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Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation sells 17 million shares of Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ: MSFT), approximately 65% of its holding, disclosed in a third-quarter 13F-HR filing in late November 2024. This sale represents a stake worth about $14 billion, accounting for nearly one-third of the foundation’s portfolio.
The foundation has been a net seller of Microsoft since the end of 2023, with this transaction viewed as part of a strategic move to rebalance its portfolio in preparation for ramping up annual grantmaking to $9 billion by 2026 and spending down its full endowment by 2045. There are no indications that this sale is linked to concerns about an AI bubble; instead, it aligns with the foundation’s financial objectives.
Despite the recent pullback of around 12% in MSFT stock, analysts still show a consensus price target of $634.33, indicating a potential upside of 32%. Some analysts, including DA Davidson and Jefferies, have set even higher price targets of $650 and $675, respectively.
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