Signal Advisors Wealth LLC has significantly increased its stake in Microsoft Corporation by 27.7% during the third quarter of 2023. According to the latest Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the firm now holds 46,941 shares of Microsoft, reflecting an additional acquisition of 10,168 shares within the quarter. This investment represents 2.2% of Signal Advisors’ total holdings, making Microsoft its eighth largest position, valued at approximately $24,313,000.
Other institutional investors have also adjusted their positions in Microsoft. For instance, AlphaQuest LLC raised its stake by 5.9% in the second quarter, now holding 342 shares valued at $170,000. Similarly, PMV Capital Advisers LLC and Seek First Inc. each increased their holdings by 5.9% and 1.5%, respectively. PMV now owns 359 shares worth $178,000, while Seek First holds 1,358 shares valued at $675,000. Level Financial Advisors and Red Mountain Financial LLC also reported modest increases in their Microsoft stakes during the same period.
Microsoft Stock Performance and Dividends
As of November 3, 2023, Microsoft shares opened at $487.61. Over the past year, the stock has fluctuated between a low of $344.79 and a peak of $555.45. Microsoft currently boasts a market capitalization of $3.62 trillion and has a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 34.68. The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend of $0.91, which is set to be paid on March 12, 2024. Shareholders on record as of February 19, 2024 will be eligible for this dividend, representing an annualized dividend of $3.64 and a yield of 0.7%.
Microsoft’s dividend payout ratio currently stands at 25.89%, indicating a responsible approach to returning value to shareholders while maintaining growth potential.
Insider Transactions and Analyst Ratings
In related news, several insider transactions have occurred recently. On November 3, 2023, insider Bradford L. Smith sold 38,500 shares at an average price of $518.64, totaling approximately $19,967,640. Following this transaction, Smith retains 461,597 shares in the company, valued at about $239,402,668.08. Furthermore, EVP Takeshi Numoto sold 2,850 shares on December 4, 2023, for around $1,364,352.
Wall Street analysts have generally maintained a positive outlook on Microsoft. Several firms have upgraded or reiterated their buy ratings recently. Baird R W upgraded Microsoft to a “strong-buy” rating, while Goldman Sachs set a target price of $630.00. Other analysts have provided similar forecasts, with a consensus target price of $631.03 based on data from MarketBeat.com.
Microsoft Corporation, founded in 1975 by Bill Gates and Paul Allen, is headquartered in Redmond, Washington. The company develops a wide range of software products and services, including the Windows operating system and the Microsoft 365 suite, which includes popular applications like Office, Outlook, and Teams. As the company continues to grow, its strategic decisions regarding investments and dividends will likely remain closely watched by both analysts and investors alike.
