Microsoft downgraded to neutral by Nomura April 11, 2013|Benjamin Pimentel
SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -Microsoft Corp. (US:msft) was downgraded to neutral from buy by Nomura Equity Research which cited the dramatic drop in personal computer shipments. "PC units are now expected to fall 11% - 14% in the March quarter, implying accelerating headwinds in the PC business," analyst Rick Sherlund said in a note. Microsoft also was based on following an IDC report showing a 14% year-over-year drop in shipments. Shares of Microsoft were down 3.5% in pre-open trades.
BGC Downgrades Microsoft Amid PC Industry ‘Turmoil’
Published April 10, 2013
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Microsoft
BGC Partners downgraded Microsoft (MSFT) to hold from buy on Wednesday, citing concerns over a shaky PC industry.
A recent jump in Microsoft shares spurred the call from BGC, which kept its price target at $31. The stock rose 3.5% on Tuesday and continued to climb a day later, trading 1.8% higher at $30.15.
The investment firm said in a research note to clients it is concerned about “turmoil” in the PC industry, namely talks that Hewlett-Packard (HPQ) could be broken up and negotiations that would take Dell (DELL) private.
Meanwhile, research firm IDC has forecasted a sharper decline in PC shipments this year.
“Given the change in the computing landscape, it may prove difficult for the PC market to experience growth,” BGC analyst Colin Gillis wrote. “We expect PC shipment revisions to continue a negative trajectory.”
The note added that Microsoft has yet to gain traction in the market for tablets and phones despite the “quality and innovation of Microsoft’s software.”
“Any change in leadership at the company is still going to face the above problems, and there are no fast fixes for Microsoft to the current shift in computing trends,” Gillis wrote.
BGC also lowered its fiscal 2013 estimates for Microsoft to below consensus estimates.
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