Microsoft logged a 0.5% change during today's afternoon session, and is now trading at a price of $329.5 per share.
Microsoft returned gains of 18.0% last year, with its stock price reaching a high of $366.78 and a low of $213.43. Over the same period, the stock outperformed the S&P 500 index by 8.0%. More recently, the company's 50-day average price was $336.25. Microsoft Corporation develops and supports software, services, devices and solutions worldwide. Based in Redmond, WA, the large-cap Technology company has 221,000 full time employees. Microsoft has offered a 0.8% dividend yield over the last 12 months.
Growing Revenues With Increasing Reinvestment in the Business:
| 2019-08-01 | 2020-07-30 | 2021-07-29 | 2022-07-28 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue (MM) | $125,843 | $143,015 | $168,088 | $198,270 |
| Gross Margins | 65.9% | 67.8% | 68.9% | 68.4% |
| Operating Margins | 34.1% | 37.0% | 41.6% | 42.1% |
| Net Margins | 31.18% | 30.96% | 36.45% | 36.69% |
| Net Income (MM) | $39,240 | $44,281 | $61,271 | $72,738 |
| Net Interest Expense (MM) | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Depreciation & Amort. (MM) | -$11,682 | -$12,796 | -$11,686 | -$14,460 |
| Earnings Per Share | $5.06 | $5.76 | $8.04 | $9.23 |
| EPS Growth | n/a | 13.83% | 39.58% | 14.8% |
| Diluted Shares (MM) | 7,753 | 7,683 | 7,617 | 7,435 |
| Free Cash Flow (MM) | $66,110 | $72,699 | $95,608 | $112,921 |
| Capital Expenditures (MM) | -$13,925 | -$15,441 | -$20,622 | -$23,886 |
| Net Current Assets (MM) | -$8,674 | -$1,092 | -$7,385 | -$28,614 |
| Current Ratio | 2.53 | 2.52 | 2.08 | 1.78 |
| Long Term Debt (MM) | $66,662 | $59,578 | $50,074 | $47,032 |
| LT Debt to Equity | 0.65 | 0.5 | 0.35 | 0.28 |
Microsoft benefits from growing revenues and increasing reinvestment in the business, strong margins with a positive growth rate, and a pattern of improving cash flows. The company's financial statements show healthy debt levels and a strong EPS growth trend. However, the firm has slimmer gross margins than its peers. Finally, we note that Microsoft has a decent current ratio.
Microsoft's P/B and P/E Ratios Are Higher Than Average:
Microsoft has a trailing twelve month P/E ratio of 36.4, compared to an average of 27.16 for the Technology sector. Based on its EPS guidance of $12.6, the company has a forward P/E ratio of 26.7. Microsoft's PEG ratio is 3.57 on the basis of the 10.2% weighted average of the company and the broader market's EPS compound average growth rates. This suggests that the company's shares are overvalued. Furthermore, Microsoft is likely overvalued compared to the book value of its equity, since its P/B ratio of 11.87 is higher than the sector average of 6.23. The company's shares are currently trading 397.7% above their Graham number. Overall, Microsoft's lofty valuation in terms of earnings and assets is to some extent attenuated by its strong cash flow trend and reasonable levels of debt.
Analysts Give Microsoft an Average Rating of Buy:
The 44 analysts following Microsoft have set target prices ranging from $232.0 to $433.4 per share, for an average of $387.08 with a buy rating. As of April 2023, the company is trading -13.1% away from its average target price, indicating that there is an analyst consensus of some upside potential.
Microsoft has a very low short interest because 0.6% of the company's shares are sold short. Institutions own 73.2% of the company's shares, and the insider ownership rate stands at 0.05%, suggesting a small amount of insider investors. The largest shareholder is Vanguard Group Inc, whose 9% stake in the company is worth $214,021,596,945.
