Stock Update: Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) – [$$] Microsoft’s Azure Can’t Close Gap With AWS

[at Barrons.com] – Based on these disclosures and other company commentary, we have derived revenue levels for many of these categories, and note the relevant takeaways from Microsoft’s (MSFT) fiscal third quarter. Amazon.com (AMZN) Web Services (AWS) maintained its lead. Microsoft disclosed that Azure grew revenue 120% year-over-year in constant currency in the fiscal third quarter. Read more on this. Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) , valued at $391.88B, began trading this morning at $49.84. During today’s session, MSFT traded between $49.46 to $50.06 with a trailing 52-week range being $39.72 to $56.85. Priced at 19.03x this year’s forecasted earnings, MSFT shares are relatively expensive compared to the industry’s 13.35x forward p/e ratio. And for income investors, the company pays shareholders $1.44 per share annually in dividends, yielding 2.89%. According to a consensus of 28 analysts, the earnings estimate of $0.58 per share would be $0.02 worse than the year-ago quarter and a $0.09 sequential decrease. The full-year EPS estimate is $2.66 which would be a $0.20 improvement than last year’s full-year earnings. The quarterly earnings estimate is predicated on a consensus revenue forecast of $22.17 Billion. If reported, that would be a 0.05% decrease over the year-ago quarter. Recently, Macquarie Initiated MSFT at Neutral (Mar 4, 2016). Previously, Morgan Stanley upgraded MSFT from Equal-Weight to Overweight. When considering if the stock is under or overvalued, the average price target is $57.73, which is 15.83% above where the stock opened this morning. See more in (NASDAQ:MSFT) Similar Articles: Stock Update: Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) – Microsoft Sues DoJ Over Data Request Order (MSFT) Market Update: Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) – Microsoft’s Azure: The Engine in BMW’s Mobile App (MSFT, AMZN) Stock Update: Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) – Nissan selects Microsoft Azure to power Nissan Telematics System