Fortune 500 rank: 44
There's no sign of a slowdown for the tech industry's most profitable company. Stronger-than-expected global personal-computer sales helped generate $14.1 billion in profits for Microsoft on sales of $51.1 billion last year. The software giant must continue to maintain strong profit margins, which rose 12% in 2007, as it plots its most ambitious move this year: a $44.6 billion bid for Yahoo.
By Yi-Wyn Yen
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