Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) is Bessemer Group Inc.'s Largest Position

Key Points

• Bessemer Group Inc. has increased its stake in Microsoft Corporation by 1.5% in the 1st quarter, making it the fund's largest position, with approximately 7.6 million shares valued at nearly $2.86 billion.
• Microsoft's quarterly earnings report revealed an EPS of $3.65, exceeding analysts' expectations, along with revenues of $76.44 billion, a 36.15% net margin, and an 18.1% increase in revenue year-over-year.
• The company has announced a quarterly dividend of $0.83, and its stock remains a popular choice among institutional investors, with 71.13% ownership from hedge funds and institutions.

Bessemer Group Inc. grew its position in Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT - Free Report) by 1.5% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 7,605,536 shares of the software giant's stock after purchasing an additional 112,467 shares during the period. Microsoft comprises about 5.1% of Bessemer Group Inc.'s portfolio, making the stock its largest position. Bessemer Group Inc. owned about 0.10% of Microsoft worth $2,855,043,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in MSFT. Brady Martz Wealth Solutions LLC increased its stake in shares of Microsoft by 1.4% during the 1st quarter. Brady Martz Wealth Solutions LLC now owns 6,650 shares of the software giant's stock worth $2,496,000 after purchasing an additional 95 shares during the last quarter. Mcdaniel Terry & Co. increased its stake in shares of Microsoft by 6.1% during the 4th quarter. Mcdaniel Terry & Co. now owns 315,594 shares of the software giant's stock worth $133,023,000 after purchasing an additional 18,052 shares during the last quarter. Strategic Financial Services Inc. increased its stake in shares of Microsoft by 7.8% during the 4th quarter. Strategic Financial Services Inc. now owns 17,426 shares of the software giant's stock worth $7,345,000 after purchasing an additional 1,268 shares during the last quarter. Elevate Wealth Advisory Inc. increased its stake in shares of Microsoft by 147.9% during the 4th quarter. Elevate Wealth Advisory Inc. now owns 1,748 shares of the software giant's stock worth $737,000 after purchasing an additional 1,043 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Intellus Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Microsoft during the 4th quarter worth approximately $16,075,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 71.13% of the company's stock.

Microsoft Trading Down 1.5%

MSFT stock opened at $527.75 on Wednesday. The company has a market capitalization of $3.92 trillion, a PE ratio of 38.69, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.34 and a beta of 1.06. Microsoft Corporation has a one year low of $344.79 and a one year high of $555.45. The company's 50 day moving average price is $492.99 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $436.40. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.12, a quick ratio of 1.35 and a current ratio of 1.35.

Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 30th. The software giant reported $3.65 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.35 by $0.30. The firm had revenue of $76.44 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $73.79 billion. Microsoft had a net margin of 36.15% and a return on equity of 32.44%. The business's revenue was up 18.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the firm posted $2.95 earnings per share. As a group, analysts predict that Microsoft Corporation will post 13.08 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Microsoft Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, September 11th. Investors of record on Thursday, August 21st will be paid a $0.83 dividend. This represents a $3.32 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.6%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, August 21st. Microsoft's payout ratio is presently 24.34%.

Insider Activity

In related news, EVP Takeshi Numoto sold 3,000 shares of Microsoft stock in a transaction on Tuesday, June 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $463.00, for a total value of $1,389,000.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 43,930 shares of the company's stock, valued at $20,339,590. The trade was a 6.39% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, EVP Judson Althoff sold 16,000 shares of Microsoft stock in a transaction on Monday, May 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $458.18, for a total transaction of $7,330,880.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 98,010 shares in the company, valued at approximately $44,906,221.80. The trade was a 14.03% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 54,743 shares of company stock valued at $24,921,913 in the last three months. Corporate insiders own 0.03% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities research analysts have recently issued reports on MSFT shares. Jefferies Financial Group raised their price target on shares of Microsoft from $600.00 to $675.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Thursday, July 31st. Evercore ISI raised their price target on shares of Microsoft from $515.00 to $545.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note on Friday, July 25th. Wells Fargo & Company reiterated an "overweight" rating and issued a $650.00 target price (up previously from $600.00) on shares of Microsoft in a research note on Thursday, July 31st. TD Securities lifted their target price on shares of Microsoft from $475.00 to $490.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Thursday, May 1st. Finally, Scotiabank lifted their target price on shares of Microsoft from $500.00 to $650.00 and gave the stock a "sector outperform" rating in a research note on Thursday, July 31st. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and thirty-one have assigned a buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Microsoft has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $609.86.

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.

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