Surience Private Wealth LLC lessened its position in Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT - Free Report) by 87.1% in the second quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 956 shares of the software giant's stock after selling 6,446 shares during the period. Microsoft makes up about 0.3% of Surience Private Wealth LLC's holdings, making the stock its 28th largest position. Surience Private Wealth LLC's holdings in Microsoft were worth $357,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

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Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of MSFT. Frankly Finances LLC acquired a new position in shares of Microsoft during the second quarter valued at about $35,000. MidAtlantic Capital Management Inc. bought a new stake in Microsoft during the 4th quarter worth approximately $59,000. Lifetime Wealth Management P.C. bought a new stake in Microsoft during the 4th quarter worth approximately $101,000. Ramsey Quantitative Systems purchased a new stake in shares of Microsoft in the second quarter worth approximately $112,000. Finally, Midwest Capital Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Microsoft by 16.6% in the first quarter. Midwest Capital Advisors LLC now owns 422 shares of the software giant's stock valued at $156,000 after purchasing an additional 60 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 71.13% of the company's stock.

Trending Headlines about Microsoft

Here are the key news stories impacting Microsoft this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Stifel upgraded Microsoft to Buy from Hold and raised its price target to $575 from $530. The analyst expects Azure, Copilot and other AI services to accelerate revenue while Microsoft maintains resilient margins without needing excessive spending on AI models. Microsoft upgraded as analyst sees steady margins
• Positive Sentiment: Microsoft plans to invest more than $10 billion in the Gulf through 2030, funding cloud and AI infrastructure, cybersecurity, connectivity and workforce development across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait. The spending expands Azure’s international capacity and could create long-term commercial opportunities. Microsoft plans Gulf investment
• Positive Sentiment: AI monetization remains the central bullish thesis. Microsoft is pursuing broader Copilot adoption, including discounts of roughly 30% to 50% for large enterprise customers, while management highlights independent AI safety evaluators and software that controls AI agents as emerging opportunities. Microsoft plans larger Copilot discounts
• Neutral Sentiment: Microsoft and Coinbase disrupted an AI-enabled phishing network, reinforcing Microsoft’s cybersecurity credentials. However, the operation does not eliminate the persistent economic incentive for criminals to compromise accounts. Microsoft cuts AI phishing supply chain
• Neutral Sentiment: Microsoft’s collaboration with Photonic on quantum-computing resource estimation and its decision to give DARPA access to its Majorana 2 system enhance its technology and government relationships, but these projects are unlikely to affect near-term earnings. Microsoft opens quantum system to DARPA testing
• Negative Sentiment: Xbox is cutting 268 positions and transferring the next Halo game to Activision as part of a gaming restructuring. The move may improve efficiency but raises concerns about Microsoft’s gaming execution and follows recent layoffs. Microsoft cuts Xbox roles
• Negative Sentiment: Broader technology stocks weakened, while scrutiny of data-center water consumption and Microsoft’s heavy AI infrastructure spending adds to concerns about costs, regulation and execution.

Microsoft Price Performance

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NASDAQ MSFT opened at $500.59 on Thursday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.22, a current ratio of 1.23 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.07. The company has a market cap of $3.72 trillion, a PE ratio of 27.87, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.60 and a beta of 1.11. Microsoft Corporation has a 52 week low of $349.20 and a 52 week high of $553.72. The firm's 50-day simple moving average is $473.55 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $424.91.

Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 29th. The software giant reported $4.74 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $4.24 by $0.50. The company had revenue of $90.01 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $87.62 billion. Microsoft had a net margin of 40.31% and a return on equity of 31.98%. Microsoft's revenue for the quarter was up 17.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm earned $3.65 EPS. Research analysts predict that Microsoft Corporation will post 19.61 earnings per share for the current year.

Microsoft Increases Dividend

• Microsoft's 8% Dividend Hike: Confidence Signal or Distraction From Capex Math?

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, December 10th. Investors of record on Thursday, November 19th will be paid a dividend of $0.98 per share. This represents a $3.92 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.8%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, November 19th. This is a positive change from Microsoft's previous quarterly dividend of $0.91. Microsoft's dividend payout ratio is presently 21.83%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, EVP Takeshi Numoto sold 4,810 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $496.48, for a total transaction of $2,388,068.80. Following the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 42,677 shares in the company, valued at $21,188,276.96. This represents a 10.13% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, CEO Judson Althoff sold 10,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, August 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $487.89, for a total transaction of $4,878,900.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 100,447 shares in the company, valued at approximately $49,007,086.83. The trade was a 9.05% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Over the last quarter, insiders sold 143,009 shares of company stock worth $71,420,699. Company insiders own 0.03% of the company's stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts recently issued reports on the company. Sanford C. Bernstein set a $660.00 target price on Microsoft in a research report on Monday, August 10th. Bank of America increased their target price on shares of Microsoft from $500.00 to $600.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Tuesday, September 1st. Royal Bank Of Canada reiterated an "outperform" rating on shares of Microsoft in a research note on Thursday, September 10th. Argus dropped their target price on shares of Microsoft from $620.00 to $510.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, July 10th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group restated a "buy" rating and issued a $640.00 target price on shares of Microsoft in a research note on Thursday, July 30th. Forty-three investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, four have given a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $569.29.

View Our Latest Stock Report on Microsoft

Microsoft Profile

(Free Report)

Microsoft Corporation is a global technology company that develops software, cloud services, devices and digital solutions for consumers, businesses and public-sector organizations. Its products and services include the Windows operating system, Microsoft 365 productivity applications, Teams collaboration software, Dynamics business applications and Azure cloud computing services.

The company also operates LinkedIn, GitHub and Xbox, which includes gaming consoles, video games and related online services.

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