Company Update (NASDAQ:MSFT): Microsoft: An Activist Investment Analysis (MSFT)

[at Investopedia] – Find out how hedge fund ValueAct Capital managed to turn a 0.8% position in Microsoft stock into a CEO change, a place on the board of directors and dividends. Read more on this. Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) , currently valued at $417.61B, started the session at $52.82. Shares have traded today between $52.06 and $53.10 per share and has traded between $39.72 and $56.85 over the past 12 months. MSFT shares are currently priced at 18.96x this year’s forecasted earnings, which makes them relatively expensive compared to the industry’s 13.42x earnings multiple for the same period. The company pays shareholders $1.44 per share annually in dividends, yielding 2.75%. According to a consensus of 28 analysts, the earnings estimate of $0.71 per share would be $0.00 worse than the year-ago quarter and a $0.01 sequential decrease. Investors should also note that the full-year EPS estimate of $2.76 is a $0.30 improvement when compared to the previous year’s annual results. The quarterly earnings estimate is based on a consensus revenue forecast of the current quarter of $25.24 Billion. If realized, that would be a 4.65% decrease over the year-ago quarter. Recently, BMO Capital Markets Initiated MSFT at Outperform (Jan 8, 2016). Previously, Goldman upgraded MSFT from Sell to Neutral. Investors should keep in mind is that the average price target is $57.66, which is 9.16% above where the stock opened this morning. See more in (NASDAQ:MSFT) Similar Articles: Company Update: Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) – Microsoft (MSFT) Stock Up on New Financial Reporting Structure Market Update: Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) – One Reason Microsoft (MSFT) Stock Closed Up Company Update (NASDAQ:MSFT): Microsoft just made it easier for activist investors to pick board members