**Just my opinion** I would avoid Microsoft. I think that their "growth" phase is come to the end of their run. Lawsuits, Security Flaws, need I say more? Been there, Done that if you know what I mean.. Sharebuilder is more for long term investing than doing active trading.
I've said it before and I'll say it again: CHS. There's no finer company that I can find. Their track record is stellar and their business model is a thoroughbred performance. The Chico's I visited this last week were all packed and were hiring. Chico's is making the size of mosts of there stores larger or moving to larger locations because of the huge demand for the product. Every year their earnings go up and with it goes the stock. The stock rises so much that its deceptive. $10,000 invested 5 years is now worth $151,542 according to S&P. And the business looks just as bright for the next 10 years.