Benin Management cut its stake in shares of Microsoft Co. (NASDAQ:MSFT) by 10.7% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 77,752 shares of the software giant’s stock after selling 9,301 shares during the period. Microsoft makes up approximately 2.4% of Benin Management’s portfolio, making the stock its 12th largest position. Benin Management’s holdings in Microsoft were worth $4,314,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of MSFT. Taylor Wealth Management Partners increased its stake in Microsoft by 76.2% in the fourth quarter. Taylor Wealth Management Partners now owns 650 shares of the software giant’s stock valued at $36,000 after buying an additional 281 shares during the last quarter. Creative Planning increased its stake in Microsoft by 66.7% in the fourth quarter. Creative Planning now owns 2,500 shares of the software giant’s stock valued at $0 after buying an additional 1,000 shares during the last quarter. Baystate Wealth Management bought a new stake in shares of Microsoft during the fourth quarter valued at $256,000. Exchange Capital Management increased its stake in shares of Microsoft by 6.1% in the fourth quarter. Exchange Capital Management now owns 4,783 shares of the software giant’s stock valued at $265,000 after buying an additional 275 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Kistler-Tiffany Companies increased its stake in shares of Microsoft by 1.6% in the fourth quarter. Kistler-Tiffany Companies now owns 7,309 shares of the software giant’s stock valued at $405,000 after buying an additional 112 shares in the last quarter.

Shares of Microsoft Co. (NASDAQ:MSFT) traded up 1.02% during mid-day trading on Tuesday, hitting $52.32. The stock had a trading volume of 13,743,512 shares. The firm’s 50-day moving average price is $54.04 and its 200 day moving average price is $49.35. Microsoft Co. has a 12-month low of $39.72 and a 12-month high of $56.85. The stock has a market cap of $417.93 billion and a price-to-earnings ratio of 34.79.

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 10th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, February 18th will be issued a $0.36 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, February 16th. This represents a $1.44 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.78%.

Several equities research analysts recently weighed in on MSFT shares. Credit Agricole increased their price target on Microsoft to $60.00 in a report on Wednesday, November 11th. Pacific Crest increased their price target on Microsoft from $55.00 to $65.00 in a report on Monday, November 23rd. Sanford C. Bernstein reaffirmed a “buy” rating and set a $56.00 price target on shares of Microsoft in a report on Tuesday, September 29th. Deutsche Bank reaffirmed a “buy” rating and set a $55.00 price target on shares of Microsoft in a report on Monday, October 12th. Finally, FBR & Co. reaffirmed a “buy” rating on shares of Microsoft in a report on Sunday, October 18th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating, twenty-two have issued a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the company. The stock currently has an average rating of “Buy” and a consensus target price of $56.18.

In other Microsoft news, insider G Mason Morfit sold 18,650,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, November 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $53.53, for a total value of $998,334,500.00. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, CMO Christopher C. Capossela sold 29,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, October 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $53.59, for a total value of $1,554,110.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief marketing officer now directly owns 300,809 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $16,120,354.31. The disclosure for this sale can be found here.

Microsoft Corporation is engaged in developing, licensing and supporting a range of software products and services. The Company also designs and sells hardware, and delivers online advertising to the customers. The Company operates in five segments: Devices and Consumer (NASDAQ:MSFT) Licensing, D&C Hardware, D&C Other, Commercial Licensing, and Commercial Other. The Company’s products include operating systems for computing devices, servers, phones, and other intelligent devices; server applications for distributed computing environments; productivity applications; business solution applications; desktop and server management tools; software development tools; video games; and online advertising. It also offers cloud-based solutions that provide customers with software, services and content over the Internet by way of shared computing resources located in centralized data centers. It provides consulting and product and solution support services.

12 Month Chart for NASDAQ:MSFT

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