Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) had its price objective raised by investment analysts at Oppenheimer in a research note issued on Tuesday. The brokerage currently has an “outperform” rating on the software giant’s stock.
A number of other research analysts have also weighed in on MSFT. ValuEngine raised shares of Microsoft from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Sunday, December 31st. Zacks Investment Research lowered shares of Microsoft from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 3rd. Piper Jaffray Companies reissued a “buy” rating on shares of Microsoft in a research report on Thursday, January 4th. Stifel Nicolaus reissued a “buy” rating and issued a $80.00 price objective on shares of Microsoft in a research report on Monday, September 18th. Finally, Atlantic Securities set a $83.00 price objective on shares of Microsoft and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Friday, October 27th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have assigned a hold rating and thirty-two have given a buy rating to the company. The stock presently has a consensus rating of “Buy” and a consensus target price of $85.90.
Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) opened at $88.00 on Tuesday. Microsoft has a one year low of $61.95 and a one year high of $88.66. The firm has a market cap of $679,660.00, a P/E ratio of 29.73, a P/E/G ratio of 2.06 and a beta of 0.99. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.91, a quick ratio of 3.06 and a current ratio of 3.12.
In other Microsoft news, EVP Christopher C. Capossela sold 4,000 shares of Microsoft stock in a transaction dated Friday, November 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $83.46, for a total transaction of $333,840.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 189,278 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $15,797,141.88. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, insider Frank H. Brod sold 18,000 shares of Microsoft stock in a transaction dated Monday, December 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $83.15, for a total value of $1,496,700.00. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders sold 45,000 shares of company stock valued at $3,759,420. 1.49% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.
Hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Progressive Investment Management Corp lifted its position in Microsoft by 2.0% in the 4th quarter. Progressive Investment Management Corp now owns 71,078 shares of the software giant’s stock worth $6,080,000 after buying an additional 1,402 shares during the last quarter. First National Bank of Mount Dora Trust Investment Services lifted its position in Microsoft by 2.2% in the fourth quarter. First National Bank of Mount Dora Trust Investment Services now owns 58,389 shares of the software giant’s stock valued at $4,994,000 after purchasing an additional 1,256 shares during the last quarter. Chickasaw Capital Management LLC lifted its position in Microsoft by 53.0% in the fourth quarter. Chickasaw Capital Management LLC now owns 10,100 shares of the software giant’s stock valued at $864,000 after purchasing an additional 3,500 shares during the last quarter. Fulton Bank N.A. lifted its position in Microsoft by 0.7% in the fourth quarter. Fulton Bank N.A. now owns 160,039 shares of the software giant’s stock valued at $13,690,000 after purchasing an additional 1,120 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Washington Trust Bank lifted its position in Microsoft by 5.2% in the fourth quarter. Washington Trust Bank now owns 199,990 shares of the software giant’s stock valued at $17,108,000 after purchasing an additional 9,951 shares during the last quarter. 73.16% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.
Microsoft Company Profile
Microsoft Corporation is a technology company. The Company develops, licenses, and supports a range of software products, services and devices. The Company’s segments include Productivity and Business Processes, Intelligent Cloud and More Personal Computing. The Company’s products include operating systems; cross-device productivity applications; server applications; business solution applications; desktop and server management tools; software development tools; video games, and training and certification of computer system integrators and developers.
