Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) EVP Amy Hood Sells 7,305 Shares of Company Stock

Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) EVP Amy Hood sold 7,305 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $544.37, for a total value of $3,976,622.85. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 548,091 shares in the company, valued at approximately $298,364,297.67. The trade was a 1.32% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan.

Amy Hood also recently made the following trade(s):

• On Tuesday, October 13th, Amy Hood sold 7,305 shares of Microsoft stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $545.42, for a total value of $3,984,293.10.
• On Monday, September 14th, Amy Hood sold 41,674 shares of Microsoft stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $498.27, for a total transaction of $20,764,903.98.

Microsoft Stock Performance

MSFT stock opened at $533.16 on Wednesday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.21, a current ratio of 1.22 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.07. The company has a market capitalization of $3.96 trillion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 27.83, a P/E/G ratio of 1.61 and a beta of 1.05. Microsoft Corporation has a 12 month low of $349.20 and a 12 month high of $559.15. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $517.80 and a two-hundred day moving average of $441.10.

Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, October 28th. The software giant reported $4.89 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $4.72 by $0.17. The company had revenue of $92.28 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $90.62 billion. Microsoft had a net margin of 41.17% and a return on equity of 31.28%. Microsoft’s quarterly revenue was up 18.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $4.13 EPS. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Microsoft Corporation will post 19.87 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Microsoft Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, December 10th. Investors of record on Thursday, November 19th will be issued a $0.98 dividend. This is a boost from Microsoft’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.91. This represents a $3.92 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.7%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, November 19th. Microsoft’s dividend payout ratio is currently 19.00%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Montgomery Financial Services LLC acquired a new position in shares of Microsoft during the second quarter worth approximately $26,000. Frankly Finances LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Microsoft in the second quarter worth $35,000. Bard Associates Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Microsoft in the second quarter worth $37,000. PMV Capital Advisers LLC bought a new position in Microsoft during the second quarter worth $38,000. Finally, Fiduciary Advisors Inc. increased its position in Microsoft by 37.4% during the second quarter. Fiduciary Advisors Inc. now owns 125 shares of the software giant’s stock worth $47,000 after acquiring an additional 34 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 71.13% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts have weighed in on the company. Mizuho raised their target price on Microsoft from $510.00 to $600.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Thursday, October 15th. DA Davidson upped their price target on Microsoft from $550.00 to $650.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, October 29th. Benchmark reiterated a “buy” rating on shares of Microsoft in a research note on Friday, July 24th. Rothschild & Co Redburn set a $440.00 price objective on Microsoft in a report on Monday, September 21st. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein raised their price objective on Microsoft from $662.00 to $722.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Thursday, October 29th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, forty-six have issued a Buy rating and four have given a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Microsoft presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $609.54.

Key Headlines 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

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.