If I Could Buy Only 1 Stock, This Would Be It

It's easy to suggest individual stocks to a crowd of investors knowing those names will only make up part of their diversified portfolios. However, things change when an investor (including myself) is limited to just one pick. That single stock has to check off a lot of boxes, the most important of which are balancing reliability, longevity, and above-average growth. That's a pretty tall order these days.

There are a few companies out there of this ilk though, and my favorite all-weather name among them is Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT).

Surprised? I get it. The company is seemingly dependent on just one highly competitive and often-cyclical technology business -- software, and its Windows operating systems in particular. The stock's also uncomfortably expensive right now, valued at more than 33 times this year's projected profits and more than 29 times next year's earnings estimates.. With a closer look though, you'll find that Microsoft is so much more than just Windows, and that this stock easily justifies its premium price.

Source Fool.com