Microsoft Corporation $MSFT Holdings Increased by VCI Wealth Management LLC

Key Points

• VCI Wealth Management LLC increased its Microsoft stake by 16.9% in the fourth quarter, adding 5,313 shares and bringing its total holdings to 36,690 shares worth about $17.7 million.
• Microsoft insider activity was mixed: EVP Kathleen T. Hogan sold 12,321 shares, while Director John W. Stanton bought 5,000 shares, indicating both profit-taking and confidence from executives.
• Analysts remain broadly bullish on Microsoft, with a Moderate Buy consensus and an average price target of $562.69, though some firms have recently trimmed their targets.

VCI Wealth Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT - Free Report) by 16.9% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 36,690 shares of the software giant's stock after buying an additional 5,313 shares during the quarter. Microsoft makes up 4.9% of VCI Wealth Management LLC's portfolio, making the stock its 3rd largest position. VCI Wealth Management LLC's holdings in Microsoft were worth $17,744,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

A number of other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of MSFT. BLVD Private Wealth LLC lifted its stake in shares of Microsoft by 0.6% in the 3rd quarter. BLVD Private Wealth LLC now owns 3,169 shares of the software giant's stock valued at $1,641,000 after purchasing an additional 19 shares during the period. Magnolia Capital Management Ltd. boosted its stake in Microsoft by 0.3% during the third quarter. Magnolia Capital Management Ltd. now owns 6,509 shares of the software giant's stock worth $3,371,000 after buying an additional 20 shares during the period. ARK & TLK Investments LLC boosted its stake in Microsoft by 1.0% during the third quarter. ARK & TLK Investments LLC now owns 1,935 shares of the software giant's stock worth $1,002,000 after buying an additional 20 shares during the period. Rochester Wealth Strategies LLC raised its holdings in Microsoft by 2.9% in the third quarter. Rochester Wealth Strategies LLC now owns 700 shares of the software giant's stock valued at $363,000 after acquiring an additional 20 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Longfellow Investment Management Co. LLC increased its stake in Microsoft by 51.3% in the second quarter. Longfellow Investment Management Co. LLC now owns 59 shares of the software giant's stock valued at $29,000 after purchasing an additional 20 shares during the last quarter. 71.13% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Activity at Microsoft

In other news, EVP Kathleen T. Hogan sold 12,321 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, March 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $409.52, for a total value of $5,045,695.92. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president owned 137,933 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $56,486,322.16. This represents a 8.20% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, Director John W. Stanton purchased 5,000 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 18th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $397.35 per share, with a total value of $1,986,750.00. Following the purchase, the director owned 83,905 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $33,339,651.75. This represents a 6.34% increase in their position. The SEC filing for this purchase provides additional information. Corporate insiders own 0.03% of the company's stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of brokerages have recently issued reports on MSFT. DA Davidson lowered their target price on shares of Microsoft from $650.00 to $550.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, April 30th. Wedbush reaffirmed an "outperform" rating and set a $575.00 price target on shares of Microsoft in a research note on Thursday, April 30th. Morgan Stanley reaffirmed an "overweight" rating on shares of Microsoft in a research note on Thursday, January 29th. Scotiabank cut their price target on Microsoft from $600.00 to $550.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, April 30th. Finally, Piper Sandler lifted their price target on Microsoft from $500.00 to $540.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Thursday, April 30th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirty-eight have given a Buy rating and seven have issued a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Microsoft currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $562.69.

Microsoft News Summary

Here are the key news stories impacting Microsoft this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Several analysts and market commentators reiterated a bullish long-term view, pointing to Microsoft’s scale, cash flow, and AI positioning as reasons the stock could still be undervalued. Microsoft Stock Still Looks Undervalued Based on FCF Projections, Despite Higher Capex
• Positive Sentiment: Market interest in Microsoft remains strong, with articles highlighting bullish options activity and investor confidence in its long-term position in AI and enterprise software. Unusual Call Options in Microsoft Shows Investors are Bullish on MSFT
• Positive Sentiment: Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella’s testimony in the Elon Musk-OpenAI trial reinforced the company’s central role in AI and suggested Microsoft continues to have influence over OpenAI’s strategy and economics. Microsoft CEO Testifies About Sam Altman’s Firing in Elon Musk Megatrial
• Neutral Sentiment: The ongoing Musk v. OpenAI courtroom drama is keeping Microsoft in the headlines, but the direct business impact is still unclear. Inside Sam Altman's Dramatic Court Testimony: 'Complicated' Elon Musk Feelings, 'Hair-Raising' Tesla Talks And The Microsoft Temptation
• Neutral Sentiment: Reports that the U.S. Commerce Department removed details about an AI security-testing arrangement involving Microsoft did not provide enough clarity to gauge a meaningful financial effect. Microsoft, Google, xAI security test details deleted from US government website
• Negative Sentiment: Investors are focused on new details that OpenAI’s payments to Microsoft may be capped at $38 billion through 2030, limiting the upside from one of Microsoft’s most important AI partnerships versus earlier expectations. OpenAI to cap Microsoft revenue-sharing at $38 billion, The Information reports
• Negative Sentiment: Multiple hedge funds reportedly trimmed Microsoft positions, which can add to near-term caution even if the stakes sold were not necessarily large enough to change the long-term story. Vulcan Value Partners trims Microsoft stake, sells 32,587 shares
• Negative Sentiment: A report that Microsoft’s Kenyan data center was delayed amid payment demands suggests some execution friction in its infrastructure expansion plans. Microsoft's Kenyan data center delayed on payment demands: report

Microsoft Stock Down 1.2%

MSFT opened at $407.77 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.08, a current ratio of 1.28 and a quick ratio of 1.27. The stock has a market capitalization of $3.03 trillion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 24.27, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.49 and a beta of 1.10. The business has a 50-day moving average of $397.60 and a two-hundred day moving average of $443.14. Microsoft Corporation has a 12 month low of $356.28 and a 12 month high of $555.45.

Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 29th. The software giant reported $4.27 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $4.06 by $0.21. Microsoft had a return on equity of 31.94% and a net margin of 39.34%.The firm had revenue of $82.89 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $81.44 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $3.46 EPS. Microsoft's revenue for the quarter was up 18.3% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts expect that Microsoft Corporation will post 16.76 earnings per share for the current year.

Microsoft Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, June 11th. Investors of record on Thursday, May 21st will be given a dividend of $0.91 per share. This represents a $3.64 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.9%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, May 21st. Microsoft's dividend payout ratio is currently 21.67%.

Microsoft Profile

Microsoft Corporation is a global technology company headquartered in Redmond, Washington. Founded in 1975 by Bill Gates and Paul Allen, Microsoft develops, licenses and supports a broad range of software products, services and devices for consumers, enterprises and governments worldwide. Its operations span personal computing, productivity software, cloud infrastructure, enterprise applications, developer tools and gaming.

Microsoft's product portfolio includes the Windows operating system and the Microsoft 365 suite of productivity and collaboration tools (Office apps, Outlook, Teams).

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