Murphy Pohlad Asset Management LLC Reduces Stock Holdings in Microsoft Co. (NASDAQ:MSFT)

Murphy Pohlad Asset Management LLC cut its holdings in shares of Microsoft Co. (NASDAQ:MSFT) by 4.6% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 12,115 shares of the software giant’s stock after selling 579 shares during the quarter. Microsoft comprises 2.2% of Murphy Pohlad Asset Management LLC’s portfolio, making the stock its 6th biggest holding. Murphy Pohlad Asset Management LLC’s holdings in Microsoft were worth $5,106,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the business. Stordahl Capital Management Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Microsoft by 40.2% during the 4th quarter. Stordahl Capital Management Inc. now owns 4,909 shares of the software giant’s stock worth $2,069,000 after acquiring an additional 1,407 shares during the last quarter. First Affirmative Financial Network increased its holdings in shares of Microsoft by 6.3% during the 4th quarter. First Affirmative Financial Network now owns 13,872 shares of the software giant’s stock worth $5,847,000 after acquiring an additional 826 shares during the last quarter. DMC Group LLC increased its holdings in shares of Microsoft by 2.5% during the 4th quarter. DMC Group LLC now owns 8,947 shares of the software giant’s stock worth $3,771,000 after acquiring an additional 216 shares during the last quarter. Abel Hall LLC increased its holdings in shares of Microsoft by 4.2% during the 4th quarter. Abel Hall LLC now owns 8,434 shares of the software giant’s stock worth $3,555,000 after acquiring an additional 341 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Synergy Asset Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Microsoft by 115.0% during the 4th quarter. Synergy Asset Management LLC now owns 263,271 shares of the software giant’s stock worth $111,635,000 after acquiring an additional 140,836 shares during the last quarter. 71.13% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Microsoft Price Performance

Microsoft stock opened at $391.26 on Friday. 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 company has a market capitalization of $2.91 trillion, a PE ratio of 31.50, a P/E/G ratio of 2.21 and a beta of 0.92. Microsoft Co. has a 12 month low of $376.91 and a 12 month high of $468.35. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $408.82 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $419.67.

Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, January 29th. The software giant reported $3.23 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.15 by $0.08. Microsoft had a return on equity of 33.36% and a net margin of 35.43%. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $2.93 earnings per share. Analysts expect that Microsoft Co. will post 13.08 EPS for the current year.

Microsoft Dividend Announcement

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

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts recently weighed in on MSFT shares. Morgan Stanley decreased their target price on Microsoft from $540.00 to $530.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, January 30th. Cantor Fitzgerald reaffirmed an “overweight” rating and issued a $509.00 price objective on shares of Microsoft in a report on Wednesday, January 29th. Loop Capital upped their price objective on Microsoft from $500.00 to $550.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Monday, December 23rd. Piper Sandler reaffirmed an “overweight” rating and issued a $520.00 price objective on shares of Microsoft in a report on Monday, January 27th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed an “outperform” rating and issued a $500.00 price objective on shares of Microsoft in a report on Thursday, January 30th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twenty-eight have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $510.59.

Microsoft Profile

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.