Westwind Capital lessened its position in Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT – Free Report) by 7.5% in the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 25,090 shares of the software giant’s stock after selling 2,031 shares during the period. Microsoft makes up about 3.1% of Westwind Capital’s holdings, making the stock its 8th largest position. Westwind Capital’s holdings in Microsoft were worth $12,869,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.
Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Hedeker Wealth LLC boosted its position in Microsoft by 6.9% in the second quarter. Hedeker Wealth LLC now owns 55,236 shares of the software giant’s stock worth $20,604,000 after purchasing an additional 3,546 shares during the last quarter. Empirical Financial Services LLC d.b.a. Empirical Wealth Management grew its stake in Microsoft by 4.0% in the 2nd quarter. Empirical Financial Services LLC d.b.a. Empirical Wealth Management now owns 229,490 shares of the software giant’s stock valued at $85,604,000 after purchasing an additional 8,773 shares during the period. D.B. Root & Company LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Microsoft during the 2nd quarter valued at $3,652,000. Dearborn Partners LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Microsoft during the 2nd quarter valued at $75,641,000. Finally, GTS Securities LLC raised its stake in shares of Microsoft by 44.6% during the 2nd quarter. GTS Securities LLC now owns 271,597 shares of the software giant’s stock worth $101,311,000 after purchasing an additional 83,734 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 71.13% of the company’s stock.
Insider Transactions at Microsoft
In other news, EVP Amy Hood sold 41,674 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, September 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $498.27, for a total transaction of $20,764,903.98. Following the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 533,624 shares in the company, valued at $265,888,830.48. This represents a 7.24% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, CEO Satya Nadella sold 86,525 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, September 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $501.46, for a total transaction of $43,388,826.50. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 486,763 shares in the company, valued at approximately $244,092,173.98. The trade was a 15.09% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Insiders have sold a total of 142,809 shares of company stock valued at $72,114,646 in the last ninety days. Insiders own 0.03% of the company’s stock.
Microsoft Trading Down 2.2%
Shares of Microsoft stock opened at $533.16 on Wednesday. The stock has a market capitalization of $3.96 trillion, a P/E ratio of 27.83, a P/E/G ratio of 1.61 and a beta of 1.05. Microsoft Corporation has a 52-week low of $349.20 and a 52-week high of $559.15. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.07, a quick ratio of 1.21 and a current ratio of 1.22. The stock’s 50-day simple moving average is $517.80 and its 200 day simple moving average is $441.10.
Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT – Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, October 28th. The software giant reported $4.89 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $4.72 by $0.17. Microsoft had a return on equity of 31.28% and a net margin of 41.17%. The firm had revenue of $92.28 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $90.62 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $4.13 earnings per share. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 18.8% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Microsoft Corporation will post 19.87 EPS for the current year.
Microsoft Increases Dividend
The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, December 10th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, November 19th will be issued a dividend of $0.98 per share. This represents a $3.92 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.7%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, November 19th. This is a boost from Microsoft’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.91. Microsoft’s payout ratio is presently 19.00%.
Key Stories Impacting Microsoft
Here are the key news stories impacting Microsoft this week:
- Positive Sentiment: Microsoft and IBM introduced Imagine Enterprise, a platform combining IBM’s library of more than 6,000 AI agents with Microsoft’s cloud, data and security tools. The partnership could help drive enterprise demand for Microsoft’s AI and cloud services. IBM and Microsoft Announce a New AI Agent Platform Designed for Industry-Specific Transformation
- Positive Sentiment: A five-year partnership with Ohio State University will apply Microsoft’s cloud and AI technology to healthcare, research and education, adding another potential customer and use case. Ohio State and Microsoft announce five-year strategic partnership
- Neutral Sentiment: Microsoft reportedly urged the administration to drop a proposed ban on Chinese data-center technology, warning that restrictions could complicate data-center deployment. The outcome could affect equipment access and rollout timing. Microsoft presses Trump to scuttle expected ban on Chinese data-center technology
- Negative Sentiment: Anthropic unveiled workplace tools that could compete with Microsoft Office, including spreadsheet-related capabilities. The move raised concerns about competition in Microsoft’s enterprise software business. Anthropic unveils office suite to challenge Microsoft
- Negative Sentiment: A hot inflation report and rising bond yields weighed on the broader market, creating an additional headwind for technology shares. Stock market coverage on inflation and technology shares
Analysts Set New Price Targets
A number of brokerages recently weighed in on MSFT. Melius Research raised shares of Microsoft from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $665.00 price target on the stock in a report on Monday, October 5th. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price objective on shares of Microsoft from $725.00 to $750.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Thursday, October 29th. TD Cowen lifted their price objective on shares of Microsoft from $625.00 to $650.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, October 29th. Morgan Stanley reiterated an “overweight” rating on shares of Microsoft in a research note on Thursday, October 29th. Finally, Piper Sandler reiterated an “overweight” rating and issued a $650.00 target price (up from $610.00) on shares of Microsoft in a research note on Thursday, October 29th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, forty-six have assigned a Buy rating and four have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Microsoft currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $609.54.
View Our Latest Research Report on Microsoft
Microsoft Profile
Microsoft Corporation is a global technology company that develops software, cloud services, devices, and digital solutions for consumers, businesses, and public-sector organizations. Founded in 1975 by Bill Gates and Paul Allen, the company is headquartered in Redmond, Washington. Its products and services include the Windows operating system, Microsoft 365 productivity applications, Azure cloud computing, LinkedIn, GitHub, Surface devices, and Xbox gaming products and services. Microsoft also provides business software, cybersecurity tools, and artificial intelligence technologies.
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