Benedict Financial Advisors Inc. Lowers Holdings in Microsoft Co. (NASDAQ:MSFT)

Benedict Financial Advisors Inc. trimmed its position in shares of Microsoft Co. (NASDAQ:MSFT - Free Report) by 3.2% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 38,481 shares of the software giant's stock after selling 1,275 shares during the period. Microsoft accounts for 3.9% of Benedict Financial Advisors Inc.'s investment portfolio, making the stock its 2nd biggest holding. Benedict Financial Advisors Inc.'s holdings in Microsoft were worth $16,220,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the business. Summit Wealth & Retirement Planning Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Microsoft by 13.8% in the 4th quarter. Summit Wealth & Retirement Planning Inc. now owns 8,369 shares of the software giant's stock valued at $3,528,000 after purchasing an additional 1,017 shares during the period. Richard C. Young & CO. LTD. boosted its holdings in shares of Microsoft by 0.9% during the fourth quarter. Richard C. Young & CO. LTD. now owns 37,966 shares of the software giant's stock worth $16,003,000 after purchasing an additional 342 shares during the period. WestEnd Advisors LLC grew its position in Microsoft by 5.6% during the fourth quarter. WestEnd Advisors LLC now owns 104,187 shares of the software giant's stock valued at $43,915,000 after purchasing an additional 5,531 shares in the last quarter. Stoneridge Investment Partners LLC lifted its position in Microsoft by 3.9% in the 4th quarter. Stoneridge Investment Partners LLC now owns 43,825 shares of the software giant's stock worth $18,472,000 after buying an additional 1,630 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Chaney Capital Management Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Microsoft by 0.8% during the 4th quarter. Chaney Capital Management Inc. now owns 23,061 shares of the software giant's stock valued at $9,720,000 after acquiring an additional 185 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 71.13% of the company's stock.

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Microsoft Stock Performance

MSFT traded up $7.10 during trading on Friday, reaching $388.45. 23,826,330 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 21,242,894. The company has a market capitalization of $2.89 trillion, a P/E ratio of 31.28, a PEG ratio of 2.21 and a beta of 1.00. The company has a quick ratio of 1.34, a current ratio of 1.35 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.13. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $391.89 and a 200 day moving average price of $414.53. Microsoft Co. has a fifty-two week low of $344.79 and a fifty-two week high of $468.35.

Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, January 29th. The software giant reported $3.23 earnings per share for the quarter, beating 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 last year, the company posted $2.93 EPS. As a group, analysts predict that Microsoft Co. will post 13.08 earnings per share for the current fiscal 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 paid a $0.83 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, May 15th. This represents a $3.32 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.85%. Microsoft's dividend payout ratio is currently 26.73%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

MSFT has been the subject of several recent research reports. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated an "outperform" rating and set a $500.00 price objective on shares of Microsoft in a report on Thursday, January 30th. Guggenheim reiterated a "neutral" rating on shares of Microsoft in a report on Friday, January 24th. Loop Capital increased their price objective on Microsoft from $500.00 to $550.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Monday, December 23rd. Piper Sandler reaffirmed an "overweight" rating and set a $520.00 price objective on shares of Microsoft in a research report on Monday, January 27th. Finally, DA Davidson raised shares of Microsoft from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and boosted their target price for the stock from $425.00 to $450.00 in a research report on Thursday, March 13th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twenty-eight have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Microsoft has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $505.41.

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.