Microsoft Corporation $MSFT Stock Sold by Park National Corp OH

Key Points

• Park National Corp OH reduced its Microsoft stake by 5.1% in the third quarter, selling 13,169 shares; it still held 244,284 shares worth about $125.3 million at quarter-end.
• Microsoft beat quarterly earnings and revenue estimates, with revenue up 18.8% year over year. The company also raised its quarterly dividend from $0.91 to $0.98 per share.
• Analyst sentiment remains broadly positive: 46 analysts rate the stock Buy, and the consensus price target is $609.54. Shares fell 1.0% on Friday to $530.61.

Park National Corp OH cut its position in Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT - Free Report) by 5.1% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 244,284 shares of the software giant's stock after selling 13,169 shares during the period. Microsoft accounts for approximately 3.4% of Park National Corp OH's investment portfolio, making the stock its 7th biggest holding. Park National Corp OH's holdings in Microsoft were worth $125,293,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in MSFT. Horizons Wealth Management acquired a new position in Microsoft during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $228,000. Baker Tilly Wealth Management LLC boosted its holdings in Microsoft by 2.2% in the third quarter. Baker Tilly Wealth Management LLC now owns 21,586 shares of the software giant's stock worth $11,071,000 after acquiring an additional 466 shares in the last quarter. Ferguson Wellman Capital Management Inc. grew its stake in Microsoft by 3.7% in the third quarter. Ferguson Wellman Capital Management Inc. now owns 969,392 shares of the software giant's stock valued at $497,201,000 after acquiring an additional 34,656 shares during the period. CapWealth Advisors LLC grew its stake in Microsoft by 1.7% in the third quarter. CapWealth Advisors LLC now owns 84,108 shares of the software giant's stock valued at $43,139,000 after acquiring an additional 1,380 shares during the period. Finally, Heartwood Wealth Advisors LLC grew its stake in Microsoft by 1.7% in the third quarter. Heartwood Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 10,198 shares of the software giant's stock valued at $5,231,000 after acquiring an additional 172 shares during the period. 71.13% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities analysts have recently weighed in on MSFT shares. CLSA reaffirmed an "outperform" rating on shares of Microsoft in a research report on Thursday, July 30th. Stifel Nicolaus lifted their price target on shares of Microsoft from $575.00 to $650.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Thursday, October 29th. Mizuho lifted their price target on shares of Microsoft from $510.00 to $600.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research report on Thursday, October 15th. Phillip Securities lowered shares of Microsoft from a "moderate buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Monday, October 12th. Finally, Piper Sandler restated an "overweight" rating and set a $650.00 price objective (up from $610.00) on shares of Microsoft in a report on Thursday, October 29th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, forty-six have given a Buy rating and four have given a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $609.54.

Microsoft Stock Down 1.0%

NASDAQ:MSFT traded down $5.32 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $530.61. 26,926,992 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 22,422,492. 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 firm's 50-day simple moving average is $516.65 and its 200-day simple moving average is $440.18. Microsoft Corporation has a one year low of $349.20 and a one year high of $559.15. The company has a market cap of $3.94 trillion, a PE ratio of 27.69, a PEG ratio of 1.56 and a beta of 1.05.

Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, October 28th. The software giant reported $4.89 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $4.72 by $0.17. Microsoft had a net margin of 41.17% and a return on equity of 31.28%. The firm had revenue of $92.28 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $90.62 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $4.13 EPS. The business's revenue for the quarter was up 18.8% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities analysts predict that Microsoft Corporation will post 19.89 earnings per share for the current year.

Microsoft Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, December 10th. Investors of record on Thursday, November 19th will be given a dividend of $0.98 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, November 19th. This is an increase from Microsoft's previous quarterly dividend of $0.91. This represents a $3.92 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.7%. Microsoft's payout ratio is 19.00%.

More Microsoft News

Here are the key news stories impacting Microsoft this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Microsoft’s free-cash-flow position may offer some reassurance: an analysis notes that several other major AI hyperscalers are generating negative free cash flow, while Microsoft is generating positive cash flow. Is Microsoft Getting Enough Credit for Better Free Cash Flow Compared to its Peers?
• Neutral Sentiment: Reports say Microsoft plans to reduce the number of neocloud partners it uses, wind down rented AI capacity from Oracle, and declined a Texas data-center expansion with Nscale. This could help control costs and give Microsoft tighter oversight as it builds its own infrastructure, but the implications for capacity growth remain uncertain. Microsoft plans to use fewer neoclouds as AI buildout shows signs of strain
• Negative Sentiment: Investors may read the canceled or reduced AI-computing commitments as a sign that Microsoft is reassessing demand, project timing, or returns on its data-center spending. The shift comes as reports highlight construction delays and the rising cost of meeting a growing AI backlog, intensifying scrutiny of whether heavy investment will pay off. Microsoft is winding down Oracle deal to rent AI cloud capacity, Bloomberg News reports
• Negative Sentiment: Broader unease around AI spending and tech-market volatility may also weigh on MSFT, as investors question the scale of data-center investment relative to future cash returns. Microsoft and Oracle's AI ambitions are suddenly a lot more expensive

Insider Activity

In related news, CEO Satya Nadella sold 86,525 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated 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 transaction, 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 transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, 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 completion of the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 533,624 shares of the company's stock, valued at $265,888,830.48. The trade was a 7.24% 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. Over the last 90 days, insiders have sold 135,504 shares of company stock worth $68,138,024. 0.03% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

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.

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

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