Fri Sep 20 08:39:07 UTC 2024: ## Microsoft Stock Sees Increased Interest from Institutional Investors

**Seattle, WA – September 20, 2024** – Apollon Financial LLC has boosted its stake in Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) by 2.7% during the second quarter, according to a recent Form 13F filing. The fund now holds 32,140 shares, representing 4.6% of its portfolio and making Microsoft its second largest holding. This news comes amidst a trend of institutional investors showing increased interest in the software giant.

Several other hedge funds and institutional investors have also adjusted their positions in Microsoft. Richardson Capital Management LLC significantly increased its stake by 1,290.0% in the first quarter. Neo Ivy Capital Management and Bellevue Group AG also purchased new stakes in the company during the fourth and first quarters, respectively.

Meanwhile, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella sold 78,353 shares of the company’s stock on September 4th at an average price of $408.63, bringing his total holdings to 864,327 shares. This transaction, along with the sale of 40,000 shares by insider Bradford L. Smith on September 9th, highlights a recent trend of insider selling at Microsoft. Over the last 90 days, insiders have sold a total of 190,629 shares valued at $77,916,485.

Despite the insider selling, Microsoft’s stock performance remains strong. The company reported $2.95 earnings per share for the second quarter, exceeding analysts’ expectations. Revenue also surpassed estimates, reaching $64.73 billion. Analysts anticipate further growth, predicting an EPS of 13.04 for the current year.

Microsoft’s dividend is also set to increase. The company will pay a quarterly dividend of $0.83 on December 12th, representing an annualized dividend of $3.32 and a yield of 0.76%.

These recent developments suggest that institutional investors remain confident in Microsoft’s future performance, despite the insider selling. The company continues to generate strong revenue and earnings, and its dividend increase signals its commitment to shareholder value.

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