Microsoft Corporation $MSFT Position Raised by New Covenant Trust Company N.A.

New Covenant Trust Company N.A. grew its position in shares of Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) by 9.9% in the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The fund owned 11,051 shares of the software giant’s stock after purchasing an additional 991 shares during the quarter. Microsoft accounts for about 3.8% of New Covenant Trust Company N.A.’s holdings, making the stock its 7th biggest holding. New Covenant Trust Company N.A.’s holdings in Microsoft were worth $5,668,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. State Street Corp boosted its position in shares of Microsoft by 2.9% during the second quarter. State Street Corp now owns 315,653,206 shares of the software giant’s stock worth $117,744,959,000 after buying an additional 8,944,917 shares during the period. Bank of America Corp DE bought a new position in Microsoft in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $27,338,370,000. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC increased its position in Microsoft by 0.9% in the 2nd quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC now owns 64,375,360 shares of the software giant’s stock valued at $24,013,297,000 after acquiring an additional 543,172 shares during the period. Legal & General Group Plc acquired a new stake in Microsoft in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $18,306,443,000. Finally, Amundi increased its position in Microsoft by 12.0% in the 2nd quarter. Amundi now owns 46,694,778 shares of the software giant’s stock valued at $17,418,076,000 after acquiring an additional 5,019,702 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 71.13% of the company’s stock.

More Microsoft News

Here are the key news stories impacting Microsoft this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Northern Trust introduced an AI-powered client-onboarding agent running on Microsoft Azure, with Excel and SharePoint integration. The reported reductions in data-preparation time and strong data-quality results illustrate potential enterprise demand for Microsoft’s cloud and AI tools. Microsoft stock and Northern Trust AI agent
• Neutral Sentiment: Microsoft is reportedly becoming more selective about outside AI data-center and neocloud arrangements, including not renewing a cloud contract involving Oracle. Tighter spending could support cash flow, but changes to its infrastructure plans may also raise questions about capacity and execution. Microsoft AI data-center deals
• Negative Sentiment: AI investment remains a key risk: one report said Microsoft’s free cash flow over the last four quarters was about 23% below the prior-year period, amid rising infrastructure spending. A large reported backlog signals demand, but investors will look for that spending to translate into returns. Microsoft backlog, AI capex and neocloud ties
• Negative Sentiment: B&D White Capital, a fund with roughly $1.03 billion in assets, reported selling all its Microsoft shares in the third quarter. The filing is backward-looking and does not establish the fund’s reason for selling, but it may add to near-term sentiment concerns. B&D White Capital share sale

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several analysts have weighed in on MSFT shares. Citizens Jmp lifted their target price on Microsoft from $550.00 to $625.00 and gave the company a “market outperform” rating in a research note on Thursday, October 29th. Scotiabank increased their price target on Microsoft from $625.00 to $650.00 and gave the stock a “sector outperform” rating in a research note on Thursday, October 29th. Truist Financial reissued a “buy” rating and set a $630.00 price target (up from $600.00) on shares of Microsoft in a report on Thursday, October 29th. KeyCorp set a $625.00 price objective on shares of Microsoft in a research note on Thursday, October 29th. Finally, CLSA reaffirmed an “outperform” rating on shares of Microsoft in a report on Thursday, July 30th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, forty-six have issued a Buy rating and four have given a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Microsoft has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $609.54.

Microsoft Stock Performance

MSFT opened at $545.18 on Tuesday. The company has a market capitalization of $4.05 trillion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 28.45, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.64 and a beta of 1.05. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.07, a current ratio of 1.22 and a quick ratio of 1.21. Microsoft Corporation has a 1-year low of $349.20 and a 1-year high of $559.15. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $517.28 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $440.69.

Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, October 28th. The software giant reported $4.89 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $4.72 by $0.17. Microsoft had a return on equity of 31.28% and a net margin of 41.17%. The firm had revenue of $92.28 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $90.62 billion. During the same period last year, the company posted $4.13 EPS. The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 18.8% on a year-over-year basis. Research analysts predict that Microsoft Corporation will post 19.92 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Microsoft Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, December 10th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, November 19th will be issued a $0.98 dividend. This represents a $3.92 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.7%. This is a positive change from Microsoft’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.91. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, November 19th. Microsoft’s payout ratio is currently 19.00%.

Insider Activity

In related news, EVP Amy Hood sold 41,674 shares of Microsoft 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 transaction, 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. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, CEO Satya Nadella sold 86,525 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, September 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $501.46, for a total transaction of $43,388,826.50. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer owned 486,763 shares in the company, valued at approximately $244,092,173.98. This trade represents a 15.09% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Insiders have sold 135,504 shares of company stock valued at $68,138,024 in the last ninety days. Company insiders own 0.03% of the company’s stock.

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.