Microsoft Corporation $MSFT Stock: YHB Investment Advisors Inc. Cuts Holdings

YHB Investment Advisors Inc. lessened its holdings in Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) by 2.6% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 124,622 shares of the software giant’s stock after selling 3,297 shares during the quarter. Microsoft makes up approximately 4.1% of YHB Investment Advisors Inc.’s holdings, making the stock its 2nd biggest holding. YHB Investment Advisors Inc.’s holdings in Microsoft were worth $63,918,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the business. Titleist Asset Management LLC increased its position in shares of Microsoft by 5.7% in the 3rd quarter. Titleist Asset Management LLC now owns 25,966 shares of the software giant’s stock valued at $13,318,000 after buying an additional 1,410 shares in the last quarter. Everhart Financial Group Inc. lifted its holdings in Microsoft by 8.1% during the third quarter. Everhart Financial Group Inc. now owns 62,525 shares of the software giant’s stock worth $32,069,000 after acquiring an additional 4,670 shares in the last quarter. Avidian Wealth Enterprises LLC lifted its holdings in Microsoft by 3.5% during the third quarter. Avidian Wealth Enterprises LLC now owns 74,090 shares of the software giant’s stock worth $38,001,000 after acquiring an additional 2,510 shares in the last quarter. Veracity Capital LLC grew its stake in Microsoft by 25.5% in the third quarter. Veracity Capital LLC now owns 13,373 shares of the software giant’s stock valued at $6,859,000 after acquiring an additional 2,715 shares during the period. Finally, Vista Investment Partners LLC grew its stake in Microsoft by 0.8% in the third quarter. Vista Investment Partners LLC now owns 11,382 shares of the software giant’s stock valued at $5,838,000 after acquiring an additional 93 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 71.13% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several brokerages have issued reports on MSFT. Stifel Nicolaus increased their price target on Microsoft from $575.00 to $650.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, October 29th. William Blair began coverage on Microsoft in a report on Monday, October 5th. They set an “outperform” rating on the stock. Barclays boosted their price objective on Microsoft from $600.00 to $610.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Thursday, October 29th. Scotiabank increased their target price on Microsoft from $625.00 to $650.00 and gave the stock a “sector outperform” rating in a research note on Thursday, October 29th. Finally, Melius Research upgraded shares of Microsoft from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $665.00 target price on the stock in a report on Monday, October 5th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, forty-six have issued a Buy rating and four have assigned a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Microsoft has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $609.54.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, EVP Amy Hood sold 41,674 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, September 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $498.27, for a total transaction of $20,764,903.98. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 533,624 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $265,888,830.48. This trade represents a 7.24% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, CEO Satya Nadella sold 86,525 shares of Microsoft stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, September 1st. The shares were 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 owned 486,763 shares in the company, valued at $244,092,173.98. This trade represents a 15.09% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. In the last ninety days, insiders have sold 135,504 shares of company stock valued at $68,138,024. Insiders own 0.03% of the company’s stock.

Microsoft News Summary

Here are the key news stories impacting Microsoft this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Northern Trust introduced an AI-powered client-onboarding agent running on Microsoft Azure, with Excel and SharePoint integration. The reported reductions in data-preparation time and strong data-quality results illustrate potential enterprise demand for Microsoft’s cloud and AI tools. Microsoft stock and Northern Trust AI agent
• Neutral Sentiment: Microsoft is reportedly becoming more selective about outside AI data-center and neocloud arrangements, including not renewing a cloud contract involving Oracle. Tighter spending could support cash flow, but changes to its infrastructure plans may also raise questions about capacity and execution. Microsoft AI data-center deals
• Negative Sentiment: AI investment remains a key risk: one report said Microsoft’s free cash flow over the last four quarters was about 23% below the prior-year period, amid rising infrastructure spending. A large reported backlog signals demand, but investors will look for that spending to translate into returns. Microsoft backlog, AI capex and neocloud ties
• Negative Sentiment: B&D White Capital, a fund with roughly $1.03 billion in assets, reported selling all its Microsoft shares in the third quarter. The filing is backward-looking and does not establish the fund’s reason for selling, but it may add to near-term sentiment concerns. B&D White Capital share sale

Microsoft Stock Performance

MSFT opened at $545.18 on Tuesday. The company has a market capitalization of $4.05 trillion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 28.45, a P/E/G ratio of 1.64 and a beta of 1.05. The business’s 50-day moving average price is $517.28 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $440.69. Microsoft Corporation has a 1 year low of $349.20 and a 1 year high of $559.15. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.07, a current ratio of 1.22 and a quick ratio of 1.21.

Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, October 28th. The software giant reported $4.89 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $4.72 by $0.17. The company had revenue of $92.28 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $90.62 billion. Microsoft had a return on equity of 31.28% and a net margin of 41.17%. Microsoft’s revenue for the quarter was up 18.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $4.13 earnings per share. Equities analysts expect that Microsoft Corporation will post 19.92 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Microsoft Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, December 10th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, November 19th will be paid a $0.98 dividend. This represents a $3.92 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.7%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, November 19th. This is a positive change from Microsoft’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.91. Microsoft’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 19.00%.

About Microsoft

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.

Microsoft serves customers around the world through its products, online platforms, and network of business partners.