 16 26.40 Sell To Open (STO) 3 Naked Puts Microsoft Stock Apr $24 for .80 8.00 7208.00 232.00 30995.10
Nov 16 26.40 Sell To Open (STO) 3 Naked Puts Microsoft Stock Jan 2014 $23 for $1.77 8.00 6908.00 523.00 31518.10
Dec 3 26.42 Sell To Open (STO) 8 Naked Puts Microsoft Stock 22DEC12 $26 for .40 (status: expired) 13.00 20813.00 307.00 31825.10
Dec 21 27.45 December Options Expiry $26 naked puts expired