Fri Sep 20 08:39:05 UTC 2024: ## Microsoft Stock Sees Increased Interest From Institutional Investors
**Seattle, Washington** – Accredited Investors Inc. has increased its stake in Microsoft (MSFT) by 2.5% in the second quarter, according to the company’s recent SEC filing. The fund now owns 18,651 shares of the software giant, valued at $8,336,000.
This news comes amid a broader trend of institutional investors adjusting their holdings in Microsoft. Several other funds have also made changes in recent quarters, including:
* **Brendel Financial Advisors LLC:** Acquired a new stake in Microsoft worth $3,087,000 in the fourth quarter.
* **MCF Advisors LLC:** Increased its stake by 0.6% in the fourth quarter, now owning 32,669 shares valued at $12,285,000.
* **Legacy Financial Strategies LLC:** Boosted its stake by 2.1% in the fourth quarter, now owning 7,145 shares valued at $2,687,000.
* **Prism Advisors Inc.:** Grew its holdings by 30% in the fourth quarter, now owning 1,286 shares valued at $484,000.
* **Greenwich Wealth Management LLC:** Raised its position by 1% in the fourth quarter, now owning 52,731 shares valued at $19,829,000.
Institutional investors now own 71.13% of Microsoft’s outstanding stock, reflecting strong confidence in the company’s future.
Despite the recent increase in interest, Microsoft’s stock opened at $438.69 on Friday. The company boasts a strong financial profile with a market capitalization of $3.26 trillion and a P/E ratio of 37.98. It also recently declared a quarterly dividend of $0.83 per share, representing a $3.32 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.76%.
However, there have been some insider sales of Microsoft stock recently. CEO Satya Nadella sold 78,353 shares on September 4th, and insider Bradford L. Smith sold 40,000 shares on September 9th. This activity has raised some eyebrows among investors.
Despite the insider sales, analysts remain bullish on Microsoft. Bank of America recently raised its price objective on the stock to $510.00 from $480.00 and maintained a “buy” rating. Other analysts have also issued positive ratings and price targets, with the consensus target price at $494.72.
Overall, the recent activity in Microsoft stock suggests a strong level of interest from institutional investors. While some insider sales have occurred, analysts remain optimistic about the company’s future prospects. Investors will be watching closely to see how Microsoft navigates the coming months and years.
First Piper 