Makaira Partners Increased Commscope Hldg Co (COMM) Position by $9.41 Million; River Road Asset Management Cut Position in Microsoft (MSFT) by $19.85 Million

December 29, 2017 - By Ellis Scott

Thomas Bancroft increased its stake in Commscope Hldg Co Inc (COMM) by 14.1% based on its latest 2017Q3 regulatory filing with the SEC. Makaira Partners Llc bought 285,200 shares as the company’s stock declined 6.21% while stock markets rallied. The hedge fund run by Thomas Bancroft held 2.31 million shares of the technology company at the end of 2017Q3, valued at $76.63M, up from 2.02 million at the end of the previous reported quarter. Makaira Partners Llc who had been investing in Commscope Hldg Co Inc for a number of months, seems to be bullish on the $7.23 billion market cap company. The stock decreased 0.89% or $0.34 during the last trading session, reaching $37.92. About 593,793 shares traded. CommScope Holding Company, Inc. (NASDAQ:COMM) has risen 25.42% since December 29, 2016 and is uptrending. It has outperformed by 8.72% the S&P500.

River Road Asset Management Llc decreased its stake in Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) by 30.34% based on its latest 2017Q3 regulatory filing with the SEC. River Road Asset Management Llc sold 268,305 shares as the company’s stock rose 4.75% with the market. The institutional investor held 615,895 shares of the prepackaged software company at the end of 2017Q3, valued at $45.88 million, down from 884,200 at the end of the previous reported quarter. River Road Asset Management Llc who had been investing in Microsoft Corporation for a number of months, seems to be less bullish one the $663.03 billion market cap company. The stock increased 0.26% or $0.225 during the last trading session, reaching $85.945. About 7.02M shares traded. Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) has risen 34.52% since December 29, 2016 and is uptrending. It has outperformed by 17.82% the S&P500.

Analysts await Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) to report earnings on January, 25. They expect $0.86 earnings per share, up 3.61% or $0.03 from last year’s $0.83 per share. MSFT’s profit will be $6.63 billion for 24.98 P/E if the $0.86 EPS becomes a reality. After $0.84 actual earnings per share reported by Microsoft Corporation for the previous quarter, Wall Street now forecasts 2.38% EPS growth.

River Road Asset Management Llc, which manages about $10.26 billion and $5.10B US Long portfolio, upped its stake in Atn International Inc. by 48,330 shares to 335,542 shares, valued at $17.68M in 2017Q3, according to the filing. It also increased its holding in Conduent Inc. by 399,882 shares in the quarter, for a total of 1.06M shares, and has risen its stake in Cogent Communications Holdings (NASDAQ:CCOI).

Investors sentiment increased to 0.83 in 2017 Q3. Its up 0.01, from 0.82 in 2017Q2. It is positive, as 40 investors sold MSFT shares while 952 reduced holdings. 114 funds opened positions while 708 raised stakes. 5.51 billion shares or 0.32% less from 5.53 billion shares in 2017Q2 were reported. Cap Advisors Ok invested in 356,157 shares or 1.62% of the stock. Page Arthur B has 47,322 shares. Schafer Cullen Capital Mngmt Incorporated holds 1.91% or 2.13 million shares in its portfolio. Planning Corporation holds 1.16% of its portfolio in Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) for 76,329 shares. Moreover, Coe Cap Mgmt Lc has 0.23% invested in Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT). Goldman Sachs Group holds 0.77% or 41.97M shares. Omega Advsrs has 1.16 million shares for 3.36% of their portfolio. Finemark Bancorporation And holds 1.66% of its portfolio in Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) for 334,602 shares. 58,778 are owned by Inv Counsel. Mckinley Carter Wealth Serv Incorporated accumulated 12,095 shares. Pittenger Anderson Inc invested 0.94% in Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT). 494,976 are held by Dana Inv. Moreover, Moneta Group Inc Inv Advsrs Limited Com has 0.83% invested in Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT). Choate Investment Advisors stated it has 0.5% in Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT). Bp Plc owns 874,000 shares.

Among 35 analysts covering Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT), 29 have Buy rating, 2 Sell and 4 Hold. Therefore 83% are positive. Microsoft Corporation had 140 analyst reports since July 22, 2015 according to SRatingsIntel. The rating was maintained by FBR Capital with “Outperform” on Friday, October 23. The firm has “Outperform” rating given on Tuesday, May 24 by Cowen & Co. Bernstein maintained it with “Buy” rating and $100.0 target in Wednesday, November 15 report. The company was upgraded on Friday, October 23 by Bank of America. The company was upgraded on Thursday, October 1 by Bank of America. The rating was maintained by Cowen & Co with “Market Perform” on Friday, April 1. The firm earned “Sell” rating on Monday, September 25 by Jefferies. Canaccord Genuity maintained Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) rating on Friday, October 27. Canaccord Genuity has “Buy” rating and $94.0 target. The firm has “Buy” rating by Cowen & Co given on Sunday, September 17. The firm has “Buy” rating by KeyBanc Capital Markets given on Monday, September 25.

Since August 4, 2017, it had 0 insider buys, and 3 selling transactions for $513.86 million activity. Another trade for 55,000 shares valued at $4.00M was sold by Hood Amy. 7.00M shares valued at $507.89M were sold by Morfit G Mason on Friday, August 4.