Microsoft Stock Surges 6% as Cloud and AI Growth Propel Earnings Beat

Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) shares jumped more than 6% in after-hours trading Tuesday after the tech giant reported fourth-quarter results that exceeded Wall Street expectations, driven by booming demand for cloud and AI services.

Earnings per share came in at $3.65, surpassing analysts’ forecasts of $3.37. Quarterly revenue rose 18% year-over-year to $76.4 billion, beating the market’s $73.79 billion estimate. Microsoft Cloud revenue surged 27% to $46.7 billion, with overall cloud revenue reaching $29.9 billion for the quarter.

Azure, Microsoft’s flagship cloud platform, saw standout performance, generating over $75 billion in revenue for the fiscal year and growing 34% annually. The platform posted 39% year-over-year growth in the quarter, topping Street expectations of 34%. CEO Satya Nadella credited this momentum to rising enterprise adoption of AI-driven tools across industries.

Wedbush analyst Daniel Ives called the results a “slam dunk,” citing cloud and AI as transformative forces for Microsoft’s business and reaffirmed an Outperform rating with a $600 price target. CFO Amy Hood also highlighted the strong close to the fiscal year, noting broad-based strength across all business segments.

Microsoft’s rapid AI integration within Azure and enterprise services positions the company at the forefront of the ongoing cloud transformation. As global organizations invest heavily in AI-powered solutions, analysts expect Microsoft’s cloud leadership to continue fueling revenue growth in the coming quarters.

Shares closed at $545 in extended trading, reflecting renewed investor confidence in the company’s long-term AI and cloud strategy.