Bull vs. Bear: Microsoft

With its stock stuck in the doldrums for more than a decade, could Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) finally be positioned for a breakout to the upside in 2013? Can Windows and Office maintain their dominant positions? The Motley Fool's Buck Hartzell believes so and thinks the stock is an "easy" double over the next five years. But Matt Argersinger isn't so sure and views Window's declining competitive position and the general negative perception over Microsoft's business as reasons to think the stock is destined to underperform.

Watch the following video to get more of their insights, and head down to the comments section to let us know which side you're on. If you have another stock you'd like to see Fool analysts do a bull-bear case on, let us know that, too!

Microsoft isn't the only dominant company that could be on the wane. To learn about two retailers with especially good prospects, we invite you to take a look at The Motley Fool's special free report: "The Death of Wal-Mart: The Real Cash Kings Changing the Face of Retail." In it, you'll see how these two cash kings are able to consistently outperform and how they're planning to ride the waves of retail's changing tide. You can access it by clicking here.

The article Bull vs. Bear: Microsoft originally appeared on Fool.com.

Buck Hartzell owns shares of Microsoft. Matthew Argersinger owns shares of Microsoft and has short APR 2013 $28 calls on Microsoft. The Motley Fool owns shares of Apple, Google, IBM, Microsoft, and Oracle. Motley Fool newsletter services recommend Apple, Google, IBM, and Microsoft. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools don't all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Copyright © 1995 - 2012 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.