Market Update: Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) – Here’s Why Microsoft (MSFT) Stock Is Advancing Today

[at TheStreet] – Microsoft (MSFT) shares are higher on Friday after RBC Capital Markets issued a bullish note earlier this morning, citing several catalysts. Read more on this. Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) , currently valued at $411.26B, started trading this morning at $51.91. Looking at today’s market, MSFT one day range is $51.77 to $52.32 with a one year range of $39.72 to $56.85. MSFT shares are currently priced at 19.43x this year’s forecasted earnings, which makes them relatively expensive compared to the industry’s 8.28x forward p/e ratio. And for dividend hunters, the company pays shareholders $1.44 per share annually in dividends, yielding 2.88%. Consensus earnings for the current quarter by the 29 sell-side analysts covering the stock is an estimate of $0.58 per share, which would be $0.02 worse than the year-ago quarter and a $0.09 sequential decrease. Furthermore, our analysis shows the full-year EPS estimate to be $2.67, which would be a $0.21 improvement when compared to the last year’s annual results. The quarterly earnings estimate is predicated on a consensus revenue forecast of $22.17 Billion. If reported, that would be a 0.05% decrease 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. With the above information in mind, readers should note that the average price target is $57.66, which is 11.08% above where the stock opened this morning. See more in (NASDAQ:MSFT) Similar Articles: Stock Update: Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) – Microsoft Sues DoJ Over Data Request Order (MSFT) Market Update: Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) – Microsoft’s Azure: The Engine in BMW’s Mobile App (MSFT, AMZN) Market Update: Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) – RBC Likes Microsoft, Says Stock Now Worth $65