Should Microsoft Shareholders Begin to Panic Over Falling PC Shipments?

Shares of Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT  ) took investors on quite the ride this week, but even though they plummeted more than 4.42% in just one day, they still managed to end the week higher than were they began. Do investors have anything to worry about? Let's take a look.

So what happened?
On Monday, Microsoft dropped by 0.38%, after the company announced that it was selling its IPTV business to Ericsson. The terms and price of the deal weren't disclosed, but it was estimated to sell for somewhere between $100 million and $234 million. The IPTV unit creates software that gives wireless device manufacturers the ability to deliver television signals over the Internet.  

Tuesday came along, and shares were flying high, up 3.57%, with a few analysts crediting Microsoft's attacks on Google (NASDAQ: GOOG  ) for the rise. Microsoft and a number of other technology companies are claiming Google's open-source operating system gives it an unfair advantage over the competition. The main problem is that Google gives its operating system away, and Microsoft, which charges for its operating systems, can't compete. The EU is looking into Microsoft's allegations against Google, but we'll have to wait and see who wins this battle. 

Also on Tuesday, the company announced that it's teaming up with Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO  ) to help customers reduce complexity while enhancing IT productivity and business agility. The partnership is currently just focused on data centers and how to improve and grow operations in that area of business.  

On Thursday, the IDC released its PC shipment figures for the first quarter of 2013, and they were terrible. Sales dropped 14% in the quarter, while analysts were expecting a decline of only 7.7%. Microsoft tumbled 4.42% on the news and sent the PC manufacturers even further down than that.  

So what now?
Year to date, Microsoft is the sixth worst-performing component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJINDICES: ^DJI  ) during 2013, but based on my colleague John Maxfield's calculations, it's only the 14th most shorted Dow component, which would indicate that although the stock hasn't performed fantastically so far this year, most market participants don't think the stock is going to crash, either. (To see John's full list and how much of each Dow component is sold short, click here.)

Although the current trend clearly indicates that PC sales will probably continue to decline over time, it's clear that as a whole, the market hasn't lost faith in the company yet, and individual shareholders also shouldn't sell at this time.

While the company is best known for its Windows operating system, that's now become just a small piece of the modern-day Microsoft. The company has a number of different revenue streams today:

Sector

Revenue

Operating Income (Loss)

Windows	$5,253	$2,671
Server and Tools	$5,191	$2,129
Online Services	$893	($283)
Microsoft Business	$6,491	$4,367
Entertainment and Devices	$4,149	$937
Other	($521)	($2,050)

Information found in Microsoft's most recent 10-K (revenue and operating income for three months ending Dec. 31, 2012). Figures in millions.

Futhermore, look at all the different things that changed the stock price this week alone. That alone illustrates how the company has a ton of moving parts and different revenue streams. The management team has taken a company that once just built software and turned it into a technology giant with its fingers in a lot of pies.

So while declining PC shipments are something shareholders should be aware of, it's not the end of the world for Microsoft. Investors should just sit tight and ride this one out.

More Foolish insight on Microsoft
It's been a frustrating path for Microsoft investors, who've watched the company fail to capitalize on the incredible growth in mobile over the past decade. However, with the release of its own tablet, along with the widely anticipated Windows 8 operating system, the company is looking to make a splash in this booming market. In this brand-new premium report on Microsoft, our analyst explains that while the opportunity is huge, the challenges are many. He's also providing regular updates as key events occur, so make sure to claim a copy of this report now by clicking here.