Microsoft Corp. shares jumped pre-market Thursday, with the company’s stronger-than-expected March quarter results set to lift its market capitalization “to $1 trillion and beyond,” in the words of Morgan Stanley.
SEATTLE – Microsoft Corp. shares jumped pre-market Thursday, with the company’s stronger-than-expected March quarter results set to lift its market capitalization “to $1 trillion and beyond,” in the words of Morgan Stanley.
Analysts were broadly positive on the results, with most pointing to the rapid growth in Microsoft’s Azure cloud-computing business. UBS wrote that the results suggested that “there’s lots more opportunity ahead,” while Evercore ISI raved that Microsoft “should remain a stock for all seasons.”
Shares climbed about 4.8 percent before the market open, setting up Microsoft to regain the title of largest U.S. stock.
Here’s what analysts are saying about the results:
Goldman Sachs, Heather Bellini
“Similar to past quarters, results were strong across the board with Azure coming in ahead of market expectations.”
Goldman reiterated its buy rating and raised its price target to $144 from $131.
UBS, Jennifer Swanson Lowe
The growth in Azure “underscores strong demand as large enterprises move workloads to the Cloud, and turn to Microsoft as the partner of choice for digital transformations.”
Internal checks suggest “that there’s lots more opportunity ahead.”
Price target raised to $150 from $125; buy rating affirmed.
Evercore ISI, Kirk Materne
“While ‘one-upping’ its performance in FY19 will be difficult, the secular trends powering Microsoft’s various businesses all remain intact, and we believe that the company is uniquely positioned to capitalize on the growing demand for cloud services in the enterprise.”
“Microsoft continues to fire on all cylinders.” It “is a ‘must own’ name for software investors and should remain a stock for all seasons given its growing base of recurringrevenue and strong balance sheet.”
Affirmed outperform rating, price target $140 from $135.
Citi, Walter Pritchard
The report makes it clear “that despite some plateauing of IT spend, companies with the right products should continue to see 2018-like growth rates.”
Affirmed neutral rating, price target to $130 from $110.
Deutsche Bank, Karl Keirstead
Against high expectations, Microsoft’s results were “outstanding.” The initial 2020 outlook was “mixed,” as it was “better than expected on the top-line but lower-than-expected” in terms of gross margins and operating margins.
Price target raised to $145 from $130. Affirmed buy rating.
Morgan Stanley, Keith Weiss
Results should take the valuation “to $1 trillion and beyond,” but “shares still undervalue the durability of earnings growth.”
“Microsoft remains the best positioned name in tech for the emerging Hybrid Cloud architecture, with improving margins sustaining a durable mid-teens total return profile.”
Affirmed overweight rating, price target $145 from $140.
William Blair, Jason Ader
“Despite Microsoft facing challenging quarterly growth comparisons ahead (especially in the fiscal fourth quarter), the firm’s fiscal 2020 guidance for double-digit revenue and operating income growth is indicative of the durability of Microsoft’s underlying growth drivers.”
Affirmed outperform rating.
