Stock FAQs

what factors may have affected the stock price of microsoft

by Prof. Reginald Grimes Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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Here are some company-specific factors that can affect the share price: news releases on earnings and profits, and future estimated earnings announcement of dividends

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What are the factors that affect the stock price?

Here are some company-specific factors that can affect the share price: news releases on earnings and profits, and future estimated earnings. announcement of dividends. introduction of a new product or a product recall. securing a new large contract. employee layoffs. anticipated takeover or merger. a change of management.

Can Microsoft's stock go any higher?

Microsoft 's ( NASDAQ:MSFT) stock has been on a tear, up 15% in 2020 alone. That's coming off a 55% gain in 2019. The software giant now sports a market capitalization of more than $1 trillion, alongside Apple , Alphabet , and Amazon ( NASDAQ:AMZN) . With such a run-up in shares, some investors may think shares can't go any higher.

Why is the Microsoft share price rising?

The rise in stock price was helped by the Fed’s multi-billion dollar stimulus package announced on March 23rd which lifted market sentiments. The price further rose as Microsoft’s Q3 and FY 2020 (ended June) earnings beat market estimates.

What can cause a drop in stock prices?

Economic and political shocks. Changes around the world can affect both the economy and stock prices. For example, a rise in energy costs can lead to lower sales, lower profits and lower stock prices. An act of terrorism can also lead to a downturn in economic activity and a fall in stock prices.

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Is Forbes opinion their own?

Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own.

Is the market willing to look through the current weak period?

Following the Fed stimulus — which helped to set a floor on fear — the market has been willing to “look through” the current weak period and take a longer-term view. With investors focusing their attention on 2021 results, the valuations become important in finding value.

Why did the stock price increase in 2016?

Stock price increased during this period as margins and revenue grew (and as 2018 margin decline was due to one time tax expense). The P/E multiple also rose from 20x in June 2016 to 37x currently. We believe that the market has been optimistic about Software companies in the current environment, which has led to its rise.

How much will Microsoft be worth in 2021?

We expect Microsoft’s revenues to grow by 11% to $159.1 billion in FY 2021. Further, its net income is likely to rise to $51 billion, increasing its EPS figure to $6.71 in FY 2021 , which coupled with the P/E multiple of 34.3x will lead to Microsoft’s valuation around $230, up 4% from its current price.

Is Forbes opinion their own?

Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own.

Is Microsoft stock up in 2020?

Microsoft 's ( NASDAQ:MSFT) stock has been on a tear, up 15% in 2020 alone. That's coming off a 55% gain in 2019. The software giant now sports a market capitalization of more than $1 trillion, alongside Apple , Alphabet , and Amazon ( NASDAQ:AMZN) .

Is Microsoft a cloud company?

Take Microsoft's cloud business for starters. Its Azure cloud has been driving significant growth for the company. In fiscal Q2, Azure revenue jumped 62%, helped by a multi-year, $10 billion Pentagon contract Microsoft inked during the quarter. The contract, which is being contested by rival Amazon , gives Microsoft an entrance into the federal government, which is in the process of digitizing its data and consolidating its cloud vendors. The government is a big opportunity for Microsoft to expand its cloud business. It also landed Salesforce as a cloud customer, further driving growth.

Does Microsoft have a large consumer business?

In a slowing economy, companies serving enterprises tend to do better than consumer-facing ones. Microsoft does have a large consumer business, but the enterprise side trumps that. Revenue from Microsoft's productivity and business processes and intelligent cloud units were $22 billion combined in the second quarter compared to $11.1 billion from its personal computing unit. Investors seeking a position in a technology stock but who can't stomach the risk may flock to Microsoft, driving up the price further.

Is Microsoft still a small player in the cloud market?

Microsoft is still a small player in the cloud market when compared to Amazon Web Services, but it is slowly and methodically closing the gap. Winning the Pentagon contract, which was expected to go to AWS, underscores its growing reputation in the industry.

Does Wall St recommend stocks?

We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Is MSFT a good time to buy?

Are you a potential investor? If you’ve been keeping an eye on MSFT, now may not be the most optimal time to buy, given it is trading around its fair value. However, the optimistic prospect is encouraging for the company, which means it’s worth diving deeper into other factors such as the strength of its balance sheet, in order to take advantage of the next price drop.

How does financial health affect stock price?

Financial Health. A company's stock price is affected by its financial health. Stocks that perform well typically have very solid earnings and strong financial statements. Investors use this financial data along with the company's stock price to see whether a company is financially healthy.

Why is stock so expensive?

A stock is cheap or expensive only in relation to its potential for growth (or lack of it). If a company’s share price plummets, its cost of equity rises, also causing its WACC to rise. A dramatic spike in the cost of capital can cause a business to shut its doors, especially capital-dependent businesses such as banks.

What is the goal of a stock investor?

The goal of the stock investor is to identify stocks that are currently undervalued by the market. Some of these factors are common sense, at least superficially. A company has created a game-changing technology, product, or service. Another company is laying off staff and closing divisions to reduce costs.

Why are stocks divided into shares?

Stocks are divided into shares to provide clearly distinguishable units of a company. Investors then buy a portion of the company corresponding to a portion of the total shares.

How do companies control the number of available shares?

One way in which companies control the number of available shares and how investors feel about their share price is through stock splits and reverse stock splits. Stock prices can have a psychological impact, and companies will sometimes cater to investor psychology through stock splits.

What does the price of a stock tell you?

The stock's price only tells you a company's current value or its market value . So, the price represents how much the stock trades at—or the price agreed upon by a buyer and a seller. If there are more buyers than sellers, the stock's price will climb. If there are more sellers than buyers, the price will drop.

Why is the current shareholder pleased?

The current shareholder is pleased because that interest from new investors will drive the price of the shares higher.

Why do stock prices go up and down?

Stock prices tick up and down constantly due to fluctuations in supply and demand. If more people want to buy a stock, its market price will increase. If more people are trying to sell a stock, its price will fall. The relationship between supply and demand is highly sensitive to the news of the moment.

What causes people to sell stocks?

Good News/Bad News. Negative news will normally cause people to sell stocks. A bad earnings report, a lapse in corporate governance, big-picture economic and political uncertainty, and unfortunate occurrences all translate to selling pressure and a decrease in the prices of many if not most stocks.

Why do professional traders spend so much time trying to anticipate the next news cycle?

As noted, professional traders spend much of their time trying to anticipate the next news cycle, so that they can buy or sell stocks before the real numbers are released. They use a number of sources of information in this effort:

What happens if more people buy a stock?

If more people want to buy a stock, its market price will increase. If more people are trying to sell a stock, its price will fall. The relationship between supply and demand is highly sensitive to the news of the moment. Nonetheless, chasing the news is not a good stock-picking strategy for the individual investor.

Do traders think they're pricing in risks?

Traders may think they're pricing in risks, but the possibilities for things going wrong are limitless.

What are the factors that affect the price of a company's stock?

Here are some company-specific factors that can affect the share price: news releases on earnings and profits, and future estimated earnings. announcement of dividends. introduction of a new product or a product recall. securing a new large contract.

What causes the price of a stock to rise?

Many factors can cause the price of a stock to rise or fall – from specific news about a company’s earnings to a change in how investors feel about the stock market in general.

What is inflation in economics?

Inflation#N#Inflation A rise in the cost of goods and services over a set period of time. This means a dollar can buy fewer goods over time . In most cases, inflation is measured by the Consumer Price Index. + read full definition#N#means higher consumer prices. This often slows sales and reduces profits. Higher prices will also often lead to higher interest rates. For example, the Bank of Canada may raise interest rates to slow down inflation. These changes will tend to bring down stock prices. Commodities however, may do better with inflation, so their prices may rise.

What is the difference between a bull market and a bear market?

It’s often tied to economic recovery or an economic boom, as well as investor optimism. Bear market A weak market where stock prices fall and investor confidence fades.

How does terrorism affect stock prices?

An act of terrorism can also lead to a downturn in economic activity and a fall in stock prices.

What causes the stock market to go up or down?

Investor sentiment or confidence can cause the market to go up or down, which can cause stock prices to rise or fall. The general direction that the stock market takes can affect the value of a stock: bull market – a strong stock market where stock prices are rising and investor confidence is growing.

Why did interest rates go down during the Great Depression?

Interest rates may be lowered to encourage people to borrow more. The goal is increased spending and economic activity. The Great Depression (1929-1939) was one of the worst periods of deflation.

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