diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/win_stat-follow.yaml b/changelogs/fragments/win_stat-follow.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..b4f9a01b62d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelogs/fragments/win_stat-follow.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+minor_changes:
+- win_stat - added the ``follow`` module option to follow ``path`` when getting the file or directory info
diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/windows/win_stat.ps1 b/lib/ansible/modules/windows/win_stat.ps1
index a9706f2b2bc..0a184e7ab15 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/windows/win_stat.ps1
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/windows/win_stat.ps1
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 #Requires -Module Ansible.ModuleUtils.FileUtil
 #Requires -Module Ansible.ModuleUtils.LinkUtil
 
-function DateTo-Timestamp($start_date, $end_date) {
+function ConvertTo-Timestamp($start_date, $end_date) {
     if ($start_date -and $end_date) {
         return (New-TimeSpan -Start $start_date -End $end_date).TotalSeconds
     }
@@ -33,12 +33,34 @@ function Get-FileChecksum($path, $algorithm) {
     return $hash
 }
 
+function Get-FileInfo {
+    param([String]$Path, [Switch]$Follow)
+
+    $info = Get-AnsibleItem -Path $Path -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
+    $link_info = $null
+    if ($null -ne $info) {
+        try {
+            $link_info = Get-Link -link_path $info.FullName
+        } catch {
+            $module.Warn("Failed to check/get link info for file: $($_.Exception.Message)")
+        }
+
+        # If follow=true we want to follow the link all the way back to root object
+        if ($Follow -and $null -ne $link_info -and $link_info.Type -in @("SymbolicLink", "JunctionPoint")) {
+            $info, $link_info = Get-FileInfo -Path $link_info.AbsolutePath -Follow
+        }
+    }
+
+    return $info, $link_info
+}
+
 $spec = @{
     options = @{
         path = @{ type='path'; required=$true; aliases=@( 'dest', 'name' ) }
         get_checksum = @{ type='bool'; default=$true }
         checksum_algorithm = @{ type='str'; default='sha1'; choices=@( 'md5', 'sha1', 'sha256', 'sha384', 'sha512' ) }
         get_md5 = @{ type='bool'; default=$false; removed_in_version='2.9' }
+        follow = @{ type='bool'; default=$false }
     }
     supports_check_mode = $true
 }
@@ -49,11 +71,13 @@ $path = $module.Params.path
 $get_md5 = $module.Params.get_md5
 $get_checksum = $module.Params.get_checksum
 $checksum_algorithm = $module.Params.checksum_algorithm
+$follow = $module.Params.follow
 
 $module.Result.stat = @{ exists=$false }
 
-$info = Get-AnsibleItem -Path $path -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
-If ($null -ne $info) {
+Load-LinkUtils
+$info, $link_info = Get-FileInfo -Path $path -Follow:$follow
+If ($null -ne $info) {    
     $epoch_date = Get-Date -Date "01/01/1970"
     $attributes = @()
     foreach ($attribute in ($info.Attributes -split ',')) {
@@ -77,9 +101,9 @@ If ($null -ne $info) {
         # lnk_target = islnk or isjunction Target of the symlink. Note that relative paths remain relative
         # lnk_source = islnk os isjunction Target of the symlink normalized for the remote filesystem
         hlnk_targets = @()
-        creationtime = (DateTo-Timestamp -start_date $epoch_date -end_date $info.CreationTime)
-        lastaccesstime = (DateTo-Timestamp -start_date $epoch_date -end_date $info.LastAccessTime)
-        lastwritetime = (DateTo-Timestamp -start_date $epoch_date -end_date $info.LastWriteTime)
+        creationtime = (ConvertTo-Timestamp -start_date $epoch_date -end_date $info.CreationTime)
+        lastaccesstime = (ConvertTo-Timestamp -start_date $epoch_date -end_date $info.LastAccessTime)
+        lastwritetime = (ConvertTo-Timestamp -start_date $epoch_date -end_date $info.LastWriteTime)
         # size = a file and directory - calculated below
         path = $info.FullName
         filename = $info.Name
@@ -100,8 +124,8 @@ If ($null -ne $info) {
     # values that are set according to the type of file
     if ($info.Attributes.HasFlag([System.IO.FileAttributes]::Directory)) {
         $stat.isdir = $true
-        $share_info = Get-WmiObject -Class Win32_Share -Filter "Path='$($stat.path -replace '\\', '\\')'"
-        if ($share_info -ne $null) {
+        $share_info = Get-CimInstance -ClassName Win32_Share -Filter "Path='$($stat.path -replace '\\', '\\')'"
+        if ($null -ne $share_info) {
             $stat.isshared = $true
             $stat.sharename = $share_info.Name
         }
@@ -137,13 +161,7 @@ If ($null -ne $info) {
     }
 
     # Get symbolic link, junction point, hard link info
-    Load-LinkUtils
-    try {
-        $link_info = Get-Link -link_path $info.FullName
-    } catch {
-        $module.Warn("Failed to check/get link info for file: $($_.Exception.Message)")
-    }
-    if ($link_info -ne $null) {
+    if ($null -ne $link_info) {
         switch ($link_info.Type) {
             "SymbolicLink" {
                 $stat.islnk = $true
@@ -175,3 +193,4 @@ If ($null -ne $info) {
 }
 
 $module.ExitJson()
+
diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/windows/win_stat.py b/lib/ansible/modules/windows/win_stat.py
index 973c1357c57..cf054f05e98 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/windows/win_stat.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/windows/win_stat.py
@@ -52,6 +52,14 @@ options:
         default: sha1
         choices: [ md5, sha1, sha256, sha384, sha512 ]
         version_added: "2.3"
+    follow:
+        description:
+            - Whether to follow symlinks or junction points.
+            - In the case of C(path) pointing to another link, then that will
+              be followed until no more links are found.
+        type: bool
+        default: no
+        version_added: "2.8"
 seealso:
 - module: stat
 - module: win_file
diff --git a/lib/ansible/plugins/action/__init__.py b/lib/ansible/plugins/action/__init__.py
index 5b11f256db1..745f0c1a2f3 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/plugins/action/__init__.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/plugins/action/__init__.py
@@ -509,7 +509,7 @@ class ActionBase(with_metaclass(ABCMeta, object)):
             path=path,
             follow=follow,
             get_checksum=checksum,
-            checksum_algo='sha1',
+            checksum_algorithm='sha1',
         )
         mystat = self._execute_module(module_name='stat', module_args=module_args, task_vars=all_vars,
                                       wrap_async=False)
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/win_stat/tasks/main.yml b/test/integration/targets/win_stat/tasks/main.yml
index 51d2aa4da06..a016cde6557 100644
--- a/test/integration/targets/win_stat/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/test/integration/targets/win_stat/tasks/main.yml
@@ -54,7 +54,8 @@
     cmd.exe /c mklink /H "{{win_stat_dir}}\nested\hard-link.ps1" "{{win_stat_dir}}\nested\hard-target.txt"
     cmd.exe /c mklink /J "{{win_stat_dir}}\junction-link" "{{win_stat_dir}}\junction-dest"
     cmd.exe /c mklink /D "{{win_stat_dir}}\nested\nested\link-rel" "..\..\link-dest"
-  
+    cmd.exe /c mklink /D "{{win_stat_dir}}\outer-link" "{{win_stat_dir}}\nested\nested\link-rel"
+
     $date = Get-Date -Year 2016 -Month 11 -Day 1 -Hour 7 -Minute 10 -Second 5 -Millisecond 0
     Get-ChildItem -Path "{{win_stat_dir}}" -Recurse | ForEach-Object {
         $_.CreationTime = $date
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/win_stat/tasks/tests.yml b/test/integration/targets/win_stat/tasks/tests.yml
index 9777d645f48..d8eb111280a 100644
--- a/test/integration/targets/win_stat/tasks/tests.yml
+++ b/test/integration/targets/win_stat/tasks/tests.yml
@@ -140,6 +140,7 @@
 - name: test win_stat on hard link file
   win_stat:
     path: '{{win_stat_dir}}\nested\hard-link.ps1'
+    follow: True  # just verifies we don't do any weird follow logic for hard links
   register: stat_hard_link
 
 - name: check actual for hard link file
@@ -386,6 +387,37 @@
     - stat_file_symlink.stat.owner == 'BUILTIN\\Administrators'
     - stat_file_symlink.stat.path == win_stat_dir + '\\file-link.txt'
 
+- name: test win_stat of file symlink with follow
+  win_stat:
+    path: '{{win_stat_dir}}\file-link.txt'
+    follow: True
+  register: stat_file_symlink_follow
+
+- name: assert file system with follow actual
+  assert:
+    that:
+    - stat_file_symlink_follow.stat.attributes == 'Archive'
+    - stat_file_symlink_follow.stat.checksum == 'a9993e364706816aba3e25717850c26c9cd0d89d'
+    - stat_file_symlink_follow.stat.creationtime is defined
+    - stat_file_symlink_follow.stat.exists == True
+    - stat_file_symlink_follow.stat.extension == '.ps1'
+    - stat_file_symlink_follow.stat.filename == 'file.ps1'
+    - stat_file_symlink_follow.stat.hlnk_targets == []
+    - stat_file_symlink_follow.stat.isarchive == True
+    - stat_file_symlink_follow.stat.isdir == False
+    - stat_file_symlink_follow.stat.ishidden == False
+    - stat_file_symlink_follow.stat.isjunction == False
+    - stat_file_symlink_follow.stat.islnk == False
+    - stat_file_symlink_follow.stat.isreadonly == False
+    - stat_file_symlink_follow.stat.isreg == True
+    - stat_file_symlink_follow.stat.isshared == False
+    - stat_file_symlink_follow.stat.lastaccesstime is defined
+    - stat_file_symlink_follow.stat.lastwritetime is defined
+    - stat_file_symlink_follow.stat.md5 is not defined
+    - stat_file_symlink_follow.stat.nlink == 1
+    - stat_file_symlink_follow.stat.owner == 'BUILTIN\\Administrators'
+    - stat_file_symlink_follow.stat.path == win_stat_dir + '\\nested\\file.ps1'
+
 - name: test win_stat on relative symlink
   win_stat:
     path: '{{win_stat_dir}}\nested\nested\link-rel'
@@ -417,6 +449,36 @@
     - stat_rel_symlink.stat.checksum is not defined
     - stat_rel_symlink.stat.md5 is not defined
 
+- name: test win_stat on relative multiple symlink with follow
+  win_stat:
+    path: '{{win_stat_dir}}\outer-link'
+    follow: True
+  register: stat_symlink_follow
+
+- name: assert directory relative symlink actual
+  assert:
+    that:
+    - stat_symlink_follow.stat.attributes == 'Directory'
+    - stat_symlink_follow.stat.creationtime is defined
+    - stat_symlink_follow.stat.exists == True
+    - stat_symlink_follow.stat.filename == 'link-dest'
+    - stat_symlink_follow.stat.hlnk_targets == []
+    - stat_symlink_follow.stat.isarchive == False
+    - stat_symlink_follow.stat.isdir == True
+    - stat_symlink_follow.stat.ishidden == False
+    - stat_symlink_follow.stat.isjunction == False
+    - stat_symlink_follow.stat.islnk == False
+    - stat_symlink_follow.stat.isreadonly == False
+    - stat_symlink_follow.stat.isreg == False
+    - stat_symlink_follow.stat.isshared == False
+    - stat_symlink_follow.stat.lastaccesstime is defined
+    - stat_symlink_follow.stat.lastwritetime is defined
+    - stat_symlink_follow.stat.nlink == 1
+    - stat_symlink_follow.stat.owner == 'BUILTIN\\Administrators'
+    - stat_symlink_follow.stat.path == win_stat_dir + '\\link-dest'
+    - stat_symlink_follow.stat.checksum is not defined
+    - stat_symlink_follow.stat.md5 is not defined
+
 - name: test win_stat on junction
   win_stat:
     path: '{{win_stat_dir}}\junction-link'
@@ -447,6 +509,35 @@
     - stat_junction_point.stat.path == win_stat_dir + '\\junction-link'
     - stat_junction_point.stat.size == 0
 
+- name: test win_stat on junction with follow
+  win_stat:
+    path: '{{win_stat_dir}}\junction-link'
+    follow: True
+  register: stat_junction_point_follow
+
+- name: assert junction with follow actual
+  assert:
+    that:
+    - stat_junction_point_follow.stat.attributes == 'Directory'
+    - stat_junction_point_follow.stat.creationtime is defined
+    - stat_junction_point_follow.stat.exists == True
+    - stat_junction_point_follow.stat.filename == 'junction-dest'
+    - stat_junction_point_follow.stat.hlnk_targets == []
+    - stat_junction_point_follow.stat.isarchive == False
+    - stat_junction_point_follow.stat.isdir == True
+    - stat_junction_point_follow.stat.ishidden == False
+    - stat_junction_point_follow.stat.isjunction == False
+    - stat_junction_point_follow.stat.islnk == False
+    - stat_junction_point_follow.stat.isreadonly == False
+    - stat_junction_point_follow.stat.isreg == False
+    - stat_junction_point_follow.stat.isshared == False
+    - stat_junction_point_follow.stat.lastaccesstime is defined
+    - stat_junction_point_follow.stat.lastwritetime is defined
+    - stat_junction_point_follow.stat.nlink == 1
+    - stat_junction_point_follow.stat.owner == 'BUILTIN\\Administrators'
+    - stat_junction_point_follow.stat.path == win_stat_dir + '\\junction-dest'
+    - stat_junction_point_follow.stat.size == 0
+
 - name: test win_stat module non-existent path
   win_stat:
     path: '{{win_stat_dir}}\this_file_should_not_exist'
diff --git a/test/sanity/pslint/ignore.txt b/test/sanity/pslint/ignore.txt
index f64bf8f4475..e123acfcb14 100644
--- a/test/sanity/pslint/ignore.txt
+++ b/test/sanity/pslint/ignore.txt
@@ -66,8 +66,6 @@ lib/ansible/modules/windows/win_security_policy.ps1 PSUseApprovedVerbs
 lib/ansible/modules/windows/win_security_policy.ps1 PSUseDeclaredVarsMoreThanAssignments
 lib/ansible/modules/windows/win_shell.ps1 PSAvoidUsingCmdletAliases
 lib/ansible/modules/windows/win_shell.ps1 PSUseApprovedVerbs
-lib/ansible/modules/windows/win_stat.ps1 PSAvoidUsingWMICmdlet
-lib/ansible/modules/windows/win_stat.ps1 PSUseApprovedVerbs
 lib/ansible/modules/windows/win_unzip.ps1 PSAvoidUsingCmdletAliases
 lib/ansible/modules/windows/win_unzip.ps1 PSUseApprovedVerbs
 lib/ansible/modules/windows/win_uri.ps1 PSAvoidUsingEmptyCatchBlock