Microsoft

Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC) and Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) announced that Microsoft will be using Intel’s 18A process to manufacture its own chip design. The Details: The announcement was made Wednesday at Intel Foundry Direct Connect by Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella. “We are in the midst of a very exciting platform shift that will fundamentally transform productivity for every individual organization and the entire industry,” Nadella said. “To achieve this vision, we need a reliable supply of the most advanced, high-performance and high-quality semiconductors. That’s why we are so excited to work with Intel Foundry, and why we have chosen a chip design that we plan to produce on Intel 18A process.” Intel also announced the launch of Intel Foundry as a more sustainable systems foundry business designed for the AI era and an expanded process roadmap. “AI is profoundly transforming the world and how we think about technology and the silicon that powers it,” said […]

Microsoft says its subscription service Game Pass now has 34 million subscribers, after last saying it had 25 million in January 2022. During a podcast, company executives say the videogame “Diablo IV” will be the first from Activision Blizzard, which Microsoft acquired in October, to come to Game Pass. The multiplayer action title launched in June for around $70 on Microsoft’s Xbox, Sony Group’s PlayStation and computers. It arrives on Game Pass, which costs $9.99 a month for a basic plan, on March 28.

Microsoft (MSFT) said Thursday it plans to invest 3.2 billion euros ($3.44 billion) over the next two years to expand the cloud and artificial intelligence infrastructure in Germany. The investment will double the technology giant’s AI infrastructure and cloud capacity to meet Germany’s “accelerating demand” for AI services, Microsoft President Brad Smith said in a post on social media platform X. The co

Microsoft’s (MSFT) decision to end its original equipment manufacturing partnership with Qualys (QLYS) on May 1 poses potential “material” topline risks for the cloud protection and cybersecurity company, Morgan Stanley said in a research note. The Morgan Stanley analysts estimated that Microsoft likely accounts for 5% to 10% of Qualys’ yearly revenue, which totaled $489.7 million in 2022, the last year for which full results are available. “We see topline pressures increasingly probable going forward,” the analysts said, adding Qualys’ share price does not adequately reflect those risks. Morgan Stanley reiterated its underweight stock rating and $150 price target for Qualys, saying the company will need to boost sales and marketing spending during 2024, which will weigh on its earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization margin this year. The share price also could see a more than 20% decline from current levels, they said. Qualys shares were down by

Microsoft (MSFT) is poised for a “healthy expansion” in fiscal 2024 operating margins after Q2 results topped forecasts with a boost from artificial intelligence, strong execution, and cost discipline, Morgan Stanley said Wednesday in a report. “Q2 results well illustrated Microsoft’s leading position in GenAI and unique ability to monetize this technology,” the investment firm said. On Tuesday, Microsoft reported Q2 earnings of $2.93 a share on revenue of $62.02 billion. Analysts polled by Capital IQ expected EPS of $2.77 on revenue of $61.13 billion. Morgan Stanley said Microsoft Azure posted a 28% growth in constant currency in Q2 with AI contributing “a remarkable” 6%. The EPS beat occurred amid hurdles related to accounting and AI investments, and mergers and acquisitions. The company’s Q3 gross and operating margin guidance stood “significantly ahead of expectations,” and Morgan Stanley said Microsoft’s solid execution, expense optimization and position in the GenAI innovation cycle

Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) Stock Analyst Ratings Date Upside/Downside Analyst Firm Price Target Change Rating Change Previous / Current Rating 01/31/2024 17.86% Barclays $421 → $475 Maintains Overweight 01/29/2024 11.66% Wedbush → $450 Reiterates Outperform → Outperform 01/25/2024 12.9% Piper Sandler → $455 Reiterates Overweight → Overweight 01/23/2024 48.88% Truist Securities → $600 Reiterates Buy → Buy 01/18/2024 16.87% Exane BNP Paribas → $471 Upgrades Neutral → Outperform 01/12/2024 12.9% Piper Sandler → $455 Reiterates Overweight → Overweight 01/09/2024 4.21% BMO Capital $400 → $420 Maintains Outperform 01/02/2024 12.9% Piper Sandler $425 → $455 Maintains Overweight 12/28/2023 11.66% Wedbush $425 → $450 Maintains Outperform 12/15/2023 11.66% Mizuho $420 → $450 Maintains Buy 12/13/2023 48.88% Truist Securities → $600 Initiates Coverage On → Buy 12/05/2023 6.69% Argus Research $390 → $430 Maintains Buy 12/05/2023 15.63% China Renaissance → $466 Initiates Coverage On → Buy 11/29/2023 17.86% Tigress Financial $433 → $475 Maintains Buy

By Emily Bary Capital-spending forecast suggests Microsoft ‘has line of sight to a significant increase in cloud revenue,’ Bernstein says Forget Microsoft Corp.’s expectation for Azure revenue growth this quarter that is similar to what was seen last quarter. There may have been a far more bullish hint in the company’s latest commentary about what to expect from the cloud business. Bernstein analyst Mark Moerdler told investors to look at Microsoft’s (MSFT) capital-expenditure forecast, which calls for such spending “to increase materially on a sequential basis” on the heels of investments in cloud and artificial-intelligence infrastructure. “We believe this indicates that management has line of sight to a significant increase in cloud revenue,” Moerdler wrote in his note to clients. “We also see this as an indicator that Microsoft has taken the AI mantle and Azure could become the biggest and more important hyperscaler provider.” Moerdler further believes that Microsoft’s

Microsoft Reports Q2 EPS of $2.93 on Revenue of $62 Billion, Vs CIQ Analyst Consensus of $2.77/Share on Revenue of $61.1 Billion。

By Emily Bary CEO says AI is helping the company win new customers Microsoft Corp. posted beats across the board with its latest results Tuesday afternoon, calling out momentum in the cloud and traction with artificial intelligence. Microsoft’s (MSFT) Azure and other cloud-services businesses posted revenue growth of 28% on a constant-currency basis in the fiscal second quarter. Analysts expected Azure constant-currency revenue growth of 27% for the period. Overall, Microsoft recorded $62.0 billion in revenue for its latest quarter, up from $52.7 billion a year earlier. Analysts were modeling $61.1 billion. “By infusing AI across every layer of our tech stack, we’re winning new customers and helping drive new benefits and productivity gains across every sector,” Chief Executive Satya Nadella said in a release. The company generated $19.2 billion in revenue from its productivity and business-processes segment, which houses Office. Analysts were modeling $18.6 billion. Intelligent cloud revenue was

Microsoft Q2 Intelligent Cloud Revenue at $25.9 Billion Vs Visible Alpha Analyst Consensus of $25.3 Billion。

Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) Stock Analyst Ratings Date Upside/Downside Analyst Firm Price Target Change Rating Change Previous / Current Rating 01/29/2024 10.54% Wedbush → $450 Reiterates Outperform → Outperform 01/25/2024 11.77% Piper Sandler → $455 Reiterates Overweight → Overweight 01/23/2024 47.39% Truist Securities → $600 Reiterates Buy → Buy 01/18/2024 15.7% Exane BNP Paribas → $471 Upgrades Neutral → Outperform 01/12/2024 11.77% Piper Sandler → $455 Reiterates Overweight → Overweight 01/09/2024 3.17% BMO Capital $400 → $420 Maintains Outperform 01/02/2024 11.77% Piper Sandler $425 → $455 Maintains Overweight 12/28/2023 10.54% Wedbush $425 → $450 Maintains Outperform 12/15/2023 10.54% Mizuho $420 → $450 Maintains Buy 12/13/2023 47.39% Truist Securities → $600 Initiates Coverage On → Buy 12/05/2023 5.63% Argus Research $390 → $430 Maintains Buy 12/05/2023 14.47% China Renaissance → $466 Initiates Coverage On → Buy 11/29/2023 16.68% Tigress Financial $433 → $475 Maintains Buy 11/24/2023 3.17% Mizuho $420 → $420 Reiterates Buy

Microsoft (MSFT) is likely to surpass market estimates for its fiscal second quarter this week, with the technology giant’s financial results a “key barometer” for the pace of artificial intelligence spending, according to Wedbush Securities. The brokerage forecasts the company to post earnings and revenue above the Street’s view of $2.77 per share and $61.13 billion for the December quarter. Investors’ attention will be on the growth of cloud-computing platform Azure, given the activity levels seen during the period from core Microsoft customers heading to the cloud, Wedbush said in a Sunday client note. Customer conversation rates around the Copilot chatbot will also be on investor focus during the earnings call by senior management, as well as early deal sizes and the pace of AI use cases on Azure heading into the next 12 to 18 months. Wedbush anticipates “some conservatism around guidance,” as the Street is aware of the