Company Update: Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) – Microsoft’s next great hope to topple the iPhone won’t launch until next year

[Business Insider] – Microsoft’s long-rumored Surface Phone, which the company has previously hinted will be a serious… Read more on this. Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) , valued at $431.53B, started the session at $55.13. Today’s price range has been between $54.46 and $55.30 per share and has traded between $39.72 and $56.85 over the past 12 months. Priced at 20.08x this year’s forecasted earnings, MSFT shares are relatively expensive compared to the industry’s 17.35x forward p/e ratio. And for dividend hunters, the company pays shareholders $1.44 per share annually in dividends, yielding 2.59%. According to a consensus of 29 analysts, the earnings estimate of $0.64 per share would be $0.03 better than the year-ago quarter and a $0.04 sequential decrease. What we find to be interesting is that the full-year EPS estimate of $2.76 is a $0.30 better 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 $22.10 Billion. If realized, that would be a 1.70% increase over the year-ago quarter. In terms of ratings, Macquarie Initiated MSFT at Neutral (Mar 4, 2016). Previously, Morgan Stanley upgraded MSFT from Equal-Weight to Overweight. The average price target for MSFT shares is $58.80, which is 6.66% above where the stock opened this morning. See more in (NASDAQ:MSFT) Similar Articles: Company Update (NASDAQ:MSFT): Microsoft’s latest iPhone app can identify your dog’s breed based on a photo Stock Update: Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) – MICROSOFT IS UP 10%: Here’s what a one-point move in MSFT does to the Dow Market Update: Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) – Microsoft’s first-ever laptop Surface Book sells out before launch