Microsoft Co. (NASDAQ:MSFT) is Dividend Assets Capital LLC's Largest Position

Dividend Assets Capital LLC lifted its stake in shares of Microsoft Co. (NASDAQ:MSFT - Free Report) by 2.2% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 79,311 shares of the software giant's stock after purchasing an additional 1,710 shares during the quarter. Microsoft comprises approximately 6.5% of Dividend Assets Capital LLC's portfolio, making the stock its biggest position. Dividend Assets Capital LLC's holdings in Microsoft were worth $33,430,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. PMG Wealth Management Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Microsoft during the 4th quarter worth approximately $3,675,000. Greystone Financial Group LLC lifted its holdings in Microsoft by 6.5% in the fourth quarter. Greystone Financial Group LLC now owns 35,835 shares of the software giant's stock valued at $15,104,000 after acquiring an additional 2,192 shares during the period. Passumpsic Savings Bank grew its stake in shares of Microsoft by 3.7% during the 4th quarter. Passumpsic Savings Bank now owns 2,937 shares of the software giant's stock worth $1,238,000 after purchasing an additional 105 shares during the period. Drum Hill Capital LLC purchased a new position in shares of Microsoft in the 4th quarter valued at about $1,918,000. Finally, Hudson Edge Investment Partners Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Microsoft by 5.1% in the fourth quarter. Hudson Edge Investment Partners Inc. now owns 533 shares of the software giant's stock valued at $225,000 after purchasing an additional 26 shares during the period. 71.13% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research analysts have issued reports on MSFT shares. Jefferies Financial Group reaffirmed a "buy" rating and issued a $475.00 target price (down from $500.00) on shares of Microsoft in a report on Monday, April 7th. Guggenheim reaffirmed a "neutral" rating on shares of Microsoft in a report on Wednesday, April 23rd. Bank of America lowered their target price on Microsoft from $510.00 to $480.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, April 15th. The Goldman Sachs Group decreased their price objective on shares of Microsoft from $500.00 to $450.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, April 24th. Finally, DA Davidson upgraded shares of Microsoft from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and lifted their target price for the stock from $425.00 to $450.00 in a research report on Thursday, March 13th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twenty-six have issued a buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $493.89.

Microsoft Trading Up 0.3 %

MSFT stock traded up $1.22 during trading on Wednesday, reaching $395.26. 34,469,227 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 21,165,221. The business's 50 day moving average price is $383.76 and its 200-day moving average price is $410.91. The firm has a market capitalization of $2.94 trillion, a PE ratio of 31.82, a P/E/G ratio of 2.21 and a beta of 1.00. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.13, a current ratio of 1.35 and a quick ratio of 1.34. Microsoft Co. has a 52-week low of $344.79 and a 52-week high of $468.35.

Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, April 30th. The software giant reported $3.46 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $3.20 by $0.26. Microsoft had a net margin of 35.43% and a return on equity of 33.36%. The business's quarterly revenue was up 13.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $2.94 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that Microsoft Co. will post 13.08 earnings per share for the current year.

Microsoft Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, June 12th. Investors of record on Thursday, May 15th will be given a dividend of $0.83 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, May 15th. This represents a $3.32 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.84%. Microsoft's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 26.73%.

About Microsoft

Microsoft Corporation develops and supports software, services, devices and solutions worldwide. The Productivity and Business Processes segment offers office, exchange, SharePoint, Microsoft Teams, office 365 Security and Compliance, Microsoft viva, and Microsoft 365 copilot; and office consumer services, such as Microsoft 365 consumer subscriptions, Office licensed on-premises, and other office services.