Microsoft (MSFT) Shareholder Johnston Asset Management Has Lowered Its Holding as Stock Price Rose; As Ge (GE) Market Value Declined, Holder Fulton Breakefield Broenniman Trimmed Its Holding by $2.06 Million

April 23, 2018 - By Dolores Ford

Johnston Asset Management Corp decreased its stake in Microsoft Corp (MSFT) by 1.03% based on its latest 2017Q4 regulatory filing with the SEC. Johnston Asset Management Corp sold 4,390 shares as the company’s stock rose 4.63% while stock markets declined. The institutional investor held 422,602 shares of the prepackaged software company at the end of 2017Q4, valued at $36.15M, down from 426,992 at the end of the previous reported quarter. Johnston Asset Management Corp who had been investing in Microsoft Corp for a number of months, seems to be less bullish one the $731.10B market cap company. The stock decreased 0.05% or $0.05 during the last trading session, reaching $94.95. About 15.75 million shares traded. Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) has risen 37.43% since April 23, 2017 and is uptrending. It has outperformed by 25.88% the S&P500.

Fulton Breakefield Broenniman Llc decreased its stake in Ge (GE) by 33.98% based on its latest 2017Q4 regulatory filing with the SEC. Fulton Breakefield Broenniman Llc sold 121,056 shares as the company’s stock declined 23.20% with the market. The institutional investor held 235,199 shares of the consumer electronics and appliances company at the end of 2017Q4, valued at $4.10M, down from 356,255 at the end of the previous reported quarter. Fulton Breakefield Broenniman Llc who had been investing in Ge for a number of months, seems to be less bullish one the $126.22 billion market cap company. The stock decreased 0.03% or $0.005 during the last trading session, reaching $14.535. About 54.57M shares traded. General Electric Company (NYSE:GE) has declined 54.35% since April 23, 2017 and is downtrending. It has underperformed by 65.90% the S&P500.

Analysts await Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) to report earnings on April, 26 after the close. They expect $0.85 earnings per share, up 16.44% or $0.12 from last year’s $0.73 per share. MSFT’s profit will be $6.54B for 27.93 P/E if the $0.85 EPS becomes a reality. After $0.96 actual earnings per share reported by Microsoft Corporation for the previous quarter, Wall Street now forecasts -11.46% negative EPS growth.

Among 37 analysts covering Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT), 29 have Buy rating, 2 Sell and 6 Hold. Therefore 78% are positive. Microsoft Corporation had 173 analyst reports since July 22, 2015 according to SRatingsIntel. The firm has “Neutral” rating by Citigroup given on Friday, January 27. Cowen & Co maintained Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) on Sunday, September 17 with “Buy” rating. Cowen & Co maintained it with “Buy” rating and $95.0 target in Friday, January 26 report. The firm has “Buy” rating given on Friday, July 21 by Deutsche Bank. The firm has “Neutral” rating given on Thursday, October 1 by Bank of America. Bank of America maintained Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) rating on Thursday, February 1. Bank of America has “Buy” rating and $106 target. The firm has “Buy” rating by UBS given on Friday, December 8. The company was upgraded on Tuesday, October 31 by Argus Research. Cowen & Co maintained the stock with “Buy” rating in Thursday, February 1 report. The stock has “Buy” rating by Cowen & Co on Friday, March 16.

Since February 16, 2018, it had 0 buys, and 3 insider sales for $930,912 activity.

Investors sentiment decreased to 0.77 in Q4 2017. Its down 0.06, from 0.83 in 2017Q3. It dropped, as 39 investors sold MSFT shares while 1012 reduced holdings. 134 funds opened positions while 676 raised stakes. 5.46 billion shares or 0.90% less from 5.51 billion shares in 2017Q3 were reported. Eagle Glob Limited Company has invested 0.23% in Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT). Fny Managed Accounts holds 0.02% of its portfolio in Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) for 300 shares. Marsico Mngmt Ltd Liability Co holds 0.27% or 78,582 shares. Destination Wealth Mngmt reported 0.06% of its portfolio in Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT). Pointstate Cap Lp holds 0.04% in Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) or 47,000 shares. 893,069 were accumulated by Da Davidson. Howland Capital Management Limited Liability holds 572,469 shares or 3.92% of its portfolio. Field And Main Bankshares has 8,650 shares for 0.71% of their portfolio. Td Cap Mngmt Ltd Limited Liability Company invested 0.15% of its portfolio in Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT). Numeric Invsts Ltd Co owns 0.73% invested in Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) for 1.17 million shares. Cambridge Gru Inc has invested 3.65% of its portfolio in Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT). Prelude Capital Ltd Limited Liability Company reported 105,078 shares. 222,332 are held by Cleararc Cap. Arrowgrass Capital Prtnrs (Us) LP invested in 348,945 shares or 0.29% of the stock. Bank & Trust Of Hawaii holds 222,559 shares or 1.56% of its portfolio.

Johnston Asset Management Corp, which manages about $4.21 billion and $2.36B US Long portfolio, upped its stake in Diageo P L C (NYSE:DEO) by 2,546 shares to 77,479 shares, valued at $11.31 million in 2017Q4, according to the filing. It also increased its holding in Schlumberger Ltd (NYSE:SLB) by 72,321 shares in the quarter, for a total of 523,812 shares, and has risen its stake in Occidental Pete Corp Del (NYSE:OXY).

Investors sentiment decreased to 0.5 in 2017 Q4. Its down 0.19, from 0.69 in 2017Q3. It dropped, as 153 investors sold GE shares while 921 reduced holdings. 151 funds opened positions while 383 raised stakes. 4.69 billion shares or 0.29% less from 4.70 billion shares in 2017Q3 were reported. Trustco State Bank N Y invested 5.81% in General Electric Company (NYSE:GE). 26,727 were accumulated by Green Square Llc. Congress Asset Mngmt Ma invested in 0.01% or 50,967 shares. Burt Wealth Advsr owns 0.28% invested in General Electric Company (NYSE:GE) for 25,765 shares. Stock Yards Retail Bank And Company reported 181,081 shares. Union National Bank owns 60,461 shares or 0.33% of their US portfolio. 55,548 are owned by Amg Funds Limited Liability. Meristem Llp holds 0.55% or 86,548 shares in its portfolio. Kamunting Street Cap Mgmt Lp owns 40,000 shares. Cornerstone Cap Management Ltd Liability invested 0.25% of its portfolio in General Electric Company (NYSE:GE). Huntington National Bank has invested 0.28% in General Electric Company (NYSE:GE). Horrell Management Inc owns 3,000 shares. 60,326 were reported by Texan Capital Mgmt. Moreover, Northwest Investment Counselors Limited Liability Com has 0.61% invested in General Electric Company (NYSE:GE) for 87,091 shares. Ironwood Fin Ltd Llc reported 2,407 shares or 0.03% of all its holdings.

Among 28 analysts covering General Electric Company (NYSE:GE), 8 have Buy rating, 6 Sell and 14 Hold. Therefore 29% are positive. General Electric Company had 99 analyst reports since July 21, 2015 according to SRatingsIntel. Cowen & Co maintained General Electric Company (NYSE:GE) on Monday, June 12 with “Hold” rating. The rating was maintained by Cowen & Co on Wednesday, April 11 with “Hold”. RBC Capital Markets maintained General Electric Company (NYSE:GE) on Monday, October 23 with “Buy” rating. Stifel Nicolaus maintained the shares of GE in report on Thursday, February 15 with “Hold” rating. Morgan Stanley maintained the stock with “Equal-Weight” rating in Tuesday, July 25 report. Deutsche Bank maintained General Electric Company (NYSE:GE) rating on Tuesday, August 25. Deutsche Bank has “Hold” rating and $29 target. The firm has “Buy” rating given on Friday, October 14 by UBS. JP Morgan maintained General Electric Company (NYSE:GE) on Wednesday, November 1 with “Underweight” rating. The rating was downgraded by Oppenheimer to “Perform” on Monday, September 21. Bank of America upgraded General Electric Company (NYSE:GE) on Monday, October 23 to “Buy” rating.

By1 Dolores Ford