Microsoft's stock took a beating in trading after a pair of research firms said PC shipments in the first quarter were down as much as 14% from the year before



From Computerworld:

At least three Wall Street analysts also downgraded Microsoft's stock today.

Goldman Sachs analyst Heather Bellini changed her recommendation from "neutral" to "sell," while Rick Sherlund of Nomura and Stephen Turner of Hilliard Lyons switched their positions from "buy" to "neutral," according to Bloomberg.

They followed Merrill Lynch's managing director Kash Rangan, who last week cut his rating from "buy" to "neutral."

  Microsoft's stock slides after dismal PC shipment reports