MSFT Analyst Ratings
Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) operates in the Technology sector, specifically the Software - Infrastructure industry, with a market capitalization near $3.93T, listed on NASDAQ, employing roughly 223,000 people, carrying a beta of 1.10 to the broader market. Microsoft Corporation is a prominent global technology firm that invents, markets, and provides ongoing assistance for a diverse range of software, digital services, computing devices, and comprehensive solutions. Led by Satya Nadella, public since 1986-03-13.
Analyst Ratings
In the October 2026 monthly count, 57 analysts rated MSFT: 14 Strong Buy, 41 Buy, 2 Hold, 0 Sell and 0 Strong Sell.
Twelve months earlier, in October 2025: 59 analysts, 13 Strong Buy, 45 Buy, 1 Hold, 0 Sell and 0 Strong Sell.
Price Targets
- Average Target
- $571.76
- Median Target
- $556.00
- High
- $725.00
- Low
- $440.00
- Targets Published, Last 12 Months
- 87
Recent Price Targets
The 5 most recent of 87 price targets published in the last 12 months.
| Date | Firm | Analyst | Target | Price When Posted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 5, 2026 | Scotiabank | Patrick Colville | $615.00 | $526.36 |
| Oct 5, 2026 | Melius Research | Ben Reitzes | $665.00 | $517.53 |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Wells Fargo | Michael Turrin | $725.00 | $512.90 |
| Sep 30, 2026 | Piper Sandler | Billy Fitzsimmons | $610.00 | $508.96 |
| Sep 22, 2026 | Stifel Nicolaus | Brad Reback | $575.00 | $498.00 |
Recent Upgrades & Downgrades
| Date | Firm | Action | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 5, 2026 | Scotiabank | maintain | Sector Outperform | Sector Outperform |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Wells Fargo | maintain | Overweight | Overweight |
| Sep 30, 2026 | Piper Sandler | maintain | Overweight | Overweight |
| Sep 23, 2026 | Stifel | upgrade | Hold | Buy |
| Sep 22, 2026 | Oppenheimer | maintain | Outperform | Outperform |
Quantitative Rating
MSFT carries a model grade of A- (overall score 4 of 5), computed from six valuation and financial measures (discounted cash flow, return on equity, return on assets, debt to equity, price to earnings and price to book), each scored 1 to 5. It is not an analyst rating.
How to Read MSFT Analyst Coverage
Sell-side equity analysts publish three primary outputs: ratings (Strong Buy / Buy / Hold / Sell / Strong Sell, or firm-specific equivalents), price targets, and EPS / revenue estimate revisions. Rating consensus moves slowly relative to price; it reflects 12-month directional conviction rather than near-term momentum. Price targets are more responsive but typically drift behind realized price during sharp moves. The most actionable signal for options traders is a cluster of ratings actions across multiple firms within a short window, which compresses or expands implied volatility on a horizon of days to weeks and shifts the put-call skew toward the directional consensus. The recent-actions table above shows the five most recent firm-level changes; longer histories live behind aggregator sources.
For event-driven options sizing, pair the consensus rating and target distribution with the implied-volatility surface and dealer-positioning view. Aggressive target hikes from multiple firms tend to tighten put skew (downside protection becomes relatively cheaper); aggressive cuts widen put skew. The size of the IV response in the hours after a rating change is visible on the per-ticker volatility skew page and the gamma-exposure page, both of which show how dealer hedging propagates the analyst-driven flow into the listed options chain.
Learn how analyst ratings is reported and how to read the data →
Frequently asked MSFT analyst ratings questions
- What is the MSFT consensus price target?
- As of the latest aggregator update, Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) carries a consensus 12-month price target of $571.76. Target ranges run from a low of $440.00 to a high of $725.00. The target is the average of the price targets published by sell-side equity analysts covering the name.
- What is the analyst rating consensus on MSFT?
- In the October 2026 monthly count, 57 analysts rated MSFT, and the distribution tilts to the Buy side: 14 Strong Buy, 41 Buy, 2 Hold, 0 Sell and 0 Strong Sell. Rating consensus moves slowly relative to price; it reflects sell-side conviction over a 12-month horizon rather than near-term momentum.
- What recent ratings actions has MSFT seen?
- The five most recent ratings actions on MSFT appear on the page above. Sell-side rating changes are watched for two reasons: an upgrade or downgrade with a meaningful target revision moves the consensus and can trigger short-term positioning shifts, and the firm-level rating cluster (multiple firms moving in the same direction within a short window) is a clearer signal than any single action. Options markets often price the implied-vol response within minutes of the announcement.
- How do analyst targets affect MSFT options pricing?
- Analyst target revisions tend to be priced in by the lit options market within minutes of publication, but persistent target drift over weeks does correlate with implied-volatility movement. Aggressive target hikes from multiple firms inside a single quarter tighten put skew (downside protection becomes cheaper relative to upside speculation); aggressive cuts widen put skew. The most actionable read is the implied-vol response in the hours after a target change, which is visible on the per-ticker volatility skew page.