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Microsoft (MSFT) is moving lower off the earnings
By: Stock Market News | October 25, 2022
• Microsoft $MSFT is moving lower off the earnings.
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Microsoft taps cloud strength to beat revenue estimates
By: Investing.com | October 25, 2022
(Reuters) -Microsoft Corp surpassed Wall Street targets for first-quarter revenue on Tuesday as the ongoing shift to hybrid work powered demand for its cloud-based services and helped cushion a slump in the personal computers business.
A diverse portfolio of products including Outlook and Teams has made Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) essential to businesses adopting flexible work models, helping it retain and attract customers at a time when a broader economic slowdown has sapped corporate spending.
Its Azure cloud-computing unit also benefited from companies seeking to digitize their operations, winning large deals as businesses lean on technology to cut costs.
Azure grew 35% in the three months ended Sept. 30, but it missed the 36.5% analyst target compiled by Visible Alpha due to a stronger dollar. Excluding foreign exchange factors, Azure was up 42%.
Microsoft's broader Intelligent Cloud division posted a 20% rise in revenue to $20.33 billion, almost in line with estimates of $20.37 billion, according to Refinitiv.
"We continue to see healthy demand across our commercial businesses including another quarter of solid bookings," said Chief Financial Officer Amy Hood.
Still, a slump in personal computer sales and the dollar surge hurt Microsoft's revenue and showed that the software giant is not entirely immune to macroeconomic pressures.
Windows OEM revenue sank 15%, as PC sales have shrunk from highs hit during the pandemic with households and businesses tightening spending in the face of decades-high inflation.
Shares of the Redmond, Washington-based company fell 2.2% in trading after the bell.
The company reported revenue of $50.12 billion for the quarter, compared with $45.32 billion a year earlier. Analysts on average had expected $49.61 billion, according to Refinitiv IBES data.
Net income fell to $17.56 billion, or $2.35 per share, during the quarter ended Sept. 30, from $20.51 billion, or $2.71 per share, a year earlier.
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Microsoft earnings are out – Here are the numbers
By: CNBC | October 25, 2022
Microsoft shares fell 2% in extended trading on Tuesday after the software maker reported higher fiscal first-quarter earnings than Wall Street had predicted.
Here’s how the company did:
• Earnings: $2.35 per share, vs. $2.30 per share as expected by analysts, according to Refinitiv.
• Revenue: $50.12 billion, vs. $49.61 billion as expected by analysts, according to Refinitiv.
Total revenue grew 11% year over year in the quarter, according to a statement.
During the quarter, Microsoft started rolling out the first annual update to its Windows 11 operating system since releasing the original version last year, and the company announced plans to slow down its pace of hiring said it was cutting less than 1% of employees. Microsoft also introduced Viva Engage, a portal in the Teams communication app where co-workers can share video stories.
The quarterly results will include small adjustments in the way that Microsoft reports revenue. Revenue from HoloLens augmented-reality devices will appear in the More Personal Computing segment instead of the Intelligent Cloud segment. Microsoft adjusted its forecast for the segments by about $100 million in connection with the change.
Microsoft shares have fallen about 26% so far this year, while the S&P 500 stock index is down almost 20% over the same period.
Executives will discuss the results and issue guidance on a conference call starting at 5:30 p.m. ET.
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Microsoft powers up search for Chinese gaming hits in race against Sony
By: Investing.com | October 24, 2022
HONG KONG (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ:MSFT) is stocking up on Chinese video game content to emulate Sony (NYSE:SONY) Group Corp's success with "Genshin Impact", sources said, solidifying China's transition from a land only of players to a hub of blockbuster developers.
The U.S. software giant and Japan's vanguard of technology have for some years been offering big money to small developers to nurture programmes and licence titles, but the impact of "Genshin Impact" has added a sense of urgency, sources said.
The action role-playing game from budding Shanghai studio miHoYo has generated billions of dollars since its release two years ago, and raised the bar in multi-player, cross-platform games - the type sources said Microsoft and Sony seek in China for their Game Pass and PlayStation Plus subscription services.
Growing Western interest in Chinese games reflects a maturing of China's game development industry, analysts said. Chinese games are now on a par with big-budget Western games, said Daniel Ahmad, senior analyst at researcher Niko Partners.
"Chinese game developers are trying to standardise their development tools, create advanced production processes, invest in really large-scale teams," Ahmad said. "Ultimately, that helps provide them with the competitive edge to reach a broad audience both in terms of geography and platforms."
Microsoft has been building a team to scout for Chinese games, two industry sources said. The Xbox maker mainly filled its subscription roster with big-brand titles but is now wooing even independent studios with big-money offers, they said.
At the same time, filings showed Microsoft is expanding its subscription service to personal computers and handheld devices, increasing the appeal of Chinese developers such as miHoYo which have developed a reputation for multi-player, cross-platform compatibility - with "Genshin Impact" being a prime example.
One executive, whose studio signed a licensing deal with Microsoft three years ago to feature its game on Game Pass, said the U.S. firm recently offered a licensing deal many times bigger for a sequel.
"We are not signing it yet because we think that when we fully complete our game, it will get an even better offer," the executive said.
Illustrating the money involved, filings showed Microsoft paid $2.5 million to feature action game "ARK: Survival Evolved" on Game Pass and $2.3 million for sequel ARK 2 - both from U.S. developer Studio Wildcard, owned by China's Snail Games.
An executive at another developer, Recreate Games in Shanghai, said his company signed a deal with Microsoft last year for its upcoming multi-player title "Party Animals" to launch exclusively on Xbox.
"Xbox contacted many projects in China and these projects primarily focus on developing console and PC games," said Chief Executive Luo Zixiong.
Microsoft did not respond to emailed requests for comment.
PLAYING CATCH-UP
Microsoft was slower off the mark in China compared with Sony. The Japanese firm launched gaming accelerator programme "China Hero Project" in 2017 aimed at helping Chinese developers publish games on its PlayStation. It has supported 17 titles of which seven have reached the market.
"We've been quiet for the past two years. But the programme is still very much humming along," Kuangyi Zhou, former manager of the China Hero Project, told Reuters in April. "We are proud of all the games which have successfully emerged from the programme... There is no doubt that a new batch will be coming."
In 2019, Sony partnered miHoYo, a little-known studio which was developing "Genshin Impact". The game - a global hit when it was released a year later - is available for personal computers and handheld devices, but the console version is exclusively on PlayStation.
Microsoft regretted missing out on "Genshin Impact", two people familiar with the matter said. It spoke to miHoYo early in the game's development but did not reach a deal, one of them said. The other person said the experience is the driving force behind Microsoft's more active pursuit of Chinese developers.
"Picking up 'Genshin Impact' made Sony a lot of money," the second person said, declining to be identified because the information was not public.
There is no public data on console revenue from "Genshin Impact", but data from Sensor Tower put the figure at $3 billion for mobile devices as of May.
MARKET EVOLUTION
For much of the 21st century, Chinese gamers mostly played imported titles as home-grown games were viewed as being poorer in production value. Even Chinese gaming leader Tencent Holdings (OTC:TCEHY) Ltd started out publishing foreign games at home.
As the market grew into the world's largest, local studios increasingly invested in developing better-quality games. The trend accelerated with regulatory restrictions on new games and limits on the number of imports, and benefited from the return of engineers who had worked at top-tier studios such as Ubisoft Entertainment SA and Activision Blizzard Inc (NASDAQ:ATVI).
Gaming executives now point to "Genshin Impact" as a global industry milestone, lauding its production value and seamless cross-platform game play. Apple Inc (NASDAQ:AAPL) even used the game to demonstrate the power of its premium devices including the new iPad Air equipped with its latest M1 processor chip.
Another milestone was 2021's "Naraka: Bladepoint" from NetEase (NASDAQ:NTES) Inc, China's second-largest games firm. While most Chinese titles are free to play and profit from in-game sales, "Naraka: Bladepoint" sold over 10 million copies despite its $20 price, reflecting confidence in its production value.
The game caught the attention of both Microsoft and Sony, two sources told Reuters. One of them said NetEase prioritised Microsoft which made the game a Game Pass exclusive in June.
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Microsoft’s $MSFT October Quarter Revenue 2006-2022
By: Bullish Rippers | October 24, 2022
• Microsoft’s $MSFT October Quarter Revenue
2006: $10.8B
2007: $13.8B
2008: $15.1B
2009: $12.9B
2010: $16.2B
2011: $17.3B
2012: $16B
2013: $18.5B
2014: $23.2B
2015: $20.4B
2016: $21.9B
2017: $24.5B
2018: $29.1B
2019: $33.1B
2020: $37.2B
2021: $45.3B
2022: 49.7B (Expected)
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Microsoft revenue forecast under threat from PC market slump, mighty dollar
By: Investing.com | October 24, 2022
(Reuters) - Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ:MSFT) is set to post its slowest quarterly revenue growth in over five years on Tuesday, with some analysts casting doubts whether the company can maintain its annual outlook in the face of a PC market slowdown and a strong dollar.
A spike in inflation this year has fanned worries of a global economic slowdown and forced consumers and businesses to pull spending on computers and laptops, sapping sales of some of Microsoft's key products including Windows and the Office suite.
Adding to the squeeze, the dollar has climbed more than 17%, weighing on the earnings of companies with big global operations. Microsoft earns more than 50% of its revenue outside the United States.
"All eyes will be on Microsoft's ability to maintain FY23 guidance for reported double-digit revenue growth, which we believe is at risk," Guggenheim analysts said last week.
UBS has said the stock seems to have largely priced in a potential walk back on the forecast.
At least 15 brokerages have lowered their price targets on the software giant in October, and the company's shares have declined by more than a quarter in 2022.
CONTEXT
PC shipments declined 19.5% in the third quarter this year, according to data from research firm Gartner (NYSE:IT).
Windows licenses form about 12% to 13% of Microsoft's revenue and the PC market downturn is expected to dent its sales by 100 basis points, Morningstar senior analyst Dan Romanoff said.
The blow is expected to be slightly offset by Microsoft's cloud services unit Azure, which is set to grow 20% in the first quarter, according to Refinitiv data.
"Our CIO survey work suggests that enterprise IT usage of Azure is likely to gain share vs. Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN) AWS," J.P. Morgan said in a recent note.
But signs of a slowdown in cloud adoption have started emerging. An analysis by Piper Sandler showed total revenues at the top 100 software firms are estimated to grow 22% in 2022 and 20% in 2023, down from 33% in 2021.
Software firms are the biggest customers of cloud platforms and their business growth is taken as proxy for the cloud services sector.
FUNDAMENTALS
** Microsoft's first-quarter revenue is expected to rise 9.5% to $49.61 billion, the first sub-10% growth since the third quarter of fiscal 2017 - Refinitiv
** Earnings per share is estimated at $2.30
WALL STREET SENTIMENT
* 48 of the 52 analysts covering the stock rate it "buy" or higher and four rate it "hold"
* The median price target is $315, down from $336 at the start of 2022
* Microsoft trading at $246.64 on Monday
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Microsoft ~ $1.0 Million Call Strike: 255 Expiration: 11/18
By: Cheddar Flow | October 24, 2022
• $MSFT ~$1M OTM Call
Strike: 255
Expiration: 11/18
*At the Ask*
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Earnings Preview: Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ: MSFT)
By: 24/7 Wall St. | October 24, 2022
• Here is a look at five companies on deck to report results Tuesday and Wednesday.
Microsoft
Over the past 12 months, shares of Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ: MSFT) have dropped about 22% from their share price. Since putting up a 52-week high in late November, the stock is down more than 28%. The company just increased its quarterly dividend to $0.68.
Microsoft recently cut about 1,000 jobs and acknowledged that growth is slowing down. But one thing the Redmond giant does that has set it apart since Satya Nadella took over as CEO is lifting the integration burden on a company’s management by offering a soup-to-nuts cloud experience. Not every application Microsoft has is best-of-class, but as a whole, they are better than good enough.
Sentiment for the stock is virtually all positive. Of 50 analysts covering the stock, 48 have a Buy or Strong Buy rating, and two rate the shares at Hold. At a share price of around $242.10, the potential upside based on a median target of $320.00 is about 32%. At the high target of $411.00, the implied gain is nearly 70%.
For its first quarter of fiscal 2023, revenue at the Dow component is forecast at $49.7 billion, down 4.2% sequentially but up 9.5% year over year. Adjusted EPS are forecast at $2.31, up 3.4% sequentially and by 1.8% year over year. For the full fiscal year ending in June, current consensus estimates call for EPS of $10.08, up 9.4%, on revenue of $219.03 billion, up 10.5%.
Microsoft stock trades at about 24.0 times expected 2023 EPS, 20.5 times estimated 2024 earnings of $11.82 and 17.5 times estimated 2025 earnings of $13.80 per share. The stock’s 52-week range is $219.13 to $349.67. Microsoft pays an annual dividend of $2.72 (yield of 1.12%). Total shareholder return over the past year was negative 21.4%.
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Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) Forget the reaction to the report always about guidance on this one
By: Options Mike | October 23, 2022
• $MSFT Forget the reaction to the report always about guidance on this one.
Will play off the call.
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Rosenblatt Securities Trims Microsoft (MSFT) Target Price to $300.00
By: MarketBeat | October 20, 2022
• Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT - Get Rating) had its price target reduced by investment analysts at Rosenblatt Securities from $330.00 to $300.00 in a report issued on Thursday, Benzinga reports. The brokerage presently has a "buy" rating on the software giant's stock. Rosenblatt Securities' price objective would indicate a potential upside of 26.86% from the company's current price...
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Notable Tech Call-Flow Hitting The Tape $AAPL $MSFT
By: Cheddar Flow | October 21, 2022
• Notable Tech Call-Flow Hitting The Tape
$AAPL $MSFT
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Goldman Sachs today on $MSFT: "We expect the impact from FX volatility to come in ~100bps better than management’s expectations
By: The Transcript | October 19, 2022
• $GS today on $MSFT: "We expect the impact from FX volatility to come in ~100bps better than management’s expectations of a 500-point headwind...our checks indicate healthy business activity in the broader commercial business, esp within Azure"
$MSFT reports on 25th October.
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Citigroup's & Goldman Sachs Group Take on Microsoft
By: The Transcript | October 19, 2022
• $C: "Our reseller survey & partner checks give us confidence that Enterprise demand for $MSFT is holding up well"
$GS: "Our checks indicate healthy business activity in the broader commercial business especially within Azure"
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Microsoft (MSFT) PT Lowered to $310.00 at Cowen
By: MarketBeat | October 19, 2022
• Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT - Get Rating) had its target price dropped by analysts at Cowen from $320.00 to $310.00 in a research report issued on Wednesday, The Fly reports. Cowen's price objective indicates a potential upside of 29.98% from the stock's previous close...
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Short Interest in Microsoft Co. (MSFT) Declines By 18.7%
By: MarketBeat | October 15, 2022
• Microsoft Co. (NASDAQ:MSFT - Get Rating) saw a significant decrease in short interest in the month of September. As of September 30th, there was short interest totalling 34,920,000 shares, a decrease of 18.7% from the September 15th total of 42,970,000 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 25,540,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 1.4 days. Currently, 0.5% of the shares of the company are sold short...
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MICROSOFT: Bill Gates Violates Individual Freedom Via Promotion Of Global Digital Identities Under The Pretext Of Health
By: Barchart | October 17, 2022
?he Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) has announced it will invest $200 million in digital identity projects, which will include digital public infrastructure, including public registry databases to help meet the 2030 goal of achieving United Nations, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The $200 million in new funding — part of an overall $1.27 billion program from the BMGF to support global health and development projects is closely linked to SDG target 16.9, for which programs are supposed to be needed digital identity.
The funding comes in addition to several existing global digital identity initiatives supported by the BMFG, even as such actions come under fire for violating citizens' individual rights, such as privacy.
?he digital identity will serve as a means of coercion and forced compliance with the outrageous demands of a never-ending vaccine regime. Microsoft is a founding member of the ID2020 alliance (in 2018) and appears to be working with it, while Kim Gagné, chairman of the ID2020 board, is a former Microsoft executive. Other founding partners of ID2020 are Gavi, BMGF, World Bank, Accenture and Rockefeller Foundation.
From an Elliot wave perspective we see stock in a deep retracement, ideally it’s wave 4 that can be looking for a support at 38.2-50% Fib level, at 180-220 zone. This certainly looks like a attractive long-term swing zone for a new bounce, but for a reall bull run we need to see stocks back above 295.
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Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) Friday held in better than the $QQQ back over 235 Gap @ 240 to 245 on watch
By: Options Mike | October 16, 2022
• $MSFT believe it or not it bounced Thursday @ 220 support. Nice flag there on the weekly for 6 months.
Friday held in better than the $QQQ back over 235 Gap @ 240 to 245 on watch.
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Sustained Commercial Momentum Should Offset Headwinds for Microsoft - Morgan Stanley
By: Investing.com | October 14, 2022
Morgan Stanley maintained an Overweight rating on Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) but cut the price target to $325 from $354, saying sustained momentum in Microsoft's commercial business should partially offset mounting PC and FX headwinds in a note to clients on Friday.
Their note was focused on Microsoft's fiscal first quarter 2023 earnings release.
"Longer-term teens total return profile and an attractive valuation at
"As IT budget growth expectations continue to moderate, FX becomes more unfavorable, and PC data likely pressures Windows OEM results, investors are understandably concerned with the broader impact these factors could have on Microsoft's results and outlook," they added.
However, Morgan Stanley believes strong feedback on the commercial businesses from its channel conversations and another set of robust Microsoft-specific results from its most recent CIO survey bolster the firm's confidence in Microsoft's resilience across key secular growth areas, as well as positioning in defensive categories, both supporting demand for Microsoft solutions.
"Given the weaker PC demand environment and rising FX headwinds, we reduced our revenue forecast for 1QFY23 by 1% to $49.2 billion, and FY23 revenue by ~2.3% to $214.2 billion. Factoring in the impact on expenses, we also lowered our EPS in 1QFY23 to $2.26 and FY23 EPS to $9.74. Applying a ~30x earnings multiple on CY23 earnings, this implies a new PT of $325, down from the prior $354. With the company still trading at a discount to peers: $50B peers at ~26x P/nGAAP EPS or a PEG ratio of 1.7x on our CY23 numbers - sets MSFT up as one of our favorites in software," the analysts concluded.
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Microsoft Co. (MSFT) Given Consensus Recommendation of "Moderate Buy" by Analysts
By: MarketBeat | October 12, 2022
• Microsoft Co. (NASDAQ:MSFT - Get Rating) has earned an average recommendation of "Moderate Buy" from the thirty-six brokerages that are covering the stock, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twenty-six have issued a buy rating on the company. The average 12 month price target among brokerages that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $328.44...
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Microsoft says UK influenced by Sony in probing Activision Blizzard deal
By: Investing.com | October 12, 2022
LONDON (Reuters) - Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) said Britain's competition regulator had relied on objections from its rival Sony (NYSE:SONY) in referring its $69 billion Activision Blizzard (NASDAQ:ATVI) deal to an in-depth inquiry, in particular "misplaced" concerns about 'Call of Duty'.
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said last month that the acquisition could harm competition and needed to be investigated in depth.
Microsoft could use its control over popular games to harm rivals, including those operating in multi-game subscription services and cloud gaming, it said.
It was a "game-changing merger", it said in its full decision on Wednesday, which would give Microsoft best selling franchises including 'Call of Duty', 'World of Warcraft' and 'Candy Crush'.
"The CMA is concerned that having full control over this powerful catalogue (...) could result in Microsoft harming consumers by impairing Sony's — Microsoft's closest gaming rival— ability to compete," it said.
Microsoft said the CMA had adopted Sony's complaints without the "appropriate level of critical review".
In its submission, it said Sony's PlayStation had been the largest console platform for more than 20 years, and it was not credible to suggest its dominance would be challenged by losing access to one title.
"The Referral Decision incorrectly relies on self-serving statements by Sony which significantly exaggerate the importance of 'Call of Duty' to it and neglect to account for Sony's clear ability to competitively respond," Microsoft said.
It added that it had committed to keeping 'Call of Duty' on PlayStation.
A spokesperson for Microsoft said: "This deal will benefit gamers, developers, and the industry as we seek to bring more games to more people."
A spokesperson for Sony PlayStation reiterated its view that the deal was "bad for competition, bad for the gaming industry and bad for gamers themselves".
"This deal would give Microsoft's Xbox ecosystem a unique combination of tech and content, and hence a dominant position in gaming, with devastating consequences for consumers, independent developers, and Sony itself," he said.
The deal, which was announced in January, will require approval in the United States as well as other major jurisdictions including the European Union and China.
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Microsoft $MSFT just announced its new Surface Studio 2 Plus computer
By: Stock Market News | October 12, 2022
• Microsoft $MSFT just announced its new Surface Studio 2 Plus computer with a RTX 3060 $NVDA costing $4,299 according to The Verge.
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$MSFT CEO on partnering with $META:
By: The Transcript | October 12, 2022
• $MSFT CEO on partnering with $META:
"it made a lot of sense for us to bring—whether it’s Teams with its immersive meetings experience to Quest or whether it’s even Windows 365 streaming & all our management & security & even Xbox, that’s what is the motivation behind it".
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Microsoft $1.2 Million Put Strike: 235 Expiration: 11/04
By: Cheddar Flow | October 11, 2022
• $MSFT $1.2M Put
Strike: 235
Expiration: 11/04
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$MSFT ~$1 Million Put Strike: 230 Expiration: 11/04
By: Cheddar Flow | October 10, 2022
• $MSFT ~$1M Put
Strike: 230
Expiration: 11/04
*At the Ask*
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Y2K
Little bit late to be trying that NOW tho.........LAST 227
Microsoft This fib retracement and volume shelf line up nicely...
By: TrendSpider | October 10, 2022
• $MSFT This fib retracement and volume shelf line up nicely...
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Microsoft (MSFT) Price Target Cut to $275.00
By: MarketBeat | October 4, 2022
• Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT - Get Rating) had its price objective reduced by Oppenheimer from $300.00 to $275.00 in a research report issued to clients and investors on Tuesday, The Fly reports. Oppenheimer's price objective suggests a potential upside of 14.23% from the stock's previous close...
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$MSFT could not overcome the AVWAP after several attempts
By: Andrew Moss | October 7, 2022
• $MSFT could not overcome the AVWAP after several attempts.
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EU wants to know if Microsoft will block rivals after Activision deal
By: Foo Yun Chee | October 6, 2022
BRUSSELS (Reuters) - EU antitrust regulators are asking games developers whether Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) will be incentivised to block rivals' access to "Call of Duty" maker Activision Blizzard (NASDAQ:ATVI)'s best-selling games, according to an EU document seen by Reuters.
EU antitrust regulators are due to make a preliminary decision by Nov. 8 on whether to clear Microsoft's proposed $69 billion acquisition of Activision.
The EU competition enforcer also asked if Activision's trove of user data would give the U.S. software giant a competitive advantage in the development, publishing and distribution of computer and console games, the EU document shows.
The planned acquisition, the biggest in the gaming industry, will help Microsoft better compete with leaders Tencent and Sony (NYSE:SONY).
After its decision next month the European Commission is expected to open a four-month long investigation, underscoring regulatory concerns about Big Tech acquisitions.
Games developers, publishers and distributors were asked whether the deal would affect their bargaining power regarding the terms for selling console and PC games via Microsoft's Xbox and its cloud game streaming service Game Pass.
Regulators also wanted to know if there would be sufficient alternative suppliers in the market following the deal and also in the event Microsoft decides to make Activision's games exclusively available on its Xbox, its Games Pass and its cloud game streaming services.
They asked if such exclusivity clauses would reinforce Microsoft's Windows operating system versus rivals, and whether the addition of Activision to its PC operating system, cloud computing services and game-related software tools gives it an advantage in the video gaming industry.
They asked how important the Call of Duty franchise is for distributors of console games, third-party multi-game subscription services on computers and providers of cloud game streaming services.
The questionnaire, with about 100 questions, asked which of the rivals such as Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA)'s GeForce Now, Sony's Playstation, Google (NASDAQ:GOOGL) Stadia, Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN) Luna and Facebook (NASDAQ:META) Gaming could be considered the most attractive following the deal.
Respondents have until Oct. 10 to reply.
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Microsoft (MSFT) Sitting in supply zone on the daily
By: Cheddar Flow | October 6, 2022
• $MSFT Sitting in supply zone on the daily.
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Microsoft **SIZE** 2.62 million shares at $248.88 #darkpool
By: Money Flow Mel | October 4, 2022
• $MSFT **SIZE** 2.62 million #darkpool shares at $248.88
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Microsoft Broke descending channel resistance this morning
By: TrendSpider | October 4, 2022
• $MSFT Broke descending channel resistance this morning. On watch for a potential retest here.
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EU antitrust regulators set Nov. 8 deadline for Microsoft, Activision decision
By: Investing.com | September 30, 2022
BRUSSELS (Reuters) - EU antitrust regulators will decide by Nov. 8 whether to clear Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ:MSFT)'s proposed $69 billion acquisition of "Call of Duty" maker Activision Blizzard (NASDAQ:ATVI), according to a European Commission filing on Friday.
The deal, the biggest in the gaming industry, will help the U.S. software company better compete with leaders Tencent and Sony (NYSE:SONY).
The EU competition enforcer can clear the deal with or without remedies after its preliminary review, or it can open a four-month long investigation if it has serious concerns.
The Commission is likely to do the latter because of recent regulatory concerns over deals by Big Tech, sources familiar with the matter said.
"The European Commission's review of the deal is progressing in line with the expected regulatory schedule and process, and we remain confident that the acquisition will close in fiscal year 2023," a Microsoft spokesperson said.
Britain's antitrust watchdog earlier this month said it would open an in-depth investigation into the bid after Microsoft declined to offer concessions during its initial review.
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$MSFT Weekly Chart Coming down to some possible bounce
By: ReciKnows | September 28, 2022
• $MSFT Weekly. #MSFT coming down to some possible bounce areas — watching 231, 224, 215.
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Microsoft SIZE CALL WRITING ~ 10/21/22 $235 CALLS at the BID
By: Money Flow Mel | September 26, 2022
• $MSFT SIZE CALL WRITING ~ 10/21/22 $235 CALLS at the BID.
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Microsoft Target remains the .618 Fib Retracement level
By: Theta Warrior | September 25, 2022
• $MSFT Weekly trendline breakdown following the oversold bounce. Target remains the .618 Fib Retracement level, 200 week SMA, and VPOC.
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Microsoft (MSFT) Not dropping as fast anymore, Support zone down to 230
By: Options Mike | September 25, 2022
• $MSFT Not dropping as fast anymore, Support zone down to 230.
Stronger name this week.
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Microsoft: Trading At An 18-Month Low, Stock Is Worth A Buy
By: Investing.com | September 23, 2022
• Microsoft fell to its lowest level since March 2021 on Thursday
• The shares are down 28.3% year-to-date and 31.1% below all-time high.
• Investors should consider buying the dip
Microsoft's (NASDAQ:MSFT) stock has struggled over the past several months, hitting a series of fresh 52-week lows, as fears over the Federal Reserve’s aggressive rate hike plans triggered a brutal selloff in shares of many top-rated technology companies.
MSFT has tumbled 28.3% year-to-date through Thursday, while the S&P 500 has declined 21.2%.
MSFT Daily
With a market cap of $1.79 trillion, the Redmond, Washington-based software giant is the world’s second-most valuable company, trailing only Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL).
Despite recent volatility, I remain positive on Microsoft and expect shares to bounce back in the months ahead, considering its healthy balance sheet, high free cash flows, and a highly diversified business model which has helped it withstand challenging economic times in the past.
Microsoft reported $105 billion in cash and short-term investments offset by debt of $47 billion. It generated a free cash flow margin of 33% in the last 12 months.
Commitment To Shareholder Returns
The tech behemoth has proven over time that it can sustain a slowing economy and still provide investors with higher payouts.
Microsoft’s board of directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.68 per share earlier this month, up 10% from the previous quarter's dividend of $0.62.
It should be noted that the 10% dividend increase is higher than the current CPI inflation rate, which stands at 8.3%.
The new dividend, which amounts to $2.72 per share on an annualized basis, will be payable on Dec. 8 to stockholders of record on Nov. 17 offering an annual yield of 1.14%, which compares with the yield for the Technology Select Sector SPDR® Fund (NYSE:XLK) of 0.95%.
The latest dividend hike marks the 20th consecutive year in which Microsoft has paid more in annual dividends than in the previous year, highlighting the software giant’s ongoing commitment to returning capital to shareholders.
MSFT Dividend Growth
Analysts Remain Bullish
Not surprisingly, Wall Street has a long-term bullish view on Microsoft, as per an Investing.com survey, which revealed that 47 out of 50 analysts covering the stock rated it as a ‘buy,’ offering 38.4% upside potential, thanks to robust demand for its cloud-based offerings.
MSFT Analyst Estimates
The average fair value for Microsoft’s stock on InvestingPro+ according to a number of valuation models implies a 22.3% upside from the current market value.
MSFT Fair Value
Fiscal Q1 Earnings Coming Up
Microsoft—which missed expectations on both the top and bottom lines in the previous quarter for the first time since 2017—is scheduled to release its latest financial results after the U.S. market closes on Tuesday, Oct. 25.
Consensus estimates call for the software and hardware company to report earnings per share of $2.33 for its fiscal first quarter, improving 2.6% from EPS of $2.27 in the year-ago period.
Revenue is expected to rise 10% year-over-year to $49.8 billion, reflecting strong demand for its cloud computing products.
As such, growth in Microsoft’s booming ‘Intelligent Cloud’ unit, which includes Azure, GitHub, SQL Server, Windows Server, and other enterprise services, will be in focus.
The key segment saw sales growth of 20% in its most recent quarter to $20.9 billion, while revenue from its Azure cloud business grew 40%.
Bottom Line
In my view, the significant pullback in Microsoft’s stock has created a compelling buying opportunity given the promising long-term demand outlook for its cloud business, software tools, and hardware devices.
The company’s dependably profitable business model and enormous cash pile have allowed it to increase its focus on returning more capital to shareholders, further enhancing its investment appeal amid the current bear market environment.
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Microsoft Quickly approaching the 2020 highs and weekly demand zone
By: TrendSpider | September 22, 2022
• $MSFT Quickly approaching the 2020 highs and weekly demand zone.
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Microsoft broke below its June low yesterday but today it's trying to stage a bullish reversal off its May 2021 low at 238
By: CyclesFan | September 22, 2022
• $MSFT broke below its June low yesterday but today it's trying to stage a bullish reversal off its May 2021 low at 238. It may be bottoming here ahead ahead of the indices. If 238 doesn't hold, the next support is at the March 2021 low at 224.
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Microsoft (MSFT) One of few names in the green today after getting a bounce off the bottom of this broadening formation
By: TrendSpider | September 22, 2022
• $MSFT One of few names in the green today after getting a bounce off the bottom of this broadening formation.
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Microsoft's quarterly dividend has doubled over the last 8 years
By: Bullish Rippers | September 20, 2022
• Microsoft's $MSFT quarterly dividend has doubled over the last 8 years.
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Microsoft $MSFT just increased its quarterly dividend to $0.68 per share up from its previous dividend of $0.62 per share
By: Stock Market News | September 20, 2022
• Microsoft $MSFT just increased its quarterly dividend to $0.68 per share up from its previous dividend of $0.62 per share.
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Microsoft suffered its biggest weekly drop since 2020 last week
By: Cheddar Flow | September 19, 2022
• Microsoft suffered its biggest weekly drop since 2020 last week -- Bloomberg
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Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) Another big tech name that was hammered in Big Long term puts last week
By: Options Mike | September 18, 2022
• $MSFT Another big tech name that was hammered in Big Long term puts last week. About a month or so out from earnings, this is when they warned last Q...
52W low, extended down wouldn't chase shorts here.
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$MSFT $1.5 BILLION Dark Pool Print
By: Cheddar Flow | September 16, 2022
• $MSFT $1.5 BILLION Dark Pool Print
*Today is Quad-Witching, so some prints are much larger due to rebalancing*
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MSFT 2d later.....
Tuesday Sept 13th ;
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