Fri Dec 06 18:53:18 UTC 2024: **Microsoft Stock Sees Mixed Activity from Institutional Investors and Insider Selling**
**New York, NY – December 12, 2024** – Recent filings reveal a mixed bag of activity surrounding Microsoft (MSFT) stock. While several institutional investors increased their holdings, McGuire Investment Group LLC reduced its stake by 2.4% during the third quarter, selling 1,184 shares to hold a remaining 48,231. This represents a $20.75 million investment, making MSFT the firm’s ninth-largest position.
Conversely, other firms like WFA Asset Management Corp, China Universal Asset Management Co. Ltd., Quent Capital LLC, Leith Wheeler Investment Counsel Ltd., and Custos Family Office LLC all boosted their MSFT holdings during the first quarter.
Adding to the complexity, insider selling has been noteworthy. CEO Satya Nadella sold 78,353 shares in September, and CMO Takeshi Numoto sold 1,000 shares in November. In total, insiders sold 209,431 shares in the last ninety days, worth $85.79 million.
Despite this activity, Microsoft’s stock closed Friday at $423.46, up $0.47. The company recently reported strong Q3 earnings, exceeding expectations with $3.30 EPS on $65.59 billion in revenue. Microsoft also announced a $60 billion share buyback program and increased its quarterly dividend to $0.83.
Analyst sentiment remains largely positive, with a “Moderate Buy” consensus rating and a $503.03 average price target according to MarketBeat.com. However, price targets have been adjusted recently, with some firms lowering their estimates.
First Piper 