Company Update: Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) – Microsoft sues U.S. government over secret customer data searches

[at MarketWatch] – Microsoft is suing the Justice Department, saying it’s unconstitutional for the government to tell companies not to tell customers when their data is being examined. Read more on this. Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) , valued at $438.18B, began trading this morning at $55.31. Looking at today’s market, MSFT one day range is $55.07 to $55.57 and has traded between $39.72 and $56.85 over the past year. Priced at 20.13x this year’s forecasted earnings, MSFT shares are relatively inexpensive compared to the industry’s 21.00x forward p/e ratio. And for those looking to make a return holding the stock, the company pays shareholders $1.44 per share annually in dividends, yielding 2.65%. In a review of the consensus earnings estimate this quarter, 29 sell-side analysts are looking at $0.64 per share, which would be $0.03 better than the year-ago quarter and a $0.04 sequential decrease. Investors should also note that the full-year EPS estimate of $2.75 is a $0.29 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 $22.11 Billion. If realized, that would be a 1.75% increase over the year-ago quarter. More recently, Macquarie Initiated MSFT at Neutral (Mar 4, 2016). Previously, Morgan Stanley upgraded MSFT from Equal-Weight to Overweight. Investors should keep in mind is that the average price target is $58.80, which is 6.31% above where the stock opened this morning. See more in (NASDAQ:MSFT) Similar Articles: Company Update: Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) – Microsoft’s underwater data center called its ‘most intriguing project’ in almost 40 years Stock Update: Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) – MICROSOFT IS UP 10%: Here’s what a one-point move in MSFT does to the Dow Company Update (NASDAQ:MSFT): Microsoft Publishes Figures For Government Data Requests