BUZZ-Microstrategy expects to raise $563 mln from preferred stock offering; shares slip

** Bitcoin buyer MicroStrategy MSTR.O shares edge down 1.1% to $337.05

** Co prices its perpetual strike preferred stock offering at $80 per share

** MSTR estimates net proceeds at around $563.4 million

** Co says preferred stock to pay dividends of 8% per year, with initial conversion price of $1,000 per share of class A common stock

** Co to use net proceeds for acquiring bitcoin, among other general purposes

** MSTR, which has steadily increased its bitcoin holdings over the past few years, is seen by some investors as a way to gain exposure to the world's largest cryptocurrency BTC=

** MSTR more than doubled its bitcoin holdings in 2024 through combination of debt and equity deals

** As of Jan. 27, co held 471,107 bitcoin bought at an average cost of $64,511 per bitcoin, as per filing

** Including today's moves, MSTR on track for monthly gain of 16%, versus ~12% rise in bitcoin and 3.3% gain for the Nasdaq 100 .NDX