Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) Stock Price Up 1.6% – What’s Next?

14 Mar 2025, 15:14 by Doug Wharley · The Cerbat Gem

Shares of Microsoft Co. (NASDAQ:MSFT – Get Free Report) traded up 1.6% during trading on Friday . The company traded as high as $384.84 and last traded at $384.72. 4,621,811 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 80% from the average session volume of 23,017,955 shares. The stock had previously closed at $378.77.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities analysts have commented on the company. UBS Group decreased their target price on Microsoft from $525.00 to $510.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, January 30th. Stifel Nicolaus decreased their target price on Microsoft from $515.00 to $475.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, March 7th. Guggenheim restated a “neutral” rating on shares of Microsoft in a research note on Friday, January 24th. Wedbush reaffirmed an “outperform” rating and set a $550.00 price target on shares of Microsoft in a report on Tuesday, November 19th. Finally, Morgan Stanley cut their price target on Microsoft from $540.00 to $530.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, January 30th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twenty-seven have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $510.43.

Check Out Our Latest Report on Microsoft

Microsoft Stock Performance

The company has a current ratio of 1.35, a quick ratio of 1.34 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.13. The stock has a market capitalization of $2.89 trillion, a PE ratio of 31.28, a PEG ratio of 2.21 and a beta of 0.92. The firm’s 50-day simple moving average is $413.12 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $420.77.

Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT – Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 29th. The software giant reported $3.23 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.15 by $0.08. Microsoft had a net margin of 35.43% and a return on equity of 33.36%. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $2.93 EPS. On average, equities research analysts expect that Microsoft Co. will post 13.08 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Microsoft Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, June 12th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, May 15th will be issued a dividend of $0.83 per share. This represents a $3.32 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.85%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, May 15th. Microsoft’s dividend payout ratio is currently 26.73%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Microsoft

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Ball & Co Wealth Management Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Microsoft in the 4th quarter valued at $31,000. Fiduciary Advisors Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Microsoft in the 4th quarter valued at $38,000. Christopher J. Hasenberg Inc lifted its stake in shares of Microsoft by 35.7% in the 3rd quarter. Christopher J. Hasenberg Inc now owns 95 shares of the software giant’s stock valued at $39,000 after purchasing an additional 25 shares during the last quarter. IFS Advisors LLC lifted its position in Microsoft by 53.8% during the 4th quarter. IFS Advisors LLC now owns 100 shares of the software giant’s stock worth $42,000 after acquiring an additional 35 shares during the last quarter. Finally, LSV Asset Management acquired a new position in Microsoft during the 4th quarter worth $44,000. 71.13% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Microsoft Company Profile

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